h she asked him
to take to Miss Carpenter. "The doctor thinks there will be no change
for some hours," she told him.

He sat staring into the fire in the same blind way when Marion entered
the room.

"There is no haste about the answer. Won't you stay with me for a
while?" she said. "I am alone, and I know you must be feeling the
strain of suspense."

Norah's note had said: "Do keep the poor boy and comfort him if you
can. He does nothing but wander in and out."

"Thank you, I think I must go back," he answered, lingering aimlessly
however.

Marion brought him a cup of after-dinner coffee, and he submitted and
drank it, although he felt it must choke him; and when he had
swallowed it, he was the better for it.

Marion did not make the mistake of trying to cheer him in the face of
this terrible anxiety, but in every possible way she showed her
sympathy. She spoke of his aunt, of her brightness and kindness, of
her evident attachment for him; and poor Wayland, longing to pour out
his unhappiness to some one, forgot she was almost a stranger and came
out with his confession. His foolishness and extravagance, his
carelessness of his aunt's comfort. It was very boyish and perfectly
sincere. Madelaine was not mentioned by name, but the wound showed
plainly, and Marion guessed what he did not tell.

"And now I shall never have a chance to show her how sorry I am," he
groaned, hiding his face.

"Don't say that. There is still some room for hope that you may have
another opportunity; and even if you do not, you can yet make of
yourself what she would wish," Marion said; adding, "If you will let
me speak to you as if you were my younger brother, I should say that
all the trouble has come from a natural but selfish determination to
have what, after all, was not meant for you. I think I understand;
and although you may not believe me, I am sure it could never have
made you happy if you had been able to obtain it."

"If you mean Madelaine," Wayland said, lifting his head, "that is all
over."

Afterward he could look back on that evening and feel that out of his
grief he had won a friend who might never have been his under other
circumstances. At the moment he was conscious only of the new courage
and determination that inspired him, when after the long talk he said
good night.

With the morning new hope came. There was a chance for recovery; and
this grew, until at length Miss Sarah began slowly to climb the hill
to