sing attitude. As soon as he saw us, his countenance lighted up with a
joyful animation, and he offered his arm to Margaret with eager
gallantry. I wondered I had not discovered before how very good looking
he was. Never, till he visited us in New York, had I thought of him but
as an awkward, rather homely gentleman. Now his smile was quite
beautiful, and as I accompanied them into the drawing-room, I thought
they were quite a splendid-looking pair. Mrs. Linwood was in the front
room, which was quite filled with guests and now illuminated for the
night.

"Not now," I heard Margaret whisper, drawing back a little; "wait a few
moments."

"Oh! it will be all over in a second," said he, taking her hand and
leading her up to Mrs. Linwood, who raised her eyes with surprise at the
unwonted ceremony of their approach, and the blushing trepidation of
Margaret's manner.

"Permit me to introduce Mrs. Regulus," said he, with a low bow; and
though he reddened to the roots of his hair, he looked round with a
smiling and triumphant glance. Margaret curtsied with mock humility down
to the ground, then breaking loose from his hand, she burst into one of
her Madge Wildfire laughs, and attempted to escape from the room. But
she was intercepted by Dr. Harlowe, who caught her by the arm and kissed
her with audible good-will, declaring it was a physician's fee. The
announcement of the marriage was received with acclamation and clapping
of hands. You should have heard Edith laugh; it was like the chime of
silvery bells. It was so astonishing she could not, would not believe
it. It was exactly like one of Meg's wild pranks to play such a farce.
But it was a solemn truth. Margaret, the bride of the morning, became
the presiding queen of the evening; and had it not been for the lonely
occupant of the library, how gaily and happily the hours would have
flown by. How must the accents of mirth that echoed through the hall
torture, if they reached his morbid and sensitive ear! If I could only
go to him and tell him the cause of the unwonted merriment; but I dared
not do it. It would be an infringement of the sacredness of his
expiatory vow. He would know it, however, at the supper table; but no!
he did not appear at the supper table. He sent a message to his mother,
that he did not wish any, and the hospitable board was filled without
him.

"I can hardly forgive you, Margaret," said Mrs. Linwood, "for not giving
us an opportunity of providing a