It was plain to him from the
first that he was not the only man who favored her with admiring
glances; and he soon discovered that young Merriweather and his
friend Hackley had passed beyond the neutral ground of non-
committal. He set himself the task of learning how far these
suitors had progressed in her good graces; he would not be guilty
of the folly of giving chase to a prize already virtually
captured. This too had proved a failure. Clearly, would he know
what Mr. Merriweather and Mr. Hackley were to Miss Madison he must
acquire the power of mind reading. Each certainly appeared to be a
very good friend of hers--a much better friend than he could claim
to be, for in his case she maintained a certain unapproachableness
which perplexed and nettled him.
After a week of rest, observation, and rather futile effort to
secure a reasonable share of Miss Madison's society and attention,
he became assured that he was making no progress whatever so far
as she was concerned, but very decided progress in a condition of
mind and heart anything but agreeable should the affair continue
so one-sided.
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