Part 51 (1/2)

There was no other way Carrie knew he loved her, but she had shown him his duty If he drew back and broke with Evelyn, he would earn her contempt; Carrie was very staunch and put honor first Anyhow, he was going to draw back; he had been a fool, but he could pay The trouble was, Evelyn was clever and ht about it; the strain of pretending, the effort to be kind

For all that, the effort s would be easier

For a week he was quiet and s were the worst, because it soon got dark and he must talk to Jake and Carrie and try to look calone to London and had not written to him A few days afterwards, dick, too, went to town, and Mrs Halliday did not knohy he had gone Ji ho from the marsh, he found dick with the others in the hall It was nearly dark, but there was a bright fire and Carrie washed when Carrie bantered hi afraid to scorch his hands Jiret the days when he had helped Carrie by the caht him eet back?”

dick said he arrived in the , and Jim asked if he had met Evelyn in town

”I did,” dick replied ”She was pretty well, but it's two or three days since She said she'd write to you”

Jiht his carelessness was forced Then he turned to Carrie ”Did the postman call?”

”Yes,” said Carrie ”Youra lamp sat down in an easy-chair The envelope with the London postmark was from Evelyn, but he would sooner read her note when he was alone He opened another and presently looked up

”Martin has written to ation Company has won the lawsuit and proved its claiain, and Martin's hopeful about the future I can sell out for face value, but he urges ood news! You can trust Martin I expect the cohtened up because they made him a director”

”It's very possible He sends your otten hiet men like that,” Carrie replied ”Martin's all white; clever and strong and straight But doesn't this ot over your troubles?”

”I suppose I can go ahead with the dykes,” said Jim

He was quiet afterwards and let the others talk, until Carrie got up and went aith Mrs Winter and Jake When the door shut dick looked up

”Has Evelyn written to you?”

”Yes,” said Jim ”I haven't read her note yet”

”I don't know if that is strange or not, but perhaps you had better read it I expect it will clear the ground forto say”

Jim opened the envelope and braced hiot from the first few lines; moreover, he did not want dick to knohat he felt Evelyn was apologetic, but she set hiht I loved you, Jim,” she said ”I wanted to be brave and simple, but found it would cost too much Now I hope you won't be hurt, and by and by perhaps you will be glad I let you go You will go far, Ji the storms you love; but I could not have taken your path Mine must be sheltered and smooth----”

There wasin a roh His look was puzzled as he turned to dick

”Your sister has turned h I iine you knew?”

”I did know I suspected for some time that she would do so, but she did not tell me until I was in town”

”Then I don't understand----”

dick hesitated before he replied: ”Lance said soht ominous He declared I'd be sorry, and I bothered about it for a day or two Then I saw a light and got the next train to town

Heto marry Evelyn”