d. Her appearance was that of a
well-bred, cultivated, almost elegant woman, of whom no man need be
ashamed. Johanna was simply herself, without the least perceptible
change. But Captain Carey again looked ten years younger, and was
evidently taking pains with his appearance. That suit of his had never
been made in Guernsey; it must have come out of a London establishment.
His hair was not so gray, and his face was less hypochondriac. He
assured me that his health had been wonderfully good all the winter. I
was more than satisfied, I was proud of all my friends.

"We want you to come and have a long talk with us to-morrow," said
Johanna; "it is too late to-night. We shall be busy shopping in the
morning, but can you come in the evening?"

"Oh, yes," I answered; "I am at leisure most evenings, and I count upon
spending them with you. I can escort you to as many places of amusement
as you wish to visit."

"To-morrow, then," she said, "we shall take tea at eight o'clock."

I bade them good-night with a lighter heart than I had felt for a long
while. I held Julia's hand the longest, looking into her face earnestly,
till it flushed and glowed a little under my scrutiny.

"True heart!" I said to myself, "true and constant! and I have nothing,
and shall have nothing, to offer it but the ashes of a dead passion.
Would to Heaven," I thought as I paced along Brook Street, "I had never
been fated to see Olivia!"

I was punctual to my time the next day. The dull, stiff drawing-room was
already invested with those tokens of feminine occupancy which I missed
so greatly in our much handsomer house. There were flowers blooming in
the centre of the tea-table, and little knick-knacks lay strewed about.
Julia's work-basket stood on a little stand near the window. There was
the rustle and movement of their dresses, the noiseless footsteps, the
subdued voices caressing my ear. I sat among them quiet and silent, but
revelling in this partial return of olden times. When Julia poured out
my tea, and passed it to me with her white hand, I felt inclined to kiss
her jewelled fingers. If Captain Carey had not been present I think I
should have done so.

We lingered over the pleasant meal as if time were made expressly for
that purpose, instead of hurrying over it, as Jack and I were wont to
do. At the close Captain Carey announced that he was about to leave us
alone together for an hour or two. I went down to the door with him, for
he had