“‘What do you want of me?’ I demanded imperiously; ’tell me, in heaven’s name, and have done with it.’

“’Now you are sensible.  I want you to find out just how you are situated in regard to the gentleman we have been remarking upon, and, to be plain, I’ve set my heart on your marrying him.’

“‘Mr. Angier,’ announced a servant in the doorway.  We had been so busily engaged in our discussion that we had not heard the bell.  My aunt rose and retreated.  ‘It’s only Angier, excuse me to him,’ and she glided though a side door.

“I rose to welcome the visitor, with a clouded brow, and eyes that sparkled ominously.  I was thoroughly out of humor.  It was an unlucky morning.  Before he left, Wainwright Angier made me an offer of his heart and hand.  I refused him at once, coldly and decidedly.

“‘Is it because you prefer another?’ he asked, agitatedly.

“‘No, that is not the reason,’ I replied, proudly.  ’I value you highly as a friend, but nothing more.  I am very sorry this has occurred, but you at least will exculpate me from the charge of coquetry.  I never dreamed of this.’

“‘I know,’ he answered, sadly enough.  ’It is as I feared.  And now let me ask you, as one whose happiness has long been dearer to me than my own, do you ever expect to be happy with such a man as Geoffrey Westbourne?  Do not ascribe my motive to jealousy, for, believe me, I am incapable of a base action.  It is only out of the deepest solicitude for your welfare that I ask this question, for I fear for your future happiness, and that you may be fatally mistaken in this man.’

“‘You are impertinent, sir,’ I said, rising.  ’Geoffrey Westbourne is nothing to me, and you need not fear that my affections will be misplaced.  I must respect the man I love, and look up to him as my superior.’  My pride was hurt, now, and I was thoroughly angry.

“‘Pardon me,’ he said, also rising, then added brokenly—­’Remember that my heart is always open to you.  I am sadly afraid that you do not understand your own feelings.  Farewell, we may never meet again, but my last prayer will be for your happiness.’

“As he went into the hall, the figure of a man stopped him, and Geoffrey Westbourne called out cheerily;

“’Well met, Angier!  What! how pale you look; you are ill.  Let me go with you to your lodgings.  I will excuse myself to the ladies.’

“‘Thank you, I am quite well,’ said Angier, in a low voice.  ’I will not detain you.  Good bye.’

“I never saw a face so radiant as was that of Geoffrey Westbourne, as he entered the room where I stood, hardly knowing whether to withdraw and ignore these embarrassing circumstances, or meet him in as collected a manner as possible.

“I had no choice.  As was always the case, in this man’s presence, I seemed to have no will of my own.  I feared him, and when he repeated the same question, in almost the very words his friend had uttered, I gave a far different reply.  But, if not dictated by inclination, I knew that it was expected of me by every one.  It almost seemed as if circumstances had forced me to choose this alternative, and I accepted my fate in complete indifference.