im; Hal would not
be amused. She bade him come to the window and watch the fountain in
Union Park, but he strolled back immediately to the luxurious sofa, and
buried his face in his hands. At last he could endure his horrid secret
no longer; it scorched his brain and withered his very heart.

"May, you have not asked me if I saw the mysterious fireman last night?"

May could not trust her voice to reply.

"He was at the fire."

"Was he?"

"I tell you he was," returned Hal, pettishly. "When I say he was, I do
not mean that he was not. I followed him after the fire."

"Did you?"

"Good heavens, you will drive me mad!" Hal sprang to his feet. "I
followed him I say--ay, to the death!"

Then ensued a rapid recital of all that had passed, Hal was excited
beyond endurance, every nerve was stretched to its utmost, and the
purple veins stood out boldly on his white forehead. He did not wait for
May to say a word, but abruptly ended his narrative with:

"Was not this a pretty way to reward him for saving the life of my
cousin--my sister. O, God, must the roar of that terrible whirlpool ring
in my ears forever?" He gazed a moment on May's countenance of
speechless sorrow, and rushed from the room.

For a long time Hal and May scarcely spoke to each other. He felt as
though he had wronged her, and was always restless in her society. He
would not bear to receive the thousand cousinly attentions which May had
always lavished on him, and which she now performed mechanically; he
hated to see the suppers by the corner of the grate, and after a few
evenings would not notice them; but above all he could not endure that
very, very sad expression in May's eyes--for worlds he would have wished
not to be able to translate it. The time for his wedding was fast
drawing nigh, and he knew he should be miserable if May did not smile
upon his bridal.

Weeks passed, and Delancey did not go to a fire; he paid his fines and
remained at home. But he could not sleep while the bells were
ringing--somehow they reminded him of that still night at Hurl Gate. By
degrees the coldness wore off between May and himself, and she consented
to be Emily's, his Emily's bridesmaid.

One night, however, the bell had a solemn summons in it, which Hal could
not resist. It tolled as though for a funeral, and spoke to his very
heart. He threw on his fire-clothes and hastened down town. Delancey
soon reached the scene of destruction. The flames were carousing