squander upon him one kind
word. Yet am I obliged by circumstance to observe a strained courtesy
towards him, which, frugal as it is, makes me an unwilling hypocrite to
my own heart."

"Tyrrel," ejaculated Butler, "Tyrrel! I have heard no such name abroad!"
then, muttering a deep curse, as he bit his lip with passion, he added,
"Oh, that I could face this man, or penetrate his foul purpose! How is
it likely I might meet him?"

"You shall have no temptation to a quarrel," said Mildred; "your quick
resentment would but give activity to his venom. For the sake of my
peace, Arthur, and of your own, inquire no further. Time may disclose
more than rash pursuit."

"Leave that to sister Mildred and myself, major," said Henry, who
listened with great interest to this conversation, "I have my eye upon
him--let that satisfy you; and when sister Mildred puts up the game,
depend upon it, I will bring him down."

"Thanks, thanks, dear Henry! I can trust you for a ready friend, and
will even follow your good advice. A more favorable season for this
concern may soon arrive; meantime, I will bear this hint in mind."

Again Henry made an appeal to the lovers to bring their conference to an
end. It was a sorrowful moment, the events of which were brief, earnest
and impassioned, and such as a dull scribbler, like myself, might easily
mar in the telling; yet they were such as zealous and eager natures, who
have loved with an intense and absorbing love, and who have parted in
times of awful danger and uncertainty, may perchance be able to picture
to themselves, when they recall the most impressive incident of their
lives to memory. I will only say, that, in that dark shade where the
beech tree spread his canopy of leaves over the cool bank, and marked
his shadow's profile on the green sward--that grassy sward, on which
"the constant moon" lit up the dewy lamps, hung by the spider on blade
and leaf; and in that silent time, when the distant water-fall came
far-sounding on the ear, when sleepless insects chirped in the thicket,
and dogs, at some remote homestead, howled bugle-like to the moon; and
in that chill hour, when Mildred drew her kerchief close around her
dew-besprinkled shoulders, whilst Arthur, fondly and affectionately,
half enveloped her in the folds of a military cloak, as he whispered
words of tender parting in her ear, and imprinted a kiss upon her cheek;
and when, moreover, Henry's teeth chattered like a frozen warder's,