book,
but with a rapid movement, he grasped the rein below the bit with both
hands firmly, and swung upon it with his whole weight. The frightened
animal turned half round, stumbled, and rolled upon his side, his mate
falling upon his knees beside him; the carriage was overturned with a
crash, and little Pompey pitched out upon the greensward, unhurt.

By this time, Beverly, followed by a crowd of excited negroes, had
reached the spot.

"How is it, Arthur," said Beverly, placing his hand affectionately on
his friend's shoulder, "are you hurt?"

"No," he replied, the melancholy look softening into a pleasant smile;
but as he rose and adjusted his disordered dress, he coughed
painfully--the same dry, hacking cough that had often made those who
loved him turn to him with an anxious look. It was evident that his
delicate frame was ill suited to such rough exercise.

"We shall be cheated out of our ride this morning," said Beverly, "for
that axle has been less fortunate than you, Arthur; it is seriously
hurt."

They moved slowly toward the house, Oriana looking silently at the grass
as she walked mechanically at her brother's side. When Arthur descended
into the drawing-room, after having changed his soiled apparel, he found
her seated there alone, by the casement, with her brow upon her hand. He
sat down at the table and glanced abstractedly over the leaves of a
scrap-book. Thus they sat silently for a quarter hour, when she arose,
and stood beside him.

"Will you forgive me, Mr. Wayne?"

He looked up and saw that she had been weeping. The haughty curl of the
lip and proud look from the eye were all gone, and her expression was of
humility and sorrow. She held out her hand to him with an air almost of
entreaty. He raised it respectfully to his lips, and with the low,
musical voice, sadder than ever before, he said:

"I am sorry that you should grieve about anything. There is nothing to
forgive. Let us forget it."

"Oh, Mr. Wayne, how unkind I have been, and how cruelly I have wronged
you!"

She pressed his hand between both her palms for a moment, and looked
into his face, as if studying to read if some trace of resentment were
not visible. But the blue eyes looked down kindly and mournfully upon
her, and bursting into tears, she turned from him, and hurriedly left
the room.

CHAPTER III.

The incident related in the preceding chapter seemed to have effected a
marked change in the demeanor of Orian