There was a few minutes’ silence, when Hugh asked, with a perceptible paleness in his dark face,

“When do you expect to be married?”

“She will not leave home while her father lives; whether we shall be married while he is so ill, I cannot say.  Much depends on circumstances.  Her father is a very sick man, though owing to his cheerfulness the fact is not apparent to everyone.”

The conversation was carried on until the clock struck the midnight hour.  Hugh seemed to lay bare his heart to his successful rival, and Guy listened in surprise to the account of his many efforts to win Dexie’s favor, even so far as to tell of the unfortunate boat sail and its consequences.

Guy’s heart was full of pity as he listened.  How much Hugh loved her when, in spite of the rebuffs and scornful refusals, he could be so blinded by passion as to dare attempt to win a promise by such rash and desperate means!  Dexie’s love for himself seemed all the greater since it had stood such a siege from this fierce, passionate man, and Guy wondered no longer that Dexie was alarmed when she heard of his coming.

When Hugh mentioned what Gussie had said of the “city girl,” Guy could not help smiling, and explaining the circumstances that gave rise to the story, added: 

“I believe it was one of your letters that Gussie captured that night, Mr. McNeil; but as I played the lover and claimed the letter, Gussie felt obliged to believe me, and my imaginary city girl has kept her quiet ever since.”

“I can well believe the distress Dexie felt when she heard the letter read aloud.  You did a kind act that not one in a hundred would have dared to do.  No wonder she loves you.  But away so far from her, it seemed that I could not bear my life if I did not tell her, even on paper, what was in my heart.  I am glad to know you, Traverse; if I cannot win her myself, it is a comfort to know she is in such good keeping.”

At last Hugh rose to go, and the hands of the accepted and the rejected lover met in a warm, friendly grasp.

The next day when Hugh made his appearance at Mr. Sherwood’s, and made known the fact that he had spent the forenoon with Guy at his office, Dexie looked her surprise, but she blushed with pleasure to hear his words of praise when speaking of her lover.

Hugh remained several days in Lennoxville, but he seldom made his appearance at the house unless in company with Guy.

Gussie could not understand this at all, but her spiteful remarks were so wide of the mark that they were only amusing.

She needed no one to tell her that Hugh was as much in love with Dexie as ever, yet why he allowed Guy Traverse to monopolize her was a mystery that was incomprehensible.

Hugh spent the last evening of his stay at the Sherwoods’, and, in spite of Gussie’s raillery, he was silent and sad; even Guy could not rouse him into cheerfulness.