, substituting for it a certain amusement
which I derived from studying the face of Miss Trix Queenborough, who
was placed on the opposite side of the table. And if Trix did look now
and again at Mrs. Wentworth and Jack Ives, I cannot say that her
conduct was unnatural. To tell the truth, Jack was so obviously
delighted with his new friend that it was quite pleasant--and, as I
say, under the circumstances, rather amusing--to watch them. We felt
that the Squire was justified in having a hit at Jack when Jack said,
in the smoking-room, that he found himself rather at a loss for a
subject for his next sermon.

"What do you say," suggested my cousin, puffing at his pipe, "to taking
constancy as your text?"

Jack considered the idea for a moment, but then he shook his head.

"No. I think," he said, reflectively, "that I shall preach on the power
of sympathy."

That sermon afforded me--I must confess it, at the risk of seeming
frivolous--very great entertainment. Again I secured a place by Miss
Trix--on her left, Newhaven being on her right, and her face was worth
study when Jack Ives gave us a most eloquent description of the
wonderful gift in question. It was, he said, the essence and the crown
of true womanliness, and it showed itself--well, to put it quite
plainly, it showed itself, according to Jack Ives, in exactly that sort
of manner and bearing which so honorably and gracefully distinguished
Mrs. Wentworth. The lady was not, of course, named, but she was clearly
indicated. "Your gift, your precious gift," cried the curate,
apostrophizing the impersonation of sympathy, "is given to you, not for
your profit, but for mine. It is yours, but it is a trust to be used
for me. It is yours, in fact, to share with me." At this climax, which
must have struck upon her ear with a certain familiarity, Miss Trix
Queenborough, notwithstanding the place and occasion, tossed her pretty
head and whispered to me, "What horrid stuff!"

In the ensuing week Jack Ives was our constant companion; the continued
illness of his servant's mother left him stranded, and Dora's kind
heart at once offered him the hospitality of her roof. For my part I
was glad, for the little drama which now began was not without its
interest. It was a pleasant change to see Jack genially polite to Trix
Queenborough, but quite indifferent to her presence or absence, and
content to allow her to take Newhaven for her partner at tennis as
often as she pleased. He