I know it. But you see how helpless I am

small round dining-table. His guest

the young la

ty-th

the

nty-

I think

and relat

ll

erat

n his chair and sipped

rdinary situatio

mate friend. If ever they have needed advice they have come to me for it. If ever I have needed a day's shooting for myself or a friend I have gone to them. This Continental tour of theirs we discusse

mbe n

out the boy

hrugged hi

f them had only a firm of lawyers for guardians. He's just a good-looking, clean-minded, high-spirited young fellow, full of beans, and needing the bit ever

the g

am rose fro

ou her photogr

ed from the dining-room by curtain

id, and laid a pict

hite throat, and long, graceful neck; eyes rather darker than her complexion warranted, a little narrow, but bright as stars-a mouth with the divine lines of humor and understanding. It was only a picture, but a realization of the living image seemed to be creeping in upon him. He made the excuse of seeking a better light, and moved across to a distant lamp. He bent over the picture, but it was not the picture which he saw. He saw the girl herself, and even with the half-formed thought he saw her expression change. He saw her eyes lit with sorrow and appeal-he saw her arms outstretched towards him-he seemed even to hear her soft cry

Andrew

laid the picture down with a relucta

raph," he remarke

used to be rather great at that sort of

at. He helped himself t

at you call yourself their nearest frie

ered slowly. "She

end's attention. Duncombe eyed him keenly. He was consci

--?" he asked hoarse

moderately good-looking. But after all I'm only human, and I've seen her grow up from a fresh, charming child into one of God's wonderful women. Even a gardener

she

k his head

t my trouble came. I didn't mean to tell you this, but perhaps it is as well that you should k

e suddenly f

den, Andrew," he said.

had fallen barely an hour since, and the air was full of fresh delicate fragrance. Birds were singing in the dripping trees, blackbirds were busy in

e said, "can you see a gleam of white? That

mbe n

said, "I c

id quietly. "I have stood here and watched them. Somet

ip upon his a

he said, "

round them was the soft weeping of dripping shrubs. An odo

e! It's a lot to

sn't

d toward his friend.

t under

ellow! I don't un

iend, and Duncombe was looking up through the elm trees to the Hall. He was trying to fancy her

ou've known me for a long time, Andrew. You wouldn't wr

never even use the word 'senti

m squarely. He laid his hand

n can be said to have lost his heart without rhyme or

ew a quic

aimed. "Why, you never saw

ombe answered. "And yet-

d laughed

eorge, we used to call you. I can't believe it! I can't take y

speaks to me from that picture I do not know. You say that only love can beget love. Then there is that in the picture which points beyond. You see, I have talked like this in an at

and this time his mirt

e, what has come over you? What has stirred your slow-moving blood to fancies like these? Bah! We are playing with one another.

mea

an I love-well, I should be a coward for my own sake to rob her of help when she needs

s to me that they have been busy about my he