At Love's Cost

She dashed her hand across her eyes, though there were no tears in

them, and stood upright, holding herself tensely as if she were

battling for calm; then she replaced the poignant note in its envelope,

and went back to the stables. Again she met no one, for those who were

down were in at breakfast.

"I have changed my mind, Pottinger," she said; "and will be glad if you

will take the notes, please. See, I have pat them back in the wallet."

"Certainly, miss!" said Pottinger, and he touched his forehead two or

three times, and coloured and smiled awkwardly and looked at her with a

new and vivid interest. One of the maids had run into the stable,

during Maud's absence, and had told him the news that his master was

engaged to Miss Maude Falconer; for the servants, who are so quick to

discover all our little secrets, had already learnt this one, and the

servants' hall was buzzing with it.