CHAPTER XXXI.
It was still early on the following morning that Dare, forgetting, as we have seen, his promise to Charles, arrived at Slumberleigh Rectory--so early that Mrs.Alwynn was still ordering dinner, or, in other words, was dashing from larder to scullery, from kitchen to dairy, with her usual energy.

He was shown into the empty drawing-room, where, after pacing up and down, he was reduced to the society of a photograph album, which, in his present excited condition, could do little to soothe the tumult of his mind.

Not that any discredit should be thrown on Mrs.
Alwynn's album, a gorgeous concern with a golden "Fanny" embossed on it, which afforded her infinite satisfaction, inside which her friends' portraits appeared to the greatest advantage, surrounded by birds and nests and blossoms of the most vivid and life-like coloring.

Mr.Alwynn was encompassed on every side by kingfishers and elaborate bone nests, while Ruth's clear-cut face looked out from among long-tailed tomtits, arranged one on each side of a nest crowded with eggs, on which a strong light had been thrown.
Dare was still looking at Ruth's photograph, when Mr.Alwynn came in.
"Do you wish to speak to Ruth ?" he asked, gravely.
"Now, at once." Dare was surprised that Mr.Alwynn, with whom he had been so open, should be so cold and unsympathetic in manner.

The alteration and alienation of friends is certainly one of the saddest and most inexplicable experiences of this vale of tears.
"You will find her in the study," continued Mr.Alwynn.