After All.

He could not help noticing their strange manner and reserve , but this he attributed to the event of the morning . Miss Phane was not to be seen , but she was considerably better ; so , offering every apology , he reluctantly left . He could not understand , or believe his good fortune all at once , and its surprising effect to all , as well as himself . He felt intensely sorry ( though , paradoxical as it seemhe was glad too ) that Miss Phane should have

may , , fainted . It established his ability to influence , ancl showed him her impressive nature ; and he imagined , rightly too , that she swooned more on his account than from the music . His mincl was in a wandering state as he slowl y walked toward his lodgings . He was oblivious of all surroundings , and moved as one in a dream . His thoughts were of Miss Phaneancl of what her opinion would be of him

, now . Though constantly thinking of her , he did not imagine that her emotion would be traced to its probably prime cause by her tender parents . He had more than a week to wait before he was to write to her ; could he not make au excuse to write , asking if she had recovered ? But no , it would be too presumptuous ancl egotistic to write on such grounds , especially after he had called ancl ascertained that she was better ; ancl besides , had he not her

supreme ( to him ) command not to write in less than a fortnight ; ancl he would not break such a command or desire from her , under any ordinary circumstances , for worlds . No , he would be loyal and true to her wish , or else how could he ever be worthy of her if he disobeyed her so soon ? No ; he must wait . Ah ! how long the clays had seemed to him ; ancl how many there were now in a fortnight ! Another Sunday had to roll away first , and then

how would Mr . and Mrs . Phane look upon the attachment ? He longed for the day to come , and yet he feared its consequences ; but rather would he know the worst than wait in torturing , silent suspense . He looked upon Mr . Phane with somewhat different eyes now from what he had formerly done . Before he had been a benevolent , tender-hearted , and genteel merchant ancl friend or patron . Now he had added a more imperious quality to his character in Arthur ' s eyes ; now he was the owner of something Arthur coveted , of something clearer to him than life , ancl he felt that Mr . Phane , to whom he owed so much , held his happiness in his hands . On his master ' s word hung his joy or

misery . The mystic future would unfold it all in time ; but Time , that fleet-winged phantom , was sluggish and slow to him . Waiting was agony . The tardy hours crept on like snails , seeming years in passing . Could he bear it and keep silent ? Thus did he live and wait in suspense ; but he knew that he had achieved an extraordinary triumph with the musical publicancl he was encouraged to

, labour on . All would come right in the end . Doubtless he would have to bear his share of misfortunes ( had he not alread y ?) , but he would be manly , ancl conquer them all . He was to play his piece again that night ; yes , he would strive to throw even more spirit and passion into it ; he would startle his audience still more . Night came at last , and the church was crowded to excess . Humberton ' s

fame had spread far ancl wide , ancl not a seat was to be had . The clergyman felt that his audience had not come to hear his sermon , but to listen to the organist , and he was accordingly unequal to the occasion . The church service approached to its close , but Arthur could see none of the Phanes there . In vain he scrutinized every corner of the building , imagining they might have changed their situation at this timebut nowhere were they to he seen . His

, heart was heavy , and he did not think he could play his march with such success as had marked his morning ' s performance . Still the Phanes might be there among that crowd ; perhaps near the vestry , or in some part where he could not see , and he could not be sure they were not somewhere in that vast congregation . He saw ancl knew what a lot depended on him , ancl that the