which usually dyed 'Lena's cheek was gone, and pale as
the marble mantel against which she leaned, she answered, proudly, "I
would sooner die than link my destiny with one who could so basely
deceive my cousin, making her believe it was her betrothed husband
whom he saw in Washington instead of his uncle! Marry you? Never,
if I beg my bread from door to door!"

"Noble girl!" came involuntarily from the lips of Durward, who had
held his breath for her answer, and who now glanced triumphantly at
Mrs. Livingstone, whose surmises were thus proved incorrect.

The captain's self-pride was touched, that a poor, humble girl should
refuse him with his half million. A sense of the ridiculous position
in which he was placed maddened him, and in a violent rage he
replied, "You won't, hey? What under heavens have you hung around me
so for, sticking yourself in between me and Anna when you knew you
were not wanted?"

"I did it, sir, at Anna's request, to relieve her--and for nothing
else."

"And was it at her request that you went alone to Sunnyside on that
dark, rainy night?" chimed in Mrs. Livingstone.

"No, madam," said 'Lena, turning toward her aunt. "I had in vain
implored of you to save her from a marriage every way irksome to her,
when in her right mind, but you would not listen, and I resolved to
appeal to the captain's better nature. In this I failed, and then I
wrote to Mr. Everett, with the result which you see."

In her first excitement Mrs. Livingstone had forgotten to ask who was
the bearer of 'Lena's letter, but remembering it now, she put the
question. 'Lena would not implicate Durward without his permission,
but while she hesitated, he answered for her, "_I_ carried that
letter, Mrs. Livingstone, though I did not then know its nature.
Still if I had, I should have done the same, and the event has proved
that I was right in so doing."

"Ah, indeed!" said the captain growing more and more nettled and
disagreeable. "Ah, indeed! Mr. Bellmont leagued with Miss Rivers
against me. Perhaps she would not so bluntly refuse an offer coming
from you, but I can tell you it won't sound very well that the Hon.
Mrs. Bellmont once rode four miles alone in the night to visit a
bachelor. Ha! ha! Miss 'Lena; better have submitted to my terms at
once, for don't you see I have you in my power?"

"And if you ever use that power to her disadvantage you answer for it
to me; do you understand?" exclaimed Durward, startin