recognized
me, as surely as I did her, at first sight. We had an explanation as we
walked out to the University that day."

"But how came the granddaughter of Dr. Beresford Jones ever to have had
such a miserable childhood?"

"Well, you see, there was a disobedient daughter, a runaway marriage, a
profligate husband, and the consequences--poverty, destitution, early
death, and an orphan child left among beggars and thieves! Her
grandfather found her at last and took her under his guardianship. That
is the whole story in brief."

"Well, well, well!" mused Mr. Lyle, with his head on his breast; then,
raising it, he went back to the previous question: "But what about Miss
Electra?"

"I have just told you about her," replied Victor.

"Oh, yes, I know! You have told me something about her, but you haven't
told me all. Take me into your confidence, Victor."

"What do you mean?" inquired Hartman, in some embarrassment.

"Why, that you and your little old acquaintance seem to be very fond of
each other."

Victor laughed in an embarrassed manner, and then said: "Do you know
that when we were in Rat Alley, and she was a tiny child and I was a
lad, there was a promise of marriage between us?"

"That was funny too! Well, what about it?"

"Nothing. Only, if I dared, I would, some day, remind her of it."

"Do, Victor! Believe me, she will not affect to have forgotten it," said
Mr. Lyle, earnestly.

"Ah, but when I think of all I have passed through I dare not ask a
beautiful and happy girl to unite her bright life with my blackened one!
I dare not," said Hartman, very sadly.

"Nonsense, Victor! You are morbid on that subject. Yours is a nobly
redeemed life," said Mr. Lyle, solemnly.

"But--my past!" sighed Victor.

"She had a dark past too poor child! But no more of that. In both your
cases

"'Let the dead past bury its dead!
Live--live in the living present,
Heart within and God o'erhead!'

And now it is time to retire, dear Victor. We keep early hours here,"
said Mr. Lyle, as he reached down the Bible from its shelf, preparatory
to commencing evening service.

Then they read the Word together, and offered up their prayers and
thanksgivings together, and retired, strengthened.

This week, to which Alden Lytton's holiday visit to Blue Cliffs was
limited, was passed by the young people in a succession of innocent
entertainments.

First there was a garden-party and dance at Blue Cliff Hall, at wh