He looked longingly after her; but discretion
forbade.
He now crawled by Albion Villa twice every day, wet or dry, and had the
good fortune to see her twice at the drawing-room window. He was constant
at St. Anne's Church, and one Thursday crept into the aisle to be nearer
to her, and he saw her steal one swift look at the gallery, and look
grave; but soon she detected him, and though she looked no more towards
him, she seemed demurely complacent. Alfred had learned to note these
subtleties now, for Love is a microscope. What he did not know was, that
his timid ardour was pursuing a masterly course; that to find herself
furtively followed everywhere, and hovered about for a look, is apt to
soothe womanly pride and stir womanly pity, and to keep the female heart
in a flutter of curiosity and emotions, two porters that open the heart's
great gate to love.
Now the evening before his visit to the Dodds, Dr. Sampson dined with the
Hardies, and happened to mention the "Dodds" among his old patients: "The
Dodds of' Albion Villa?" inquired Miss Hardie, to her brother's no little
surprise.
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