,
and that cedar a pillar of holy flame, around which he ministered."

"You did not know any of us, then?" inquired Harrington, eagerly.

"I did not know myself, for I, too, seemed like an angel, bound to love
everything around me, as heavenly spirits do."

"Then you remembered nothing?" questioned Harrington, bending his
earnest eyes upon her with a power that would have won the truth from a
statue.

She did not blush; her eyes looked quietly and truthfully into his, and
a pang both of joy and regret came to his heart, as he regarded the
innocence of that look.

"It was, after all, a pleasant hallucination," said Mabel, "for even
the governess, whom I do not much like, seemed transformed into a
seraph, as she bent over me. As for Ben Benson, he was really sublime."

"Thank God!" answered Harrington, but the exclamation was followed by a
deep sigh, as if the anxiety preying upon him had been changed, not
entirely removed. Still there was a relief and freedom in his manner, as
he drew a chair up to the window, and fell into his old habit of talk.

"Why is it," inquired Mabel, "that you have not once been to inquire
after me? It was very strange."

"I did inquire after you every day," was the rather embarrassed answer.

"I did not hear of it," said Mabel, easily satisfied, and too happy for
repining at anything.

"You may not know," answered her companion, "that I have been making
arrangements to go abroad?"

"Abroad? But when--why?"

"Indeed, it seems impossible to give a reason, except that my health
seemed to require change."

"Your health?"

"Remember, please, that your first remark was about my looks."

"But you are not really suffering?"

"Not now--not as I have been."

"But you will leave us?"

Harrington left his seat, and began to pace the room, as was his habit,
when conflicting thoughts beset him. Mabel followed his movements sadly
with her eyes, which were eloquent of a thousand gentle feelings.

"And you _will_ go?" she said at last, with a quiver of the voice. "You
will leave us all?"

"No," answered Harrington with energy, "I will not go. Why undertake a
pilgrimage when there is nothing to gain, and nothing to avoid."

"Thank you--thank you," said Mabel, with her eyes full of tears.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE LOVE SONG.

There was a slight stir in the hall, and Ralph came into Mrs.
Harrington's room followed by Lina, both brilliant and smiling, as if
the conservatory in whi