The rising sun looking in at the window waked
them simultaneously, and with a remembering look on both faces, they
were clasped in each other's arms. A long embrace and then a kiss. No
word was spoken, and when they met at breakfast and were joined by Mr.
Dallas, the manner of all three was as usual. The servant who waited saw
nothing to comment upon, except, perhaps, that the unwonted presence of
a guest made little difference in the usual silentness of the meal.

VII.

Noel remained abroad a year and a half and came home at last with a new
determination, which he promptly put into effect. This was to begin in
earnest the practice of his profession. He was tired of travelling, and
even his beloved painting was not enough to satisfy the more insistent
demands for occupation and interest, which his maturity of mind and
character gave rise to.

Not very long after his return he went to call on the Dallases. He was
informed, on inquiring at the house, that a family of another name now
occupied it, and no one could tell where Mr. and Mrs. Dallas had gone.
He made inquiries at several places in the neighborhood, but in vain.

He walked away, with a sad and tender feeling in his heart for the poor
foreign girl, whose beauty, youth and childlike charm had taken a strong
hold upon his mind. The annoying thought occurred to him that he had
been foolishly prudent and apprehensive of danger. He wondered if it
hadn't been a sort of coxcombry in him to think there was any danger to
her in free and frequent intercourse with him! As for the danger to
himself, that it was cowardly to think about. He wished he had acted
differently, and felt unreasonably troubled at having let the girl drift
beyond his knowledge. She had looked so young and appealing as he had
seen her last, seated on the rug with the kittens on her lap, and so
beautiful. No one he had seen before or since was as beautiful. The type
seemed almost unique. He knew her to be utterly ignorant of the world,
and he hated to think what experience might have taught her of it. He
ought to have looked after her more. The reproachful thought stung him.
He said to himself that he'd be a little more careful the next time he
felt inclined to occupy this high moral platform and be better than
other men! He ought to have seen that common kindness demanded a little
more of a man than this. He was completely self-disgusted, and
registered a sort of mental vow that if he ever