But she would not dwell upon the hope, and Hilliard, not a little
vexed, again became silent.

Her next visit was after a lapse of three weeks. She had again been
suffering from a slight illness, and her pallor alarmed Hilliard.
Again she began with talk of Patty Ringrose.

"Do you know, there's really a chance that we may see her before
long! She'll have a holiday at Easter, from the Thursday night to
Monday night, and I have all but got her to promise that she'll come
over here. Wouldn't it be fun to let her see the Black Country? You
remember her talk about it. I could get her a room, and if it's at
all bearable weather, we would all have a day somewhere. Wouldn't
you like that?"

"Yes; but I should greatly prefer a day with you alone."

"Oh, of course, the time is coming for that, Would you let us come
here one day?"

With a persistence not to be mistaken Eve avoided all intimate
topics; at the same time her manner grew more cordial. Through
February and March, she decidedly improved in health. Hilliard saw
her seldom, but she wrote frequent letters, and their note was as
that of her conversation, lively, all but sportive. Once again she
had become a mystery to her lover; he pondered over her very much as
in the days when they were newly acquainted. Of one thing he felt
but too well assured. She did not love him as he desired to be
loved. Constant she might be, but it was the constancy of a woman