elcome,' sighed
the widow. 'But for that very reason I would add a welcome guest to the
number, that I may know whether I am yet mistress of my own house.'

In obedience to a nod from her mother. Faith, with blushing cheeks and
downcast eyes, took a light to show the guest to his chamber. He
followed her through the Gothic building, up one flight of steps and
down another, through crooked passages, until they reached a small, but
neatly furnished chamber, in which was a snow white bed. While Faith
removed the flowered damask covering, filled the shining pewter ewer
with fresh water, and hung a towel near it, he was occupied in
observing the beautiful form of the lovely blonde, whose graceful
motions, employed for the promotion of his comfort, were for that
reason rendered doubly charming.

'Perhaps I render you an unwelcome service in taking you from this
place, fair maiden?' said he, by way of beginning conversation.

'How can you think so, sir?' quickly replied Faith. 'I thank my God and
yourself for my release.'

'Well, one cannot always know,' said Dorn, jestingly. 'The heart may
often have attachments in a place otherwise particularly disagreeable.'

'If I thought you alluded to the captain,' said Faith, with some
asperity, 'I could become angry with you, in the first hour of our
acquaintance.'

'He is not, indeed, a very fascinating suitor,' continued Dorn; 'but
there nevertheless may be in the city of Sagan, some slender rosy
youth, who has eyes for so beauteous a maiden.'

'I know none here for whom I could have eyes,' answered the maiden,
quickly, and immediately became somewhat alarmed at the traitorous
emphasis she had laid upon the word _here_.

'Not here, but elsewhere?' asked Dorn, seizing her delicate white hand.

'These bold questions come from the evil customs of your hateful
military profession,' said Faith, endeavoring to withdraw her hand. He
suffered her to regain it only by slow degrees, letting but one rosy
finger out of his hand at a time, while his pulse was becoming greatly
accelerated by the soft, caressing touch. His eyes sought and met hers,
which looked kindly upon him, not with the sun's consuming fire, but
with the mild chaste light of the friendly moon.

'So you have not yet loved, charming Faith?' he earnestly asked,
holding fast the last little finger of the imprisoned hand.

'What a question,' whispered she, turning away from him. 'I am scarcely
sixteen years old.'

'Th