“Isn’t it very close here?  Will you please to open the hall door?” said Mr. Carrollton suddenly, panting for breath; and, satisfied with her work, Anna did as desired and then left him alone.

“Maggie engaged!” he said; “engaged!—­when I hoped to win her for myself!” and a sharp pang shot through his heart as he thought of giving to another the beautiful girl who had grown so into his love.  “But I am glad I learned it in time,” he continued, hurriedly walking the floor, “knew it ere I had done Henry Warner a wrong by telling her of my love, and asking her to go with me to my English home, which will be desolate without her.  This is why she repulsed me in the woods.  She knew I ought not to speak of love to her.  Why didn’t I see it before, or why has not Madam Conway told me the truth!  She at least has deceived me;” and with a feeling of keen disappointment he continued to pace the floor, one moment resolving to leave Hillsdale at once, and again thinking how impossible it was to tear himself away.

Arthur Carrollton was a perfectly honorable man, and once assured of Maggie’s engagement he would neither by word nor deed do aught to which the most fastidious lover could object, and Henry Warner’s rights were as safe with him as with the truest of friends.  But was Maggie really engaged?  Might there not be some mistake?  He hoped so at least, and alternating between hope and fear he waited impatiently the return of Maggie, who, with each thought of losing her, seemed tenfold dearer to him than she had ever been before; and when at last she came bounding in, he could scarcely refrain from folding her in his arms and asking of her to think again ere she gave another than himself the right of calling her his bride.  But she is not mine, he thought; and so he merely took her cold hands within his own, rubbing them until they were warm.  Then seating himself by her side upon the sofa he spoke of her ride, asking casually if she called at the post office.

“No, we did not drive that way,” she answered readily, adding that the post office had few attractions for her now, as no one wrote to her save Theo.

She evidently spoke the truth, and with a feeling of relief Mr. Carrollton thought that possibly Miss Jeffrey might have been mistaken; but he would know at all hazards, even though he ran the risk of being thought extremely rude.  Accordingly, that evening, after Mrs. Jeffrey and Anna had retired to their room, and while Madam Conway was giving some household directions in the kitchen, he asked her to come and sit by him as he lay upon the sofa, himself placing her chair where the lamplight would fall full upon her face and reveal its every expression.  Closing the piano, she complied with his request, and then waited in silence for what he wanted to say.

“Maggie,” he began, “you may think me bold, but there is something I very much wish to know, and which you, if you choose, can tell me.  From what I have heard, I am led to think you are engaged.  Will you tell me if this is true?”