But, my dear Miss Melbury, now that he is gone, may I draw near ?" "I--I can't say anything about that!" she cried, quickly.

"Because when a man has been refused you feel pity for him, and like him more than you did before." This increasing complication added still more value to Grace in the surgeon's eyes: it rendered her adorable.

"But cannot you say ?" he pleaded, distractedly.
"I'd rather not--I think I must go home at once." "Oh yes," said Fitzpiers.

But as he did not move she felt it awkward to walk straight away from him; and so they stood silently together.

A diversion was created by the accident of two birds, that had either been roosting above their heads or nesting there, tumbling one over the other into the hot ashes at their feet, apparently engrossed in a desperate quarrel that prevented the use of their wings.