And away went Charles with still faster strides than before; half over the park and then home again, and up to his room, where he thrust his things hastily into his portmanteau; it was but a few minutes' work, and then he was off downstairs again. Here he met Anne. "Why Charles," said she, "where have you been all the morning? We have finished breakfast. What a lazy creature you are!" "I am going to make a start of it," replied he. "I am off to join again." "Going back to your regiment!" exclaimed Anne in amazement at the sudden announcement. "When?" "Now, this moment." "What will Isabella think? How surprised she will be!" "No, not a bit of it, she is too accustomed to my sudden movements, and scarcely volunteered a remark when I told her." "But your leave is only half expired?" "Isn't it?" he replied, as if he had never thought at all about it. "Well, so much the better, I can knock about abroad for a short time. Good-bye." Anne looked in utter bewilderment, until she suddenly caught sight of the sorrowful, despairing expression of his face. What had happened? "Don't say good-bye like that, Charley," said she, her kind heart roused at once at the sight. "Something has vexed you. Can I help you in any way? I am ready and willing, if you will only tell me how." "No. I am past help, Anne," and he dashed away a tear which had started at the sound of her kind voice, and then added bitterly--"I am a fool to care so much about it!" "About what, Charles? Do tell me, I am certain I could help you." She pitied him entirely, and would have braved a dozen Mrs. Linchmores to have seen the old happy, merry expression on his face again. "You have always been kind, Anne, and so I do not mind telling you, what I dare say you have seen all along, although I've been such a blind fool to it! It's no fault of hers, Anne,--but--but she loves another." "Impossible! I don't believe it!" said Anne, hastily, forgetting all her wise resolutions of never helping him to find out Amy cared for him. "Nor I, for a long time," and he thought of the long sleepless hours he had passed in pacing up and down his room. "But it is so." "How did you find it out? Did she tell you?" "No; but some one else did, little suspecting the interest I had in the matter. I could not believe, at first, that all my hopes were to be dashed aside at once in that way. I could have sworn she took an interest in me, but there I have convinced myself and--and--I am a miserable wretch, that's all, with my eyes wide open to my dreadful fate. Bid her good-bye for me, Anne. I could not trust myself to do so without showing her I love her. Thank you for all your kindness." And he wrung her hand. "Where is Frances?"