She laughed a little hysterically. "I have just been explaining to Mr. Vronsky how impossible it all is," she cried. "Of all the women that I could not imagine Denzil to be in love with.--I always thought it was you, Felix!" "It might have been," put in Vronsky. "Felix might have been her favored suitor, had he so willed." "That cannot be said, since such a thing was never contemplated by me," replied Felix, promptly. "Hush, someone is coming," whispered Rona, suddenly; and Felix rose with alacrity, as the door was opened, and Miss Forester entered, followed by two menservants with lamps. * * * * * * * She stopped short as soon as the persons present became apparent to her. "Miss Rawson?" she began, as if bewildered. Felix stepped forward, to be greeted by her with kind cordiality. "Miss Rawson has not come. She had an accident--she was ill," he explained. "This is Miss Leigh, my _fiancée_." He led Rona across the room, and presented her. "By great good fortune I found Miss Leigh quite unexpectedly at Gretz, and brought her on," he said. "The journey was one which she should never have attempted alone. But she thought my brother was dying." Rona had recovered her wonted control by now. "Mr. Denzil Vanston has been like an elder brother to me ever since Felix was obliged to go away," she explained. "When he telegraphed for us to come to him, it did not seem to me possible to disregard the message. But I fear that I have inadvertently given a great deal of trouble, for there is no inn at Savlinsky where I could stay. Please forgive me. A telegram sounds so peremptory. When Denzil telegraphed 'Come,' I concluded that he must have made arrangements for our reception." "All arrangements are made for your reception, my dear child," said Miss Forester, warmly. "I tremble to think of your undertaking such a journey; but what a good thing that Felix met you! And now that you are safely here, all is well." She could afford to say, "All is well." A short week ago it would have been otherwise. The story of the broken sixpence about the neck of Felix had then been a thorn in her memory, for she feared that the girl she loved might have to suffer. But since the coming of Denzil all was changed. She was able to welcome Rona without reservations, and to feel thankful that the two girls were not rivals; for, even in her traveling garb, Veronica was beautiful enough to strike the eye of any unprejudiced person. "My friend, I congratulate you," said Miss Forester, turning with a mischievous smile to Felix. His eyes were upon the face of the woman so incredibly surrendered to him, and he smiled gravely. He had not yet had time to realize his happiness--to appreciate what it all meant. The one supreme fact that Rona loved him was destroying the proportions of everything else.