other more openly than we do. If she told you anything about it, I think you ought to let me know. I have waited a long time!" There was a pathos in the sound of those last few words which went straight to Mrs Trevor's heart, and she answered as frankly as he had spoken. "Yes, indeed, it has been a hard time for you both. Miss Beveridge quite broke down after you left last night, and I gathered from what she said that at the time of your proposal she was taken by surprise, and felt nervous and uncertain of herself, as girls often do. It was only after you had sailed, and she was at home again, that she realised what a blank your absence made, and knew that she had loved you all the time. She hoped you might write, or see her on your return." "But she had not the courage to write herself, and acknowledge her mistake? Well, well! Women have their own code of honour, I suppose, but it would have been a gracious act. I remembered her always, but it did not seem to me the straight thing to force myself on a girl half my age, who had already refused me once, and so we have gone on misunderstanding all these years. Then I suppose trouble began? Her people were not rich, but she had a comfortable home, so far as I knew." "The parents died, and she was obliged to earn her own living. She has been teaching music in London for the last fifteen years." The General groaned. "I know! I know! Dragging about in all weathers, to earn a few shillings for hearing wretched brats strumming five-finger exercises. Beg pardon, ma'am--I should not have said that to you! You have children of your own." "But I do not in the least envy their music-mistress!" cried Mrs Trevor, smiling. "It is a hard, hard life, especially when it is a case of going back to an Institution instead of a home. It is young Mrs Vanburgh, Betty's friend, to whom you are really indebted for this meeting. It was her idea to welcome lonely gentlewomen to her home, and Miss Beveridge happened to be her first visitor." "God bless her!" said the General reverently. He sat in silence for some minutes, gazing dreamily before him, a puzzled look on the red face. At last--"Now there's the question of the future to consider!" he said anxiously. "I'm getting old--sixty-four next birthday, precious near the allotted span of life, but she is twenty years younger--she may have a long life before her still. It would break my heart to let her go on working, but she'd be too proud to take money from me, unless-- unless-- Mrs Trevor, you are a sensible woman! I can trust you to give me a candid answer. Would you consider me a madman if I asked the girl a second time to marry me, old as I am, gouty as I am? Is it too late, or can you imagine it possible that she might still care to take me in hand?" He looked across the room as he spoke with a pathetic eagerness in his glance, and Mrs Trevor's answering smile was full of tenderness.