"Strictly and imperatively private.

"Trieste, Tuesday morning.

"My dear Miss Grainger,--I have just arrived here from
India, with important despatches for the government. The
fatigues of a long journey have re-opened an old wound, and
laid me up for a day; but as my papers are of such a nature
as will require my presence to explain, there is no use in
my forwarding them by another; I wait, therefore, and write
this hurried note, to say that I will make you a flying
visit on Saturday next I say _you_, because I wish to see
yourself and alone. Manage this in the best way you can. I
hope to arrive by the morning train, and be at the villa by
eleven or twelve at latest. Whether you receive me or not,
say nothing of this note to your nieces; but I trust and
pray you will not refuse half an hour to your attached and
faithful friend,

"Harry Calvert."

It was a name to bring up many memories, and Miss Grainger sat gazing at
the lines before her in a state of wonderment blended with terror. Once
only, had she read of him since his departure; it was, when agitated and
distressed to know what had become of him, she ventured on a step of,
for her, daring boldness, and to whose temerity she would not make her
nieces the witnesses. She wrote a letter to Miss Sophia Calvert, begging
to have some tidings of her cousin, and some clue to his whereabouts.
The answer came by return of post; it ran thus:

"Miss Calvert has to acknowledge the receipt of Miss
Grainger's note of the 8th inst.

"Miss Calvert is not aware of any claim Miss Grainger can
prefer to address her by letter, still less, of any right to
bring under her notice the name of the person she has dared
to inquire after. Any further correspondence from Miss
Grainger will be sent back unopened."

The reading of this epistle made the old lady keep her bed for three
days, her sufferings being all the more aggravated, since they imposed
secrecy. From that day forth she had never heard Calvert's name; and
though for hours long she would think and ponder over him, the mention
of him was so strictly interdicted, that the very faintest allusion to
him was even avoided.

And now, like one risen from the grave, he was come back again! Come
back to renew, Heaven could tell what sorrows of the past, and refresh
the memory of days that had always been da