"How I love and honor you!" she whispered.
"We will never speak about this again, if you please, dear," said Isabel Stewart, in a slightly tremulous tone. "I wished you to know the truth, but I cannot talk about it. I do not deny the affection; that is something over which I have no control; but I can at least say 'thus far and no farther,' for the sake of conscience and self-respect. Now, about that letter which was handed to you to-day," she continued, suddenly changing the subject. "Suppose we look it over again, and then I think it should go directly into the hands of Mr. Bryant."
She had hardly finished speaking when there came a knock upon her door.
Rising, she opened it, to find a servant standing without and waiting to deliver a card that lay upon a silver salver.
Mrs. Stewart took it and read the name of Royal Bryant, together with the following lines, written in pencil:
"Will Mrs. Stewart kindly excuse this seeming intrusion of a stranger? but I understand that Miss Allandale is with you, and it is necessary that I have a few moments' conversation with her.
R. B."
"Show the gentleman up," the lady quietly remarked to the servant, then stepped back into the room and passed the card to Edith.
The young girl's eyes lighted with sudden joy, and the quick color flushed her cheeks, betraying how even the sight of Roy's name and handwriting had power to move her.
A few moments later there came another tap to tell her that her dear one was awaiting admittance, and she herself went to receive him.