Marian Nowell!" He repeated the name with unspeakable tenderness in his tone--a deeper feeling than would have seemed natural to a passing fancy.

It was more like a symptom of sickening for life's great fever.
It was close upon eleven when he made his appearance in his sister's drawing-room, where Martin Lister was enjoying a comfortable nap, while his wife stifled her yawns over a mild theological treatise.
He had to listen to a good deal of wonderment about the length of his absence, and was fain to confess to an accidental encounter with Captain Sedgewick, which had necessitated his going into the cottage.
"Why, what could have taken you that way, Gilbert ?" "A truant fancy, I suppose, my dear.

It is as good a way as any other." Mrs.Lister sighed, and shook her head doubtfully.

"What fools you men are," she said, "about a pretty face!" "Including Martin, Belle, when he fell in love with your fair self ?" "Martin did not stare me out of countenance in church, sir.

But you have almost kept us waiting for prayers." The servants came filing in.