“I still insist that you love him without seeing him. He would be a dangerous rival to any other lover who came to woo you in person,” he said. “Are you so sure?” cried the girl, with delicious new-fledged coquetry that made his nerves thrill with ecstasy. Another laughing glance from her large, dark, flashing eyes almost made him fall at her feet in frank adoration. She suspected his passion, and was coquettishly playing him off against her unknown lover. Carried out of himself, encouraged by her fascinating mood, in another moment he would have gone to the length at least of confessing himself a rival to the unknown, had not a sudden interruption occurred. “Doctor St. Clair would like to see you immediately,” said an attendant, coming up. He did not like to disturb the handsome pair at their tête-à-tête beneath the tree in the soft May sunshine, but the superintendent’s orders were imperative. As soon as Doctor St. Clair had seen the pair alone down in the grounds so close together on the bench, it occurred to him that he would like an immediate consultation with Doctor Rupert upon the case of a patient who had for several days been very ill. So he sent an instant message to break up the too suggestive tête-à-tête. “Excuse me,” Doctor Rupert said, rising, with a low bow to Eva. “Or will you walk back to the house with me?” “I think I will remain out in the sunshine. It is my last day of freedom, you know. To-morrow I shall be imprisoned in the wards,” she answered, nodding at him as he walked away, with a smile of such subtle radiance it warmed his heart like wine. CHAPTER XVII. EVA DISCOVERS HER LOVER. Eva sat smiling in the sunshine with a warm, pink glow on her dimpled cheek and a dreamy light of joy in her large, dark eyes, while she clasped her little white hands to her side as if to still its wild throbbings, murmuring: “Oh, my foolish heart!” From vague, sweet pondering over her treasured poems and their unknown sender, there had come upon her, so gently it was almost unawares, woman’s heritage of joy and sorrow--love! The thrill of a tender voice, the magnetic glance of a pair of beautiful dark eyes, had touched an electric chord in her heart that answered instantly with love awakened from a dreamy sleep. Before she realized it she was singing softly to herself a little ballad of love and joy known to her earlier, happier days, forgotten in her days of sorrow. It bubbled up from her heart now to her rosy lips, and before she knew it, she was singing it through like a happy child--singing, although the shadow of a tragedy hung over her golden head, although gran’ther was gone from her forever, though she was homeless and almost friendless, poor, and despised. Doctor Rupert’s eyes had told her without words that he loved her, and her heart had leaped in her breast with a sudden joy so sweet it was almost pain.