t we should
be supposed to mourn. I ought to have gone in mourning before--poor
Gilbert's nephew--but I am so stupid, and I had never seen him. And--But
oh, this is kind! Margaret herself,--my dear Margaret!"

We had just turned away from the house, in our up-and-down walk; and
Mrs. Poyntz stood immediately fronting us. "So, Anne, you have actually
accepted this invitation--and for Monday next?"

"Yes. Did I do wrong?"

"What does Dr. Fenwick say? Can Lilian go with safety?"

I could not honestly say she might not go with safety, but my heart sank
like lead as I answered,--

"Miss Ashleigh does not now need merely medical care; but more than half
her cure has depended on keeping her spirits free from depression. She
may miss the cheerful companionship of your daughter, and other young
ladies of her own age. A very melancholy house, saddened by a recent
bereavement, without other guests; a hostess to whom she is a stranger,
and whom Mrs. Ashleigh herself appears to deem formidable,--certainly
these do not make that change of scene which a physician would
recommend. When I spoke of sea air being good for Miss Ashleigh, I
thought of our own northern coasts at a later time of the year, when
I could escape myself for a few weeks and attend her. The journey to a
northern watering-place would be also shorter and less fatiguing; the
air there more invigorating."

"No doubt that would be better," said Mrs. Poyntz, dryly; "but so far
as your objections to visiting Lady Haughton have been stated, they
are groundless. Her house will not be melancholy; she will have other
guests, and Lilian will find companions, young like herself,--young
ladies--and young gentlemen too!"

There was something ominous, something compassionate, in the look which
Mrs. Poyntz cast upon me, in concluding her speech, which in itself was
calculated to rouse the fears of a lover. Lilian away from me, in
the house of a worldly-fine lady--such as I judged Lady Haughton to
be--surrounded by young gentlemen, as well as young ladies, by admirers,
no doubt, of a higher rank and more brilliant fashion than she had yet
known! I closed my eyes, and with strong effort suppressed a groan.

"My dear Annie, let me satisfy myself that Dr. Fenwick really does
consent to this journey. He will say to me what he may not to you.
Pardon me, then, if I take him aside for a few minutes. Let me find you
here again under this cedar-tree."

Placing her arm in mine, and w