ce, hanging like a veil
of woven frost-work before the glass, rendering every thing beyond
indistinct, but dreamily beautiful.

General Harrington was surprised by the air of almost oriental
magnificence which pervaded this apartment.

This room was not only in powerful contrast with the exterior of the
dwelling, but it possessed an air of tropical splendor that would have
surprised the General in any place. Divans, such as are seldom found out
of an eastern palace, but slightly raised from the floor, and surmounted
with cushions heavily embroidered with gold, ran more than half around
it. A few pictures, gorgeous and showy, but of little value, hung upon
the walls; and there was some display of statuary, equally deficient in
ideal beauty.

The light which fell upon General Harrington, was soft and dreamy imbued
with a faint tinge of greenish gold, like that which the sunshine leaves
when it penetrates the foliage of a hemlock grove in spring. For the bay
window opened into a broad balcony, open in summer, but sheeted in from
the front by sashes, so arranged that the glass seemed to roll
downwards, in waves of crystal, to the floor. This unique conservatory
was crowded with the rarest plants, in full blossom, that swept their
perfume in through the open window, penetrated the floating lace, and
filled that end of the apartment with the glow of their blooming
clusters.

The singular beauty of this scene--the quiet so profound, broken only by
the bell-like dropping of a fountain--and the twitter of birds, hung in
gilded cages, among the blossoms, had an overpowering charm even to a
man so _blase_ as the General. He paused in astonishment, looking around
with pleasant interest--for an instant, forgetful of the person he was
seeking. But, to a man so accustomed to magnificence, this forgetfulness
was but momentary, and with a quiet and almost derisive smile, he
muttered:

"Upon my life, the creature is either witch or fairy, if this is really
her home!"

He was interrupted by a sound, as of one moving upon a cushioned seat.

The light was so dim at the upper end of the room, that General
Harrington had supposed himself alone, till the rustle of silk drew his
attention to a lady rising from the divan, who came toward him with a
sweeping motion, like some tropical bird disturbed in its nest.

The General paused, and stood gazing upon her as she advanced,
irresolute and uncertain; for the whole place was so different