What subtle power caused Marguerite to look around? What subtle power caused her to hold her breath as if oppressed with some invisible presence?
"Miss Verne, I'm glad you are here."
"Thank you Mr. Lawson," was the quiet reply, but in the look there was a world of sympathy that smote deeply into Phillip Lawson's heart.
CHAPTER XXXV.
A MINISTERING ANGEL—A SUDDEN REVELATION.
Phillip Lawson was not surprised at the great change which had been wrought in Marguerite Verne. She was kind and thoughtful, but there was a restraint that made him feel ill at ease.
"Poor girl," thought he, "she feels her father's failure very keenly, not I believe from a selfish view but from her relation to others."
The young man had not divined aright.
He was not aware that Marguerite was the affianced wife of Hubert Tracy. He did not know the nature of the blow that had made such dire havoc upon the constitution of Mr. Verne. He did not know that all the anxious moments of the latter were spent in vainly trying to make known the bitter truth. He did not know that within Mr. Verne's desk was concealed a document which might remain there until too late!
Mrs. Verne had arrived in a state bordering on distraction.