tune. It
chanced to be the song to which we had listened the night before:

"I fain would lay in blessing,"--

She drew her loose tea-gown about her, and tried to gather up the
unfastened masses of golden hair, with a charming blush.

"Lewis!" she exclaimed. "Where did you come from? How you frightened
me!"

"Well, you see, after all, I was not detained so long, and I thought if
I hurried back, we might go to the Waddells'! I heard nothing of you, so
I just ran up to get off the city dust concluding you had gone on
without me. In fact, I was starting over there, when I thought you might
be in here, so I came back--and found you. But it's rather late to go,
don't you think?" said I. I had retreated to the window and stood with
my back studiously turned, while my betrothed repaired the ravages made
in her toilet by her siesta.

"Yes, indeed," said Kate, "It is too late by far, and so hot! Let us be
lazy until dinner. Do you want to read to us while we embroider? I know
you do!" and going to the book-case, she brought one of Hamerton's
books which I had been reading aloud to them the day before.

Amy had quietly disappeared, and came down in an incredibly short time
in a fresh, simple gown, with her work in her hand. I read until dinner,
or rather until it was time to dress, and then I laid the book aside,
and went up-stairs with the rest. Hilyard and Mrs. Mershon might return
at any time. I stole downstairs, and into the room devoted to Hilyard's
chemical experiments. Fool! I had forgotten to bring a cup or bottle
with me. I looked hurriedly around the bare room, and discovering a
broken bottle on a shelf, I took the key of the cabinet from its place
and unlocked it.

Yes, there in the corner stood the rough glass bottle, with the metal
around it. I removed the stopper, and having no idea of the amount
necessary to produce the desired result, poured out several
tablespoonfuls, filling up the phial from the faucet at the rough sink
in one corner of the room. I replaced the phial, locked the cabinet,
and concealing the broken bottle in my dressing-gown, lest I should meet
one of the servants, I retraced my steps to my own room. I was not
wholly credulous of its marvellous properties, although Hilyard was not
given to boasting or lying--except to women--but I believed it at least
to be a poison, and I believed that it defied analysis, as he said.

I took from my drawer a pocket flask of sherry, and emptying all b