How it happened Marie afterwards hardly realised, but she had become separated from her cousin, who had wandered on into the next room, leaving her gazing listlessly about, when suddenly her heart seemed to stand still, for close beside her there was a low sigh, and she felt more than saw that Glen was at her elbow. Mastering her emotion, she turned quickly to reproach him for following her there, when she saw that he had his back to her, and was gazing intently at a portrait. She did not speak. It was a kind of gasp or catching of the breath; but he heard it, and turned sharply round to face her. "Marie!" he exclaimed. "Hush! Don't speak to me, for God's sake!" She said no more, but reeled, and would have fallen had he not caught her arm, and led her through the next opening and downstairs to the refreshment-room, quite empty at that early hour, the waiters not being ready for visitors. There were a couple of the attendants at hand, ready to bring water and ice, and at the end of a few minutes Marie gazed wildly about her-- starting violently, though, as she heard the deep voice at her side. "That will do," he said quietly. "A few minutes' rest and she will be quite recovered." Then they were alone, with Glen whispering to her eagerly, and she listening with her eyes half-closed and a strange dazed look in her pallid face. "No, no!" she said at last feebly. "You shall," he cried, and his strong will prevailed over her more and more. "You must leave him, Marie. I do not ask it: I know you love me. You always have loved me. Come to me, my darling, or I must die." "Die!" she moaned. "No, no; not you. O God, forgive me! Would that I were dead!" "Dead, when there is a life of happiness before us?" he whispered. "Marie dearest, at last! You understand?" he said, after whispering for some time. "Yes, yes," she said slowly; and he spoke again very quickly, but in low, distinct tones. "Yes," she repeated heavily, "I understand." "Marie!" "Lady Henry was taken suddenly ill in one of the rooms, Miss Allerton," said Glen hurriedly. "Fortunately I was there." "Ill," said Ruth slowly, as she ran to Marie's side. "Fortunately you were there. Captain Glen, I will see to my cousin now. Will you have the goodness to go?" He raised his hat and slowly walked away. "Marie, Marie!" cried Ruth piteously. "How could you deceive me so?" "No, no!" cried Marie excitedly. "I did not know he was here. It was an unexpected meeting. Take me--" She was about to say "home," but she could not utter the word, and as they walked back Ruth thought of this, and a hand seemed to compress her heart as she said to herself: "The work of months undone!" Volume 3, Chapter XII. JOHN HUISH GETS BACK PART OF HIS BRAINS.