David Baker’s Opinion

he was prepared for disappointment; he had not known how strong his hope had really been until that hope was utterly taken from him.

David, with a sigh, returned the crochet antimacassar carefully to its place on the chair back.

“ Eric, last night, to be honest, I thought that, if I found I could not help this girl, it would be the best thing that could happen, as far as you were con— cerned. But since I have seen her—well, I would give my right hand if I could do anything for her. She is the wife for you, if we could make her speak: yes, and by the memory of your mother ”—David brought his fist down on the window sill with a force that shook the easement,— “ she is the wife for you, speech or no speech, if we could only convince her of it.”

“ She cannot be convinced of that. No, David, I have lost her. Did you tell her what you have told me? ”

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