ht gleaming
through the keyhole of her father's door, opposite her own, and heard the
sound of low but earnest conversation mingled with the restless tramp of
pacing feet. She was powerfully tempted to cross the passage, knock, and
have the ordeal ended then and there; but second thought whispered,
"To-morrow will soon be here; be patient." She entered her room, and,
wearied by the events of the day, fell asleep, dreaming of the new lot in
the cemetery, and the lonely, joyless man who haunted it.

As she adjusted her riding-habit the following morning, and suffered Andrew
to arrange her stirrup, the latter said good-humouredly--

"So, Mas' Hugh got the start of you? It isn't often he beats you."

"What do you mean?"

"He started a while ago, and, if he drives as he generally does, he will
get to his plantation in time for dinner."

"Did father go, too?"

"No, ma'am; only Mas' Hugh in his own buggy."

Returning from her ride, she stood a moment on the front step, looking down
the avenue. The Bermuda terrace blazed in the sunlight like a jewelled
coronal, the billowy sea of foliage, crested by dewy drops, flashed and
dripped as the soft air stirred the ancient trees, the hedges were all
alive with birds and butterflies, the rich aroma of brilliant and countless
flowers, the graceful curl of smoke wreathing up from the valley beyond,
the measured musical tinkle of bells as the cows slowly descended the
distant hills, and, over all, like God's mantling mercy, a summer sky.

Involuntarily she stretched out her arms to the bending heavens and her
lips moved, but no sound escaped to tell what petition went forth to the
All-Father. She went to her room, changed her dress, and joined her father
at the breakfast-table. Half-concealed behind his paper, he took no notice
of her quiet "good morning," seeming absorbed in an editorial. The silent
meal ended, he said, as they left the table--

"I want to see you in the library."

She followed him without comment; he locked the door, threw open the
blinds, and drew two chairs to the window, seating himself immediately in
front of her. For a moment he eyed her earnestly, as if measuring her
strength; and she saw the peculiar sparkle in his falcon eye, which, like
the first lurid flash in a darkened sky, betokened tempests.

"Irene, I was very much astonished to learn the result of an interview
between Hugh and yourself; I can scarcely believe that you were in earnest,
and fee