ngland. Never was such foresight required
to be exercised in building houses as here. Before we begin, we have
to order every column, lock, hinge, and screw that will be required.
We cannot go into the next street, as in London, and get them cast at
a minute's notice. Mr. L. says somebody will have to go to England very
soon and superintend the selection of a large order of this kind. I only
wish I may be the man.'

There before her lay the deposit-receipt for the two hundred pounds,
and beside it the elegant present of Knight. Elfride grew cold--then her
cheeks felt heated by beating blood. If by destroying the piece of paper
the whole transaction could have been withdrawn from her experience, she
would willingly have sacrificed the money it represented. She did
not know what to do in either case. She almost feared to let the two
articles lie in juxtaposition: so antagonistic were the interests they
represented that a miraculous repulsion of one by the other was almost
to be expected.

That day she was seen little of. By the evening she had come to a
resolution, and acted upon it. The packet was sealed up--with a tear
of regret as she closed the case upon the pretty forms it
contained--directed, and placed upon the writing-table in Knight's room.
And a letter was written to Stephen, stating that as yet she hardly
understood her position with regard to the money sent; but declaring
that she was ready to fulfil her promise to marry him. After this letter
had been written she delayed posting it--although never ceasing to feel
strenuously that the deed must be done.

Several days passed. There was another Indian letter for Elfride. Coming
unexpectedly, her father saw it, but made no remark--why, she could not
tell. The news this time was absolutely overwhelming. Stephen, as he
had wished, had been actually chosen as the most fitting to execute the
iron-work commission he had alluded to as impending. This duty completed
he would have three months' leave. His letter continued that he should
follow it in a week, and should take the opportunity to plainly ask
her father to permit the engagement. Then came a page expressive of his
delight and hers at the reunion; and finally, the information that he
would write to the shipping agents, asking them to telegraph and tell
her when the ship bringing him home should be in sight--knowing how
acceptable such information would be.

Elfride lived and moved now as in a dream. Knight h