Our Gentleman Boarder 



the news otherwise than w4th anger and 

 contempt. She implored Mary not to let 

 her present happiness run away with her 

 reason, but to brace herself for a harsh 

 rebuff 



" I have thought of it continually, 

 Mother," Mary said, *'and I have told 

 Mr. Trevanion I could not possibly become 

 engaged to him, if after all right argu- 

 ment they still oppose it. I hope they will 

 give me a fair chance," she went on earn- 

 estly, "that they will see me before they 

 give their final answer. Mr. Trevanion 

 says his father is especially tender-hearted 

 and would soon like me well enough." 



I think Mother must have looked at her 

 with some pride. Mary was only twenty, 

 as fresh as a flower, and with a certain 

 dignity of presence which had naught to 

 do with size, for she was slender and 

 none too tall. She had beautiful hair 

 and Saxon blue eyes, very grave and in- 

 tent, when the gleam of passing fun was 

 out of them. 



" Yes, dear, I hope they'll see you, I'm 

 sure," said the Mother. She was never 

 very demonstrative with Mary, nor Mary 

 with her, but she put up her hands as she 

 spoke to stroke the girl's soft sunny hair, 

 a little shyly, for Mary usually showed her- 

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