"Not so much so that I cannot help
you to cross over in safety, if you will
only trust yourself to me.” replies he.
Still she hesitates, and he is not slow
to not ice the eloquent pause.
"is it worth so much thought?"’ he
.bitterly. “It - irely will not in
jure you fatally to lay your hand in
mine for one instant.’’
“You mistake me.” says Mona,
shocked at her own want of courtesy;
and then she extends to him her hand,
and, setting her foot upon the huge
stone, springs lightly to his side.
Once* there she lias to go with him
down the narrow woodland path, there
being no other, and so paces on, silently,
and sorely against her will.
“Sir Nicholas has sent me an invitr
ti< ii for the 19th.” he says, presi
when the silence has become unendu -
able.
"Yes,” says Mona, devoutly hoping
i. - * is going to say he means to refuse it.
But such devout hope is wasted.
"I shah go,” lie says, doggedly, as
though divining her secret wish.
am sure wo shall all be very glad,”
slu says, faintly, feeling herself bound
to make some remark.
“Thanks!” returns he. with an ironi
cal laugh. "How exceedingly well your
tone agrees with your words!”
Another pause. Mona is on thorns.
Will the brandling path, that may give
her a chan< es ;api ng a furt her teU -
a-UU with him, never be reached?
“So Warden failed you?” he says,
presently, alluding to old Elspeth’s
nephew.
“Yes, —so far,” returns she, coldly.
“It was a feeble effort,” declares”he,
contemptuously. siriking with his cane
the trunks of the trees as ho goes by
them.
