room till you are more
composed; I will tell your father what has happened, so your timidity
will be spared that."

"Oh, don't tell him anything, mamma; don't tell him this," sobbed Della.

"Nonsense, Dort; worse and worse. Go to your room, and don't make your
appearance again until you can come with a face more composed, and
features not all swollen and distorted by weeping."

Della obeyed, and her mother saw her no more that night.

"Oh, Minny!" exclaimed the young girl, as the privacy of her own
apartment was gained, and she threw herself, still sobbing, on the
quadroon's bosom; "didn't you know before I went down that I never would
accept him, that I never could marry him, never?"

"Yes, Miss, I knew it."

"Yet you implied to mamma, Minn, that you believed I had accepted him,
and you know she thinks I tell you everything. Oh, Minny, you musn't
tell falsehoods for my sake!"

"I told no falsehood, Miss; I only asked your mamma a simple question,
that you might get free, as I knew you wished to be."

"But I know she thought you meant that."

"It is wrong for people, to jump so hastily at conclusions."

"But, Minny, you know you intended mamma should jump at that."

"Well, Miss Della, don't chide me now about it; if it got you off
without any more questions you are very glad, are you not?"

"Of course, if it wasn't falsehood."

"It certainly was not, Miss Della; now dry your eyes, and I will show
you something."

"A letter, Minn, from--from _him_?"

Minny smiled, and nodded her head.

"Bathe my eyes, then, and I won't shed another tear."

Minny obeyed; and Della, with trembling fingers, tore open the letter,
and perused it.

"Is it good, Miss?"

"Sweet Minny, read it yourself."

The quadroon took it, and, as she stood behind her mistress, the tremor
which seized her frame, when she looked upon that handwriting, was
unseen and unthought of by any but herself.

"Delightful, Miss Della."

"Yes; now, Minny, put it with the rest."

"You won't have it beneath your pillow then, for the first night?"

"No, Minn; put it away. I am going to dream of General Delville,
to-night, if I can--the best and noblest, and kindest man, excepting
somebody you know, that ever I knew."

"Indeed, Miss! I'm so glad he proved so."

"Oh, yes, Minn, I can never tell you how noble and good he is; but,
Minn, these letters--Bernard's letters--you are very sure you kept them
all safe, perfectly secure?"

"As the appl