THE ORDEAL 



Mr. Austin is Lord Ravensham's 

 heir, you know." 



" I know, I know all that. And I 

 like 'the Devil' better than I liked 

 any one before. He is, for one thing, 

 a gentleman. Only yesterday he was 

 telling me all about his home and his 

 people. His mother and sisters must 

 be sweet. And I thought then how 

 lovely it would be but to-day, I see 

 that it is impossible." 



Edna here sank down into a low 

 chair, and, after toying for an instant 

 with a paper-knife, resumed her 

 troubled gaze on the distant scene, 

 resting her chin upon her hand. 



The mother, in her confusion of 

 mind, remained silent, and the girl 

 presently continued her almost sad 

 confession. 



90 



