How gentle he had been with her, and yet his very gentleness had been inexorable. Alas! she saw but too plainly that her riches and that miserable debt were dividing them. The pride and independence of the man rose between them like a wall of rock.
"He loves me, but he never means to tell me so," she said to herself in unutterable bitterness. "He will break both our hearts first."
As she entered the drawing-room at Church-Stile House Langley put down her work with a pleasant smile and word of greeting.
"Have you come to be congratulated, my dear?" she said, taking the girl in her arms, and kissing her with more than usual affection.
Queenie suffered the caress passively, and then sat down by the fire, shivering slightly as though she were cold.
"You have given us all a great surprise."
"Have I?"
"I was so startled when Garth told me last night that I could hardly take in the sense of his words. To think that it is you, and not Mr. Logan, who has been our secret benefactor!"
"Don't, Langley; I feel as though I could not talk about it."
"Will you let me talk about it instead, dear Queenie; I feel as though I can never love you enough for what you have done for us, and Cathy will feel the same; it was such true friendship. Ted was here just now singing your praises. I wish you could have heard him."