or
been supplanted by fancies of imitation caught from other models, if
everything had gone well with her. But several causes conspired as she
grew into a woman to make her think very seriously that Alceste was not
wrong in his general estimate of men and their merits. She was intensely
fond of her mother, and when her mother died her father married again,
his second wife being a young woman who put him under the most absolute
control, being not by any means an ill-natured person, but only
strong-willed, serene, and stupid. Then her brother, to whom she was
devoted, and who was her absolute confidant, went away to Canada,
declaring he would not stand a stepmother, and that as soon as his
sister grew old enough to put away domestic control he would send for
her; and he soon got married and became a prominent member of the
Dominion Legislature, and in none of his not over frequent letters said
a word about his promise to send for her. Now, her father was some time
dead; her stepmother had married Mr. Saulsbury, an elderly Nonconformist
minister, who was shocked at all the ways of Alceste's admirer, and with
whom she could not get on. It would take a very sweet and resigned
nature to make one who had had these experiences absolutely in love with
the human race, and especially with men; and Alceste accordingly became
more dear than ever to Miss Grey.

Now she was about to leave the place and open of her own accord a new
chapter in life. She had to escape at once from the dislike of some and
the still less endurable liking of others. She was determined to go, and
yet as she looked around upon the place, and all its dear sweet memories
filled her, it is no wonder if she envied the calmness of the face that
symbolized eternal rest. At last she broke down, and covered her face
with her hands, and gave herself up to tears.

Her quick ears, however, heard sounds which she knew were not those of
the rustling woods. She started to her feet and dried her eyes hastily.
Straight before her now there lay the long broad path through the trees
which led up to the gate of the mausoleum. The air was so exquisitely
pure and still that the footfall of a person approaching could be
distinctly heard by the girl, although the newcomer was yet far away.
She could see him, however, and recognized him, and she had no doubt
that he had seen her. A thought of escape at first occurred to her; but
she gave it up in a moment, for she knew that the pe