direction to judge just what her emotions were. Presently these,
too, stepped forward into the excited circle of young people, and were
met by the two maids who were bringing in their wraps. Amid the bustle
which now ensued, I caught sight of Mr. Deane's face peering from an
open doorway. It was all alive with hope. I also perceived a lady
looking down from the second story, who, I felt sure, was Mrs. Burton
herself. Evidently my confident tone had produced more effect than the
words themselves. Every one looked upon the jewel as already recovered
and regarded my invitation to the stable as a ruse by which I hoped to
restore universal good feeling by giving them all a share in my triumph.

All but one! Nothing could make Miss Glover look otherwise than anxious,
restless and unsettled, and though she followed in the wake of the
rest, it was with hidden face and lagging step, as if she recognized the
whole thing as a farce and doubted her own power to go through it
calmly.

"Ah, ha! my lady," thought I, "only be patient and you will see what I
shall do for you." And indeed I thought her eye brightened as we all
drew up around the huge caldron standing full of water over the stable
stove. As pains had already been taken to put out the fire in this
stove, the ladies were not afraid of injuring their dresses and
consequently crowded as close as their numbers would permit. Miss Glover
especially stood within reach of the brim, and as soon as I noted this,
I gave the signal which had been agreed upon between Mr. Ashley and
myself. Instantly the electric lights went out, leaving the place in
total darkness.

A scream from the girls, a burst of hilarious laughter from their
escorts, mingled with loud apologies from their seemingly mischievous
host, filled up the interval of darkness which I had insisted should not
be too soon curtailed; then the lights glowed as suddenly as they had
gone out, and while the glare was fresh on every face, I stole a glance
at Miss Glover to see if she had made good use of the opportunity just
accorded for ridding herself of the jewel by dropping it into the
caldron. If she had, both her troubles and mine were at an end; if she
had not, then I need feel no further scruple in approaching her with the
direct question I had hitherto found it so difficult to put.

She stood with both hands grasping her cloak which she had drawn tightly
about the rich folds of her new and expensive dress; but her eyes