"Yes."

Doctor John rose from his chair, paced the room
slowly for a moment, and crossing to the fireplace
with his back to Jane, stood under her father's portrait,
his elbows on the mantel, his head in his hand.
interwoven with the pain which the announcement
had given him was the sharper sorrow of her neglect
of him. In forming her plans she had never once
thought of her lifelong friend.

"Why did you not tell me something of this
before?" The inquiry was not addressed to Jane,
but to the smouldering coals. "How have I ever
failed you? What has my daily life been but an
open book for you to read, and here you leave me for
years, and never give me a thought."

Jane started in her seat.

"Forgive me, my dear friend!" she answered
quickly in a voice full of tenderness. "I did not
mean to hurt you. It is not that I love all my friends
here the less--and you know how truly I appreciate
your own friendship--but only that I love my sister
more; and my duty is with her. I only decided
last night. Don't turn your back on me. Come
and sit by me, and talk to me," she pleaded, holding
out her hand. "I need all your strength." As she
spoke the tears started to her eyes and her voice sank