"My voice is not what it used to be," he said, apologetically. He lingered until the clock on the mantel struck ten; then he rose and took his departure. To Gerelda's great chagrin, he made no offer to kiss her good-night at parting. It was plainly evident that he wished her to understand that they were on a different footing from what they were on that memorable night when they were parted so strangely from each other. When his footsteps had died away, Gerelda flung herself face downward on the divan, sobbing as if her heart would break; and in this position, a few minutes later, her mother surprised her. "Why, Gerelda!" she cried. "I am shocked! What can this mean? It can not be that you and your lover have had a quarrel the very hour in which you have been restored to each other! Surely, there is no lingering doubt in his heart now, that you eloped!" Gerelda eagerly seized upon this idea. "There seems to be, mother," she sobbed. Mrs. Northrup drew a cushioned chair close beside her daughter, and drew the dark, curly head into her arms. "You must make a confidante of me, my darling, and tell me all he said," she declared. "I was quite amazed to hear the servants say that he had gone so early. I expected to be summoned every moment, to learn that your impatient lover had sent out for a minister to perform the delayed ceremony." Gerelda raised her tear-stained face and looked at her mother. "No; he did not even mention marriage, mother," she sobbed. "What!" shrieked Mrs. Northrup, in dismay. "Do I understand aright--he made no mention of marriage?" The girl sobbed. Mrs. Northrup sprang to her feet and paced up and down the floor. "I-- I do not understand it," she cried. "Tell me what he had to say; repeat the conversation that passed between you." "It did not amount to anything," returned her daughter bitterly. "To be quite plain with you, mamma, he was very distant and cold toward me. In fact, it was almost like getting acquainted with him over again; and to add insult to injury, as he took my hand for an instant at parting, he said, 'Good-night, Miss Northrup.' Oh! what shall I do, mamma--advise me! Ought I to give him up?" "No," said Mrs. Northrup, sternly, "that would never do. That marriage must take place!" CHAPTER XVI. WHAT OUGHT A GIRL DO IF THE MAN SHE LOVES CARES FOR ANOTHER? "Do you hear me, Gerelda?" repeated Mrs. Northrup. "This marriage must go on! It would be the talk of the whole country if Hubert Varrick jilted you. But let me understand this matter thoroughly; did he give you any sort of a hint that he wished to break off with you? You must tell me all very plainly, and keep nothing back. I am older than you are Gerelda, and know more concerning worldly affairs. I now say this much: there must be a rival in the background. When a man has been in love with one girl, and suddenly cools off, there is a reason for it, depend on it."