Part 13 (1/2)

”Not much”

”You used to be very fond of each other once, if I reht?” said he

”Yes, once”

”I often think how curious it is,” went on Sir Eustace in a reflective tone, ”to watch the various changes tis about, especially where the affections are concerned One sees children at the seasidelittlechildren, that they will find them there to-morrow But they reckon without their tide To-morrow the sands will have swept as level as ever, and the little boys will have to begin again It is like that with our youthful love affairs, is it not? The tide of time comes up and sweeps them away, fortunately for ourselves Now in your case, for instance, it is, I think, a happy thing for both of you that your sandhouse did not last

Is it not?”

Madeline sighed softly ”Yes, I suppose so,” she answered

Bottles, behind the curtains, rapidly reviewed the past, and came to a different conclusion

”Well, that is all done with,” said Sir Eustace cheerfully

Madeline did not contradict hi so just at present

Then came a pause

”Madeline,” said Sir Eustace presently, in a changed voice, ”I have so to say to you”

”Indeed, Sir Eustace,” she answered, lifting her eyebrows again in her note of interrogation manner, ”what is it?”

”It is this, Madeline--I want to ask you to be ave a ju at at spiritualistic _seance_

Sir Eustace looked at the curtains arning in his eye

Madeline saw nothing

”Really, Sir Eustace!”

”I dare say I surprise you,” went on this ardent lover; ” of the sort”

”O Lord, what a lie!” groaned the distracted Bottles

”I thought, Sir Eustace,” murmured Madeline in her sweet low voice, ”that you told o that you never ht there was no chance ofyou” (”which I am sure I hope there isn't,” he added to hiive me for that!”) ”Listen to me, Madeline, before you answer,” and he drew his chair closer to her own ”I feel the loneliness of et married I think that we should suit each other very well

At our age, now that our youth is past” (he could not resist this dig, at which Madeline winced), ”probably neither of us would wish to marry anybody much our junior I have hadthe beauty of your character, and to the beauties of your person no ood fortune, and myself, such as I aazed earnestly into her eyes

”Really, Sir Eustace,” she murmured, ”this is so very unexpected and sudden”