lours; Colonel Deane was very anxious; and it was
plain that in the interval the officers would be allowed little
leisure. The whole affair was to end with a ball, which would lead to a
repetition of what had already disturbed him.

Thus meditating, Philip, heated and dusty, walked into the smooth green
enclosure of Hollywell. Everything, save the dancing clouds of
insect youth which whirled in his face, was drooping in the heat. The
house--every door and window opened--seemed gasping for breath; the
cows sought refuge in the shade; the pony drooped its head drowsily; the
leaves hung wearily; the flowers were faint and thirsty; and Bustle was
stretched on the stone steps, mouth open, tongue out, only his tail now
and then moving, till he put back his ears and crested his head to greet
the arrival. Philip heard the sounds that had caused the motion of the
sympathizing tail--the rich tones of Guy's voice. Stepping over the dog,
he entered, and heard more clearly--

'Two loving hearts may sever,
For sorrow fails them never.'

And then another voice--

'Who knows not love in sorrow's night,
He knows not love in light.'

In the drawing-room, cool and comfortable in the green shade of the
Venetian blinds of the bay window, stood Laura, leaning on the piano,
close to Guy, who sat on the music-stool, looking thoroughly at home in
his brown shooting-coat, and loosely-tied handkerchief.

Any one but Philip would have been out of temper, but he shook hands
as cordially as usual, and would not even be the first to remark on the
heat.

Laura told him he looked hot and tired, and invited him to come out to
the others, and cool himself on the lawn. She went for her parasol, Guy
ran for her camp stool, and Philip, going to the piano, read what they
had been singing. The lines were in Laura's writing, corrected, here and
there, in Guy's hand.

BE STEADFAST.

Two loving hearts may sever,
Yet love shall fail them never.
Love brightest beams in sorrow's night,
Love is of life the light.

Two loving hearts may sever,
Yet hope shall fail them never.
Hope is a star in sorrow's night,
Forget-me-not of light.

Two loving hearts may sever,
Yet faith may fail them never.
Trust on through sorrow's night,
Faith is of love and hope the light.