It was when she was alone that those thoughts on her religion came to disturb her mind.

"I do so like walking with you," she said.

"It is the nicest way of talking in the world." "I want to ask you a question, Nina," said Anton; "or perhaps two questions." The tight grasping clasp made on his arm by the tips of her fingers relaxed itself a little as she heard his words, and remarked their altered tone.

It was not, then, to be all love; and she could perceive that he was going to be serious with her, and, as she feared, perhaps angry.

Whenever he spoke to her on any matter of business, his manner was so very serious as to assume in her eyes, when judged by her feelings, an appearance of anger.