This page has been validated.
F. C. PHILLIPS.
69

make her acquaintance when he had told her that she might count upon her assistance and sympathy? He walked out of the house in a furious frame of mind. He was angry with his sister, and still more so with himself for being influenced by what she had said. He went straight to his rendezvous with Lady Francis, and when she caught sight of him she started up and came forward with outstretched hands. At once his doubts disappeared. It only needed one look from her pleading brown eyes for all his old confidence and infatuation to be restored.

"How kind you are!" said Fenella, with gratitude beaming in her face. "Have you been all this time with your sister? When am I to see her?"

Then Jacynth felt extremely uncomfortable, and looked down and kicked about the gravel, unable to answer the questions which were put to him.

"What did your sister say?" pursued Fenella. "Did you explain everything to her?"

"Yes, I explained everything," he said awkwardly.

"But not so well as I can explain it," she continued, and then, "I am sure I shall like your sister—that is to say, if she is like you."

"She is not like me," he said moodily. "She is altogether different."

"Never mind," she said brightly; "I shall like her all the same."