from the doctor's arm, twined it round his own.

"How well you look!" he exclaimed. "Dr. Harlowe, we owe you ten thousand
thanks."

"This is a strange way of showing it," said the doctor, looking round
him with a comical expression, "to deprive me of my companion, and leave
me as lonely as Simon Stylites on the top of his pillar."

Mrs. Linwood and Edith, who had seen our entrance, came forward and
congratulated me on my convalescence. It was the first time I had ever
been ill, and the pleasure of being released from durance was like that
of a weary child let loose from school. I was grateful and happy. The
assurance I received from the first glance of Ernest, that what his
mother had promised to reveal had made no change in his feelings; that
the love, which I had almost begun to think an illusion of my own brain,
was a real existing passion, filled me with unspeakable joy. The
warnings of Mrs. Linwood had no power to weaken my faith and hope. Had
she not told me that _her_ love had died? I felt that mine was immortal.

The impression made by my mother's sad history was still too fresh and
deep, and too much of the languor of indisposition still clung to me to
admit of my being gay; but it was pleasant to hear the cheerful laugh
and lively conversation, showing that the tide of social life ran clear
and high. Several new guests had arrived, whom I had not seen before, to
whom I was introduced; but as Dr. Harlowe commanded me to be a good girl
and remain quietly in a corner, a passing introduction limited the
intercourse of the evening.

Just as the doctor was taking leave, a loud, merry ha, ha! came leaping
up the steps, followed by the amazonian form of Madge Wildfire, leaning
on the arm of Mr. Regulus.

"Angels and ministers of grace defend us!" exclaimed Ernest.

"Shade of Esculapius!" cried the doctor, recoiling from the threshold.

"Glad to see me? I know you are. Taken you all by storm. Found this
gentleman wandering like a troubled spirit by the way-side, and pressed
him into service. I shall make a gallant knight of him yet, My dear
soul!" she cried, spying me out and rushing towards me, "I am so glad to
see you here, escaped from the ruthless hands of the doctor. I never saw
such a despot in my life, except _one_;" here she looked laughingly and
defiantly at Ernest,--"he would out-Nero Nero himself, if he had the
opportunity."

"If I were the autocrat of Russia I would certainly exercise the right
of