he
lightest whisper is everywhere echoed."

"No matter, Grace," said I, "let them stare. What isn't kindness must
be admiration."

"I am of opinion," said Miss Moggadore, "that the ceremony ought to be
public."

"I'd rather not," I answered. "In fact, we both had rather not."

"But so many witnesses!" said Miss Moggadore.

"Shall _you_ be present?" inquired Mrs. Barstow.

"I hope to receive an invitation," answered Miss Moggadore.

"We shall count upon your being present," exclaimed Grace, sweetly; but
the smile with which she spoke quickly faded; she looked grave and
nervous, and I found some reproach in the eyes she lifted to my face.

"It seems so unreal--almost impious, Herbert, as though we were acting
a sham part in a terribly solemn act," she exclaimed, as we seated
ourselves.

"There is no sham in it, my pet. Yonder sits Mr. Higginson, a lawyer,
and that man has no doubt whatever that when we are united by the
captain we shall be as much man and wife as any clergyman could make
us."

"I consent, but only to please you," said she, with something of
restlessness in her manner, and I noticed that she ate but little.

"My darling, you know why I wish this marriage performed," I said,
speaking softly in her ear, for there were many eyes upon us, and some
ladies, who had not before put in an appearance, were seated almost
opposite, and constantly directed their gaze at us, whilst they would
pass remarks in whispers when they hung their heads over their plates.
"It can do no possible harm; it must be my cousin, not Captain Parsons,
who makes you my wife. But then, Grace, it may be binding too,
requiring nothing more than the sanctification of the union in the
regular way, and it may--it will--create a difficulty for your aunt
which should go very near to extinguishing her."

She sighed and appeared nervous and depressed; but I was too eager to
have my way to choose to notice her manner. It would be a thing of the
past in a very little while; we might hope at all events to be on our
way home shortly, and I easily foresaw I should never forgive myself
after leaving the _Carthusian_ if I suffered Grace to influence me into
refusing the captain's offer to marry us, odd as the whole business
was, and irregular as it might prove, too, for all I could tell.

When breakfast was over, Mrs. Barstow took Grace to her cabin, and
there they remained. Miss Moggadore stepped up to me as I was about to
go on dec