my heart I
dare to arraign the decrees the world has adopted for its guidance? Do
I presume to believe that I can play the rebel successfully against the
haughtiest aristocracy of Europe?--There is yet one question, papa,"
said she, slowly and deliberately, "that I would wish to ask you. It is
the last I will ever put, leaving to your own discretion to answer it
or not. Why was it--I mean, with what object did you place me where by
habit and education I should contract ideas of life so widely different
from those I was born to?"

"Can't you guess?" said he, rudely.

"Mayhap I do guess the reason," said she, in a low but unbroken voice.
"I remember your saying one night to Mr. Beecher, 'When a colt has a
turn of speed, he 's always worth the training.'"

Davis grew crimson; his very ears tingled as the blood mounted to his
head. Was it shame, was it anger, was it a strange pride to see the
traits of his own heart thus reflected on his child, or was it a
blending of all three together? At all events, he never uttered a word,
but walked slowly along at her side.

A low faint sigh from Lizzy suddenly aroused him, and he said, "Are you
ill,--are you tired, girl?"

"I 'd like to go back to the house," said she, calmly but weakly. He
turned without a word, and they walked on towards the inn.

"When I proposed this walk, Lizzy, I never meant it to have been so sad
a one."

"Nor yours the fault if it is so," said she, drearily.

"I could, it is true, have kept you longer in the dark. I might have
maintained this deception a week or two longer."

"Oh, that were useless; the mistake was in not--No matter--it was
never a question wherein I could have a voice. Has n't the night grown
colder?"

"No; it's just what it was when we came out," said he, gruffly. "Now
that you know all this affair," resumed he, after a lapse of some
minutes, "there 's another matter I 'd like to talk over; it touches
yourself, too, and we may as well have it now as later. What about
Beecher; he has been paying you attentions, hasn't he?"

"None beyond what I may reasonably expect from one in his position
towards me."

"Yes, but he has, though. I sent over Lienstahl to report to me, and
he says that Beecher's manner implied attachment, and yours showed no
repugnance to him. Is this true?"

"It may be, for aught I know," said she, indifferently. "Mr. Beecher
probably knows what he meant. I certainly can answer for myself, and
will say that