diston House, sat a while in the
drawing-room, spoke a few words each in turn to the desolate little
mistress, and then took leave. Gardis was left alone.

Captain Newell did not come to the funeral; he could not come into such
a company in his uniform, and he would not come without it. He had his
own ideas of duty, and his own pride. But he sent a wreath of beautiful
flowers, which must have come from some city where there was a
hot-house. Miss Duke would not place the wreath upon the coffin, neither
would she leave it in the drawing-room; she stood a while with it in her
hand, and then she stole up stairs and laid it on Cousin Copeland's open
desk, where daily he had worked so patiently and steadily through so
many long years. Uselessly? Who among us shall dare to say that?

A week later, at twilight, old Dinah brought up the young officer's
card.

"Say that I see no one," replied Miss Duke.

A little note came back, written on a slip of paper: "I beg you to see
me, if only for a moment; it is a business matter that has brought me
here to-day." And certainly it was a very forlorn day for a pleasure
ride: the wind howled through the trees, and the roads were almost
impassable with deep mire. Miss Duke went down to the dining-room. She
wore no mourning garments; she had none. She had not worn mourning for
her aunt, and for the same reason. Pale and silent, she stood before the
young officer waiting to hear his errand. It was this: some one wished
to purchase Gardiston House--a real purchaser this time, a stranger.
Captain Newell did not say that it was the wife of an army contractor, a
Northern woman, who had taken a fancy for an old family residence, and
intended to be herself an old family in future; he merely stated the
price offered for the house and its furniture, and in a few words placed
the business clearly before the listener.

Her face lighted with pleasure.

"At last!" she said.

"Yes, at last, Miss Duke." There was a shade of sadness in his tone, but
he spoke no word of entreaty. "You accept?"

"I do," said Gardis.

"I must ride back to the city," said David Newell, taking up his cap,
"before it is entirely dark, for the roads are very heavy. I came out as
soon as I heard of the offer, Miss Duke, for I knew you would be glad,
very glad."

"Yes," said Gardis, "I am glad; very glad." Her cheeks were flushed now,
and she smiled as she returned the young officer's bow. "Some time,
Captain Newell--so