king an astral benediction."

Even I, who knew the significance of the words, paused a little at
them. The doctor and Goldberger were hopelessly at sea. After all, the
words were a very good description of the weird ceremony.

"Well," I said, "and after your father appeared, what happened?"

"He was very excited and spoke to Mr. Swain in a most violent manner.
Mr. Swain attempted to take me away from him, not knowing, at first,
who it was had seized me; but I pushed him back and led my father away
toward the house."

"Did Mr. Swain touch your father?"

"No; I was between them all the time. I was determined that they
should not touch each other. I was afraid, if they came together, that
something terrible would happen."

Goldberger glanced at me.

"Something terrible to your father?" he asked.

"Oh, no," she answered, quickly; "Mr. Swain would not have harmed my
father, but father did not know what he was doing and might have
harmed Mr. Swain."

It was my turn to look at Goldberger.

"After you left the arbour," I asked, "did you see Mr. Swain again?"

"No, I did not see him again."

"You went straight to the house?"

"Yes; father was still very violent. He had forbidden me to see Mr.
Swain or to write to him. He had taken a violent dislike to him."

"Do you know why?"

"Yes," and she flushed a little, but went on bravely. "He believed
that Mr. Swain wished to marry me."

"As, in fact, he did," I commented.

"Yes; or, at least, he did before his financial troubles came. After
that, he wished to give me up."

"But you refused to be given up?"

"Yes," she said, and looked at me with eyes beautifully radiant. "I
refused to be given up."

I felt that I was rushing in where angels would hesitate to enter, and
beat a hasty retreat.

"Was your father always opposed to your marriage?" I asked.

"No; he has wanted me to wait until I was of age; but he never
absolutely forbade it until a few months ago. It was at the time he
first tried to persuade me to become a convert to Hinduism."

"What occurred after you and your father reached the house?"

"Father was very angry, and demanded that I promise never to see Mr.
Swain again. When I refused to promise, he sent me to my room,
forbidding me to leave it without his permission. I came up at once,
more than ever convinced that father needed medical attention. I was
very nervous and over-wrought, and I sat down by the window to control
myself before goin