Part 32 (1/2)

The man whom she loved with all her soul, her ed to suffering humanity over there in terror-stricken France, where the cries of the innocent, the persecuted, the wretched called louder to him than she in her love could do

He had been away threeheart had fed on its memories, and the happiness of a brief visit froo, when--quite unexpectedly--he had appeared before her hoiven life and freedom to a number of innocent people, and nearly cost him his--and she had lain in his arone away again as suddenly as he had come, and for six weeks now she had lived partly in anticipation of the courier with endered by these es

To-day she had not even that, and the disappointment seemed just now more than she could bear

She felt unaccountably restless, and could she but have analysed her feelings--had she dared so to do--she would have realised that the weight which oppressed her heart so that she could hardly breathe, was one of vague yet dark foreboding

She closed theand returned to her seat by the fire, taking up her hook with the strong resolution not to allow her nerves to get the better of her But it was difficult to pin one's attention down to the adventures of Master Torossed with those of Sir Percy Blakeney

The sound of carriage wheels on the gravelled forecourt in the front of the house suddenly awakened her drowsy senses She thren the book, and with tre her ears to listen A carriage at this hour--and on this da who it could be

Lady Ffoulkes was in London, she knew Sir Andrew, of course, was in Paris His Royal Highness, ever a faithful visitor, would surely not venture out to Richmond in this inclement weather--and the courier always came on horseback

There was a murmur of voices; that of Edwards, :

”I'm sure that her ladyshi+p will be at houerite ran to the door and with joyful eagerness tore it open

”Suzanne!” she called ”ht you were in London

Coood fortune hath brought you?”

Suzanne flew into her ar the friend who to hide her face, which ith tears, in the folds of Marguerite's kerchief

”Couerite ”Why, how cold your little hands are!”

She was on the point of turning back to her boudoir, drawing Lady Ffoulkes by the hand, when suddenly she caught sight of Sir Andreho stood at a little distance from her, at the top of the stairs

”Sir Andrew!” she exclailadness

Then she paused The cry of welco them dry and parted She suddenly felt as if so at it with sharp, long nails; the blood flew fro her with a sense of icy nu Suzanne's hand, and drawing her in with her Sir Andrew followed them, then closed the door behind hiuerite's parched lips:

”Percy! So has happened to him! He is dead?”

”No, no!” exclai arms round her friend and drew her down into the chair by the fire She knelt at her feet on the hearthrug, and pressed her own burning lips on Marguerite's icy-cold hands Sir Andrew stood silently by, a world of loving friendshi+p, of heart-broken sorrow, in his eyes

There was silence in the pretty white-panelled roouerite sat with her eyes closed, bringing the whole armoury of her will power to bear her up outwardly now

”Tell me!” she said at last, and her voice was toneless and dull, like one that ca

Don't be afraid I can bear it Don't be afraid”

Sir Andrew re on the table In a firm, clear voice he told her the events of the past few days as they were known to him All that he tried to hide was Armand's disobedience, which, in his heart, he felt was the primary cause of the catastrophe He told of the rescue of the Dauphin fro with Hastings and Tony in the spinney He only gave vague explanations of Aro back to the city, even at theplan had been so successfully carried through