ant pieces--to sing, and her rich contralto
voice rang out with new passion and power. I tell you even women can
only marvel at the power many of the sex preserve over themselves when
playing for a great stake, and the least betrayal of look or movement
might be full of danger.

The evening passed off without further incident, and the guests went
away delighted with their reception, thinking what agreeable people the
Mellens were, and how happy they must be in their beautiful home.

"Oh--oh--oh!" cried Elsie, flinging up her arms with a yawn that
distorted her pretty mouth out of all proportion. "Thank heaven, they
are gone! I am sure another half hour would have killed me."

"You deceitful little thing!" said her brother, who had nearly recovered
his cheerfulness. "I heard you tell poor young Thompson that you had
never enjoyed yourself so thoroughly."

"Of course I did; what else could I say."

Mr. Mellen laughed and went out of the room.

Elsie was standing by the fire, she was always complaining of cold, and
Elizabeth walked towards her as the door closed.

"Don't!" whispered Elsie, "you are going to talk--don't!"

Elizabeth dropped into a seat with a wearied look, such as a person
wears after hours of self-restraint.

"It's of no use to talk," said Elsie, with an impatient gesture. "You
ought not to have gone out----"

"I know; but I dared not wait. Oh, Elsie! such a scene----"

"Be still!" exclaimed Elsie, with the old passion which seemed so
foreign to her nature. "I can't hear--I won't! Grantley saw you!"

"Yes; he was in the hall when I entered," she replied, with the same
dreary despair in her voice. "I know, I feel that something will happen
at last."

"There must not--there shall not!" broke in Elsie.

"Such madness--such greedy selfishness----"

"Don't tell me," shivered Elsie; "please don't!"

Elizabeth dropped her hands into her lap with a gesture full of
weariness and desolation; as they fell apart she lifted them up to
Elsie, with a look of helpless distress.

"What is it?" cried Elsie. "Don't frighten me!"

"My bracelet!" moaned Elizabeth. "My bracelet!"

"You have lost it?"

"Gone, I tell you! He would have money--I was nearly mad--I pulled it
off to pacify him."

"Which bracelet--not the new one?"

"Yes; the one Grantley brought me. Oh, what shall I do?"

"He won't notice it," said Elsie; "you can wear mine."

"He will notice it," returned Elizabeth. "It may be sold--he