hould not be kneeling here at your feet now."

Lillian made no reply, but pressed the proud, drooping figure more
closely to her side.

"I can hardly tell the rest," said Beatrice; "the words frighten me as
I utter them. This man, who has been the bane of my life, was going
away for two years. He was to claim me when he returned. I never
thought he would return; I was so happy, I could not believe it." Here
sobs choked her utterance.

Presently she continued: "Lily, he is here; he claims me, and also the
fulfillment of my promise to be his wife."

A look of unutterable dread came over the listener's fair, pitying face.

"He wrote to me three weeks since; I tried to put him off. He wrote
again this morning, and swears he will see me. He will be here tonight
at nine o'clock. Oh, Lily, save me, save me, or I shall die!"

Bitter sobs broke from the proud lips.

"I never knelt to any one before," Beatrice said; "I kneel to you, my
sister. No one else can help me. You must see him for me, give him a
letter from me, and tell him I am very ill. It is no untruth, Lily. I
am ill, my brain burns, and my heart is cold with fear. Will you do
this for me?"

"I would rather almost give you my life," said Lillian gently.

"Oh, do not say that, Lily! Do you know what there is at stake? Do you
remember papa's words--that, if ever he found one of us guilty of any
deceit, or involved in any clandestine love affair, even if it broke
his heart he would send the guilty one from him and never see her
again? Think, darling, what it would be for me to leave
Earlescourt--to leave all the magnificence I love so dearly, and drag
out a weary life at the Elms. Do you think I could brook Lord Earle's
angry scorn and Lady Helena's pained wonder? Knowing our father as you
know him, do you believe he would pardon me?"

"I do not," replied Lily, sadly.

"That is not all," continued Beatrice. "I might bear anger, scorn, and
privation, but, Lily, if this miserable secret is discovered, Lord
Airlie will cease to love me. He might have forgiven me if I had told
him at first; he would not know that I had lied to him and deceived
him. I can not lose him--I can not give him up. For our mother's
sake, for my sake, help me, Lily. Do what I have asked!"

"If I do it," said Lillian, "it will give you but a few days' reprieve;
it will avail nothing; he will be here again."

"I shall think of some means of escape in a few days," answ