Nothing was said for some minutes after Kate's departure, and Alice was beginning to shake from her that half feeling of danger which had come over her. Vavasor had sat back in his chair, leaning against the house, with his feet raised upon a stool; his arms were folded across his breast, and he seemed to have divided himself between his thoughts and his cigar. Alice was looking full upon the river, and her thoughts had strayed away to her future home among John Grey's flower-beds and shrubs; but the river, though it sang to her pleasantly, seemed to sing a song of other things than such a home as that,--a song full of mystery, as are all river songs when one tries to understand their words.
"When are you to be married, Alice?" said George at last.
"Oh, George!" said she. "You ask me a question as though you were putting a pistol to my ear."
"I'm sorry the question was so unpleasant."

Nothing was said for some minutes after Kate's departure, and Alice was beginning to shake off that half feeling of danger which had come over her. Vavasor had sat back in his chair, his arms folded, smoking silently. As Alice looked upon the river, her thoughts strayed to her future home among John Grey's flower-beds and shrubs; but the river seemed to sing a song of other things - a song full of mystery, as are all river songs.
"When are you to be married, Alice?"
"Oh, George! You startled me."
"I'm sorry. 