He looked down at her silently for a few moments. Could she be acting? He would put her to the test.
"Miss Marion, I will hold you to your promise; you said you would tell me honestly how you felt about this piece of news."
"And so I will," replied Marion, surprised at his serious manner. "Mr. Thornton is as fine a young man as I know, and has always been a good friend of mine. When I tell you that I think him in every way worthy of Florence, you may know that is the highest compliment I can pay him; and I am perfectly delighted they are engaged."
"And this is on your honor?"
"On my honor," answered Marion, looking up at him with her clear, truthful eyes.
"I believe you," he said; "but forgive me if I ask why, feeling so, the tears should have come into your eyes when you read the letter?"
"Dr. Drayton," cried Marion, her face flushing, "it was too bad of you to watch me! It is cruel in you to ask me."
"I know it is cruel," he answered; "but nevertheless I must ask you."
"I will tell you," replied Marion, hurriedly, "or you will misunderstand me. Florence and I have been very, very dear friends; we have loved each other all our lives, as I think few girls rarely do love; there has never been a cloud between us that was not soon cleared away; and when I first read that she was engaged to Arthur Thornton, I could not help feeling a little bit of sorrow, in spite of my greater joy, to think that now she would have some one to take my place away from me. But that feeling is all gone now—or will be soon," she added, choking down a sob, that would come in spite of her.
"Marion," he almost whispered, as he bent over her, "are you sure you never loved Arthur Thornton?"