n, and held hers in a warm and
grateful grasp.

"God bless you, my dear!" he said. "If you are right, I--I shall owe my
life's happiness to you!"

Nell went up to her room and told Burden to pack a small hand bag. "I am
going away for a few days," she said; and though she endeavored to speak
easily, the maid looked at her anxiously.

"Not bad news, miss, I hope?" she said.

"No; oh, no!" replied Nell.

The earl was waiting for her in the hall, and put her into the brougham;
and he stood and looked after the carriage with conflicting emotions.

Then he went upstairs, and, after pausing for a moment or two, knocked
at his wife's door.

"It is I," he said.

He heard her cross the room, and presently she opened the door. She was
in her dressing robe, and she looked at him as if she were trying to
keep her surprise from revealing itself in her face.

"May I come in?" he said, his color coming and going. "I--I want to
speak to you."

She opened the door wide, and he entered and closed it after him.

She moved to the dressing table, and took up a toilet bottle in an
aimless fashion.

"I have come to tell you that I have to go abroad," he said. He had
thought out what he would say, but his voice sounded strange and forced,
and, by reason of his agitation, graver even than usual.

"Yes," she said, with polite interest. "When do you go?"

"To-day--at once," he said. "Can you be ready in time for us to catch
the afternoon mail?"

She turned her head and looked at him. The sun had come out, and shone
through the muslin curtains upon her pretty face and soft brown hair.

"I!" she said, surprised and startled. "I! Do you want me to go?"

"Yes," he said.

He stood, his eyes fixed on hers, his brows knit in suspense and
anxiety.

"Why?" she asked.

He came a little nearer, but did not stretch out his hands, though he
longed to do so.

"Because--I want you," he replied.

She looked at him, and something in his eyes, something new, strange,
and perplexing, made her heart beat fast, and caused the blood to rush
to her face.

"You--want--me?" she said, in a low voice, which quavered. Its tremor drew
him to her, and he held out his arms.

"Yes; I have wanted you--I have always wanted you. Ada, forgive me! Come
to me!"

She half yielded, then she shrank back, her face white, her eyes full of
remorse and something like fear.

"You--you don't know!" she panted.

"Yes, I know all--enough!" he said. "It was