t she
was not already engaged to him proved, as he believed, that she had
been under the influence of a restraint readily explained by her more
than manner toward himself. "She will have to choose between us soon,"
he thought. "She understands us both, and her heart will soon give its
final verdict, if it has not already done so."

Miss Wildmere's heart would have slight voice in the verdict. Indeed,
it never had been permitted to say very much, and was approaching the
condition of a mute. She had her preference, however, and still hoped
to be able to follow it. She smiled upon Graydon almost as sweetly
as ever during the next two days, but he felt that she had grown
more elusive. She lured him on unmistakably, but permitted no
near approach. With consummate art, she increased the spell of her
fascinations, and added to the glamour which dazzled him. He might
look his admiration, and, more, he might compliment indefinitely;
but when he spoke too plainly, or sought stronger indications of her
regard, she was on the wing instantly, and he was too fine in his
perceptions to push matters against her will. One thing appeared
hopeful to him--she seemed possessed by a carefully veiled jealousy
of Madge. In his downright earnestness, he determined to give her no
cause for this, and treated Madge much as he did Mrs. Muir, allowing
for difference in age and relation. He determined that Miss Wildmere
should discover no ambiguity in his course or intentions. If thoughts
of him had kept her waiting through years, he would justify those
thoughts by all the means in his power. Casting about with a lover's
ingenuity for an explanation of her tantalizing allurement, yet
elusiveness, it occurred to him that she was unwilling to yield
readily and easily, from very fear that he might surmise the cause of
her freedom--that she had given him her love before it had been asked.
Therefore, it was not impossible that she now proposed for him a
somewhat thorny probation as an open suitor. She would not appear to
be easily won, and perhaps she thought that, since this was to be the
last wooing she could enjoy, she would make the most of it. He also
resolved to make the most of this phase of life, and to enjoy to the
utmost all of her shy witchery, her airy, hovering nearness to the
thought uppermost in his mind, as if she were both fascinated by it
and afraid. He little dreamed that her feminine grace and _finesse_
were but the practical carrying