it so deftly that he felt rather than observed it. Miss Smith still systematically snubbed him when he broached the subject of Zora. With others he did not speak; the matter seemed too delicate and sacred, and he always had an awful dread lest sometime, somewhere, a chance and fatal word would be dropped, a breath of evil gossip which would shatter all. He had hated to obtrude his troubles on Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell, who seemed so torn in soul. But today he must speak, although time pressed.
‚Äú Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell,‚Äù he began hurriedly, ‚Äúthere‚Äôs a matter‚ÅÝ‚Äîa personal matter of which I have wanted to speak‚ÅÝ‚Äîa long time‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù The dinner-bell rang, and he stopped, vexed.
‚ÄúCome up to the house this afternoon,‚Äù she said; ‚ÄúColonel Cresswell will be away‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù Then she paused abruptly. A strange startling thought flashed through her brain. Alwyn noticed nothing. He thanked her cordially and hurried toward the dining-hall, meeting Colonel Cresswell on horseback just as he turned into the school gate.