at Mr. Cameron's, and then as Juno was not present Bell had
him all to herself, talking a great deal of Silverton, of Helen and
Katy, in the latter of whom he seemed far more interested than in her
sister. Many questions he asked concerning Katy, expressing his regret
that Wilford had ever left her, and saying he believed Wilford was
sorry, too. He was in the hospital now, with a severe cold and a touch
of the rheumatism, he said; but as Bell knew this already she did not
dwell long upon that subject, choosing rather to talk of Helen--"as much
interested in the soldiers," she said, "as if she had a brother or a
lover in the army," and her bright eyes glanced meaningly at Mark, who
answered carelessly:

"Dr. Grant is there, you know, and that may account for her interest."

Mark knew he must say something to ward off Bell's attacks, and so he
continued talking of Dr. Grant and how much he was liked by the poor
wretches who needed some one as kind and gentle as he to keep them from
dying of homesickness if nothing else. Once, too, he spoke of a nurse, a
second Nightingale, whose shadow on the wall the soldiers had not kissed
perhaps, but who was worshiped by the pale, sick men to whom she
ministered so tenderly.

"She is very beautiful," he added, "and every man of us would willingly
try a hospital cot for the sake of being nursed by her."

Bell thought at once of Marian, but as Mark knew nothing of their
private affairs she would not question him, and after a few bantering
words concerning Lieutenant Bob and the picture he carried into every
battle, buttoned closely over his heart. Mark Ray took his leave, while
Bell, softened by thoughts of Cob, ran upstairs to cry, going to her
mother's room, as a seamstress was occupying her own. Mrs. Cameron was
out that afternoon, and that she had dressed in a hurry was indicated by
the unusual confusion of her room. Drawers were left open and various
articles scattered about, while on the floor just as it had fallen from
a glove box lay a letter which Bell picked up, intending to replace it.

"Miss Helen Lennox," she read in astonishment. "How came Helen Lennox's
letter here in mother's room, and from Mark Ray, too," she continued,
still more amazed as she took the neatly folded note from the envelope
and glanced at the name. "Foul play somewhere. Can it be mother?" she
asked, as she read enough to know that she held in her hand Mark's offer
of marriage which had in some myster