r glances inward.

Walter was struck with the intensity of that fair brow, those remarkable
eyes, and that beautiful face; they seemed now to be all strung up to
concert pitch. He kept silent and looked at his wife with a certain
reverence, for to tell the truth she had something of the Pythian
priestess about her, when she concentrated her whole mind on any one
thing in this remarkable manner. At last the oracle spoke:

"Mr. Hope has been deceiving me with some good intention. He pretends to
be subservient to papa, but he is the master. How he comes to be master I
don't know, but so it is, Walter. If it came to a battle royal, Mr. Hope
would side, not with papa, but with me."

"That's important, if true," said Walter, dryly.

"It's true," said Mary, "and it's important." Then she turned suddenly
round on him. "How did you feel when you ran into that workshop, and we
both crouched, and hid like criminals or slaves?"

"Well," said Walter, hanging his head, "to tell the truth, I took a comic
view of the business."

"I can't do that," said Mary. "I respect my husband, and can't bear him
to hide from the face of any mortal man; and I am proud of my own love,
and indignant to think that I have condescended to hide it."

"It is a shame," said Walter, "and I hope we sha'n't have to hide it
much longer. Oh, bother, how unfortunate! here's my father. What are
we to do?"

"I'll tell you," said Mary, resolutely. "You must speak to him at once,
and win him over to our side. Tell him Julia is going to marry Percy
Fitzroy on the first of next month, then tell him all that Mr. Hope said
you were to tell the lawyer, and then tell him what you have made me
believe, that you love me better than your life, and that I love you
better still; and that no power _can_ part us. If you can soften him, Mr.
Hope shall soften papa."

"But if he is too headstrong to be softened?" faltered Walter.

"Then," said Mary, "you must defy my papa, and I shall defy yours."

After a moment's thought she said: "Walter, I shall stay here till he
sees me and you together; then he won't be able to run off about his
mines, and his lawsuits, and such rubbishy things. His attention will be
attracted to our love, and so you will have it out with him, whilst I
retire a little way--not far--and meditate upon Mr. Hope's strange words,
and ponder over many things that have happened within my recollection."

True to this policy, the spirited girl waited till