When he examined the attitude of his own heart toward her he was not
surprised that his affection was passing swiftly into a love deeper
and far more absorbing than Stella Wildmere had ever inspired.
"The old law of cause and effect," he said, smiling to himself, "and
I can imagine no effect in me adequate to the cause. Even when she
scarcely cast a shadow she was more companionable than Stella, but it
never occurred to me to think of her in any other light than that of
little sister Madge. Almost as soon as the thought occurred to me,
and I had a right to love her, love became as natural as it was
inevitable. Even in the height of my infatuation for Stella, Madge was
winning me from her unconsciously to myself."
Such thoughts and convictions imparted a gentle and almost caressing
tone to his words when Madge welcomed and accompanied him to his late
supper on his return to the mountains.
[Illustration: "PROMISE ME YOU WILL TAKE A LONG REST."]
This significant accent was more marked than ever when she promenaded
with him for a brief time on the piazza. Nor did a little brusqueness
on her part banish the tone and manner which were slight indeed, but
unmistakable to her quick intuition.
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