onocled youth who stood nearest
her. She appeared no longer to see Wildred or Sir Walter Tressidy.

I was determined that the former should not approach her (as he seemed
inclined to do) if I could prevent it.

I hurried to her accordingly, and shut her away from the room, with a
pair of broad shoulders, and with an air of monopolising her which I
should not have dared at any other time to assume. But was I not her
friend? Had I not the right to protect her, if I could, from all that I
believed to be distasteful to her?

Presently, the callow youths, whose claims I had hardly considered,
seemed to melt away, and I was left alone with her. People were going,
and it was getting late, no doubt, but I did not yet mean to follow
their example. After all--despite my dismal presages--it did appear that
I was to have her for at least a moment or two to myself.

I had kept my word. I had outstayed them all--all but Carson Wildred.

"Have you quite recovered from yesterday's accident?" I asked, glad to
share even so insignificant a secret with her.

"Yes, oh, yes!" She spoke hurriedly, and her eyes had moved to the
distant group near the fireside--Lady Tressidy, Carson and Sir Walter.

"You haven't reconsidered your promise that I should be your friend?"

She turned to me quickly, and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. "So
many things in my life, though it is not so very long as yet, have come
to me _too late_. Even--my friends--sometimes."

Before I could beg her to tell me what she meant, Lady Tressidy had
called her name, and she sprang up obediently. I followed suit, of
course.

"Come here, my dear girl. Mr. Stanton, this is quite a momentous day for
us, and I can't resist the temptation to take you into our circle and
our confidence," said the elder woman, graciously. "It is just settled
that this sweet adopted child of ours is to leave us--and at short
notice too. She and Mr. Wildred _are going to be married_."

CHAPTER IX

Too Late!

"Too late!" the words that Karine had just spoken echoed in my ears like
a knell of doom.

For a few tremendous seconds that seemed endless I stood paralysed by
Lady Tressidy's announcement, unable to speak. Then I turned and looked
at Karine. Her eyes seemed to have been waiting for mine, and for an
instant I held them with my gaze, until they fell, and veiled the answer
mine had asked, with long shadowy lashes.

Never, I thought, as my thirsty eyes drank in the bea