204 ARDENMOHR. 



and remarked that Hope would by-and-by meet his 

 beloved after so long an absence. 



"A week or two is not a very trying separa- 

 tion," the Major said quietly. 



U A week or two? Why, bless the man, more 

 than a year ! " 



"What did you say, Abbott?" and, starting to 

 his feet, he grasped my shoulder like a vice. 



" I just meant to say, that Hope's second cousin, 

 Emily Peyton, has returned from Germany, and is 

 to join Mrs. Peyton soon; they are in a sort 

 engaged, Mrs. Peyton tells me." 



While I explained this, Major Duncan was looking 

 at me with such a strange, anxious expression, then 

 he said, almost in a whisper 



" And it is is not Annie ?" 



" Certainly not, never was." 



On my saying so, he leant his head on his hand 

 for a while, seemingly in deep thought; at last he 

 looked up in my face and with an odd smile he 

 said, " What a fool I have shown myself ! You 

 will forget all this, Abbott ? " 



"Well a yes; until you remind me. And 

 nothing could be better." 



"How better?" 



