with me,--I do love to hear him speak! You know how his voice
is like music, and how his kind ways warm the heart,--it is pleasant to
be in his company--I am sure you also find it so! But for me,--it seems
it is wrong,--it is not wise for me to show when I am happy. I do not
care what other people say,--but I would not have _him_ think ill of me
for all the world!"

Lorimer took her hand and held it in his with a most tender loyalty and
respect. Her naive, simple words had, all unconsciously to herself, laid
bare the secret of her soul to his eyes,--and though his heart beat with
a strange sickening sense of unrest that flavored of despair, a gentle
reverence filled him, such as a man might feel if some little snow-white
shrine, sacred to purity and peace, should be suddenly unveiled before
him.

"My dear Miss Gueldmar," he said earnestly, "I assure you, you have no
cause to be uneasy! You must not believe a word Dyceworthy says--every
one with a grain of common sense can see what a liar and hypocrite he
is! And as for you, you never do anything wrong,--don't imagine such
nonsense! I wish there were more women like you!"

"Ah, that is very kind of you!" half laughed the girl, still allowing
her hand to rest in his. "But I do not think everybody would have such a
good opinion." They both started, and their hands fell asunder as a
shadow darkened the room, and Sir Philip stood before them.

"Excuse me!" he said stiffly, lifting his hat with ceremonious
politeness. "I ought to have knocked at the door--I--"

"Why?" asked Thelma, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

"Yes--why indeed?" echoed Lorimer, with a frank look at his friend.

"I am afraid,"--and for once the generally good-humored Errington looked
positively petulant--"I am afraid I interrupted a pleasant
conversation!" And he gave a little forced laugh of feigned amusement,
but evident vexation.

"And if it was pleasant, shall you not make it still more so?" asked
Thelma, with timid and bewitching sweetness, though her heart beat very
fast,--she was anxious. Why was Sir Philip so cold and distant? He
looked at her, and his pent-up passion leaped to his eyes and filled
them with a glowing and fiery tenderness,--her head drooped suddenly,
and she turned quickly, to avoid that searching, longing gaze. Lorimer
glanced from one to the other with, a slight feeling of amusement.

"Well Phil," he inquired lazily, "how did you get here so soon? You must
have glided