've beaten me seven games out of our
last ten."

"I don't believe it was fair," said a lady's voice. "I firmly
believe, and I've said it all along, that you let me beat you. Why,
you taught me chess yourself, and how is it possible that I could
catch up to my master in so short a time?"

"I don't pretend to account for it, Miss Lorton," said the
gentleman's voice. "There, before you, is something better than
theory. It is an indisputable fact. There is my king, with your queen
immediately in front of him, and your rook in the distance guarding
that strong-minded lady. And where is my queen? Why, gadding about
with knights and bishops, when she ought to have been standing by the
side of her unfortunate husband."

As these words came to her ears Mrs. Hart stood still, and one hand
grasped Obed Chute's arm convulsively, while the other was pressed to
her brow.

"What is this? Who are _these_? Are _they_ here?" she asked, in a
thrilling voice. "Am I dreaming? Is this some mockery, or are they
both here? Is it some surprise? Tell me, my friend. Did you arrange
all this?"

She looked at Obed in a bewildered manner. He thought that her mind
was wandering.

"Come," said he, kindly, "you must go to your room now and rest, and
then--"

But here a loud remark from the gentleman, followed by a merry answer
from the lady, interrupted Obed, and Mrs. Hart prevented him from
finishing his sentence; for suddenly she started away from him, and,
without a word, hurried into the room from which the voices came.
Obed stood for a moment quite confounded, and then, feeling assured
that the poor creature's brain was turned, followed her hurriedly.

Mrs. Hart burst into the room, with a white face and eager, inquiring
eyes. Roused by the noise of footsteps, Lord Chetwynde and Zillah
turned. To the amazement of both they saw Mrs. Hart.

Had the form of General Pomeroy, or of Earl Chetwynde, appeared at
that instant before them, they could not have been more confounded.
Lord Chetwynde, however, was cool and calm. There was nothing in his
secret which was very important, and there was therefore no fear of a
discovery to disturb the unfeigned joy that mingled with his wonder
at this sudden appearance of his old nurse, blended also with deep
and sharp grief at the weary, wan, and wretched face that he saw
before him. As to his assumed name and the revelation of his true
one, that did not trouble him at all, for he could give his
explan