bursts of laughter and flashes of
wit, frightened the birds from their haunt in the great maple-tree
overhead, and made its rich yellow leaves tremble again in the sunshine
that came quivering over the forest, and rippled up the broad ocean with
silvery outbursts.

Whatever had gone before, all was hilarity and cordial good-humor now.
North, for one, came out resplendently; such graceful compliments, such
bright flashes of wit no one had ever heard from his lips till then. It
aroused the best talent of every one present. When the party broke up
and its members went to the covert where their horses had been fed, it
was joyously, like birds flying home to their nests.

A ride through the golden coolness of a lovely sunset brought the party
back to Piney Cove, and all that had gone wrong during the day seemed
forgotten.

The visitors were to start for New York early in the morning, and, as
all were somewhat fatigued, the house was closed somewhat earlier than
usual.

Elsie had retired earlier than the rest, having some preparations to
make for her little journey. She busied herself awhile about her boudoir
and bed-room, selecting a few articles of jewelry and so on to be
packed, then sat down and read awhile; tired of that, she turned down
the lights in the alabaster lily cups, which one of the statues held,
sat down in the faint moonshine, with which she had thus flooded the
room, and fell into a train of restless thought; a pale gleam darted up
now and then from the lilies, and trembled through the floss-like curls
under which she had thrust her hand, revealing a face more earnest and
thoughtful than was usual to the gay young creature. Whether it was that
she had become anxious from the dart of suspicion that had been that day
cast at her brother's wife, or was disturbed by some other cause I
cannot say, but her eyes shone bright and clear in the pale radiance
that surrounded her; now and then she would start up and listen at
Elizabeth's door, as if about to enter and question her of the things
that evidently troubled her mind. At last she fell into quiet, and lying
on the couch, scarcely seemed to breathe. It was almost midnight then.
The house was still, and she could hear the distant waves beating
against the shore. She closed her eyes and listened dreamily, reluctant
to seek any other place of rest, yet changing the azure cushions of her
couch impatiently from time to time.

At last, as she half rose for this