Olive Maunders tore herself from his arms with a cry.
"No! no! anything but that," she said with an expression of anger. "What would be the good of your returning Adrian to me if I lose him again, by becoming your wife?—be generous, Dr. Roversmire, you are a learned man far above me in knowledge and wisdom, if you can do what you say, I will ever look upon you as my friend."
"I ask for bread and you give me a stone," said Adrian sadly; "well, so be it, I will try and find your lover and in return I ask your—friendship."
He held out his hand and she clasped it in both of hers.
"I must go back to town," he said after a short silence. "Say good-bye to your father for me."
"What are you going to do?" she asked quickly.
He turned towards her in some surprise.
"I am going to try and find Adrian Lancaster," he replied quietly, and with a bow left the room at once, while she stood staring idly at the brilliant group on the lawn, and wondered how they could laugh and jest so carelessly while her life's happiness was at stake.