conveying anything to his mind; he used it now with a bitterness at heart which crept into his voice. [Pg 46] "And don't you return the compliment? I see no photographs of Mr. Miles here; and he would look so well in one." "He has never been taken in his life—and never means to be. Now, Dick, you have seen them all," she added quite softly, her heart smiting her; and with that she rolled all the prints into one little cylinder. Dick was in that nervous state in which a kind word wipes out unkindness the moment it is spoken, and the cloud lifted at once from his face. They were silent for more than a minute. Colonel Bristo quietly left the room. Then a strange change came over Dick. While others had been in the room, composure had sat naturally upon him; but now that they were alone together, and the dream of his exile so far realised, that armour fell from him, and left his heart bare. He gazed at his darling with unutterable emotion; he yearned to clasp her in his arms, yet dared not to profane her with his touch. There had been vows between them when they parted—vows out of number, and kisses and tears; but no betrothal, and never a letter. He could but gaze at her now—his soul in that gaze—and tremble; his lips moved, but until he had conquered his weakness no words came. As for Alice, [Pg 47] her eyes were downcast, and neither did she speak. At length, and timidly, he took her hand. She suffered this, but drew ever so slightly away from him. [Pg 47] "Alice," he faltered, "this is the sweetest moment of my life. It is what I have dreamt of, Alice, but feared it might never come. I cannot speak; forgive me, dear." She answered him cunningly: "It is very nice to have you back again, Dick." He continued without seeming to hear her, and his voice shook with tenderness: "Here—this moment—I can't believe these years have been; I think we have never been separated——" "It certainly doesn't seem four years," said Alice sympathetically, but coolly. Dick said nothing for a minute; his eyes hung on her downcast lids, waiting for an answering beam of love, but one never came. "You remember," he said at last, in a calmer voice, "you remember the old days? and our promises? and how we parted?"
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