He kept her hand, and looked intently at her.

She did not change color, nor did that disappointing friendliness leave her steady eyes.
"She does not love me," he said to himself.

"It is strange, but she does not.

But the day will come." "You are going to London, are you not ?" asked Ruth, withdrawing her hand at last; and after hearing a detailed account of his difficulties and anxieties about money matters, and after taking an immense weight off his mind by telling him that they would have no influence in causing her to alter her decision, she sent him beaming and rejoicing on his way, quite a different person to the victim of anxiety and depression who had arrived at Slumberleigh an hour before.
Mrs.Alwynn was much annoyed at Dare's entire want of heart in leaving the house without coming to see her, and during the remainder of the morning she did not cease to comment on the differences that exist between what people really are and what they seem to be, until, in her satisfaction at recounting the accident to Evelyn Danvers, a new and sympathetic listener, she fortunately forgot the slight put upon her ankle earlier in the day.

The complete enjoyment of her sufferings was, however, destined to sustain a severe shock the following morning.
She and Ruth were reading their letters, Mrs.Alwynn, of course, giving Ruth the benefit of the various statements respecting the weather which her correspondents had confided to her, when Mr.Alwynn came in from the study, an open letter in his hand.