`No，no，’shesaid，earnestlyandkindly，`leaveuslikeafriend——
breakbreadwithusoncemore。Stayhereanddine，stayhereandhelpustospendourlasteveningwithyouashappily，aslikeourfirstevenings，aswecan。Itismyinvitation——MrsVesey’sinvitation——’shehesitatedalittle，andthenadded，`Laura’sinvitationaswell。’
Ipromisedtoremain。GodknowsIhadnowishtoleaveeventheshadowofasorrowfulimpressionwithanyofthem。
Myownroomwasthebestplaceformetillthedinnerbellrang。Iwaitedtheretillitwastimetogodownstairs。
IhadnotspokentoMissFairlie——Ihadnotevenseenher——allthatday。Thefirstmeetingwithher，whenIenteredthedrawing-room，wasahardtrialtoherself-controlandtomine。She，too，haddoneherbesttomakeourlasteveningrenewthegoldenbygonetime——thetimethatcouldnevercomeagain。ShehadputonthedresswhichIusedtoadmiremorethananyotherthatshepossessed——adarkbluesilk，trimmedquaintlyandprettilywithold-fashionedlace；shecameforwardtomeetmewithherformerreadiness——shegavemeherhandwiththefrank，innocentgood-willofhappierdays。Thecoldfingersthattrembledroundmine——thepalecheekswithabrightredspotburninginthemidstofthem——thefaintsmilethatstruggledtoliveonherlipsanddiedawayfromthemwhileIlookedatit，toldmeatwhatsacrificeofherselfheroutwardcomposurewasmaintained。Myheartcouldtakehernoclosertome，orIshouldhavelovedherthenasIhadneverlovedheryet。