“Never; but if anyone happens to bring it up in connection with anything, he seems that eager to hear every word, that I can’t help feeling sorry for him.  Be careful and don’t make me your second victim.”

“I do not believe I am responsible for Hugh’s condition, and it is not fair for you to speak as if I was; but now he is able to be about, I am in constant terror lest he will corner me sometime and renew his attack.  That is the only thing that makes me feel glad that I am leaving Halifax.  I am afraid I could not bear such another scare as he gave me that day in the boat.”

“I will make it known to him in some way that you are to be my wife; and when he hears it, I am sure he will never trouble you again.  When everything is settled, I will go and claim you; and I fancy Hugh will not stay in Halifax when we are married.  How soon do you think you will be going away?”

“Sometime within a month.  Papa is weatherwise, and thinks the winter will set in early, so is anxious to hasten our departure.”

A few evenings later, there was a small family party at Mrs. Beverly’s, to which Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood and the twin girls were invited.  Cora and Elsie Gurney were also going with Lancy and Hugh.  This being the first time Hugh was able to appear at such a gathering, he was building many air-castles in connection with it, for he would there meet Dexie for the first time since his illness.  He had made inquiries as to whether Dexie would be present, and being assured that she intended going, he looked forward to the meeting with a pleasure that was not unmixed with pain.

But when Dexie heard that Hugh intended going, and had been asking about her intentions also, she thought she would give it up; yet considering that she must of necessity meet him sooner or later, she thought it would be wiser to do so among a number of people.

Everything seemed to go wrong with Gussie that day.  She had heard by some chance that Dexie and Lancy were really engaged, and as Dexie would neither admit nor deny the fact, she felt exasperated almost to madness.

As the day wore on, Gussie’s incessant bickerings became unbearable, and among other things she charged Dexie with the most heartless behavior in regard to Hugh, until she could not bear the thought of meeting him, so she silently decided to remain at home, but to say nothing about her decision until the last moment; consequently, no one had a chance to tell Hugh that Dexie had changed her mind.

When the guests were assembled in the commodious parlors, Hugh searched in vain among the different groups for a trace of the face he was so anxious to see.  Once he gave a start as a face turned towards him—­a face that seemed to belong to the form he was seeking—­but when the sound of the voice reached his ears he turned in disgust, for it was only Nina Gordon.

Later on he learned from Gussie that Dexie had turned “sulky” at the last moment and refused to come.  His face lighted up at the information, and Gussie never knew that her news sent him to make excuses and adieus to his hostess, and drove him homeward at a pace that seemed unnecessary, seeing that he had so much leisure time at his command.