yes, and he
begged her to try to be calm. "Remember," he said, "we have no
positive, reliable evidence that you are the lost child of Mr. and Mrs.
Phillips. You must not suddenly proclaim yourself. They have probably
despaired so long that they will be unable to credit your story, if too
abruptly told, and any repulse would be very painful to you. Leave it
to me to let the joyful light gradually in upon their minds, and second
me when I refer to you."

"I will do so; trust me," replied Mary, in a low voice.

When the servant came to the door, Mr. Raeburn inquired for Mr.
Phillips only, thinking it best that the first communication should be
made to him alone. They were shown into a pleasant library, opening on
to a piazza by French windows, looking towards the river. Mary seated
herself on a sofa, in the most shadowed part of the room, and kept her
face hidden by a thick veil. She sat in silence, except that to her
ear the beatings of her loving, impatient heart were audible. It
seemed to her a long hour that they were kept waiting, though it was
probably not more than fifteen minutes. Then the door gently opened,
and Mr. Phillips entered. Mary half rose, then sank back, faint with
happiness, for she had recognized his face,--_it was that of her
dream-father_!

Mr. Phillips was of middle age; the dark-brown curls of his hair were
slightly tinged with silver. His face was very thoughtful, if not sad
in expression. His form was stately, and his manner courteous and
refined,--a gentleman, every inch of him.

He pleasantly greeted by name Mr. Raeburn, who then introduced his
companion as "Miss Morton." Mary rose, courtesied, and again sank into
her seat. The galloping heart was getting almost too much for
her,--she was gasping under her veil.

Mr. Phillips apologized for keeping his visitor so long waiting, and
added, "When word was brought me of your arrival, I was assisting in
carrying Mrs. Phillips from her sitting-room to her bedchamber. She is
ill."

Mary started, and a new terror seized her.

"Not seriously ill, I hope?" said Mr. Raeburn.

"No, we trust not, now; but she has been very ill from a fever, and is
still extremely delicate. She has been a good deal of an invalid for
the past fifteen years," said Mr. Phillips with a sigh.

After a plan formed that morning, Mr. Raeburn then requested the
opinion of Mr. Phillips, as a lawyer, on an important land claim in
which he was interested.