ake
trouble?"

"It cannot," said Florence. "Mr. Wilmot is dead, and it is whispered that
Fanny's heart was buried with him. I should not be surprised if it were
so, for Fanny has the saddest face I ever saw. It made me want to cry when
I looked at her. I should have pitied her more, however, had she not been
so well cared for by a Mr. Stanton, of New York."

Large drops of perspiration stood thickly on Dr. Lacey's forehead, and his
hands, convulsively clasped, were pressed against his heart; still he did
not lose a syllable as Florence continued, "I did not blame her for liking
Stanton, for he would break half your hearts and turn the rest of you
crazy."

"But the sister," asked all the young ladies, "how was she affected to
think Fanny loved her betrothed?"

"Oh, that sister!" said Florence. "You ought to see her! She is beautiful
beyond anything I can describe. She eclipsed everything and everybody."

"And she is as agreeable as handsome?" asked Mabel, whose fears were
aroused that Julia might be the rival, instead of Fanny.

Florence replied, "I was told that she was formerly very passionate, so
much so that her father nicknamed her Tempest. Within a few months she has
entirely changed, and is now very amiable; but I like Fanny's looks the
best."

"But Dr. Lacey--what had he to do with Fanny?" asked Lida.

"It was said they were engaged; but I do not think they are. In fact, I
know they are not, from what Fanny said herself; for she assured me that
Dr. Lacey was nothing to her more than a common acquaintance; and the sad
but sweet smile which broke over her face whenever she raised, her soft
blue eyes to Stanton's animated countenance confirmed what she said."

"So, Mabel, you can have the doctor after all," said Lida. "You know you
used to say that it was all settled, for your parents and his had arranged
it."

Dr. Lacey waited for no more. He knew of a back stairway down which he
could escape into the open air unobserved. In a moment he stood alone in
Mr. Mortimer's garden, but the evening breeze, although it cooled his
brow, failed to calm his excited feelings. Suddenly it occurred to him
that his absence from Mr. Mortimer's would excite attention in those who
saw him enter, so he made a desperate effort to be calm, and retracing his
steps, was soon in the drawing room with Mabel Mortimer on his arm, much
to that young lady's satisfaction.

As they passed near a group of girls, in the center of which