eccentricities of manner which made him so open to laughter
and misconception.

"I'm so glad to see you!" cried Tom, shaking hands all round again, and
growing redder and redder, to Elsie's intense delight. "I've been like a
fish out of water since you all came away; I just begin to feel like
myself again. Bessie, old girl, are you glad to see me?"

"We shall always be glad to see you, Tom," Elizabeth said, glancing at
her husband.

"Indeed we shall," he said; "you will always find a room at your
service, and a sincere welcome."

No, Elizabeth never could have cared for him--the idea was simply
absurd--he would never think of it again, never!

"I can't tell you how much obliged I am," said Tom, twisting about as if
his joints were out of order, and he was trying to set them straight.

"Your chamber is ready," said Elizabeth; "we expected you to-day."

"He doesn't need to go up now," interposed Elsie; "that checked coat is
bewitching, and he is going to take me out to row. Come along, Don
Quixote--come this instant!"

Elsie ran off, and he followed, obedient as a great Newfoundland dog.

Elizabeth looked after them a little sadly, and smothered a sigh of
anxiety. She saw what Elsie was so heedlessly doing, and knew Tom well
enough to understand how acute his sufferings would be once roused from
his entrancing dream.

So things went on during the whole time of his stay, and there was no
help for it. Elsie made him a perfect slave, and Tom no more thought of
disputing her wildest caprice, than if he had been some untutored fawn,
made captive to the spells of a Dryad.

Elsie saw plainly enough that he loved her, but she regarded that part
of the affair very lightly. She was accustomed to being loved and
petted--it was her right. The idea that it could be cruel or
unprincipled to encourage this young fellow as she did, never entered
her mind. Indeed, if the misery she was bringing upon him had been
pointed out to her, she would only have laughed at it as a capital jest,
a source of infinite amusement.

When Tom Fuller went back to town, Elsie was taken with a strong desire
to visit dear Mrs. Harrington. Tom was a sort of cousin, now, and would
make a capital escort. Besides, she was sure Grantley and Elizabeth
would be much happier alone. Perhaps Mellen thought so too. At any rate,
he made no objections, and Elsie went.

The husband and wife were alone. The days were so pleasant--those long,
golden, June days