ne. It alluded to her
sister and to poor Jules La Touche in a way that brought the
"bitter bad" blood of the old Dantons to my face. Oh, if I could
have but laid my hands on Mistress Rose at that moment, quiet as I
am, I think I would have made her ears tingle as they never tingled
before.

I said nothing of the letter. My greatest anxiety now was lest
Captain Danton and Mr. Stanford should meet. I was in a state of
feverish anxiety all day, which even Kate noticed. You know she
never liked me, and latterly her aversion has deepened, though
Heaven knows, without any cause on my part, and she avoided me as
much as she possibly could without discourtesy. She inquired,
however, if anything had happened--if I had bad news from her
father, and looked at me in a puzzled manner when I answered "No."
I could not look at her; I could hardly speak to her; somehow I
felt about as guilty concealing the truth as if I had been in the
vile plot that had destroyed her happiness.

Father Francis came up in the course of the day; and when he was
leaving, I called him into the library, and told him the truth. I
cannot tell you how shocked he was at Rose's perfidy, or how
distressed for Kate's sake. He agreed with me that it was best to
say nothing until Captain Danton's return.

He came that night. It was late--nearly eleven o'clock, and I and
Thomas were the only ones up. Thomas admitted him; and I shall
never forget how worn, and pale, and haggard he looked as he came
in.

"It was too late, Grace," were his first words. "They have gone."

"Thank Heaven!" I exclaimed. "Thank Heaven you have not met them,
and that there is no blood shed. Oh, believe me, it is better as it
is."

"Does Kate know?" he asked.

"Not yet. No one knows but Father Francis. He thought as I did,
that it was better to wait until you returned."

"My poor child! My poor Kate!" he said, in a broken voice, "who
will tell you this?"

He was so distressed that I knelt down beside him, and tried to
sooth and comfort him.

"Father Francis will," I said. "She venerates and esteems him more
highly than any other living being, and his influence over her is
greater. Let Father Francis tell her to-morrow."

Captain Danton agreed that that was the very best thing that c