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diff --git a/old/30111-8.txt b/old/30111-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f54c1e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30111-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19156 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Noble Woman, by Ann S. Stephens + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Noble Woman + +Author: Ann S. Stephens + +Release Date: September 27, 2009 [EBook #30111] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NOBLE WOMAN *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + A NOBLE WOMAN. + + BY MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS. + +AUTHOR OF "PALACES AND PRISONS," "FASHION AND FAMINE," "MARRIED IN +HASTE," "MABEL'S MISTAKE," "DOUBLY FALSE," "WIVES AND WIDOWS," "MARY +DERWENT," "THE HEIRESS," "THE REJECTED WIFE," "THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS," +"THE OLD HOMESTEAD," "RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY," "THE CURSE OF GOLD," "THE +WIFE'S SECRET," "THE GOLD BRICK," "SILENT STRUGGLES," ETC. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by +T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. + + +"A Noble Woman," is the name of the new novel written by Mrs. Ann S. +Stephens. Its pages are replete with incidents of absorbing interest, +and her admirers will read it with avidity, and with a zest which would +indicate that the freshness and interest of each of her new novels are +still as potent as were her earliest productions. The leading characters +are carried through a series of exciting adventures, all of which are +narrated and drawn out with such ingenuity that the reader's attention +is kept on a tension of interest from the opening page to the close of +the volume. This is the great secret of Mrs. Stephens' success--her +readers cannot get out of her influence. She does not fatigue them with +the subtleties of metaphysics or philosophy. She gives you a thrilling +story, pure and simple, sensational if you please, and she leaves the +whole affair in the hands of her readers, feeling quite secure of a +favorable verdict on every new emanation from her pen. "A Noble Woman" +will prove to be the most popular novel that she has ever written. + +PHILADELPHIA: +T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS; +306 CHESTNUT STREET. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +I.--A PROPOSAL + +II.--TOM THE GROOMSMAN + +III.--A FRIGHT AND A RESCUE + +IV.--HIGH FESTIVAL AT PINEY COVE + +V.--A BALL IN THE BASEMENT + +VI.--THE WEDDING + +VII.--THE FIRST CLOUD + +VIII.--THE BRIDE'S WELCOME HOME + +IX.--COUSIN TOM VISITS PINEY COVE + +X.--SHADOWS OF A SEPARATION + +XI.--THE BALL + +XII.--TOM MAKES A DECLARATION + +XIII.--WHO COULD IT HAVE BEEN? + +XIV.--THE HUSBAND'S LAST CHARGE + +XV.--MRS. HARRINGTON'S FRIENDS + +XVI.--THE WIDOW'S FLIRTATION + +XVII.--STARTING FOR THE PIC-NIC + +XVIII.--FACE TO FACE + +XIX.--LETTERS + +XX.--AN INTERVIEW IN THE WOODS + +XXI.--FIRE AND WATER + +XXII.--AMONG THE BREAKERS + +XXIII.--DEAD AND GONE + +XXIV.--HOME IN A STORM + +XXV.--THE SUNSHINE OF THE HOUSE + +XXVI.--SUNSHINE AND STORMS + +XXVII.--COURTSHIP IN THE KITCHEN + +XXVIII.--THE DEAD SECRET + +XXIX.--TOM FULLER'S LETTER + +XXX.--THE WIDOW'S FASCINATIONS + +XXXI.--THE HEIR COMES HOME + +XXXII.--THE GAUNTLET BRACELETS + +XXXIII.--SEARCHING FOR THE BRACELET + +XXXIV.--BELOW STAIRS + +XXXV.--MRS. MELLEN AND HER COUSIN + +XXXVI.--LURED INTO DANGER + +XXXVII.--THE AFTER STRUGGLE + +XXXVIII.--A HALF UNDERSTANDING + +XXXIX.--TRIFLES LIGHT AS AIR + +XL.--TWO FACES IN THE GLASS + +XLI.--SECRECY IMPOSED ON TOM FULLER + +XLII.--THE RIDE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES + +XLIII.--KINDLY ANXIETIES + +XLIV.--ALMOST DEFIANCE + +XLV.--THE TIGER IN HIS DEN + +XLVI.--THE PAWNBROKER'S SHOP + +XLVII.--TEASING CONTINUALLY + +XLVIII.--THE PET MESSENGER + +XLIX.--ELSIE FINDS THE BRACELET + +L.--IN THE TEMPEST + +LI.--THE OLD CEDAR TREE + +LII.--WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE + +LIII.--CLORINDA'S GHOST STORY + +LIV.--THE SABLE FORTUNE HUNTER + +LV.--IN THE NET + +LVI.--THE SECRET TELEGRAM + +LVII.--KITCHEN GOSSIP + +LVIII.--THE INTERCEPTED TELEGRAM + +LIX.--FORCED HOSPITALITY + +LX.--WAITING FOR THE HOUR + +LXI.--THE MIDNIGHT SEARCH + +LXII.--UNDER THE CEDAR + +LXIII.--FACE TO FACE + +LXIV.--BURIED OUT OF SIGHT + +LXV.--THE HUSBAND RELENTS + +LXVI.--GONE + +LXVII.--UTTER LONELINESS + +LXVIII.--PLANS AND LETTERS + +LXIX.--ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS + +LXX.--ALMOST A PROPOSAL + +LXXI.--FUTILE PLEADINGS + +LXXII.--TOM FULLER RETURNS + +LXXIII.--A FEAST AND A LOVE FEAST + +LXXIV.--THAT MONEY IN THE BANK + +LXXV.--UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS + +LXXVI.--THE CONFESSION + +LXXVII.--SEARCHING + +LXXVIII.--IN BENSON'S TAVERN + +LXXIX.--RECONCILIATIONS + +LXXX.--TOM ACCEPTS THE SITUATION + + + + +A NOBLE WOMAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A PROPOSAL. + + +She was eighteen years old and would graduate in a few weeks, yet Elsie +looked like a child, lying there in that little white bed, with her +golden curls scattered on the pillow and the soft whiteness of her neck +and hands shaded by the delicate Valenciennes with which her night robe +was profusely decorated. A quantity of hot house flowers lay scattered +on the counterpane, where the girl had flung them, one by one, from a +bouquet she was still tearing to pieces. A frown was on her pretty +forehead, and her large violet eyes shone feverishly. It was seldom +anything half so lovely appeared in the confined sleeping rooms of that +highly fashionable boarding school. Indeed, since its foundation it is +doubtful if a creature half so beautiful as Elsie Mellen had ever slept +within its walls. + +Just as the girl had littered the whole bed with flowers, which she +broke and crushed as a child breaks the toys he is weary of, the door of +the room opened, and a young lady entered, with a plate of hot-house +grapes in her hand. She was older than the sick girl by two or three +years, and in all respects a grave and most womanly contrast. Calm, +gracious and dignified, she came forward with an air of protection and +sat down by the bed, holding out her grapes. + +"See what your brother has sent you." + +The girl started up and flung back the hair from her face. + +"From Piney Bend," she exclaimed, lifting one of the purple clusters in +her hand, and crowding two or three of the grapes into her mouth at +once, with the delicious greed of a naughty child. "Oh, how cool and +nice. Dear old Grant, I wonder when he is coming." + +"Sometime to-day, the messenger said," answered the young lady, and a +soft peach-like bloom swept over her face as she spoke. + +Elsie was looking at her friend; and a quick, mischievous light came +into her own face. + +"Bessie," she murmured, in a voice mellowed and muffled by the grapes in +her mouth. "Don't tell me anything--only I think--I think--oh! wouldn't +it be fun?--there, there, how you are blushing." + +"Blushing, how foolish! But I am glad to see you well enough even to +talk nonsense." + +"Nonsense! look here, Miss Prim: if you're not in love with my brother +Grantley Mellen, I never was in love with anybody in my life." + +"Elsie!" + +"There, there! I shan't believe a word you say--more than that, I +believe he's in love with you." + +No blushes burned that noble face now, for it grew white with a great +surprise, and for a moment Elizabeth Fuller's heart ceased to beat. + +Could this be true! These light, careless words from a young girl seemed +to shake the foundation of her life. Did she love the man, who for three +weeks had been a daily visitor in that sick room, whose voice had been +music to her, whose eyes had been so often lifted to hers in tender +gratitude. Could her heart have proved so cruelly rebellious? Then the +other impossible things the girl had hinted at. Elsie had not meant it +for cruelty, but still it was very cruel, to startle her with glimpses +of a heaven she never must enter. What was she but a poor orphan girl, +teaching in that school in order to pay for the tuition which had +refined and educated her into the noble woman she unconsciously was. Of +course Mr. Mellen was grateful for the care she had taken of his +beautiful sister, and that was all. Elsie was almost well now, and would +leave the school that term. After that there was little chance that she +would ever see Grantley Mellen again. + +"What on earth are you thinking about?" questioned Elsie, still busy +with her grapes. "Just tell me if we are to be sisters,--and I'm set on +it--you shall know all my secrets; it'll be so nice to have some one +that won't tell,--and I'll know yours. To begin, dear old Bessie: +_somebody_ sent me these flowers, and I hate 'em. It's my way. So many +at once, it stifles me. I wish he could see 'em now; wouldn't he just +long to box my ears--there, that's my first secret." + +"But who is the man, Elsie?" enquired Miss Fuller, really disturbed by +this first confidence; for the girl was her room-mate, and had been +placed particularly under her care. + +"Oh, that's my second secret--I'll tell you that when you're Grant's +wife. You haven't told me about your own adorer yet." + +"How could I? One does not talk of lovers till they come." + +"Oh Bessie Fuller; what a fraud you are! Just as if he hadn't been under +this very window again and again: just as if the flowers that get into +our room, no one can guess how, did not come from him. Why, half the +girls in school have seen him prowling round here like a great, +handsome, splendid tiger!" + +"What are you talking of, Elsie?" + +"No matter; I shan't tell Grant, he must think himself first and +foremost--what a lovely sister-in-law you will make." + +"Elsie, my dear girl----" + +"Don't interrupt me--don't say you wouldn't have him: that you like the +other fellow better, and all that. I tell you Grant is a prince, and you +shall be his princess. He's awful rich, too; our horrid old uncle left +him everything. I haven't got the value of a hair bracelet all my +own--that's another secret. The girls all think we share and share +alike, and I want them to keep up the idea; but you are different. Don't +you see it would be horrid hard for me if my brother should marry some +close, stingy thing, that might even grudge me a home at Piney Bend; but +with you--oh Bessie! Promise me that you will marry him." + +Here Elsie flung down the stem of her grapes, and reaching out her arms, +threw them lovingly around Elizabeth's neck. + +"Promise me, promise me!" + +"You foolish darling! Lie down and be quiet, or I shall think you +light-headed again." + +"But you shall, I declare you shall!--Hush! there is some one at the +door. Come in!" + +A servant opened the door and informed the young ladies that Mr. Mellen +was in the parlor. + +"Tell him to come up," said Elsie. + +The servant went out, and Elsie sat up among her pillows, twisting that +splendid mass of hair around her head. As she stooped forward, her eyes +fell on the litter of broken flowers, and she called out eagerly, + +"Oh Bessie, do sweep them up; throw them out of the window, under the +bed, anywhere, so that he does not know about them. There would be no +end to his questions, if he saw so much as a broken rose bud." + +Elizabeth swept up the scattered flowers with her hands and cast them +through the open window, scarcely heeding what the girl said about them, +in the agitation of the moment. As she turned from the open sash, +Grantley Mellen came into the room. He was indeed a grand and noble +looking man, with dignity in his manner, and character in his face; +evidently possessed of strong but subdued passions, and a power of +concentration that might engender prejudices difficult to overcome. That +he was upright and honorable, you saw at a glance. When he sat down by +that fair young creature, and took her hand in his, the tenderness in +his voice and eyes thrilled Elizabeth to the heart. Elsie it simply +gratified. + +"Why Bessie," she said, with threatening mischief in her eyes, "you +haven't spoken to Grant yet." + +"Because he was occupied with you," answered Elizabeth with grave +dignity, that kept down the rebellious spirit in Elsie's eyes. "Now I +will shake hands with Mr. Mellen and go down to my class." + +With a gentle, but not altogether unembarrassed greeting, the young lady +went out of the room, leaving the brother and sister together. + +Two days after this scene in Elsie's chamber, Elizabeth Fuller stood in +one of the parlors of the establishment with her hand locked in that of +Grantley Mellen; startled, trembling, almost terrified by the great +happiness that had fallen upon her. He had asked her tenderly, +earnestly, and with a thrill of passion in his voice, to become his +wife. + +The girl had not answered him: she literally could not speak; her large +gray eyes were lifted to his, wild with astonishment one moment, soft +with exquisite love light the next. + +"Will you not speak to me?" + +She attempted to answer him, but smiles rather than words parted her +lips; and tears, soft as dew, flooded the joy in her eyes. What did the +man want of words after that? + +They sat down together on the nearest couch, and scarcely knowing how, +she found her heart so close to his, that the two seemed beating +together in a wild, sweet tumult. The glow of his first kiss was on her +lips; he was telling her in earnest, broken words, how fondly, how +dearly he loved her. Nobly would she feel herself mated when she became +the mistress of his home. + +There was something besides smiles on those beautiful lips now. The +heart has its own language, and in that she had answered him. + +"Do I love you?" she said; "who could help it? Is there a woman on earth +who could refuse such happiness? I forget myself, forget everything, +even the poor pride that might have struggled a little against the +disparity between us which seems lost to me now. I did not think it +would be so sweet to accept everything and give nothing." + +"You certainly love me and no other living man!" he said in answer to +her sweet trustfulness. "Tell me that in words! tell me in looks! Make +me sure of it." + +"Love you! Indeed, indeed I do. Never in my life have I given a thought +of such feelings to any man. If you can find happiness in owning every +pulse of a human soul, it is yours." + +"I believe it and accept the happiness; now my wife--for in a few weeks +you must be that--let us go up to Elsie. She must be made happy also, +for the dear child loves you scarcely less than I do." + +A thought of something like shame shot through the joy of the moment, +with Elizabeth. Had Elsie suggested this? + +"Will she be pleased? Will she be surprised?" + +"I hope so, I think so!" was Mellen's frank answer; "for hereafter, my +sweet wife must be a guardian angel to the dear child, for she has been, +till now, the dearest creature to me on earth." + +"I, too, have loved her better than anything," said Elizabeth. + +"Have I not seen that? Yes, I am sure we shall make Elsie perfectly +happy. She has dreaded the loneliness of my home. Now it will be bright +as heaven for her and for me." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +TOM THE GROOMSMAN. + + +Music in the Central Park! Such music as made the flowering thicket, +covered with late May blossoms, thrill in the soft air and glow out more +richly from the sweet disturbance. It was a glorious afternoon, the +lawns were as green as an English meadow, and my observation of +beautiful things has no higher comparison. All the irregular hills, +ravines, and rocky projections were so broken up with trailing vines and +sweet masses of spring-flowers, that every corner and nook your eye +turned upon, was like a glimpse of paradise. + +This was the still life of the scene, but above and beyond was +congregrated that active, cheerful bustle which springs out of a great +multitude bent on enjoyment--cheerful, luxurious, refined, or otherwise, +as humanity is always found. Carriages dashed in and out of the crowd, +the inmates listening to the music or chatting together in subdued +voices: groups of smiling pedestrians wandered through the labyrinths of +blooming thickets, or sat tranquilly on rustic seats sheltered by such +forest trees as art had spared to nature. The whole scene was one of +brilliant confusion; but out of the constantly shifting groups, forms so +lovely that you longed to gaze on them forever, were now and then given +to the beholder; and equipages vied with each other that might have +graced the royal parks of London or Paris without fear of criticism. + +Just as the sun began to turn its silver gleams into gold, the music +ceased with a grand crash. The final melody was over, and the swarm of +carriages broke up, whirled off in different directions, and began to +course about the ring again, or drive through the various outlets +towards Harlem, Bloomingdale, or the city, which lay in the soft +gathering haze of the distance. + +Among the stylish equipages that disentangled themselves from the crowd +was a light barouche, cushioned with a rich shade of drab which had a +pink flush running through it, and drawn by a pair of jet-black horses. +The carriage was so perfect in its proportions and so exquisitely neat +in its appointments, that it would have been an object of general +admiration during the whole concert, had not its inmates carried off +public attention before it had time to settle on the vehicle. + +The eldest, a woman of thirty-two or three, elegantly dressed and +generally recognized, seemed to be the mistress, for it was her gloved +hand which gave the signal for moving, and the coachman always looked to +her for directions. + +A slight gesture indicated home, the moment she saw her equipage free +from the crowd, but the lovely young creature on the front seat uttered +a merry protest and gave a laughing counter-order, threatening the elder +lady with her half-closed parasol, till the point lace which covered it +fluttered like the fringed leaves of a great white-hearted poppy. + +"Only a short drive," she said; "you can't want to go into the house, +dear Mrs. Harrington, such a heavenly day as this." + +"But, my love, I have forty things to do!" + +"All the more reason why you should neglect every one of them, since it +is not possible for you to do them all," replied the young girl, with a +laugh and a pretty wilful air that few people could have resisted. +"Elizabeth, are you tired?" + +The young lady whom she addressed had been leaning back in her seat by +Mrs. Harrington, quite regardless of this laughing contention, looking +straight before her in a smiling, dreamy way, which proved that the +brightness of the scene and the spell of the music had wiled her into +some deep and pleasant train of thought. + +Her friend spoke twice before she heard, laughing gayly at her +abstraction, and Mrs. Harrington added-- + +"Do come out of dreamland, dear Miss Fuller; I am sure I cannot manage +this wilful little thing without your help." + +The young girl shook her parasol again in a pretty, threatening way as +she said-- + +"You are not tired, Elizabeth?" + +"Tired! Oh no; it is very pleasant," she replied, in a voice that was +low and musical with the sweetness of her broken reverie. + +"See, you are in the minority, Mrs. Harrington," cried Elsie Mellen. +"You had better submit with a good grace." + +"Oh, I knew Elizabeth dared not side against you; she spoils you worse +than anybody, even your brother." + +"But it's so nice to be spoiled," said Elsie, gayly; "and you must help +in it, or I shall do something dreadful to you just here before +everybody's eyes." + +She clenched her hand playfully, as if to carry her threat into instant +execution, and Mrs. Harrington cried out-- + +"I promise! I promise! James, take another turn." + +The man turned his horses with a broad sweep, taking the road around the +largest lake. Here the spoiled beauty ordered him to stop. She wanted to +look at the swans, "such great, white, lovely drifting snowballs as they +were." Mrs. Harrington made no objection, but leaned back with a +resigned smile on her lips. + +A person possessed of far more imagination than Elsie Mellen ever +dreamed of, might have stopped on the very road to paradise to gaze on +that pretty, Arcadian scene. + +The lake was one glow of silver, broken up in long, glittering swaths by +troops of swans that sailed over it with leisurely gracefulness, now +pausing to crop the short grass from the sloping banks, or ruffling +their short white plumage, and stretching their arched necks for +payments of fruit whenever they came near a group of children, or saw a +rustic from the country, who was sure to delight in seeing the birds +feed. + +The sunshine came slanting in from the west, cooling half the park with +shadows, and lighting the rest with gleams of purplish gold. The paths +around the margin of the lake, and all the sloping banks were alive with +gayly dressed people, and a single boat, over which a flock of gay +parasols hovered like tropical birds, mirrored itself in the water. + +"Now see what you have gained by obeying my orders," exclaimed Elsie, +casting her merry eyes over the scene. "I declare the swans look like a +fleet of fairy boats. How I would like to sail about on one! There, that +will do James, drive on." + +"Home?" inquired the man. + +Before his mistress could answer, Elsie broke in--"Yes, Mrs. Harrington, +since you are properly submissive, we will go home, if you wish." + +"Oh, I only proposed it because we have so much to do. I should enjoy a +longer drive. Indeed, now that you have suggested it, we will take at +least one turn." + +"That's a darling," cried Elsie; and, without further ceremony, she +ordered the coachman to take the Bloomingdale road, laughing out +something about dying for old sheep instead of lambs. "But I want to +stop at Maillard's," protested Mrs. Harrington, "and I then must see +about--" + +"Oh, never mind, we shall have time enough," exclaimed Elsie. "Drive +like the wind, James, the moment you get beyond these horrid policemen. +I wouldn't have anybody pass us for the world." + +The coachman obeyed, and directly those two black horses were dashing +along the road in splendid style, leaving care and prudence far behind +them. + +Elsie was in her element, wild as a bird and gay as the sunset. She +talked and laughed incessantly, saying all sorts of merry things in a +childish fashion, that kept Mrs. Harrington in explosions of laughter, +more natural than she often indulged in, while Elizabeth Fuller leaned +back in her seat, listening, absently sometimes, to their graceful +banter, glancing at the young girl with affectionate admiration of her +youthful loveliness, but oftener losing herself in the pleasant train of +thought which had absorbed her all the afternoon. + +Three persons more unlike in appearance than these ladies, it would have +been difficult to find; but a casual observer would probably have been +most attracted by the buoyant loveliness of Elsie Mellen. + +She was eighteen,--but seemed younger with her fair curls, her brilliant +bloom, and the childish rapidity with which smiles chased each other +across her face. She looked the very personification of happiness, with +a bewitching _naiveté_ in every word or movement, that made her very +childishness more captivating than the wisdom of older and more sensible +women. + +Mrs. Harrington was a stylish, dashing widow, with a suspicion of rouge +on her somewhat faded cheeks, and an affectation of fashionable +listlessness which a look of real amiability somewhat belied. She was +one of those frivolous, good-natured women, who go through life without +ever being moved by an actual pleasure or pain, so engrossed by their +petty round of amusement, that if they originally possessed faculties +capable of development into something better, no warning of it ever +touches their souls. + +Really the most noble and imposing person present was Miss Fuller. The +contrast between her grave, sweet beauty and the frivolous loveliness of +the other two, was striking indeed. Sometimes her large gray eyes seemed +dull and cold under their long black lashes, and the dark hair was +banded smoothly away from a forehead that betokened intellectual +strength; the mouth was a little compressed, giving token of the +reticence and self-repose of her nature, and a classical correctness of +profile added to the quiet gravity of her countenance. + +But it was quite another face when deep feeling kindled the gray eyes +into sudden splendor, or some merry thought softened the mouth into a +smile--then she looked almost as girlish as Elsie herself. + +But grave or smiling, it was not a face easy to read, nor was her +character more facile of comprehension, even to those who knew her best +and loved her most. + +She looked very stately and queen-like, wrapped in her ample shawl and +leaning back in her seat with a quiet grace which Mrs. Harrington +attempted in vain to imitate. Indeed, the effort only made the ambitious +little woman appear more fussy and affected than ever. + +"Here comes Tom Fuller," cried Elsie, suddenly. "Was there ever such an +ungraceful rider! Just look at him, Bessie, and laugh, if he is your +cousin. I insist upon it!" + +"Oh, I think he's such a love!" cried Mrs. Harrington. "Deliciously +odd." + +"I'll tell him you said that," cried Elsie; "just to see him blush." + +"Oh, don't!" exclaimed the widow, clasping her hands as if she thought +Elsie was about to stop the carriage and inform him then and there. +"What would he think?" + +The young man at whom Elsie was laughing quite unrestrainedly, rode +rapidly towards them, and when he saw Elsie, his face glowed with a +mingled expression of pleasure and embarrassment that made her laugh +more recklessly than ever. + +He made a bow almost to the saddle, nearly lost his hat, and did not +recover his presence of mind until the carriage had dashed on, and he +was left far behind to grumble at his own stupidity. + +"It is too bad of you to laugh at him," said Elizabeth Fuller, a little +reproachfully. + +"Why, darling, he likes it," cried Elsie, "and it does him good." + +"I am sure his devotion to you is plain enough," said Mrs. Harrington, +with a sentimental shake of the head. "Hearts are too rare in this world +to be treated so carelessly." + +"Oh, don't!" exclaimed Elsie. "You'll be repeating poetry next! Tom is a +nice man, just a great awkward lump of goodness; but I must laugh at +him. Dear me, what a groomsman he will make! Bessie, I know he will step +on my dress." + +"I hope so," Elizabeth replied, good naturedly; "I shall consider you +served right." + +"Oh," cried Mrs. Harrington, roused by a fear she was fully capable of +appreciating, "it would be such a pity to have all that beautiful +Brussels point torn--do caution him, my dear." + +"No," said Elsie, with mock resignation, "Bessie insists upon having him +for groomsman, and I shall let him put his foot through my flounces with +perfect equanimity, by way of showing my affection for her. Talk of +giving your life for your friends, what is that in comparison to seeing +your flounces torn!" + +Her companions both laughed, but Elizabeth said seriously, "When you +know Tom better, you cannot help respecting him; he is my one relative, +and I love him dearly." + +"Of course," said Elsie, "and I mean to be his cousin, too; but it is my +cousinly privilege to laugh at him." + +"Perhaps he will not be content with a cousinly regard," said Mrs. +Harrington, mysteriously. + +Elizabeth glanced quickly at Elsie, with a little trouble in her face, +but the girl laughed, and replied-- + +"Oh yes, he will; Bessie is his ideal--he will never think of poor +little me." + +"Family affection is so sweet!" added Mrs. Harrington. Elsie made a +grimace, and hastened to change the conversation, for there was nothing +she dreaded so much as the widow's attempt at romance and sentiment. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A FRIGHT AND A RESCUE. + + +For some time the ladies rode on in silence. Then Elsie broke into a fit +of ecstasy over the horses. + +"They are so perfectly matched," she said. "Brother Grant needn't have +been doubtful about them; he sha'n't persuade you to change them, shall +he?" + +"They are beautiful creatures," Bessie observed, absently. + +"Naturally, Mr. Mellen was anxious that they should be entirely safe," +said Mrs. Harrington, theatrically, "for he has trusted his dearest +treasures--his sister and his betrothed wife--to me; and if there is +danger, it is for them as well as me." + +"What a pretty speech!" said Elsie. "I know you got it out of a novel!" + +Elsie had a gay scarf wound about her neck, and began complaining of the +warmth. + +"I would not take it off," Mrs. Harrington urged, "you will be certain +to get cold." + +"There is no danger," replied Elsie; "I shall smother, wrapped up in +this way." + +"But you must keep it on!" + +"Indeed, I won't; there!" + +They had a playful contention for an instant, then Elsie snatched the +scarf from her neck with a triumphant laugh, and held it up beyond Mrs. +Harrington's reach. + +A sudden rush of wind carried the light fabric out of her hand, and it +sailed away like a gorgeous streamer. Elsie gave a little cry, but it +was frozen on her lips. One of the horses had been restive from the +first. The scarf floated over his head, curved downward, and one end got +entangled with his bridle. The shy, spirited creature gave a wild bound, +communicated like terror to his companion, and away the frenzied pair +dashed, taking the coachman so completely by surprise, that he was +helpless as a child. It was one of those brief occurrences which pass +like lightning to lookers-on, but seem an eternity to the persons in +danger. Mrs. Harrington's shrieks rang out sharp and shrill; Elsie gave +one shuddering moan, and crouched down in the bottom of the carriage, +hiding her face in Elizabeth's dress. + +Elizabeth Fuller was deathly pale. She realized the full terror of their +situation. She uttered no shriek, but clasped her arms around Elsie, and +strove to speak a few reassuring words to Mrs. Harrington, which were +drowned by the woman's terrified shrieks. + +Elizabeth looked desperately down the road over which the horses were +rushing like wild desert steeds. The carriages in sight were turned +quickly on one side, and their inmates seemed uncertain how to assist +them. Any attempt to stop the frightened and infuriated animals +threatened certain death. + +Elizabeth saw this, and her heart died within her. They were now at the +top of a long hill, keeping the road, but hurled onward like lightning. +At the foot of the hill was a loaded cart, its driver vainly striving to +whip his team out of the way. The brave girl saw this new danger, and +fell back with a groan. She knew that the carriage would be whirled +against that ponderous load, and dashed to atoms. Effort was hopeless, +she could only stretch forth her arms, draw Elsie close, close to her +cold heart, and pray dumbly that she might in mercy be permitted to die +for _his_ sister. + +Still, in her anguish and terror, she looked out beyond the leaping +horses, as they thundered down the hill. The man had sprung from his +cart, and, with his whip in both hands, was lashing his overtasked +beasts in frantic terror. Beyond him came a person on horseback, riding +furiously. But they were close to the cart now. It was still more than +half across the road. Sick with dread, she closed her eyes, holding +Elsie close, and turning, as it were, to stone, with the shrieking young +coward in her arms. + +In another instant there was a shock which threw them all off their +seats; and when Elizabeth could realize anything, or recover from the +deafening effect of Mrs. Harrington's cries, she knew that the horses +had been stopped--the peril was over. + +The gentleman she had discovered through blinding clouds of dust, riding +swiftly towards the hill, had seen their danger, dismounted, and with +ready presence of mind, prepared to seize the horses the instant the +carriage struck against the cart. + +One wheel was forced partially off, but there was no other harm done. +Elsie and Mrs. Harrington had both flung themselves on Elizabeth, so +that she could neither see nor hear; but the widow discovering that she +was still alive, made a little moan, and began to shake out her flounces +when she saw the gentleman who had rescued them standing by the side of +the carriage. + +"You are safe, ladies," he said, opening the door; "you had better get +out and walk on to the hotel--it is only a few steps." + +"How can we ever thank you!" sobbed Mrs. Harrington. "You are our +preserver--we owe you our lives!" + +He smiled a little at her exaggerated manner, which would break out in +spite of her real terror, and helped her to alight from the carriage. + +"We are saved," moaned Elsie, lifting herself from Elizabeth's bosom. +"I'm not hurt--I'm not hurt!" + +She was lifted out of the carriage, and stood trembling by Mrs. +Harrington. For the first time, relieved of their weight, Elizabeth was +able to move and look up. + +The stranger was standing by the carriage with his arm extended to +assist her. She partially rose--then, and without the slightest warning, +beyond a deep, shuddering breath, sank back insensible. + +Elsie and Mrs. Harrington gave a simultaneous cry, but there was no +opportunity for the widow to go into hysterics, as she had intended, +since the stranger and the footman were fully occupied in lifting +Elizabeth from the broken carriage. Elsie was crying wildly, "Bessie! +Bessie!" and wringing her hands in real affright. + +"She has only fainted," said the stranger hurriedly; "we will carry her +on to the hotel." + +He raised the insensible girl in his arms, and carried her down towards +the inn, as if she had been a child; while her companions followed, +sobbing off their terror as they went. + +Once in the house, and the stranger out of the way, Mrs. Harrington +recovered her wits sufficiently to give Elizabeth assistance, and +restore her to consciousness. + +Elizabeth opened her eyes, gave one glance around, and closed them +again. + +"Are you hurt?" cried Elsie. + +She shook her head. + +"What made you faint so suddenly?" demanded Mrs. Harrington. "The danger +was over." + +Elizabeth made a strong effort at self-control, sat upright, and tried +to answer. + +"I can't tell--I--" + +"Do you know that gentleman?" asked Mrs. Harrington. + +"Why, how can she?" said Elsie. + +"Well, she fainted just as she looked at him." + +Elizabeth controlled herself, found strength to rise, saying in reply to +Mrs. Harrington's repeated inquiries-- + +"How should I know him?--what folly!" + +But she was trembling so violently, that they forced her to lie down +again. + +"Stay with her, Elsie," said the widow, "I will go and see how we are to +get home." + +She went out of the room, and in the hall encountered the gentleman just +as she had expected. + +She overwhelmed him with protestations of gratitude, to which he +listened with no great appearance of interest, though Mrs. Harrington +was too completely dazzled by his brilliant appearance and manner to +perceive the absent, preoccupied way in which he received her. + +"I don't know how we are to get home," she said. + +"Your coachman has engaged a carriage from the hotel-keeper," he +replied; "it will be ready in a few moments. Your own horses are not +hurt, luckily." + +"I don't know what Mr. Mellen will say!" she exclaimed. "He warned me +not to keep the horses." + +The stranger turned quickly toward her, with a sudden flush on his face. + +"May I know whom I have had the pleasure of assisting?" he asked. + +"I am Mrs. Harrington," she replied, "of ---- street. I am so--" + +"And your friends?" + +"Miss Mellen, the sister of Grantley Mellen; and the other lady is his +betrothed wife." + +"She! That--" + +"Yes, yes! Dear me, if any accident had occurred, how terrible it would +have been! They are to be married next week," continued the widow, +hurriedly. "Mr. Mellen is out of town, and will not be back till just +before his wedding. Oh, I shudder to think! Dear, dear sir, how can I +thank you!" + +The servant came up that moment to say that a carriage was ready to take +the ladies back to the city, and the gentleman escaped from her flood of +meaningless gratitude. + +Mrs. Harrington ran back to call her friends, and found Elizabeth quite +composed and strong again. + +"He's the most magnificent creature!" exclaimed the widow. "And you +don't know him, Elizabeth?" + +"Have I not said so? Come, Elsie." + +As she passed into the hall, Elizabeth hurried on, leaving Mrs. +Harrington to repeat her thanks, and Elsie to utter a few low, and +apparently thankful words, to which he listened with more interest than +he had done to all the widow's raptures. + +They were in the carriage: the door closed; the stranger gave his +parting bow, Elizabeth leaned further back in her seat, and they drove +on, leaving him standing in the road. + +"His name is North," said Mrs. Harrington. "Such an adventure! What will +Mr. Mellen say?" + +"We won't tell him yet," Elsie replied; "it would only frighten him. Be +sure and not mention it, dear Mrs. Harrington." + +"Oh, of course not,--just as you like. But what a handsome man that was! +North--North? Who can he be? I have never met him!" + +"Whoever he is, he has saved our lives," said Elsie. + +"Yes, yes! But, dear Miss Fuller, how oddly you acted!" + +"Do put up your veil, Bessie," added Elsie. + +Elizabeth obeyed, showing her face, pale and tremulous still. + +"I was very much frightened," she said; "I think my side was hurt a +little--that was why I fainted." + +She made no other answer to their wondering questions, and they drove +rapidly back to Mrs. Harrington's house. + +The stranger stood upon the porch of the hotel, looking after the +carriage so long as it was in sight, with a strange, inexplicable +expression upon his handsome face. + +After a time, he roused himself, mounted his horse, and rode slowly back +to the city. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HIGH FESTIVAL AT PINEY COVE. + + +On the shores of Long Island, where the ocean heaves in its wildest and +most crystalline surf, a small cove had broken itself into the slopes of +an irregular hill, after generations of beating storms and crumbling +earth, taking a crescent shape, and forming one of the most picturesque +bits of landscape to be found along the coast. The two points or +promontories that stretched their green arms to the ocean, were clothed +with thickly growing white pines, scattered with chestnuts, and a few +grand old oaks. The country sloped beautifully down to this bright sheet +of water, and swept around it in rocky points and broken groves, giving +glimpses of rich grass-land, more luxuriantly cultivated than is usual +to that portion of the island. As you looked on the scene from the +water, a house was visible on the hillside, and came in full view as the +shore was approached. It was a noble stone mansion, old as the hills, +people were used to say, and solid as their foundations. The house had +been a stately residence before the Revolution, and, without an +earthquake or a ton of powder, would remain such for a century to come. + +Whatever the body of the house had been in the good old times, when +ornament was little thought of, it was now rendered picturesque by lofty +towers, and additional wings with oriel windows and carved balconies in +one direction; while the other wing clasped in a conservatory, of which +nothing could be seen from the distance but wave upon wave of rolling +crystal emerald, tinted like the ocean by the wealth of green plants +they covered. + +This was the residence Grantley Mellen had inherited from a maternal +uncle just after his first struggle in life commenced. It was backed by +many a fruitful field and broad stretch of timber-land, which altogether +went under the title of Piney Cove. + +Grantley Mellen, since he became possessed of the estate, had completed +the work his uncle commenced when he built the two grand towers, and a +more picturesque building could not well be imagined, with its broad +lawn, its clumps of forest trees, and that magnificent ocean view, which +was broken only by the pine groves on the two points. + +This was by no means the only house visible from the cove. As you turned +the southern point, a village was seen down the coast; and about half +way between that and the pines was a wooden house, brown and +weather-beaten, standing unsheltered on the bleak shore. Back of this +house, shutting out all prospect but that of the ocean, was a tall +cliff, covered with ragged yellow pines and stunted cedars, from which +on stormy nights many a quivering flame had shot upward, luring ships to +their ruin. Still, with this grim protest against the name looming +behind it, the lonely old house was called "The Sailor's Safe Anchor," +and was known all along the coast as a fishing-lodge and small tavern. + +But once within the cove, you saw no sign of habitation save the mansion +house and its appurtenances. + +Grantley Mellen had been some weeks at the cove, renovating and +preparing the house for the reception of his bride; for it was +understood that he intended henceforth to make it his permanent +residence. But the wedding-day was near, and he had gone up to the city, +leaving the last preparations to the care of a singular class of +household servants, one of his uncle's philanthropic importations from +the South, where he had owned a plantation, and emancipated all its +slaves except a half dozen, that would only accept liberty on condition +that they might follow the old man to his northern home. + +Grantley had accepted this sable household with the general inheritance; +for, spoiled and pampered as family negroes are apt to be, they had +proved generally faithful and obedient. + +Though a very reverential and submissive person when her master was +present, Clorinda, who had appointed herself housekeeper of the +establishment, was apt to get on to a very high horse indeed when there +was no superior authority to hold her in check; and, on this particular +occasion, she was absolutely what she declared herself--"chief cook and +bottle-washer." + +This sable functionary was very busy two or three mornings before the +time set for her master's wedding, not only in the general preparations +for that event, but with a grand idea of her own, which she was +earnestly carrying into effect. If the house was going into the hands of +a new mistress, the colored persons of the establishment had resolved to +commemorate the event in advance with a grand entertainment. + +To this end, Clorinda, who appointed herself lady patroness in general, +had betaken herself to Mr. Mellen's library with Caleb Benson, the +high-shouldered, bald-headed occupant of "The Sailor's Safe Anchor," and +the person whose prerogative it had been to supply fresh fish to the +family at Piney Cove. Besides this, he performed a good deal of work in +the grounds, and made himself generally useful. + +This morning Benson had come up to the house at Miss Clorinda's special +request, in order to assist in the literary department of the coming +entertainment. Neither Clorinda nor any of her dark compeers could read +or write, but invitations must be sent out after the most approved +fashion; and Clorinda had a fancy that the neighborhood of so many books +would be a great help, so she led Caleb with august ceremony into the +spacious library, and laid a quantity of pink note-paper and yellow +envelopes, all covered and embossed with silver, on the table before +him. + +"Jes set down, Mr. Caleb, and write dem tings out special," she said, +rolling up a great leathern chair, and patting its glossy green cushions +enticingly. "Set down, Caleb, an' write, for I know yer kin." + +Caleb laid his cap on one chair, and his stout walking-stick across +another. Then he rubbed the hard palms of his hands fiercely together, +and sat down on the edge of Mr. Mellen's chair, that threatened to roll +from under him each moment. + +"Now, Miss Clo, what is it you want of me? I'm on hand for a'most +anything." + +"I knows you is, and ales wuz, Caleb; that's why I trusted yer wid de +delicatest part ob dis entertainment. 'Member its premptory to de +weddin'." + +"Preparatory, isn't that the correct word, Miss Clo?" + +"Well, take yer chice, if you ain't suited, Caleb Benson." + +"Wal, wal; don't git out to sea afore the tide's up, old woman." + +"Ole woman! Ole woman yerself, Caleb Benson!" retorted Clorinda. + +"Jes so!" answered the fisherman, seizing upon the largest steel pen to +be found, and grinding it on the bottom of a bronze inkstand. Clorinda +put both hands to her mouth, and would have cried out; but, remembering +how few teeth she had to be set on edge, thought better of it, and stood +in glum silence while Caleb made his preparations. + +That remarkable functionary had a piece of business before him which +threatened to task the resources of his genius to their full extent, but +he was not the man to shrink from the responsibility which his desire to +retain a high place in the powerful Clorinda's good-will had induced him +to accept. + +"Now, then," said Caleb, giving his chair another hitch, dipping his pen +afresh into the inkstand, and holding it suspended over the paper, with +a threatening drop slowly collecting on the nib. "Now we'll get under +weigh just as soon as you give the signal." + +"Tak car ob de ink!" shrieked Clorinda, pulling the paper from under his +hand in time to preserve it from the great blot of ink that descended on +the table-cover instead. "Dat's a purty splotch, now, ain't it; yer a +nice hand, Caleb Benson!" + +"Taint much, nobody'll ever notice it," said Caleb, wiping it off with +his coat-sleeve. "Don't raise a breeze about nothin', Clorindy." + +"Don't talk to me 'bout breezes," she retorted, in an irritated tone, +for Clorinda, I am sorry to say, had not even a fair portion of the +small stock of patience which usually falls to our sex. "I 'clar to +goodness dere ain't nothin' so stupid as a man. I jis hate de hull sect +like pison, I duz." + +"Oh, no you don't, Clorindy," he replied, "you hain't got so old yet but +what you can hold your own with the youngest of 'em when there's a fancy +mulatter chap round." + +"What doz yer mean by ole!" cried Clorinda. "I tells you what, Caleb +Benson, ef yer only undertuk this job to be a aggrawatin' and insultin' +me, you and I's done! I ain't gwine to stand sich trash, now I tells +yer! Is dis yer thanks fur all I'se done? Who got ye de run ob de house, +I'd like to know; who sot ye up for selling better fish than anybody in +de neighborhood; who nebber said nothin' when de soap-fat all +disappeared, and you said it had melted in de sun; who fixed up +mince-pies fur you; who--" + +There is no telling to what extent Clorinda might have carried her +revelations, but the old man interrupted her with all the excuses he +could think of at so short notice. + +"I was just funning, Clorindy; don't go off the handle. In course I want +to obleege you. Thar, thar! Now what do you want to have wrote? We ain't +going to quarrel--old friends like us." + +"Ain't we!" cried Clorinda, folding her arms. "Then jis you keep a civil +tongue, dat's all. Times is changed, and der's a new misses a comin'; +but you may all onderstand dat I rules de kitchen yet, and I'se gwine +to." + +"Sartin, sartin! Wal now, about these here billet ducks," said Caleb, +cunningly; "I must hurry up, you see, or I shan't get round afore +night." + +Clorinda forgot her injured feelings in excitement about the party, and +ordered him to commence work without farther delay. + +"Wal," said Caleb, spreading out the paper again, "I'll leave a blank +for the names, that'll save trouble. I reckon you want somethin' like +this--'Miss Clorindy and Miss Victory's compliments--'" + +"What's Vic got to do wid it, I'd like to know?" Clo burst in; "it's my +party, just 'member dat. It's enough to hev her company, widout her +settin' up for a hostage." + +"Any thing to suit," said Caleb, patiently. "Wal, then I'll say that +Miss Clorindy hopes to have the pleasure of Mr. so and so's company, and +wants to see you to a little tea drinkin' this evening." + +"Lord!" cried Clo. "If ye hain't got no more larnin' dan dat, I'd better +find somebody else! Do yer tink I got pink paper and silver-sprigged +'welopers to write sich trash on? Tea drinkin' indeed! Why dis here's to +be a rigler scrumptious, fash'nable 'tainment! I want yer to say, 'Miss +Clorindy consents her most excruciating compliments, and begs to state +that, owing to de 'picious ewent ob de master's weddin', she takes dis +opportunity to 'quest de 'stinguished company ob Mr. Otheller Jones for +dis evenin', to a reparatory 'tainment; and she would furder mention dat +dare will be plenty ob weddin'-cake, wid a ring in it, ice cream in +pinnacles, red and white, and a dance in de laundry to fiddles.' Dar, +dat's somethin' like." + +"Yes," said Caleb, quite breathless; "now tell it to me as I get ahead, +'cause it's a mighty long rigmarole." + +"Oh," added Clorinda, "den at the bottom you must put--' P. S.--Yaller +gloves and 'rocur pumps, if convenient.'" + +That last touch of elegance quite upset Caleb, and he began to think +that if Clorinda was black, and couldn't write her name, she really was +a wonderful woman. Clo was so softened by his applause that they got on +very harmoniously, and the invitations were written out in Clorinda's +peculiar phraseology and in Caleb's largest hand. As it was an affair of +importance, he put capitals at the beginning of nearly every word, +sometimes in the middle and altogether the writing made such a show, +that Clorinda was delighted. + +"Don't forget de P. S.," said she. + +"Yes," said Caleb, making a tremendous flourish. "P. S.--Yaller gloves +and 'rocur pumps, if convenient." + +Clo inspected the first note as carefully as if she could read, +expressed her approbation, and urged him on, till, with much labor, +Caleb completed the requisite number, put them safely in their gorgeous +envelopes, and directed them to the persons Clorinda mentioned. + +"Now, jis be as quick as you kin," she said; "I'se got to go back to see +to tings--can't trust dat Vic, no how! Wal, I guess Mr. Dolf'll see de +difference 'tween folks and folks." + +Benson knew that Dolf, Mr. Mellen's own man, was a special weakness of +Clorinda's, though it was only her reputation for accumulated wages +which induced that dashing yellow individual to treat her with any +attention. + +Caleb received his last instructions, and started on his mission, which +was successfully fulfilled. Then he took his way homeward after going +back to the house to acquaint Clorinda with the result, which was equal +to her expectations, and that was saying a great deal. + +As he approached the little tavern, he saw a gentleman standing on the +steps, with a colored servant guarding a pile of guns, fishing-rods, and +other tackle, with which idle men frequently came down from the city to +endure Caleb's humble fare for a while, and gratify their masculine +propensity for destruction. + +But this gentleman was a stranger to Caleb, and he looked at him +enviously, though with the approbation which his appearance would have +elicited from more refined judges. + +"I suppose you are Caleb Benson," the gentleman said, throwing away the +end of a cigar, as the old man mounted the steps. + +"Wal, they call me so, sometimes," replied Caleb; for the instincts of +his New England birthplace had not deserted him, and he never answered a +question in a straightforward manner, if he could help it. + +"Some friends of mine told me I could find very comfortable quarters +with you," pursued the stranger. "I have run down to see the place, and +take a day's duck shooting. I want to engage rooms, and leave my traps +here, so that I can come over whenever I feel like it." + +"I want to know,--mean to have a good long shute do you!" said Caleb. +"Wal, I guess I could fix you up, if you ain't too particular." + +"I am not at all particular what I pay," replied the gentleman; "I +suppose that is satisfactory." + +"I ain't going to say 'tain't," returned Caleb, his eyes beginning to +twinkle at the prospect of a liberal guest, who meant to come +frequently. + +"I reckon you'd like to see what I can do in the way of rooms, Mr., +Mr.----Wal, I don't think I quite ketched your name." + +"Mr. North," said the stranger, smiling at the man's shrewdness. + +He stood for a few moments talking with Caleb, and though the old fellow +was not easily pleased, he was quite fascinated by the stranger's +manner; and, having a very vague idea of princes, was almost inclined to +think that this splendid-looking creature might be one who had strayed +over from his native kingdom on a fishing excursion. + +"Now let me see the rooms," said Mr. North. "I suppose my man may as +well carry the traps up stairs now--the place is certain to suit me." + +Caleb looked at the stylish colored individual who was leaning, in a +graceful attitude, over the luggage, and a brilliant idea struck him. + +"I say you," he called, "I've got a ticket that'll just suit you, +Mr.----What's your name?" + +"If you are redressing me," replied the sable gentleman, majestically, +"my name is Mr. Julius Hannibal." + +"Want to know!" said Caleb. "Wal, here's an invite that was just meant +for a fine-looking chap like you." + +Caleb drew one of the notes from his pocket, and held it out. Hannibal +took it with considerable dignity, doubtful how to receive such +unceremonious compliments. + +"You are in luck, Ju," said his master. "What's it all about, Mr. +Benson?" + +"Why, Mr. Mellen--he's one of our rich men down here--is going to be +married this week, so his servants thought they'd have a blow-out +to-night, for fear they wouldn't get the chance after the new mistress +comes." + +"Go, by all means," said North, almost eagerly. "Make all the friends +you can, Ju, for we shall be here a good deal--go, certainly." + +Hannibal drew himself up, bowed to his master, and said to Caleb in a +stately way---- + +"I shall be most happy to mixture in the festive throng, but would most +'spectfully state to Miss Clorindy that morocur pumps is banished from +polite society, and only patting leathers is worn--but these is +trifles." + +North took the note from his servant's hand, and could not repress his +merriment as he read it; but Caleb received that as a compliment, and +looked so conscious, that it was easy to discover what share he had +taken in the matter. + +"Pinnacles of ice cream, and a dance in the landing," read Mr. North. +"Why choose the landing, Mr. Benson?" + +"Laundry, laundry! I guess it's blotted a leetle." + +"Oh yes--I see! Upon my word, quite magnificent! So Mr.--Mellen, did you +call him?--is to be married this week. Well, well, that fate overtakes +most of us, sooner or later. We will go up stairs now, if you please, +Mr. Benson." + +The old man led the way up to the room, which was kept in readiness for +visitors of importance, and which had been made quite comfortable by the +various articles of furniture that the different occupants had presented +to Caleb, on leaving his house. + +The bargain was not a difficult one, as Mr. North appeared quite willing +to pay Benson his own price, and the old fellow was only in doubt as to +the extent to which he might safely carry his extortion. + +When they went down stairs again, the steamboat had just come in to the +landing, and Dolf, Mr. Mellen's man, was making his way to the tavern, +having come to the island to see that the house was in readiness, and +dazzle the eyes of the females by the wonderful new clothes which had +fallen to his share of the wedding perquisites. + +"That's just the ticket," said Caleb; "Mellen's man'll take you over to +the place, Mr. Julius, and set you a goin'. I'm going there myself now, +but you'll have to fix your master up first, so you can come with Dolf." + +While Julius was going through the ceremonies of an introduction, Mr. +North called him away, and seemed to be giving him some very particular +directions. When he came back, Dolf, who was greatly rejoiced at this +acquisition, said, anxiously, + +"Won't he let you go?" + +"Of course," answered Hannibal, but a little uneasily. "It was only +about a fishing-rod I left behind." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A BALL IN THE BASEMENT. + + +The day wore on. Everything was in a state of preparation in the old +mansion-house. The last ovenful of cake had been placed by an open +window in the pantry, that its frosted surface might harden into beauty. +The ice-cream freezers, ready to yield up their precious contents, were +set away in a cool place, and Victoria, a pretty mulatto girl who had +come to the house an orphan child, was busy carving red and white roses +out of a little pile of turnips and delicately shaped blood-beets, +intended to ornament divers plates of cold turkey and chicken salad. +This pretty fancy work was carried on in the front basement or +housekeeper's room, while a bustle of preparation gave promise of great +things from the kitchen. Clorinda, the moving spirit of all this +commotion, rushed from basement to kitchen, and then to pantry and +store-room, in a state of exhilaration that set fresh currents of air in +circulation wherever she went. This was the great day of the faithful +servant's life, and she felt its importance in every cord of her heart. + +"Now," she called out, addressing Victoria with a pompous lift of the +head, "yer can come up stairs and help about thar. Them roseys ain't so +bad but that I've seen wuss; but there's 'nuff of 'em, so cum 'long o' +me, and shut up de draw'n'-room winder-blinds." + +Victoria ran up stairs, two steps at a leap, and, in a breath, was +shutting out the beautiful sunset, and quenching a thousand flashes of +arrowy rays that scattered gold over the plate-glass. + +"Now," said Clorinda, as the last shutter was closed, "yer can take the +spy-glass and see if any pusson is comin' up from the pint." + +Victoria was only too glad. She sprang across the tessellated pavement +of the hall, and seizing the glass, swept the shore with a slow movement +of her slender person from right to left. + +"Nary a pusson coming," she said, laying down the glass, with a +disappointed air. + +"Don't talk," snapped Clorinda, snatching up the glass and levelling it +fiercely at the ocean. "Jes like yer, now--can't see yer hand afore yer +face. There's a boat put inter the cove whilst yer was looken, and here +am Caleb Benson." + +"So thar am," cried Victoria, snatching the glass, "acomin' full split +across the medder. Now for it!" + +The lithe limbed mulatto gave a hop on to the portico, and another bound +to the soft grass of the lawn, whence she ran, like a deer, to meet our +sea-loving friend, with the high shoulders, who was crossing towards the +house at a far brisker pace than was usual to him. + +"Hav yer give the instergations?" cried Victoria, out of breath with +swift running. "Am the folks a coming to our party?" + +Caleb looked wonderfully grave, and attempted to shake his head; but Vic +saw, by the gleam in his eyes, that it was all pretence, and clapping +her hands like a little gypsy as she was, dashed into a break-down on +the grass, calling out, "Hi, dic-a-dory, I told yer so--I told yer so!" + +"Well, what am all dis muss 'bout?" exclaimed Clorinda, sailing out to +the lawn with a broad straw flat overshadowing her like an umbrella. +"Well, Caleb, I 'low ebbery ting am pernicious 'bout de party." + +Caleb, who was ah old fisherman, reared at Cape Cod, and not to be put +out of his way easily, occupied plenty of time before he answered. The +afternoon was warm, so he took the oil-cloth cap from his head, and +wiped its baldness vigorously with an old silk handkerchief. Then he +deposited the handkerchief in the crown of his cap, and settled himself +into his garments with a shake, sailor fashion. + +Clorinda's broad flat vibrated with its wearer's impatience, and +Victoria was stamping down the grass, and menacing the old man with her +fist during the whole of his slow performance. + +"Now," she said, "now." + +"Wal, the long and the short of it is, they're all a coming, especially +from Squir Rhodes. Miss Jemima wasn't willing at first, but the Squir +sot in and said his colored people hadn't much chance for fun anyhow, +and shouldn't be kept back from what come along in a nat'ral way." + +"Squir Rhodes was ales a pusson as I s'pected," said Clorinda. "Let's +see how many of 'em will count up." + +She made rather bungling work in counting her fingers, going over them +three or four times, and getting terribly puzzled in the end. + +In the midst of her confusion, Victoria gave a little cry of dismay, and +made a rush for the house, where she frantically tore off her apron and +tucked it under one of the hall mats. + +Clorinda, filled with indignation by this strange proceeding, turned in +search of the cause, and lo! there was Dolf, Mr. Mellen's own man, +crossing the lawn, with two other gentlemen of color, evidently from the +city. + +Clorinda snatched the broad straw flat from her head, and began to +arrange her Madras turban with both hands, thus unhappily exposing some +tufts of frosty gray that had managed to creep, year after year, into +her wool. After this rather abrupt toilet, she drew herself up with a +grand air, and marched forward to receive the strangers in a glorious +state of self-complacency. + +"Mr. Dolf, yer welcome as hot-house peaches--and these gemmen, may I +'quest an interdiction?" + +Dolf had just been informing his companions that the lady approaching +them was not to be sneezed at in any particular whatever, as she ruled +the roost of Piney Cove, and had, everybody said, laid up lots of rocks; +besides, as for cooking--well, he said nothing, it was not necessary; +they would see what Clorinda was in that line when the supper came on. +She had learned down South where people knew how to live. + +This speech prepared the strangers to receive their sable hostess with +great distinction, and when she launched a stupendous courtesy at them +in acknowledgment of their elaborate bows, the mutual admiration that +sprang up among the whole group then and there, was an oasis in the +desert of human nature. + +"Miss Clorinda--Mr. Sparks, of the Metropolitan Hotel; Mr. Hannibal, +private attendant of an upper-crust gentleman, who is going to stop at +the Sailor's Safe Anchor, fishing and shooting." + +Clorinda had just recovered herself from one courtesy, but she took the +wind in her garments and fluttered off into a couple more without loss +of time. + +"I 'low de neighborhood am obligated to any gemmen as brings sich +pussons inter de serciety ob Piney Cove. If yer hasn't had deceived an +invite from Mr. Benson, dat white pusson yer sees up yunder, remit me de +ferlicity." + +Clorinda took two buff envelopes from her bosom as she spoke, and gave +them to Mr. Sparks, of the Metropolitan, and Mr. Julius Hannibal, +private, with a smile that flitted across her face like smoke from a +furnace. + +"It speaks ob pumps and yeller gloves as bein' indispenserable, but dem +as comes promiscus as yer friends dus, Dolphus, can't be spected ter +imply." + +The gentlemen smiled in bland thankfulness, exhibiting a superb display +of ivory and second-hand white kids in the operation. + +"You didn't expect me," whispered Dolf, joining Clorinda when she turned +to conduct the party to the house, "but the hart will pant after clear +water. I couldn't stand it three days longer; so when the master told me +to come over and see that every thing was ready, I jumped at it. Hope +you're not offended at my bringing these fellows?" + +"'Fended!" exclaimed Clorinda, stepping upon the grass as if it had been +egg-shells, that she had resolved not to crush. "When was yer Clo ebber +fended wid yer, Dolphus?" + +"Poor fellows," said Dolf, looking back at his friends, "They see my +ferlicity and are ready to burst with envy." + +"Am dey?" exclaimed Clorinda, bridling--"poor souls; but no pusson can +be spected to cut up inter half a dozen, so dey am bound ter suffer." + +The whole group had reached the front portico by this time. Vic, who had +stolen behind the hall-door and stood watching their approach through +the crevice, came forth now, blushing till the golden bronze on her +cheeks burned red. Clorinda flamed up at the sight. + +"What hab yer done wid yer apron, chile? jes march right 'bout an' get +it ter once. Who ebber hearn bout a chile ob yer age widout apron?" + +Victoria's black eyes flashed like diamonds; she drew aside, leaning +against the wall, with the grace of a bronze-figure, half-frightened out +of her wits, but defiant still. What right had Clorinda to tell about +her apron, or drive her down stairs? She cast an imploring glance at +Dolf, but he looked resolutely away. + +"Come in, gemmen, out ob sight ob dis obstinit chile," cried Clorinda, +almost sweeping poor little Vic down with a flourish of her skirts. + +"No," interposed gentlemanly Dolf, who had a genius for keeping out of +storms. "The gentlemen were just saying, as we came up, how much they +would like a walk towards the woods. So with your permission, Miss +Clorinda, we will leave you to the feminine duties of the toilet; though +beauty when unadorned is most adorned." + +"'Cept when de gray hairs will peek out. Hi! hi! look dar!" + +These audacious words were uttered by Victoria, whose pouting wrath +could no longer be restrained. + +The two city gentlemen fell to examining their gloves with great +earnestness. Dolf made a hasty retreat through the door, calling on them +to follow him, and Clorinda left five handsomely defined finger-marks on +Victoria's hot cheek before she darted off to a looking-glass, and fell +into a great burst of tears over the state of her treacherous turban. + +"Now," said Vic, gathering herself up from the wall, and rubbing her +cheek, down which great hot tears were leaping with passionate +violence--"Now I'se gone and done it, sure; she won't let me--" + +"Vic! Vic!" + +It was the treacherous voice of Dolf, who came stealing in from the +portico. + +"Vic, don't be so audacious, you lovely spitfire; go this minute and +make up with her, or we've lost all chance of that new cotillion I was +learning you." + +"I can't! I won't!" burst forth the pretty, bronze fury, stamping down +the mat and her apron under it. "She's a--a--she's fat cattle, thar!" + +Dolf snatched the little sprite from the rug, and stopped her mouth +with--no, it wasn't with his _hand_. And I'd rather say no more about +it. + +Five minutes after, Victoria went demurely in search of Clorinda, found +her sitting before the glass in utter humiliation, and protested that +the whole thing was nonsense. That she hadn't seen a gray hair, and if +the turban was awry, it must have happened when Clorinda ran up stairs +in such hot haste. Victoria was sorry: oh, very, very sorry. Would Miss +Clo only overlook it this once, and begin to dress for the ball? + +Clorinda's heart swelled like a rising tide under Vic's hypocritical +condolence, but she could not be quite convinced about the turban; she +was a woman of resources, however, and felt that the evil was not +without its remedy. So she kindled an immense quantity of wax-lights, +crowded them before her looking-glass, and at once commenced the +mysteries of a full toilet. The result was so satisfactory when she took +a survey of her pink barege dress, covered with innumerable small +flounces, and the gorgeous white gauze scarf, glittering with silver, +which formed a turban, with long sweeping ends falling to the left +shoulder--that she melted at once towards the girl who had helped to +make her so resplendent. + +"Jes see what splendiferous idees that chile Miss Elsie hab, Vic," she +cried, shaking the flounces into place over her enormous crinoline. "Now +'serve she never wore dis sumptious dress more en once, but sent it down +here good as new; 'sides de turban, jes see it shine. Yes, Vic, I +forgives yer, so don't rub dem knuckles in yer eyes no more." + +Vic darted away, and in a marvellously short time came back glorious, +her hair braided in with scarlet ribbons, and a dress of several +gorgeous colors fluttering with every joyous movement of her slender +person. She was pluming herself before the glass when Clorinda started +up. + +"What am dat?" + +"Dat? why it am a carriage. Oh, golly, golly, they'm coming," cried Vic, +wild with delight; and away the two darkies went down the great +staircase and into the hall, where the honors of the house were extended +with astonishing elegance. + +Two or three wagons sat down their sable loads, and directly the sounds +of a brace of fiddles rang though the basement story, and the laundry +floor vibrated to the elastic tread of dancers, whose natural love of +music gave grace and spirit to every movement. The two fiddles poured +out triumphant strains of music, and in every particular Clorinda's ball +was a success. + +At last Clorinda disappeared from the laundry, and Dolf followed her +into the supper-room, where he fell into raptures over the gorgeousness +of the table. + +"Yes," said the housekeeper, modestly, "but how am we to get 'long +without wine; Marse Mellen carried off de keys, and without dat--" + +"Jes look here!" cried Dolf, holding up a key which had been resting in +his pocket; "catch me unprepared; I thought about the wine." + +Clorinda almost embraced Dolf in her delight, but in his haste to reach +the wine-cellar, he did not seem to observe the demonstration. + +When her lover came back with his arms full of long-necked bottles, +Clorinda's happiness was supreme, and directly after there was a rush of +feet and abrupt silence with the two fiddlers. The company had gone in +to supper. + +After the rush and bustle had subsided a little, Dolf placed himself at +the head of the table, with a corkscrew in one hand and a bottle in the +other. + +"Oh, my!" whispered Virginia, "I hope dar's lots of pop in it." + +A rushing explosion, and the rich gurgle of amber wine into the crowding +goblets satisfied her completely. + +Dolf lifted his glass and prepared himself for a speech. + +"Ladies of the fair sect and gentlemen--" + +That moment Mr. Julius Hannibal, who had allowed himself to be crowded +towards the door, stole out and went softly up stairs. With the stealthy +motion of a cat, he crept along the hall and opened the front door. + +A man came out from the shadows of the portico, and glided into the +hall. It was Mr. North, Hannibal's master. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WEDDING. + + +A crowd of carriages stood in front of the church--a throng of +richly-dressed persons filled it, with such life and bustle as sacred +walls never witness, save on the occasion of a grand wedding. Mrs. +Harrington had done her pleasant work famously. Not a fashionable person +among her own friends, or a distinguished one known to bridegroom or +bride, had been omitted. Thus the stately church was crowded. Snowy +feathers waved over gossamer bonnets; lace, glittering silks, and a +flash of jewels were seen on every hand, fluttering in the dim religious +light around smiling faces and gracefully bending figures. + +A buzz of whispered conversations rose from nave to gallery; for a large +portion of that brilliant throng had never seen the bride, and curiosity +was on the _qui vive_ regarding a person so utterly unknown to society, +who had carried off the greatest match of the season. + +In one of the front pews a friend of Mrs. Harrington was sitting with a +group of her own confidential acquaintances. Of course she knew all +about it, and could tell them why Mr. Mellen had chosen a wife so +utterly unknown to their set. + +Certainly Mrs. C. knew all about it--had the particulars from her sweet +friend, Mrs. Harrington, who was, they all knew, a sort of lady +patroness to the affair. Would she tell? Of course--why not? There was +no secret about it now, and it might be ten minutes before the bridal +party came in. + +"Well, this was it. Mr. Mellen was--" + +Oh they all knew about Mr. Mellen; he had been in business down town +before that worthy old gentleman his uncle died, and left him so +enormously rich that there was no guessing how many millions he was +worth. Did they know his sister? Of course: what a sweet pretty creature +she was! Strange that the old uncle forgot to make her an heiress,--cut +off a relative whom he had almost adopted, and left everything to +Mellen, who did not expect it. Sweet Elsie was quite overlooked, and had +nothing on earth but her beauty. But the bride, the bride, what about +her? + +"Well," said Mrs. C----, coming out of this storm of whispers smiling +and flushed, "there is no great mystery in the bride. Indeed, so far as +she was concerned, everything was rather common-place--such people had +been done up so often in romances that it was tiresome." + +"You don't mean to say that she was that eternal governess who is +continually travelling through magazines and marrying the rich young +gentleman of the house?" cried a voice, almost out loud. + +"No, no, nothing quite so bad as that," answered Mrs. C----, with a low +soothing "hush," and shaking her head till all the pink roses on her +bonnet fluttered again. "She came from somewhere in New England. The +father was thought to be a rich man. At any rate he gave her a splendid +education, and travelled with her in Europe nearly two years, when she +was quite a missish girl. He also educated her cousin, the young man who +is to be groomsman, and gave him a handsome setting out in life; but +when the father died there was nothing left--all his property mortgaged +or something--at any rate Elizabeth never got a cent, and her cousin +would have been poor as a church-mouse but for the money which had set +him up in a splendid business. He wanted to make that over to her at +once." + +"Generous fellow!" + +"You may well say that," continued Mrs. C----, hushing down the +enthusiasm of her friends with a wave of her whitely gloved hand. "She +would not take a cent of his money, but came here to the very school +where she had been educated, and hired out as a teacher; it is said--but +I do not vouch for it--that her bills at the school were left unpaid, +and she worked the debt out." + +"Is it possible!" + +"Dear me, how noble!" + +"But how did she get acquainted with Mr. Mellen?" cried a third voice; +"make haste, or they will be upon us before we know a word about it." + +"His sister, Miss Elsie Mellen, was a pupil in the school. Her love for +Miss Fuller was perfect infatuation. The brother worshiped her--sweet +creature, who could help it?--and so the acquaintance began in the +parlor of a boarding school, and ends--Hush, hush!" + +There was a slight commotion at the door, followed by the soft rustling +of silks and turning of heads. Then a gentleman of noble presence, calm +and self-possessed, as if he were quite unconscious of all the eyes bent +upon him, came slowly up the broad aisle with the object of all this +conversation leaning on his arm. + +Certainly the bride gave no evidence of her low estate in that rustling +white silk, which shone like crusted snow through a sheen of tulle; or +in the veil of Brussels lace that fell around her like a fabric of +cobwebs overrun with frostwork. You could detect intense emotion from +the shiver of the clematis spray, mingled with snowy roses, in her black +hair; but otherwise she seemed quiet and remarkably self-sustained. + +Following close upon this noble pair, came a tall, loose-jointed young +man, glowing with pride of the lovely creature on his arm; and, really, +any thing more beautiful, in a material sense, could not well be +imagined than that youthful bridesmaid. Like the stately girl who had +passed before her, she moved in a cloud of shimmering white, with just +enough of blue in the golden hair and on the bosom to match the violet +of her eyes. + +Once or twice Tom Fuller missed step as they were going up the aisle, +when Elsie would make a pause, look ruefully at her gossamer skirts, and +only seem relieved when her partner stumbled into place again. Then she +followed the bride, her cheeks one glow of roses and smiles dimpling her +fresh, young mouth, as if she were the Queen of May approaching her +throne. + +The bridal-pair knelt at the altar, and a solemn stillness fell upon +that brilliant multitude as the vows which were to unite that man and +woman for all time were uttered. Even Elsie looked on with shadowy +sadness in her eyes; as for Tom--the noble-hearted fellow made a fool of +himself of course, and was compelled to shake the tears surreptitiously +from his eyes, before he dared to look up from the long survey he had +been taking of his patent-leather boots. + +It is almost frightful to remember how few moments it takes to bind +immortal souls together in a union which may be for happiness, and, +alas, may be for such misery as eternal bondage alone can give. + +The feeling of awe befitting that sacred place had scarcely settled on +the gay assembly, when the altar was deserted, and Grantley Mellen led +his wife out of the church. Agitation had brought a faint glow of color +to her cheek, softened the mouth into its sweetest smile, and whenever +the clear gray eyes were lifted, one could see the timid, shrinking +happiness, which made their depths so misty and dark. + +Grantley Mellen was a proud, somewhat stern man, and at the church-door +he betrayed, in spite of himself, some annoyance at the _eclat_ which +Mrs. Harrington had given to the affair, in spite of his express wishes. +But whenever he looked at the lovely girl at his side, or felt the +clinging touch of her hand upon his arm, his face cleared and softened +into an expression of such tenderness as changed its entire character. + +Elsie followed close, dexterously keeping her dress from under Tom's +feet; indeed, she looked so lovely and fairy-like, that it made the +awkwardness and embarrassment of her great, honest-hearted companion +more apparent. + +Tom Fuller knew that he appeared dreadfully out of place playing a part +at this imposing ceremony, but he had never in all his life refused a +request that Elizabeth made, and during the last three months, the +mischievous sprite by his side had kept his blundering head in a state +of such constant bewilderment, and so stirred every chord in his great, +manly heart, that he would not have minded in the least stumbling over +red hot ploughshares for the pleasure of walking with her even the +length of a church aisle. + +The group had reached the porch and lingered there a moment, waiting for +the carriages to draw up. The shadows were all gone from Grantley +Mellen's face now; he bent his head and whispered a few words, that made +Elizabeth's cheek glow into new beauty. Suddenly her glance wandered +towards the crowd on her left--a sudden pallor swept the roses from her +cheek--her hand closed convulsively on Mellen's arm; but in an instant, +before even he had noticed her agitation, it had passed--she walked on +to the carriage graceful and queen-like as ever. + +Standing among the throng at which she had cast that one glance, stood +the man who had rescued her from danger only a few days before. He was +gazing eagerly into the faces of the newly made husband and wife, with +an expression upon his features which it was not easy to understand. But +after that quick look, Elizabeth never again turned her head, and the +stranger shrank back among the crowd and disappeared. + +The guests were gathered about the sumptuous table which Mrs. Harrington +had prepared, and the fair widow herself, in a dress which would have +been youthful even for Elsie, was in a state of flutter and excitement +which baffles description. + +She was gay and coquettish as a girl of sixteen; but there was enough of +real kindliness in her character to make those who knew her forgive +these girlish affectations and the little delusion under which she +labored--that certain specially-favored people, like herself, never did +get beyond eighteen, being so sensitive and fresh of soul, that age +never reached them. + +I doubt if there ever was a wedding reception that did not prove a +somewhat dull affair, and though this was as nearly an exception as +possible, Mellen seized the first opportunity to whisper Elizabeth that +it was time to prepare for their departure. + +"And so I shan't see you for a whole week," said Tom Fuller, ruefully, +as he accompanied Elsie out of the room, when she followed Elizabeth up +stairs to change her dress. "What shall I do with myself all that time?" + +"A whole week!" repeated she, laughing merrily; "it's quite dreadful to +contemplate--I only hope you won't die, and put poor Bessie into +mourning before the honeymoon is over." + +"Oh, you are laughing at me," said Tom, heaving a sigh that was a +perfect blast of grief. + +"How can you fancy that?" cried Elsie; "I thought I was showing great +sympathy." + +"You always do laugh at me," urged Tom, "and it's downright cruel! I +know I am awkward, and always do the wrong thing at the wrong moment, +but you needn't be so hard on a fellow." + +"There, there!" said Elsie, patting his arm as she might have smoothed a +great Newfoundland dog; "don't quarrel with me now! Next week you are +coming down to Piney Cove, and you shall see how nicely I will entertain +you." + +"Shall you be glad to see me--really glad?" pleaded Tom, red to the very +temples. + +"Oh, of course," cried Elsie, laughing; "you are a sort of cousin +now--it will be my duty, you know." + +Elsie danced away, leaving him to pull his white glove in a perplexed +sort of way, by no means certain that he was satisfied with being +considered a relation, and treated in this cavalier manner. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE FIRST CLOUD. + + +Mrs. Harrington had run up stairs for an instant, and stopped Mellen and +his bride on the landing for a few last words. + +"I hope you are satisfied, Grantley," she said; "I have done my best; I +do hope you are pleased." + +"My dear friend, everything has been perfect," he answered. + +"I can't thank you for all your kindness to me," Elizabeth said, holding +out her hand; "but believe me, I feel it deeply." + +"My dear, don't speak of it! Grantley and Elsie are like relatives to +me," cried Mrs. Harrington, "and I love you so much already! You looked +lovely--what a mercy we came off so well from our fright--" + +"There is no time for pretty speeches," broke in Elsie, giving her a +warning glance, and pulling Elizabeth towards their dressing-room; "go +back to your guests, Mary Harrington; what will they do without you. +Besides, you must cover our retreat. We don't want to be stared at when +we go out." + +But Mellen stood still after they had entered the chamber, and detained +Mrs. Harrington. + +"What fright?" he demanded; "what did you mean?" + +She was too thoroughly confused to remember her promise. + +"Oh, nothing, nothing!" she said; "I have sold the horses, so it doesn't +make any difference." + +"What do you mean?" he asked. "Have you had an accident?" + +"No, no; the gentleman saved us--such a splendid creature! But it was so +odd. The moment Elizabeth looked in his face she fainted dead +away--courageous as a lion till then--just like a novel, you know. But +she said she never saw him before; it was really quite interesting." + +Grantley Mellen turned suddenly pale; doubt and suspicion had been his +familiar demons for years, and it never required more than a word or +look to call them up. + +He controlled himself sufficiently to speak with calmness, and Mrs. +Harrington was not observant; but he did not permit her to return to her +guests until he had heard the whole story. + +"Don't mention it," she entreated; "I promised Elizabeth not to tell; +she thought you would be frightened, and perhaps displeased." + +Mrs. Harrington hurried down stairs, and Mellen passed on to the chamber +which had been appropriated for his use. But his face had not recovered +its serenity, and Master Dolf, who presided over his toilet, did not at +all approve of such gravity on a man's wedding-day--having drank quite +champagne enough in the kitchen to feel in as exuberant spirits as was +desirable, himself. + +The leave-takings were over; Tom Fuller had given his last tempestuous +sigh as Mellen drove off with his sister and his bride towards the home +where they were to begin their new life. + +The journey was not a tedious one; the swift train bore them for a +couple of hours along one of the Long Island railroads, to a way +station, where a carriage waited to carry them to the quiet old house in +which they were to spend the honeymoon. + +There was to be no journey, both Mellen and Elizabeth wished to go +quietly to the beautiful spot which was to be their future home, and +spend the first weeks of their happiness in complete seclusion. + +The drive was a charming one, and the brightness of the Spring day would +have chased even a deeper gloom from Mellen's mind than the shadow which +Mrs. Harrington's careless words had brought over it. + +From the eminence along which the road wound, they caught occasional +glimpses of the silvery beach and the long sparkling line of ocean +beyond; then a sudden descent would shut them out, and they drove +through beautiful groves with pleasant homesteads peeping through the +trees, and distant villages nestled like flocks of birds in the golden +distance. + +The apple-trees were in blossom, and the breeze was laden with their +delicious fragrance; the grass in the pastures wore its freshest green, +the young grain was sprouting in the fields, troops of robins and +thrushes darted about, filling the air with melody, and over all the +blue sky looked down, flecked with its white, fleecy clouds. The +sunlight played warm and beautiful over this lovely scene, and through +the early loveliness of the season, the married pair drove on towards +their new life. + +At a sudden curve in the road, they came out full upon the ocean, and +Elizabeth, unacquainted with the scene, uttered an exclamation of wonder +at its dazzling loveliness. + +Below them stretched a crescent-shaped bay, with a line of woodland +running far out into the sea; away to the right, at the extremity of the +bay, a little village peeped out; its picturesque dwellings were dotted +here and there, giving a home look to the whole scene. At the end of the +shady avenue into which they had turned, the tall roofs and stately +towers of the Piney Cove mansion were visible through the trees. + +"The dear old house!" cried Elsie, clapping her hands. "The dear old +house!" + +Grantley Mellen was watching his wife, and a pleased smile lighted his +face when he saw how thoroughly she appreciated the beauty of the place. +He did not speak, but clasped her hand gently in his, and held it, while +Elsie uttered her wild exclamations of delight. They drove up to the +entrance of the house. + +"Welcome home!" exclaimed Mellen, and his face glowed with tenderness as +he lifted his wife from the carriage and conducted her up the steps, +Elsie following, and the servants pressing forward with their +congratulations, headed by Clorinda: and for the first few moments, +Elizabeth was conscious of nothing but a pleasant confusion. + +From the hall where they stood, she could look out upon the ocean which +rolled and sparkled under the sunshine. She could even hear the waves +lapsing up to the grounds which sloped down to the water's edge in a +closely shaven lawn, broken by stately old trees and blossoming +flower-beds. The view so charmed her with its loveliness, that at first +she hardly heeded the magnificence of the different apartments through +which they led her. + +There were quaint, shadowy old rooms, full of odd nooks and corners, and +heavy with antique furniture, where one could idle away a morning so +pleasantly; and in the modern portion of the dwelling, a long suite of +drawing-rooms, with a library beyond, which had been fitted up with +every luxury that wealth and refined taste could devise. + +"Be happy," Grantley Mellen whispered, when his wife tried to find words +to express her delight. "Be happy--peace, rest and affection is all I +ask." + +He looked in her face, eager for the smiling surprise which he had +expected to find there. It was sadly grave. She too had her after +thought. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE BRIDE'S WELCOME HOME. + + +Elsie took Elizabeth up the broad flight of steps which led from the +hall, and conducted her to the suite of rooms that had been prepared for +her reception. "I had them arranged close to my little nest," she said, +"because I knew Grantley would never be content unless I was within +call. I hope you will like them, Elizabeth?" + +Elizabeth answered that they were beautiful, as indeed they were. But it +was a grand, lonely splendor that she looked upon, which almost chilled +her. The chamber was large and richly furnished. Every thing was massive +and costly. The carpet soft as a flower-bed and as brilliant in tints. +Wherever she turned, her eyes fell on exquisite carvings reflected by +limpid mirrors; curtains of richly tinted satin shut out a perfect view +of the ocean, and Elizabeth could not help remarking that the principal +windows faced northward, away from the bloom and glory of the grounds. +Even her dressing-room, which was in one of the octagon towers, looked +out on the only barren spot in view--a storm-beaten grove of cedars that +stood, ragged and bristling with dead limbs, on the beach. + +Spite of herself, Elizabeth was chilled. She loved the morning sunshine +like a worshiper, and felt as if all the grandeur which surrounded her +was shutting it out from her own portion of this new home. + +"Did Mr. Mellen arrange these rooms?" she asked in a faltering voice. +"Was it his taste?" + +"Dear me, not at all," answered Elsie. "He exhausted himself in fitting +up my snuggery. The rest was left to me. I had _carte blanche_, you +know, as to money; and it was splendid fun going about and ordering +things. Don't you remember how much I used to be away from school?" + +Elizabeth smiled, and made an effort to appear thankful and pleased. + +"See what close neighbors we are," said Elsie, lifting a curtain that +seemed to drape a window, but revealing a door which she pushed open. + +Elizabeth stepped forward, and in contrast with the rich gloom of her +own chamber, saw a suite of the brightest, sunniest rooms, that ever a +capricious beauty inhabited. + +The dressing-room which she entered, was hung with bright, cerulean +blue, overrun with what seemed to be a delicate pattern of point-lace. +The carpet was thick, soft, and almost as white as ermine, with a +tangled vine of golden water-lilies and broad, green leaves running over +it, as if the water they grew in had been crusted with snow, and the +blossoms, soft, fresh, and bright, frozen upon the surface. The couch, +easy-chair, and general furniture, were of polished satin-wood, +cushioned with delicate azure silk shot and starred with silver. A +luxurious number of silken cushions lay upon the couch, chairs, and even +on the floor; for two or three were heaped against the pedestal, on +which a basket of flowers stood, and upon them lay a guitar, with its +broad, pink ribbon hanging loose. Every table was loaded with some +exquisitely feminine object of use or beauty, till the very profusion +was oppressive, light and graceful as every thing was. + +Two of the windows were open, and their lace curtains held back, one by +a marble Hebe that mingled her cold stone flowers with the lace; the +other by a Bacchante, whose garland of snow-white grapes was seen dimly, +through the transparent folds it gathered away from the glass. + +Through these open windows came glimpses of the flower-garden, green +slopes on the lawn, and farther off the wind swept up perfumes from a +distant orchard, and sifted it almost imperceptibly through the delicate +network of the curtains. Back of this boudoir was a bed-chamber, and +beyond that a dressing-room. Elizabeth could see through the open door a +bed with hangings of blue and white, with all the objects of luxury +which could please the taste of a pampered and fanciful girl. + +"Grantley chose these rooms for me long ago, before he went to Europe," +said Elsie, looking around with quiet complacency. "He would not hear of +my giving them up; besides, I knew you would like something a little +darker and more stately," she said. "Are you pleased with the house, +Bessie?" + +"Very, very much. I did not expect any thing so magnificent," she +answered. "It overpowers me." + +"I had not seen it for years," said Elsie, "till I came down with Grant +to decide about the new furniture. Now you must be happy here. You ought +to be! Just contrast this place with that old barn of a school; it makes +one shudder to think of it! You must be happy, Bessie, for I hate +discontented people." + +"I trust so, dear; I believe so; we shall all be happy." + +"Oh, you can't help it," pursued Elsie; "Grant is always a darling! But +you must love and pet me, you know, just as he does." + +"You exacting little thing!" said Elizabeth, lightly. + +"Yes, but you must," she urged; "you never would have had all this but +for me." + +"No," murmured Elizabeth; "I should never have known Grantley but for +you." + +"I told him that day, you know, just what I had set my heart on," +pursued Elsie, shaking her curls about, and chattering in her careless, +graceful way. "I said I loved you like a sister, and I should die if I +was separated from you. That settled it." + +Elizabeth had seated herself in a low chair, with her back towards the +window; she looked up quickly as Elsie paused. + +"Settled it?" she repeated. + +"Yes, exactly!" + +Elsie flung herself on the carpet at her sister's feet, and caught one +of her hands, playing with the wedding ring so lately put on that +delicate finger, in her caressing fashion. + +"How do you mean?" asked Elizabeth, quietly, though there was a sudden +change in her face which might have struck Elsie could she have seen it. +"Settled it; how do you mean?" + +"Why he never had refused me anything in all his life," said Elsie; "it +was not likely he would begin so late! Nobody ever does refuse me +anything; now, remember that, Bess." + +"Yes, dear! So you told Grantley you were very fond of me--" + +"And that I wanted him to marry you--of course I did." + +It was only Elsie's childish nonsense; Elizabeth felt how foolish it was +to heed it, and yet she could not repress a desire to question further. + +"That was long after he came home, Elsie?" + +"Yes; but I had written him all sorts of things about you; and you +remember when he came to the school to visit me, how I made you go down +without telling you who was there." + +"Yes--I remember." + +"He praised you very highly, and I told him what a dear you were; and +how sad it was for you to have lost all your fortune and be obliged to +teach." + +The color slightly deepened on Elizabeth's cheek; was it possible that +in the beginning Grantley Mellen had been interested in her from a +feeling of pity and commiseration? + +Her engagement had been a brief one; during it, the days had passed in a +constant whirl of excitement and happiness, and she had found little +time to question or reflect: up to the last hour there had been no +shadow on her enjoyment--she had resolutely swept aside everything but +her deep happiness. + +But it was strange that in the very first flush of her married life this +conversation with Elsie should come up. She knew it was only the girl's +heedlessness and pretty egotism that made her talk in this really cruel +fashion, she was sure of that; still her nature was too proud and +self-reliant, for the idea that Mellen had been first attracted towards +her from sympathy at her lonely condition, to be at all pleasant. + +But Elsie was going on with her careless revelations, playing with the +rings which Mellen had put one after another on those delicate fingers +during their engagement, making each one precious with kisses and loving +words. + +"So, when I saw how sorry he was for you, I knew that I should have my +own way. I longed to see this dear old house open once more; it had been +given up to the servants ever since he hurried off to Europe; and I +wanted you for my companion always, you darling." + +"It was fortunate for your wishes that Grantley's heart inclined in the +direction you had marked out," said Elizabeth. + +"Oh," exclaimed Elsie with hasty recklessness, and her usual want of +thought, "Grant had no heart to give anybody; all his love was centred +on me; after the experience he had years ago, I don't suppose he could +ever love any woman again--he is just that odd sort of character." + +Elizabeth gave no sign of the blow which struck her this time cruelly on +the heart; she drew her hand away from Elsie, lest its sudden coldness +should rouse some suspicion of the truth in the girl's mind, and asked +in a singularly quiet voice-- + +"What experience, Elsie?" + +"Oh, I didn't mean to say that," she replied; "I am always letting +things out by mistake; Grant would be really angry with me; don't ever +mention it to him." + +"I will not; but what experience has he had that can prevent a husband's +giving his heart even to his own wife?" + +"Dear me, I oughtn't to tell you; but you'd surely find it out sometime; +only promise me not to open your lips." + +"I promise," replied Elizabeth, a cold, gray shadow settling over her +face, out of which all the bloom had faded. + +"He had a friend, a cousin you know, that our rich old uncle had partly +adopted, whom he was very, very fond of," pursued Elsie, "and he was +engaged to be married into the bargain. This man treated him +dreadfully--ran off with the girl Grant loved, and cheated him out of a +great deal of money--money that he could not afford to lose, for he was +not rich then. Grant was nearly mad. I was a little thing, but I +remember it perfectly. When his uncle died he sent me to school, and +started to Europe; he has been there all these four long years; but his +cousin was punished; his uncle gave everything to Grant." + +And of all this grief, this disappointment, he had never told her one +word. Elsie spoke the truth--he had married her that his sister might +have a companion, and his house a mistress. + +A prouder woman than Elizabeth Mellen never existed; but she sat +motionless and gave no sign, while her brief dream of happiness fell +crushed and broken at her feet under this revelation. + +"There," cried Elsie, "that's all, so don't ever think about the thing +again. What a fortunate creature you are! how happy we shall be, shan't +we, dear?" + +She attempted to throw her arms about Elizabeth in her demonstrative +way, but the woman rose quickly, and avoided the caresses which would +have stifled her. + +"It is time to dress," she said; "I am going to my room." + +She passed into her chamber with that dreary chill at heart, which, it +seemed to her, would never leave it again! How could she endure that +fearful pang of humiliation and self-abasement that wrung her soul, and +would grow stronger with every proof of kindness that her husband could +give? + +No love--no heart to give her under all his goodness and attention. She +kept repeating such words to herself--they would never cease to ring in +her ears--there could be no pleasure so entrancing that they would not +mar it by their whispers--no grief so deep that they would not torture +her with the recollection that she was powerless to comfort or aid the +man who had made her his wife. + +But she must bear it all in silence; hers was one of those deep, +reticent natures which could resolve on a painful thing and carry out +her determination to the very end. She would weary him with no sign of +affection. + +The playful exactions of a young wife, which are so pleasant to a loving +husband, must be carefully avoided. He must be allowed to endure her +without revolt--not finding her much in his way. + +That was the first thought upon which she settled, even while this +earliest whirl of pain and tremble made her head dizzy and her heart +sick. + +She heard Elsie's voice ringing out in a gay song: she went mechanically +on with her dressing, listening to that merry song in the midst of her +bewildering thoughts with a dreary feeling of desolation. + +If she could have sat down in the midst of her new life, and died +without further trouble or pain--that became her one thought! If that +man who was her husband, and his sister could enter the room and find +her dead, they might feel regret for a time, but very soon even her +memory would pass away from that old house, and out of their hearts, +where she had so shallow a resting-place, and in the grave she might +find quiet. + +Elsie came dancing in, and exclaimed-- + +"Oh, you are dressed! I hear Grant on the stairs. May I open the door?" + +Elizabeth was seemingly quiet, but the change in her manner would have +been apparent to any one less self-engrossed than Elsie. + +"Open it," she answered; "I am ready." + +Grantley Mellen entered the room, and led them both away down stairs; +but he felt the sudden tremor in his young wife's hand, the sort of +shrinking from his side, and his suspicious mind caught fire instantly. +He noted every change in her face, every sad inflexion in her voice, and +at once there came back to him the conversation he had held with Mrs. +Harrington. + +Could Elizabeth have known this man? Was there a secret in her past of +which he was ignorant? The bare idea made his head reel; though he might +banish it from his mind for a season, the slightest recurrence would +bring it back to torture him with inexplicable fear and dread. + +So their new life began with this shadow upon it--a shadow imperceptible +to all lookers on, but lying cold and dim on their hearts nevertheless, +slowly to gather substance day by day till it should become a chill, +heavy mist, through which their two souls could not distinguish each +other. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +COUSIN TOM VISITS PINEY COVE. + + +Grantley Mellen was still a young man, only thirty-three, though the +natural gravity of his character, increased by certain events in his +life, made him appear somewhat older. + +His father had died many years before, and as Elsie had told his bride, +an uncle had left him in the possession of a fine property, which had +increased in value, till he was now a very wealthy man. + +His mother died when Elsie was a girl of about fourteen, and on her +death-bed Grantley Mellen had promised to act the part of parent as well +as brother to the young girl. He had never once wavered in his trust, +and the love and tenderness he felt for her were beautiful and touching +to witness. + +He was never suspicious, never severe with her, though these were the +worst failings of his character. Elsie was to be treated as a child; be +petted, and indulged, and allowed to live in the sunshine, whatever else +might befall himself or others. + +Although her health was good, she had always been rather delicate in +appearance, and that made him more careful of her. He was haunted with +the fear that she was to fade under their family scourge, consumption, +though in reality she was one of those frail looking creatures who are +all nerves--nerves, too, elastic as tempered steel; and who always +outlive the people who have watched them so carefully. + +It was true Grantley Mellen had met with a humiliating disappointment in +his early youth, which had embittered all his after years, and increased +the natural jealousy of a reticent disposition almost to a monomania. +These were the facts of his history: + +He had a college friend of his own age, a cousin twice removed, whom +from boyhood he had loved with all the strength and passion which made +the undercurrent of his grave, reserved character. He had helped this +young man in every way--befriended him in college, been to him what few +brothers ever are. + +The time came when Mellen found the realization of those dreams which +fill every youthful soul: he loved, with all the fire and intensity of a +first passion. His cousin was made the confidant of this love; he shared +Mellen's every thought, and seemed heartily to sympathize with his +feelings. + +It is an old story, so I need not dwell upon it. Both friend and +betrothed wife proved false. There came a day when Grantley Mellen found +himself alone with a terrible misery, with no faith left, no trust in +humanity to give a ray of light in the darkness of his betrayal. + +The friend whom he had trusted eloped with his affianced bride, and +cheated him out of a large sum of money. With that sudden treachery and +bitter grief, Mellen's youth ended. + +He left Elsie at school and went away to Europe, wandering about for +years, and growing more saddened and misanthropic all the while. + +He returned at last. Elsie was eighteen then. She had a school-friend, +to whom she had been greatly attached; a girl older than herself, and so +different in every respect, that it was a wonder Elsie's volatile +character had been attracted to her, or that her liking had been +reciprocated. + +This was the state of events when Mellen returned from Europe. Elsie's +account of her friend interested him in the unfortunate girl. When he +made her acquaintance that sympathy deepened into a feeling which he had +never thought to have for any woman again,--he loved her, and she was +now his wife. + +It was a restless, craving affection, which threatened great trouble +both to himself and its object. He had no cause for jealousy, but his +suspicious mind was always on the alert--he was jealous even of her +friends, her favorite studies--he wanted every look and thought his own, +yet he was too proud to betray these feelings. + +Elizabeth's character was not one easy to understand, nor shall I enter +into its details here. The progress of my story must show her as she +really was, and leave you to judge for yourself concerning it, and the +effect it had upon her life. + +She was singularly reticent and reserved, but impetuous and warm-hearted +beyond any thing that the man who loved her dreamed of. He saw her gay, +brilliant, fond of society, yet apparently content with the quiet life +he was determined to lead. Still there was something wanting. He felt in +the depths of his heart that he was not master of her whole being. That +sometimes his very kisses seemed frozen on her lips, and she turned from +his protestations of love with sad smiles, that seemed mocking him. And +she, alas, the woman who believes herself unloved by her husband, is +always in danger--always unhappy. + +The first weeks of this strange honeymoon had passed, and Tom Fuller was +able to gratify the chief desire of his honest soul, and rush down to +the island to bewilder himself more hopelessly in the spell of Elsie's +fascinations, like a great foolish moth whirling about a dazzling light. + +She had never scrupled to laugh at him and his devotion, even to +Elizabeth herself; but just now she was not sorry to see him. The +stillness of the house and the seclusion of those slow love weeks, was +not at all in unison with her taste, and she was already regretting that +Mellen had not allowed her to accept Mrs. Harrington's invitation to +remain with her during the first period of that dreary honeymoon. + +Mellen and Elsie were standing on the porch when Fuller drove up to the +house, and dashed in upon them with such an outpouring of confusion and +delight that it might have softened the most obdurate heart. + +"I couldn't stop away another day," he cried, wringing Mellen's hand +till it ached for half an hour after. + +"We are very glad to see you," replied Mellen; "very glad." + +"I am much obliged, I'm sure," exclaimed Tom, "and you're just a trump, +that's the truth." + +"I suppose that's the reason you keep him so carefully in your hand," +interposed Elsie, laughing. + +Tom was instantly covered with confusion, and let Mellen's hand drop. He +knew there was a joke somewhere, but for the life of him he could not +see where it come in. + +"You are beginning to laugh at me before you have even said 'How do you +do?'" cried he, ruefully. + +"And am I not to laugh at you, if I please?" exclaimed Elsie. "Shake +hands, you cross-grained old thing, and don't begin to quarrel the +moment we meet." + +Tom blushed like a girl while he bent over the little hand she laid in +his, holding it carefully, and looking down on it with a sort of +delighted wonder, as if it had been some rare rose-tinted shell that his +fingers might break at the slightest touch. + +But Mellen was not looking at them; he stood there wondering if this man +could have been of any consequence in Elizabeth's past. Could she have +loved him, and been prevented from marrying him in some way? No, it was +impossible; he felt, he knew that it was so; but the idea would come +into his mind nevertheless. + +"When you have done examining my hand, Mr. Tom Fuller, please give it +back," said Elsie. "It don't amount to much, but, as the Scotchwoman +observed of her clergyman's head, 'it's some good to the owner.'" + +Tom dropped the little hand as if the pink fingers had burned his palm. + +"I'm always the awkwardest fellow alive!" cried he, dismally. "And how +is Bessie, dear girl?" + +Mellen roused himself. + +"I will call her," he said; "she is quite well, and will be delighted to +see you." + +He went into the house in search of his wife, and Elsie began to tease +her unfortunate victim, a pastime of which she never wearied. It seemed +to her the funniest thing in the world to make that great creature blush +and stammer, to lead him on to the perpetration of absurd things, to +laugh at him, to bewilder his honest head; for any pain he might suffer, +she considered it no more than she did the sorrows of a Fejee Islander, +or the chirp of her canary. + +"Have you come down here prepared to be agreeable?" she asked. +"Remember, I expect you to devote yourself completely to my service--to +wait on me like the most devoted of knights." + +"I'd stand on my head if you asked it," answered Tom, impetuously. + +"How deliciously odd you would look!" cried Elsie; "you shall try it +some day; I only hope it won't leave you with a brain fever, but then it +couldn't, Tom,--where is the capital for such a disease to come from?" + +"You may tease me as much as you like," said Tom, "if you'll only say +you are glad to see me." + +"Oh, you will be invaluable," replied Elsie; "I was getting bored with +watching other people's love-making. Can you row a boat and teach me to +play billiards, and be generally nice and useful?" + +"Just try me, that's all!" said Tom. + +"Don't be afraid. I shall put you to every possible use; you may be +quite certain that your position will not be a sinecure." + +"Then you'll make me the happiest fellow alive!" + +"You don't know what you are saying; you don't know what your words +mean," cried Elsie, with one of her bewildering glances. + +"Indeed I do! Oh, Miss Elsie, if you only could--" + +Elsie interrupted him, as her sister came out on the portico, followed +by Mellen. "There is Bessie!" + +Elizabeth was rejoiced to see honest Tom; he was the only relative she +possessed, and she loved him like a sister. She was thoroughly +acquainted with his character, and honored him for the sterling goodness +concealed by eccentricities of manner which made him so open to laughter +and misconception. + +"I'm so glad to see you!" cried Tom, shaking hands all round again, and +growing redder and redder, to Elsie's intense delight. "I've been like a +fish out of water since you all came away; I just begin to feel like +myself again. Bessie, old girl, are you glad to see me?" + +"We shall always be glad to see you, Tom," Elizabeth said, glancing at +her husband. + +"Indeed we shall," he said; "you will always find a room at your +service, and a sincere welcome." + +No, Elizabeth never could have cared for him--the idea was simply +absurd--he would never think of it again, never! + +"I can't tell you how much obliged I am," said Tom, twisting about as if +his joints were out of order, and he was trying to set them straight. + +"Your chamber is ready," said Elizabeth; "we expected you to-day." + +"He doesn't need to go up now," interposed Elsie; "that checked coat is +bewitching, and he is going to take me out to row. Come along, Don +Quixote--come this instant!" + +Elsie ran off, and he followed, obedient as a great Newfoundland dog. + +Elizabeth looked after them a little sadly, and smothered a sigh of +anxiety. She saw what Elsie was so heedlessly doing, and knew Tom well +enough to understand how acute his sufferings would be once roused from +his entrancing dream. + +So things went on during the whole time of his stay, and there was no +help for it. Elsie made him a perfect slave, and Tom no more thought of +disputing her wildest caprice, than if he had been some untutored fawn, +made captive to the spells of a Dryad. + +Elsie saw plainly enough that he loved her, but she regarded that part +of the affair very lightly. She was accustomed to being loved and +petted--it was her right. The idea that it could be cruel or +unprincipled to encourage this young fellow as she did, never entered +her mind. Indeed, if the misery she was bringing upon him had been +pointed out to her, she would only have laughed at it as a capital jest, +a source of infinite amusement. + +When Tom Fuller went back to town, Elsie was taken with a strong desire +to visit dear Mrs. Harrington. Tom was a sort of cousin, now, and would +make a capital escort. Besides, she was sure Grantley and Elizabeth +would be much happier alone. Perhaps Mellen thought so too. At any rate, +he made no objections, and Elsie went. + +The husband and wife were alone. The days were so pleasant--those long, +golden, June days!--they might have been so happy in the solitude of +that beautiful spot, but for the chasm which lay between the souls of +these married people, scarcely perceptible as yet, but widening every +hour! + +Elizabeth watched her husband incessantly. She tortured every evidence +of affection into a forced kindness, an attempt to hide his want of +love; he was trying to make all the atonement in his power, to give her +everything that could make life pleasant, except the place in his heart +which was her right. How her soul revolted against the thought! + +She was mortally hurt and grieved that he could have deceived her. If he +had only spoken the truth, only left her to decide whether she could be +content to accept an outer place in his regard, to make his home happy, +to guard and cherish his sister--if he had only left this decision in +her hands, the matter would have worn a different aspect. + +But that he should have been silent--that even now he should guard his +secret, practising this daily deception, and meaning to let it lie +between them all through life--was a never-ceasing thorn in her heart. + +Mellen, in turn, was watching her; watching her with that morbid +suspicion which made the groundwork of his character. Observant of the +change in her manner, and trying always to account for it, but only +making himself restless and anxious to no purpose. + +He had loved her, he did love her, and the only reason she was, as he +supposed, ignorant of the humiliating story of his past, was because he +had put it resolutely out of his mind; and it hurt his pride too much to +go over the detail of the deceit and treachery from which he had +suffered, even in his own thoughts. + +Elsie's absence was prolonged to a fortnight, and when she returned, +Mrs. Harrington and Tom Fuller came back with her. + +The girl was in more joyous spirits than ever; more bewitching and +beautiful, if possible; and Elizabeth could see plainly that Mellen's +love for her fell little short of absolute idolatry. + +She was not jealous. If Elsie had been her own sister, she could not +have become more attached to her than she had grown during their year of +companionship. But it was very hard to see of what love her husband was +capable, and to remember that no part of it could be won for her; that +between her soul and his, rose the image of that false woman, whose +treachery had steeled his heart against such love as she thirsted for. + +Tom Fuller was a more hopeless lunatic than ever; but Elsie had begun to +grow impatient of his devotion. She often treated him cruelly now. The +poor fellow bore it all with patience, and still clung to his beautiful +dream, unable to realize that it was a baseless delusion, which must +pass away with the summer that had warmed it to its prime. + +The weeks passed on with all-seeming pleasantness, and in many respects +they were pleasant to both husband and wife, though the secret thoughts +in the minds of both, kept them aloof from the perfect rest and +happiness to which they had looked forward during that brief courtship. + +But a sudden change and a great break were nearing their lives, and +unexpectedly enough they came. + +Mellen owned a large mining property in California, an immense fortune +in itself, and ever since his return from Europe, he had been much +occupied with a lawsuit that had sprung up concerning the title. He had +sent out his man of business, but the case did not go on satisfactorily, +and letters came which made his presence there appear absolutely +imperative. + +He could not take his wife and sister; the discomforts to which they +would be exposed, the dreadful fears where Elsie was concerned, from her +apparent delicacy, entirely prevented that idea. + +He informed them that he might be obliged to go; he had written other +letters by the steamer; the answer he might receive would decide. + +Elizabeth pleaded to go with him, but Elsie frankly owned that she could +not even think of a sea voyage without deathly horror. Mellen pointed +out to his wife the necessity there was that she should remain with +Elsie, and she submitted in silence. + +"He married me to take care of her," she thought; "I will do my duty--I +will stay. Perhaps this absence will change him: but no, I am mad to +hope it. Elsie says he never changes. That woman's memory must always +lie between his heart and mine." So she turned to her dull weary path of +duty, and gave no sign. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SHADOWS OF A SEPARATION. + + +October comes, and scarcely four months after his marriage, Mellen was +compelled to leave his wife and home, it might be for a year. Elizabeth +grew white and cold when this certainty was forced upon her, yet she +made no protestation, and uttered nothing like regret or complaint. +Grantley was chilled through and through the heart by this. He had been +so lonely, had longed for the warmth and happiness of love with such +intense yearnings, that her calm stillness wounded him terribly. Was she +of marble? Would nothing kindle affection in that proud heart? Had he +married a beautiful statue? + +No wonder Elizabeth was proudly cold. She did not believe in the +necessity of this journey. His indifference had grown into dislike, she +thought, and, yielding to inevitable repulsion, he was going away to +avoid her. + +But Elsie was loud in her expressions of grief. She had floods of tears +to give--protestations and caresses without end. Her sweet voice was +constantly reproaching Elizabeth for want of feeling. She was forever +hovering about her brother in atonement, as she said, for his wife's +coldness. But the roses on her cheek were always fresh, and her blue +eyes never lost a gleam of their brightness, while Elizabeth grew thin +and white beneath the withering ache of a famished heart. + +"Oh, the desert of these months! Oh, my God, my God, I shall perish +without him! Alone here--all alone with this child--what will become of +me! How shall I endure, how resist this wild clamor of the heart?" + +Elizabeth had flung herself upon the couch in her own room, her face was +buried in the purple cushion, and she strove to smother the words, which +sprang out of a terrible pain which had no business in that young heart. +As she lay, convulsed and sobbing, on the couch, the door opened, and +her husband came into the room. The thick carpet smothered his +footsteps, and he stood by the couch before she knew it--stood there a +moment, then fell upon his knees, and softly wound his arm around her. + +"Elizabeth, my wife." + +She started up with a cry; her face was wet with tears; her large grey +eyes wild with sorrow. He lifted her to his bosom, put back the thick +waves of hair that had fallen over her face, and kissed her forehead and +her lips with gentle violence. + +The pride went out from her heart as she felt these passionate kisses +rained on her face. She clung to him, trembling from the new joy that +possessed her. + +"Is it for me that you are weeping, sweet wife? are you sorry to part +with me?" + +"Oh, yes, yes! you are my life, my salvation." + +"Ah, how hard you make it for me to go!" + +"And you must? you must?" + +"It is inevitable; my duty to others demands it; but it shall not be for +long." + +The door of Elsie's boudoir was opened, the curtains held back, and the +smiling young creature looked in. Elizabeth saw her, struggled out of +her husband's arms, and sat with the wet eyelashes sweeping her cheek, +which was hot with blushes. + +"Oh, ho! one too many, am I?" she cried, entering without ceremony. +"Why, sister Bessie, I haven't seen you blush so since that day when +Mrs. Harrington would insist on it that you recognised a certain +person." + +Elizabeth was so confused by the sudden rush of joy sweeping through her +whole being, that she did not remark this speech; but her husband did, +and withdrew his arm gently from her support. She looked up, and saw +that he was changed within the minute. + +"I'm glad to find you looking so amiable," said Elsie, going up to the +glass, and threading her curls out into fluffy and beautiful confusion; +"for I've thought of something that would make this place delightful, +just as you are going away, Grant. Besides," she added, looking down and +coloring a little, "people will get such ideas into their heads, and say +such things. It is quite necessary to let them see how very happy you +and Bessie are together, or they never will believe that you are not +running away from her." + +"What!" demanded Mellen almost sternly,--"What are you saying, Elsie?" + +"Oh, it's dreadful; I've been crying about it half the night; but a +splendid ball, or something of that sort, will put everything on velvet. +Nothing like champagne and the _et ceteras_ to stop people's mouths." + +"A ball! Why, Elsie, what is your mind running on?" + +"The idea is dreadful, I know; and just as you are leaving us, when +every moment is precious as a grain of gold. But it's really necessary. +If you go off without seeing people, Grant, they will be sure to say +that you and Bessie have quarreled, and all sorts of horrid things about +her being melancholy, and you--well it's no use repeating these +speeches, but the ball we must have. Bessie shall entertain them like a +princess; as for poor little me, I'm good for nothing but dancing." + +She gave a waltzing step or two, and whirled herself before the mirror +again. + +"Well, who shall we invite?" she said, gazing at the pretty image that +smiled back her admiration. "I made out a list this morning in my room; +shall I bring it?" + +She ran into her room and came out again with a handful of engraved +cards, some of them already filled in. + +"I knew, of course, that the ball was to be, so had the cards struck +off. Tom Fuller brought them down. Just add what names you please, +Bessie, and we will leave the rest to Mrs. Harrington." + +"Why, Elsie!" began Mrs. Mellen. + +"Well, what is it?" + +"How can you think of--" + +"Oh, it's settled, so don't discuss it. What! looking cross? Why, Grant +dear, I--I--did not think you would be offended." + +"But I am, Elsie." + +She dropped into a chair, pressed both hands to her side, and shrunk +away into a grieved, feeble little thing, that had been crushed by a +single blow. + +"Why, Elsie!" + +Her eyes filled with tears, and she covered them with both hands. + +"I am not angry, child, only surprised." + +"But you will be--you will be very angry when I tell you that some of +the invitations are sent out. Oh, I wish I were dead!" + +Her lips quivered like those of a grieved and half-frightened child. Her +cheeks were wet, and their color had left them. + +"Oh, Grantley, Grantley, don't--don't look at me in that way. Dear +Bessie, tell him how sorry I am." + +Mellen was walking the floor in considerable agitation. He had hoped for +a little peace in his own home--a few days of tranquil confidence with +his wife. Now everything was broken in upon. There would be nothing but +confusion up to the very hour of his starting. + +Elsie watched him furtively, and with sidelong glances. She knew how +terrible his anger was when once aroused. + +"Oh, if my poor mother had lived." + +"Peace, Elsie! I will not have that sacred name dragged into an affair +like this. Have your way, but remember it is the last time that you must +venture on the prerogatives of my wife." + +Elsie left the room really frightened, and sobbing piteously, but the +moment she found herself in her boudoir a smile broke through her tears, +and she laughed out. + +"Well, I don't care, we shall have the ball. I wonder if Bessie put him +up to that. Hateful thing, he never scolded me so before. Her +prerogatives, indeed." + +As for Grantley Mellen, this untoward intrusion had broken up the happy +moment which might have given him an insight into all that his wife felt +and suffered. The interview which had promised such gentle confidence +only ended in mutual irritation. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE BALL. + + +The evening of the ball arrived; the house was crowded, and for the +scores it was impossible to accommodate, Mellen had made arrangements in +his usual lavish way, for a conveyance back and forth in a steamer +chartered for the occasion. + +The old house was a beautiful sight that evening. The long suite of +drawing-rooms were flung open, and in the far distance a noble +conservatory, half greenness, half crystal, terminated the view like +some South Sea island flooded with moonlight. + +It was not alone that these noble rooms were shaded with richly-tinted +draperies, and filled with costly furniture; any wealthy man's house may +offer those things; but Mellen had thrown his fine individual taste into +the adornments of his home. Antique and modern statues gleamed out of +the general luxuriousness. Pictures that made your breath come +unsteadily broke up the walls, and groups of bronze gave you surprises +at every turn. The works of art, sometimes arrayed in one long dreary +gallery, were here scattered in nooks and corners, completing each room +with their beauty. + +And all this was kindled up into one brilliant whole. There was no +crowding in those rooms. Each rare object had its peculiar light and +appropriate space. A master mind had arranged every thing. + +In these almost palatial saloons Elizabeth stood by her husband, +receiving their guests as they came in. + +Elsie was in brilliant spirits that night, and her buoyant gayety formed +a singular contrast with the quiet repose of Elizabeth. + +Tom Fuller followed the pretty elf about everywhere in spite of her +cruel rebuffs, for he was sadly in her way that night; and when she +refused to dance with him, peremptorily ordering him away to entertain +dowagers, or perform any similar heavy work, he would take the post she +assigned him, and watch her with fascinated eyes as she floated down the +dance or practised her wiles on every man who approached, just as she +had once thought it worth while to entrance him. + +On that evening Tom Fuller woke to a consciousness of the truth; he +understood the confusion and bewilderment which had been in his mind for +weeks past; he loved this bright young creature with the whole force of +his rugged nature, and began dimly to comprehend that she cared no more +for him or his sufferings than if his heart had been a football or +shuttlecock. + +He captured Elizabeth, and there, in the midst of the lights and gayety, +told her of his wrongs, with such energy that it required her constant +effort to prevent him from attracting general attention. + +"I love her," he burst out, "I do love her! She might run my heart +through with a rusty bayonet, if she would only care for me." + +The beginning was not at all coherent, but Elizabeth perfectly +understood what he meant. Several times during the past weeks she had +attempted to open his eyes to the truth; but he would neither see nor +hear, and had insisted upon rushing on to his fate like a great +blundering bluebottle into a spider's web. + +"Do you think there's any hope, Bessie, do you? I ain't handsome, and I +ain't disgustingly rich; but I'll give her all my heart! I'll work for +her, die for her; I'd lay my own soul down for her to walk over, only to +keep her little feet dry, upon my honor I would." + +Elizabeth drew him into a window recess, and tried to soothe his +agitation. + +"Poor old Tom!" she whispered; "poor dear old Tom!" + +"I know what that means," he said, choking desperately; "you don't think +there is any hope. You know there is not!" + +"I have tried to talk to you, Tom, but you wouldn't listen--" + +"Yes, I know, I know! It's my own fault--I'll--I'll turn up jolly in a +little while--it's only the f-first that's hard!" + +And Tom blew and whistled in his efforts to keep his composure, in a way +that was irresistibly ludicrous. In the midst of his distress the poor +fellow could not help being comical. Even in the suffering which was so +terribly real to him he made Elizabeth smile. + +"I'm a great fool!" he exclaimed. "Just pitch in and abuse me like +smoke, Bessie, I think it would do me good." + +"Only wait till to-morrow," she said, "I will talk with you then--we +shall be overheard now." + +"Oh, I can't help it if the whole world hears," he groaned; "I can't +wait! The way she's going on with those dashing young fellows drives me +mad! Why couldn't I have been a dashing fellow too, instead of such a +great live-oak hulk! I can't stir without stumbling over somebody, and +as for saying those dainty things that they are pouring into her ears, +and be hanged to 'em--I can't do it. No wonder she scorns me!" + +Tom dealt his unfortunate forehead a blow that made it scarlet for +several moments, and quieted him down somewhat. + +"What would you advise me to do, Bessie?" he asked. "You're so sensible +and so good--just give a fellow a hint." + +"Dear Tom, there is nothing for it but to wait--" + +"That's pretty advice!" he burst in. "You might as well tell a person in +a blaze of fire to wait! No, I shan't wait--I shan't, I say!" + +Tom ran his hands through his hair till it stood up, quivering as if he +had received an electric shock. + +"Oh, you needn't look so black at me, Bessie; I know just what a humbug +I am as well as you." + +"I wasn't looking black at you; I am very, very sorry, Tom." + +"Don't pity me; I shall break right down if you do." + +"I must go back, Tom," she said; "I can't stay here any longer." + +"I know it; of course you can't. I'll just wait a minute and +then----there, go! What a nuisance I am!" + +Elizabeth went back into the ball-room, where she saw Elsie whirling +through a waltz, looking as happy and unconscious as if she had not just +crushed a warm, loving human heart under her pretty foot. + +Mrs. Mellen stood a moment arrested; no one seemed to heed her. + +She saw Mrs. Harrington forcing Mellen to walk through a quadrille, and +felt certain that he was as restless as herself. + +"But it is for Elsie," she thought; "he will not mind so long as it is +for her. None of them will miss me." + +Tom Fuller stood in the bay window for some time trying to collect his +scattered faculties. Any thing like rational thought was quite out of +the question with him; he felt as if a great humming-top were spinning +about in his ears, and his heart was in a state of palpitation that +utterly defies description. + +Finally he passed through the drawing-rooms where people were busy over +their cards or their small-talk, and entered the ball-room from which he +had rushed in such frenzy. + +There was a pause in the music, and Elsie was standing surrounded by a +group of gentlemen, not even seeing Tom as he approached. He managed to +edge himself into the circle at last, and stood watching Elsie very much +like a sheep-dog that wanted dreadfully to worry something, but knew +that he would get himself into difficulty if he even ventured on a bark. + +But speak with her, he would; Tom had reached that point where his +feelings must find vent or explode, and scatter mischief all around. + +Finally a brilliant idea struck him, and he got near enough to whisper-- + +"Bessie wants to see you a moment." + +Elsie turned away impatiently. + +"Now, this moment," added Tom, growing very red at his own fib, but +following it up courageously. + +He knew very well that the dandies were quizzing him; he saw that Elsie +was provoked; but though he trembled in every joint, and his face had +heat enough in it to have kept a poor family comfortably warm from the +reflection, he resolutely held out his arm, and the young lady took it, +pouting and flinging back smiles to her forsaken admirers. + +"My sister wants me," she said, in explanation to her friends. +"Tiresome, isn't it? for there is no guessing when she will let me come +back." + +Tom led his captive away, but he was dreadfully frightened at the +success of his own manoeuvre. + +"Where is Bessie?" asked Elsie, impatiently, as they walked down the +ball-room. + +"This way," faltered Tom; "we shall find her in a moment." + +Elsie never deigned him another word; she was very angry, as she could +be with any thing or anybody that marred her selfish enjoyment, and Tom +walked on towards one of the parlors which he knew was empty, feeling +like a man about to charge a battery single handed, but determined to +persevere nevertheless. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +TOM MAKES A DECLARATION. + + +Tom led his captive into the parlor. Elsie looked about in +surprise--there was not a soul visible. + +"Are you crazy, Tom Fuller?" cried she; "Bessie is not here." + +"She shall be here in a minute," stammered Tom; "just wait, please." + +"Indeed I will do no such thing," returned Elsie, sharply, snatching her +hand from his arm. "Did she send you for me, Tom Fuller?" + +"No," cried Tom, with sudden energy, "I told a lie! I couldn't stand it +any longer; I must speak with you; waiting was impossible!" + +Elsie turned on him like a little kingbird darting on a hawk. + +"What do you mean by this unwarrantable liberty!" she exclaimed. "Have +you no idea of the common usages of society? Don't come near me again +to-night; don't speak to me." + +She was darting away, but Tom caught her hand. + +"Oh, wait, Elsie, wait!" + +"You ridiculous creature!" said Elsie, beginning to laugh in spite of +her vexation. "What on earth do you want?" + +"Laugh at me!" groaned Tom; "I deserve it--I expect it--but I can't live +this way any longer! You are driving me crazy. I love you, Elsie! Only +speak one kind word--just say you don't hate me." + +He was holding out his two hands, looking so exceedingly energetic in +his wretchedness, that Elsie burst into perfect shrieks of laughter. + +"You silly old goose!" she said; "don't you know you mustn't talk in +that way to me! You have no right, and it is very impertinent! There, go +along--I forgive you." + +Tom stared at her with his astonished eyes wide open. + +"You can laugh at me!" he exclaimed. "Why, all these weeks you have let +me go on loving you, and never hinted that it was so very disagreeable." + +"Now, Tom, don't be tiresome!" + +Tom groaned aloud. + +"Why I never saw such conduct!" cried Elsie, impatiently. "It's too bad +of you to behave so--you are spoiling my whole evening! You are just as +disagreeable as you can be. Oh, I hate you!" + +"Elsie! Elsie!" + +"Let go my hand; suppose anybody should come in! Oh, you old goose of a +Tom--let me go, I say." + +"Just one minute, Elsie--" + +"To-morrow--any time! Don't you know civilized beings never behave in +this way at a ball." + +"I don't know--I can't think! I only feel I love you, Elsie, and must +speak out. I will speak out." + +A few weeks earlier Elsie would only have been amused at all this from +general lack of amusement, but now it vexed and irritated her. Girl-like +she had not the slightest pity on his pain. He was keeping her sorely +against her wishes. + +"I am served right for treating you as a friend," she said; "I looked +upon you as a relation, and thought you understood it; now you are +trying to make me unhappy. Bessie will be angry, and tell Grant. Oh, you +ought to be ashamed." + +"I won't make you any trouble," shivered Tom; "I won't distress you! +There--I beg your pardon, Elsie, I am sorry! And you don't--you never +can, Elsie, Elsie--" + +"No, no, you silly old fellow, of course not! Now be good, and I'll +forget all about this folly. Let me go, Tom, I can't stay here any +longer--let me go." + +Tom still held her hand. + +"This is earnest!" he said. + +"Yes, yes! Tom, if you don't let me go I'll scream! You are absurd--why, +you ought to be put in a straight jacket." + +Tom dropped her hand, and stood like a man overpowered by some sudden +blow. + +Elsie saw only the comical side of the matter, and began to laugh again. + +"Don't laugh," he said, passionately; "for mercy's sake don't laugh!" + +There was a depth of suffering in his tone which forced itself to be +realized even by that selfish creature; but it only made her begin to +consider herself exceedingly ill-used, and to blame Tom for spoiling her +pleasure. + +"Now you want to blame me," she said, angrily, "and I haven't done a +thing to encourage you." + +"No, no; I don't blame you, Elsie," he said; "it's all my own fault--all +mine." + +"Yes, to be sure," cried Elsie. "Who could think you would be so +foolish. There, shake hands, Tom, for I'm in a hurry. You are not +angry?" + +"Angry--no," said Tom, drearily. + +"That's right! Good-by--you'll be wiser to-morrow." + +Elsie glided away, and Tom watched her go out of the room, and realized +that she was floating out of his life forever, that the dream of the +past was at an end, and he was left alone in the darkness. + +Poor old Tom! It was very hard, but no one could have resisted a smile +at his appearance! When Elsie left him, he dashed out of the room, and +hid himself in the most out of the way corner he could find. + +As he crossed the hall, he heard Elizabeth call-- + +"Tom, Tom!" + +He stopped, and she came towards him. One look at his face revealed the +whole truth. She did not speak, but took his hand in hers, with a mute +expression of sympathy which overpowered him. + +"Don't! don't!" he said. "Let me go, Bessie! I'm a fool--it's all over +now! There, don't mind me--I'll be better soon! I've got a chance to go +to Europe for awhile, in fact it's to Calcutta. I shall be all right +when I come back." + +"Oh, my poor old Tom! Elsie is a wicked girl to have trifled with you +so." + +"She didn't!" he exclaimed, indignantly. "Don't blame her. I won't have +it. There's nobody in fault but me. I deserve it all! I'm a blundering, +wrong-headed donkey, and she's lovely as--as--" + +Here Tom broke down, and going to a window looked resolutely out. + +"But you won't go away, Tom?" said Elizabeth following him. + +"Yes, I will. I shan't be gone but a few months. Don't try to keep me. +I'll be all right when we meet again." + +"Oh, Tom, Tom!" said Elizabeth. + +"Now, be still; that's a good girl; I don't want to be pitied. It's of +no consequence, not the slightest." + +He broke abruptly away, and disappeared, leaving Elizabeth full of +sympathy for his distress, and regret at the idea of losing her old +playmate--she had depended on him so much during her husband's absence. + +There had been a lull in the music, but it struck up again now, and the +saloons reverberated with a stirring waltz. Elizabeth stood a moment +listening to the crash of sound and the tread of light feet, but her +heart was full and her brow anxious. She went to the window and looked +out. It was a lovely night, but the eternal roll and sweep of the ocean +seemed to depress her with some terrible dread. In all that splendid +tumult she was alone. As she stood by the window her husband came down +the hall smiling upon the lady who hung upon his arm. He had not missed +her, would not miss her. There was no fear of that. She glided away with +this dreary thought in her mind. Mellen almost touched her as she turned +into a little room opening upon the conservatory, but she went on +unnoticed. + +Tom Fuller had retreated into the conservatory, and was sitting +disconsolately in an iron garden chair, sheltered by a small tree, +drooping with yellow fringe-like blossoms, when a lady entered from one +of the side doors, and passed out towards the gardens. + +Tom started up, and called out, "Bessie! Why, Bessie, is that you? What +on earth--" + +The lady made no response, but looked over her shoulder, and sprang +forward like a deer, causing a tumult among the plants as she rushed +through them. + +Tom stood motionless, lost in amazement; for over a ball dress which +seemed white--he could discover nothing more,--the lady was shrouded +head and person, in a blanket shawl, which he knew to be Elizabeth's, +from the broad crimson stripes that ran across it. + +After his first amazement Tom sat down again, heaving a deep sigh, and +retreated further behind the flowering branches, that no one might look +upon his unmanly sorrow. + +"Poor Bessie, poor thing," he muttered, "I suppose she feels just as I +do, like a fish out of water, in all these fine doings. I'd follow her, +and we'd take a melancholy walk together in the moonlight, if it was not +that Elsie might happen to get tired of dancing with those fellows, and +come in here to rest a minute, when I could hide away and look at her +through the plants." + +Tom had in reality startled the lady shrouded in that great travelling +shawl, for once out of doors she stood full half a minute listening with +bated breath, and one foot advanced, ready to spring away if any sound +reached her. Then she walked on with less desperate haste, bending her +course through the shrubberies towards a grove of trees that lay between +the open grounds and the shore. + +It was a balmy October evening, moonlight, but shadowed by hosts of +white scudding clouds. The wind blew up freshly from the water, +scattered storms of gorgeous leaves around her as she approached the +grove which was still heavy with foliage, perfectly splendid in the +sunlight, but now all shadows and blackness. On the edge of the grove, +just under a vast old oak, whose great limbs scarcely swayed in the +wind, the lady paused and uttered some name in a low, cautious voice. + +A spark of fire flashed down to the earth, as if some one had flung away +his cigar in haste, and instantly footsteps rustled in the dead leaves. +The branches of the oak bent low, and behind it was a thicket of young +trees. The lady did not feel safe, even in the darkness, but moved on to +meet the person who advanced in the deeper shadows, where even the edges +of her white dress, which fell below the shawl, were lost to the eye. + +As she stood panting in the shelter, a man's voice addressed her, and +his hand was laid upon her shoulder. + +"How you tremble!" + +The voice sounded, in that balmy October night, sweet and mellow as the +dropping of its over-ripe leaves. The female did indeed tremble +violently. + +"Look, look! I am followed," she whispered. + +The man stepped a pace forward, peered through the oak branches, and +stole cautiously to her side again. + +"It is Mellen!" + +She darted away, dragging her shawl from the grasp that man had fastened +upon it,--away under the old oak, and along the outskirts of the grove. +She paused a moment in breathless terror at the narrowest point of the +lawn, then darted across it, huddling the skirt of her ball dress up +with one hand, and sweeping the dead leaves in winrows after her with +the fringes of her shawl. She avoided the conservatory, for Tom was +still visible through its rolling waves of glass--and, turning to the +servants' entrance, ran up a flight of dark stairs into the shaded +lights of a chamber. She flung the heavy shawl breathlessly on a couch, +shook the snowy masses of her dress into decorous folds, and stole to +the window on tip-toe, where she stood, white and panting for breath, +watching the lawn and grove, with wild, eager eyes, as if she feared her +footsteps in the leaves might have been detected even in the darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +WHO COULD IT HAVE BEEN? + + +The evening passed drearily enough to Grantley Mellen. He was in no +spirits for society and the gay bustle; the lights, the music, the +constraint he was forced to put upon himself, and the cheerfulness he +was obliged to assume, only wearied him. + +A strange and unaccountable dread of his approaching journey possessed +him. It had grown stronger as the days passed on, and that night was +more powerful than ever. + +Sometimes he was almost ready to think it a presentiment; perhaps he was +never to return from that voyage; some unseen danger awaited him in that +distant land, and he should die there, far from the sound of every +voice, the touch of every hand that was dear to him. + +He was vexed with himself for indulging in this superstitious weakness; +but, in spite of all his efforts, the thought would recur again and +again, oppressing him with a dreary sense of desolation that made the +brilliant scene around absolutely repulsive. + +He left the lighted rooms at last, and passed through the hall on to the +piazza which overlooked the sea. + +It was a beautiful evening; the moonlight, escaping from under a bank of +clouds, lay silvery and broad upon the lawn, and broke a path of +diamonds across the rippling waters, lighting them up to wonderful +splendor. The air was balmy and soft as spring, the wind rippled +pleasantly among the trees, but there was no melody in its tones to his +ear; it seemed only a repetition of the mournful warning which had +haunted his thoughts. + +He walked on across the lawn, anxious to get beyond the sound of the +music and gayety which followed him from the house, for it jarred upon +his ears with deafening discordance. + +He entered a little thicket of bushes and young trees, in the midst of +which rose up a dark, funereal-looking cypress, that always waved its +branches tremulously, however still the air might be, and seemed to be +oppressed with a trouble which it could only utter in faint moaning +whispers. + +As he stood there, looking into the gloom, with a sense of relief at +finding some object more in unison with his dark thoughts, he saw a +figure glide away from the foot of the cypress, and disappear in the +shrubbery beyond. + +It was a woman wrapped in some dark garment--in movement and form like +his wife--could it be his wife wandering about the grounds at that hour? + +"Elizabeth!" he called; but there was no answer. + +He hurried forward among the trees, but there was no object visible, no +response to the summons he repeated several times. + +It might be some guest who had stolen out there for a few minutes' +quiet; yet that was not probable. Besides, the movements of the slender +form appeared familiar to him. In height and shape Elsie and Elizabeth +resembled each other; it was possibly one of them, but which? + +Elsie it could not be, she had a nervous dread of darkness and could not +be persuaded to stir off the piazza after nightfall. It must have been +Elizabeth, then; but what was she doing there! + +He started towards the house with some vague thought in his mind, to +which he could have given no expression. + +His wife was not in any of the rooms through which he passed, and he +hurried into the ball-room. The music had just struck up anew; he saw +Elsie whirling through a waltz; but Elizabeth was nowhere visible. + +He drew near enough to Elsie to whisper-- + +"Where is Bessie?" + +"I don't know," she answered. "I have been dancing all the while, and +have not seen her for some time." + +He turned away; but, just then, Mrs. Harrington captured him, and it was +several moments before he could escape from her tiresome loquacity. + +The moment he was at liberty Mellen hurried through the parlors and up +the stairs, opened the door of Elizabeth's dressing-room, and entered. +There she was, standing at the window, looking out. She turned quickly, +and in some confusion at his sudden entrance. + +"Is it you?" she asked. + +"Yes; I have been looking for you everywhere!" + +"I came up here for a moment's quiet," she answered. "I am very, very +tired; I wish it was all over, Grantley." + +"Have you been out?" he asked. + +It seemed to him that she hesitated a little, as she answered-- + +"Out? No; where--what do you mean?" + +"I thought I saw you in the grounds a little while ago." + +"I should not be likely to go out in this dress," she replied, glancing +down at the point lace flounces that floated over the snowy satin of her +train. "Come, we must go down stairs; our guests will think us careless +hosts." + +Mellen felt and looked dissatisfied, but could not well press the matter +farther. + +"Are you coming down?" she asked. + +"Yes; of course," he replied, coldly. "Don't wait for me." + +She walked away without another word. + +"She avoids me," he thought. "I see it more and more." + +The ball was over at last. Even Elsie was completely tired out, and glad +to nestle away under the azure curtains of her bed when the guests had +departed. + +With the next morning began preparations for Mellen's departure; and +during the bustle of the following week, no one found much time for +thought or reflection. + +Tom Fuller came down suddenly, and opened his heart to Elizabeth. He was +going to Europe; he did not ask to see Elsie; lacking the courage to +meet her again for the present--once more, perhaps, before he went away; +but not yet. + +Elizabeth did not reproach the girl for her share in the honest fellow's +unhappiness. She merely said-- + +"Tom is going to Europe on business; he sails next week." + +"Oh, the foolish old fellow," replied Elsie; "and he never could learn +to speak a French word correctly--what fun it would be to be with him in +France." + +"You will miss him," Mellen said, quietly. + +"Oh," replied his wife, with a forced smile, "I must make up my mind to +be lonely. I shall live through the coming dreary months as I best can." + +"It's horrid of you to go, Grant!" cried Elsie. + +"I know it, dear; but there is no use in fighting the unavoidable." + +"Mind you write to me as often as you do to Bessie," she said. "If she +gets one letter the most, I never will forgive either of you." + +As she said this, the girl ran up to her brother, and stood leaning +against his shoulder, with a playful caress, while he looked down at her +with such entire love and trust in his face, that Elizabeth crept +quietly away, and left them together. + +The few days left to Mellen passed in a tumult of preparation. Sad +doubts were at his heart, vague and so formless that he could not have +expressed them in words, but painful as proven realities. + +Elizabeth was greatly disturbed also; her fine color had almost entirely +disappeared. She trembled at the slightest shock, and her very lips +would turn white when she spoke of her husband's departure. She seemed +stricken with a mortal terror of his going, yet made no effort to detain +him. She, too, had presentiments of evil that shocked her whole system, +and made her brightest smile something mournful to look upon. + +But the husband and wife had little opportunity to observe or understand +the feelings that tortured them both. Elsie's cries, and tears, and +hysterical spasms, kept the whole household in commotion. She should +never see her brother again--never, never. Elizabeth might not be good +to her. Sisters-in-law and school-friends were different creatures; she +had found that out already. If she could only have died with her mother! + +These cries broke out vehemently on the night before Mellen's departure. +The spoiled child would not allow her brother to spend one moment from +her side. So all that night Elizabeth, pale, still, and bowed down by a +terrible heart-ache, watched with her husband by the azure couch which +Elsie preferred to her bed. It was a sad, mournful night to them both. + +At daylight, Elsie's egotism was exhausted, and she fell asleep. The +first sunshine came stealing up from its silvery play on the water, and +shimmering through the lace curtains, fell on the young girl as she +slept. There was trouble on that sweet face--genuine trouble; for Elsie +loved her brother dearly, and his departure agitated her more deeply +than he had ever known her moved before. + +How lovely she looked with the drops trembling on those long, golden +lashes, and staining the warm flush of her cheeks! One arm, from which +the muslin sleeve had fallen back, lay under her head, half-buried in a +tangle of curls; sobs broke at intervals through her parted lips, ending +in long, troubled sighs. + +Mellen was deeply touched. Elizabeth bent her head against the end of +the couch, and wept unheeded drops of anguish. The heart ached in her +bosom. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE HUSBAND'S LAST CHARGE. + + +Elizabeth Mellen shuddered visibly when the first sunbeam fell through +the curtains. Only a few moments were left to them. Sick and faint, she +lifted her head and turned her imploring eyes on her husband's +face--eyes so full of yearning agony, that his heart must have leaped +through all its doubts to meet hers, had not his glance been fixed upon +Elsie. The long, black lashes drooped over those gray eyes when she +found their appeal disregarded, and the young wife shrunk within +herself, shuddering at her own loneliness. + +A servant came to the room, and by a sign announced breakfast. It was +the last meal they might ever take together. This thought struck them +both, and brought their hands in contact with a thrilling clasp. He drew +her arm through his, and led her down stairs. She felt his heart beating +against her arm, looked up, and saw that he was regarding her with +glances of searching tenderness. Her eyes filled; her bosom heaved; and, +but for a wild struggle, she would have burst into a passion of tears +before the servant, who held the door open for them to pass into the +breakfast-room. + +How bright and cheerful it all looked--the crusted snow of the linen; +the delicately chased silver, and more delicate china; and this was +their last meal. She sat down and poured out his coffee. Her hand +trembled, but she tried to smile when he took the cup and praised its +aroma. She drank some herself, for the chill at her heart was spreading +to her face and hands. + +Little was said during the meal, and less was eaten. Elizabeth looked at +the clock as a convict gazes on the axe that is to slay him. She counted +the moments as they crept away, devouring the brief time yet given to +them, while he glanced at his watch, nervously every few minutes. + +Then the husband and wife went up stairs again. Elizabeth turned from +Elsie's door and went into her own dressing-room. With all her +magnanimity she could not give her husband up to his sister during the +last moments of his stay. He followed her into the room, but directly +lifted the curtain and went into Elsie's boudoir, where the young girl +lay profoundly sleeping. Elizabeth would not follow. Her heart was +swelling too painfully. She sat down, clasped both hands in her lap, and +waited like a statue. + +He had only crossed the boudoir, bent over Elsie, and pressed a cautious +but most loving kiss on her forehead. She did not move, but smiled +softly in her sleep, and he stole away, blessing her. + +Elizabeth's heart gave a sudden leap when he came into her room again +and sat down by her side. He felt how cold her hand was, and kissed it. + +"Elizabeth!" + +She turned, frightened by the tone of his voice. It was hoarse with +emotion. + +"Elizabeth, I have one charge to give before we part." + +She bent her head in sorrowful submission. + +"Elsie, my sister!" + +He did not notice the red flame that shot up to her cheek, or the +shrinking of her whole frame, but went on. + +"The child is so precious to me. The dearest human being I have on +earth--" He hesitated a moment, and added, "Except--except you, my +wife." + +She was grateful even for this. Was it that she was conscious of +deserving nothing more, or did the hungry yearning of her heart seize on +this sweet aliment with thankfulness after the famine of her recent +life? + +He saw the tears spring into her eyes, and drew her closer to his side. + +"Be careful of her for my sake, Elizabeth. She was given me in solemn +charge at my mother's death-bed. She has been the sweetest solace of my +barren life. Let no harm come near her--no evil thing taint the mind +which I leave in your hands pure as snow. Guard her, love her, and give +her back to me, gentle, guileless, and good, as she lies now, in the +sweetest and most innocent sleep I ever witnessed." + +"I will! I will!" answered Elizabeth, conquering a sharp spasm of pain +with the spirit of a martyr. "If human care, or human sacrifice can +insure her welfare, I will not be found wanting." + +Grantley bent down and kissed his wife gratefully. + +"Remember, Elizabeth, my happiness and honor are left in your keeping." + +Did he mean that honor and happiness both were bound up in Elsie, or had +he really thought of her rightful share in his life? + +This question flashed through the young wife's mind, but she would not +accept it in a bitter sense then. The parting hour was close at hand. +She trembled as each moment left them. + +"I will be kind to Elsie as you can desire; indeed I will," she said. +"You can trust me." + +"If I doubted that, harassing as the voyage is, I would take her with +me." + +"Oh, if you only could take us both! It terrifies me to be left alone, +surrounded with--" + +"That is out of the question now. But when I come back, we will try and +make this life of ours happier than it has been." + +She looked at him--her great, mournful eyes widening with pain. + +"Have you been very unhappy, then, Grantley," she faltered. + +"Unhappy! I did not say that; but hereafter our bliss must be more +perfect. We shall understand each other better." + +"Shall we--shall we ever? Oh, Grantley, without love what perfect +understanding can exist?" + +Her fine eyes were flooded with tears; every feature in her face +quivered with emotion. + +A clock on the mantel-piece chimed out the hour of his departure. On the +instant Dolf knocked at the door. + +Elizabeth started up, trembling like a wounded bird that struggles away +from a second shot. + +"So soon! so soon!" she cried, wringing her hands. "I had so much to +ask; everything to say, and now there is no time." + +Grantley took her in his arms, and kissed her very hurriedly, for the +servant was standing in sight. + +"God bless you, Elizabeth, I must go!" + +She flung her arms wildly around him. Her pale face was lifted to his in +mute appeal. Was it for pardon of some unknown offence, or the deep +craving of a true heart for love? + +Grantley put her away, and went hurriedly into Elsie's room. He came out +pale and troubled. Elizabeth stood by the door gasping her breath; he +wrung the hand she held forth to stop him, and was gone. She heard his +steps as they went down the walnut-staircase, and they fell upon her +like distinct blows. The great hall-door closed with a sharp noise that +made her start, and with a burst of bitter, bitter anguish, cry out. +Then came the sound of carriage-wheels grinding through gravel, and the +beat of hoofs that seemed trampling down the heart in her bosom. As +these sounds died off, she attempted to reach the window and look out, +but only fell upon the couch which stood near it, and fainted without a +moan. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MRS. HARRINGTON'S FRIENDS. + + +A day or two after Mellen's departure, Elizabeth, who was taking her +solitary promenade on the veranda, was surprised by a visit from Mrs. +Harrington, who came fluttering across the lawn between two gentlemen, +with whom she seemed carrying on a right and left flirtation. She came +up the steps with her flounces all in commotion, her face wreathed with +insipid smiles, and her hair done up in a marvellous combination of +puffs, curls and braids under a tiny bonnet, that hovered over them like +a butterfly just ready to take wing. + +"I knew that you would be moping yourself to death," she cried, floating +down upon Elizabeth with both hands extended; "so I gave up everything +and came in the first train. Now do acknowledge that I am the kindest +friend in the world." + +Elizabeth received her cordially, and with a great effort shook off the +gloomy thoughts that had oppressed her all the morning. Mrs. Harrington +did not heed this, she was always ready to welcome herself, and in haste +to secure her full share of the conversation, and before Elizabeth could +finish her rather halting attempts at a compliment she presented her +companions. + +Elizabeth had hardly glanced at the gentlemen till then, but now she +recognized the elder and more stately of the two as the person who had +probably saved her life on the Bloomingdale road. + +"I need not ask a welcome for this gentleman, I am sure," said Mrs. +Harrington, clasping both hands over Mr. North's arm, and leaning +coquettishly upon him. "He is our preserver, Mrs. Mellen,--our hero." + +North smiled, but rejected these compliments with an impatient lift of +the head. + +"Pray allow Mrs. Mellen to forget that this is not our first meeting," +he said; "so small a service is not worth mentioning." + +He looked steadily at Elizabeth as he spoke. She seemed to shrink from +his glance, but answered, + +"No, no; it was a service I can never forget--never hope to repay." + +"Now let me beg a welcome for my other friend," interposed Mrs. +Harrington. "Mr. Hawkins. I told him it was quite a charity to come with +me and rouse you up a little, besides, he is dying to see your lovely +sister-in-law." + +Mr. Hawkins, a very young Englishman, was leaning against a pillar of +the veranda in an attitude which displayed his very stylish dress to the +best possible advantage. He appeared mildly conscious that he had +performed a solemn duty in making a perambulating tailor's block of +himself, and ready to receive any amount of feminine admiration without +resistance. He came forward half a step and fell back again. + +"Such a charming place you have here--quite a paradise," he drawled, +caressing the head of his cane, which was constantly between his lips. +"I trust--aw--the other angel of this retreat is visible?" + +Elizabeth replied with a faint smile. She had borne a good many similar +afflictions from Mrs. Harrington's friends, but it was too much that +they should be forced upon her just then. + +"Where is Elsie?" cried the widow, with vivacious affection, shaking her +gay plumage like a canary bird in the sun. + +"In her own room," replied Elizabeth. "Pray walk in, and I will call +her." + +"Oh, never mind, I'll go!" said Mrs. Harrington. "Gentlemen, I leave you +with Mrs. Mellen; but no flirtation, remember that!" + +She fluttered, laughed a little, and shook her finger at the very young +man, who said "Aw!" while North seemed absorbed in the scenery. Then +away she flew, kissing her hand to them, and leaving Elizabeth to gather +up her weary thoughts and make an effort at entertaining these unwelcome +guests. + +Mrs. Harrington found Elsie yawning over a new novel, and quite prepared +to be enlivened by the prospect of company. + +"But I can't go down such a figure," she said; "just wait a minute. One +gets so careless in a house without gentlemen." + +"Poor dear! I am sure you are moped." + +"Oh, to death. It's dreadful!" sighed Elsie. "I feel things so acutely. +If I only had a little of Bessie's stoicism!" + +"Yes, it's all very well; but you are made up of feeling," said the +widow. "Change your dress, dear. Oh, you've made a conquest of a certain +gentleman." + +"What, that Hawkins! He's a fearful idiot!" cried Elsie. "But he'll do, +for want of a better." + +The sensitive young creature had quite forgotten her low spirits, but +dressed herself in the most becoming morning attire possible, and +floated down to greet the guests and quite bewilder them with her +loveliness. + +Hawkins had been mortally afraid of Mrs. Mellen, but with Elsie he could +talk, and Elizabeth sat quite stunned by the flood of frivolous nonsense +and the peals of senseless laughter which went on about her. As for Mr. +North, Elsie scarcely gave him a word after the first general +salutation. + +After awhile Elizabeth managed to escape, on the plea that household +duties required her presence, and stole up to her room for a little +quiet. All at once she heard Tom Fuller's voice in the hall; opened her +dressing-room door, and there he stood in his usual disordered state. + +"I've come to say good-bye," were his first words. + +"Then you are really going, Tom?" she said, sorrowfully, taking his hand +and leading him into the chamber. "Oh, how sorry I am." + +"Yes, I'm off to-morrow," he said, resolutely, running both hands +through his hair, and trying to keep his courage up. "A trip to Europe +is a splendid thing, Bess--I'm a lucky fellow to get it." + +"I shall be all alone," she said, mournfully; "and I had depended on you +so much." + +"Oh," cried Tom, "It's good of you to miss me--nobody else will! But +there, Bessie, don't you set me off! I wanted to bid you +good-bye--I--I--well, I'm a confounded fool, but I thought I'd like to +see her just once more." + +"And those tiresome people are here," said Elizabeth. + +"Who do you mean?" + +"Oh, Mrs. Harrington and two men she has brought to spend the day--one +of them is the person who checked our horses that day." + +"I thought I heard the widow's voice as I came through the hall," said +Tom. "Well, well, it's better so! You see I don't want to make a donkey +of myself." + +"Tom, you are the best creature in the world," cried Elizabeth. + +"Oh, Lord bless you, no," said Tom, rubbing his forehead in a +disconsolate way; "I ain't good; there's nothing like that about me. +'Pon my word, I'm quite shocked lately to see what an envious, +bad-hearted old wretch I'm getting to be." + +"We won't go downstairs yet," said Elizabeth; "sit down here and let's +have a comfortable talk, like old times, Tom." + +"Well, no, I guess not, thank you--it's very kind of you," returned he, +getting very red. "You see I can't stay but an hour--I must take the +next train, for I've lots of things to do." + +"Oh, I thought you would spend the night." + +"Now, don't ask me--I can't--it wouldn't be wise if I could," cried Tom, +giving his hair an unmerciful combing with his fingers. + +"No," she replied, regarding him with womanly pity; "perhaps not. And +you would like to go down stairs?" + +"I'm a fool to wish it," he answered; "those fine people will only laugh +at me, and I know when I see that magnifico and his popinjay friend +about Elsie I shall want to wring their conceited necks. But I'll +go--oh, it's no use telling lies! You understand just what a fool I +am--I came because I feel as if I must see her once more!" + +Tom was twisting his hat in both hands, his features worked in the +attempt he made to control his agitation; but Elizabeth loved him too +well for any notice of his odd manner--she was entirely absorbed in +sympathy for his trouble. + +"Oh, Tom, Tom!" she said, "I do hope absence--the change--will do you +good." + +"Yes," he broke in, with a strangled whistle that began as a groan; +"yes, of course, thank you--oh, no doubt! You see, there's no knowing +what good may come. But Lord bless you, Bess, if the old ship would only +sink and land me safe as many fathoms under salt water as was +convenient, it would be about the best thing that could happen to me." + +"Don't talk so, Tom; you can't think how it pains me." + +"Well, I won't--there, I'm all right now! Ti-rol-de-rol!" and Tom +actually tried to sing. "I say, Bessie, she never--she don't seem, you +know--?" + +"What, Tom?" + +"To be sorry I was going, you know?" + +"Elsie? She has been so engrossed with her brother's journey----" + +"Yes, of course," Tom broke in; "oh, it's not to be expected--nobody +that wasn't a flounder ever would have asked! Ri-tol-de-rol! I'm a +little hoarse this morning, but it's no matter--I only want to show I'm +not put about, you know--that is, not much." + +He moved uneasily about the chamber, upset light chairs and committed +disasters generally; but all the while looked resolute as possible, and +kept up his attempt at a song in a mournful quaver. + +"Well, I can't stay," he said; "I mustn't lose the train! Now, don't +feel uncomfortable, Bessie; Lord bless you, I shall soon be all +right--sea-sickness is good for my disease, you know," and Tom tried to +laugh, but it was a dismal failure compared with his former +light-heartedness. + +Elizabeth saw that he was restless to get once more into Elsie's +presence, painful as the interview must be to him, so she smoothed his +hair, straightened his necktie and accompanied him downstairs. + +"Oh, you dear, delightful Tom Fuller!" cried Mrs. Harrington, pleased to +see any man arrive, for Elsie had carried off both her victims into the +window-seat, and was making them dizzy with her smiles and brilliant +nonsense. + +"I--I'm delighted to see you," cried Tom, frantically, thrusting his hat +in her face, in a wild delusion that he was offering his hand, for he +was so upset by the sight of Elsie that he felt as if rapidly going up +in an unmanageable balloon. + +"I'll just say good-bye at the same time," pursued Tom; "for I'm rather +in a hurry, thank you." + +"Why, you're not going away directly!" cried the widow. "Oh, you must +stay and entertain me. Elsie has left me quite desolate." + +"Thank you; it's of no importance; I'm not quite on my sea legs yet," +gasped Tom, growing so dizzy that he was possessed of a mad idea he was +already on shipboard. + +"Why, you look quite white and ill," said the widow. + +"Yes; oh, not any, thank you," cried Tom, stepping on the widow's dress, +dancing off it and dealing Elizabeth a blow with his hat. + +Mrs. Mellen felt herself grow sick at heart; she glanced at Elsie; the +girl was laughing gaily, and chatting away with young Hawkins, +regardless of Tom's presence. North stood by, looking at her with his +deep, earnest eyes, as if searching her character in all its shallow +depths. Elizabeth felt bitterly indignant, and exclaimed-- + +"Elsie, my cousin has come to wish us good-bye, if you can spare him a +moment." + +"So you are really going?" called Elsie. "You oughtn't to run away so. +It's so unkind of you." + +Tom lifted his eyes mournfully to her face. + +"My lap is so full of flowers," cried Elsie, glancing down at a mass of +roses that glowed in the folds of her morning dress, "I can't possibly +get up; come and shake hands with me." + +It was well for Tom that Mrs. Harrington seized his arm, and afforded +him a few instants to regain his composure, while she asked all sorts of +questions about his journey and its object. + +"Mary Harrington," said Elsie. "Just let Mr. Fuller come here; you +mustn't assault peaceable men in that way." + +"La, dear, what odd things you do say! I was just talking with Mr. +Fuller about his journey." + +Elsie glanced at North and whispered to his companion, who laughed in a +very polite way. Tom knew it was at him, and grew more red and awkward. +Elizabeth recognised the silly insult, and darted a look of such +indignation towards the offender that the youth was quite subdued, +although it had no effect whatever on Elsie. + +She rose, dropping her flowers over the carpet, put her hand in Mr. +North's arm, left Hawkins to follow, and caress his cane in peace, and +moved towards the group. + +"Good-bye, Mr. Fuller," said she, touching his shoulder with the tips of +her fingers. "If you bring me a beautiful lava bracelet perhaps I'll +forgive you for going away,--and some pink coral,--don't forget." + +Tom was a sight to behold between confusion, distress, and his +superhuman efforts to be calm. + +"I'll bring you twenty," said he, recklessly. + +"Oh, that would be overpowering," laughed Elsie. "Good-bye. I'm sure +you'll look touching when you are seasick." + +"He! he!" giggled Hawkins, as well as he could for the cane. + +Tom turned on him like a tiger. + +"You'll ruin your digestion if you laugh so much over that tough meal," +said he, and for once Tom had the laugh on his side. + +"Good-bye, Miss Elsie," he continued, determined to get away while he +could still preserve a decent show of composure; "good-bye." + +"Good-bye, Tom Fuller, good-bye!" + +She flung some of the flowers she was holding, at him. Tom caught them +and hurried out of the room, pressing the fragrant blossoms against his +waistcoat, and smothering a mortal pang. + +Elizabeth followed him into the hall, but their parting was a brief one, +spoken amid bursts of laughter from within, and in a broken voice by the +warm hearted young fellow. + +"Good-bye, Bessie--God bless you." + +"You'll write to me, Tom? I shall miss you so." + +"Oh, don't; it ain't worth while! I'll write of course; good-bye." + +Tom dashed down the steps and fled along the avenue in mad haste, and +Elizabeth returned to her guests. + +It seemed to her that the day would never come to an end. Mrs. +Harrington and Elsie scarcely heeded her, but fluttered from room to +room with the two guests, doing the honors with great spirit, and urging +them to extend their visit some days. Elizabeth was offended at the +reckless offer of hospitality. + +Elsie saw this and whispered, "It wasn't my fault; don't blame me, dear! +Grant is gone, and he told you not to be cross with me." + +So Elizabeth controlled herself; perhaps the girl had done all this harm +unconsciously. She would believe so, at least; no cloud must come +between them. These almost strange men were invited, and must remain if +they so decided. + +As if she had not enough to bear already, Elizabeth's inflictions were +increased towards the dinner hour by the arrival of a Mr. Rhodes and his +daughter, who lived at an easy distance, and thought it a neighborly and +kind thing for them to drop in to dinner with Mrs. Mellen, and console +her in her loneliness. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE WIDOW'S FLIRTATION. + + +Mrs. Harrington plunged into her natural element at once; Mr. Rhodes was +a rich widower, vulgar and pompous as could well be imagined; but that +made no difference, the lady spread her flimsy net in that direction and +put on all her fascinations at once, leaving the younger men to their +fate. This was splendid sport to Elsie, for Miss Jemima, the daughter, a +gaunt, peaked-nosed female, had been Miss Jemima a good many more years +than she found agreeable, and when any woman ventured even to look at +her stout parent, she was up in arms at once and ready to do battle +against the threatened danger, resolved that one man at least should own +her undivided dominion, even if that man was her pompous old father. Mr. +Rhodes was at once captivated by the widow's flattery, and Elsie +mischievously increased Jemima's growing irritation by whispers full of +honied malice, that almost drove that single lady distracted. + +"Quite a flirtation, I declare," said she; "really, Miss Jemima, widows +are very dangerous, and she is so fascinating." + +"It's ridiculous for a woman to go on so," returned the spinster, +shaking her head in vehement agitation; "you may just tell her it's no +use, my pa isn't likely to be caught with chaff like that." + +"Oh, but Mrs. Harrington is considered irresistible." + +"Well, I can't see it for my part," retorted Jemima; "She's a tolerable +specimen of antique painting; but my pa isn't given to the fine arts." + +"Oh! Mrs. Harrington," called Elsie, "I wish you could induce Mr. Rhodes +to give us a picnic in his woods before the weather gets too cold--they +are delightful. I daren't ask him, but you might venture, I'm sure." + +Miss Jemima looked as if she had three minds to strangle the pretty +torment on the spot. + +"Excuse me, dear," said Mrs. Harrington, "I am sure I could have no +influence." + +"Oh, you painted humbug!" muttered Jemima. + +"I should be delighted--charmed!" exclaimed Mr. Rhodes. "Madam, it would +be a day never to be forgotten that honored my poor house with your +presence," he broke off, puffing till the brass buttons on his coat +shook like hailstones. + +"Oh, you are a dreadful flatterer, I see!" answered the widow, quite +aware of Jemima's rage, and delighted to increase it. + +"Madam," said the stout man, "on the honor of a gentleman, I never +flatter. Miss Elsie, defend me." + +"Not unless you promise to get up the picnic," said the little witch. +"Miss Jemima is anxious to have it----" + +"Me," broke in the acid damsel, unable to endure anything more, "I am +sure I never thought of such a thing, don't speak for me, if you +please." + +"But you will be delighted, you know you will." + +"Pa's got to go to Philadelphia," said Jemima, sharply. + +"But I could defer the trip, Mimy," said her parent, appealingly. + +"Business is business, you always say," retorted the damsel. + +Elsie gave a little scream. + +"Why, how odd," said she. "Mrs. Harrington goes to Philadelphia next +week you can escort her, Mr. Rhodes, she is a sad coward about +travelling alone." + +"I shall be delighted," said the widower, "delighted." + +Jemima fairly groaned; she made a strangling effort to turn her agony +into a cough, but it began as a groan; both Elsie and Mrs. Harrington +were convinced of that, and it delighted them beyond measure. + +"It would be very, very kind of Mr. Rhodes," said the widow, "but Elsie, +you are inconsiderate, to think of him taking so much trouble only for +us, and I a stranger." + +"It would be an honor and delight to me," insisted Rhodes. + +Jemima resolutely arose from her chair, and planted herself in a seat +directly in front of her parent--he could not avoid her eye then--the +wrath burning there made him hesitate and stammer. + +"Miss Jemima," said Elsie, "come and look at my geraniums; I think they +are finer even than yours." + +But nothing short of a torpedo exploding under her chair would have made +the heroic damsel quit her post, not for one instant would she leave her +parent exposed to the wiles of that abominable widow. + +"My dear, I am so tired," said she, "you must excuse me." + +"Perhaps you'd like to go and lie down," persisted Elsie. + +"You look fatigued," said Mrs. Harrington. + +"Do I, ma'am; you're kind, I'm sure," snapped the spinster, trying to +smile. "I never lie down in the daytime; I'm very comfortable where I +am, thank you." + +She might be very perfectly at ease herself, but she made her father +very uncomfortable, while Elsie and the widow never gave over teasing +for a single instant, till Elizabeth returned to the room. + +Luckily dinner was announced, and the asperity of Miss Jemima's feelings +softened a little by that, especially as she reflected that her father +would be obliged to lead Mrs. Mellen into the dining-room. But that +dreadful Elsie destroyed even that forlorn hope. + +"Bessie," said she, "we must ask Mr. Rhodes to play host and sit at the +foot of the table, so he shall lead Mrs. Harrington in." + +Even Elizabeth could not repress a smile at the little elf's malicious +craft, and there was nothing to be said. The wretched Jemima grew fairly +white with rage, but she was obliged to control herself, and the dinner +passed off in the most social, neighborly fashion. + +At a very early hour Miss Jemima insisted upon returning home, but Elsie +had a parting shaft ready for her. + +"I have persuaded Mrs. Harrington and these gentlemen to stay over +to-morrow," said she. "May I promise them that we'll all drive to your +house and take luncheon, Miss Jemima, by way of returning your visit." + +The spinster was compelled to express her gratification. She could do no +less, after having invited herself and her father to dinner at Piney +Cove, but her face was a perfect study while the pleasant words fell +from her compressed lips, like bullets from a mould. + +"We shall be in ecstasy," said Mr. Rhodes. + +"You will be in New York," retorted Jemima; "you have to go early in the +morning." + +"My dear, the day after will do as well." + +"Now, pa, you know you said----" + +"Oh, Miss Jemima," broke in Elsie, "I shall think you don't want us to +come!" + +"And I," said the widow, "shall be mortally offended if Mr. Rhodes runs +away the very first time I have the pleasure of visiting his house." + +"Of course, of course!" said the stout man. "My daughter, Mimy, is a +great business woman--girl, I mean--but on an occasion like this even +business must wait. Ladies, I go home to dream of the honor to-morrow +will bring." + +"Well, pa, if we're going at all, I think we'd better start," cried the +spinster; "we are keeping the horses in the cold." + +She made her farewells very brief and carried off her parent in triumph, +darting a last defiant look at the widow as she passed. + +The moment they were gone Elsie went into convulsions of laughter, and +clapping her pretty white hands like a child, cried out: + +"She'll poison you, Mary Harrington, I know she will." + +"My dear, I'll eat luncheon before I go." + +Even Elizabeth was forced to laugh at the absurd scene. Elsie mimicked +the spinster, and turned the affair in so many ridiculous ways that it +afforded general amusement for the rest of the evening. + +The whole party did drive over to Mr. Rhodes's house the next day, and +Miss Jemima was tormented out of her very senses; while Mr. Rhodes was +made to appear ridiculous as only a pompous old widower, with a keen +appetite for flattery, can be made look. + +The question of the picnic came up again, but Elizabeth settled that +matter by refusing to have any share in it. She was in no spirits for +such amusement, and had decided to refuse all invitations during Mr. +Mellen's absence. + +From that day Miss Jemima always felt a liking for Mrs. Mellen, who had +so quietly come to her rescue, and she was the only one of the party to +whom the claret would not have proved a fatal dose if the spinster's +sharp glances or secret wishes could have had their due effect. + +From some caprice Mrs. Harrington prolonged her stay at Piney Cove for +an entire week, and all this time she protested against either of the +gentlemen who had accompanied her there returning without her. Elsie, in +her careless, childish way, seconded the widow, so these two men dropped +into such easy relations with the family that it seemed difficult to +assign any period to their visit. Nothing could be quieter than Mr. +North's mode of life during his sojourn at the house. If he joined in +the light conversation so prevalent at all times, it was with a quiet +grace that modified it without offering rebuke. He seemed to give no +preference to the society of any one of the three ladies, but most +frequently attended Mrs. Harrington in her walks and rides. To Elsie he +was reserved, almost paternal, and in his society the young girl would +become grave, sometimes thoughtful, as if his presence depressed her +childish flow of spirits. + +If North ever had more than ordinary intercourse with his hostess no one +witnessed it, yet a close observer might have seen that he watched her +with a quiet vigilance that bespoke some deep interest in her movements. +Those who have seen this very man creep into the mansion house at night +and wander cautiously from room to room, as if to fix a plan of the +dwelling in his mind, will understand that his visit, which seemed so +purely accidental, had its object; but no one could have discovered, by +look or movement, what that object was. + +At last the party broke up and returned to the city. Elsie went with +them. At first Mrs. Mellen opposed her going, but the pretty creature +was resolute enough when her own wishes were concerned, and would listen +to no opposition. + +"I am not going to live in this stupid place, like a nun in a convent, +just because my brother desires to amuse himself in California," she +said, when Elizabeth would have dissuaded her from leaving home. "I tell +you, Grant would not wish it. I am not married and obliged to shut +myself up and play proper like you. It's downright cruel of you wanting +me to stay here. I'm half dead with grieving already. The house isn't +like home without Grant. At any rate, I'm going; you are not my mother!" + +She carried her point; Elizabeth had no absolute authority which could +enforce obedience on a creature at once so stubborn and so volatile. So +she made no further opposition, fearing that anything like violent +measures might prove distasteful to her husband. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +STARTING FOR THE PIC-NIC. + + +But one day now remained of Mrs. Harrington's unwelcome visit. The whole +party, except Elizabeth, were to start for New York in the morning, +where Mrs. Harrington had resolved to open a splendid succession of +receptions and parties in Elsie's behalf. + +This last day Elsie declared should be the crowning pleasure of Mrs. +Harrington's visit. They would ride down to the sea-side tavern on +horseback, have a chowder party on the precipice behind it, looking out +upon the ocean, and return home at dusk or by moonlight, as caprice +might determine. Mr. Rhodes and Miss Jemima were to be included, and +some of the colored servants were forwarded early in the morning to +superintend the arrangements. + +The dew was hanging thick and bright on the lawn when Mr. Rhodes and his +daughter rode up to the Piney Cove mansion. A group of horses were +gathered in front of the veranda, and a little crowd of ladies, in long +sweeping dresses, gauntlet gloves and pretty hats, stood chatting around +the door. + +Mr. Rhodes preferred to sit on his handsome bay horse, and wait for the +party to arrange itself, for it was rather inconvenient for him to mount +and dismount the high-stepping beast oftener than was absolutely +necessary. As for Jemima, she rode a long-limbed, slender-bodied horse, +and sat him in grim dignity, as the dames of old occupied their +high-backed chairs. Her beaver hat towered high, and the stiff tuft of +feathers that rose from it in front gave a dash of the military to her +usually defiant aspect, grimly imposing. + +She drew her horse up to the front steps, and sat viciously regarding +the city widow, as that lady shook out the folds of her riding-skirt, +pulled the gauntlets to a tighter fit on her shapely hands, and kept her +cornelian-headed riding-whip in a constant state of vibration, for the +benefit of that evidently too admiring widower on the great bay horse. + +The party mounted at last, and cantered in a gay cavalcade across the +lawn, leaving the mansion behind them almost in solitude. It was a +lovely day, bright with sunshine, and freshened by a cool breeze from +the ocean. Mrs. Mellen that day seemed among the most joyous of the +party. Whatever care had hitherto possessed her she evidently threw off; +her sweet voice rang out pleasantly, and her face grow beautiful in the +animation of the moment. + +For a while the party moved on at random; but when the road branched off +into a long tract of the woodland the equestrians naturally broke up +into pairs, and, either by chance or design, Mr. North joined Elizabeth, +who was riding a little in advance. It was almost the first time that he +had seemed to prefer her society during his whole visit, and this +movement naturally created a little observation. Elsie looked after the +splendid pair as they rode under the overhanging trees, with an +expression of subdued wonder in her blue eyes, which amounted almost to +dismay. Mrs. Harrington laughed with as much meaning as her small share +of intellect could concentrate on one idea, and said in a low voice to +Elsie: + +"Did I not tell you they had met before? She has been playing dutiful +like a martyr. See how she breaks out now. Look! look! she is turning +down a cross road; it is a mile farther round." + +"We will go on direct," said Elsie. "If my brother's wife chooses to +ride off alone with any man through the woods, let her. It was decided +that we should take the highway, and we will." + +Elsie spoke with decision, a cold light came into her blue eyes, and the +expression about her lips was almost stern; for a moment the girl was +transfigured before her friend. + +At the cross roads there was a little debate. Miss Jemima turned her +horse in the direction Elizabeth had taken. The generally obedient papa +was following this lead, when Mr. Hawkins was sent forward to arrest +him. + +"Straight ahead, that's the programme," he called out, taking the gold +head of his riding-whip from his mouth long enough to speak clearly, +"Miss Elsie told me to call you back." + +"And the--the other lady," stammered Rhodes, flushing red, to the +intense scorn of the spinster. + +"Oh, she's gone ahead." + +"Then I take this way," exclaimed Jemima, with emphasis; "come, pa." + +Mr. Rhodes had wheeled his horse half round, and was casting irresolute +looks towards the two ladies riding slowly along the shady road. + +"But, daughter, we cannot leave them to ride on alone." + +"This--this--person is with them, and they seem to count him as a man," +answered Jemima, with a gesture of intense scorn. + +Mrs. Harrington here was seen to draw up her horse in the shade of a +huge chestnut, and playfully beckon the widower with her whip. + +"Jemima, I must. It would be underbred," cried the desperate man, riding +away to the enemy. + +Jemima sat upon her horse, petrified with amazement. Her father looked +anxiously back when he reached the widow, with sad forebodings of the +tempest that would follow, but there the spinster sat at the cross roads +like an equestrian statue. + +"Come, come," said the widow, touching him playfully with her whip. +"Elsie is getting impatient. Now for a race." + +Her spirited horse dashed forward at a run. The ponderous steed of the +widower thundered after, making the forest reverberate with the heavy +fall of his hoofs. + +Mr. Hawkins fell into a dainty amble, and away the whole party swept +into the green shadows of the woods. + +Jemima looked right and she looked left. Should she ride on and leave +her pa in the hands of that designing creature? Perish the thought, +better anything than that! She touched her horse. It turned sharply, and +swept down the highway like a greyhound. She struck him on the flank, +then the tiny lash of her whip quivered about his ears till he dashed +on, flinging back dust and stones with his hoofs. + +The party was riding fast. Mr. Hawkins by Elsie, Mr. Rhodes close to the +widow--so close, that somehow her right hand, whip and all, had got +entangled with his. They were on a curve of the road, around which +Jemima came sweeping like a torrent. With a single bound her horse +rushed in between them, leaving the widow's gauntlet glove in the grasp +of that frightened man, and the cornelian-headed whip deep in the mud of +the highway. + +Not a word was spoken. The widower sank abjectly down in his saddle, and +with his apprehensive eyes turned sideways on the spinster, +surreptitiously thrust the stray glove into the depths of his pocket. +The widow, convulsed with mingled laughter and rage, gave no doubt of +genuine color now, for her face was crimson. Thus, like two prisoners +under military guard, they moved on, with Jemima riding in grim +vigilance between them. + +The spot chosen for the chowder-party commanded a splendid sea view and +a broad landscape in the background, of which the distant mansion of +Piney Cove was a principal object. It was an abrupt precipice, clothed, +except in the very front, with a rich growth of trees; splendid masses +of white pine and clumps of hemlock darkened with the deep green of +their foliage such forest trees as cast their leaves from autumn till +spring time. The broken precipice in front was tufted here and there +with clumps of barberry bushes and other wild shrubs, which might have +aided a daring adventurer to climb up it, had the temptation been +sufficient. + +Between this precipice and the shores of the ocean, stood the little +tavern we have before spoken of, from which the negroes of Piney Point +were now bringing up a huge iron pot wherein to cook the chowder, which +would be nothing if not culminated in the open air, over a fire of +sticks, and eaten beneath the hemlock trees. + +A bridle path led to the top of this precipice, winding along the back +slope of the hill, and by this route the highway party rode to the +summit, some fifteen minutes before Elizabeth and Mr. North joined them. +Whatever evil feelings had sprung up on the road, at least a majority of +the company resolved to enjoy themselves now. Jemima entered heart and +soul into the preparations, keeping a sharp eye on her father all the +time. He, poor man, scarcely required her vigilance, for when a chowder +was to be concocted, the stout man forgot all his gallant weaknesses, +and gave his whole being up to the important subject. + +Mrs. Harrington had no great talent for cookery, and feeling beaten and +awed by Jemima's dashing generalship, hovered around the outskirts of +the preparations, and flirting a little with Hawkins, from languid +habit, rather than any special regard for the young gentleman. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +FACE TO FACE. + + +During the bustle of these preparations, Elizabeth, Mr. North and Elsie +had dropped out of the party and wandered off, no doubt, into the shady +places of the woods; no one had observed how or where they went. Hawkins +had been with Elsie at first, but she had sent him down a ravine for +some tinted ash leaves, and when he came back to the stone on which she +had been sitting, it was vacant. Probably she had become tired of +waiting, and had gone in search of the forest leaves herself; as for +Mrs. Mellen and North, of course they were all right somewhere, and +would be on hand safe enough when the chowder was ready. + +While Mrs. Harrington and Hawkins were talking in this idle fashion, +they sat on a large ledge of rock that crowned the very brink of the +precipice; and chancing to look down, saw two persons near the foot +moving towards the tavern. One they recognised, even from that distance, +to be Mr. North, for his tall, grand figure was not to be mistaken. The +other was a lady; the dark riding-dress and floating plumes might belong +to any female of the party, there was no individuality in a dress like +that. The couple had evidently found some passage down the brow of the +precipice, for it would have been impossible to reach the spot where +they stood by any other route. + +"Well," said Mrs. Harrington, "if that isn't a sly proceeding; what on +earth does it mean? How Mrs. Mellen can drag her long skirts down that +hill, just to look at a common tavern, which she's seen a hundred times, +I cannot imagine." + +"Perhaps they are going down to the beach," said Hawkins, who had no +more malice in his composition than a swallow. + +"No, no! they are turning toward the house," said the widow, +considerably excited. "What can they want there?" + +"Oh, very likely they have gone in to rest. You know North lives there +when he comes on the island to fish or shoot." + +"What! Mr. North, he live there and never tell me! I thought he was a +perfect stranger on the island." + +"As to that," answered Hawkins, a little startled by her earnestness, +"he only comes down for a day now and then. It's nothing permanent, I +assure you." + +"There! there! they have gone in!" exclaimed the lady. "I wonder where +Elsie is; I must tell Elsie." + +"Why, what nonsense!" answered Hawkins, with some spirit; "can't Mrs. +Mellen step into a house to rest herself a moment without troubling her +friends so terribly?" + +"Just be quiet, Hawkins, you don't know what you are talking about," +answered the lady, keeping her gaze fastened on the tavern. "Turn an eye +on the house while I look at the time. It must be five minutes since +they went in. Dear, dear, what a world we live in!" + +Mrs. Harrington kept the little enamelled watch, sparkling with +diamonds, in her ungloved hand full ten minutes, only glancing from it +to the door of the tavern in her vigilance. At the end of that time Mr. +North and his companion came out of the house and disappeared in the +undergrowth which lay between that and the precipice. + +Mrs. Harrington watched some time for them to appear again, but her +curiosity was baffled, and her attention soon directed to other objects. +At last she was aroused by Elsie coming suddenly upon the ledge, +flushed, panting for breath and glowing with anger. She turned upon +Hawkins like a spiteful mockingbird. + +"A pretty escort you are, Mr. Hawkins, to leave a lady all alone in the +woods. I declare, Mrs. Harrington, he lost me in one of those dreadful +ravines, and I scrambled up the wrong bank and have been wandering +everywhere, climbing rocks and tiring myself to death. Only think of +dragging this long skirt over my arm and tearing my way through the +bushes. I heard the servants laugh and that guided me, or I might have +been roaming the woods now." + +"My poor dear," said the widow, full of compassion, "how heated and +wearied you look! Hawkins, can't you find something to fan her with?" + +Hawkins broke off a branch full of leaves and offered to fan her with +it. But she snatched it out of his hand and flung it over the precipice. + +"Where is Elizabeth? Go tell Elizabeth I wish to speak with her, if you +want to make up with me." + +"We have not seen Mrs. Mellen since you went away; nor Mr. North either. +They have finished that ride by strolling off together," said Mrs. +Harrington. + +Elsie started, and the warm color faded from her face. + +"What! Elizabeth; has she been roaming about? and--and----" + +"With Mr. North, Elsie." + +The tone in which this was conveyed said more than the words. At first +Elsie looked bewildered; then, as if her gentle spirit had received the +shock of a painful idea, she fell into troubled thought. + +"And you saw her go away," she said, in a low voice. "In what +direction?" + +"We did not know how or when she went, but certainly did see her and Mr. +North together." + +"Where?" + +"Down yonder, going into that low tavern." + +Elsie gazed into her friend's face, startled and astonished. + +"She would not go there. You must be mistaken, Mrs. Harrington. No +person could be recognised from this distance--it's all nonsense." + +"Ask her," said Mrs. Harrington, "for here she comes." + +Elizabeth came up from a hollow in the woods and joined the party. She +seemed completely worn out, and sat down on a fragment of rock, panting +for breath. She was very pale, as if some great exertion had left the +weariness of reaction upon her. She had evidently rested somewhere +before joining them. + +"Elizabeth, where have you been?" said Elsie, looking anxiously at her +sister-in-law. + +"Down in the woods." + +Elizabeth pointed to the forest that sloped back from the precipice. + +Before Elsie could resume her questions Mrs. Harrington broke in with a +faint sneer on her lips. + +"And where did you leave Mr. North?" she said, fixing a cunning, +sidelong glance on Elizabeth. + +"I have not seen Mr. North," answered Mrs. Mellen, with apparent +indifference, though the hot color mounted to her face, brought there +either by some inward consciousness or the perceptible sneer leveled at +her in the form of a question. + +"Not seen Mr. North," exclaimed the widow, "dear me what things optical +delusions are!" + +Elizabeth did not hear or heed this, for that instant Mr. North came up +to them very quietly and sat down near the widow. + +"Have you had a pleasant ramble?" he said, addressing Elsie. "I saw you +and Hawkins in the woods and had half a mind to join you." + +"But changed your mind, and went--may I ask where?" said Elsie, with a +shade of pallor on her face; for it seemed as if the man had surprised +her with bitter thoughts of his deception in her mind, and she could not +refrain from revealing something of distrust. + +"Oh, I took a ramble around the brow of the precipice," he answered, +carelessly, "and went into the tavern for a glass of water." + +"And the lady," said Elsie, looking steadily in his face. "What lady was +it in a riding-dress who bore you company? Mrs. Harrington saw one from +her perch here on the ledge." + +North cast a quick glance on Elizabeth, who did not speak, but sat +looking from him to her sister-in-law, as if stricken by some sudden +terror. + +"It was a mistake. No lady shared my rambles," said North. + +"But there was a lady," cried Mrs. Harrington, a good deal excited. "I +saw her with my own eyes. Mr. Hawkins remarked her too." + +North smiled and shook his head. + +"She had on a riding-habit and an upright plume like----" + +"Well, well," said North, gently, "it is useless going on with the +subject. I assure you that I went down the precipice alone and came up +alone." + +Mrs. Harrington looked at Elsie and smiled. + +"Of course he is in honor bound to say that," she whispered. + +Elsie seemed disturbed and answered quickly, "I, for one, believe that +he speaks the truth. It is folly to say that you saw any one in that +dress; besides, it was just as likely to be me as Elizabeth--our habits +are alike." + +"Poor generous dove!" whispered the widow, "you know better; but if you +are satisfied it's no business of mine, only if Mellen asks me about it +I must tell the truth." + +"Mary Harrington, you must have better proof than this before you dare +to make mischief between my brother and his wife," said Elsie, with a +force of expression that made the widow open her eyes wide. "Don't be +slanderous and wicked, for I won't bear that, especially against +Elizabeth." + +"Dear me, what a storm I have raised. Well, well, I did not see a lady, +that's enough. And there comes that wonderful colored person of yours, +to say that the feast is spread and the chowder perfect. Come, come, one +and all." + +The whole party had assembled on the ledge by this time. At Mrs. +Harrington's invitation, it moved off, and went laughing and chatting +towards a large flat rock, that gleamed out from among the surrounding +grass and mosses, like a crusted snow bank, so white and crisp was the +linen spread over it. Here a dainty repast presented itself, for the +smoking dish of chowder that stood in the centre gave its name to what +was, in fact, a sumptuous feast. Directly the noise of flying corks and +the gurgle of amber-hued wines, with bursts of laughter and flashes of +wit, frightened the birds from their haunt in the great maple-tree +overhead, and made its rich yellow leaves tremble again in the sunshine +that came quivering over the forest, and rippled up the broad ocean with +silvery outbursts. + +Whatever had gone before, all was hilarity and cordial good-humor now. +North, for one, came out resplendently; such graceful compliments, such +bright flashes of wit no one had ever heard from his lips till then. It +aroused the best talent of every one present. When the party broke up +and its members went to the covert where their horses had been fed, it +was joyously, like birds flying home to their nests. + +A ride through the golden coolness of a lovely sunset brought the party +back to Piney Cove, and all that had gone wrong during the day seemed +forgotten. + +The visitors were to start for New York early in the morning, and, as +all were somewhat fatigued, the house was closed somewhat earlier than +usual. + +Elsie had retired earlier than the rest, having some preparations to +make for her little journey. She busied herself awhile about her boudoir +and bed-room, selecting a few articles of jewelry and so on to be +packed, then sat down and read awhile; tired of that, she turned down +the lights in the alabaster lily cups, which one of the statues held, +sat down in the faint moonshine, with which she had thus flooded the +room, and fell into a train of restless thought; a pale gleam darted up +now and then from the lilies, and trembled through the floss-like curls +under which she had thrust her hand, revealing a face more earnest and +thoughtful than was usual to the gay young creature. Whether it was that +she had become anxious from the dart of suspicion that had been that day +cast at her brother's wife, or was disturbed by some other cause I +cannot say, but her eyes shone bright and clear in the pale radiance +that surrounded her; now and then she would start up and listen at +Elizabeth's door, as if about to enter and question her of the things +that evidently troubled her mind. At last she fell into quiet, and lying +on the couch, scarcely seemed to breathe. It was almost midnight then. +The house was still, and she could hear the distant waves beating +against the shore. She closed her eyes and listened dreamily, reluctant +to seek any other place of rest, yet changing the azure cushions of her +couch impatiently from time to time. + +At last, as she half rose for this purpose, a noise from the outer room, +which was a square passage or hall, in which were placed some bronze +statues and antique shields, arrested her attention. Resting on her +elbow, she held her breath and listened. + +The noise came again more distinctly. It seemed as if a door had been +opened with caution. Elsie arose, stole softly across the carpet, turned +the lock of her dressing-room door and entered the passage, carrying a +little night-lamp in her hand, which she had kindled among the alabaster +lilies. She had half crossed the hall, casting frightened looks around, +when a cry of dismay broke from her lips, for close by the door which +led to her sister-in-law's apartments she saw Elizabeth standing, pale +as death, but with her eyes burning like fire, turned upon a man who +stood leaning against one of the statues. It was Mr. North. + +The two women stood face to face, regarding each other in dead silence, +while North smiled upon them both. The lamp trembled in Elsie's hand, +her face became white as snow. Without uttering a word she turned, +entered her room and locked the door. + +The next day she left Piney Point with Mrs. Harrington. Mr. North left +also, but he went alone. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +LETTERS. + + +Months had passed since Grantley Mellen's departure for California; the +winter had gone, the summer faded, and though his absence had been +prolonged almost two years, there was little hope of his speedy return. + +The business upon which he had gone out was not yet settled, and however +great his anxiety to meet his family, he would not endanger his worldly +interests so vitally as he would have done by any neglect or reckless +inattention in that affair. + +Since the night of that unpleasant scene in the hall at Piney Cove, +Elsie Mellen had been at home so irregularly that all intimate relations +had died out between her and her sister-in-law. Some dark thought seemed +to possess the young girl, since the night of that strange adventure; +and, though the subject was never mentioned between her and Elizabeth, +Elsie's demeanor towards her brother's wife was one of cold, almost +hateful distrust, while Elizabeth grew more pensively sad each day, and +seemed to shrink from any explanation with painful sensitiveness. + +At last Elsie almost entirely absented herself from the house. The very +premises seemed to have become hateful to her. Without deigning to +consult Elizabeth, she had been visiting about among her former +schoolmates, making Mrs. Harrington's house her headquarters. This was +all the announcement of her movements that she chose to make to the +woman who had been left her guardian. + +How this fair, thoughtless girl lost all respect for her brother's wife +so completely that she refused to remain accountable to her for +anything, no one could tell, for she never mentioned the affair of that +night to her nearest friend. It evidently worked in her heart, but never +found utterance. + +So the winter wore away drearily enough at Piney Cove; for with all her +waywardness, Elsie had been like a sunbeam in the house; and Elizabeth +pined in her absence till the dark circles widened under her eyes, and +her voice always had a sound of pain in it. But with the most sorrowful, +time moves on, and even grief cannot retain one phase of mournfulness +for ever. + +The second spring began to scatter a little brightness about the old +house, and in this fresh outbloom of nature Elizabeth found some sources +of enjoyment. Since her virtual separation from Elsie she had received +no company, but lived in utter seclusion. Letters from her husband came +regularly, but her replies were studied, and written with restraint. She +never folded one of these missives without tears in her eyes, and when +his letters spoke of coming home, she would ponder over the writing with +a look of strange dread in her face. + +One lovely spring morning Elizabeth Mellen was alone in that quiet old +mansion. Elsie had not been home for months, and only brief notes +announcing some change of place, or anticipated movements, had warned +Elizabeth of her mode of existence. These notes were cold as ice, and +the young wife always shivered with dread when she opened them. + +It might have been a package of these letters that she had been +reviewing. She was alone in the library; quite alone, of course, but the +repose and silence about her brought no rest to her soul. Her whole +appearance was in strange contrast to the quiet of the scene; her face +so changed by the thoughts which kept her company, and forced themselves +upon her solitude, that it hardly seemed the same. + +She walked up and down the room in nervous haste, her head bent, her +eyes looking straight before her, full of wild bewilderment which +follows an effort at reflection when the mind is in a fever of unrest. +Sometimes she stopped before the table, on which lay a package of open +letters; she would glance at them with a shudder of horror, wringing her +hands passionately together at the time, and uttering low moans which +sounded scarcely human in their smothered intensity. + +Then she would glance towards the mantel, upon which lay a letter with +the seal still unbroken, though it had reached her early that morning. +It was from her husband, and she had not yet dared to read its contents! + +She had been thus for hours, walking to and fro, sometimes sweeping the +package on the table away, as if unable longer to endure it before her +eyes, only an instant after to recover it as if there were danger in +allowing it out of her sight. Then she would take up her husband's +letter and attempt to open it, but each time her courage failed, and she +would lay it down, while that sickening trouble at her heart sent a new +pallor across her face, and left her trembling and weak, like a person +just risen from a sick bed. + +It was growing late in the afternoon; the sunlight played in at the +windows, and cast a pleasant glow through the room; but the glad beams +only made her shiver, as if they had been human witnesses that might +betray her fear and misery. + +At last she took up the package, resolved to put it resolutely away +where she could no longer look at it; as she raised it a miniature fell +from among the papers, and struck the floor with a ringing sound. She +snatched it up quickly, crushed the whole into a drawer, locked it and +put the key in her bosom. + +Then, with a sudden struggle she started forward to the mantel, caught +up her husband's letter, and began to read. A sharp cry broke from her +lips; she dropped slowly to her knees, and went on reading in that +attitude, as if it were the only one in which she could venture to +glance at those kindly words: + +"Not coming quite yet," she gasped at length; "thank God, not yet--not +yet." + +She allowed the letter to drop from her hand, and for a few moments gave +herself completely up to the horrible agitation which consumed her. + +It would have been a piteous sight to the coldest or most injured heart +to have seen that beautiful woman crouched on the floor, in the +extremity of her anguish, writhing to and fro, and moaning in mortal +agony, which could find no relief in tears. + +She remained thus for a long time; at last some sudden thought appeared +to strike her, which brought with it an absolute necessity for +self-control and immediate action. + +She rose to her feet, muttering: + +"He will be here again soon; he must not find me like this!" + +She walked to the mirror, arranged her disordered dress and hair, and +stood gazing at her own features in a sort of wondering pity; they were +so death-like and contracted, with suffering that she felt almost as if +looking into the face of a stranger. + +At length she caught up a cloak which lay on the sofa, wrapped herself +in it and went out of the house. + +She took her way through the woods, walking rapidly, quite regardless +that the moisture from the damp earth was penetrating her thin shoes, +not feeling the keenness of the wind, which was growing chill with the +approach of evening. + +The expression of her face changed; she was deadly pale still, but a +look of resolution had settled over her features, and a naturally strong +will had begun to assert itself. + +Beyond the shrubbery that thick grove of evergreens extended to the very +shore, and into their shadow Elizabeth walked with a determined step. + +Evidently waiting for some one she paced up and down among the trees, +the dry leaves rustling under her tread and making her start, as if she +feared being surprised in that solitary spot by some curious wanderer. + +It was growing almost twilight, but still she kept up that dreary +promenade, struggling bravely with herself, and trying to restrain the +agonizing thoughts which threatened to overwhelm her forced composure. + +"He will not come," she muttered; "I must wait--wait--he will not come +to-day." + +She shuddered at the very sound of her own voice, but it seemed to have +disturbed some one else; for a step sounded on the grass, and a man came +out from the deeper recesses of the grove, and paused for a moment, +glancing on either side as if uncertain which path to pursue. + +It was Mr. North. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN INTERVIEW IN THE WOODS. + + +Elizabeth saw the man and yet neither moved or spoke, but remained +standing there in dumb silence, gazing at him with an expression in +which so many diverse emotions struggled, that it would have been +difficult to decide which feeling was paramount. + +The flutter of her cloak caught his attention, and he came hurriedly +forward with a smile on his lips, holding out his hand in an easy, +reckless fashion. + +"Ten thousand pardons," he exclaimed, "I fear that I have kept you +waiting--I shall never forgive myself." + +She put up her hand as if to check him, feeling, perhaps, some mockery +in these words which was not apparent in his voice. + +"We need not make excuses to each other," she said, in a cold, hard +tone, "neither you nor I came here for that." + +"Scarcely, I believe," and he laughed in a reckless way, which appeared +natural to him. + +Elizabeth Mellen shuddered in every limb at that repulsive sound; an +absolute spasm of pain contracted her features, she gave no other sign +of emotion, but clenched her hands hard together, forcing herself to be +calm. + +"I only received your letter this morning," he continued, watching her +every movement carefully, while standing there with his back against a +tree with apparent unconcern; "I should have been earlier, had it been +possible." + +She made an impatient gesture. + +"No more of that," she exclaimed, "enough!" + +He looked at her with the same careless smile that lighted up his +somewhat worn face into an expression of absolute youthfulness. He was +still a splendidly handsome man; a type of rare beauty which could not +have failed to attract general observation wherever he appeared. + +He was tall; the shoulders and limbs might have served as a model for a +sculptor; the neck was white almost as a woman's; the magnificent head +set with perfect grace upon it, and was carried with a haughty air that +was absolutely noble. He might have been thirty-eight, perhaps even +older than that, but he was one of those men concerning whose age even a +physiognomist would be puzzled to decide. + +The face was almost faultless in its contour; the mouth, shaded by a +long silken moustache, which relieved his paleness admirably, and lent +new splendor to his eyes, which possessed a strange magnetic power that +had worked ill in more than one unfortunate destiny. + +It was a face trained to concealment, and yet so carefully tutored that +at the first glance one only thought what an open, pleasant expression +it had. Even after long intercourse and a thorough knowledge of the +man's character, that face would have puzzled the most skillful +observer. + +Elizabeth Mellen was looking at him in a strange silence; whatever might +have been in the past there was no spell now in those glorious eyes +which could dazzle her soul into forgetfulness; shade after shade of +repressed emotion passed over her features as she gazed, leaving them at +last white and fixed as marble. + +"You are pale," he said, "so changed." + +She started as if he had struck her. + +"I did not come here to talk of my appearance," she said. + +"True," he replied, "very true; but I cannot help wondering. I think of +that day when I saved your life----" + +"If you had only let me die then!" she broke in passionately. "If God +had only mercifully deprived you of all strength!" + +"You were blooming and gay," he went on as if he had not heard her +words. "Yes, you are changed since then." + +"I will not hear these things," she cried; "I will not be made to look +back upon what we all were then." + +She closed her eyes in blind anguish; his words brought back with such +terrible force the time of that meeting--the day but one before her +marriage, when he had started up so fatally in her path, and never left +it till this terrible moment. + +"Then to change the subject," he said. "In our brief conversation the +other day we arrived at no conclusion whatever, nor was your letter any +more satisfactory; will you tell me exactly what you have decided upon?" + +A sudden flash of anger leaped into her eyes above all the suffering +that dilated them. + +"Now you are talking naturally," she said, "now you are your real self!" + +He bowed in graceful, almost insulting mockery. + +"It is your turn to pay compliments," he answered; "but I shall not +receive them so ungraciously as you did mine." + +She passed her hand across her throat as if something were choking her, +then she said in a hard, measured tone: + +"Have you considered the proposition I made you--will you go away from +this country, and remain away for ever?" + +He stood playing with his watchchain in an easy, careless way, as he +replied: + +"It is cruel to banish me--very cruel!" + +"Listen!" she exclaimed passionately; "I know more than you think--your +residence here is not safe!" + +He only bowed again. + +"It may be so, but I leave few traces in my path. If you do indeed know +anything which could affect me, I am very certain that in you I have a +friend who will be silent." + +He opened his vest slightly and drew forth from an inner pocket a small +paper, at the sight of which Elizabeth grew whiter than before. She made +a gesture as if she would have snatched it from him, but he thrust it +back in its hiding-place with a sarcastic smile. + +"Secret for secret," said he; "but never mind that. After all, you treat +me very badly. I wonder I am in the least inclined to be friends with +you." + +"Don't mock me!" she exclaimed. "Friends! There is no creature living +that I loathe as I do you! No matter what the danger may be, I will +speak the truth; tell you how utterly abhorrent you are to me, and brave +the result." + +"Yet once----" + +She interrupted him with an insane gesture; perhaps he knew her too well +for any attempt at trifling further with her just then, for his manner +changed, and he said: + +"You will take cold here; it is growing dark and the wind is very +chill." + +"It doesn't matter," she replied, recklessly. "Let us finish what there +is to say, then I will go." + +The wretched woman could stand upon her feet no longer, she was shaking +so with agitation and exhaustion that she was forced to sit down on a +fallen log. He seated himself by her side, regardless of her recoiling +gesture, and began to talk earnestly. + +For a full hour that strange interview went on, their voices rising at +times in sudden passion, then sinking to a low tone, as if the speakers +remembered that they spoke words which must not be overheard. + +At last Elizabeth arose from her seat, folded her cloak about her, and +said, quickly: + +"Be here to-morrow at the same hour." + +Without giving him time to answer, or making the least sign of farewell, +she darted rapidly through the darkening woods and disappeared in the +direction of the house. + +North rose, began whistling a careless air, and walked slowly back along +the path by which he had entered the grove. + +When Elizabeth came in sight of the house she saw a light in the library +window. + +"Elsie is back at last. God help us all!" she muttered. + +She moved near the low casement, looked in and saw the girl standing on +the hearth, and hurried towards the entrance. + +Elsie had returned home a full hour before, and had searched for +Elizabeth vainly about the house. She entered the library, and was +walking restlessly about the spacious room, slowly and sadly, as if +oppressed by this cold welcome home. + +Suddenly her eye caught sight of a paper lying under the table; it was +one of the letters which had fallen unnoticed by Elizabeth when she put +away the package. + +Elsie caught it up, glanced her eyes over it, uttered a faint cry, then +read it in a sort of horrified stupor. + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" broke from her lips. + +The discovery which she had made froze the very blood in her veins, and +left her incapable of thought or action. She sat shivering, as if struck +with a mortal chill, and at last crept close to the fire, clutching the +letter in her hands, but holding them out for warmth. Sometimes her +sister's name broke from her lips in a horrified whisper, and low words +died in her throat, the very sound of which made her shudder. + +At length the darkness and the solitude seemed to become insupportable +to her; she started forward and opened the door, with the intention of +fleeing from the room. It had suddenly become odious to her. She took +one step into the hall and met Elizabeth face to face. The woman saw the +letter which Elsie held in her hand, caught the recoiling gesture which +she instinctively made, then for an instant they both stood still, +staring at each other. + +Suddenly Elizabeth caught Elsie's hand, drew her back into the library, +and, once there, closed and locked the door. + +For more than an hour the pair were alone in that darkened apartment. +When at last they emerged from it they were both deadly white, and +exhausted as if by passionate weeping. Not a word was spoken between +them, but they turned away from each other like ghosts that had no +resting-place on earth. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +FIRE AND WATER. + + +When North left Mrs. Mellen in the woods he took a moment for +consideration, and then walked quickly towards the shore tavern. As he +turned a point which led from Piney Point to the bluff which overhung +it, his servant, the young mulatto, who had spent most of the season at +this retreat, came to meet him with a letter in his hand. + +"It had a foreign postmark," said the man; "so I started to meet you the +moment it came in, according to orders." + +"Right, boy, you are very right," cried North, tearing at the envelope +as a hawk rends its prey; "never let a scrap of writing from abroad rest +a moment out of my hands." + +The man read the letter--only a few lines--and his hands shook till the +paper rattled again. + +"Boy--boy, what day of the month is this?" he questioned, trying to fold +the letter, which he crushed instead. + +"The tenth, sir." + +North went into a mental calculation, then the cloud on his face broke +away and he almost shouted: + +"It is in time--it is in time! Any other letters?" + +"One for the Cove. Shall I slip it into the old man's parcel or would +you rather----" + +"Give it to me," said North, cutting the servant short, and snatching at +the letter, which was in Mr. Mellen's handwriting and bore the +California postmark. + +He was too eager for caution, and broke the seal recklessly. + +"He, too--he coming, too! By Jove, this is glorious sport! Made his will +before sailing, ha!--provident man!--one half to his dear wife, the +other to his darling sister, Elsie Mellen. A safe precaution, for ships +will get lost at sea." + +North crushed the two letters into his pocket, and walked with rapid +steps towards the tavern. But he only remained long enough to get a +telescope, with which he reappeared, and turned into a path leading to +the bluff. Once upon the ledge, high above the house, he levelled his +glass and took a hasty sweep of the ocean with it. Nothing was in sight +that seemed to interest him, so he turned the glass a little landward +and levelled it on the Piney Cove mansion, which made an imposing +feature in the landscape. From the eminence on which the mansion stood +the grounds sloped down to the water's edge in a closely-shaven lawn, +pleasantly broken up by flower-beds, and knots of old trees that looked +aged and mysterious enough to have watched that distant sweep of sea for +whole centuries. + +North seemed to be counting every clump of trees, and calculating the +value of each broad field that stretched back from the crescent-like +Cove. + +"It is a glorious old place, and we might live there like monarchs. If I +could only command the winds and waves for one week, now, we might defy +the rest. Half his property! Why, it is splendid; and the will safe." + +With these words he turned his glass again. On a clear morning there was +a glorious view from the bluff, showing the full extent of the curving +bay, with its long line of steep woodlands stretching along the coast +and the bright rush of waters beyond, till the eye was lost in the white +line of the distant ocean. + +Other mansions peeped out from among the trees, or stood boldly down on +the shore, and on the right hand a small village nestled in at the +furthermost extremity of the bay, forming a pleasant life picture. The +man cared nothing for these things, but turned his glass directly +oceanward, and searched the horizon with keen interest. + +A ship hove in sight, like a great white bird, beating up from its nest +in mid-ocean. The heart in that bad man's bosom made a great bound, and +the blasphemy of a thanksgiving sprang to his lips; but the joy was only +for a moment. Dropping his glass, he muttered: + +"Madman! to suppose, of all the ships on the ocean, it must be this one. +But if it should--if it should!" + +He sat down on a fragment of rock, rested his glass on the drooping +branch of a tree, and watched the ship as it swept through a bank of +luminous fog and took a more definite form. Hitherto it had seemed +floating between a curve of the sky and the blue line of water, but now +it came out clearly, and as North looked he saw a dark pile of +storm-clouds muster up behind it with slow, threatening danger. + +Hour after hour the man sat and watched that one object. The glass was a +powerful one, and seconded his keen vigilance. At length he was +rewarded, a burst of sunshine fell upon the vessel, the last that +illuminated the horizon that day, and he saw her name on the stern. The +telescope dropped from his hand, his face turned pale; the cry that +leaped to his lips perished there. The man was frightened by the +completion of his own wishes. Had some evil spirit performed a miracle +for him? + +All the time this man had been watching, a tempest blackly followed the +homeward-bound ship. The ocean began to dash and torment itself into a +fury of wrath. A high wind came roaring up from the bosom of the waters, +and over all gathered a world of lurid gloom, kindled fiercely red by +the sun when it went down, and slowly engulfed the ship, which was last +seen struggling fearfully in the wild upheaving of the elements. + +North seemed possessed of a demon that night. He left his telescope on +the earth, and went desperately to work, gathering up dry wood and +brush, which he stacked on the overhanging ledge, never pausing till a +great mound was created sufficiently large to keep a fire blazing all +night. By the time this was done the darkness became profound. Now arid +then he could see drifts of foam tossed upwards, like the fluttering +garments of a ghost fleeing from the storm. The little tavern at the +foot of the rock was lost in the overwhelming darkness. The lights from +the village seemed put out, and there was no vestige of Piney Cove +visible. No rain, as yet had fallen; and at this North rejoiced, for his +stock of wood was like tinder in its dryness, and the wind came fiercely +from the ocean, so fiercely that it threatened the death of any vessel +approaching the shore. + +With all these elements of terror surrounding him, North worked till the +perspiration dropped from his forehead like rain. That cliff had been +blackened before with wreckers' fires, but never had a man heaped wood +upon wood with so vivid a conviction of the crime he meditated, with +such earnest desire for death to follow his toil. + +When the evening had reached its darkest gloom, this man struck a match, +which he took from his pocket in a little case of enamelled gold--for +even in his crimes he was dainty--and thrust it among the yellow pine +splinters with which he had laid the foundation of his deathfire. The +blue light of the match flashed close to his face, revealing it white as +death, but smiling. + +Directly a column of flame shot upward, first in fine quivering flashes, +then in long, curling wreaths of fire, that the wind seized upon and +tore into hot, red tatters, laughing and wrangling among them with +fearful grotesqueness. + +North retreated from the blaze, and ran back into the woods, hiding +himself, for he feared to be seen from the tavern below. Now and then he +would start forth, toss a handful of fuel on the flames, and plunge back +into the darkness, where he listened greedily for some token to come out +of the storm and prove that his evil work was well done. + +It came at last--a gun boomed out from the tempest. The man started and +began to tremble. Still he listened. Another gun, with loud cries +cutting sharply through the storm, then dead silence, followed by a +tumult upon the shore, as if men were gathering in haste. + +North was not surprised at this. When a vessel struck in these days on +the Long Island shore, wreckers appeared in dozens, not eager for death, +for they would rather have avoided that, but keen for plunder. Now the +cries of these men made the storm terrible. Blue lights from the +stricken ship revealed her struggling fiercely among the breakers, which +were rending her like wild beasts. + +Then North trampled out his death fire and went down to the beach among +the crowd of wreckers that stood waiting, with horrid patience, for the +ship to go to pieces and give its treasures into their greedy keeping. + +"No boat could live among the breakers three minutes, I tell you," said +old Benson with gruff decision, when North, horrified by the terrible +shrieks that rang up from the sinking ship, was seized with an awful fit +of remorse, and cried out fiercely for help which no man could give. He +would have undone his work then had it been possible, for the last faint +light that went up from the wreck revealed a woman, with outstretched +arms and hair streaming back on the storm, pleading so wildly for help +that a fiend would have pitied her. It was this woman's life he had +sought, but with the sight of her his heart failed utterly. + +But an evil deed once written in the eternal book of God cannot be +recalled. While this man stood in dumb helplessness on the beach, the +ship sunk. Out of the whirlpool which it made, the wretched woman was +tossed back among the breakers, that seized upon her, fiercely hurled +her to and fro against the rocks, then gave her over to a great +inheaving wave, which left her shrouded in a drift of seaweed almost at +her murderer's feet. + +Daylight had broken on the wreck before it went down. Leaden and cold it +fell over the corpse of that poor woman as it was borne up to the +tavern, with the seaweed trailing from it and the wet garments clinging +to the limbs like cerements. Two rude seamen carried her away, for North +fled from the first sight of his work and plunged madly into the water, +where many a poor wretch was buffeting with the waves. He called on the +wreckers to help him, and dragged two or three exhausted creatures to +the beach, for he was ready to brave death in any shape rather than look +upon that cold form again. + +They carried the lifeless woman up to the tavern, and, careless of +ceremony, laid her on the bed in North's room. Here they left her, with +the salt sea-water dripping in a heavy rain from her garments, soaking +the bed and forming dreary rivulets along the uncarpeted floor. + +Deep in the morning North came up from the beach pale and staggering +from exhaustion. He went into his chamber and was about to cast himself +on the bed, when, lo! that face on the pillow met his gaze, ghastly and +cold. The heavy dropping of the water struck upon his ear like the fall +of leaden bullets. He stood paralyzed yet fascinated. A shudder colder +than spray from his garments shook his form from head to foot; and, +turning, he fled down the stairs again out upon the beach, and helped +the wreckers to haul in their plunder, till he fell utterly exhausted on +the sands. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +AMONG THE BREAKERS. + + +The storm had abated, but still the sea rose tempestuously, and broken +clouds filled the sky as with great whirlpools and drifts of smoke. A +good deal of rain had fallen, and this calmed the waters somewhat; but +the disturbed elements of the tempest made the most experienced seaman +look anxious when his face was turned oceanwards. An assistant pilot, +whose duty lay in that range of the shore, had been injured in helping +to save the crew of that ill-fated vessel. His comrades had carried him +up to the tavern, and laid him on a settee in the bar-room, where he +grew worse and worse, till it became dangerous to remove him to more +comfortable quarters. + +In this state North found the man on the second day after the wreck, +when he came up from the village, where he had sought accommodations +till the coroner's inquest should be over, and his room cleared of its +mournful incumbrance. + +Independent of his personal hurt, the boatman was suffering from intense +anxiety regarding the duties of his occupation. It had been his +employer's pride to be always first in the incoming course of the +California steamers, and now his little craft lay with its sails furled +in a cove below the house, waiting for a signal to put to sea. The man +had been very anxious to intercept the steamers of that month, because +it was thought that Mr. Mellen might possibly be on board, and he was +sure of a good round sum, in that case, for bringing this gentleman on +shore, while his superior, the pilot, took the steamer into port. + +North heard all these muttered regrets as he sat gloomily in the +bar-room, and they seemed to affect him more than so unimportant a +subject should have done. It was now drawing towards night, and the man +became terribly restless, for the pilot was expected every moment, and +from vague conjecture the poor fellow worked his mind up into a +certainty that Mellen would come, and the reward for bringing him on +shore be lost. + +"If there was only a man about that could take care of the craft," he +said, "I'd divide with him a fair half to take my place, but there +isn't, and ten chances to one the boss loses his chance with the +steamer, all because of this confounded foot of mine. I wish we'd let +the passengers drown; well, not quite so bad as that, but it's plaguey +hard on a fellow to give up his luck in this way." + +The bar-room happened to be empty just then, with the exception of North +and the injured man. North aroused himself and looked around. Seeing no +listeners near, he went up to the grumbler, and began to condole with +him. + +"Is there no one who can take your place?" he questioned. + +"Not a man. These fellows do well enough in fishing boats that can hug +the shore, but sometimes the boss runs his craft clear out to sea. +Besides, this weather is enough to frighten a fresh hand," was the +impatient answer. + +"What if I should make an offer to go." + +"You!" + +The man laughed in spite of his pain and annoyance. + +"You. I like that." + +"But I can handle a boat in pretty rough waters, let me tell you, my +man." + +"But you look too much of a gentleman. The boss would never trust you." + +"Oh, a suit of your clothes, which I see they have had sense enough to +dry, and a few things I have on hand will make that all right." + +"But, how much? how much?" inquired the man, anxiously. + +"Why, nothing; I shall go for the fun of it, or not at all." + +"That's the idea," answered the seaman, rubbing his hands--which still +trembled with weakness--in sudden delight, "a real gentleman and no +mistake, but bear a hand at once. It won't do for the commodore to find +you in this rig." + +"Aye, aye," answered North, sailor fashion, and in a voice that seemed +hoarse from years of sea service. + +The man started up on the settee, aroused to dangerous enthusiasm by +astonishment. + +"That's the time o' day," he cried in high glee. + +North snatched up the seaman's clothes, and retired with them into a +little room back of the bar. He had got over the first shock of +nervousness regarding the dead body lying upstairs, but still shrunk +from looking on it again with shuddering terror. The remembrance of his +crime did not prevent the contemplation of another equally atrocious, +but he did not care to look on that sight again. After a little he came +out from the room, so completely changed that the sick man stared wildly +at him, and called out, + +"Where away, messmate; are you one of the fellows we saved from the +wreck?" + +North laughed, settled himself in his loose clothes sailor fashion, and +walked with wide steps across the floor, as if it had been a +quarter-deck. A dawning conviction of the truth seized upon the man. He +fell back upon the settee, uttering broken ejaculations of delight +intermingled with groans. + +"That'll do. It's all right. He'll take you for one of the chaps we +saved from the wreck, and ask no questions," he panted out. + +"It's going to be a roughish night," said North. "I hope your Mr. Mellen +can swim, if we happen to get into any trouble." + +"No, no, don't depend on that, but he knows the coast, and is as brave +as a lion; still I shouldn't like him to be brought into danger, +remember that." + +"It's not at all likely that he'll be on board," answered North, +carelessly. + +"Hush up," cried the seaman, "don't you hear the commodore coming? +They've just told him about this confounded foot. Hear him swear." + +The pilot came in while his assistant was speaking. + +"What the thunder is all this about? just when I wanted you most, too, +and a rough night. They'll get ahead of us, and all through this +confounded wrecking business. Couldn't you keep out of it for once, you +rascal?" + +"Keep a stiff upper lip, commodore. It's all right," cried the man, +pointing to North; "here's a chap I have done a service to, who is +willing to take my night's work on himself, just out of gratitude. He's +a safe hand." + +"Let him bear away, then," cried the pilot, casting a glance at North, +which seemed to prove satisfactory; "come on, my man, we have no time to +lose." + +North followed the pilot in silence, only stopping by the sick man long +enough to whisper, "Don't mention this to a living soul!" + +The man promised, and kept his word. + +The pilot boat was soon unmoored and flying out to sea like a stormy +petrel. North performed his duty well, and received a word or two of +commendation from the superior, which proved the efficacy of his +disguise, for he had seen this person more than once at the shore +tavern. + +At last they came in sight of a large steamer laboring heavily with a +roughish sea and uncertain wind. She hailed them, and the little boat +bore down upon her. The steamer lay to, and the pilot mounted her side, +after giving some directions to his man. A crowd of persons met him as +he leaped over the bulwarks, and among them North searched with burning +eagerness for that one face. It appeared at last, looking down upon the +boat from over the bulwarks. The bad man's heart rose to his mouth; he +watched every movement on deck with keen interest. + +The pilot came to Mellen's side, and made a signal for the boat to wait. +Then some luggage was lowered and Grantley Mellen came down the side of +the steamer, and took his seat in the little craft, which flew away with +him towards the clouded shore. The wind increased as they sped along, +and though not so terrible as it had been when that other vessel was +wrecked, it gradually rose to a degree of violence that threatened the +little pilot boat with destruction. But the gale blew shoreward, and +urged the boat on till it fairly leaped over the hissing waves. + +A dismal twilight came on, and the storm was rapidly increasing to its +full power as they drew near the shore. The wind roared among the hills, +and lashed the waters into foam, the rain beat heavily and chill as +sleet, but Mr. Mellen sat cold and firm on his luggage, neither heeding +the disguised boatman's ejaculations or offering to aid him in his +difficult task. + +It was a position to test the courage of the strongest man, and many a +time it seemed that the wind and waves must conquer and swamp the light +craft completely; but no matter how rude or sudden the shock, Mr. Mellen +neither betrayed any anxiety, nor gave any more sympathy to the toiling +boatman, than if he had been a wooden machine. + +The disguised seaman now and then cast a furtive look at his passenger, +who seemed almost unconscious of the increasing gale. A heavy gust +sometimes seized his cloak and sent it sweeping out like the wings of a +great bird, but he only pulled it impatiently about him and sat quiet +again, looking out through the stern night. + +This perilous voyage was a long one, and its difficulties grew fearfully +as they neared the end. The wind seemed to come from every point at +once, and tossed the boat about till it fairly leaped in the water, as +if trying to escape from its combined enemies. + +Suddenly the rain almost ceased, the clouds parted, and the moon cast a +frightened glare over the scene. In the distance Mr. Mellen could see +his own dwelling, with the broad sweep of woods and waters in front; +then a sharp exclamation from his companion aroused him to the new +dangers that threatened him. + +The boat had been swept in near the shore, where a ring of sunken rocks +girdled the beach, breaking the waves into whirlpools, and sending the +white foam out into the storm. In this spot that good ship had gone +down, yet the boatman made no effort to veer his little craft from the +awful danger, but with a furious light in his eyes and a horrid smile on +his lips, bore down upon the breakers. True, it required almost +superhuman strength to turn the course of that light craft, for the +blast was dashing it forward like a battalion of fiends. + +They were close upon the breakers, when Mellen sprang up, pushed the +boatman back with a violence that sent him headlong into the bottom of +the boat, and seized the helm himself. Mr. Mellen struggled with all the +power desperation gives a man, but his efforts were futile as those of a +child. The boat spun round and round till they were fairly dizzy; +another fierce blast and they were blown directly into the breakers. + +Mellen's agonized cry was answered by a hoarse murmur from his +companion, which sounded like a malediction. Before either could think +or act, a more violent blast raging up from the sea, struck the skiff +and whirled it in among the rocks. + +Now Mellen's eyes kindled, and all the reserved force of his character +came out. He knew every inch of the coast for miles each way. Through +these boiling white breakers was a channel wide enough to carry them +over, and towards that he forced the little craft, which seemed +absolutely to leap through the breakers into the leaden current, where +she rested one moment, trembling from stem to stern like a great +crippled bird hunted to death by the elements. + +North saw that they were in possible safety. He had not anticipated a +storm so terrible as that, but had intended to swamp his boat in the +breakers and swim ashore, leaving Mellen, who could not swim, as he +supposed, to his fate. But now everything else was forgotten in a +cowardly thirst for life. No man could exist for a moment in that awful +riot of waters. He watched Mellen as he kept the boat steadily in the +current, with the keen anxiety of a man to whom death is the terror of +terrors. + +The little craft swept on, reeling and recoiling along the narrow path +into comparatively smooth waters. Mellen, still with one hand bearing +down the helm, seized the cable and flung it towards the disguised +boatman, who lifted his wild face for the orders he had not the power to +ask. + +"Be ready," cried Mellen, with the quick resolution which marked his +character, "jump out as she nears that rock--we are safe then." + +They both stood upright in the boat, swaying to and fro, but managing to +retain a firm position. + +Again the hope of safety seemed a delusive one; the skiff swooped away +from the rock, spun more giddily about, and threw both men upon their +knees. Another instant that seemed endless,--an instant which decided +the fate of both, as far as this world was concerned,--these men +trembled on the brink of eternity. If the skiff obeyed the counter blast +that was upon them and swept towards the breakers, they were lost; still +there was a hope, if it veered upon the rock which loomed out from the +shore. + +The moon gave light enough to enable them to watch the scene and see +their danger. Again the conflicting blasts struck them; the boat reeled, +righted itself and was dashing by the rock, upon which the two men +sprang by a simultaneous movement. A few more vigorous leaps and they +reached the shore, standing there for a moment in breathless awe. Then +they commenced hauling in the crippled boat, which the blast had seized +upon and was tearing out to sea. + +"Safe!" cried Mellen, in a tone of hearty thanksgiving. "I did think +that the brave little craft would go down, but thank God, we are on dry +land." + +"Safe and defeated!" muttered North, turning his face from the wind. +"The storm that helped me two days ago proves treacherous now." + +"Come!" shouted Mellen, lashing the cable to a stunted pine that grew in +a cleft of the rock, "come up to the house, we shall find a fire there +and a glass of brandy. The old man will send some of his people for the +luggage." + +North made no answer, but moved off towards the house, which he passed, +walking moodily towards the village. Mellen went up to the tavern. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +DEAD AND GONE. + + +Lights shone cheerfully through the uncurtained windows of the Sailor's +Safe Anchor, and the stranger could see the inmates of the dwelling +gathered about the tea-table, looking comfortable enough to make a +strong contrast to the chill and darkness without. + +"There is not the least change," he muttered, drawing his cloak more +closely about him; "I could almost think I had been gone only since +morning, instead of two years." + +He hurried on to the house, and hardly waiting for his imperative knock +to be answered, pushed open the door and entered the kitchen. The old +fisherman looked tranquilly up at the intruder, keeping his knife poised +in one hand, not easily ruffled in his serenity, while the younger +members of the family stared with all their might at the tall man, whose +garments were dripping wet, driven by the storm into their dwelling. + +"Good evenin', sir," said the old man; "it's a dark, wet night--wont you +sit down?" + +"I want a horse and a man," said Mellen, betraying by the haste in which +he spoke, and his impatient movements, that he was too hurried for much +attention to the old man's attempt at civility. "I want to go to the +other end of the bay--can you let me have a horse and some one to look +after my luggage?" + +"What, to-night?" demanded the old man. "Why you can't want to go round +the bay to-night." + +"I should not have come for a horse if I had not wished to get home," +said Mellen, impatiently. "Get one out at once, Benson; I am in great +haste." + +"'Taint a decent night to put a dog out o' doors," returned the +fisherman; "it's a good deal mor'n likely you'd get swamped in the +marsh, if I let the hoss go." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mellen. "I know this part of the country too well +for that. There is no more risk than in this room." + +The old man's obstinacy was roused, and he had a full share of that +unpleasant quality when he chose to call it into action. + +"Mebby you know more about it than I do," he grumbled; "but I've lived +here a goin' on thirty years, and ort to be acquainted with this coast, +and I say I ain't a going to risk my critters sich a night. If there +ain't no danger 'taint fit to send any horse out in a storm like this +anyhow." + +"I can't stand arguing here," Mellen began, but the old man +unceremoniously interrupted him. + +"Where do you want to go?" he asked. + +"Over to Piney Cove." + +"Mr. Mellen's place! Why it's good three miles, and he ain't to hum, nor +hasn't been, nigh on to two years." + +"Don't you know me, old friend?" exclaimed Mellen throwing back his +cloak. + +The old fisherman rose in astonishment, while his married daughter, who +kept his house and owned the flock of children, called out: + +"Why, pa, if it ain't Mr. Mellen!" + +"I thought I knowed your voice, but couldn't make out who it belonged +to; but Californy ain't so nigh as some other places," said the +fisherman. "So you've got back! Wal, wal! You've been gone a good +while." + +"So you can't wonder at my impatience when I find myself so near home," +said Mellen. + +"In course, in course," replied the old man. "But, dear me, you'll have +to wait till Jake comes in, and I expect he'll grumble awful at having +to start out agin." + +"I will pay him his own price----" + +"Oh, you allays was freehanded enough, I'll say that, Mr. Mellen. But +sit down by the stove; Jake'll come in a few minutes. Mebby you'd try a +cup of tea?" + +But Mr. Mellen refused the proffered hospitality, and though he walked +up to the fire, neither sat down or paid much attention to the questions +the old man hazarded. + +As Mellen stood there, though his restless movements betrayed great +impatience, there was little trace of it visible in his face, whose cold +pride seldom revealed the emotions which might be stirring at his heart. +He was dressed in his sea clothes, which hung about him in wet masses. +His face was bronzed by the exposure of a long sea voyage, but he was +still a man of imposing presence, and retained his old, proud manner so +thoroughly, that even the old man in his fever of curiosity, felt the +same hesitation at questioning him too far which had always awed the +villagers when Mr. Mellen formerly dwelt among them. + +"I s'pose you've seen a sight sence you went away," said the old man, as +he pushed his chair towards the fire. "All them gold mines; though I +don't s'pose you went to work at them. People will talk you know, and +they wondered at your going off in such a hurry----" + +"Do you think that man will be here soon?" interrupted Mr. Mellen. + +The fisherman felt ruffled and injured at having his gossiping +propensities cut short in that manner, but that instant a step sounded +on the stone porch without, and he said, grumblingly: + +"There he is. I 'spect there'll be a touse about getting him to go." + +But Mr. Mellon took the matter in his own hands when the man entered, +and the liberal offer he made speedily put Jake in excellent spirits for +the expedition. + +"My baggage must be disposed of first," said Mr. Mellen. "Some one must +get it from the pilot-boat." + +"Jake and I'll fetch it in here," returned the old man. + +"I will send for it in the morning," observed Mr. Mellen. + +While they went down to the shore and were bringing in the trunks Mr. +Mellen stood by the fire, quite regardless of the curiosity with which +the children regarded him, and unconscious of several modest attempts at +conversation made by the old man's daughter: + +"Your clothes are wringing wet; hadn't you better get some things of +father's and start dry?" + +"No," answered Mellen, glancing at the water-proof carpet-bag which he +had seized on leaving the boat, remembering that it contained important +papers. "I have some things in here, and they will find my macintosh in +the boat." + +He left the room while speaking, and, knowing the house well, went +upstairs, in order to change his wet garments. The young woman uttered a +little cry of dismay and ran a step or two after him, but turned back, +seized with terror of the dead body, about which she would gladly have +given warning. + +Mellen had taken a candle from the table when he left the kitchen, and +entered the little room upstairs with it flaring in his hand. It did not +illuminate the whole chamber, but a cold feeling of awe crept over the +man as he stepped over the threshold, and a shudder, which sprang from +neither cold nor wet, passed to his heart. + +With a trembling hand he set the light on a little pine table and looked +around. A bed stood in the further corner of the room, a great and +coldly white bed, on which a human form was lying in such awful +stillness as death alone knows. + +Breathless and obeying a terrible fascination, he went up to the bed and +drew down the coarse linen sheet. A beautiful face, chiselled from the +marble of death, lay before him, with a cold smile on the lips, and the +blue of the eyes, that had been like violets, tinging the white lids +that covered them. Masses of rich chestnut hair were gathered back from +the face; and over the bosom, struck cold in the bloom of life, two +white hands were folded in an attitude of solemn prayerfulness. + +As Mellen gazed on this cold vision his lips grew white with terrible +emotions, for he knew that face, notwithstanding all the changes that +years and an awful death had left upon it. Moment after moment crept by +and he did not move. At last, reaching forth his hand, he touched the +woman's hair, then a convulsion of grief swept over him, his eyes +filled, his lips quivered and he fell upon his knees crying out: + +"Oh, woman, woman, has he driven you to this?" + +The stillness, which was his only answer, crept to his heart. He arose, +covered the face of his false love, and quitted the room, leaving the +candle behind. He could not bear to think of her lying alone in that +grim darkness. + +"Oh, sir, I am so sorry. It was dreadful to let you go upstairs to dress +and find _that_," cried the woman, in a tumult of self-reproach. + +"When did it happen?" he questioned, in a hoarse voice. "When and how?" + +"Day before yesterday. It was washed ashore from the wreck." + +Mellen turned away and asked no more questions. Enough for him that the +woman he had once loved to idolatry, had passed out of his life forever +and ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +HOME IN A STORM. + + +The storm was still raging upon the ocean and sweeping its cold way +across the island; but Mellen was not a man to rest within sight of his +own dwelling, after a long absence, without an effort to reach it in +defiance of wind or weather. So, heedless of all protestations, he +mounted his horse and rode forward, with the wind howling around him and +the rain beating in his face. His temporary attendant grumbled a little +at the violence of the storm, while the darkness was so intense that +both the horses went stumbling on their way like blind creatures on an +unknown path. But Mellen scarcely heeded the danger or discomfort. His +eyes were fixed on the lights of his own home, which twinkled now and +then through the fog and rain, like stars striving to break through a +cloud. + +Their road ran along the coast, and they had the rushing winds and roar +of the ocean all the way. Before they reached the Piney Cove grounds the +blackness of the tempest began to break away overhead; the wind had +lulled a little, but the rain still beat, and at intervals the moon +would burst through the clouds and add to the ghostly effect of boiling +foam in the distance. + +They passed through the strip of woodland which extended down to the +water's edge, and at last reached the grounds connected with the +dwelling upon that side, and came out upon the broad lawn. + +"Home at last!" cried Mellen, as a warm glow of lights shone out from +his dwelling. "Ride on, my man; you shall sleep here to-night, and +return in the morning." + +In his exultation Mellen dashed forward, urging his horse across the +open space till he was considerably in advance of his attendant. The +moon shivered out again for an instant, and Mr. Mellen saw a woman +shrouded in a long cloak rushing towards the house. Some instinct, +rather than any real recognition of her person, made him cry out, as he +leaped from the horse and left him free: + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +The figure paused. There was a faint cry; at the same instant Mellen +heard a violent rustle in the shrubbery, with a sudden downpour of +raindrops, scarcely noticed, as he hurried towards the lady, but well +remembered afterwards. She was standing upright and still, as if that +unexpected voice had changed her to stone; her hair had broken loose and +was streaming wildly over her shoulders; one hand was lifted above her +eyes, as she strained her sight through the gloom. + +"Elizabeth!" he called again. + +"Who is it?" she cried, in a suppressed voice, that had all the +sharpness of an agonised shriek. "Who calls to me?" + +He reached her side as she spoke. + +"Don't you know me?" he exclaimed. "My wife! my wife! I have come back +at last!" + +There was one wild look--one heavy breath--he heard a low exclamation: + +"My God! oh, my God!" + +Before he could discover whether this was a cry of thanksgiving or not, +she fell forward and lay motionless at his feet. + +After that first second of stupefaction, Mr. Mellen checked the +wonderment of the man--who by this time had come up--and between them +they carried the senseless woman to the house. + +The servant who met them in the hall gave a cry of dismay at the sight +of her master thus suddenly entering the house with his wife lying like +a dead woman in his arms, and was ready to believe that the whole sight +was a ghostly illusion. + +"Bring some wine," called Mellen; "is there a fire? Are you deaf and +blind, girl?" + +"It is the masther!" exclaimed the frightened creature. "It's the +masther come back--oh, I thought I'd seed ghosts at last!" + +Her cries brought the whole household up from the basement; but +regardless of their wonder and alarm, Grantley Mellen carried his wife +away towards the library, and laid her upon a couch. + +It was some moments before Elizabeth Mellen opened her eyes, then she +glanced about with a vacant, startled look, as if unable to comprehend +what had happened. + +Her husband was standing in the shadow, gazing down at her with the +strange, moody look so unlike the active alarm which would have filled +the mind of most men, and she did not at first perceive his presence. + +"I thought I saw Grantley," she murmured. "I--I have gone mad at last." + +"Elizabeth!" + +She struggled up on the couch, and looked towards him with a wild +expression of the eyes, forced out by recent terror or sudden joy at +finding that she had not been deceived by some mental illusion. + +"Is it you, Grantley?" she exclaimed. "Is it really you?" + +"It is I," he said; "but it is a strange welcome home to a man when he +finds his wife wandering about in the storm, and sees her faint at the +sound of his voice." + +Elizabeth Mellen forced her physical strength back by a sheer exercise +of will. She sat upright--a singular expression passed over her face--an +inward struggle to appear like herself and act as was natural under the +circumstances. + +"I was so frightened," she gasped; "I did not expect you for a +fortnight--perhaps a month. When I heard your voice I can't tell what I +thought--a dread--a terror of something terrible--something +supernatural, I mean, came over me." + +"But what could have taken you out of doors on a night like this?" he +persisted. + +She did not hesitate; she hurried to answer, but it was like a person +repeating words studied for the occasion, and all the while her two +hands clutched hard at the arm of the sofa. + +"I don't know what drove me out, the storm made me wild. I thought of +the sea--you on it, perhaps--I don't know why I went." + +"You are wet," he said--"thoroughly drenched. You must change your +dress." + +She seemed to grasp at the opportunity to go away, and started up with +such eagerness that his suspicious eyes noticed it. + +"This is a singular meeting," he said, bitterly; "two years apart, and +not a word of welcome." + +She turned impulsively towards him, and threw her arms about his neck, +with a burst of passionate tears. + +"I do love you, Grantley," she cried; "I do love you! I am so glad to +see you; but this fright--it was so sudden--so----" + +Her voice died away in a sob, and she clung more closely to him, while +he kept his arm about her waist, pressed his lips on her forehead and +gave himself respite from the whirl of dark thoughts which had been in +his jealous mind. The joy of reunion and the pleasure of finding himself +at home after that long absence, broke through it all. + +He felt her shiver all over, and remembered the danger they both ran +standing there in their wet clothing. + +"You are cold--shivering--and I am keeping you in these wet things!" +cried Grantley, gathering her in his arms and mounting the stairs. "You +are drenched, my sweet child. It was wrong to go out in a storm like +this. Indeed, indeed it was, dear one." + +She made no answer, but was seized with a cold shivering fit in his +arms. He carried her into the little sitting-room, and, seating her in +an easy chair, took off her hood and cloak, speaking soft, tender words +as he removed the garments, and smoothed her hair with a caressing +movement of the hand. + +"You must change your dress, Elizabeth," he said. "Do it at once. I have +some dry clothes in my room, I suppose, which I shall put on." + +"Yes," she returned, hurriedly; "go--go at once. You are glad to get +home, are you not--glad to see me, Grantley?" + +There was a tone of almost piteous entreaty in her voice; she was so +disturbed by the shock of his sudden presence that her nerves could not +recover their firmness at once. + +Grantley Mellen held his wife to his heart and whispered fond and loving +words, such as he had breathed during their brief courtship before a +shadow clouded over the beauty of their lives. + +"There shall be no more clouds," he whispered, "no more trouble. Look +up, Elizabeth! Say that you love me--that you are glad as I am." + +"I do love you, my husband--with all my heart and soul I love you! I +_am_ glad--very, very glad." + +"And I love you, Bessie. I did not know how well until I went away. But +we shall never part any more--never more." + +Elizabeth was weeping drops as cold as the rain on her face. It was +unusual for her to allow any feeling of joy or pain to overcome her so +completely. + +"You are weak and nervous to-night, Bessie," he said, tenderly. "I was +wrong to come upon you so suddenly." + +"No, no!" she cried, vehemently. But even in her denial she shuddered, +remembering whom she had just left and how she had met her husband. + +Then she arose to go, but staggered in her walk and held herself up with +difficulty. He looked at her with such tender love in his eyes that she +held out her arms to him. He drew her close to his bosom: + +"Elizabeth, we will be happy now." + +"Yes, yes," she said, in the same hurried manner, "we will be happy +now--quite happy." + +She went out of the room as she said these words and entered her +chamber, locking the door carefully behind her, as if she feared that he +might intrude upon her. + +Half an hour after the newly-united husband and wife met at the +supper-table, and Grantley Mellen saw that Elizabeth had quite recovered +from the sudden shock of his arrival in that unexpected way. + +"I cannot realize it yet," she said, coming into the room and walking up +to the hearth where he stood; "I cannot believe you are actually here." + +She stole close to his side and folded his hand in hers. For an instant +there was a slight hesitation amounting almost to timidity, as if she +were doing something or assuming a place to which she had no right, but +it passed quickly. She was looking up into his face with a pleasant +smile, a little pale yet from her recent emotion, or else those two +years which had elapsed since their parting had robbed her of a portion +of her girlish bloom,--but self-possessed and full of happiness. + +Grantley Mellen looked at her more closely as she stood there in the +cheerful light. Two years had changed her, but that was natural; he was +altered too. + +"Do I look very different, Elizabeth?" he asked. + +She shook her head. + +"You are browned, you look a little older, perhaps; but you are not +really changed--you are Grantley still." + +"I cannot tell if you are altered," he said; "I must wait till I have +seen you a day or two. You seem paler--thinner." + +She shivered a little, but quickly regained her self-control and +cheerfulness. + +"You cannot judge how I look to-night," she said. "I am sorry Elsie is +gone." + +"When did she go away, Elizabeth?" + +"Only yesterday; she seemed to be getting low spirited, so I advised her +to visit Mrs. Harrington for a while." + +"I suppose she has not left you often--you two kept together?" he asked, +the old jealousy creeping through his voice. + +"Of course; she has visited a little," replied his wife, quietly, but +she turned away to the table as she spoke. + +A servant brought in the supper, and they sat down opposite to each +other at the board; but even during those first hours of reunion the +strange greeting which his return had met would linger in Grantley +Mellen's suspicious mind, and, in spite of Elizabeth's cheerful manner, +her color would come and go with tremulous fitfulness. Sometimes there +was a restless expression in her eyes, and she seemed with difficulty to +repress a nervous start at any sudden sound--she had not recovered +wholly, it appeared, from her surprise. + +"You will send for Elsie in the morning," he said. + +"Oh, yes. One of the men will go to town early." + +"Don't tell her I have come." + +Elizabeth hesitated. + +"She would be so startled if I did not," she said. "I really think her +happiness will be greater if she expects to meet you." + +"As you please," he returned, a little coldly. "I believe you are right. +Surprises generally are failures." + +"Where is Dolf?" Elizabeth asked. + +"I sent him on with the steamer to deliver some letters I had brought +for various people; he will be up in the morning. He is just the same +remarkable darkey as ever. His language is even grander, I think." + +When they were sitting over the fire again, Mr. Mellen said: + +"Now, tell me everything that has happened; your letters were all so +vague." + +"I had nothing of importance to write, you know," she answered; "we were +very quiet here." + +"Has Elsie changed much?" he asked. + +"Not at all; gay and thoughtless as ever." + +There seemed a suppressed bitterness in her voice. Perhaps that gayety +and frivolity had sometimes jarred upon the deeper chords in her own +nature. + +"Little darling!" he said, fondly, "I feel more attached to her than +ever since I went away--she seems more like my daughter than my sister." + +"And she loves you very dearly, you may be sure of that." + +"Oh, yes; nothing could ever come between Elsie and me! I have thought +of the promise I made our dying mother; I have kept it, +Elizabeth--wherever else I have erred, I have kept that vow." + +"Yes," she said; "yes." + +But the tone grew a little absent, her eyes wandered about the room as +if she were perplexed anew by some thought far away from the subject of +their conversation. + +"You have been happy and content here, Elizabeth?" + +"Not happy," she answered, "I forced myself to be patient; but the time +seemed very long." + +"Then you do love me?" he cried, suddenly. + +She looked at him reproachfully, with some pain stirring under that +reproach. + +"Can you ask me such questions now?" + +"No, no; you do love me. I believe it. But you know what a morbid, +suspicious character mine is." + +"I had hoped--" + +She did not finish her sentence, but sat twisting the links of her +chatelaine about her fingers, and looking almost timidly away from his +face. + +"Go on," he said, "what did you hope?" + +"That this long absence might have--that--I hardly know how to say it +without offending you." + +"You hoped I had learned to accept life more like a reasonable being, +isn't that it? I think I have, Bessie; we will be happy now, very happy; +you and Elsie and I." + +He took her hand and held it in his own; was it true that it trembled, +or only his fancy that made him think so? + +"We shall be happy, Elizabeth?" he repeated, this time making the words +an inquiry. + +"I hope so--oh, I do hope so!" she exclaimed with sudden passion; "I +want to be happy, oh, my husband! I want to be happy." + +She threw her arms about his neck, and her head dropped on his shoulder; +but the face which he could not see wore a strained, frightened look, as +if she saw some dark shadow rise between her and its fulfilment. + +Mellen strained her to his heart, and showered kisses down upon her cold +face,--kisses, so warm from the heart, that her cheeks kindled into +scarlet under them, and she began to weep those gentle tears that drop +from a loving heart like dew from a flower. + +"Our lives shall go on quietly and pleasantly now," he continued, giving +himself to the full happiness of this reunion; "we will have one long +summer, Bessie, and warm our hearts in it." + +"I have been in the cold so long," she murmured. + +"But that is over--over for ever! We will be trustful Bessie: we will be +patient and loving always; can't we promise each other this, my wife?" +he said, drawing her closer to his bosom. + +"I can, Grantley; I do!" + +"And I promise, Elizabeth, I will never be suspicious or harsh again. +You and I could be so happy now." + +"You will love me and trust me!" she cried, almost hysterically. + +"Always, Bessie, always!" + +Again he clasped her in his arms, pressing kisses upon her forehead, and +murmuring words which, from a husband's lips are sweeter and holier than +the romance of courtship could ever be, even in the first glow of its +loveliest mystery. + +Elizabeth nestled closer to his heart, and a feeling of rest and +serenity stole over her so inexpressibly soothing and sweet, that she +almost longed to float away for ever from the care and dimness of this +world upon the sacred hush of that hour. + +There was a sound without which startled them both, making Mellen turn +hastily, and sending the sickly pallor anew across Elizabeth's face. + +"Only the wind," he said, "blowing one of the shutters to with a crash." + +"That is all, it----" + +She did not finish; her eyes were fixed upon the window; she made one +movement; tried to control herself; looked in the other direction before +her husband could observe the eagerness with which her eyes had been +strained out into the night; but all her attempts at self-control were +in vain; she gave one heavy sigh, and sank lower and perfectly helpless +in his arms. + +For the second time that evening Elizabeth Mellen had swooned completely +away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE SUNSHINE OF THE HOUSE. + + +The day was so bright and beautiful that the preceding storm seemed only +to have added freshness to both the earth and sky. + +The hills rose up majestic in their richest verdure, the lovely bay was +at rest in the sunshine, and the long white line of distant water shone +out tranquilly, as if no treacherous wind would ever again lash it into +fury. + +Grantley Mellen stood with his wife on the broad stone portico, looking +towards the ocean. They had been wandering over the house and grounds +that the master might see what changes had taken place in his absence, +talking pleasantly and gaily, though even in the midst of his happiness +the old restless suspicion would intrude. Grantley Mellen could not +understand the strange agitation of his wife at his return. It troubled +him even in his newborn joy. She was quite herself this morning; so +lovely in her delicate mauvé morning dress, with the soft lace relieving +her neck and wrists. Her dark hair was banded smoothly back from the +grave, earnest face, and fell behind in heavy braids, rich and glossy as +the plumage of a raven. Her mouth was tremulous with gladness and her +whole face kindled into smiles and blushes under her husband's gaze. She +was so calm that it seemed folly to vex his heart with vague fancies, +instead of yielding to the full, rich joy of the occasion. + +But she was changed: his jealous eyes took note of that. She was paler, +thinner; there was a single line between the dark brows that had +gathered there during his absence; an added gravity about the mouth, a +slight compression of the lips, as if they had grown accustomed to +keeping secrets back. + +Then with one of those quick transitions of feeling peculiar to a mind +like his, he reproached himself for that change. Why search for other +reasons when he remembered many things which had preceded their parting; +the last restless year of their married life, disturbed by jealousy and +suspicion; the long months of loneliness which she had spent during his +absence. There was answer enough for all the questions with which he had +vexed himself all the morning. + +"Of course Elsie will come home in the afternoon boat," he said. + +"Oh, yes; I don't think it is in yet--I have not heard the whistle," +replied Elizabeth. "Our people will send her across the bay in a +sail-boat, no doubt. It is shameful of them to leave the shore road in +the state it is; we must either go to the village by water, or take that +long out-of-the-way back road." + +"There is a sail-boat now," exclaimed Mellen, pointing across the bay. + +Elizabeth looked and saw the tiny streamers shining like silver +traceries in the sun. + +"It must be Elsie," she said, bringing a glass from the hall, which Mr. +Mellen took eagerly from her hand. + +"Yes," he said. "I can see a woman in the boat--it is Elsie." + +His face was all aglow with brotherly love; a sweet expectation kept him +restless. He walked up and down the porch talking of his sister, asking +a thousand trivial questions, and complaining of the slowness of the +little boat. + +Elizabeth stood leaning against one of the pillars, her eyes shaded with +her hand, looking over the bright waters. The tranquillity and bloom +faded out of her countenance, while her husband talked so eagerly of his +desire to see the child--as he called her. Sometimes her face grew +almost hard and stern, as if she could not endure that even this beloved +sister should come between her heart and his in the first hours of their +reunion. + +The little sail-boat flew swiftly on before the wind--drawing nearer and +nearer each instant--they could distinctly see the young girl half lying +back in the stern, allowing her hand to fall in the water with an +indolent enjoyment of the scene. + +She saw them at last, fluttered her handkerchief in the air by way of a +signal, and after that they could see how full of eager impatience she +was. Every instant her handkerchief fluttered out, and when the wind +took that, she unwound an azure scarf from her neck and flung it on the +breeze. + +When the boat neared the landing, Mr. Mellen ran across the lawn and +received his sister in his arms as she sprang on shore. + +Standing on the portico where he had left her, Elizabeth regarded the +pair; she heard Elsie's eager exclamation of joy--her husband's deep +voice--then the two blended in confused and eager conversation. An +absolute spasm of pain contracted the wife's features; her eyes dilated, +and a moan broke from her lips. + +"He loves her so! he loves her so! He will believe anything she says," +muttered Elizabeth in a tone which trembled with passionate emotions. + +The sound of her own voice seemed to recall her recollection and the +necessity of concealing these turbulent feelings. With that power of +self-control which she was striving so hard to strengthen, in order to +bear her life with calmness, she forced her features into repose, and +stood quietly waiting for them to come up. There was nothing in her +appearance now to betray agitation; her pallor seemed only the +reflection of her mauvé draperies, and her lips forced themselves into a +smile. + +"There is Bessie," cried Elsie, coming up the lawn, clinging to her +brother's arm with both hands, and shaking her long curls in the +sunshine, till the sight of her loveliness and grace might have softened +for the time even that heart filled with fear of her sisterly influence, +and jealous of the love which she received with such caressing warmth. + +"Oh, Bessie!" she cried, as they reached the steps, "I am so happy! When +I got the news this morning I felt as if I must fly here directly. Oh, +you darling brother, to come back at all; but you deserve to be punished +for staying away so long!" + +She raised herself on tip-toe to kiss him anew, allowed her bonnet to +fall off, and her curls to trail in bright confusion over her shoulders; +then she flew towards Elizabeth and showered a greeting of warm kisses +on her face. + +"Never mind that dark subject," she whispered; "we'll be happy now in +spite of everything." + +Again that singular look passed over Elizabeth Mellen's face; she +listened and endured rather than returned the young girl's caress, but +Mr. Mellen was watching his sister and did not observe it. + +"And isn't he brown?" cried Elsie, rushing over to her brother again; +"he looks like an Indian, don't he, Bess? Oh, you bad, bad boy, to stay +so long." + +Thus Elsie laughed and talked incessantly, begun a dozen sentences +without finishing one of them, and was so demonstrative in her +expressions of affection to both, so lovely in her youth and brilliant +happiness, that it was no wonder her brother regarded her with that +proud look; it seemed almost impossible that Elizabeth herself could +help being won into happiness by her caressing ways. + +"You'll never go away again--shall he, Bess? But isn't it luncheon-time? +I could eat no breakfast for joy, but I do think I am hungry now." + +Mr. Mellen laughed, and Elsie went on again. + +"Oh, Grantley, I saw Dolf on the steamboat; he is coming over with your +luggage. The ridiculous creature has more airs than ever. I wish you had +forced him to come ashore in the pilot-boat, it would have been such +fun, when he got among the breakers; but, oh dear! how frightened I was, +hearing how near you were to getting in. It makes, me feel pale now!" + +Here Elsie gathered up her bonnet and shawl, tossed her curls back, +kissed her brother again, and ran, off, saying: + +"I must go upstairs and brush my hair. Do come, Bessie; I never can do +it myself." + +"I must go and see what the servants are doing," Elizabeth said. + +"Nonsense! Come with me." + +Elsie caught her sister-in-law about the waist, waltzed away towards the +stairs and forced her to ascend, while Mr. Mellen stood looking after +them with a pleasant smile on his lips. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +SUNSHINE AND STORMS. + + +When they reached Elsie's room the girl drew Elizabeth in and closed the +door. Mrs. Mellen sank wearily into a seat, as if glad to escape from +the restraint she had been putting upon herself all that day. + +"Your note frightened me so!" cried Elsie. "It was wicked of you to +write like that." + +"He came upon me so suddenly," gasped Elizabeth. "I was out in the +grounds in the rain--I had gone to--" + +"And Grantley came upon you there?" interrupted Elsie. "What did you +do? what did you do?" + +"I fainted in the end." + +"Good heavens!" + +"Oh, you would have been worse in my place," returned Elizabeth. "It was +so sudden; how could I tell what he had seen?" + +"But you are yourself now. You will not give way again?" + +"I must not," said Elizabeth drearily. "I must bear up now." + +"Don't talk in that dreadful voice," shivered Elsie; "it sounds as if +you were dying. I thought you had more courage. Don't be afraid of me; +if he held a bowl of poison to my lips I wouldn't tell." + +"Oh, Elsie, what would death be compared to the agony of discovery?" + +"Do stop!" pleaded Elsie, pressing both rosy little palms to her ears, +with a piteous, shrinking movement. "We mustn't talk. I won't talk, I +tell you! I can put everything out of my head if you will only let me; +but if you look and talk like that I shall give way. Why can't you try +and forget it? I will. Be sure of that!" + +Elizabeth rose from her seat; a wan, hopeless look came over her face. + +"You are right; let us be silent. But, oh, if I only could forget--but I +can't, Elsie--I can't! The thought is with me day and night. The +dread--the fear!" + +"Be still!" shrieked Elsie, breaking into a passion of which no one +would have believed her capable, and stamping her foot upon the carpet. +"You'll drive me mad. I shall go into spasms, and then who knows what +may happen! I won't promise not to speak if you drive me crazy." + +All the youthful brilliancy was frightened out of her face, her lips +turned blue, her whole frame shook so violently that Elizabeth saw +absolute danger unless the girl were soothed back to calmness. + +"I won't torment you any more, Elsie," she said. "I'll bear it +alone--I'll bear it alone." + +"One can always forget if one is determined," said Elsie; "but you +won't--you will brood over things----" + +"I shall be more myself, now," interrupted Elizabeth. "It was from +seeing Grantley so unexpectedly, just when I was waiting for----" + +"Be still!" interrupted Elsie, sharply. "I won't hear that--I won't hear +anything; you shall not force unpleasant things upon me." + +The sister and the sister-in-law stood opposite each other, oppressed by +the same secret, but bearing it so differently. Elsie's share seemed to +be only a burdensome knowledge of some mystery; no evil seemed to +threaten her in its discovery, but deep sympathy appeared to have broken +through her careless nature, moulding it into something grand. She was +the first to recover from the cold, shivering distress which had come +over both; the volatile, impressible creature could not dwell long +enough upon one subject, however painful it might be, to produce the +effect which even slight trouble had upon a character like Elizabeth's. + +"You look like a ghost," she cried, in sudden irritation. "It is cruel, +Bessie, to frighten me in this way. You know what a weak, nervous little +thing I am. It is wicked of you!" + +Elizabeth turned slowly towards the door. + +"Be at peace, if you can," she said; "I will trouble you no more." + +"Now you are angry!" cried Elsie. + +"No, dear, not angry." + +"Kiss me, then, and make up," said Elsie, with a return of childish +playfulness. "I'll help you all I can, but you mustn't put too much on +me; you know I'm not strong, like you." + +Elizabeth trembled under the touch of those fresh young lips, but she +answered, patiently: + +"I will bear up alone; don't think about it." + +"Oh, I shouldn't," cried Elsie, frankly, "only you make me." + +Elizabeth looked at her in astonishment. + +"You needn't stare so," said Elsie, in an injured tone; "I know I am not +a deep, strong character, like you. But let me rest--let me enjoy my +little mite of sunshine!" + +"I will not overshadow it," Elizabeth answered, "be certain of that. +But, oh, Elsie, it's so dreadful to bear this constant fear! If Grantley +should find out anything--he is so suspicious----" + +"There you go again!" broke in Elsie. "I vow I wont live in the house +with you if you act in this way! Just as one is getting a little +comfortable you begin all this again. I can't stand it; and I won't." + +Elizabeth did not reply. She looked at Elsie again with a mingled +expression of astonishment and fear; but a strange sort of pity softened +the glance. + +"There shall be no more of it, Elsie," she said, after a long silence, +during which Elsie had shivered herself quiet once more. "I ought to +have borne this trouble alone from the first." + +"That's a nice darling!" cried Elsie. "Nothing will happen, I am sure of +it. Just hope for the best; look at everything as settled and over with. +Things don't keep coming up to one as they do in a novel." + +Elizabeth said no more, she stood leaning against the window frame and +watched Elsie as she arranged her ringlets before the glass, and called +back the brilliant smiles which softened her face into something so +youthful and pretty. Then they heard a voice from below, which made them +both start. + +"It's Grantley," said Elsie. "It sounds so odd to hear his voice! Open +the door, Bessie; I am ready." + +She ran to the head of the stairs, while Elizabeth followed slowly. + +"Are you calling, Grant?" demanded Elsie, looking down at him as he +stood at the foot of the stairs. + +"Calling! I should think so! Are you both going to stay up there for +ever? Dinner is ready." + +"And so are we," cried Elsie, "and coming, Mr. Impatience." + +Downstairs she tripped, humming a tune and making a little spring into +her brother's arms when she reached the lower step. + +She was such a dainty little thing, so light and graceful in all her +movements, with such childish ways, such power of persuasion and +coquetry, so light-hearted and frivolous, that it was quite impossible +not to love her and treat her as if she were some blithe fairy, that +would be frightened out of sight by a harsh word or look. + +She was just one of those creatures whom everybody fondles and pets, who +have sacrifices made for them which they are never capable of +appreciating. The loves and fears and hates of these flimsy creatures +are shallow and transient, though capable of leading them to great +lengths during their first fever; creatures whom we miss as we do +sunshine and flowers, or any other pretty thing; for they seem born to +feed upon the froth and honey-dew of life, and from that very fact take +with them, even towards middle age, a fund of light-heartedness and +joyous spirits, which is, in some sort, a return for the demands they +make upon others. + +It seemed hard that a creature like this should have her youth burdened +with any secret; it was scarcely wonderful that she grew impatient and +spoke harshly to Elizabeth when she insisted upon forcing trouble on her +mind, which left to itself she was able, out of the very shallowness of +her nature, to throw aside so completely. + +Wrong and cruel it seemed in Elizabeth to burden her thus--she should +have kept Elsie aloof from all domestic mysteries, whatever they might +be, and have borne her sorrow, her fears, perhaps her remorse, alone. It +was not easy to tell from her face or her words all that lay back of her +half-uttered despair. But she should have endured in silence things to +be held as far away from Elsie's joyousness and Elsie's youth as the +deep undercurrent of her character was apart from the bird-like +blitheness which made the girl so pleasant. Thus the world would have +judged had they seen these women standing there together. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +COURTSHIP IN THE KITCHEN. + + +While they were still seated at the luncheon-table the door opened, and +Dolf came in with a flourish of bows to report his return to the master. + +"So, there you are, Dolf," said Mr. Mellen, carelessly. "Did you lose +half the letters I gave you to deliver?" + +Dolf drew himself up with a great deal of dignity. + +"Master knows I'se trusty as Solomon's seal," he said. "De'pistles is +safe in de honorable hands for which dey was originally intended." + +"I'm glad they went off at the right moment," said Elsie, laughing. + +Dolf rather missed her play upon his mispronunciation of the word, but +he gave another magnificent flourish. + +"Jes so, Miss Elsie; you've 'spressed it beautiful." + +"How do you do, Dolf?" asked Mrs. Mellen, kindly, rousing herself from +the abstraction into which she had fallen while Elsie and her brother +had been chatting together. "Are you glad to get back?" + +"I'se ebery reason to be satisfactory with my health, and am much +'bliged by de 'quiry," replied 'Dolf, with a bow so profound that it +seemed by a miracle he recovered his balance, "I'se bery glad to see de +ole place again, Miss Mellen, and de faces of yerself and young Miss +Elsie is like de sunshine to me." + +"Bless me, Dolf," cried Elsie, "that's poetry." + +Dolf gave a deprecatory wave of the hand, as if the poetry had been +unavoidable, and a smile which insinuated that he was capable of still +higher flights of fancy, as he said: + +"Mebbe, mebbe, Miss Elsie--I didn't reserve partic'lar--dese tings takes +a pusson onawares mostly." + +"Now, Dolf," said his master, "try and put my things in some sort of +order before the day is over." + +"Yes, marster; ebery ting dat's wanting shall be toppermost." + +Elsie laughed unrestrainedly, but Dolf only took that as a compliment, +and was immensely satisfied with the impression he had produced. + +"Don't get up another flirtation with the cook," she said; "she is old +enough to be your mother, so old that she's growing rich with hoarding, +Dolf." + +Dolf bowed himself out of the room with much ceremony, and took his way +straight towards the lower regions. His brain had always formed numerous +projects on the strength of Clorinda's wealth, and he felt it incumbent +upon him to have an interview as soon as possible with this elderly +heiress. + +He came upon her in the kitchen hall; she was walking upright as a +ramrod with a large tin dish-pan in her hands, and looking forbidding as +if she had been the eldest daughter of Erebus. + +"Dat's de time o' day," thought Dolf; "she is parsimmony just now and no +mistake, but here goes for de power of 'suasion." + +He made her a bow which flattered the sable spinster into a broad smile, +and almost made her drop the dish-pan, in the flutter of her delight. + +"Dolf, Dolf, am dat you?" she exclaimed, growing a shade darker. + +"Permit me," said Dolf, gracefully, taking the pan from her hand; "it's +my expressive delight to serve de fair, and I'se most happy, through dis +instrumentation, to renew your honorable acquaintance." + +He followed this up with another tremendous bow; Clorinda thought it +quite time that she should make a show of high breeding likewise. She +gave her body a bend and a duck, but unfortunately, Dolf was bowing at +the same moment, and their heads met with a loud concussion. + +A wild giggle from the kitchen door completed Dolf's confusion. He +looked that way, and there stood Victoria, the chambermaid, now a spruce +mulatto of eighteen, enjoying Clorinda's discomfiture. + +"De fault was mine," cried Dolf, in his gallantry; "all mine, so dat +imperent yaller gal need'n larf herself quite to death." + +"Imperent yaller gal? am no more yaller den yer is," answered Vic. + +"Any how yer needn't stand dar a grinning like a monkey, Vic," exclaimed +Clorinda, in wrath. + +"Accidents will recur," said Dolf. "But, laws, Miss Victory, is dat you? +I had de pleasure of yer 'quaintance afore me and marster started on our +trabels." + +"I've been alone here eber since," explained Victoria, not proof against +his fascinations. "I'm sure yer haint altered a bit, Mr. Dolf." + +"I guess if yer don't go upstairs miss'll know why," cried Clorinda, +sharply. "Jes give me dat pan, Mr. Dolf; I kint wait all day for you to +empty it." + +Dolf was recalled to wisdom at once--he could not afford to make a +misstep on the very day of his return. He emptied the pan, followed +Clorinda into the kitchen, making a sign of farewell to Vic which the +old maid did not observe. Once in Clorinda's own dominion, the darkey so +improved the impression already produced that he was soon discussing a +delicate luncheon with great relish, and so disturbing Clorinda's +equanimity by his compliments, that she greatly endangered the pie-crust +she was industriously rolling out on one end of the table where he sat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE DEAD SECRET. + + +The morning after Elsie's return Grantley Mellen mounted his horse, and +rode off towards the shore tavern, a sad and heavy-hearted man. The +woman whom he had loved so devotedly with the first passion of his +youth, lay in that little chamber waiting for burial. Where destined +when she met her fate, or how much she suffered, he could only guess. +But there she was, after years of separation, thrown upon his charity +even for a grave, with no one to mourn her death, no one to care how or +where she was buried. He had not mentioned her to his wife or sister, an +aching memory at heart forbade that, but underneath the joy of his +return home lay this dead secret, haunting him with funereal shadows. + +The woman was in her coffin when he entered the little chamber, which +was now so desolately clean; for he had given orders regarding her +interment before leaving the house that stormy night, and they had been +well obeyed. A veil of delicate gauze covered the face, softening it +into singular loveliness. Mellen did not lift this veil, which +neutralised the coldness of death so beautifully, but his breast heaved +with a farewell sigh, while tears blinded his last look, which carried +deep and eternal forgiveness with it. + +A noise in the next room disturbed him. He turned hastily, and went down +stairs, shrinking from observation. + +Scarcely had Mellen disappeared when the door which connected the death +chamber with a small inner room was pushed open, and a pale, wild face +looked in. It was that of North; after a quick survey of the room, he +darted towards the door leading to the stairs and shot the bolt. Then he +went up to the coffin, flung back the gauze from that marble face, and +looked down upon it. Those black eyes burned too hotly for tears, but +the raven beard trembled about his mouth, his hand was clenched, the +burning consciousness of a great crime was upon him, and he felt it in +every nerve and pulse of his system. If North had ever loved this woman, +all the force of that passion came back upon his soul now in an agony of +remorse. As he gazed, his hand released its iron grip, his strong limbs +shook like reeds, and flinging himself down by the coffin he cursed +himself, his crime, and that living woman for whose sake it had been +committed. + +They were coming upstairs. He heard the heavy blundering footsteps of +two men, and knew what they were after. Creeping softly to the door he +drew the bolt back with intense caution, and stealing into the little +chamber, fell upon the floor and held his breath, listening. + +He heard the coffin-lid closed; the slow turning of the screws; a sudden +jar, and then the footsteps again, broken and disturbed by the mournful +burden those two men carried. Then all was still for a moment, and up +through the passage, vibrating like electricity through that evil soul, +came the sound of a clear, solemn voice, reading the burial service. + +Still he listened, with his head lifted from the floor, and supporting +himself by one arm like a worn-out gladiator. A sort of terror had +seized upon him with the sweet low sound of that voice. Great drops +gathered upon his forehead and grew cold there. He was like an evil +spirit looking through the gates of Paradise. Then came another pause, +followed by the slow roll of wheels and the tramp of horses. North +leaped to his feet, and threw up the window. A hearse was moving heavily +down the street, and close behind it rode Grantley Mellen, alone. + +Near the Piney Cove mansion was an ancient burying-ground, with the +graves of many generations crowded around a little stone church, which +rose up in solemn stillness among a grove of cypress trees and wild +cedars. In one of the sunniest corners of the ground a grave was dug, +and a pile of blossoming turf was laid ready to cover that hapless woman +in her place of rest. While the men performed their sad work, Mellen +stood by, with his head bared reverentially, and the heart in his bosom +standing still. When he turned away it was with a deep, solemn sigh of +relief. The bitterness and the pain of his first love was buried +forever. Henceforth Elizabeth would have no rival, even in his memory. + +Mellen went home a calmer and a better man, after laying his lost one +down in her grave. Hitherto her memory had been an aching bitterness, +but with death came forgiveness, and out of that his spirit arose +chastened, gentle and tending towards a healthy cheerfulness. + +Elizabeth was too deeply observant not to remark the softened +seriousness of her husband's manner when he came home that day, but +every look of tenderness that he gave her was a pang, and smote her +worse than reproaches. Could the wife who deceived her husband find joy +in the confidence which was but a mockery of her deceit. Many times +during those few days Elizabeth wished that her husband would be harsh +and cruel again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +TOM FULLER'S LETTER. + + +As they were sitting at dinner the next day, Mellen inquired about +Fuller. + +"I have quite forgotten to ask you about Tom," he said; "he was in +France when you last wrote to me." + +"He has not come yet," Elizabeth replied; "the house in which he was +employed, concluded to keep him at Bordeaux for a time; in his last +letter he wrote that he might be gone another year." + +"Poor old Tom," Elsie said, laughingly. + +Elizabeth's brows contracted a little; she had never been able entirely +to forget the suffering this girl had caused the young man. Whenever she +heard her mention his name in that trifling way, it jarred upon her +feelings and irritated her greatly. + +"Bessie doesn't like any one to laugh at Tom," said Mellen, noticing the +expression of her face. + +"I confess I do not," she replied; "he is such a noble fellow at the +bottom, with an honest, kindly heart, and it seems to me that no one +really acquainted with Tom can help respecting him, in spite of his +eccentricities." + +"But you need not be so heroic, Bessie," returned Elsie; "Tom always +allowed me to laugh at him as much as I pleased; you know I don't mean +to be ill-natured." + +"No one would ever suspect you of that, Birdie," added Mellen, with a +fond glance. + +Elizabeth said nothing more, and the conversation "We shall have the +house crowded with visitors, I suppose," Elsie said; "Mary Harrington +told me she should only give us one day for family affection--" + +"I hope she won't come to stay any time just yet," said Elizabeth. + +"I hope so, too," added Mellen; "I should like a little enjoyment of my +home, if possible, for a week or two at least." + +"But people will come," said Elsie; "you must expect it. They look for +all sorts of invitations, and you must give them or mortally offend +everybody." + +Perhaps the idea of the gayety that would ensue was not unpleasant to +Elsie, in spite of her joy at Mellen's return; it was quite natural at +her age, and to her character, which drooped in solitude like a flower +deprived of the sun. + +"Oh," said Mellen, "we will give them as many dinners and parties as +they like, provided they won't domicile themselves with us, Elizabeth." + +"Yes; I don't mind that so much." + +"Shall you take a house in town, Grant?" asked Elsie. + +"Do you particularly wish it?" + +"Oh, it would be pleasant, of course." + +"Just as you and Elizabeth choose," he said. + +"For my part I would rather stay here," exclaimed Elizabeth. + +"And so would I," said Mellen. + +Elsie looked a little disappointed, but she concealed the feeling with +her usual quickness. + +"I have not told you what Doctor Peters said," she continued. + +"What?" her brother asked, anxious at once. + +"He thinks the sea air too strong for me in the winter; but, I dare say, +it is only his fancy; I would not have either you or Elizabeth disturbed +on my account." + +"My dear child," cried Mellen, "that settles the matter at once; we will +certainly go away from here before the cold weather comes; any where you +like; Bessie will gladly give up Piney Cove, I'm sure." + +"Certainly," answered the wife, quietly. + +Elsie looked triumphant; she was always elated at having her own way, +whether the thing was of importance or not. + +"We need not think about it now," she said, demurely; "it will be warm +and pleasant for several weeks yet." + +"But you must be careful," returned Mellen, "dear child; I cannot reach +home safely only to see your health give way." + +"Oh, nonsense, Grant, don't begin to fidget! I am ever so well; make him +believe it, Bessie." + +"I think so," Bessie replied; "you are stronger than you look." + +"Elsie requires great care," said Mellen, decidedly. + +Elsie did not look displeased; she liked being considered weak and +delicate; it made her more petted and at liberty to indulge her +numberless caprices in the most interesting manner. + +The family had that evening entirely to themselves, and it passed off +very pleasantly. Elizabeth and Elsie joined in the old songs Mellen +loved, and they all talked and laughed gaily, forgetful of the clouds +that lowered above that house. + +The next morning when the family met in the breakfast-room the post had +arrived, and Dolf presented Elsie and Elizabeth with several letters; +only the journals were left for Mellen, and he said, laughingly: + +"The division is not just--Bessie having two letters; you might give me +one." + +"I'm too selfish," she answered. + +"Mine is from Mary Harrington," observed Elsie. "Bess, you shall not +read yours till you have given us our coffee. I'll just see what the +widow says." + +Elizabeth poured out the coffee while Elsie opened her note. + +"She is coming to-day," she exclaimed; "I told you so. She sends all +sorts of messages to you, Grant; calls you a god-like, wonderful +creature, and is dying to see you." + +"Oh, of course," said Mellen. + +"She asks after Mr. Rhodes, Bessie--poor old fellow--she has quite +turned his head." + +"What is that?" asked Mellen. + +So Elsie explained how the widow delighted in worrying Miss Jemima, had +made desperate love to the stout man on every occasion; and in laughing +at her quaint speeches Elizabeth quite forgot her own epistles. + +"Why, where are your letters?" asked Elsie. + +"I forgot them," returned Elizabeth, drawing them from under her plate, +and adding as she glanced at the superscription of the upper one, "it is +only from the dressmaker." + +Elsie snatched the other, and cried out: + +"Why, this is from Tom Fuller; oh, see what it says." + +"From Tom? oh, I am so glad; I have been expecting a letter for a week +past." + +Elizabeth took the letter, and her face lighted up joyously as she broke +the seal and began to read. + +"Well," said Elsie, impatiently, "what does he say? read it out." + +Elizabeth uttered an exclamation of delight. + +"Oh, you provoking creature," cried Elsie, "do tell us what it is?" + +"Tom must have found a diamond mine," said Mellen. + +"He has," returned Elizabeth. + +"Bless me," said Elsie, "will he go about covered with diamonds?" + +"His old uncle has left him a fortune," explained Elizabeth. + +Elsie fairly screamed, and clapped her little hands with graceful fury. + +"Who would have thought it! Only fancy Tom Fuller rich! Why he'll be +robbed every day of his life." + +"How much is it?" asked Mellen. "I am very glad. Tom is a good fellow +and deserves it." + +He had entirely got over any suspicion that Elizabeth might ever have +cared for her cousin, and was prepared to rejoice in Tom's good fortune. + +"How much--how much?" broke in Elsie. + +"Thirty thousand a year," replied Elizabeth; "Tom is in a state of +bewilderment that makes his letter sadly incoherent; he never expected a +penny; his uncle changed his will at the last moment." + +"But wasn't he your uncle, too?" asked Elsie. + +"No; he was aunt Fuller's brother." + +"Oh, do let me see the letter," said Elsie. + +Elizabeth gave it to her, but between excitement and his usual odd +penmanship Tom's epistle was quite a puzzle to unpractised eyes, and +Elsie went into shrieks over it. + +"He promised to bring me a bracelet," said she, "diamonds it shall be +now. If he brings anything less I'll send him straight back." + +"But when is he coming?" Mellen asked. + +"I can't make out," said Elsie; "here is something at the end about I +shall burn--no return--at the--the--can that be Millennium?" + +"Scarcely, I should think," said Mellen, laughingly. + +"Try and make it out, Bess," said Elsie, giving her the letter. + +Elizabeth took it, examined the lines to which she pointed, and after a +moment's study read it correctly. + +"I shall return by the Hammonia." + +"Why that's due now," said Elsie. + +Elizabeth glanced at the date. + +"The letter has been delayed," she said; "he may be here already." + +"Oh, it will be beautiful to see him," said Elsie; "why, he will give +all he is worth to the person that asks first. Won't it be fun!" + +"You shall not tease him, Elsie, as you formerly did," said Elizabeth; +"I will not have it." + +"But I will," said Elsie. "Thirty thousand a year! Good gracious, it +will seem as if he had fallen from the moon. Of course I'll tease him +half to death." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE WIDOW'S FASCINATIONS. + + +About midday Mrs. Harrington arrived with a little party of friends; she +would not allow Mellen to escape her till she had overwhelmed him with +compliments and congratulations, all of which he received with becoming +resignation. When they went upstairs she said to Elsie: + +"I haven't seen anything of that mysterious creature, North, in an age; +what can have become of him?" + +"Horrid creature," cried Elsie, "don't mention his name! Now, Mary +Harrington, don't forget for once in your life! If Grant knew that we +had even one visit from a stranger he would be furious; if you let it +out neither Elizabeth or I will ever speak to you again." + +"My dear, I won't open my lips." + +"Mind you don't, that's all; if you do, I'll be even with you, as sure +as my name is Elsie." + +"You need not be so ferocious." + +"Oh, I hate to be scolded, and Grant would be dreadfully angry! I +promised Bessie I would warn you, so be sure and remember." + +"I'll swear it if you like." + +"Bless me, don't be tragic! The matter is of no consequence to me, only +Bess makes such a point of it; besides that, I dread to see Grant +angry." + +"He never could be angry with you," said Mrs. Harrington. + +"Well, it would be just as bad if he scolded her." + +"How good you are!" cried the widow. "You are just the dearest thing in +the world." + +"Of course I am; but there's no use in standing here to say pretty +things to each other, for there is no one to hear." + +"Oh, you odd creature!" laughed Mrs. Harrington. "But, really, that man +was the strangest, fascinating person--" + +"There you go!" interrupted Elsie angrily. + +"My dear, there is no one in the room but ourselves." + +"I don't care if there is not; I don't want to hear that man's name." + +"I can't see why you dislike him so," pursued the widow. "It always +seemed to me that he and Elizabeth treated each other oddly--" + +Elsie interrupted her, quite pale with anger. + +"Mary Harrington," said she, "if you and I are to remain friends, stop +this instant. I won't hear another word, nor must the subject come up +again." + +Mrs. Harrington was quite subdued by her friend's vehemence, and dropped +the matter without another allusion to the forbidden subject. + +When they went downstairs after the rest of the party were assembled, +Mellen began laughing at the widow about the conquest she had made of +Mr. Rhodes. + +"Isn't it delicious?" she cried. "I just want you to see us together--it +is better than a play." + +"And Jemima's spite is something to witness," added Elsie. "I know she +will poison you yet, Mary Harrington." + +"I am on the watch constantly," replied the widow. "I don't even engage +a strange servant now for fear it should be one of the old maid's secret +emissaries." + +"You are as badly off as the Duke of Buckingham," said Mellen, laughing +at Mrs. Harrington's pretended distress. + +"It is dreadful, I assure you," she said, shaking her plumage of lace +and gauze; "but it is very amusing, nevertheless." + +"Of course, if you can annoy somebody," answered Mellen; "that is the +very acme of female happiness." + +"Oh, you barbarous creature!" cried the widow. "Ain't you ashamed to +utter such atrocious sentiments! Mrs. Mellen, your husband has come back +a perfect savage." + +Everybody laughed--it never occurred to the widow it could be at her own +airs and affectations, which were a very clumsy imitation of Elsie's +childish grace; she was too thoroughly satisfied with her own powers of +fascination to suppose it possible, even for an instant, that she could +become a subject of amusement. + +"After all, it is tiresome to inspire a _grande passion_," said she, +with a theatrical drawl. + +"No woman ought to be better able to decide," cried Elsie; "you have +made enough in all conscience." + +"Oh, dear, no!" said the widow. + +"Don't deny it," said Elsie, who never scrupled to make sport of her +most intimate friends, and with all her fondness for Mrs. Harrington was +always leading her on to do and say the most absurd things. + +Elsie was in the most extravagant spirits, and had been ever since her +brother's return. She flitted about the house like a beautiful elf, and +Elizabeth could see that Mellen watched her every movement, his face +kindling with affection and each look a caress. + +"He has not changed," she thought, sadly; "all his tender words to me +came only from the first pleasure of finding himself at home." + +Then she began to shudder, as she often did now when the icy chill of +some stern thought crept over her. + +"Better so," she muttered; "what should I do with love and +affection--what right have I to expect them from him or any one on +earth. Is not my whole life a lie." + +But she banished these reflections quickly, determined to have at least +a few days of perfect freedom from anxieties, a little season of peace +and rest, in which her tired soul might restore its strength, like a +seabird reposing on the sunlit bosom of some inland lake after the +exhaustion of a long and perilous flight amid storms and tempests. + +Mellen, too, had laid by the suspicions which the strange circumstances +connected with his return had caused, and appeared, as he could always, +when so disposed, the most charming host possible. + +Elizabeth sunned her heart in the smile which lighted up his face +whenever their eyes met, and kept the dark shadows resolutely aloof from +her mind. She was determined to be happy in spite of fate. + +"Peace and rest!" she murmured. "I need them so much. I will have them +at any cost." + +The day passed as such days usually do, when all parties are amused; and +though the conversation might not have been such as altogether suited +the intellectual tastes of Mellen and his wife, they were too well-bred +for any expression of distaste, and Elsie made even nonsense charming by +her brilliant sallies and buoyant spirits. + +The widow had not forgotten her old ambition to fascinate Mellen, and +her efforts were highly amusing to the lookers-on. She was in doubt +whether he preferred the queenly manner and repose of Elizabeth or the +arch grace and exuberant gayety of his sister, and attempted airs which +she considered a happy medium between the two, and a most fortunate +result followed. Her efforts to support the double character delighted +Elsie immensely, who, with the usual good-nature of intimate friends, +made as much sport of her before her very face as she dared to venture +on in Mellen's presence. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE HEIR COMES HOME. + + +They were all assembled in the library before dinner, tired with +laughing and roaming about, tired of rowing over the sunny waters, and +glad to rest a little before the important business of dining should +commence. + +Suddenly there was a bustle in the hall, followed by a loud good-natured +voice that made Elizabeth start to her feet. + +"It's my cousin Tom," she cried. "Grantley, Tom Fuller has come." + +She rushed into the hall, and sure enough, there stood her cousin; +sunburned, a little thin from sea-sickness, but the same droll old Tom +as ever. + +He caught Elizabeth in his arms and uttered his first incoherent +expressions of delight when Mellen came up, and Tom commenced shaking +his two hands with immense energy, as if they had been pump handles, and +nothing but the greatest exertion on his part could save the ship. + +"I'm so glad to see you!" he cried. "I'm so glad to get back. I declare +I can't say a word." + +"And I'm glad; very, very glad," replied Elizabeth. + +"And we congratulate you heartily on your new fortune," said the widow, +joining in and extending both hands. + +"Oh, don't speak of it," cried Tom; "it's no end of a bother to me +already. God bless you, I don't know what to do with it! How--how is +your sister?" he stammered, addressing Mellen with desperate energy; for +Elsie's name came up from his heart with a jerk. + +"She is quite well," Mellen answered, "and will be charmed to see you; +we were expecting you." + +"That's nice of you. So you've only just got back! Well, it's good to +get home, isn't it? that is, if I had any home--but it's dreary for a +solitary chap like me, now isn't it?" + +"This house will always seem like home to you, I hope," said Mellen, +kindly. + +"Always," added Elizabeth; "don't forget that, Tom." + +"You're too good to me," cried the soft-hearted fellow; "you always +were!" + +"Of course they were," said a laughing voice, that made Tom start, and +appeared to take every particle of strength out of his limbs. + +Elsie suddenly appeared before Tom in her brilliant evening dress and +cloud-like loveliness, reducing him to a pitiable state at once. + +"Don't you intend to speak to me?" pursued Elsie. + +"Of--of course!" said Tom. "I'm so glad to see you--will you shake +hands--will you--be--be glad to see me?" + +"There is my hand," replied Elsie; "the pleasure depends on how +agreeable you make yourself. I suppose you have come back with such fine +foreign manners that you will hardly deign to notice us poor plain +untravelled people." + +"Oh, you don't think that!" said Tom. "You are laughing at me just as +usual." + +"Did you bring me my bracelet?" demanded Elsie. + +"Indeed I did; I'd have brought all Paris if I had thought it would +please you." + +Elizabeth now plainly thought poor Tom had returned no wiser than when +he went away; but Mellen, man-like, never perceived the state in which +Elsie's fascinations had thrown the honest fellow, and would not have +thought seriously of the matter if he had. + +"Of course you speak French like a native--Iroquois, I mean," pursued +the pitiless Elsie. + +"Just about," replied Tom, as ready as ever to laugh at his own +blunders. + +"So you did not forget the bracelet?" urged Elsie. + +"Indeed I did not; it's in my carpet-bag." + +"Then I will be good natured to you all the evening," said she, "and +won't tease you the least mite." + +Tom was quite in ecstasies at the prospect; but Mellen said: + +"She can't keep her promise, no matter how hard she tries--don't trust +her, Fuller." + +Elsie made a gesture of playful menace and carried Tom off into the +drawing-room, quite regardless of the fact that Elizabeth had, as yet, +found hardly an opportunity of speaking to him. + +Mrs. Harrington was excessively cordial to the new comer; as a poor man +she had always liked Tom for his extreme good-nature and willingness to +wait on her caprices to any extent; but now that he made his appearance +in the character of a semi-millionaire, it was perfectly natural that +she should look upon him in a totally different light, being of the +world, worldly. + +Tom's awkwardness would only be a pleasant eccentricity now; his +unfortunate taste in dress must pass readily as the carelessness of +wealth, and all his good qualities, which had been quite overshadowed +during his days of poverty, would now be brought to the foreground with +glowing tints. + +Not that Tom ever thought of this result to his heirship, he was too +unsuspicious even for a thought of the kind. When people bestowed more +interest on him than before, he would only wonder at their kindness and +think what a pleasant world this was after all, and what scores of +good-natured people there were in it, despite of the grumblers and +misanthropes. + +Elsie kept her word; she did not tease Tom in the least, but +deliberately bewildered him with her arts and coquetry--which set +Elizabeth to wondering what her motive could be--but perhaps she had +none at all, and was only obeying the whim of the moment. + +Tom produced the gold humming-bird for Elsie's hair, and a lovely little +ornament it was, with the gorget in its throat composed of emeralds and +rubies, and the long, slender bill and delicate wings formed of the most +beautiful enamel. + +Elsie perched it among her curls and was happy as a child with her new +toy. Nobody in the world was ever so much delighted with novel +ornaments, and few persons ever allowed the gloss to wear off them so +quickly. In all probability she would rave over Tom's gift for a week, +and by that time, if she did not lose it, would break the wings, by way +of amusement, or tear the bill off to make the point of a stiletto, or +ruin it in some other way, just to gratify her caprice, and an odd love +of destruction which was in her very nature. + +Tom Fuller spent the first happy evening he had known for months at +Piney Cove, and he was so deliciously good-natured and noisy in his +pleasure, that he could have supplied any lack of merriment on the part +of the other guests if it had been necessary. But it was not. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE GAUNTLET BRACELETS. + + +No man with any wisdom whatever thinks of returning from a journey +without gladdening all the feminine hearts in his sphere with goodly +presents. Mellen had by no means forgotten his duty in this respect. He +had brought all sorts of curious Chinese ornaments, wonderful pagodas +for glove boxes, scented sandal wood repositories for laces, exquisitely +carved ivory boxes, and such costly trifles, which kept Elsie in perfect +shrieks of delight during the first glow of possession. He had also +brought stores of valuable ornaments which had once belonged to wealthy +Mexican families, their value increased by the quaint, old time setting, +and the romance connected with them; and Elsie consumed hours in +adorning herself with them, laughing at her own fantastic appearance, +and dancing about like a regular Queen Mab. + +Among these presents were a pair of very valuable bracelets, made after +a fashion prevalent in Spain two hundred years ago--you may see such +things even now preserved among the old Castilian grandees, to be kept +through all changes of time and fortune, aired on festive occasions +only, and at last, if parted with at all, left in a fit of devotion +before some Catholic shrine, as a bribe for some Heavenly privilege. + +When Louis XIV. was a youth and in love with Marie Mencini, he once +offended her mortally by bestowing a similar bracelet upon a young +stranger at the court. I dare wager it required a whole set of jewels to +put the haughty Marie in good humor and satisfy her Italian cupidity. + +These bracelets Mellen brought with him, and gave one to his wife, the +other to Elsie. They were made of a gauntlet-shaped piece of gold, +widening at the back of the wrist, and covered with delicate chasing; +the gold was so fine and pure that they were supple as a bit of kid. A +double row of pearls and emeralds ran about the edge, and the clasps +were of large diamonds, arranged in the shape of a shield. + +The jewels were exceeding valuable, though to anybody possessing the +least fancy, that made their least charm; they were ornaments that had +undoubtedly owned a history, and one might have woven a thousand +romances concerning the lives of those who had once worn them--that is, +one who is not ashamed of being a dreamer in this rushing, practical +age. + +These were the last gifts Mellen displayed, and they certainly made a +very splendid climax to the costly exhibition. + +As I said, the first fortnight passed off delightfully, then the +visitors departed, and there were a few days of quiet. The Mellens +renewed the gayeties then by giving a dinner-party to several families +in the neighborhood to whom they owed civility. + +"They are stupid people to be sure," Elsie observed, "but then it's a +little change from our own special dullness, and we have been alone for +three days." + +"You are such a foolish child!" returned Mellen. + +"Oh, that's all very well," laughed Elsie; "but I don't wish to make a +female Robinson Crusoe of myself, I do assure you. Bessie, old Mrs. +Thompson will wear that wonderful new head-dress, and her son will ask +me to sing and be so scarlet and fluttered when I look at him. Yes, yes, +there is some fun to be got out of a dinner-party." + +She mimicked the expected guests in turn, and did it so cleverly that +her companions were both obliged to laugh, so everybody prepared for the +infliction of a country dinner in the best possible spirits. It was +rather stupid to be sure, but Elsie so lighted up the room with her +radiance, and Elizabeth was so pleasant a hostess in her stately beauty, +that everything passed off tolerably, and even the most common-place of +the party brightened up a little under the influence of their hosts. + +The ladies had risen from the table, giving the gentlemen an opportunity +to enjoy their cigars in comfort, and were passing through the hall +towards the drawing-room. + +The moon shone broad and full through the windows of the hall, and +somebody remarked on the beauty of the night. Elsie darted away and +flung open the hall door. + +"You will get cold; don't stand there," said Elizabeth. + +Elsie danced out upon the portico in playful defiance of her sister, and +the other ladies went after her, expostulating with true feminine +eagerness. + +As Elsie ran away to the other end of the veranda something fell upon +the stones with a ringing noise, followed by a little shriek which she +uttered in starting back. + +"What is the matter?" called out several voices, but before they reached +her Elsie stooped, picked something up and ran towards them. + +"I dropped my brooch," she said; "come in. Elizabeth was right. I am +chilled through and through." + +She drove them playfully before her, and they all entered the parlors +laughing gayly--all but Elizabeth. It was a trifling thing to disturb +any one, and her nerves must have been in a strange state from constant +watchfulness when this little event could move her so greatly. She +leaned against the door-frame quite cold and chill. As Elsie passed her +the girl slipped something in her hand, unperceived by the others. + +Elizabeth stood motionless until they had all gone, then she started +forward with something like desperation, and moved towards the hanging +lamp. She opened her hand and looked down at a slip of paper carefully +folded about a broken bit of iron, as if to give it weight enough to be +thrown with sure aim. She shut her hand quickly as if the sight of the +harmless paper filled her with loathing, conquered the convulsion which +shook her from head to foot, unfolded the note and read the brief lines +it contained. + +Then she tore the paper into fragments and thrust them down into the +hall fire, watching till even the ashes were gone, fearful that a trace +should be left. + +"I must!" she muttered, "I must go--I must not wait!" She looked +eagerly about; the gay laughter of the men rang up from the dining-room; +she could distinguish her husband's voice; through the closed doors of +the parlors came the sound of the piano and a bird-like song, gleeful +and joyous, with which Elsie was amusing the ladies. + +Elizabeth flung her arms aloft with sudden passion. + +"Laughing, singing, all enjoying themselves!" she moaned, "and I here +with this horrible suffering! I must go--I must go!" + +Elizabeth took up a shawl which lay on a chair, opened the outer door +softly, hurried down the steps and disappeared among the trees. + +Mr. Mellen did not give his male guests a very lengthy opportunity to +enjoy their claret and cigars; he had no interest in their talk about +the political affairs of the country, a recent bankruptcy, the price of +corn, or any of the topics which came up, and some time before it might +have been expected, he rose, anxious to counteract the dullness by the +presence of his wife and sister, both of whom he had regarded all the +evening with new tenderness and admiration, as they sat like a couple of +rare birds among all those fussy, ill-dressed women. Elsie was still at +the piano when the gentlemen entered. Mr. Mellen looked about for +Elizabeth, but she was not there. + +"She has not come in yet," said old Mrs. Thompson, in answer to his +inquiry. + +Elsie heard the words--she had ears keen as a little beast of prey. + +"One of the servants stopped her," she called out; "servants always are +stopping her--mine will be better regulated. Come here, Grantley, and +help me in this old song you like so much." + +"In a moment, dear," he replied. + +Mellen left the room, fearing that Elizabeth might be drawn away by a +headache. He had never felt so tenderly solicitous about her. These last +weeks of sunshine had made his proud nature kindly genial. He was +anxious to atone for all his old suspicions and little neglects of her +comfort. + +He was crossing the hall, when the outer door opened, and Elizabeth +entered. She did not observe him, and he saw her in all her unrestrained +emotion. She was deadly white, and rushed in as if seeking escape from +some danger. + +"Elizabeth!" he called out. + +She started as if he had struck her, but she was accustomed now to +controlling herself, and after that first trembling fit, threw off her +shawl and forced her face into composure. + +"Where have you been?" he inquired. + +"Only on the veranda," she said, a little too hurriedly; "I was so tired +and my head ached--I wanted air." + +He looked at her, dissatisfied and suspicious. + +"You might have caught your death," he said; "I wonder at you." + +"It was foolish," she returned, trying to laugh, "but the dinner was so +tedious. Come into the drawing-room." + +She made an effort to speak playfully, as Elsie might have done, but it +was a failure. + +"Your shoes are damp," he exclaimed suddenly; "you have been on the +grass--pray what could take you there?" + +"I--I just ran down the steps--I won't do so again." + +Elsie heard their voices--she always heard everything--and opened the +door. + +"Come in here, you naughty people," she cried, laughing and speaking +lightly, though there was a gleam in her eyes. "Oh! Mrs. Thompson, +husbands and wives who have been separated are worse than lovers." + +She forced them to enter, talking in her excited way, and making +everybody laugh so much that neither the frown on Mellen's brow nor his +wife's paleness were observed. + +"You have been out," she found an opportunity to whisper to Elizabeth; +"you must be mad!" + +"I shall be!" groaned the woman; "I shall be!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +SEARCHING FOR THE BRACELET. + + +The very sight of her sister's carelessness and gayety, made Elizabeth +feel how necessary it was to be composed; her husband was watching her +still. Some one asked her to play; she took her seat at the piano and +played one of her most brilliant pieces--to sing, and her rich contralto +voice rang out with new passion and power. I tell you even women can +only marvel at the power many of the sex preserve over themselves when +playing for a great stake, and the least betrayal of look or movement +might be full of danger. + +The evening passed off without further incident, and the guests went +away delighted with their reception, thinking what agreeable people the +Mellens were, and how happy they must be in their beautiful home. + +"Oh--oh--oh!" cried Elsie, flinging up her arms with a yawn that +distorted her pretty mouth out of all proportion. "Thank heaven, they +are gone! I am sure another half hour would have killed me." + +"You deceitful little thing!" said her brother, who had nearly recovered +his cheerfulness. "I heard you tell poor young Thompson that you had +never enjoyed yourself so thoroughly." + +"Of course I did; what else could I say." + +Mr. Mellen laughed and went out of the room. + +Elsie was standing by the fire, she was always complaining of cold, and +Elizabeth walked towards her as the door closed. + +"Don't!" whispered Elsie, "you are going to talk--don't!" + +Elizabeth dropped into a seat with a wearied look, such as a person +wears after hours of self-restraint. + +"It's of no use to talk," said Elsie, with an impatient gesture. "You +ought not to have gone out----" + +"I know; but I dared not wait. Oh, Elsie! such a scene----" + +"Be still!" exclaimed Elsie, with the old passion which seemed so +foreign to her nature. "I can't hear--I won't! Grantley saw you!" + +"Yes; he was in the hall when I entered," she replied, with the same +dreary despair in her voice. "I know, I feel that something will happen +at last." + +"There must not--there shall not!" broke in Elsie. + +"Such madness--such greedy selfishness----" + +"Don't tell me," shivered Elsie; "please don't!" + +Elizabeth dropped her hands into her lap with a gesture full of +weariness and desolation; as they fell apart she lifted them up to +Elsie, with a look of helpless distress. + +"What is it?" cried Elsie. "Don't frighten me!" + +"My bracelet!" moaned Elizabeth. "My bracelet!" + +"You have lost it?" + +"Gone, I tell you! He would have money--I was nearly mad--I pulled it +off to pacify him." + +"Which bracelet--not the new one?" + +"Yes; the one Grantley brought me. Oh, what shall I do?" + +"He won't notice it," said Elsie; "you can wear mine." + +"He will notice it," returned Elizabeth. "It may be sold--he may find +it." + +"You can say that you lost it." + +"But your brother is so suspicious." + +"You ought to have had your wits about you," said Elsie, fretfully. + +"It is easy for you to talk!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "If you had been in +my place, listening to those threats----" + +"Stop, stop!" Elsie almost shrieked, hiding her face in her hands. "I am +going into spasms--I shall choke!" + +"But a crisis is near!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "You don't know all that a +bad, desperate creature is capable of, to accomplish his ends." + +"I can't do anything," moaned Elsie. "What am I in all this? You +promised to leave me in peace." + +"So I will, Elsie--I will. God knows I am ready to bear my burthen +alone; but sometimes I must speak." + +"It does no good," said Elsie, beginning to cry. "I'd rather be dead +than live in this way!" + +"Be a woman, with some feeling for a sister woman!" cried Elizabeth, +aroused into severity. + +"It's all very well for you to talk, you are a great strong thing; I +don't mean that you are big, but your nerves are like iron and I am so +weak. Grantley says he believes the least thing would kill me; he knows +how frail my health is." + +Passionate indignation lighted up Elizabeth's face for an instant, but +it softened into pity, like that with which she might have regarded a +pet animal whimpering under a hurt. + +"Be good to me," said Elsie. "I can't help you. I don't mean to be +selfish, but I must have my sunshine. I don't dare even to talk about it +at all. If Grant ever should find out anything, even my talking to you +about it would enrage him so!" + +"And what would become of me?" demanded Elizabeth. "Do you never think +of what would happen to me?" + +"Oh, but he won't find out anything," urged Elsie, changing her tone at +once. "Just let things rest. The wretch will be quiet for a time." + +"No, no; I tell you money must be raised." + +"More money?" + +"I promised it; there was no other way. But heaven knows where I shall +get it." + +"Well, tell Grant about some family or hospital----" + +"Lies!" interrupted Elizabeth; "always lies! Sinking deeper into the pit +every day. I tell you this constant deceit makes me hate myself!" + +"Now you are going off again! Oh, my head!" + +"Hush, I say! You are safe, at any rate!" + +"Whatever comes, I shall not be dragged into it?" pleaded Elsie. + +"No, no; have I not promised?" returned Elizabeth, in her anguish and +her bitterness, hardly noticing the girl's selfish fears. + +Elsie threw both arms about her neck and kissed her. + +"You are so good!" she said. "Oh, I wish I wasn't such a weak little +thing! Don't despise me, Bessie, because I can't do anything to help +you." + +"I don't--I don't. Your arm hurts me!" Elizabeth pushed the girl's +caressing arm away, struggling hard to be calm. + +"If I had never known----" + +But Elizabeth checked the selfish wail. + +"It is too late now to think of that. I tell you I shall not trouble you +any more." + +"When the paper fell on the stones," said Elsie, "I was so frightened." + +Elizabeth gasped for breath at the very thought. + +"But I managed cleverly. I am very weak and nervous, but I have my wits +about me sometimes." + +Elizabeth was shivering from head to foot, whether with remorse at the +knowledge of evil which this young girl had gained through her, or some +hidden fear, no one could tell. + +"I must go to town," she said; "but what excuse can I make?" + +"Oh, anything! Tell Grant we want to make purchases. I'll do it. But why +must you go?" + +"The money, I tell you the money! I have those stocks; if I could sell +them. I might tell Mr. Hinchley I was in debt and feared to have my +husband know it. Another lie--another lie!" + +"Oh," groaned Elsie, "the lying is the least part of it! if that could +do you any good!" + +"You don't know the worst. If you had to face him! Oh, Elsie, the shame, +the remorse!" + +Elizabeth wrung her hands again with the same passionate fury she had +displayed after reading the note. Then Elsie began to grow hysterical +and cry out: + +"You must stop! you must stop!" + +Elizabeth made an effort to control her own suffering and soothe the +girl's nervous paroxysm, to which Elsie gave way with wilful +abandonment, half because she felt it, and half to escape a scene. + +By the time they were both quieted Mr. Mellen returned to the room, and +by one of those evil chances that often happen he began speaking of the +very subject that had aroused their fears. + +"Those bracelets are the admiration of everybody," he said. + +Elizabeth glanced at Elsie. Her first impulse was to hide her hands, but +she checked that and forced herself to utter some sort of answer to his +remark. + +Elsie gave another long yawn. + +"I am going to bed," she exclaimed; "I advise you both to do the same." + +"I wish I understood the meaning of the device. Let me see your +bracelet, Bessie," he continued, without heeding his sister and bent on +his own train of thought. "Just let me look----" + +Elsie thrust out her arm. + +"Look at mine," she said. + +"No, no; Bessie's has a different design. I want to see that. Show me +yours, Elizabeth." + +Elizabeth did not stir. Whiter she could not grow, but a hopeless +despair settled over her face, pitiful to witness. + +"Can't you show me your bracelet?" demanded her husband, with natural +impatience. + +"I haven't it," she faltered. + +"Why, I saw it on your arm at dinner!" + +"Oh, don't bother, Grant," interposed Elsie; "talking about devices, +when one is half asleep." + +"Elizabeth, where is your bracelet?" demanded her husband, imperiously. + +The exigency of the case gave her courage. + +"I have lost it," she said, her voice sounding fairly indifferent from +the effort she made at composure. + +"Lost it!" he repeated. "How? Where?" + +"While I was out----" + +"She was just beginning to tell me when you came in," interrupted Elsie. +"We are both frightened to death, so don't scold." + +"Such unpardonable carelessness," continued Mr. Mellen. "At least, +Elizabeth, you need not appear so indifferent." + +"I am sorry, very sorry," she answered coldly. + +"Oh, if I had lost mine, I should be wretched," cried Elsie, kissing +hers. "You dear old bracelet!" + +Elizabeth shot one terrible look at her, but was silent. + +"I am glad that you at least prize my gift," said Mr. Mellen. "I suppose +you have not taken the trouble to search, Elizabeth?" + +"I have had no time----" + +"The moon is down," said Elsie. + +"There are lanterns, I suppose." + +He rang and ordered a servant to bring a lantern, went out and searched +for the missing ornament, while Elsie cowered over the hall fire and +Elizabeth stood, cold and white, in the way. + +Clorinda came out of her domain while Mr. Mellen and Dolf were searching +the hall. + +"Lost something marster?" she demanded, with the coolness peculiar to +her race. + +"Missis has lost her bracelet," interposed Dolf. + +"Laws!" cried Clorinda, not perceiving her mistress on the veranda. "I +neber seed nobody lose tings so; 'taint a month since she lost a di'mond +ring, and all she said, when her maid missed it, was, 'It can't be +helped.'" + +This was an aside to Dolf, but Mr. Mellen heard the words plainly, so +did Elizabeth. + +"I'll bet yer don't find it," pursued Clorinda. "I heerd steps early in +de evenin'; I knows I did, though missis called me a foolish cullud +pusson once when I told her of hearing 'em. Dar's thieves about, now; +member I tells yer!" + +"Clorinda," called Elizabeth, "go into the house. The next time you +venture any remark on me you will leave my service." + +Clorinda sallied back as if she had been shot, and darted into her own +dominions, less favorably disposed than ever towards the mistress for +reproving her before Dolf. + +Mr. Mellen dismissed the man, walked into the veranda and confronted his +wife. He was pale as death, in the moonlight. His agitation made +Elizabeth more sternly cold; she knew that look, she had borne it in his +suspicious, jealous moments in the old time. + +"Did you lose that bracelet, Elizabeth?" he asked. + +"Did I not say so?" she retorted. + +"I can't understand it," he went on; "these sudden frights and tremors, +these mysterious losses----" + +"The old suspicions," she broke in, goaded into defiance by the actual +danger. "You promised me to have done with all those things, Grantley." + +"Admit at least----" + +"I will admit nothing. I will not talk to you when you speak in that +tone. I am sorry the bracelet is gone, but I am not a child to be +threatened." + +Elsie heard it all, and when the dialogue reached that point she crept +quietly upstairs, determined that at least she would be beyond even the +sound of their difficulty. + +For a few moments they retorted bitterly upon each other. Formerly it +had been Elizabeth's resolution to bear in silence, but it is hard to be +patient when one has a fatal wrong to conceal. + +It was very unsatisfactory, but there the matter ended. + +The next morning Mr. Mellen made another thorough search for the +bracelet. Still no signs of it was discovered, but he did find traces of +footsteps in the grass, which proved the truth of Clorinda's suspicions. + +"It's over, at all events," said Elsie, as she met Elizabeth on the +stairs. + +"Over!" repeated the half-distracted woman, desperately; "who can tell +how or when it may come up again?" + +Elsie kissed her and flew away, leaving Elizabeth to seek safety in the +solitude of her chamber, while she went in search of her brother, not +with the object of benefiting Elizabeth, but anxious to impress upon his +mind that she at least did nothing to distress or vex him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +BELOW STAIRS. + + +While matters were moving on thus excitedly above stairs there was an +unusual commotion in the lower regions, effected by the machinations and +deceptions of that arch-flirt, Dolf. He had succeeded in accomplishing +what no sable gallant had ever done before; he had softened Clorinda's +obdurate heart, and made her think it possible that at some future time +she might be persuaded to place her fair self, and what she prized more, +her money, in Dolf's keeping. + +But the worst of it was, Dolf's susceptible fancy led him strongly in +another direction, even while his discretion warned him to follow up the +success he had achieved with the culinary nymph. Victoria was a stylish, +handsome young mulatto, and Clorinda was, undoubtedly, pure African to +the very root of her genealogical tree. African from the soul of her +broad foot to the end, I cannot say point, of her flat nose. Indeed, it +is quite possible that Dolf's yellow skin went for something in her +admiration; but unfortunately Dolf preferred the café-au-lait complexion +also, and had a masculine weakness in favor of youth and good looks. + +Poor Clorinda certainly did present a rather dry and withered aspect; +her hands bore rough evidence of the toil with which she had earned the +money her sable lover coveted, and their clasp was very unsatisfactory +to a man whose flirtations had hitherto been with ladies' maids. She was +sadly destitute of the airs and graces with which Victoria fascinated +the grand sex so freely upon all occasions; Clo's curly tresses held +quantities of whiteness, and she could only hide it under gorgeous +bandannas, which were now wofully out of fashion among the colored +aristocrats, and gaze enviously at Victoria's long curls, feeling her +fingers quiver to give them a pull when that damsel fluttered them too +jauntily in her eyes. + +There had always been trouble enough between the two, but after Dolf's +arrival the kitchen department grew very hot and uncomfortable, and even +the wary Dolf himself, skilled as he was in Lotharian practices, +frequently had great difficulty in steering clear of both Scylla and +Charybdis. + +Clorinda was much given to devotional exercises, and went to meeting on +every possible occasion; while Victoria, with the flightiness of her +years, laughed at Clo's psalm-singing, and interrupted her prayers in +the most fervid part by polka steps and profane redowas. In order to +propitiate Clorinda, Dolf had accompanied her to meeting much oftener +than his inclinations prompted, expressing the utmost desire to be +remembered in her prayers, all the while denouncing himself as a +miserable sinner not worth saving. + +But good women with a weakness for helping masculine sinners are alike +in one thing, no matter what their color may be--wickedness has a +strange attraction for them. It was the peril in which she considered +Dolf, that made Clo so lenient towards him; it would be such a triumph +to win him from his wicked ways, and lead him up to a height where he +would be secure from the craft of the evil one, and what was more +important, beyond the wiles of that yellow girl Victoria, who was +regarded by her fellow-servants as a direct emissary of the prince of +darkness. + +Clo labored faithfully with 'Dolf, though it must be confessed she +allowed her religious instructions to be diversified with a little more +love-making than would have been quite sanctioned by her class leader, +and for the first time in her life became extravagant in the matter of +dress, wearing the most gorgeous bandannas every day, and even adopting +an immense crinoline, which she managed so badly that it was constantly +bringing her into grotesque difficulties, to Victoria's intense delight. + +Of course these females, like their betters, never quarreled openly +about Dolf, but they found endless subjects of dispute to improve upon, +and sometimes that adroit fellow got into serious difficulty with both +by attempting to mediate between them. + +On occasions the sable rivals would hide their bitterness under smiles +and good nature, and appear almost affectionate after the influence of a +sudden truce; but Dolf learned to dread those seasons of deceitful calm, +for they were the sure precursors of an unusually fierce tempest, which, +blowing in opposite directions, it was impossible for him to escape. + +These three restless persons went out one evening to pay a visit to some +sable friends in the neighborhood, where the colored gentry often met +and had choice little entertainments; where the eatables came from +perhaps it would not have been wise for their employers to inquire. + +Old Mrs. Hopkins and her fascinating daughter, Miss Dinah, were the +possessors of this abode, and Clo and Victoria had for some time been +promising Dolf a visit there. That night seemed a favorable occasion for +the expedition, as a store of fruit pies, blanc mange and chicken salad, +had that day been moulded by Clo's own expert hands, and half a jelly +cake set aside in the closet ready for the basket which took so many +mysterious journeys in Mrs. Hopkins' direction. + +"I nebber sends back pieces to de table," said Clo; "it's wulgar." + +"In course it is," returned Dolf; "I'se sure nothing would orritate +master more." + +Vic attempted no deceptions on her conscience; she liked jelly cake, and +did not trouble herself about the manner in which it was obtained; since +her earliest remembrance stolen delicacies had never given her a +moment's indigestion, or the least approach to moral nightmare. + +They went over to visit Mrs. Hopkins and Miss Dinah, and the evening was +made a festive one, with Clo's pies, the hard cider which Mrs. Hopkins +provided, and other delicacies which composed a sumptuous entertainment. + +But as ill-luck would have it, two or three other friends strayed in, +and among them was a young woman as much given to coquetry as Dolf +himself; and before a great while Dolf's love of flirtation got the +better of his prudence, and plentiful doses of the hard cider rendered +him reckless. In spite of the indignation which both Clo and Victoria +displayed, he was exerting all his fascinations on the newcomer, while +her neglected beau sat looking like a modern Othello, with every glance +expressive of bowie-knives at least. + +When the damsel went out with Miss Dinah, for an extra bench from the +wash-house, Dolf accompanied them, and directly the company were +startled by a direful commingling of laughter and doleful shrieks. + +Clo flew to the door and opened it; Victoria peeped over her shoulder; +there was that perfidious Dolf encircling the stranger damsel with his +right arm, and making bold efforts to lay hold of the wash-bench with +his left. + +Dolf looked up and saw Clo; he was not so much under the excitement of +the cider that he could not understand the risk he ran. + +"Dare is pretty conducts!" exclaimed Clo. + +"I shud tink so," chimed in Victoria. "If you please, Miss Clorinda, I +tink I will locomote home; I ain't accustomed to sich goings on myself; +dey isn't de fashion in de Piney Cove basement." + +Clorinda got her bonnet and tied it on her head with an indignant jerk. + +The outraged damsels would hear no persuasions, and Dolf was forced to +accompany them back, and a very uncomfortable time he had of it. + +First they abused the impudent young pusson they had left behind, and +nearly annihilated Dolf when he attempted a word in the young woman's +favor. + +"I 'clar," cried Clo at last; "Mr. Dolf, yer go 'long as crooked as a +rail fence; what am de matter, are yer jest done gone and no 'count +nigger any how?" + +Dolf only gave a racy chuckle. + +"I guess goin' into the wash-room turned his head," said Vic. + +"De siety I'se enjoyin' at dis minit," said deceitful Dolf, "is enough +to turn de head of any gemman." + +"Oh, we know all 'bout dat," said Vic. + +"In course you does," returned Dolf, forgetting Clorinda, and trying to +seize Vic's hand, but so uncertain were his movements that she readily +escaped him. + +Clorinda saw it all; it was fuel to the flame which consumed her. + +"Miss Victory," said she, "yer needn't push me into de brook." + +"Who's a pushin' of yer?" retorted Victoria, with equal acidity. + +"Yer was, yer own self." + +"I didn't--so dar! Guess somethin' ails yer head too, de way yer go +on--pushin' indeed." + +"I scorns yer insinivations," said Clorinda, "and despises yer +actuations!" + +"Jis' don't go pitchin' into me and callin' me names," retorted Vic; +"'cause I won't stand it." + +"Ladies, ladies!" interposed Dolf. "Don't resturb de harmonium of our +walk by any onpleasant words." + +"I ain't a sayin' nothin'," said Vic. + +"Yer've said more'n I," returned Clo, "and I ain't gwine to be pushed +inter de ditch by nobody--thar!" + +Clorinda was naturally more irritated than Vic, because Dolf had made no +effort to seize upon her hand, which trembled to give him a pardoning +clasp. + +"Nobody wants ter push yer," said Vic. + +"I don' know 'bout dat," said Clo, solemnly; "I b'lieve if I was +murdered in my bed I shud know whar ter look for de murderer." + +"Sich subjects, Miss Clorinda, is not fit for yer lubly lips," said +Dolf; "don' gib dem houseroom, I begs." + +"Mr. Dolf," returned Clorinda, with a severity that pierced like a +warning through the elation of Lothario's brain; "don' try none ob dem +flightinesses wid me; I ain't one ob dat sort." + +"What sort?" asked Victoria. + +"Neber yer mind," said Clo, with majesty; "neber yer mind, miss; +children don' comprehensianise sich like." + +"I onderstands Miss Clorinda, and I venerates her sentimens," observed +Dolf; "but when a gemman finds hisself in sich siety as dis, de language +of compliments flows as naturally ter his lips as--as--cider from a junk +bottle." + +This well-rounded period softened both the damsels a little; Dolf got +Clo on his right arm and Vic on his left; the support was not unwelcome +to himself just then; and he managed to keep them both in tolerable +humor until they nearly reached the house. + +Whether Dolf stumbled, or Victoria gave a sly, vicious push, it was +difficult to tell in the darkness, but Clorinda went suddenly down full +length in the path. + +Victoria gave a laugh of derision, and this gratification of her +malicious feelings in the misfortune of her rival, put her in high +good-humor. + +Dolf hastened to help Clorinda up, but his movements were a little +uncertain, and the first thing he did was to set his foot through the +crown of her bonnet, which had fallen back from her head. + +"I'se killed," shrieked Clo. + +"Do scream low, like a 'spectable ole woman!" cried the unsympathising +Vic; "yer'll hab de whole house out." + +"I don't keer," moaned Clorinda: "I don't keer." + +"Why don' yer get up?" demanded Victoria. + +"I'll 'sist yer, I'll 'sist yer," said Dolf, making another sidelong +movement. + +Clorinda endeavored to help herself, but the effort was a failure, and +there she lay covered with confusion, for she could not think of giving +the real cause of her continued prostration. The truth was she had +knocked one high heel from a pair of Mrs. Harrington's French boots, +which that lady was not likely to miss before morning; and had sprained +her ankle in the process, a very unpleasant situation for a modest and +churchgoing darkey to find herself in, late at night, and her lover +looking on. + +"Be yer gwine to lay dar all night!" asked Vic. + +"I kin't get up, I tell yer," said Clo. + +"Is yer bones broke?" + +"Smashed. One of 'em am smashed," answered Clo, ruefully. + +"No, no; Miss Clory, not as bad as dat," said Dolf; "don't petrificate +us wid sich a idee. Jis let me sist yer now." + +"No, no," cried Clorinda; "wait a minit--my foot--my foot!" + +"Hev yer hurt it?" demanded Vic; "let me zamine." + +"It's my ankle; can't yer understand?" + +"No, I kin't onderstand nothin' 'bout it, only yer makin' a outrageous +ole fool o' yerself, and freezin' us to death. Mr. Dolf, 'spozen we go +in." + +"Yer wouldn't desart a sister in distress," said Dolf, dancing about the +prostrate form, unable to comprehend why Clo would not permit him to +assist her; while she huddled herself in a heap, in true spinster fear +of showing her ankles or exposing the borrowed boot. + +"Now, Clo," cried Victoria, "jis git up; I won't stand dis fooling no +longer." + +"Help me," said Clo; "do help me." + +"Hain't Mr. Dolf ben a tryin' dese ten minits!" + +"No, no! Bend down here, Vic. Mr. Dolf, if yer's a gemman I ax yer to +shut yer eyes." + +"My duty is to sarve de fair," said Dolf, turning his back and peeping +over his shoulder, very curious to know what could be the difficulty. + +Clo whispered in Victoria's ear with agonised sharpness, + +"Dem boots am so high, an' my ankle is guv out, jes ondo de buttons!" + +A stone might have sympathised with her maidenly distress, but that +wicked Victoria burst into absolute shrieks of laughter. + +"Oh, oh, oh! yer ole fool!" she cried, between her shouts of merriment. +"Yer too ole for new fashions--telled yer so!" + +Clorinda's outraged modesty was forgotten in the fury which Victoria's +lack of sympathy caused. + +"Jis let me git up!" cried she. "I'll fix yer; I'll frizzle dem long +beaucatchers like a door mat, an' stamp on 'em." + +"What am it?" demanded Dolf. + +As well as she could speak for laughing, Victoria began "She's just +choked up her foot in Miss Harrington's high pinercled boots!" + +"Hush up!" interrupted Clo. "I'll pisen yer if yer don't shut yer +impudent mouth." + +"Ki! ki! ki! oh, laws, I shall die! Ole folks hadn't orter try to be +young uns. I've telled yer so, Clo, fifty times," shrieked the yellow +maiden; "'tain't no wonder yer snickered, Dolf; borrered feathers! he, +he! Vic!" + +Clorinda sprang to her feet with a yell of triumph and rage, and limping +toward Victoria, caught that yellow maiden by her much-prized tresses, +and for a few moments the battle between the rivals raged furiously. + +Clo quite forgot her religion in the excitement, and her language might +have shocked the elders had they heard it, while Victoria struggled +bravely to save her tresses from extermination. + +"De hall door's a openin'," cried Dolf, struck with a brilliant thought; +"I believe it's marster comin' out." + +The battle ceased. Dolf ran towards the house and the combatants after +him; Clorinda limping like a returned soldier, but Dolf never stopped +till he was safe in his own dormitory, not caring to trust himself in +the presence of either of the infuriated damsels. + +Indeed, the next morning it required the special interference of Mrs. +Mellen herself to settle the matter, and several days passed before +perfect harmony was restored in the lower regions at Piney Cove. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +MRS. MELLEN AND HER COUSIN. + + +The next afternoon Tom Fuller came down to the island again. + +Elizabeth and Elsie were quite alone, for Mellen had driven over to the +village on some matter of business; but the sisters were not taking +advantage of their solitude to indulge in one of those long, cozy, +confidential chats which had been their habit in former years. + +Elsie was in the upper part of the house amusing herself after her own +fashion, and Elizabeth sat in the little morning-room which had become +her favorite apartment of late. + +It was a small room in the old part of the house, somewhat sombre in its +character, but on a bright day relieved by a beautiful view of the sea +which was afforded from the French windows, the only modern feature +which Mellen had added to it. + +On a dark morning the apartment was gloomy enough; the ceilings were +low, crossed with heavy carved beams that made their want of height +still more apparent; the upper portion of the walls were hung with dark +crimson cloth, met half way down by a wainscoating of unpolished oak, +dark and stained with age. + +The furniture had been in the house since the Revolution; the massive +chairs, each one of which was a weight to lift, had been covered with a +fabric to match the hangings. The whole room had a quaint aspect, and +was filled with a store of relics and curiosities which would have +delighted a lover of the antique. + +Elsie detested the apartment and never would occupy it, but when alone +Elizabeth sought it from choice; the darker and drearier the day the +more pertinaciously she clung to the old room, where the shadows lay +heavy and grim, and every sound was echoed with preternatural sharpness. + +But this day was bright and beautiful as summer itself. The apartment +looked cheerful and picturesque, and Elizabeth made a pretty picture, +seated by one of the open windows, with her light dress forming an +agreeable contrast to the sombre draperies about her. + +She had a work-basket on the little spider-legged table by her side and +a mass of embroidery on her lap, but the needle had fallen from her +hold, her hands lay idly upon her knee, and she was looking out over the +bright waters with a dreamy, wistful gaze, which had become habitual +with her whenever the necessity for self-restraint was removed and she +was free to suffer, unobserved. + +Tom entered the room in his usual haste, and found her sitting in this +dreamy attitude; she started at the sound of his tread, and with the +caution she was daily acquiring changed her listless position, and threw +the mask of a smile over her face, which it was so dangerous to lift +even for an instant. + +"Here I am," cried Tom; "back again, like a bad penny. I hope you are +not beginning to hate the sight of my ugly face." + +He rushed towards her, upset the spider-legged table that was always +ready to topple over on the least provocation, made a hopeless labyrinth +of her embroidery silks, gave her a kiss of greeting, and hurried on +with numberless questions, just as if he were in the greatest possible +haste, and it was a necessity of life and death that he should throw off +everything that happened to be on his mind before he dashed away. + +"And you are not tired of seeing me, Bessie, you are sure of that?" he +repeated. + +"You are a silly fellow to ask such questions," she replied; "you know +how glad I am to have you come." + +"You're a darling old girl," cried Tom, "and there's no more to be said +about it." + +"Then, if you have finished, please pick up my unfortunate table. See +what a state these poor silks are in." + +"I'm always in mischief," said Tom, contritely, restoring the table to +its equilibrium with great difficulty; "I'm more out of place in a +lady's parlor than an owl in a canary bird's cage." + +"Your mistakes are better than other men's elegancies," said Elizabeth, +heartily. + +It rested her to be in Tom's society; with him she was not forced +constantly to play a part, and he had been a great resource to her ever +since his return. + +Many times she said to herself: + +"He would love me, whatever came--I can always depend on him." + +She was thinking something of the kind, just then, while she began +assorting her silks; and Tom stood meekly by, longing to repair the +mischief he had occasioned, but perfectly certain that he should only do +a good deal more harm if he attempted it. + +Besides that, something else was in his mind--there always was before he +had been five minutes in the house if Elsie did not make her appearance. + +He shuffled about, answered Elizabeth's questions haltingly, and at last +burst out: + +"Where is the little fairy--has she gone out, too?" + +"Elsie, do you mean?" + +"Who else, of course? Where is she?" + +"Up in her room, I fancy," replied Elizabeth. + +"I don't see how you can bear her out of your sight for an instant," +cried Tom; "I'm sure I couldn't if I lived in the house with her." + +"Nonsense, Tom!" + +"There is no nonsense about it; it's just the truth." + +Several times Elizabeth had attempted to point out to him the folly of +going on in his old insane fashion, but either he would not listen or +something interrupted their conversation. Now she determined to take +advantage of the present opportunity and speak seriously with him. + +"I have brought her a paper of Maillard's sweet things," said Tom; +"might I call or send for her?" + +He darted towards the door as he spoke, but Elizabeth stopped him. + +"Wait a moment, Tom," she said; "come back here." + +"Yes, of course; I'll be back in a flash--I'll just send her these +traps," and he pulled a couple of tempting packages from his pocket, +nattily tied with pink ribbons and got up generally in the exquisite +taste which distinguishes everything from our Frenchman's establishment. + +"No," urged Elizabeth, "come here first; I have something to say to you, +Tom--Elsie can eat her bon-bons after." + +Tom came back, rather unwillingly though, and stood leaning against the +window like a criminal. + +"Sit down," said Elizabeth. + +"No, no! I like to stand! Well, what is it, Bessie?" + +"Tom," she said, seriously, "I am afraid you have forgotten the +experience which cost you so much pain and drove you off to Europe; I +fear you are making other and deeper trouble for yourself." + +"Oh, no, Bessie--it's of no consequence any way," returned Tom, turning +fifty different shades of red at once, "What a pretty green that silk +is." + +"It is bright blue, but no matter! So you wont listen to me, Tom?" +continued Elizabeth. + +"My dear girl, did I ever refuse to listen in all my life!" cried Tom. +"But you see, you're a little mistaken, Bessie; I'm not such a goney as +I used to be." + +"That has nothing to do with the matter." + +"Oh, yes, it has; I mean, I don't allow myself to be such a dunce, even +in my own thoughts. I never even think about--about--you know what I +mean." + +Tom broke down and made a somewhat lame conclusion. + +"Oh, Tom, Tom!" Elizabeth said. + +"Well, there!" cried he, with sudden energy; "there is no use in +standing here and telling you fibs! I do love her--I must love her--I +always shall love her--hang me if I shan't!" + +He was in a state of great agitation now, and trembled all over as if he +had been addressing Elsie herself. + +Elizabeth sighed wearily. + +"I thought so," she said; "I feared so." + +"You mean the dear girl will never care for me. How could any one expect +her to--I couldn't--'tisn't in reason." + +"Then, Tom, she certainly ought not to treat you as she does and lead +you on." + +"She doesn't lead me on." + +"But her manner does not forbid your attentions, and you are too worthy, +dear cousin, for anything but honest dealing." + +"It's my fault--all my fault." + +Elizabeth shook her head. + +"You have the best heart and the worst head in the world," said she. + +"You musn't blame her," continued Tom; "I can't stand that! Pitch into +me as often and as hard as you like, you never can say enough, but don't +blame her." + +"Let us leave her share in the matter, then, out of the question," +continued Elizabeth. "If you believe what you say, is it wise to run +into danger as you do?" + +"There's no help for it, Bessie; I should die if I could not see her +dear little face! Oh, you can't think what I suffered while I was +gone--I didn't talk about it--I don't even want to think of it; but, +Bessie, dear, sometimes I used to think I should go out of my senses." + +He was speaking seriously now; his face was absolutely pale with +emotion, and his eyes--the one fine feature of his face--were misty with +a remembrance of old pain. + +"Poor Tom," murmured Elizabeth, in her pitying way, always full of +sympathy for the trouble of others, whatever her own might be; "poor, +dear Tom, I know how hard it is." + +"No; you can't know, Bessie; you can't have the least idea! You don't +know what it is to have something to hide--to go about with a secret +gnawing at your heart--never able to open your lips--suffering night and +day--" + +He stopped suddenly and looked at his cousin with wonder; she was +leaning back in her chair, her face was pale as death, and her lips +parted in a dreary sigh. + +Tom drew close to her chair and bent over her, with a look of anxious +surprise on his disturbed features. + +"Are you sick, Bessie?" he asked. + +"No, no," she answered, controlling herself. + +His words brought up her own secret burden so vividly before her that +for an instant she had been dreadfully shaken. + +"You look so pale; I'm afraid you are going to be ill." + +"Indeed, I am not," she answered. + +Tom knelt down by her on both knees, played with her embroidery silks, +and finally said: + +"Bessie, since we're talking plainly, may I say something?" + +"Yes, Tom." + +"Somehow, since I came back from Europe, you don't seem so happy as you +used--maybe it's only one of my blunders--but I have thought you looked +troubled--like a person that was always expecting something dreadful to +happen." + +She forced a smile upon her lips and then compelled them to answer him: + +"Oh, you foolish Tom!" + +"Then it is not so!" he urged. "You are not unhappy?" + +"How could I be unhappy--is not my life pleasant, prosperous beyond +anything I could ever have hoped for?" + +"It seems so; that made me think it must be just one of my silly +fancies." + +"Nothing more, Tom." + +"Mellen's the most splendid fellow in the world," pursued he; "and you +couldn't well be sad with that little darling about you." + +Elizabeth took up her silks again. + +"Dismiss all such thoughts from your mind, Tom." + +"I shall be only too glad. But tell me once more that I am an +over-anxious busybody, minding everybody's concerns but my own. You see, +Bessie, I love you like a sister, and will stand by you, by Jupiter, +always. But these stupid ideas of mine, there's no foundation for them?" + +"How could there be?" + +"That's what I say to myself always," cried Tom. "Well, dear, I won't +think such nonsense again." + +"Do not, I beg; and never mention it to anybody." + +"There's no danger of that," said Tom. "But you know, if you should get +unhappy or in trouble, there is always one old chap you could lean on." + +"I believe that, Tom; I do indeed." + +"And you would come to me, Bessie?" + +"If you could help me, yes. But trouble must come to all, Tom; and, +generally, we must each bear our burdens alone." + +"How sad your voice sounds, Bessie." + +She made an effort to speak playfully: + +"You are getting all sorts of ridiculous fancies in your head; don't be +so foolish." + +Tom was relieved by her manner, and began to laugh at his own ridiculous +mistakes, rising from his knees and brushing the dust away with his +handkerchief. + +"My head is a poor old trap," he said. "Well, well, I am glad you are +happy--very glad." + +"And I want you to be happy, Tom." + +"I am, upon my word, I am! I don't allow myself to think any more or to +look forward, but just live on, glad to be in the sunshine. 'Tisn't a +bad world, after all, Bess; things usually come right in the end." + +If she could only believe it--if she could but accept his cheerful +philosophy and his unwavering trust; but, alas! the sleepless dread at +her heart prevented that. + +"And about my stupid self, Bessie," added Tom. + +"Yes, about your dear, good self," answered Elizabeth, glad to remove +the subject from any connection with her secret dread. + +"And my useless bits of affairs," pursued Tom; "just let things rest as +they are, it's the best way." + +"I don't wish to do anything to annoy you," she replied; "and you know +very well I am the last person in the world to interfere----" + +"Oh, don't talk like that, or I shall think you are offended." + +"Not in the least, Tom; I only meant to say that it was my regard for +your happiness that made me speak." + +"I know--I feel that, Bessie; but just let things go on! Perhaps I am +asleep and dreaming, but the slumber is pleasant, so don't wake me; it's +cruel kindness, dear." + +Elizabeth said nothing more; it was useless to pursue the subject; where +Tom was concerned she saw plainly that it could do no good, his heart +was fixed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +LURED INTO DANGER. + + +Just as Elizabeth was thinking over this conversation, and giving +another little sigh for Tom and what she feared for him, a blithe young +voice rang in the hall, carolling like a bird. + +"There she is!" exclaimed Tom. + +His face lighted up, his whole frame seemed to expand with delight. +Elizabeth watched him. She knew better than ever that his heartstrings +were twined about that young creature, that his very soul had gone out +in worship at her feet. + +"And where are you hidden, Lady Bess?" sang Elsie, gayly. + +Tom rushed to the door and flung it open, upsetting the table again, and +this time leaving Elizabeth to pick it up herself. + +"Here she is, my fairy princess!" he called, standing in the doorway and +looking up at her as she paused on the stairs. + +"In that dismal den and guarded by a dragon," cried Elsie, peeping at +him through the banisters, mischievously. "Pray where did you come from, +C[oe]ur de Lion?" + +"If you knew what I had brought for my lady-bird, you would be on your +prettiest behavior and give me your best welcome," said Tom. + +"It's bon-bons!" cried Elsie with a shriek of delight. "The ogre means +pralines and caramels and marons glacés!" + +"Come down and see," said Tom, mysteriously. + +Elsie danced downstairs and entered the room where her sister sat. + +"Ugh, the ugly place!" said she. "It makes me shiver!" + +"Better come into the den than lose the sweets," said Tom, opening the +papers and pretending to eat greedily. + +"He won't leave a drop!" cried Elsie, darting upon him. + +Tom prolonged the playful struggle artfully enough; and when a truce was +concluded it was only on condition that he should feed her with the +sugarplums, and as he did not satisfy her greediness fast enough, there +was a great deal of sport and laughter between the pair. + +Elizabeth sat in the window and watched them, sighing sometimes and +regarding Elsie with a strange pain in her eyes, as if annoyed and +troubled that the happy creature could not leave her the full affection +of this one heart. + +"I want to go out on the water," said Elsie. "Will you take me, you ugly +giant?" + +"Won't I!" said Tom. "I'd take you to the moon if you liked." + +"But I don't wish to try the moon, thank you; a nice long row will +satisfy me. Come along, Bessie!" + +"Not to-day," answered Elizabeth coldly. + +"You're a hateful, poky thing!" cried Elsie. "Well, I shall go, the sun +is lovely." + +"I'll run down to the shore and get the boat ready," said Tom, +ecstatically. + +He darted away, and Elsie stood for a few moments crushing the candies +between her white teeth and looking at Elizabeth, half frightened, half +defiant. + +"You are very busy," said she. + +"One can't be idle," replied Elizabeth. + +"Oh, can't one? It just suits me, thank you." + +"Elsie," said her sister, suddenly, "I want to say something." + +"If it is anything unpleasant, I won't hear. I won't hear. I want to be +happy. Let me alone!" + +"It is about yourself; don't be alarmed." + +"Well, say it; but you are going to scold or something else dreadful, I +know by your voice." + +"Don't be such a baby," said Elizabeth, impatiently. + +"There! I knew you were cross! How can I help being a baby? I like it, +and I will be one." + +"Do you think you are acting honestly with Tom?" said Elizabeth. + +"I'm not acting at all," replied Elsie fretfully. "I can't help his +coming here constantly. You wouldn't have me rude to your own cousin?" + +"You know what I mean. He loves you, in spite of your conduct before he +went abroad----" + +"I can't help it," Elsie broke in again. "If people will fall in love +with me it's their own fault; I don't ask them." + +"But you can help encouraging him and leading him on to greater pain." + +Elsie pouted. + +"How do you know I shall?" + +"You would not marry him," exclaimed Elizabeth, suddenly. +"You--you--you----" + +"You don't know anything about it. Let Tom and me alone. I think you are +growing a cross old thing." + +"Oh, Elsie, do be serious for one moment." + +"Let me alone!" she repeated. "You are always spoiling my sunshine. I +believe you hate me!" + +"Don't talk so wildly, Elsie. But you cannot blame me for being anxious +about Tom's happiness." + +"And, pray, should I make him wretched if I married him?" she exclaimed +defiantly. + +"You won't do that. You----" + +"I'll do what I please; and don't you meddle with me, just remember +that!" + +The voice was sharp and unlike Elsie's usual tone, but she quickly +resumed her childish manner, and added: + +"I'll be good--don't scold. There, I'm going now--good-bye!" + +She danced out of the room and through the house, and Elizabeth heard +her voice on the lawn, calling to Tom, to know if the boat was ready. + +Elizabeth kept her seat, looking absently across the water. Presently +she saw the little skiff shoot out from the shore, under the impetus of +Tom's muscular arms, while Elsie leaned back in the stern, wrapped in a +pale blue shawl, and reminding Elizabeth of the old German legend of the +Lurlei. + +She sat there a long time, with her former mournful thoughts all +trooping back, like ravens to a desolated nest. The gloom upon her +spirits waxed deeper, and the chill that had begun during the past days +to creep about her heart tightened and grew cold, as if it were changing +to an icy band, which would freeze her pulses in its tightening clasp. +She looked out through the sunshine, watching the light boat till it +became a mere speck in the distance, and finally disappeared among the +windings of the long curve of land which stretched out into the ocean. + +Thinking, thinking, always the same dreary round, till she grew so weary +with the ceaseless anxiety, the constant necessity for plots and plans, +the need of reflection, even, in slightest act, and, worse than all, the +sleepless fear of discovery which hovered over her, asleep or awake, +that it seemed sometimes that she could no longer uphold the burden, but +must allow it to fall and crush her. + +The afternoon was passing, but the little boat had not yet appeared in +sight again. There was no danger that Tom would think of fatigue while +he could sit looking in the face of his syren, listening to her low, +sweet songs; nor was there the slightest possibility of her ever +remembering that the strongest muscles must at last feel a little need +of relaxation. Just as long as it pleased her to float over the sunlit +waters, carolling her pretty melodies or talking gay nonsense to Tom, +and blinding him utterly with the wicked lightning of her eyes, she +would think of nothing else. + +At last Mr. Mellen's step sounded in the hall. Elizabeth heard it, and +immediately gathered up her embroidery silks, making a great pretence of +being busy, lest he should enter suddenly, and pierce her with one of +his dark, suspicious glances, which made her heart actually stand still +with apprehension. + +He came on towards the room, looked in at the door and saw his wife +sitting there apparently quiet, comfortable, and wholly occupied with +her pretty task. + +She glanced up and nodded a welcome. + +"So you have come back," she said; "I have been wishing for you." + +He smiled, came forward and stood by her, saying: + +"I thought you had given up any such weakness. You seem very busy." + +"This tiresome embroidery has been lying about so long that I am working +on it for very shame," she replied. + +"Elsie began it and was delighted with it for three days, but she has +not touched it since." + +"Very like the little fairy," he said, with a smile any reference to the +young girl always brought to his lips. + +Elizabeth did not wish to talk, it was important that she should hide +the real feelings that oppressed her even under an appearance of +playfulness. She looked up and smiled: + +"If you were good-natured you would sit down here and read to me. There +is Bulwer's new book." + +"I will, with pleasure; but where is Elsie?" + +"Oh, Tom Fuller came, and she made him take her out for a row; so I have +been alone in my den, as she calls it." + +"The child can't bear the least approach to a shadow," he said; "she +must have her sunshine undisturbed." + +He drew an easy chair near the window where Elizabeth sat, took up the +novel she had asked him to read, and began the splendid story. + +He read beautifully, and Elizabeth was glad to forget her unquiet +reflections in the melody of his voice and the rare interest of the +tale. Mellen himself was in a mood to be comfortable and at rest. + +The brightness of the sunset was flooding the waters before either of +them looked up again. Then Mellen said: + +"Those careless creatures ought to come back; it grows chilly on the +water as evening comes on, and the least thing gives Elsie cold." + +Elizabeth shaded her eyes with her hand and looked over the bay. + +"They are coming," she said; "I can see them." + +Mellen looked in the direction to which she pointed, and saw the boat +rounding a point of land and making swiftly up the bay. + +"Tom is as strong as a young Hercules," he said, watching the little +skiff as it fairly flew through the water under the impulse of that +powerful arm, and aided by the inward rush of the tide. + +They remained watching it till it approached near enough for them to +distinguish Elsie's white wrappings. Suddenly Mellen said: + +"She is rocking the boat dreadfully! She is standing up--The girl is +crazy to run such risks!" + +Elizabeth looked and saw Elsie erect in the skiff, her shawl floating +around her, rocking the boat to and fro with reckless force, while she +could see by Tom's gestures that he was vainly expostulating with her +upon her imprudence. + +Mellen went into the hall and out on the veranda, with some vague idea +of trying to attract the imprudent girl's attention by signals; but the +skiff was far off, and Elsie too much occupied to observe them. + +Elizabeth threw down her work and followed him, standing by his side in +silent apprehension. + +"She is mad!" exclaimed Mellen, "absolutely mad!" + +Elsie's gay laugh rang over the waters, and they could see Tom +expostulating with more animated gestures. + +"She will fall overboard, as sure as fate!" cried Mellen. "Oh! Elsie, +Elsie!" + +But the exclamation could not reach the reckless creature; probably she +would have paid no attention had she heard it. + +"Oh, see how it rocks!" cried Elizabeth with a shiver. + +"She is frightened at her own recklessness," said Mellen, "but will not +stop, because it disturbs Tom." + +"Perhaps there is less danger than we think," began Elizabeth, but a cry +from her husband checked the words. + +She looked--the boat had tipped till the edge was even with the water; +suddenly Elsie tottered, lost her balance--there was a smothered shriek +from the distance--then she disappeared under the crested waves. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE AFTER STRUGGLE. + + +Mellen sprang down the steps and rushed across the lawn, with some mad +idea of trying to rescue his sister; and, following as well as her +trembling limbs would permit, Elizabeth saw Tom throw off his coat and +plunge into the water. + +"He will save her!" she cried; "he will save her!" + +Mellen only answered by a groan; he was looking wildly about for a boat, +but there was none in sight; thus powerless to aid his darling--he could +only stand and watch the struggles of another to rescue her from that +death peril. They saw an object rise above the waves--saw Tom swim +towards it--seize it--he had caught the girl in his arms. The couple on +the lawn could neither move nor cry out; but stood in breathless +expectation, and watched him support his burthen with one arm, while +with the other he swam towards the skiff, which the tide was bearing in +towards the shore. It was a long pull; they could see that he began to +falter after his exertions in rowing; a deathly fear crept over both +those hearts, but they did not speak--scarcely breathed. + +Suddenly an outgoing wave washed the helpless girl from Tom's grasp; she +was sinking again. Strong man as he was, Grantley Mellen's courage gave +way; then covering his face with his hands he sallied back, resting +against a tree, afraid to look again. White and cold, Elizabeth watched +the boat drift one way, and saw Tom snatch at the girl's dress and get +her again in the grasp of his strong arm. + +"He has caught her!" she gasped. "He has almost reached the boat. +Grantley! Grantley! she is safe!" + +Mellen looked up. Tom had just put his hand on the side of the skiff, +and was lifting Elsie in. It was evidently the last effort of his mighty +strength, for he floated for some distance, holding on to the boat +before he had power to attempt more. The husband and wife watched him +while he got into the boat himself, lifted Elsie's head on his knee, and +allowed the tide almost entirely to wash them towards the beach. + +As they approached the bank Elsie began to recover consciousness. As Tom +took her in his arms and sprang with a staggering bound on shore, she +opened her eyes and saw her brother and Elizabeth. + +"I'm safe," she said, faintly, "quite safe. Don't be afraid." + +It was not a moment for many words. With an exclamation of thankfulness, +Mellen snatched Elsie from Tom's arms and carried her into the house. In +a few moments their united exertions brought the reckless girl +completely to herself. She looked up and saw the anxious faces bent over +her. + +"Don't scold," she cried, "Tom saved me, Grant, Tom saved me!" + +Mellen grasped Fuller's hands. + +"I can't thank you, I can't," he said. "God bless you, my friend." + +Tom was shaking from head to foot, his drenched garments dripping like a +river god's, but he answered as soon as his chattering teeth would +permit: + +"Don't say a word. I'd have drowned myself, if I hadn't saved her." + +Elizabeth insisted upon Elsie's being carried upstairs to her room, and +sent Tom off to change his dress; luckily, in his frequent visits, he +had always forgotten some portion of his baggage, so dry clothes were +found in his room. + +Before Mellen had recovered from the shock sufficiently to be at all +composed, Elsie was dressed and lying on the sofa in her own room, quite +restored, with the exception of her unusual pallor. She had been wrapped +in a rose-colored morning robe, trimmed with swansdown, and lay in +delicate relief on the blue couch of her boudoir. Mellen was bending +over her and holding her hands, as if he feared to let her free for an +instant; while Elizabeth stood near, finding time, now that her labors +were over, to watch her husband and wonder if danger to her would have +brought a pang like this to his heart. + +"I am quite well now," said Elsie, "and I didn't feel much frightened." + +"Oh, child!" said her brother, "promise me never to run such risks +again." + +"But you mustn't scold," she pleaded; "think of the danger I was in! Oh! +it was horrible to feel the water closing over my head--to go +down--down!" + +"Don't think of it," cried Elizabeth, making a sudden effort to change +the conversation, from a fear that dwelling upon the danger which she +had incurred might bring on one of Elsie's nervous attacks. + +"No," added Mellen; "it is all over now, quite over--don't think of it +any more." + +"You look pale, Grant." + +"No wonder, no wonder!" + +The girl gave him one of her wilful smiles. + +"Perhaps I tried the experiment to see how much you loved me?" + +Mellen lifted her in his arms and rested her head upon his shoulder, +while many emotions struggled across his face. + +"Child!" he said, in a tremulous voice, "you knew before--you have +always known. My mother's treasure--my pride--my blessing!" + +There Elizabeth stood, forgotten, disregarded--so it seemed to her; but +she made no sign which could betray the bitter anguish at her heart. + +There came a knock at the door. + +"That's Tom Fuller," said Elsie; "tell him to come in, Bessie." + +Mellen started up and opened the door himself. There stood Tom, clad in +dry garments, but still greatly agitated. + +"How is she?" he asked. "Is she better?" + +"You have saved her life!" exclaimed Mellen, grasping his two hands; +"you have saved her life!" + +"But is she better?" he repeated, quite too anxious for any thought of +the credit due himself, and too unselfish to desire it even if he had +remembered. + +"Come in and see," called Elsie, in a tender voice from her sofa. + +Tom brushed by Mellen, and down he went on his knees by the couch, +exclaiming: + +"She looks all right now. Oh, thank God!" + +Mellen had been too profoundly disturbed himself for conjecture +regarding this passionate outburst; to him it seemed natural that every +one should be agitated, and Elsie soon brought them back to safer +common-places by her gayety, which not even the peril from which she had +been so recently rescued could entirely subdue. + +"I declare, Tom," said she, "you are useful in a household located near +the water, as a Newfoundland dog." + +"Oh, I can't laugh," cried Tom. + +"But you must!" said the wilful creature. "You will not put on long +faces because I am saved, I suppose?" + +"Elsie," said her brother, "you ought to sleep awhile; Tom and I will go +out." + +"No, no," she persisted, "I am not in the least sleepy--you must not go +away--I shall only get nervous if you leave me alone; I shall be quite +well by dinner-time. Tom Fuller, don't go!" + +They did not oppose her; every one there knew that it was of no use, for +in the end they would surely yield to her caprices. + +"I haven't thanked you yet, Tom," she said. + +"I don't know what there is to thank me for." + +"Indeed!" said Elsie; "so you don't think my life of enough importance +to have the saving of it a matter of consequence?" + +"You know that wasn't what I meant," said Tom, rubbing his damp hair +with one hand. + +"You are too bad," said Mellen, laughing, "too bad, Elsie." + +"Indeed, I shall tease him more than ever," replied Elsie; "he will grow +conceited if I don't. Tell him how much you like me to tease you, old +Tom." + +"Well," said he, a little ruefully, "you have always done it, and I +suppose you always will--I shouldn't think it was you if you stopped +now." + +Even Elizabeth laughed, and Elsie said: + +"There, there, old Tom, don't get sentimental. Perhaps I'll be +good-natured for three days by way of reward for pulling me out of the +water." + +"I'd like to save your life every day in the week at that rate," cried +Tom in ecstasy. + +"No, no!" added Mellen; "I think one such exploit is quite enough." + +Elsie seized Tom's hand, and said with real feeling: + +"Tom, I do thank you--I can't tell you how much." + +"Don't, don't!" he pleaded. "If you say another word I'll run off and +never show my face again." + +Elsie began to laugh once more, and the lingering trace of seriousness +died quite out of her face. + +"Tom is good at a catastrophe," said she, "but he can't carry on the +blank verse proper to the after situation." + +"Blank enough it would be," rejoined Tom, and then he was so much +astonished to find that he had made a sort of joke, that the idea +covered him with fresh confusion. + +Elsie's disaster passed off without dangerous consequences to the +reckless girl, and she had half forgotten the occurrence long before +Mellen recovered composure enough to thank, with sufficient fervor, the +noble-hearted man who had saved her life. + +From that day Tom Fuller took a place in Mellen's esteem which he had +never held before; his gratitude was unbounded, and as he learned to +know and appreciate the young man, he found a thousand noble qualities +to admire under that rugged exterior. And as Elsie softened into gentler +earnestness, and drew closer to him day by day, Tom became so completely +engrossed in his happy love-dream that he had not a single thought +beyond it. In her loneliness and her anxieties which separated her so +completely from those three hearts, Elizabeth Mellen watched, sighed +sometimes, whispering to herself: + +"She has taken even Tom from me. I have nothing +left--husband--relative--all, all abandon me for her." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +A HALF UNDERSTANDING. + + +Elsie was twenty now, but looking younger from her fragile form and the +extreme delicacy of her complexion. The reader knows how winsome and +playful her manners were; how she was loved and cherished by her +brother, and it seemed hard that a creature like her, so innocent and +winsome, should have even a knowledge of the secret which oppressed +Elizabeth. It seemed to prove more depth of character than one would +have expected, that she was in any way able or willing to help her +sister-in-law to bear her secret burthen, let that burthen be what it +might. + +The vague thoughts which had troubled Grantley Mellen on the night of +his arrival, had died out. On calm reflection he could understand that +it was quite in keeping with the restrained intensity of Elizabeth's +nature, that the very violence of the storm should have forced her into +it. That the sudden sound of his voice and step should have brought on +the nervous weakness to which she so seldom gave way, was equally +natural after so much excitement. + +Then Elsie came back so blithe and blooming, brought so much sunshine +into the house, and drew them both so much into her amusements, that the +first days of Mellen's return were pleasant indeed. + +The weather had been delightful; they enjoyed rides and drives, +moonlight excursions upon the water; there had been visits to receive +and return among neighbors and friends; people had heard of Mellen's +return, and came uninvited from New York, bringing all that festal +bustle and change which puts holidays every now and then into the +ordinary routine of our lives. + +The first days passed and still the sky was unclouded. Grantley Mellen +began to think that he was at last to be happy, and grew cheerful with +the thought. So for a time love cast out all fear in the husband's +heart. + +There had been no further return of that inexplicable nervousness in +Elizabeth; the strained, anxious look almost entirely left her face; she +was even more lively than was customary with her. It was not that the +fear and dread had left her mind, but she was on her guard, and there +was a reticence and strength in her character which even those who knew +her best did not fully understand. A stern, settled purpose would keep +her through her course, whatever might lie behind. + +During those happy days there had been no more confidences between her +and Elsie; indeed it seemed almost as if Elizabeth avoided the girl--not +in a way to be noticed even by Mellen's quick eyes--if it was so, Elsie +on her side did not attempt to break through these little restraints +that had fallen around them. It was natural that she should be glad to +escape from the gloom which surrounded Elizabeth, and in this respect +the fickleness of her character was fortunate; from her lack of +concentrativeness, the girl was able to throw off any trouble the moment +its actual danger was removed from her path. + +Thus the first days had passed, allowing them to settle down into +tolerable quiet, but not too much of it, for Elsie could not endure +that. Society was her element; trifle and champagne seemed her natural +nourishment, and she drooped so quickly if compelled to seclusion, that, +with his usual weakness where she was concerned, Mellen relinquished his +own desires to gratify her caprices. + +You may think this not in keeping with his character and habits, but +reflect a little and you will see that it was perfectly natural. The +promise which he had made to his mother was always in his mind; he never +forgot his fears for Elsie's health; she was more like a daughter than a +sister to him, and her very childishness was a great charm to a man of +his grave nature. The very servants delighted in waiting on her, though +her requirements were numerous; but they did it all willingly, and put a +great deal more heart into her service than they ever exhibited in +obeying Elizabeth's moderate and reasonable requests. They mistook Mrs. +Mellen's quiet manners for pride, and held her in slight favor in +consequence; so dazzled by Elsie's manner, that when she gave them a +cast-off garment or a worthless ornament, it seemed a much greater boon +than the real kindness Elizabeth invariably displayed when they were in +sickness or trouble. + +Elizabeth humored her sister-in-law with the rest, but there was a +soreness at her heart all the while; for sometimes when she saw this +young creature clinging about her husband, her face wore the strange +expression it had done while she watched their meeting after his return. + +The domestic life at Piney Cove was nearly happiness at this time. But +for Elizabeth's hidden anxieties, Mellen's return would have made that +old house almost like heaven. As it was, this haunted woman would +sometimes forget her causes of dread, and break out into gleams of +loving cheerfulness in spite of them. + +After the night on which the bracelet was lost, the sunshine which had +brightened the little household at Piney Cove was dimmed by a thousand +intangible shadows. In spite of all his efforts, Grantley Mellen's +suspicions were aroused and kept on the alert, searching for proofs that +could only bring unhappiness when found. + +You would not have said that he was suffering from jealousy; there was +nothing upon which his mind settled itself that gave rise to that +feeling, but he fretted absolutely because he had no power to discover +every thought of Elizabeth's soul during his absence. Then as he +reflected upon the mystery connected with his arrival, came up afresh +the disappearance of the bracelet, and he lost himself in a maze of +irritating conjecture, of which his fine judgment often grew ashamed. + +Elizabeth wore her old proud look for several days after the night of +the dinner-party. Grantley felt that the ice of the past was freezing +between them once more, and the idea caused him acute pain. + +He sat watching her one day as she bent over her needlework, talking a +little at intervals, listening occasionally to passages from his book; +oftener sitting there with her fingers moving hurriedly, as if she were +pressed for time, but her anxious face proving how far from this +occupation her thoughts had wandered. + +More than once Mellen saw the dark brows contract as if under actual +distress, and as he ceased to speak, and seemed wholly absorbed in his +book, he could see that her reverie became more absorbing and painful. + +"Elizabeth!" he said suddenly. + +His wife started. In her preoccupation she had forgotten that he was in +the room--forgotten that she was not alone with those dark reflections +which cast their shadow over her face. + +"Did you speak, Grantley?" + +"Yes; how you started!" + +"Did I start?" she asked, trying to laugh. "I don't know how it is that +I grow so nervous." + +"You never were so afflicted formerly." + +"No; I don't remember," she replied quickly. "But you know I had a good +deal of care and responsibility during your absence; it may be that +which has shaken me a little." + +"Do you believe it?" he asked, in a constrained voice. + +She shot one glance of indignant pride at him; for an instant she looked +inclined to leave the room, as had frequently been her habit during the +first months of their marriage, when he irritated her beyond endurance. + +But if Elizabeth had the inclination she controlled it. After a moment's +silence she laid down her work and approached the sofa where he was +lying. + +"Don't be severe with me, Grantley," she said, with a degree of humility +unknown to the past; "my head aches drearily--I don't think I am well." + +His feelings changed as he looked at her; she was not well; he could see +the traces of pain in the languid eyes and the contracted forehead, but +whether the suffering was mental or physical even a physiognomist could +not have told. + +He reached out his hand and drew her towards him; she sat down on the +sofa and leaned her head against his shoulder with a little sigh of +weariness. + +"I can rest here," she whispered; "it is my place, isn't it, Grantley?" + +There was tender, almost childish pleading in her voice; he lifted her +face, looked into her eyes and saw tears there. + +"What is it, Bessie?" he asked. "Have I hurt you?" + +The recollection of all the doubts and suspicious thoughts which had +been in his mind came back, and forgetful of his idea that some recent +anxiety made the change in her manner, he reproached himself with having +brought a cloud between them by his own actions. + +"Have I pained you in anything, Bessie?" he repeated. + +"I feared the old trouble was coming back," she whispered. + +"No, no; it must not, it shall not, Bessie! I am to blame--but if you +knew what this wretched disposition makes me suffer! Every heart I +trusted in my early life deceived me. I have only you left now--you and +Elsie." + +Perhaps it was natural that she should feel a little wifely jealousy at +having his sister forced in, even to their closest confidence; her face +was overclouded for an instant, but she subdued the feeling and said, +kindly: + +"I know what you have suffered, dear; I can understand the effect it has +had upon your character--but you may trust me--indeed you may." + +"I know that, dear wife; I believe that!" + +He drew her closer to him; for a few moments she sat with her hand among +the short, dark curls of his hair, then she said, abruptly: + +"Grantley?" + +"What is it, dear?" + +"I want to ask you something." + +"It can't be anything very terrible; you need not hesitate so." + +"Only because it sounds foolish!" + +"Nothing ever can seem foolish from your lips," he said, softly; and she +blushed like a girl at his praise. + +"That woman you--you loved once," she said; "was she dearer to you than +I am?" + +Grantley Mellen's face darkened. + +"Let me blot out all thought of that time," he exclaimed, passionately; +"I would like to burn out of my soul every trace of those years in which +she had a part. I loved her with the passion of youth--no, Bessie, it +was not a feeling so deep and holy as my love for you, and it is over +for ever." + +His face softened, and his voice trembled with a more gentle emotion, +for he thought of that lone grave on the hillside, which he had so +lately seen closed over his first love. + +"Then you do love me?" whispered his wife; "you do love me?" + +"What a question, darling!" + +"Yes, I know it is silly." + +"Bessie," he exclaimed, after a moment's thought; "I cannot help the +feeling--you seem changed." + +"I--changed, Grantley?" + +"It may be my fault; but I feel as if there was a something which kept +us apart--a mystery which I cannot penetrate--a gulf which no effort of +mine can bridge." + +She was a little agitated at first, but that passed. + +"What mystery could there be?" she asked. "I don't understand you, +Grantley." + +"I hardly know what I mean myself. Is it my fault, Elizabeth? Are you +angry still at what I said the night you lost your bracelet?" + +She did not stir; she kept the hand he held even from quivering, but the +face he could not see grew white and contracted under a sterner pain. + +"Were you angry, Bessie?" he repeated. + +"Not angry," she said, in a low voice, hesitating somewhat. "I was hurt +and indignant--you ought to trust me, my husband." + +"I do, dearest, I do trust you! Why should I not? There is no secret +between us, Bessie--no mystery--nothing which keeps our hearts asunder!" + +She was silent--she was struggling for power to speak, knowing that +every second of hesitation told against her in a way which volumes of +protestation could never counteract. + +"There is no such cloud between us?" he said again. + +"No, Grantley, no!" + +She spoke almost sharply. + +"Don't be angry with me, Elizabeth." + +"I am not, indeed I am not!" + +She was speaking firmly now--her voice was a little hard, like that of a +person making an effort to appear natural. + +"I am not angry, but I ask you to reason--to reflect. What secret could +I have--what mystery?" + +"None, wife, none; I know that!" + +"And yet you cannot be at rest?" + +"I am--I will be." + +For a few moments they sat together in silence, then Mellen said: + +"Even in your past, Bessie, you have no secret!" + +"None," she answered, and her voice was perfectly open and sincere now. +"There is not in all my girlhood the least thing that I could wish to +conceal from you; it passed quietly, it was growing very dreary and cold +when you came with your love and carried me away to a brighter life." + +"It is so sweet to hear this, Bessie!" he whispered, as his face grew +gentle with the tenderness which warmed his heart. "We have been +separated so much, had so little time to realize our happiness, that +neither of us have quite learned to receive it quietly--don't you think +it is so, dear child?" + +"It may be," she exclaimed, and her voice deepened with sudden +intensity. "Only trust me, my husband; trust and love me always. I will +deserve it. Only trust me!" + +"Always, Bessie, always! My darling, I have only you in the whole +world--all my hopes, my love, centre upon you--I am like a miser with +one treasure which he fears to lose." + +"Only a treasure to you," she said, playfully; "you would be astonished +to see what a common-place pebble it is to other people." + +"That is not so; you know it, Bessie." + +"Never mind how it may be; if I am precious in your eyes it is all I +ask." + +So they talked each other into serenity for the time. Their married life +had been so broken up that it was natural that much of the enthusiasm of +lovers should remain--even in their old difficulties there had been none +of the common-place quarrels which degrade love, and wear it out much +more quickly than a trouble which strikes deeper ever does. + +"Since I came back," Grantley said, "I have sometimes thought it might +be a little feeling towards Elsie which made you so strange." + +"What feeling but kindness could I have?" she asked. + +"True; it would not be like you, Bessie. You love her, don't you? It was +through her we knew each other--remember that!" + +"I do, and very pleasantly; but I have no need to think of that to be +kind and gentle with her--when have you seen me otherwise?" + +"Never; I can honestly say never!" + +"Has Elsie complained?" + +"No, dear, and never had such a thought, I am certain." + +"When I married you, Grantley, your sister became mine--I could not be +more anxious for her, more willing to guard and cherish her, if she had +been a legacy from my own dead mother, than I am now." + +"I am certain of that, and I love and honor you for it. But in your +place I should perhaps be annoyed even to have a sister share affection +with me." + +"It is not like your love for me?" + +"No, no; no love could be like that! But Elsie is such a child, such a +happy, innocent creature, and I never look at her without remembering my +dying mother's last words. If any harm came to her, Bessie, I think I +could not even venture to meet that lost mother in heaven." + +"No harm will come to her, Grantley--none shall!" + +"I think she is one of those creatures born to be happy; I trust she may +never have a great trial in all her life. I don't believe she could +endure it; she would fade like a flower." + +"It is impossible to tell how any one would receive suffering," +Elizabeth replied; "sometimes those very fragile natures are best able +to bear up, and find an elasticity which prevents sorrow taking deep +root." + +"It may be so; but I could not bear to have any pain come near her--It +would strike my own heart." + +"Could any one be more light-hearted and careless than she is?" + +"Oh, she is happy as a bird--only let us keep her so." + +Even into the utmost sacredness of their affection, that sister's image +must be brought--it did cause Elizabeth pain in spite of all her +denials--Mellen might have discovered that if he had seen her face. But +the feeling passed swiftly, the face cleared, and while it brightened +under his loving words the strength of a great resolution settled down +upon it. + +They sat in that old fashioned room talking for a long time. It was the +happiest, most peaceful day they had spent since Mellen's return. + +After a time, Mellen proposed that they should go out to ride, for the +afternoon was sunny and delightful. + +"A long gallop over the hills will do you good," he said; "it is a shame +to spend such weather in the house." + +While he ordered the horses, Elizabeth went up to her dressing-room to +put on her habit. + +She dressed herself without assistance, and with a feverish haste which +brought the color to her face and light to her eyes. + +"I will be happy," she muttered; "I will not think. There is no looking +back now; it is too late; only let me keep the past shut close and go on +toward the future." + +As she stood before the glass, gazing absently at the reflection of her +own face and repeating those thoughts aloud, her husband's voice called +her from the hall below. + +"Bessie, come down--the horses are at the door." + +She broke away from her reverie and hurried downstairs, where he met her +with a fond smile and a new pride in her unusual beauty. + +"The very thought of the fresh air has done you good," he said. + +"It is not that, Grantley--not that." + +He looked at her tenderly, understanding all that her words meant. + +"Because we are happy?" he whispered. + +"With your love and confidence to bless my life I have all the happiness +I can ask," she said, earnestly. + +He led her down the steps, seated her upon her horse, and they rode away +down the hill, and dashed out upon the pleasant road. + +"We will go over the hills," Grantley said; "the air is so delightful +there, and one has such a magnificent view of the ocean." + +"I believe you would be wretched away from the boisterous old sea," said +Elizabeth, laughing. + +"I do love it; when I was a boy my one desire was to be a sailor. Some +time, Bessie, we will have a yacht and go cruising about to our heart's +content; after Elsie is married though, for she suffers so dreadfully +from fright and illness." + +"It would be very pleasant, Grantley." + +"Would it not? Just you and I alone; it would be like having a little +world all to ourselves. _Allons_, Bessie; here is a nice level place for +a gallop; wake Gipsy up." + +They rode on swiftly, growing so light-hearted and joyous that they were +laughing and talking like a pair of happy children, seeming quite out of +reach of all the shadows which had darkened their hearts during the past +days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +TRIFLES LIGHT AS AIR. + + +While Mellen and Elizabeth rode off through the golden afternoon, Elsie +and Tom Fuller came in from a stroll about the grounds. They had seen +the husband and wife galloping down the avenue, and as they entered the +hall, Elsie said: + +"They have left us to amuse ourselves the best way we can; what shall we +do, Tom Fuller?" + +"I'm ready for anything." + +"We might go out rowing." + +"Oh, Elsie!" + +"Only Grant would be angry, and you have grown afraid of the water." + +"No wonder, where you are concerned," cried Tom. "I can't think of that +dreadful day without a shudder." + +"I don't allow myself to think of it at all," said Elsie. + +She led the way into the library and sat down in a low chair, throwing +off her garden-hat, and beginning to arrange the wild flowers which she +held in her hands around the crown. + +"What color is this, Tom?" she asked, holding up a delicate purple +blossom that drooped its head, as if faint with its own perfume. + +Tom's ignorance of color was a never-failing source of amusement to her. +He looked at the flower very seriously; then after reflection said, in +the tone of a man who was certain of being perfectly correct for once: + +"That's blue, of course; I am not quite blind, whatever you may think." + +Elsie screamed with delight. + +"Oh, you delicious old goose! I suppose you call this one pink?" + +"Yes," said Tom, confident that he must be right this time; "I suppose +the most prejudiced person would have to call that pink." + +"It's the most delicate lavender," cried Elsie, in fresh shrieks of +ecstasy at Tom's blindness. "Oh, I never saw such a stupid in all my +life." + +Tom rubbed his forehead for an instant, then Elsie's laughter proved so +contagious that he burst into merriment as hearty as her own. + +"I don't suppose," said Tom, "there's such an idiot on the face of the +earth as I am." + +"I really don't suppose there is," replied Elsie, candidly. + +"It is absolutely beyond belief," said Tom. + +"It is," answered Elsie. + +"And I shall never be any better," cried Tom. + +"I have told you so a thousand times," rejoined Elsie, humming a tune, +inclined to perfect truthfulness for once. + +Tom's face lengthened for an instant, he gave his hair another +unmerciful combing with his fingers. + +"And you think there's not the least help for it?" + +"Not the very least in the world, Tom, not a gleam of hope! But don't +feel bad about it; I am tired of brilliant men; everybody is something +wonderful now-a-days; it's really fatiguing." + +"Do you think so?" demanded he; "do you really?" + +"Upon my honor." + +"Then I'm glad I am a donkey," said Tom, energetically. + +"And so am I," returned Elsie. "There, see, isn't that a lovely wreath?" + +She held up the hat for Tom to scent the delicious fragrance of the +garland twisted around it. + +"You take the color quite out of them, holding them near your cheeks," +said Tom, with a glance of admiration. + +"I declare you are getting complimentary! You shall have a wild rosebud +for your button-hole in payment; kneel down here, while I put it in." + +Tom dropped on his knees while Elsie leisurely selected the flower. She +was talking all the while, and Tom on his part would have been glad to +prolong the situation indefinitely, for the pleasure of having her +little face so close to his, and her hands flirting the blossoms about +his lips was entrancing. + +"No," pursued she, "I am tired of brilliant men; they always make my +head ache with their grand talk. You know I'm a childish little thing, +Tom, and learned discussions don't suit me." + +"You're a fairy, a witch, an enchanted princess!" cried Tom. + +"Exactly," replied Elsie. "Perhaps a verbena would look better than a +rosebud, Tom." + +Tom cared very little what she put in his button-hole; a thistle, thorns +and all, would have been precious to him if her hands had touched it, +and he would have torn his fingers against the prickles with an +exquisite sense of enjoyment. + +"No, the rose is the prettiest," said Elsie, and she threw the verbena +away, and began her task again. + +"Are you tired; do you want to get up, Tom?" + +"You know I'd rather be here than in heaven!" he exclaimed. + +Elsie gave him one of her bewildering glances. + +"You don't mean that," said she; "you know you don't!" + +"I do, I do! Oh, Elsie!" + +"Keep still, keep still. You jump about so that I can't fasten the rose; +there, I've lost the pin; no, here it is." + +She was so busy with her work now that her face bent quite close to his, +her fair curls touched his cheeks, her breath stirred the hair on his +temples; the intoxication of the moment carried Tom beyond all power of +self-restraint. + +He snatched Elsie's two hands and cried out: + +"I must speak; I shall die if I don't! I haven't said a word since I +came back; I know it's useless; but I love you, Elsie, I do love you." + +She struggled faintly for an instant, then allowed him to keep her +hands, and looked down into his face through her drooping lashes with an +expression that made Tom's head fairly reel. + +"Don't be angry with me," he pleaded; "don't drive me away! I'll never +open my lips; just let me speak now! You can't think how much I love +you, Elsie. I'd cut myself into inch pieces if it would do you any good. +I'd die for you." + +"I would rather you lived," whispered Elsie. + +Tom caught the words; a mad hope sprang up in his honest heart; he knew +that it was folly, but he could not subdue it then. + +"If you could only learn to love me," he went on, hurriedly; "I'd be a +slave to you, Elsie! I am rich now; I could give you everything your +heart desired; if you could only care for me; such lots of candies and +pretty things." + +"You saved my life, Tom," she returned, in that same thrilling whisper +which shook the very heart in his bosom. + +"Oh, don't bring that up as a claim," he said; "what was I born for +except to be useful to you? But I love you so; if you could only make up +your mind to endure my ugliness and my awkward ways, and--and----" + +"You are a great big fellow and I like that, and don't think you ugly," +said Elsie; "and I don't care if you are awkward. I am sick of men that +walk about like ballet-dancers." + +"You only say that out of good-nature," said Tom; "you are afraid of +hurting my feelings." + +"Don't I always say what I think?" rejoined she. + +"But you don't care for me--you couldn't love me!" + +"You have told me so three times already," said Elsie. + +But all the while there was something in her face and voice which made +him persevere. He had never thought to speak of his love to her again. +This was the last, last time; but he would open his whole heart now, she +should see the exact truth. + +In his great excitement, Tom forgot all bashfulness; he did not halt in +his speech, but poured out his story in strong, manly words, that must +have awakened at least a feeling of respect in any woman's bosom. + +"I tried to cure myself," continued Tom. "I thought absence--entire +change--might make a difference in my feelings. But when the two years +ended I came back, only to find my love grown deeper from the lapse of +time, with every feeling more firmly centred there. You speak kindly to +me sometimes. You pity me--at least you pity me! But you couldn't love +me, of course; that is impossible! Let me get up--I mustn't talk any +more--let me go!" + +But Elsie's hand still rested upon his shoulder,--she did not stir. + +"You could not love me," repeated Tom; "never, never: you have told me +so ever so many times." + +"I was silly and wicked," she whispered; "I am wiser now." + +Her words lifted Tom into the seventh heaven. He cried out: + +"Don't trifle with me, Elsie--not just now--I couldn't stand it!" + +"I am not trifling with you, Tom." + +"You don't mean that you care for me?" + +His voice was broken and low. He waited for her to push him away, to +break the spell rudely, but her hand never moved from his shoulder. It +seemed to rest there with a caressing pressure, as a bird settles on a +fondling hand, and still the fair curls swept his cheek. + +"Elsie! Elsie!" he cried, half-wild with struggling emotions. + +"Dear Tom," she murmured again. + +"Oh, are you in earnest?" he almost sobbed. "Could you take me, Elsie? +Let me be your slave--ready to tend you--to care for you--only living +for your happiness!" + +Elsie shook her head archly: + +"You would grow tired of petting me." + +"Never, never! You know it!" + +"I should be a dreadful little tyrant--it is in my nature; you would +never have a will of your own." + +"I wouldn't want it; I wouldn't ask it!" + +"I should flirt and drive you wild." + +"I would never try to stop you." + +"I should tease you incessantly." + +"You'd only make me the happier." + +"I should tell you all sorts of fibs." + +"There would be no necessity, for I would not dispute your wishes." + +"You would grow tired of that." + +"Only try me." + +"You couldn't love me always, and pet me, and never get out of patience, +and think I was perfect." + +"I could--I should--I always shall! Oh, Elsie, Elsie, I love you so--I +love you so!" + +"Get up, Tom; you are a foolish old goosey!" + +Tom started to his feet; those playful words were a cruel waking. He +stood before her painfully white, and there was a suppressed sob in his +voice as he cried, in passionate reproach: + +"Oh, Elsie! Elsie!" + +She gave a wicked laugh at his distress. + +"So you really were in earnest?" she demanded. + +"You know that I was," he said. "You are cruel--cruel!" + +"Ah, now you are angry--now you begin to hate me!" + +"Never, Elsie! If you tore my heart and stamped on it, I could not hate +you." + +"But you are angry; and you said you could be patient." + +"I could, if you cared for me only the least bit!" + +"Oh, you selfish monster! There, Tom, kneel down again; you have shaken +my flower out of your coat." + +"No," said Tom, passionately; "I can't play now! This is dreadful +earnest to me, Elsie, however great sport it may be to you." + +"Then you refuse my gift?" + +"I can't trifle now--don't ask it." + +"And you mean to rush off and leave me?" + +"I had better." + +"Very well. If you refuse me my one little wish!" + +"I'll stay if you want me to," cried Tom. "I'll do anything you bid me. +But do be serious for a minute, Elsie. Just answer me one question." + +"Only one? Will that satisfy you?" + +"To set the matter at rest," pursued he. "I'll never trouble you again. +I won't open my lips----" + +"Then how shall I know what you want to ask?" she interrupted. + +Tom fairly groaned. + +"I do believe you are a witch, Elsie; one of those snow women in the old +German stories." + +"Lurlei--Lurlei!" she sang, flourishing the blossoms about his head. + +Tom dashed off the flowers in a blind despair. The scene was growing too +much for him to bear. + +"Yes," he said, drearily, "I'll go--I'll go! I shan't trouble you again. +I hope the day may never come when you will be sorry, Elsie." + +He was so pale and trembled so violently, that she was absolutely +terrified. + +"Tom, don't look so!" she exclaimed. "I only wanted to tease you. I +wouldn't have you leave me for the world; I should be wretched!" + +"Now you are kind again! I will stay. I won't tire you with telling you +of my love--" + +"But I want to hear," interrupted Elsie. + +"Oh, little child, it could do you no good! I suffer, Elsie, I suffer!" + +"Tom, you're a goose--what you call a goney!" + +"I know it, dear!" + +"And you are just as blind as a bat." + +"I suppose I am," he replied, dejectedly. + +"And you're too stupid to live," cried Elsie, going into a great +excitement. "Don't you know a woman can say one thing and mean another?" + +"Yes," said Tom, with more energy, "I do know that. I know it too well." + +"Great Mr. Wisdom!" said she mockingly. "Then can't you +understand--don't you see?" + +He looked at her in bewildered surprise. She was smiling tenderly in his +face. + +"Elsie!" he cried. + +She let her hands fall in his. + +"I don't want you to go," she whispered, "never--never!" + +"You love me--you will marry me?" + +She did not speak, but she made no resistance when Tom caught her to his +heart and rained kisses on her face, utterly bewildered and unable to +comprehend anything except that happiness had descended upon his long +night at length. + +But Elsie raised herself, pushed him off and said, with a dash of her +old wickedness: + +"I'll tease you to death, Tom!" + +"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed. "Oh, say it once--say 'I love you!'" + +"I do love you, Tom--there!" + +In an instant she flashed up again, while he was covering her hands with +kisses, crying: + +"My little Elsie! My own at last!" + +"No more sentiment," said she. "Let's be reasonable, Tom; the +catastrophe has reached a climax." + +But it was a long time before Tom Fuller could regain composure enough +to talk at all coherently, or in what Elsie termed a sensible manner. + +"It's so sudden," he said. "And to have so much happiness just when I +thought the last rope was going out of my hand! Why, I feel like the +fellow who clung all night to the side of a precipice, expecting every +moment to be dashed down a thousand feet, and when daylight came found +he had hung within a foot of the ground all the while!" + +"The comparison is apt and delicious," said Elsie, laughing. + +"And you love me! Only say it again, Elsie--just once!" + +"I won't!" said she. "But I'll box your ears if you don't stop behaving +like a crazy man." + +Tom caught Elsie up in his arms and ran twice with her across the floor, +paying no more attention to her cries and struggles than if she had been +a baby. + +"That's for punishment!" said Tom. + +"Let me down! Please let me down!" pleaded Elsie. "I know you'll drop +me! Oh, you hurt me, Tom!" + +Tom placed her on the sofa and seated himself by her side. But she +started away and ran upstairs, sending back a laugh of defiance. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +TWO FACES IN THE GLASS. + + +When Elsie entered her boudoir, flushed with laughter and breathless +with running, she threw herself on the azure couch, and gathering her +ringlets in a mass between her hand and the warm cheek under which it +was thrust, fell into a deeper train of thought than was usual to her. + +"It's done, and I don't care. He loves me, and I must be loved. He's +rich, generous, devoted, worships me and always will, that's one +comfort. There'll be no one to halve his devotion or his money with me, +no one to look glum if I want to be a little bit extravagant. Grant +never refused me anything in his life, but I'm always afraid to ask half +that I want. But with Tom everything will be my own. He won't ask a +question. Such laces as I will have! As for cashmere shawls and silks, +he shall get them for me by the dozens. Elizabeth won't say that such +things are out of place then. I shall be a married woman, free of her +and this old house too, free of everything, but--but----" + +Elsie started up, breaking this selfish train of thought with the +action. + +"I wish she'd stop talking to me; I don't want to hear about it. Why +won't she bear her trouble alone, if she will make trouble about what +isn't to be helped? I'll have no more confidences with her, that's +certain. It is like breaking one's heart up in little pieces. I don't +want to keep secrets, but forget them; and I will, too, in spite of her. +She shan't make me eternally miserable with her pining and remorse." + +Elsie paused before a mirror as these thoughts rose in her mind and half +broke from her lips. She was threading out her curls and trying the +effect as they floated, like golden thistledown, over the roses of her +cheek. All at once she started, and a look of pale horror stole to her +face; the hand which had been wandering among her hair dropped to her +side, turning cold and white as marble; the lips which had been just +parted with an admiring smile of her own beauty, lost every trace of +color. She still gazed intently into the glass, but not at herself. +Beyond her pretty image, reflected from the distance, sat a man with a +pen in his hand, as if just arrested in the act of writing. Rich shadows +of crimson drapery lay around him, and a gleam of pure light from a +half-closed upper blind fell across his head, lighting it up grandly. + +It was a magnificent picture that Elsie gazed upon, far beyond her own +image in the glass. But she only saw the man, without regard to his +surroundings, and the very heart in her bosom turned sick with loathing +or with fear. + +It was North, looking at her through the open door, with a sneering +smile on his lip--North in the very chamber of her brother's wife, +quietly seated there as if he had been master of the house. For a full +minute Elsie stood, forming a double picture in the glass with that +bold, bad man, then her color came hotly back, and she turned upon him, +brave with indignation. + +"You here!" she said, advancing into the room till its crimson haze +overwhelmed her. "You here, and in this chamber! Get up at once and +begone. If my brother finds you under his roof he will shoot you on the +spot." + +"Never fear, pretty one," said North, with an evil gleam on his face. +"Two can play at a game of that sort. If he made the first assault +nothing would give me more pleasure. Self-defence is justifiable in law, +and his will is made." + +Elsie was trembling from head to foot, but she leaned one hand heavily +on the table that he might not see her agitation. + +"Man, man, you would not--you dare not meet my brother. You that have +wronged him so!" + +"Excuse me," said North, biting the feather of his pen and looking down +on a sheet of note-paper on which he had been about to write; "I do not +see this wrong so clearly. If a woman's heart will wander off in any +forbidden direction, am I to blame because it flutters into my bosom? +And if other hearts follow after----" + +"Stop!" cried Elsie, stamping her little foot passionately on the +carpet. "How dare you speak of a fraud so black, of treason so +detestable! I am his sister, sir, and have something of his courage, +frivolous as people think me. Persecute her or provoke me too far and I +will tell him all." + +"Indeed you would not," answered North, quietly. + +"What should prevent me?" + +"She will. You dare not break a solemn promise to her." + +"I dare!" she almost shrieked, clenching her little hand in a paroxysm +of rage. "I will, if ever you come here again." + +"No; I think not. Women are weak creatures, but they generally find +strength to keep secrets that bring ruin in the telling. You cannot be +over anxious to see this proud brother of yours commit murder on----" + +"On a villain--a household traitor--a--a----" + +Elsie stopped for want of breath. + +"Be quiet," said North, rising sternly and towering over her. "I have no +dealings with you. One might as well reason with a handful of silkweed +thrown upon the wind." + +"But I will have something to say--everything to say. You have pursued +her, plundered her, tortured her long enough. More than once she has +been on the brink of discovery by your persistence in prowling over the +grounds and from her attempts to conceal your rapacious extortions. All +this must end." + +"With all my heart; let the lady accede to my terms and I disappear." + +"What are those terms?" + +"I will write them, and your own fair hands shall give her the note." + +Elsie did not answer, but her white lips closed firmly, and her blue +eyes glittered like steel in the glow of a hot fire, as he dipped his +pen deliberately in the bronze inkstand and began to write. + +"There," he said, folding the note and presenting it to her with a +princely air, as if her courage had impressed him with respect; "place +this in her hands and she will know how to carry it out." + +Elsie took the note and hid it away in the folds of her dress. + +"Do not fail," he said, before taking his hat from the table. + +"I will not," answered Elsie. "But these cruel visits must cease now and +for ever. I will give the note only on this condition." + +"Her answer will decide that. Now, good-bye." + +He reached forth his hand, smiling pleasantly upon her; but she clenched +hers, as if tempted to strike him for the insolent offer, and turned +away biting her pale lips. + +The hand, rejected with such disdain, fell towards the hat which North +placed lightly on his head, casting one glance in the opposite mirror as +he did so. Then, with the elastic step of a man retiring from a +festival, he left the chamber, while Elsie looked after him with +wondering eyes and parted lips, astonished by an audacity which was +absolutely sublime. + +The young creature stood with bated breath till his light footsteps died +away in the nearest passage. She listened anxiously, but heard no door +close or further movement of any kind. His exit was noiseless as his +entrance had been. + +When Elsie was left alone she sat down in the dim light of Elizabeth's +room, pushed the hair back from her forehead and pressed both palms on +her temples, where pain was throbbing like a pulse. She moaned and cried +out under the sudden anguish, for resistance to suffering of any kind +was killing to this young creature, and the reaction which followed that +passionate outburst of feeling left her helpless as a child. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +SECRECY IMPOSED ON TOM FULLER. + + +During fifteen or twenty minutes Elsie sat pressing both hands to her +head, while her eyes filled with tears, and her lips quivered like those +of an infant grieved by some hurt it cannot understand. A voice from the +outer passage aroused her. It was that of Tom Fuller, who had worked +himself into a state of intense excitement from fear that his rough +tenderness had mortally offended its object. + +"Miss Mellen--Elsie, do come down and speak to a fellow. I'm sorry as +can be that I made such a donkey of myself and frightened you away. Just +give one peep out of the door, darling, to say that you will forgive me +by-and-bye, and I never will kiss you again so long--that is if it's +very disagreeable." + +The door of Elsie's chamber opened and a face all flushed with tears, +through which a smile was breaking, looked out on the repentant Tom. + +"Oh, Elsie, darling, I didn't mean it, and you've been crying all this +time. If somebody would take me out and lynch me I'd be obliged to +'em--upon my soul, I would." + +"Never mind, Tom. I'm not angry--only such a fright, with crying," said +Elsie, reaching her hand through the opening, which he forthwith covered +with penitent kisses. "It's only a headache." + +"A headache! dear me, what a brute I am. But wait a minute. I'll send +right to the city for a dozen bottles of bay rum, or schnapps, or +something of that sort." + +"No, no," answered Elsie, laughing herself into semi-hysterics, "I shall +be better in a minute." + +"And come downstairs--will you come downstairs?" + +"Yes, yes; wait a minute while I get the tangle out of my hair." + +Tom retreated to the staircase and waited with his eyes fastened on +Elsie's door like those of a good-natured watchdog. As for the girl +herself, she bathed her face in cold water, chilling the pain away, +straightened out her curls, twisted all her hair in a great knot back of +the head, and came out softly, like a dear little forgiving nun, filled +with compassion for other people's sins. + +Tom followed her into the little morning-room where his confession had +been made, and sat down on the sofa to which she retreated with great +caution, as if she were afraid. + +"Won't Bessie and Mellen be astonished," he insinuated; "I do wonder how +they will look, when we tell 'em how it is." + +"You won't have an opportunity of judging just at present," replied +Elsie. + +"Why won't I?" + +"Because I don't choose you to say one word about the matter to any +human being until I give you permission." + +"Now, what is that for?" asked Tom, somewhat discomfited. + +"Just because I prefer it," answered the young lady. + +"But I want the whole world to know how happy I am," said he. + +"Tom Fuller," cried Elsie, menacingly; "are you going to begin already +to dispute and annoy me, after what I've just suffered, too?" + +"Lord bless you, no! I am as sorry as can be." + +"Then do exactly as I tell you," continued she, "and promise me not to +mention what has happened till I give you leave." + +"It's a little hard," said Tom, "not to be able to show how happy a +fellow--why, I shall tell in spite of myself." + +"If you don't promise, I'll take back every word I've said--" + +"I will! I will!" he interrupted, terrified at the bare threat. "Don't +be angry, pet; I'll do just as you say." + +"That's a nice old Tom; now you are good and I love you." + +"But you, won't keep it long, Elsie?" + +"No, no; but just at present I choose; I told you what a terrible tyrant +I should be." + +"I like it," said Tom, with the thorough enjoyment of her mastery, which +only an immense creature like him can feel in a pretty woman's graceful +tyranny. + +"So much the better for you," said Elsie. + +"Oh, little girl, we will be as happy as the day is long!" cried he. + +"And you'll never contradict me?" + +"Never!" + +"And I shall have my own way more and more every day?" + +"Well," said Tom, thoughtfully; "I don't see how you could easily; but +you may try." + +Elsie laughed; his oddity amused her. + +"You are a perfect ogre of a lover," cried she. "What a head of hair!" + +"It never will keep in order," said Tom, pressing down the shaggy locks +with both hands. + +"Let them alone," said Elsie; "you look more like a lion that way; I +like it." + +She was gracious and playful as a kitten, but Tom's happiness was +disturbed all too quickly by the entrance of Victoria, crying: + +"Missis horse runned off wid her; but she y'arnt hurt; she's a comin' in +de carriage." + +Out of the room Tom and Elsie went, anxious to learn the full meaning of +her words. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THE RIDE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. + + +The husband and wife galloped joyously on for miles and miles in the +soft light of that delicious afternoon; with every step the gloom and +the shadows seemed to lift themselves from each heart, till they were +cordial and gay almost as Elsie herself. + +These few happy hours, soon to be dimly overclouded, were so bright and +sweet, that even in the midst of after trouble, their memory would come +up like fragments of exquisite melody, haunting those two people. + +Whatever the secret was which oppressed Elizabeth, its recollection was +put aside for the time, and Mellen gave himself up to the pleasure of +the hour with all the intensity of a nature which enjoys and suffers so +sharply, that even trifles can make for it a keener excitement than +great happiness or acute suffering bring to more placid characters. + +"You are not tired, Bessie?" + +"Tired, no! I could ride on forever!" + +"See how the waters shine in the sun; they seem so full of joyous, +buoyant life, that it gives one strength to watch them." + +Elizabeth could fully share in his enthusiasm, and she allowed her +poetical fancy full play, indulging in beautiful comparisons and earnest +talk, which unveiled a phase of her nature seldom revealed except to +those who knew her well. + +"I never heard a woman talk as you can," said Mellen, admiringly; "we +shall have you writing books, or coming out as a genius yet." + +Elizabeth laughed gaily. + +"You need not be afraid; I know you would not like it." + +"Indeed I should not; it springs from my selfishness I know, but I like +to keep your real self entirely for my own life." + +The afternoon was wearing away when they turned homewards, but still +retained its brightness and beauty, as their hearts kept the new glow +which warmed them. + +They galloped down the long hills and through the level groves till they +were nearly home. + +The sunlight faded--a strong breeze swept up from the ocean, and a +sudden cloud obscured the sun; one of those abrupt changes so common in +autumn fell upon the sea, robbing the day of its loveliness, and making +it so cold and leaden that it was more than dreary from contrast with +the glorious morning. + +They were near the gates which led into their own domain, when a man +came running swiftly towards them, and as he passed looked up in +Elizabeth's face. + +Whether her horse was frightened by the stranger rushing so abruptly +past him, or whether she gave some nervous jerk to the reins, was not +apparent; but a sharp cry rang from her lips, the horse made a +simultaneous spring, and though a good rider, Elizabeth was unseated and +thrown from her saddle. Mellen sprang from his horse and bent over his +wife. + +"I am not hurt," she said faintly, "not hurt." + +The old woman who lived in a little house at the entrance of the grounds +which they had transformed into a lodge, came out at that moment, and +being a Yankee woman of energy and resources, caught Elizabeth's horse, +and was ready to lend a helping hand wherever it might be required. + +While this woman led the two horses within the gates and fastened them, +Mellen raised his wife and carried her into the lodge. She was deathly +pale and trembling violently, though in reply to his anxious inquiries, +she repeated the same answer: + +"I am not hurt--not at all hurt." + +She drank a glass of water, lay down for a few moments on a +cane-bottomed settee, which the room boasted as its principal elegance, +then insisted upon rising. + +Mellen sent the woman on to the house, with orders for the people to +send down the carriage, as he would not have permitted Elizabeth to +walk, even if her strength had seemed more equal to the exertion than it +really was. + +"Did that man frighten the horse?" he asked, when she appeared composed +enough to speak. "The whole thing was over before I knew it--even before +I saw him clearly he was gone--you cried out--the horse started--" + +"No!" she answered with feverish earnestness, "the horse started +first--I should not have shrieked but for that--why should I?" + +"The scoundrel must have frightened the horse; did you recognise him?" + +"He was running fast, you know, and darted into the woods so suddenly." + +"I should like to have lain hands on him!" + +"He meant no harm. Gipsy has grown shy of late. Don't think about the +matter--there is no mischief done." + +"But there might have been great danger; I cannot bear even now to think +of it." + +Elizabeth closed her eyes wearily; her recent elation of spirits was +quite gone. She looked so pale and ill that Mellen could not feel +satisfied that she had suffered no injury. + +"You are sure that the fall has not hurt you, Bessie?" + +"Quite sure," she answered, in the same changed voice; "don't trouble +yourself about me. I was only frightened." + +Mellen could not understand her manner, but he said nothing more. She +lay back on the settee, and closed her eyes while he stood there +regarding and wondering whether she lay thus from weakness or to escape +further conversation. + +At last the woman returned and announced that the carriage would be down +immediately. + +"That are man frightened the horse," she said; "I was a looking out of +the window--it's my belief he's a hanging about the place for no good." + +"Have you ever seen him before?" asked Mellen. + +"Why, I think it's the chap you was a talking with one day, Mrs. +Mellen," said the woman. + +"I thought you did not know him?" observed Mellen, turning quickly +towards his wife. + +She sat upright, gave him one of her quick, indignant glances, and +answered coldly: + +"I simply said he ran by me so fast I could not tell whether I knew him +or not." + +"Wal, it was the same fellow," pursued Mrs. Green; "I'm sure of that." + +"Do you remember?" questioned Mellen. + +"I do not," replied Elizabeth haughtily. + +Mellen colored and bit his lip, but he saw the woman looking curiously +at them and said no more. + +"I wish, Mrs. Green," he said, "you would take great care to close the +gates at night; we are near enough the city for dangerous characters to +stray down here." + +"Law, sar, we're just as careful as can be. There ain't a night we don't +shut and lock the gates. I hope we ain't a coming to no blame; I'm a +lone woman and Jem's a cripple. It would be hard on us." + +Mellen tried to stop her flood of protestations and appeals, but she +insisted upon telling the whole story of every misery she had endured +during her life, before she would pause in her plea of sorrow for an +instant. By that time the carriage fortunately arrived and they were +able to escape the sound of her tongue. + +The husband and wife drove somewhat silently home. Mellen was very +anxious about Elizabeth, who had recovered her usual serenity of temper, +and could do her best to reassure him, though the color would not come +back to her face, nor the startled look die out of her eyes. + +When they reached the house, Elsie was standing on the steps, and ran +down to the carriage full of alarm, having just learned that Elizabeth +had met with some accident, while Tom came forward more anxious still. + +"Are you hurt? are you hurt?" demanded Elsie. + +Elizabeth assured her that she was not in the least injured, tried to +laugh at Mellen's solicitude, but looked very nervous still. + +"You are sure you are not hurt?" urged Tom. + +"Perfectly sure." + +"Maybe I'd better run after a doctor though?" + +"Nonsense, Tom," she said, a little impatiently, "when I tell you I am +not hurt in the least." + +Tom and Elsie cried out together to know how the accident had happened, +but Mellen gave a very brief explanation, while Elizabeth entered the +hall and sat down in a chair to rest. + +Tom ran to bring her a glass of wine which she did not want, and they +all worried her with their solicitude, till it required great patience +to restrain herself from breaking away from them rudely and rushing into +the solitude she so much needed. + +"If I had hold of the creature that scared the horse, I'd mill him," +cried Tom, irately. + +"I don't suppose he was to blame," said Elsie. + +"Of course not," added Elizabeth; "of course not." + +Mellen made no remark; he was watching Elizabeth, who still looked pale +and oppressed. + +"Do you feel better?" he asked. + +"Much, I assure you; don't be frightened about me." + +"Bessie is such a heroine!" cried Elsie. + +Elizabeth gave one of the irritated looks with which she had sometimes +regarded Elsie of late, but made no remark. + +"She's a trump!" said Tom; "that's all there is about it." + +Elsie laughed. + +"I shall go up to my room and lie down," Elizabeth said; "an hour's rest +will restore me completely." + +Mellen assisted her upstairs and Elsie accompanied them, quite ready to +accept Elizabeth's assurance that she was not injured, and doing her +best to make them both laugh. + +"Accidents seem the order of the day," she said; "it's lucky for us, +Bessie, that we always have some one near to help us." + +"Yes," was the weary reply. + +"Do you think you could go to sleep now?" Mellen asked. + +"Perhaps so," she said; "I will try, at all events." + +"The best thing for you," said Elsie. "I'll sit with you a little while, +and be still as a mouse." + +Elsie was never sorry to escape from sickness or unpleasant occurrences +of any kind, and could be of no more use in trouble than a canary-bird +or a hot-house blossom. But just now she had an object in remaining. + +The moment Mellen had withdrawn, she took North's letter from its +hiding-place, and thrust it into Elizabeth's hand. + +"Thank heaven I've got rid of it at last," she exclaimed, shaking the +flounces of her dress as if the note had left some contamination behind. + +"How did you get it?" faltered Elizabeth, looking at the folded paper +with strained eyes, as if it had been an asp which she held by the neck. + +"Oh, Elizabeth, he was in this very room." + +"Here! here! Great heavens! why will no one shoot this man?" exclaimed +the tortured woman. + +"I thought of it, upon my word I did," said Elsie. "But, then, I don't +know how to fire off a pistol!" + +"How madly we are talking!" said Elizabeth, pressing one hand to her +throbbing forehead. + +Elsie pressed her own soft palm upon the strained hand, striving to +soothe the evident pain. But Elizabeth shrunk away from the half caress, +and said, in a low, husky voice: + +"Leave me, Elsie, leave me; I will deal with this alone." + +The young girl went away with a sense of relief. Then Elizabeth started +up in bed, tore open the hateful note, and read it through. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +KINDLY ANXIETIES. + + +Elsie went in search of Tom; who was walking up and down the veranda, +looking anxious still, but his face cleared when he saw Elsie, like a +granite rock lighted up by a sudden flood of sunshine. + +"How is she?" he asked. + +"Oh, a great deal better; she is going to sleep; that is, if Grant will +be sensible enough to leave her alone; you men are dreadfully stupid +creatures." + +"Yes, dear," replied Tom, meekly. + +"Well!" said Elsie; "you might show a little spirit at least." + +"I thought I was to agree with you!" + +"There is nothing I hate so much; if you don't contradict me, I shall +die certainly." + +"Then, since you want the truth, I must say I think you are a little +hard on men in general." + +"And you in particular, perhaps?" + +"Sometimes you are." + +"Indeed!" said she, tossing her curls. "Very well, Mr. Fuller, if you +have such dreadful opinions as that, you had better have nothing more to +do with me; I'll go away." + +"Oh, don't; I didn't mean it," cried Tom, in a fright. + +Elsie laughed at his penitence and teased him more unmercifully than +ever, but Tom could bear it now with undisturbed equanimity. She had +given him happiness, lifted his soul into such a flood of light as he +had never thought to reach in this world, and his state of rapturous +content utterly defied description. + +They walked up and down the long colonnade, jesting and merry, Tom +unable to think or talk of anything long except his new bliss, saying +all sorts of absurd things in spite of Elsie's expostulations. + +"I shall go in at once, if you don't behave more sensibly," she said, +snatching her hand from him, as he tried to kiss it. "What would Grant +think if he happened to come down." + +"Oh, dear," sighed Tom; "how long before you will let me tell him; this +having to steal one's happiness is dreadful." + +"Oh, you selfish, insatiable monster! not an hour ago you promised to be +perfectly content if I would only say I might care for you sometimes, +and there now you go!" + +"I am a selfish wretch," said Tom, struck with remorse. + +"And selfishness is such a dreadful failing," rejoined Elsie. + +"It is, I know it." + +"In a man." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, a little astonished at the close of her sentence. + +"Yes," continued Elsie; "It's a woman's privilege." + +"It seems to me," said Tom, eagerly, "that women claim a great many +privileges, and very odd ones, sometimes." + +"Isn't it our privilege!" demanded Elsie, belligerently. "Do you mean to +deny that we haven't a right to be just as selfish and whimsical as we +please, and that it's your duty to submit?" + +"If you'll let me kiss your hand I'll acknowledge anything you desire," +said artful Tom. + +"Then I won't, and if you value your peace in the slightest degree, I +should advise you to behave more decorously." + +Elsie drew herself up, and looked as prim as a little Quakeress, who had +never indulged a worldly thought in all her days. + +"I wish you would come into the music-room and sing to me," said Tom, +struck with a bright idea. + +"Nonsense, you don't care about music?" + +"Indeed I do; your voice is like an angel's." + +"You couldn't tell whether I was singing something from Trovatore or +Yankee Doodle?" replied Elsie. + +Tom rubbed his forehead again, fairly bewildered; but whether he knew +anything about music as a science or not, he listened to Elsie's singing +with his heart, and very sweet music it was. + +"You shall teach me," he said. + +"A hopeless task, Tom! And you really have some voice if you only had +any ear." + +"Oh," said Tom, putting up his hands, as if taking her words literally. + +"Oh," said Elsie, with a shriek, "they prove your race beyond a doubt; +don't fear." + +Tom laughed, good-natured as ever. + +"But come in," he urged; "you will get cold, with nothing on your head." + +"You are not to become a Molly," said Elsie. + +"I won't," replied Tom, "nor a Betty, nor any other atrocity; only just +come in, like a duck." + +Elsie allowed herself to be persuaded for once, and they went into the +house, seating themselves at the piano in the solitary music-room, +enjoying the hour after their own fashion, with no apparent perception +of the shadows which lay upon the hearts of the husband and wife in that +darkened home. + +Some time after Elsie had gone, Mellen returned to his wife's chamber. +She lay with one hand partially over her face, but was watching him all +the while; there was an eager expression in her eyes, as if she longed +to have him go away, but was afraid to express the wish. + +"Do you feel sleepy, Bessie?" he asked. + +"I think so," she replied; "don't let me keep you shut up here any +longer--go down and play chess with Elsie." + +"You will come down after you are rested?" + +"Oh, certainly; I will be down to tea." + +He kissed her and turned to leave the room. + +"What are you going to do?" she asked, huskily. + +"I have some letters to write; I shall go to the library in order to do +it in peace--Elsie is certain not to come there." + +"Good-bye," said Elizabeth, speaking with hysterical sharpness, which +jarred a little on Mellen's quick ear. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +ALMOST DEFIANCE. + + +He was gone and the door closed; Elizabeth raised herself on her elbow +and remained listening till the sound of his steps died upon the stairs, +then she threw aside the shawls he had flung over her, and sprang to her +feet. + +"Not a day's rest," she exclaimed, "not an hour's--not one! I must go +out and answer the demands of this villain. If Grantley should meet +me--I don't care--I must have it out! I shall go mad in the end--I shall +go mad!" + +She wrung her hands in a sort of fury, and paced up and down the room +with quick, impatient steps. + +"I might go now," she said at length; "he is in the library--it is +growing dark, too." + +She stopped before one of the windows and looked out; the afternoon was +darkening under the mustering clouds and a heavy mist that had swept up +from the ocean. + +"Coming nearer and nearer," muttered Elizabeth, pointing to the waving +columns of fog as if she were addressing some unseen person; "just so +the danger and the darkness gather closer and closer about my life!" + +She turned away, urged forward by the courage with which a brave person +is impelled to meet a difficulty at once, threw a shawl about her and +left the room. + +She ran through the hall to a back staircase seldom used, and which led +into a passage from whence she could pass at once into the thickest part +of the shrubbery. + +At the foot of the stairs she paused an instant, listened then with a +quick, choking sigh, opened the door and hurried away. + +Seated in his library, Mellen found it impossible to fulfil his task of +letter writing. He could not account for the feelings which crept over +him. The quiet content of the afternoon was all gone; and in its place +came, not only anxiety about his wife, but a host of wild suspicions so +vague and absurd, that he was angry with the folly which forced him to +insult his reason by dwelling upon them. + +The confinement of the house became absolutely hateful to him. He opened +one of the French windows, stepped out upon the veranda and walked up +and down in the gathering gloom, looking across the waters where the fog +shifted to and fro, like ghostly shadows sent up to veil the ever +restless ocean. + +At last Mellen passed down the steps and entered the grounds; he was +some distance from the house when he heard a sound like a person moaning +aloud in distress. + +He looked about--the mist and the coming night made it impossible to +distinguish objects with any distinctness--but he saw the garments of a +woman fluttering among the trees. + +He darted forward; with what impulse he could hardly have told; but the +woman had disappeared, whether warned by his hasty movement or urged +forward by some other motive, he could not tell. + +The thought in his mind was-- + +"That is my wife, Elizabeth." + +Then the folly of this suspicion struck him; not an hour before he had +left his wife almost asleep in her room, how was it possible that she +could be there, wandering about like a demented creature in the misty +twilight? + +"I will go up to her room," he thought; "I will cure myself of these +absurd fancies." + +He entered the house and ran upstairs quickly, opened the door of his +wife's room and looked in. She was standing before the fire--at the +noise of the opening door she thrust something into her bosom--a paper +it looked like to Mellen--then she turned and stood silently regarding +him. + +"You are up," he said. + +"Yes," she replied, a little coldly. "Did you want anything?" + +"Only to see if you slept--if you were coming down soon." + +"I shall be down directly." + +He hesitated an instant, then he said: + +"Were you not in the grounds just now?" + +Elizabeth did not answer; she had let her hair down and was beginning to +arrange it, shading her pale face with the floating tresses. + +"Were you?" he inquired again. + +"What did you ask?" she demanded. + +He repeated the question. + +"It does not seem quite probable," she said, walking away towards the +mirror. + +"I thought that I saw you there only a few minutes since," he said. + +Elizabeth was busy lighting a candle; after she had succeeded, she +replied: + +"If you had seen me in the grounds would it have been so very singular." + +"No; only as I left you lying down----" + +She interrupted him with an impatient gesture. + +"I am tired of this," she said passionately. "What is it you wish to +know--what do you suspect?" + +"Nothing, Elizabeth; I only thought it was foolish if not dangerous to +go out on such a night." + +He was ashamed of himself now, but she did not offer to help him in his +dilemma. She stood silent and still, as if waiting for him to leave the +room. + +"We will wait tea for you," he said. + +"Very well." + +As he passed near the sofa his foot got entangled in a shawl which lay +on the floor; he picked it up--it was heavy with damp. + +"I was given to understand that you had not been out," he exclaimed, +holding it towards her. + +For an instant Elizabeth looked confused, then she snatched the shawl +from his hand, crying angrily: + +"Well, sir, I was out--now are you satisfied?" + +"Always deception," he said, "even in trifles." + +"Of course," she exclaimed, in the same passionate tone, "you make it +necessary. I went out because these nervous attacks make me feel as if I +were choking--you are so suspicious, you see something to suspect in the +most trivial action." + +"So you----" + +"Told you a lie," she added, when he hesitated; "well, let it go at +that. Are you through with this examination--have you any more questions +to ask?" + +"That tone--that look, Elizabeth; you are not like yourself!" + +"No wonder--blame yourself for it. I cannot and will not endure this +system of _espionage_--I will have my liberty--that you may understand!" + +Mellen's passionate temper flamed up in his face, but he controlled it +resolutely and did not speak. + +"Be good enough to say all you wish and have done with the subject," she +continued in the same irritating tone, utterly unlike her old method of +parleying or enduring his evil words. + +"I have nothing to ask," he said; "you are nervous and excited--we won't +quarrel to-night." + +He went out of the room, Elizabeth fell upon her knees by the couch, and +groaned aloud. + +"Oh! I am no longer myself! What wonder! what wonder!" + +She drew a letter from her bosom and began to read it, moaning and +crying as she read; then she threw it in the fire, stood watching till +the last fragments were consumed, then sinking into a chair, buried her +face in her hands. She remained a long time in that despondent attitude, +her whole frame shaking at intervals with nervous tremors, and her +breath struggling upwards in shuddering gasps. + +There was a knock at the door at length. + +"Who is there?" she called sharply; "what do you want?" + +"Miss Elsie wished to know if you were coming to tea," said a servant. +"There is a gentleman come to see Mr. Mellen from the city, ma'am." + +Elizabeth started up and went on dressing; as was usual with her after +one of those strange excitements, a sudden fever crimsoned her cheeks +and brightened her eyes. + +She went downstairs and received her guest with affable grace, which +contrasted painfully with her late excitement, and before the evening +was over, seemed to have forgotten the hasty words she had spoken to +Mellen, and was like her old self again. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE TIGER IN HIS DEN. + + +IT was a small room, in one of those mysterious hotels in the narrow +streets near the Battery, which appear to be usually appropriated to +foreigners, and about which dark-whiskered, sallow-faced individuals may +be seen lingering at all hours of the day, their very faded, seedy +appearance calling up images of duns, scant dinners, and a whole train +of petty evils. + +The chamber was small, but not uncomfortably furnished, though the +articles had originally been of the tawdry fashion which such places +affect, and had probably not been new by several stages when first +established there. + +The remains of a fire smouldered in the little grate, but the ashes were +strewn over the hearth. The torn and frayed carpet was littered with +loose cards, and the whole apartment was in hopeless confusion which +added greatly to its original discomfort. + +In the centre of the room was a small table covered with empty champagne +bottles and glasses, standing in half dried puddles of wine, with a +bronze receiver overflowing with cigar ashes all huddled untidily +together, and giving repulsive evidence of a long night of dissipation. + +The low bedstead had its moth-eaten, miserable attempt at a canopy swept +back and heaped carelessly on the dirty counterpane by a man in a +restless slumber, just as he had thrown himself down, ready dressed, +long after daylight peered in through the broken shutters. + +His appearance was in keeping with the room; a soiled dressing-gown, +that had once been very elegant, was wrapt carelessly about him; his +black hair streamed over the pillow, and gave an almost ghastly effect +to his face, as he lay in that troubled dream, already pale and worn +from many sleepless nights. + +It was a handsome face, but one from which a physiognomist would have +shrunk, had he seen it in its hard truthfulness, without a gleam of the +fascination which it was capable of expressing in guarded moments and +under more fortunate circumstances. + +The sleeper was on the sunny side of mid-age, but his countenance was +one of those which carries no idea of youth with it, even in early +boyhood it was so marked by craft and recklessness that nothing of the +_abandon_ of fresh feeling ever left an imprint there. + +It was nearly noon, but he had not stirred or opened his eyes; once or +twice the dilapidated chambermaid, who performed a slatternly duty in +that part of the building, opened the door and peeped in, but her +entrance had not served to arouse him, and she knew better than to +venture upon any further attempt. + +Suddenly he woke from a troubled dream and looked about him. + +"I dreamed they were railing me up in a coffin," he muttered; "pah, how +plainly I heard them driving in the nails!" + +He turned upon his pillow with a shuddering oath, but that instant there +came a knock at the door, this time quick and impatient--it was the +first summons which had caused him that unquiet vision. + +"Come in," he called out; "the door isn't locked." + +The man raised himself indolently on the bed and looked towards the +door--it opened slowly and a woman entered the room. + +Her face was concealed under a heavy veil, but the man seemed to +recognize her at once, for he started up and gave a muttered execration +as he caught sight of his untidy appearance in the little mirror. + +Then he hurried towards his visitor, who had closed the door and stood +leaning against it. + +"You have come," he exclaimed; "so kind of you--excuse the disorder +here--I did not know it was so late." + +He held out his hand with a smile, but she turned away with a gesture of +abhorrence which had no effect upon him save that it deepened the smile +to an ugly sneer. + +She threw back the long veil and displayed her face--the visitor was +Elizabeth Mellen. + +"Pray be seated," he went on, placing a chair near the hearth; "this +room looks dreadful, but I was up late and overslept myself--had I +dreamed you would favor me with so early a visit, I should have been +prepared." + +She glanced at the table, which bore evidence of the manner in which the +night had been passed, and said abruptly, pointing towards the cards +scattered on the carpet: + +"Did those things keep you wakeful?" + +He smiled complacently. + +"Nothing ever escapes your eye, dear lady. Well, I won't deny the +fact--we were playing cards a little. I was not absolutely fortunate," +he answered, with another disagreeable smile; "but you know the old +proverb--'Lucky in love, unlucky at cards,' so I never expect much from +the mischievous paste-boards." + +Her face flushed painfully to the very waves of her hair, then grew +whiter than before; she sank to a seat from positive inability to stand. + +"I have brought you no money," she said, abruptly, looking in his face +with sudden defiance. + +His brows contracted in an ugly frown, though his lips still retained +its smile--he looked dangerous. + +"That is bad, very," he said; "I wonder you should have come all the way +here to bring these unpleasant tidings!" + +Elizabeth did not answer; she had drawn towards the hearth and was +pushing the ashes back with the point of her shoe, gazing drearily into +the dying embers. + +"You received my letter?" he asked. + +"Yes--don't send in that way again, or let yourself be seen. You +frightened me so that I fell from my horse." + +"How sad! I should never have forgiven myself had any harm resulted from +it," he said, so gravely, that one could not tell whether he was in +earnest or mocking her. "You were not hurt--nothing unpleasant occurred! +I despaired of seeing you in the grounds after that, and so went away." + +She started up in sudden passion, goaded by his attempt at sympathy +beyond the power of prudence or self-control. + +"I wish I had been hurt," she exclaimed. "I could have borne being +maimed for life had I seen the brute's hoofs trampling you down as I +fell." + +He seated himself opposite her and looked earnestly in her face. These +bitter words did not seem to excite his anger--he was smiling still, and +his face wore a look of admiration which appeared to excite her still +more desperately. + +"You are so beautiful in one of these moods," he said; "don't restrain +yourself. What a Medea you would make!" + +She looked at him with a glance which had the menace of a hunted animal +brought suddenly to bay, and ready from very despair to defend +itself--in moments like that many a desperate woman has stained her soul +with crime--but her companion betrayed no uneasiness. + +"You don't like me to say complimentary things to you," he said; "it is +unkind to deprive me even of that pleasure." + +"I have no time to waste," she said, controlling herself by a strong +effort, and speaking in a cold, measured tone. "I came to tell you that +you must wait--I can't give you the money to-day--if you were successful +with those cards you can afford to be patient." + +"My dear friend," returned he, "you know how anxious I am--how I desire +to put the ocean between me and this accursed country." + +"You will not go when you get the money," she said; "you will drink, +gamble--leave yourself without a penny." + +"So harsh always in your judgments," he returned, deprecatingly. + +"I have no hope of escaping you," she went on; "but I have one +consolation--you are ruining me, and that will be your own destruction! +My husband suspects me--watches me--the day he discovers a shadow of the +truth, there is an end to these extortions." + +"Don't speak so angrily--my dear lady! I hardly think your husband would +refuse to listen to reason--your proud men will do a great deal to +procure silence where a lady is concerned." + +"You know that he would not be silent! With his home once broken up, his +peace destroyed, he would be utterly careless of the world's +knowledge--his wrongs and his revenge would lead him to desperate +measures." + +"Is it possible? What an unpleasant character! Well, well, we must take +pains that he is not enlightened--that is the way--you see how very +simple it is." + +"I warn you, this is the last money I shall give you for years," she +said; "it is only from having these stocks in my hands that I am able to +do it now." + +"My dear friend, you forget; your husband may give you more stocks," he +returned, with a laugh which made her shrink with abhorence. + +"Mr. Forbes has promised me the money this week--that will be in time +for the steamer." + +"How coldly you betray anxiety to have me gone!" he said; "it is really +cruel." + +"I have no idea that you will go," she returned; "you will spend the +money--you will demand more--my husband will discover it. But at least I +shall have the satisfaction of knowing that there is no place secret +enough, no land distant enough to guard your life safely after that." + +He only received her passionate words with a shrug of the shoulders and +a deprecating wave of the hand. + +"But it is so sad to go into exile alone," he said; "if I could take +with me----" + +"Oh! you are such a base, miserable coward!" she broke in. "Such a +pitiful, dastardly wretch! Don't frown at me--I have never been afraid +of you--I am not now! I tell you the hour of retribution will come!" + +His face never changed, he made her a gracious bow and said pleasantly: + +"You are inclined to do the prophetess this morning--but don't be such a +fearful Cassandra, I beg." + +She rose from her chair and folded her shawl about her. + +"I need stay here no longer," she said, "I have told you what I came to +say." + +"Don't be so cruel as to run away so soon," he pleaded; "give my poor +room the glory of your presence a little longer. You see to what I was +driven before I could force myself to trouble you again. These are not +proper apartments for a gentleman; you will admit I had an excuse. The +whole thing is miserably humiliating." + +"I shall be here on Monday," said Elizabeth, ignoring his excuses. "I +shall have the money ready for you, but I will not bring it--those +letters must be first placed in my hands." + +"Ah! you are going to drive a hard bargain, I see." + +"You have evaded so often, cheated me so often; I have given you +thousands of dollars--this is the last--take it--enough to make you +comfortable for years if you are careful; but the letters come into my +possession first, and that paper too." + +"You really mean to have your freedom, do you?" he asked, jestingly; "to +sweep me out of your life for ever; that is hard." + +"Don't think to cheat me; neither your forged writing or any pretence +will answer here. I tell you I am desperate now--you can't force me down +a step farther." + +"You are a magnificent woman!" he exclaimed; "a wonderful woman! I don't +believe the country could boast another such." + +She turned away. + +"Now you are angry. But let it pass." + +"Remember what I have said," retorted Elizabeth. "I tell you I am +desperate now! At least I shall have placed it out of your power to +injure any one but myself. I have reached that point when I will have +freedom from your persecutions or drag the ruin down on my own head +while crushing you." + +She was in terrible earnest--he was a sufficient judge of character to +see that. It was in her nature to grow so utterly desperate that, +whatever her secret might prove, she would find the courage to give it +up to her husband and madly urge on the crisis of her fate in all its +blackness and horror, rather than endure the slavery and suspense in +which she had lived. + +"There will be no need of all this," he said. "Place in my hands the sum +you have promised, and I will at once put it out of my own power to harm +you or yours. After all," he continued, with another sneering laugh, "I +am selling my claim much too cheaply; twenty-five thousand dollars is a +pitiful little sum, considering what I give up." + +"You can get no more--you cannot frighten me! If you betrayed everything +you would ruin your hopes of a single penny. I tell you my husband would +perish rather than buy your silence. I know him--he might shoot you down +like a dog, but would never pay gold to bind your vicious tongue." + +"Dear friend, I infinitely prefer transacting this little business with +you," he said, laughing again. "We shall not quarrel; for your sake I +will content myself with the twenty-five thousand dollars, but I warn +you I cannot wait after Monday." + +"I tell you it will be ready on that day." + +"The letters and that troublesome little document shall be placed in +your hands--I promise on----" + +She interrupted him contemptuously: "There is nothing you could swear by +that would make the oath worth hearing." + +The man bowed, as if she had paid him a compliment. He was so utterly +hardened that even her burning scorn could not affect him. + +"Don't write to me, don't send to me," she said; "it will only be +dangerous--more so for you than for me--remember that." + +"I can trust you; I have the utmost faith in your word." + +She gathered her shawl about her and moved towards the door. + +"Are you going already?" + +"That bracelet!" she said, with a sudden thought. "You parted with it of +course--could you get it back?" + +He shrugged his shoulders. + +"I received your note concerning it; we will see--very doubtful I fear. +But when I am once gone--even if your husband does discover it--there +will be no trouble." + +She turned her back on him. He started forward to open the door for her, +his hand touched hers on the knob, she started as if a scorpion had +stung her, but he only cast a smile in her face and allowed her to pass +out. + +"A wonderful woman!" he said to himself, after she had disappeared. +"What a pity she hates me so; the only woman in the world worth having +at your feet." + +He went to the table, searched among the bottles till he found one that +still contained brandy, poured the contents into a glass and drank with +feverish eagerness. + +"That'll put a little life in me," he muttered. "Well, there is nothing +for it but to wait. I must keep myself very quiet. I think I'll have +some breakfast--at any rate I can afford to leave this den." + +He pulled out a pocket-book with a laugh, glanced at the contents and +put it away. + +"Luck enough for a parlor and bed-room in the best uptown hotel for a +week or so," he muttered; "pah! how I loathe this hole!" + +North threw off his dressing-gown, bathed his face in cold water, +arranged his dress a little, and went down stairs in search of his +morning meal. + +Elizabeth Mellen hurried through the narrow street in which the hotel +stood, as if trying to walk herself into calmness. Once she murmured: + +"Five days more--five! If I can live through them and keep the tempest +back I may be safe. If I can! Such a dread at my heart--worse as the +time shortens--oh heavens, if discovery should come now when the haven +is so near!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +THE PAWNBROKER'S SHOP. + + +Weeks had glided along. It was now late autumn; the gorgeous leaves lay +strewn along the ground, and the wind sighed up from the ocean chill and +bleak, scattering thoughts of decay with each gust. With that gathering +desolation, the coldness and the shadows had crept deeper and deeper +into Grantley Mellen's life. + +He had accompanied Elizabeth to the city, one of these chilly autumn +days, and put her in a carriage at the ferry, that she might attend to +the purchases and calls which was her ostensible errand to town, while +he went about the business on hand, with an arrangement that they were +to meet in time for the afternoon boat. + +Elsie had chosen to pass the day at home; indeed, the light-hearted girl +and Elizabeth were never together now when it could possibly be avoided. +Elsie seemed determined to keep aloof from the mystery of the unhappy +woman's life, lest its gloominess should cast some shadow over the +brightness of her own path. + +While Elizabeth was absent on her mysterious visit, Mellen occupied +himself with a matter which would have added another trouble to the +anxiety of that bitter day, had she dreamed of it. From the first he had +determined that the disappearance of that gauntlet bracelet should be in +some way explained, if it lay in human power to discover the mystery. +What his precise motive was he could hardly have told. The trinket might +have been picked up by some vagabond who had wandered into the grounds; +if so there was little hope of ever gaining any tidings concerning it, +but Mellen could not satisfy himself that such was the case; he believed +the jewel would yet be found. + +There was some mystery in Elizabeth's life--of that irksome suspicion he +could not divest himself. Twenty times each day he went over in his mind +every event that had occurred since his return, from the moment when he +came upon her wandering so wildly about on that stormy night. + +Twenty times each day he convinced himself that there was nothing in the +whole catalogue to awaken the slightest doubt in any mind not given up +to self-torture and jealousy like his; yet, argue as he would, bring +conviction as closely home to his soul as he might, doubts rose up again +and haunted him like ghosts that had no power to speak, but pointed +always towards trouble and blackness which lay in the past. + +If the bracelet had been given to a needy person for any reason, it +would undoubtedly find its way to the hands of some pawnbroker--that was +his thought. He reproached himself for indulging it--he called himself +unworthy the love of any woman while he could harbor such suspicions, +but they would not pass out of his mind--the treachery which had wrecked +his youth had sown the seeds of suspicion too deeply in his soul to be +easily eradicated. + +Then he compounded with his conscience, and decided that he was right in +taking every step possible to solve these doubts, if only to prove the +innocence of his wife. He kept repeating to himself that this was the +reason which urged him on. + +"I want to be convinced," he thought again and again, "of my own +injustice--it is right that I should endure this self-abasement as a +punishment for doubting a woman who is beyond suspicion." + +Solacing his self-reproaches a little by such arguments and reflections, +he had gone to work in earnest to make such discoveries as would drive +these harassing doubts away forever. + +Among other efforts, he had confided to a leading pawnbroker the details +of the affair, and it was in him that his hopes principally lay. If the +bracelet was not brought to this man's establishment he had means of +discovering if it was carried elsewhere. + +That day Mr. Hollywell had news for him; a bracelet similar to the one +he had described, was in the possession of an old Chatham street Jew, +and they went together in search of this man. + +The old Israelite was dreadfully afraid of getting himself into +difficulty, but Mr. Hollywell satisfied his fears in regard to that, and +assured him that the gentleman would reward him liberally for any +disclosures that he might make regarding this particular bracelet. + +Then it came out that the bracelet had been disposed of for a +considerable sum--it was a sale rather than a deposit. The man who +brought it there had more than once come to the shop on similar errands; +and always pledged valuable ornaments or sold them recklessly for +whatever would satisfy the needs of the moment. + +Mr. Mellen grew more interested when he described the man's appearance; +the keen eyes of the money-lender and the sharp sight of the old Jew, +accustomed to reading countenances, saw a singular expression of +uncertainty rested upon his face, which took a slow, deadly paleness as +the identity of this man seemed to strike him. + +He walked several times up and down the little den where the aged +Israelite kept watch, like a bloated spider ready to pounce upon any +unwary fly that might venture into his mesh, and at last returned to the +place where the two men were standing. + +"Have you any of that man's writing?" he asked. "Just a scrap--I don't +ask to see his name--only a few words in his writing." + +The old Jew looked doubtful. + +"Sometimes he has write me, my good sare, but not often, he ish very +careful--very careful." + +"And have you nothing by you?" + +The old Jew turned to a great desk that filled up one end of the dark +room, unlocked a variety of doors and drawers, turned over piles of +dirty notes, and at last selected a scrap of paper from among them. + +"This is his writin'," he said, in a guttural whisper. "I'm taking great +trouble, great trouble," he whined; "de good gentleman ought to remember +that." + +"You shall be well rewarded," said Mr. Mellen impatiently, snatching the +paper from his hand. + +He glanced at the writing--the paleness of his face grew death-like--he +stood like a statue, with his eyes rivetted upon the page, while the two +men regarded him in silence. + +The writing was peculiar. It had an individuality so marked and so +increased by practice, that any person who had seen a page of the +delicate characters, could have sworn to the writing among whole +volumes. + +Mr. Mellen looked up--the astonishment in his companions' faces brought +him to himself. + +"That is what I wanted," he said. + +"I hopes it ish all right," urged the Jew. "The good gentleman is +satisfied!" + +"Perfectly, perfectly! Now I want the bracelet! How much did you receive +on it?" + +The old Jew's face changed at once. + +"And I won't get my reward?" he faltered. "You will sheat a poor man's +out of his earnings." + +"Who talks of cheating you," said Mr. Hollywell. + +"I am ready to pay you," pursued Mr. Mellen; "I would rather give double +the price of the bracelet than not get it." + +Mr. Hollywell made a sign of caution; such words would increase the old +rascal's cupidity to a height money could hardly satisfy, but they were +interrupted by a groan from the Jew. + +"And it ish gone!" cried he; "and so leetle paid--so leetle paid. The +good gentleman would have given more." + +"Gone!" repeated Mr. Mellen. + +"Why didn't you say so?" asked Mr. Hollywell angrily. "It was only +yesterday you told me it was safe in your possession." + +"Yes, yes, I knows, and so I had." + +"Where is it, then?" + +"The man came for it--he has brought his ticket, paid his money and took +the bracelet; I was out--my boy let him have it! Oh, my reward--my +reward!" + +"Shut your foolish old mouth!" exclaimed Mr. Hollywell. + +The old Jew sank into a chair, still groaning and lamenting, while the +money-lender turned to Mr. Mellen. + +"What will you do now, sir?" he asked. + +"Nothing." + +He looked despondent now, though the fierce anger that had blazed in his +face at the first sight of the writing lighted it up still. + +"I am perfectly satisfied," he continued. "I am much obliged to you for +your trouble." + +"I am very sorry," Mr. Hollywell began, but Mellen checked him. + +"It is just as well--don't be troubled." + +He took out his pocket-book, laid down a bank note whose value made the +old Jew's eyes sparkle with avidity, and hurried out of the dark little +shop. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +TEASING CONTINUALLY. + + +All the next day the house at Piney Cove was in confusion with guests +coming and going. This husband and wife were not once left alone. + +Mrs. Harrington had come up to spend the day, and go out with them in +the evening, and Tom Fuller was at his post as usual, though he appeared +with a very blank face indeed. + +"You look more like Don Quixote than ever," was Elsie's salutation, as +he entered the room, where she sat with Elizabeth and their guests. + +"How do you do, Mr. Fuller?" cried the widow. "I wonder you have any +patience at all with that little witch; she teases you constantly; I am +sure you must be amiability itself." + +"She won't have the chance for some time to come, more's the pity," +returned Tom, disconsolately. + +"And why not, pray?" demanded Elsie. + +"Because I've got to go to Pittsburg, and flounder about in coal mines, +and the Lord knows what." + +"Have you business there?" asked Elizabeth. + +"Yes, to be sure! Bless me, I was better off when I had no property. I +could do as I pleased then, and didn't have to go about breaking my neck +in pits, and bothering over all sorts of business that I understand no +more than the man in the moon--taking care of my interests as they call +it." + +"Poor, unfortunate victim!" mocked Elsie. + +"The penalty of riches," sighed Mrs. Harrington. "But think of the good +they bring to yourself and all about you, Mr. Fuller." + +"Yes, I know," returned he; "I'm an ungrateful wretch; it's in my +nature; I need to have my head punched twenty times a day, there's no +doubt of that." + +They all laughed at his energy; even Elizabeth tried to come out of her +anxious thoughts, and confine her wandering fancies to the conversation. + +"When are you going, Tom?" she asked. + +"Oh, to-morrow." + +"He speaks as if it were the Day of Judgment," said Elsie. + +"And I may be gone a whole week or more," pursued he. + +"A small eternity," cried Elsie. "Dear me, dear me, how we all pity +you." + +"I don't believe you care a straw," said Tom, dismally; "you won't miss +me." + +"He wants to be flattered," cried Elsie. + +"I am sure you will be missed, dear Mr. Fuller," said the widow; "you +wrong your friends by a suspicion so cruel." + +"I hope so, I'm sure," returned Tom, glancing at Elsie; but she was in +one of her mischievous moods, and would not give him a gleam of +consolation. + +"Don't spoil him, Mary Harrington," said she; "the creature's vanity is +becoming inordinate; isn't it, Bessie?" + +"You can ill-treat him sufficiently without my assistance," said Mrs. +Mellen, smiling; "I shall not help you, certainly." + +"That is right, Bess," cried Tom; "stand by a fellow a little; she +hasn't a spark of pity." + +"Take care, sir!" said Elsie, lifting her embroidery scissors. "Don't +try to win my natural allies over to your side by underhand +persuasions." + +"I am sure you don't need allies or assistance of any sort to be more +than a match for a dozen men," said Tom. + +"Another of my womanly prerogatives," replied Elsie. + +"Well," said Tom, "there seems to be no end to them." + +Everybody laughed at his tone, and Tom sat down near Elsie, tumbling her +work, and making signs to her to go out of the room, that he might +secure a few moments alone with her, but the little witch pretended not +to understand his signals in the least, and went on demurely with her +work. + +"You ruin my work!" cried she, snatching her embroidery from his touch. +"What on earth are you making such faces for?" + +Tom laughed in a distressed way, red with confusion. + +"Dazzled by your presence, Elsie," cried the widow, seeing that Tom had +not presence of mind enough for the compliment. + +Elizabeth began to get restless again; it was perfectly impossible for +her to keep quiet any length of time that day, and she made some excuse +for leaving them. + +"Let me go with you," said Mrs. Harrington; "I know you are going to +order luncheon, and I should so like to get a peep at your kitchen; it +is a perfect Flemish picture." + +"Particularly the crowd of dusky faces," said Elsie. "Mary Harrington, +you're a humbug." + +"I am sure she is quite right," said Tom, anxious to insure her +departure; "I was in the kitchen one day and it looked as picturesque as +Niagara." + +Elsie perfectly understood the motive which led him to speak, and +hastened to rejoin: + +"If you think it so stupendous you had better accompany them, and get +another peep." + +"No," said Tom; "I might disturb the colored persons; I'll stay where I +am." + +"Bless me," cried Elsie; "what consideration! You will be bursting into +unpremeditated poetry about the dark future, before we know it." + +"Oh, Elsie," said Mrs. Harrington, "what a provoking creature you are." + +She followed Elizabeth out of the room, and Tom was alone at last with +his idol. + +"Are you sorry I am going?" he asked. + +"Do I look so?" she asked. + +"No, you don't." + +"Well, looks can't tell fibs," said she, provokingly. + +"Oh, Elsie, be good to me now; just think; I shall be gone a whole +week!" + +"It's a calamity I dare not contemplate," replied she. "Now, whatever +you do, don't break your neck in those horrid coal mines, or come back +smelling of brimstone like a theatrical fiend." + +"I believe you would jest during an earthquake." + +"If it would stop the thing shaking I might," she answered. "There, +there, don't be cross, Tom." + +Elsie threw down her work, and with one of her quick changes of manner +brought her lover back to serenity. + +"If you would only let me do one thing before I go," he said, getting +courage enough from her kindness to propose an idea that had been in his +mind ever since he arrived. + +"What is it, _Monsieur Exigeant_?" + +"Just let me tell Grant of our--our--" + +"Our what, stammerer?" + +"Of the happiness you have promised me," said Tom, changing the original +word from fear of vexing her. + +"You were going to say engagement; don't deny it." + +"And aren't we engaged?" he pleaded. + +"Not a bit of it, Mr. Tom Fuller; I am just as free as air; please to +remember that." + +"Oh, Elsie!" + +"And Elsie oh!" cried she. "But it's true! You said all sorts of foolish +things about love, and I let you talk, but what right have you to say we +are engaged?" + +Tom instantly became so nervous that he could not sit still. + +"Oh, Elsie, Elsie, how can you?" he pleaded. + +"Now, aren't you deliciously miserable," said Elsie; "that is the way I +like to see you; it's your duty, sir." + +"I wouldn't think you so cruel at such a time." + +"Oh, wouldn't you? And pray what right have you to think at all; no man +has a right; that's another female privilege." + +"You are worse than the Women's Rights people," said he. + +"Now you are calling me names," cried Elsie, indignantly. "I won't stay +with you another moment." + +She half rose, but Tom caught her dress. + +"Oh, don't go, don't!" + +"Go on your knees then, and beg my pardon," said Elsie. + +"No," said Tom, "I'll do no such thing." + +"Ah, do now, just to please, you know." + +Down went Tom in dumb obedience. After enjoying his distress and +penitence for a few moments, Elsie suddenly threw both her arms about +his neck, and whispered: + +"I am very sorry you are going. I do love you dearly, Tom!" + +He strained her to his heart with a burst of grateful delight. + +"And may I tell Grant?" he pleaded. + +"Not yet," she said; "wait till you come back; not a word till then." + +"But as soon as I come?" + +"Yes; if you are good. But not a look till I say the word." + +She tried to escape from him, but he would not let her go until he had +extorted one other pledge. + +"You must write to me," he said. + +"Now, Tom, I hate to write letters! I never write even to Grant, when I +can possibly help it." + +"But just a few words--" + +"If you will behave yourself properly, perhaps yes." + +"Every day?" + +"Oh, worse and worse! Tom, get up. I hear Mary Harrington's voice; she's +the most inveterate gossip." + +"Promise then!" + +"Yes--yes--anything; oh, get away!" + +She struggled from him, and Tom had just time to resume his seat and +look as decorously grave as perfect happiness could permit, when the +door opened, and Mrs. Harrington entered, with her usual flutter. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +THE PET MESSENGER. + + +"Elsie, Elsie!" the widow cried out, "Mr. Rhodes and the fascinating +Jemima are driving up the avenue; the old maid is rushing on destruction +again without the slightest warning." + +"It's delightful!" said Elsie. "I shall tell her how rich Tom Fuller is, +and that he wants a wife." + +"Don't set the old dragon at me," said Tom. + +"Yes, I will! Mary, you must flirt desperately with the dear old man; +between her desire to watch you and be agreeable to Tom, the spinster +will be driven to the verge of distraction." + +"I'll go and find Elizabeth," said the widow, "and appear after the old +maid gets nicely settled." + +Mrs. Harrington darted away, and just made her escape as Dolf opened the +hall-door to admit the guests. + +The father and daughter were ushered into the room where Elsie and Tom +sat, looking demure and harmless as two kittens. + +"Here we are again, you see," said the stout man; "no one can resist +your fascinations, Miss Elsie." + +"Pa would stop," said Miss Jemima, "though I told him it was a shame to +come so often." + +The truth was, the spinster's appetite had warned her that it was quite +luncheon time, and recollecting the bounteous repasts always spread at +Piney Cove, she had graciously assented to her parent's proposal that +they should call. + +"I am delighted to see you," said Elsie, shaking hands as if they were +her dearest friends; "my brother and sister will be down in a moment; +you must stay to luncheon, of course." + +"No, oh, no," said Miss Jemima, glancing at Tom through her scant +eyelashes. "We couldn't think of it!" + +"But you must, you shall!" said Elsie. "Let me present Mr. Fuller." + +The spinster curtseyed and looked grimly propitious. Tom was nearly out +of his wits; while Mr. Rhodes talked to him he saw Elsie whisper to Miss +Jemima, and felt perfectly certain that she had given the threatened +information about his being a rich bachelor in search of a wife. + +"And when did you see your charming friend, Mrs. Harrington, last?" +asked Mr. Rhodes. + +"The oddest thing!" said Elsie. "Why, she is here now; hadn't you a +suspicion of it, Mr. Rhodes?" + +Miss Jemima's face changed so suddenly, that Tom made a great effort to +keep from laughing outright. + +"Oh, Mr. Rhodes," continued Elsie; "I am afraid the attractions of this +house are only borrowed ones." + +The good man was thrown into a state of blushing and pleasant confusion, +but the spinster brought him through it without mercy. + +"If there's company we won't stay, pa," said she. + +But Elsie would not permit her to go; she whispered again about Tom, and +between her desire to stop long enough to fascinate him and her fear of +exposing her father to the wiles of the artful widow, Jemima was in +terrible perplexity. + +In the midst of it Elizabeth entered, and welcomed her neighbors; Mellen +followed; and after a few moments the widow swooped down on the +unfortunate Mr. Rhodes in spite of the dragon, as a well-practised hawk +pounces on a plump chicken. + +"Ah, Mr. Rhodes, this is such a surprise," she cried, fluttering up to +him with a simper on her face, which of late years had done the duty of +a blush. + +"I dare say a great surprise," snapped in Jemima, siding up to her +father. + +This was exquisite sport for Elsie and Mrs. Harrington; Tom would have +enjoyed it more if the spinster had not beset him as much as her divided +attention would permit, and Elizabeth and Mellen bore the infliction as +people must endure all things that come to an issue in their own house, +smiling and polite, however much they may wish for a release. + +While they were at luncheon, Elizabeth's dog ran into the room with a +paper in its mouth. It was the most intelligent little creature in the +world, educated to fetch and carry in a surprising manner. + +This pretty creature, which seemed almost human in her intelligence, ran +towards her mistress, but another, a new pet of Elsie's, a frolicsome, +wicked animal that had quite worried poor Fanny's life out ever since +her intrusion in the house, followed it. + +Piccolomini sprang at the paper in Fan's mouth, and a contention ensued +between them which attracted general attention. + +"Fanny's got a paper," cried Elsie, pointing towards her pets. + +"It may be a letter," said Mellen; "Dolf often sends them in by her; +call off Pick, Elsie; she'll tear it." + +But Pick would not be called off, and Fanny refused to relinquish her +hold; between them the paper was rapidly destroyed, Fanny howling +dismally all the time, and making sagacious efforts to fulfil her errand +in her usual trusty manner. + +Mellen went towards them; as he did so Fanny sprang towards Elizabeth; +she stooped, caught sight of the paper, and grew pale. Fairly pushing +Mellen aside, she snatched the paper from the animal's mouth. + +"It's only an old bill, I must have dropped it," she said, thrusting it +hurriedly in her pocket. + +Mellen saw how pale his wife had become; he noticed her alarm; he +remembered, too, seeing Fanny running about the shrubbery just before he +came in. + +It was another phase of the mystery, he was certain of that; the little +creature was carrying a note to his wife. He seated himself at the table +again, and appeared to forget the circumstance, but Elizabeth hardly +looked like herself during the entire meal. + +It was late before the visitors departed; after that Tom Fuller was +compelled to take his leave,--a heartrending performance as far as he +was concerned; so the day drew to a close, leaving both the husband and +wife more preoccupied and anxious than the dreary morning had found +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +ELSIE FINDS THE BRACELET. + + +There was a dinner engagement the next day. When Elizabeth came down to +the library in full dress, her husband sat moodily over the fire. He +looked up as she entered, and gazed upon her with mournful admiration, +for her beauty that day was something wonderful; unabated excitement had +fired her eyes with a strange lustre, and lent a rich scarlet to cheeks, +from which protracted suspense had of late drained all the color. Her +dress, of rose colored silk, was misty with delicate lace that shaded +her neck and arms like gossamer on white lilies. Star-like jewels +flashed in the rich blackness of her hair and shone through the soft +lace. The calm loveliness of former days was nothing to the splendor of +her beauty now a feverish restlessness was upon her,--a glow of pain +conquered by courage. + +Mellen arose from his seat as his wife came in with the graceful rush of +a cloud across the sky. He watched her approach gloomily. It seemed to +him that her first impulse was to flee when she saw him sitting there, +but if so the desire was quickly controlled, and she came up to the +hearth, standing so near him that the folds of her dress brushed his +arm. + +"You are ready too," she said. "But it is impossible to say how long we +shall have to wait for Elsie and Mrs. Harrington!" + +He made no answer; she began clasping and unclasping her bracelets, but +was watching him all the while from under her downcast lashes. + +"Are you ill, Grantley?" she asked at length. + +"Oh! no; quite well." + +"You are so silent, and you sat there in such a dreary way, I feared +something was the matter." + +He made an effort to rouse himself and shake off the oppression--the +heavy, heavy weight which had lain on his soul all day. + +"I am only stupid," he replied, with an attempt at playfulness. "I have +been forced to talk so incessantly to those people, that I have no ideas +left." + +"I am sure conversation with people in general doesn't consume one's +ideas," she said, with a lightness which appeared forced like his own. + +"How long does Mrs. Harrington stay?" he asked. + +"Only till to-morrow. You don't like her, I fancy?" + +"There is too much of her in every way," he said, peevishly; "she +dresses too much, talks too much--she tires one." + +"That is very cruel and ungrateful; the lady confided to me only a +little while ago that she had a profound admiration for you, and was +dying to get up a flirtation, if I did not mind." + +"Don't repeat such nonsense," he said, almost rudely, "you know how I +hate it. I think either the married man or woman who flirts, deserves to +be as severely punished as if he or she had committed an actual crime." + +"I am afraid you would condemn the greater part of our acquaintance," +she said. "After all, with most women it arises only from +thoughtlessness." + +"Thoughtlessness!" he repeated satirically. "I can only say that the +woman who endangers her husband's peace from want of thought, is more +culpable than a person who does wrong knowingly, urged on by +recklessness or passion." + +"I have never thought about it," said Elizabeth vaguely; "it may be so." + +She was playing with her bracelets again; the action reminded him of the +lost trinket. He did not speak, but a restrained burst of passion broke +over his face, which might have changed a plan she was revolving in her +mind, had she seen or understood it. + +It was too late! + +That moment Elsie came dancing into the room, her thin evening dress +floating around her like a summer cloud, her fair hair wreathed with +flowers, and everything about her so pure and ethereal, that it seemed +almost as if she must breathe some more joyous air than the +pain-freighted atmosphere which weighed so heavily on others. She was +holding her hands behind her, and ran towards them in her childish way, +exclaiming: + +"I have found something! Who'll give a reward? Won't you both be +glad--guess what it is!" + +Mellen's face had brightened a little at her entrance, but as she spoke +a sudden thought shook his soul like a tempest. + +"What is it?" Elizabeth asked. + +"Oh, guess, guess!" + +"But I never can guess," she replied, seeming to enter into the spirit +of the thing. + +"You try, Grant. Come, do credit to your Yankee descent!" + +He rose suddenly and stood looking full in his wife's face, fixing her +glance with a quick thrill of terror, which the least thing unusual in +his manner caused her now. + +Elsie began to dance up and down before the hearth, exclaiming: + +"Oh! you provoking things--you stupid owls! Now do guess--oh! Grant, +just try. Tell me what I have found." + +Mellen's eyes had not moved from his wife's face. + +"Have you found Elizabeth's bracelet?" he asked in a tone which made the +unhappy woman shiver from head to foot, and startled Elsie out of her +playfulness. + +"Why, how did you think of that?" demanded Elsie; "did she tell you? +Have you----" + +She stopped short, the words frozen on her lips by the look which +Grantley Mellen still fixed upon his wife. Without changing that steady +gaze, he extended his hand towards Elsie. + +"Give me the bracelet!" he said, in the cold, hard tone which, with him, +was the sure forerunner of a tempest of passion. + +Elsie hesitated; she had grown nearly as pale as Elizabeth herself, but +she looked like a frightened child. Elizabeth did not speak or move, but +though her face was absolutely death-like, her eyes met her husband's +with unflinching firmness. + +"Give me the bracelet!" repeated Mellen. + +"Here it is!" exclaimed Elsie, nervously, putting the bracelet in his +hand. "What is the matter with you, Grant? I am sure there is nothing to +make a fuss about. I found the bracelet among a lot of rubbish in one of +Bessie's drawers--I suppose she forgot it was there." + +Grantley Mellen turned furiously towards her. + +"Are you learning to cheat and lie also?" he said. + +Elsie burst into a passionate flood of tears. + +"You are just as cruel and bad as you can be!" she moaned. "You ought to +be ashamed to talk so to me! I haven't done anything; I thought you +would be so pleased at my having found the bracelet, and here you behave +in this way. You needn't blame me, Grant--I don't know what it all +means! I am sure your dear mamma never thought you would speak to me +like that! I wish I was dead and buried by her--then you'd be sorry----" + +"I am not angry with you, child," interrupted Mellen, softened at once +by this childish appeal. "Go away and find Mrs. Harrington, Elsie. The +falsehood and the treachery are not yours--thank God! at least my own +blood has not turned traitor to me!" + +Elizabeth sank slowly in a chair; Elsie stole one frightened look +towards her, then the woman in her confusion and dizziness saw her float +out of the room, and she was alone with her husband. He held the +bracelet up before her eyes, his hand shaking so that the jewels flashed +balefully in the light. + +"Your plan was carried out too late; you should have had it found +before!" he said, and his last effort at self-control was swept away. + +She must speak--must try to stem the tide, and keep back a little longer +the exposure and ruin which for days back some mysterious warning had +told her was surely approaching. + +"I don't know what you mean," she faltered. + +"I mean that the bracelet was found where you put it!" interrupted +Mellen. + +"Why should I have hidden it? What reason--" + +"Stop!" he broke in. "Not another word--not a single falsehood more! You +brought this bracelet back with you from the city--don't speak--I went +to the pawnbroker's--it had just been taken away." + +In the whirl of that unhappy woman's senses the words seemed to come +from afar off; the lights were dancing before her eyes; the flashing +gems blinded her with their rays, but she still controlled herself. She +must make one last effort--she must discover how much of the truth he +knew--there might be some loophole for escape--some effort by which she +could avert a little longer the coming earthquake. + +"Why don't you speak?" he cried. "Say anything--another lie if you +will--anything rather than this black truth! That man; you know him! +Speak, I say!" + +"What man?" she faltered. + +"That traitor--that wretch! He had the bracelet; he got it from you! +Explain, I say--woman, I will have an explanation." + +"I never gave the bracelet away," she said, desperately. "I have no +explanation to make. I will not open my lips while you stand over me in +that threatening way." + +"Will you defy me to the last?" he exclaimed. + +"You can only kill me," she moaned; "do it and let me have peace!" + +He flung the bracelet down upon the table. + +"I have loved you, and I know that you are false!" + +"What do you suspect?" she demanded. "What do you know?" + +The momentary weakness of passion passed; the husband stood up again +cold and stern. + +"I know," he said, "that this bracelet was in the hands of a bad, wicked +man; only yesterday he took it from the pawnbroker's, and now I find it +in your possession." + +There was a hope; only in another deception; but she must save herself; +while there was a thread to grasp at, she could not allow herself to be +swept down the gathering storm. + +"And is there no possibility that I may be innocent in all this?" she +exclaimed. "If I receive an anonymous letter, telling me I can find my +bracelet by paying a certain reward, is it not natural that I should go? +Knowing your strange disposition, is it not equally natural that I +should keep the whole thing a secret, and strive to make every one +believe that the bracelet had been mislaid." + +"Is this true?" he cried. "Can you prove to me that you speak the +truth?" + +She was not looking at him; the apathy of despair which came over her +seemed like sullen obstinacy. + +"I can prove nothing," she said; "if it were possible I would not make +the effort. Do what you like; believe what you please; I will defend +myself no more." + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +IN THE TEMPEST. + + +Mellen turned away, and walked up and down the room in silence. There +was a fearful struggle in his mind; the love he still felt for his wife +was contending against horrible doubts, and almost threatening his +reason. + +He could not decide what to think or how to act! For the moment at least +he was glad to grasp at any pretext which might prove a settlement to +the question, whatever his thoughts and belief might be on after +reflection. + +He looked again at Elizabeth; her stony calmness irritated him almost to +a frenzy. He was too much excited to perceive that her very quiet was +the apathy of despair; it seemed to him that she was only testing her +power over him to its full extent. If her story was true, she would die +rather than humble her pride by protestations or proof; if it was false! +There was deceit somewhere, he felt that; but even in his madness he +could not believe that Elizabeth had been guilty of anything that +affected his honor; that was a black thought which had not reached him +yet. + +"Are you determined to drive me mad?" he exclaimed. + +She lifted both hands with a strange gesture of misery and humiliation, +which he could not have understood. + +"What have I done?" she cried. "What have I said?" + +"Nothing! There you sit like a stone, and will not speak." + +"It is useless to say anything," she returned; "quite useless." + +"And you expect me to leave this matter here; to endure this mystery +patiently?" + +"I expect nothing--nothing!" + +The same dreary, desperate wail pervaded her voice, but it was not +strange that he mistook her coldness for obstinacy or indifference; the +very intensity of agony she was enduring made her appear heartless. + +"You won't explain--you won't--" + +She drooped her head wearily. + +"I have no explanation to make; there is the bracelet." + +He caught up the bracelet, snatched her arm so rudely, and fastened the +bracelet on it with such reckless haste, that she uttered a cry of pain. + +"You hurt me," she exclaimed; "this is cruel, unmanly." + +"Wear it," he cried; "wear it, and when you look at it remember that you +have dug a gulf between my heart and yours! Wear it, and remember how +you have perjured yourself; how your whole conduct since my return has +been a lie, and if you have any shame or power of repentance left, the +gems will burn into your very soul when you look at them." + +Elizabeth fell back in her chair cold and white. He rushed out of the +room. She was not conscious of any thought; her brain was too dizzy; but +sat there clasping her forehead between her hands, and seeming to feel +the whole world reel into darkness before her gaze. + +"Has he gone; where is he?" + +It was Elsie's voice; she had stolen into the room to learn how the +matter had ended. + +"Can't you speak, Bessie; what did he say?" + +Elizabeth dropped the hands from her face, and rose from her seat. + +"No matter what he said; the end is coming. I told you it would; the end +is coming!" + +"Don't look so!" cried Elsie, "you frighten me." + +"Frighten!" she repeated with intense bitterness. "You haven't soul +enough in your bosom to be frightened." + +"Oh, you cruel, wicked creature!" sobbed Elsie. "Oh, oh! I'll kill +myself if you talk so to me; I'll go to Grant; I'll--" + +"Hush!" interrupted Elizabeth. "There--I will say no more! I don't blame +you--remember that! Whatever comes, I won't blame you for this new +danger." + +"Oh, you good, unselfish darling!" cried Elsie, drying her tears at +once. + +She made a step forward as if to throw her arms about her sister, but +Elizabeth retreated. + +"Don't touch me," she said, faintly; "don't touch me!" + +"Should I poison you?" cried Elsie, angrily. "One would think I was some +dreadful reptile." + +"No, no; don't be angry! I need all my strength! Let me alone, Elsie; +don't speak to me." + +"The carriage is at the door," said Elsie, "and Mrs. Harrington is +waiting; for mercy's sake don't let her think anything is wrong. I am +going to find Grant; wait here." + +She ran out of the room, and Elizabeth stood thinking over her words. + +Very soon perhaps the whole world would know that she was a lost, ruined +woman, without a home, a friend, or even a name. + +Could she bear up; could she find strength to go on to the end and not +die till then? + +The hardness and desperation died out of her face; she fell to her +knees, and a prayer for help rose to her lips; low and faint, but +intense with agony. + +She heard steps in the hall; they were coming for her. She sprang to her +feet, moved towards the door and opened it; her husband, Elsie and their +guest were there. She answered Mrs. Harrington's careless words; passed +on with them through the hall, and took her misery out into the world as +we all do so often, hidden carefully in the depths of a tortured soul. + +At dinner that day Elizabeth met two or three superior people from the +city, men and women of note, whose presence at the board was like meteor +flashes--kindling everything with brilliancy; but among the most +cheerful and most witty this wretched woman shone forth preëminent. +Every word she spoke carried electric fire with it. Her cheeks were +scarlet; her eyes radiant. The lips that had been so pale in her +husband's presence a few hours before, glowed like ripe cherries with +the sunshine upon them. In her desperation she was inspired, and kindled +every mind around her with enthusiasm. + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +THE OLD CEDAR TREE. + + +Immediately after breakfast the next morning, Mrs. Harrington returned +to the city, perhaps glad to escape from the unnatural mental atmosphere +of the house, certainly much to the relief of all the inmates of the +dwelling. + +Grantley Mellen drove his guest down to the railway train. The moment +they departed Elizabeth and Elsie, as if by a common impulse, started in +a different direction, apparently anxious not to be left alone with each +other. + +Elsie was passing through the hall when her brother drove up to the +door. She stopped him after he got out of the carriage for a few +moments' trifling conversation, then allowed him to pass on towards the +library. + +As the girl fluttered back towards the veranda, she saw old Jarvis +Benson approaching the house, and hurried out. + +"Oh, Jarvis, I wanted to see you." + +Jarvis took the pipe out of his mouth, regarded her complacently, and +answered: + +"Then thar's a pair on you, Miss Mellen." + +"I want to have a pair of very light oars made to the little boat, so +that I can learn to row it," pursued Elsie. + +"That's easy done," said Jarvis. "I guess I've got a pair that'll +answer. Only don't dround yourself." + +"I'll take care of that," she replied, laughing. "But who else wants +you, Jarvis?" + +"Your brother told me to come up, and--oh, there he is." + +Mr. Mellen had heard voices, and came through the hall out on the +veranda. + +"Good morning, Jarvis!" he said, in his quiet way. + +"Good morning, sir! You don't look very well, I think," observed the +keen-sighted old man. + +Elsie glanced at her brother; he was very pale, and his heavy eyes told +of a long, sleepless night. + +Mr. Mellen frowned slightly; it displeased him to have his personal +appearance commented upon, and wounded his pride to know that he had not +sufficient strength to keep back every outward sign of the anxiety and +trouble he was enduring. + +"Be you well, now?" continued the pertinacious old man, who had a habit +of asking questions and expressing his opinions with the utmost freedom +to people of every degree. + +"Perfectly well," replied Mr. Mellen. "You have come up about that tree, +have you?" + +"Wal, yes," said Jarvis. "I hadn't much to do this morning, so I thought +I'd just come round and find out what's the matter. You hain't found no +gardener yet?" + +"No; I have sent to town for one. You have sufficient knowledge to keep +the greenhouse in order until one is found." + +"Just as you say, sir; I'll do my best." + +The gardener at Piney Cove had seen fit to leave the place a few days +before without the slightest warning, with the true, reckless +independence of the Hibernian race. When a dilemma of this kind arose, +the people of the neighborhood were in the habit of sending for old +Benson, who seemed, in some mysterious way, to have acquired a +smattering of knowledge about everything that could make him generally +useful. + +Elsie did not feel particularly interested in the subject of +conversation, and was moving off in search of other amusement, when she +heard old Jarvis say: + +"It's the big cypress yonder, in the thicket, ain't it?" + +She stopped short in the hall, and stood leaning against the door with +her back towards them. + +"Yes," Mr. Mellen answered. "I am afraid it is dying. I want you to dig +about the roots and see if you can find out where the trouble lies." + +"Loosening the earth a bit'll maybe do a world of good," said Jarvis; +"I've seen it 'liven a tree right up." + +"We will try, at all events," observed Mr. Mellen. "First you may take +those plants under the library window into the greenhouse; it is too +late for them to be left out." + +He walked to the side of the house to point out the flowers he wished to +have removed. Elsie darted through the hall and up the stairs in +breathless haste. + +She paused at the door of her sister's room and tried the knob, but the +bolt was drawn. + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" she called out in a frightened whisper, utterly +incapable of speaking aloud. "Open the door--for heaven's sake, open the +door!" + +There was terror in her voice which communicated itself to the woman +sitting so apathetically in her chamber. She rose and opened the door, +whispering, in a voice full of alarm: + +"What is it? What is it?" + +Elsie pushed her back into the room, shut and locked the door, and +staggered to a couch. + +"The cypress tree!" she gasped. "They are going there." + +"Who?" cried Elizabeth. "What do you mean?" + +"I can't speak--oh, I am choking!" gasped Elsie. + +Elizabeth seized her arm, and fairly shook her with frenzied impatience. + +"Speak!" she exclaimed. "Speak, I say!" + +"Grant has sent old Jarvis to dig about the roots," returned Elsie, in a +shrill whisper. + +Elizabeth Mellen sank slowly upon her knees, her limbs giving way +suddenly, as if she had been struck with paralysis. She caught at +Elsie's dress, the girl raised herself, and there they remained for +several moments, staring in each others' faces, with a white, sickening +terror, which could find no relief in words. + +After a time Elizabeth shook herself free from Elsie's grasp and rose; +the power to think and act was coming back to her. + +"You heard them say this?" she asked. + +"Yes, yes!" cried Elsie. "Grant sent for old Jarvis to come up and dig +round the tree; he thinks it is dying." + +Elizabeth threw up her arms in silence, more expressive of agony than a +shriek. + +"It has come at last!" broke from her white lips. "It has come at last!" + +Elsie cowered down upon the sofa and buried her head in the cushions, +shaking with hysterical tremors from head to foot, and uttering +repressed sobs. + +"Exposure--ruin--disgrace!" moaned Elizabeth, as if repeating words that +some secret voice whispered in her ear. "It has come at last! It has +come at last!" + +"I shall die!" shrieked Elsie. "I shall go mad!" + +She beat the couch wildly with her clenched hands and gave way to a +violent nervous spasm, but this time Elizabeth made no effort to soothe +her; she stood there, cold and white, repeating at intervals, in that +dismal whisper: + +"It has come at last! It has come at last!" + +"Do something," sobbed Elsie. "Don't stand there as if you were turning +to stone. Think of some way to stop them." + +"What can I do?" returned Elizabeth. "I tell you it has come! I knew it, +I have been expecting it!" + +Elsie gave another shriek, sprang off the sofa, threw herself at her +sister's feet, clutching her dress with both hands, and cried out: + +"Do something--anything! I shall go crazy--my brain is burning! I won't +live--I tell you I won't live if you don't stop this." + +Elizabeth shook off her grasp, not angrily, not impatiently even, but +with a sudden change of expression, as if Elsie's despair had brought +back some half-forgotten resolution, and given her wild strength once +more. + +"You will not suffer," she said, drearily. "You are safe." + +"But you--what will become of you?" groaned the girl. + +"Let go my dress--get up, Elsie! See, I am calm. I tell you, no harm +will come to you--get up." + +Elsie staggered to her feet, and sat down on the sofa with a burst of +tears. + +"I'd rather kill myself than see you tormented so!" she cried. "I have +the poison yet--I've always kept it. If they don't stop, Elizabeth, they +shall find us dead and cold----" + +"Stop!" said Elizabeth. "I won't hear such wicked words! The danger is +mine, the ruin and disgrace are mine--all mine; but I do not talk of +killing myself." + +"You are so brave," moaned Elsie, "and I am such a poor, weak thing. Oh, +oh! This will kill me either way, I know it will!" + +"I know what will happen to me," said Elizabeth, in a voice of unnatural +calmness. "Do you know what this day will bring? Before two hours are +gone I shall be driven out of this house, a lost, ruined woman." + +"No, no! Grant will forgive you--he loves you so!" + +"Does a man ever forgive a wrong like that?" + +"But you will say you don't know--I will." + +"Are you a baby? Don't you know there will be an exposure--we shall all +be questioned--forced to give evidence." + +"We will say anything--anything!" cried Elsie. + +"We cannot satisfy Grantley Mellen. I tell you, Elsie, this is the last +interview we shall ever hold under this roof." + +Elsie threw herself down in renewed anguish, shrieking and sobbing so +violently that nothing could be done or thought of till she had been +restored to composure by the strong remedies Elizabeth administered. + +"Promise not to tell that I ever knew of it," she pleaded. "Swear! I'll +kill myself if you don't!" + +"I have promised," returned Elizabeth, in a hollow voice. "I will bear +whatever comes--ruin, death--and bear it alone, you shall not be dragged +in." + +These words, so solemnly spoken, appeared to give the girl new life and +energy. + +"Go downstairs," she said; "stop them. You can stop them yet." + +"How--what can I say?" + +"Tell Grant that the gardener said the tree must be left till +spring--bribe old Jarvis to say so--oh, anything, anything; only try, +Elizabeth. Save yourself if possible." + +The woman walked to the window and looked out. + +"They are going," she said. + +"Go down!" shrieked Elsie. "Go down, I say!" + +Elizabeth took a few steps towards the door--caught sight of her face in +the mirror, and stopped appalled at the haggard image reflected there. + +"Look at me," she said; "my face tells the whole story." + +"There is some rouge in that drawer," said Elsie. "Mrs. Harrington left +it. I'll put it on your cheeks." + +Elsie could think, now that Elizabeth showed herself ready to bear her +danger alone. She got out the rouge, rubbed it on her sister's cheeks, +and smoothed her hair. + +"Now you look like yourself--nobody would notice. Go quick--stop +them--stop them!" + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE. + + +Elizabeth dared not pause an instant for reflection; she opened the +door, walked downstairs, through the library, and joined her husband on +the lawn. + +He turned at her approach. She felt a mad sort of courage nerve her--she +could speak now. + +"What, planning against the great cypress?" she asked, and even in that +moment of supreme agony and fear she was conscious of vague wonder at +the composure of her voice. + +"It seems to be dying," replied Mellen; "I am going to have the earth +dug away from about the roots." + +"I am afraid you will only kill it," returned Elizabeth; "it is so late +in the season." + +"I did not know that you were a gardener," he said, coldly. + +He looked at her standing there with that unnatural brightness on her +cheeks, that wild glitter in her eyes, and it seemed to him that she had +only come out in her beauty and unconcern, to mock him after the long +night of wild trouble which he had spent. + +"I know that is what Jones said," she went on. "He thought in the spring +something could be done, but not now." + +He was turning away--that action deprived her of all self-control--she +caught his arm, crying: + +"Don't touch that tree--don't go near it." + +He stopped and looked at her in blank amazement; she saw the danger in +which her impetuosity had placed her--dropped his arm and tried to +appear composed again. + +"What is the matter with you?" he asked. "The tree is not a human being +that I am going to assassinate." + +She forced herself to laugh; even then the woman's self-mastery was +something astounding. + +"I was a little theatrical," she said; "but I can't bear to have the old +tree touched." + +"Why, marm, it'll die if it ain't," put in Jarvis, who considered that +he had been silent quite long enough. + +"You don't know anything about the matter!" cried Elizabeth, sharply. + +The old man drew himself up, and looked so indignant that she felt sure +he would oppose her now with might and main. + +"I mean," she added, "you don't know how I feel about it, I want the +poor thing left alone." + +The old man relinquished his erect attitude and looked somewhat +mollified. + +"If it's yer whim, marm, that's another thing, but I thought I'd lived +too long in this neighborhood for anybody to accuse me of not knowing a +thing when I pretended to, especially about trees." + +"Oh, no, no," interrupted she; "I always knew that you were a universal +genius, a better gardener than half the professed ones." + +"Wal, I don't know about that," said Jarvis, his face beaming all over +with satisfaction, for the old man was peculiarly susceptible to +flattery. + +"Then you won't touch the tree?" cried Elizabeth, turning again towards +her husband. + +Mr. Mellen had been watching her while she talked; he was growing more +and more angry now, thinking that she only wished to interfere +unwarrantably with his plans. + +"You will leave the tree till spring?" she continued. + +"I shall have the earth loosened," he answered, "I don't choose to +sacrifice the tree to a mere caprice." + +"It is not a caprice," she exclaimed, forgetting herself once more. "I +ask you not to touch it--I beg you not to touch it!" + +"Might I ask the reason of your extraordinary conduct?" he began; then +remembering old Benson's presence, checked himself quickly. + +"I think it the best thing for the tree," he added. + +"But Jones did not think so, and he ought to know." + +"I fancy he said that to avoid the work." + +"No, no! In the spring you can do it--not now--not now." + +"By spring it will be too late; the earth must be dug away now." + +She clasped her hands under her shawl, resolved to make one effort +more--a respite must be found--for a day, at least. + +She looked out toward the tree--the lower part of it was hidden, where +they stood, by a thicket of shrubs and bushes, but the stately top +towered up dark and solemn, waving in the morning breeze and seeming to +whisper an omen of dread to her half maddened senses. + +"Not to-day," she exclaimed; "at least do not touch it to-day." + +His suspicious mind, so wildly on the alert since the strange events of +the past week, was now fully aroused by the singular earnestness and +trouble of her manner. + +There was another secret! It was no desire to contradict him which +actuated her--there was something at the bottom which he could not +understand--a new phase of the mystery with which he had felt himself +surrounded from the first moment of his arrival, and which had gathered +and darkened so rapidly during the past week. + +"Leave the tree at least to-day," pleaded Elizabeth. + +"I can't send for Jarvis and put him off without a reason," he said; "he +has plenty of work on his hands." + +"It can't make no difference, Miss Mellen," the old man joined in; +"'tain't no use to put it off--anyhow I couldn't come again till the +last of the week." + +"Let it go till then," she said, eagerly; and new life stole over her +face at the bare hope of obtaining that delay. + +"This is sheer folly," said her husband. "Go in--go in. You will catch +cold--the grass is damp. Come, Jarvis, get your spade." + +"It won't hurt the tree a spec, Miss Mellen," said he; "don't feel +oneasy about it--I'll be as tender of it as if it was a baby." + +He moved away as he spoke, and left the husband and wife together. +Elizabeth was pale even through her artificial bloom--no matter what he +thought, she must obtain some delay. + +"Grantley," she cried, "don't touch the tree--I ask it as a favor--you +will not refuse--let it stand as it is." + +He gave one look at her face and turned his head away to hide the +expression of anger and doubt which crept over his own. + +"Can you give any reason?" + +"No, no! It is one of my fancies--only gratify it--let the tree alone +for a day or two at least." + +Fierce passion shook Mellen like a sudden tempest. His first impulse was +to drag her into the house and force from her lips the secret and the +mystery which surrounded her, but he controlled the impulse and +answered: + +"As you please. I will leave it for the present." + +With this curt concession Mellen walked away, and Elizabeth went back +into the house. She paused to rest a few moments in the library; her +limbs were shaking so violently that they refused to support her. She +was roused by the sound of her husband's voice in conversation with old +Benson--he might come in and find her there. + +She started up like a wounded animal that concentrates its dying +strength in one wild effort for escape--hurried from the room and up the +stairs into her own chamber. + +Elsie was still lying on the sofa; she sprang up as Elizabeth entered. + +"Will he leave it?" she cried. "Will he leave it?" + +"Yes, he has promised." + +Elizabeth sank in a chair, so broken down by agony that it might have +softened the heart of her deadliest enemy could he have seen her then. + +"Saved again!" cried Elsie. "Don't despair, Bessie--it will all end +right." + +"Saved!" repeated Elizabeth. "Have you thought what must be done before +I can breathe again?" + +Elsie gave a cry and hid her face. + +"Be still!" said Elizabeth. "I will do it--be still!" + +"Don't let me know--don't tell me--I should die of fright!" + +"Think of me, then," she returned. "In the night--alone with +that----what can I do?" + +Elsie interrupted her with another cry and her old appealing wail. + +"You are killing me! You are killing me!" + +"Be still," repeated Elizabeth, in the same awful voice. "Be still!" + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +CLORINDA'S GHOST STORY. + + +Mellen set old Benson about some other duties and went into the library. +While he stood at one of the windows, looking gloomily out on the autumn +landscape, he heard the voices of 'Dolf and his spinster inamorata in +the area below. + +"What's marster gwine to have done to de tree?" Clo asked. + +"He's afeared it's deceasin'," replied Dolf, pompously, "and he wishes +to perwent." + +"Don't come none o' yer furrin lingo over me," said Clorinda, angrily. +"Can't yer say what he's gwine to do, widout any of dem dern outlandish +Spanish 'spressions." + +"'Twarn't Spanish, lubly one," said 'Dolf, greatly delighted at the +effect his grandiloquent language had produced. "Sometimes I do 'dulge +in far away tongues jist from habit; its' trabeling so much, you know." + +"Don't know nothin' about it, and don't want to," interrupted Clorinda. +"Ef yer can't answer a civil question as it outer be, yer needn't stay +round dis part of de house." + +"Don't be ravagerous," returned Dolf. "Any question ob yours it is my +delight to answer, only propose it." + +"I does, plainly enough. What's marster gwine to have done to dat ar ole +tree?" + +"Hab de airth dug up," said Dolf, deeming it wiser to use a more simple +phraseology; "he's 'feared it's dying." + +Mellen was about to order them away from that part of the house--the +veriest trifle irritated him now--when Clorinda's next words made him +pause. + +"I wish he'd hev it dug up by the roots," she said; "I do 'lieve dat ar +tree is haunted." + +"Haunted!" screamed Dolf, who possessed a large share of the +superstition of his race. "Now what does yer mean, Miss Clorindy?" + +"Jes' what I ses," replied she sharply; "I ain't one ob de kind dat +tittervates up my words till dey haint got no sense left." + +"But I never heerd of a haunted tree," said Dolf, gaining new courage as +he remembered that it was broad daylight. "Haunted houses I've heerd on +in plenty; but a tree----" + +"Oh, mebby yer don't know eberything yet!" said Clo, viciously. + +Clo had been rather short with her lover of late, having interrupted +several private flirtations of Victoria, with the faithless one. + +"Do tell me what yer mean, Clorindy," pleaded Dolf, his eyes fairly +started out of his head with curiosity. + +"Oh, mebby you'd better go to Vic," she retorted, "she's a heap cuter +dan what I be. I ain't coffee-colored, I'se only a nigger." + +"Now, Miss Clorindy!" cried Dolf, understanding that this was an +occasion when flattery and soft words were absolutely necessary. "You +know I'se ales in for de genuine article." + +"Don't know nothin' ob de sort," said Clo. "I kint flirty and flighty +about like some folks; but, anyhow, I ain't fool enough to put all my +wages on my back. I guess marster cud tell what I've got in de bank." + +That allusion to her golden charms drove the youthful graces of Victoria +quite out of Dolf's head. He grew more tender and submissive at once. + +"Yer's de pearl ob de creation!" he cried enthusiastically. + +Mellen stamped his foot passionately, furious with their nonsense, +upbraiding himself that he could listen to the conversation of his own +servants, yet unable to move away without hearing the revelation which +Clorinda evidently had to make. + +After a little more persuasive eloquence which began to restore +Clorinda's good-humor, Dolf said: + +"But do tell me what yer means 'bout de tree?" + +"No," said Clorinda, mysteriously; "it's one ob dem tings as is best not +talked 'bout. I don't run and tell all I sees and hears." + +"Jis' confide in my buzzom," said Dolf, tenderly. + +"Men is so duberous, 'specially dem as brags 'bout der mean white blood, +which comes out coppery any how," said Clorinda. + +"Yer knows I'se de most faithful and constance ob my sect," cried Dolf. +"Yer may speak freely to me." + +"I 'spose yer'd say de same to Vic." + +"Neber, Miss Clorindy! What, dat silly, giggling girl--don't tink it!" + +His persuasions met with their reward at last; he pleaded again: + +"Jis' tell me what yer means 'bout de tree bein' haunted?" + +She yielded to his flattery and her feminine desire to tell all that she +had seen or imagined about the old cedar. + +"Mebby 'twas two months 'fore you came back," she said, in the tone of a +person trying to be exact in her recollection of events. + +"What was?" cried Dolf, impatiently, "de hauntin'?" + +"Ef I'm gwine to tell you my story I'll do it in my own way," said +Clorinda, majestically. + +"In course, in course," returned Dolf. "I begs pardon for de 'ruption. +Jis' go on, sweetest Miss Clo'." + +"I tells yer dar's been somethin' agoing on in dis house," pursued +Clorinda. "Dat ar bracelet losing was all of a piece wid what went +afore. Missus was awful mad at me for saying so, but I don't care. She's +queer--stuck up like. There's Miss Elsie, sweet allers as a young +kitten!" + +"Yes, yes," Dolf said, ready to agree with anything in order to get at +the heart of Clorinda's mystery. + +"Afore ever dat ring was lost I seed a man in de house in de dead ob de +night--a man and a woman!" + +"Good gracious!" cried Dolf. + +"I'd had de toothache, and ben down to de kitchen fire a smokin' +pennyryal, and awful sick it made me. I was gwine up de back stairs, +when I heard steps in de hall. I looked in and I seed a man and woman +plain. I had de candle in my hand. I screeched right out, and shut my +eyes, and let de candle fall. When I opened 'em again missus had come +out of her room, wid a shawl over her and a lamp in her hand. + +"'What yer doin' dar?' says she. + +"I up and telled her 'bout de man and woman, and she larfed in my face. + +"'Whar be dey?' says she. 'Dar's nobody here but us.' + +"'Twarn't no use to say nothin', she flew off into one o' her tantrums, +and scolded me like all possessed. I don't like her, anyhow, and dat's +all 'bout it!" + +"But is dat all?" questioned Dolf, in a disappointed tone. + +"No, it ain't all; jis' wait and don't go off de handle afore you knows +which end you've got hold on." + +"But de tree, Clorindy," said Dolf; "tell me 'bout de tree." + +"I'se comin' to dat," replied Clo, growing eager again. "I'd ben down to +see Dinah Jameson, at de cross roads; it was real late; we'd had a +prayer meetin' and I kinder forgot myself in de refreshin' season----" + +"Yes," said Dolf, fearing she would go off in a long digression and lose +sight of the all-important topic, "dey is refreshin'; as preserves is to +de taste so is meetin's to de spirit--soothin', yer know." + +"Jis' so," said Clorinda. + +"Wal, yer was comin' home," suggested Dolf. + +"Yes; two or tree on 'em came with me to de gate and dar dey left me. I +heeled it up de avenue jis' as hard as I could, but when I got near de +house I thort, suppose missus should see me, she's a pokin up at all +hours, she'd scold me like smoke. I jis' cut out ob de road to take de +path trough de thicket, and came in sight ob de ole cypress tree." + +Clorinda broke off abruptly to recover her breath and to allow her +narrative to have its full effect upon her listener. + +"Go on; oh, do go on!" cried Dolf. + +Could the pair have seen the face leaning over the balcony, straining to +catch every word, they might almost have thought that one of the ghosts +they so dreaded had started up before them. + +"I came in sight ob de cypress tree," recommenced Clo, working up her +story to a climax with great art. + +"Yes, yes," said Dolf again. "In sight ob de tree----" + +"I seed somethin' all in white a couchin' down dar, a throwin' up its +arms and moaning like. I jis' give one yell and danced away. When I got +to de house, what do you tink? dar was missus. Whar she come from I +don't know, and she give me goose again for screaming; but la! she was +white as a dead woman all de while." + +"What could it all a ben?" + +"I don't know more'n you. The next morning she sent for me, and she +telled me she'd hev to send me away ef I didn't quit dat habit of bein' +up so late and skeerin' de gals wid stories 'bout ghosts; so I jis' held +my tongue." + +"And had you ebber seed anytink more?" + +"Laws, I wouldn't go near dat tree after dark for all de money on Long +Island! I tells you dar's sometin' queer somewhar." + +"So dar is," assented Dolf, in a perplexed manner, "dar is, sure." + +"Don't yer say nothin', 'cause I'd get my walkin' papers ef yer did. But +ef you're so mighty wise, jis' tell me what yer makes ob all dis +mysteriousness?" + +"Clorindy," said Dolf, in a solemn voice, "ghostesses is a subject +'taint proper to talk on, and the queernesses ob our marsters and +misseses is not tropics for us." + +"A body must wonder, I s'pose, black or white," said Clo, angrily. + +"But dat's all you've seen?" + +"Dat's all, and it's 'nuff and more too." + +Grantley Mellen stepped back into the library and closed the window. He +had need to be alone. Every day, every hour, the mystery which had +intruded into his home deepened and took more appalling shapes. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +THE SABLE FORTUNE HUNTER. + + +The pair of sable retainers went on with their conversation, totally +unconscious of a listener, and when the interest connected with that +subject had culminated, diverged to themes more intimately connected +with their own affairs. + +One of the chief desires of Dolf's soul was to find out exactly how much +money Clorinda had in the bank, but he had never been able, with all his +arts, to bring her to that degree of confidence necessary to make him a +partner in that dearest secret of her life. + +The other servants and her friends in the neighborhood gave very +contradictory accounts concerning the amount, and Victoria openly avowed +her belief that-- + +"De whole ting was just gammon--didn't b'lieve she had no money no +whar--she know'd she was so old dat it was her only chance of ketchin' a +beau, so she tried it on; dat was 'bout all it 'mounted to." + +But Dolf was too wise to be influenced by Victoria's sneers, and had +lately convinced himself that the sum was larger than he at first +supposed. In that case Dolf felt the extreme folly of allowing a fancy +for Victoria to stand in the way of his interest. Already he had +incurred Clorinda's serious displeasure; it had required a vast amount +of eloquence to reconcile matters after his indiscretion with the +strange young woman at old Mother Hopkin's, besides, his flirtations +with Victoria were a constant bone of contention between them. + +Dolf felt certain that if he only came directly to the point and made +Clorinda a bona fide offer of his hand with his heart in it, she would +forgive him; but it required a good deal of resolution to make up his +mind to that step. + +Clorinda was not prepossessing in her appearance,--that her most partial +friends would have been forced to admit; probably in her youth she might +have had her attractions, but now that years, avarice, and a not very +patient temper had worn their furrows in her face, it really required +all the glitter of her reported wealth to make her endurable in Dolf's +mercenary eyes. + +Then her color and her frizzed locks, at which Victoria sneered so +openly--that was a tender point with Dolf; he had the general contempt +for the jetty hue which one is certain to find among those of the bronze +complexion. + +Dolf stood there looking at Clorinda and revolving all those things in +his mind, while she washed her vegetables and made herself busy as +possible at the kitchen dressers. + +"Dis life is full of mysteriousness, Miss Clorindy," he said in a +meditative tone. + +Clorinda snipped off the tops from the carrots she was preparing for her +soup, and assented. + +"Dar ain't much wuth livin' for," she said gloomily. + +Dolf was frightened at once; when Clo got into one of her desponding +humors she became very religious without delay; and he trembled with +fear that she would condemn him to Methodist hymns and a prayer-meeting +that very night. + +"Don't say dat, Miss Clorindy, now don't!" he exclaimed pathetically. +"You's de light ob too many eyes for sich renumerations--you lights der +hearts as de sun does de sky at noonday." + +Clorinda relented; with all her firmness and numerous other grim +virtues, she was a thorough woman at heart, and never could withstand +flattery adroitly administered. + +"Go 'long wid yer poety nonsense," said she, giving a coquettish toss to +her head that made her gorgeous bandanna flutter as if suddenly +electrified. "Go 'way wid sich, I say." + +"Don't call it nonsense, sweet Miss Clorindy," urged Dolf; "when a +gemman disposes de tenderest feelins' ob his bussom at yer feet, don't +jist at 'em." + +To be called by such endearing epithets in two consecutive sentences, +softened Clorinda greatly; this time something uncommon must be +coming--Dolf certainly was in earnest. + +"I don't see nothin' at my feet," said she, with a little giggle. + +"Yes, yer does, Miss Clorindy," pleaded Dolf; "yes, yer does--now don't +deny it." + +"La!" said Clorinda, in a delightful flurry, "you men is so confusin'." + +"I don't mean ter be confusin', Miss Clorindy," said Dolf; "it's far +from my wishes--leastways wid you." + +There was a tender emphasis on the concluding pronoun which quite upset +Clorinda. She allowed the carrots to fall back in the pan of water, and +seated herself on a stool near by--if anything serious was coming she +would receive it with dignity befitting the occasion. + +Artful Dolf, profound in his knowledge of the sex, read her thoughts +without the slightest difficulty, and chuckled inwardly at the idea that +any female heart could resist his fascinations. Still he was in a +condition of great perplexity; he had no intention of committing himself +until he had learned the exact price Clorinda could pay for the +sacrifice he was prepared to make of his youth and good looks. On the +other hand, he was sorely puzzled how to obtain the desired information +without laying his heart at her feet. All his craft in that direction +had signally failed; in that respect Clorinda was astute enough to be +fully his match. + +But he must say something; Dolf could not afford to lose time in +misunderstandings, particularly as he had lately discovered that the +sable parson whose meetings she attended, was becoming seriously devoted +in his attentions. + +"Ah! Miss Clorindy," he said, "de sect is all resemblous in one +particular." + +"What do yer mean?" inquired Clo, and her voice softened in response to +the tenderness in his. + +"In yer cruelty," said Dolf, "yer cruelty, Miss Clorindy." + +"Laws, nobody ebber sed I was cruel," returned the matter-of-fact Clo. +"I wrings de necks ob de chickens and skin de eels alive, 'cause it's a +cook's lookout, but I hasn't got a speck ob cruelty in me." + +Dolf shook his head, then dropped it on one side with an air which he +had found very effective in former flirtations. + +"In course yer'll deny it--it's de way ob de sect, but de fact is dar." + +"I don't know what yer mean," said Clorinda, beginning to resume a +little of her usual rigidity; "if yer ain't a talkin' Spanish now, it's +jist as bad." + +"I alludes to de coquettations in which yer all indulge." + +"I don't," said Clo; "I leaves all sich foolishnesses to silly things +like dat Vic--I hasn't no patience wid 'em." + +"Oh! Miss Clorindy, Miss Clorindy!" + +"Dat's my name, fast 'nuff; yer needn't go shouting it out dat ways." + +"When I'se seed wid my own eyes," said Dolf. + +"What has yer seen? Jis' 'ticlarise--I hate beatin' round de bush." + +Clo really believed that Dolf was getting jealous; the bare idea filled +her with a delicious thrill--triumphs of that sort were sufficiently +rare in her experience to be exceedingly precious. + +"But I don't know what yer mean," she went on, "no more'n de man in de +moon." + +"Dar it is!" said Dolf. "Why, I b'lieves dat ar's de only reason de sect +looks at de moon, cause dar's a man in it." + +"Oh, he's too far off," returned Clo, with a prolonged chuckle at her +own wit; "too high up for much use." + +"Bery good," said Dolf, "bery good indeed! Yer's in fine spirits to-day, +Miss Clorindy." + +Here Dolf sighed dolefully. + +He certainly was in earnest this time--Clo felt assured of that. She +forgot the half-washed vegetables, the unseasoned soup, and tried to +pose herself with becoming dignity. + +"I don't see why," she said, in sweet confusion. "But any how yer didn't +prove nothin' 'bout my bein' coquettious." + +"Dar it is!" cried Dolf. "It all goes togeder." + +"Oh, laws," cried Clo, "as ef dat ar would set you a sighin'; I knows a +heap better'n dat, Mister Dolf." + +"Yer don't do me justice, Clorindy," said Dolf, seriously, putting on an +injured look; "yer neber has done me justice." + +"Why, what have I done now?" demanded Clo, beginning to play with her +apron string. + +"Clo! I say, ole Clo!" + +Victoria, who was getting impatient with her confined position behind +the laundry door, where she had done jealous duty as a listener, now +dashed in upon the lovers, and broke up the conversation just as it +reached a most interesting point. + +"I say, ole Clo, them perserves are a bilen over; you can smell 'em +here." + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +IN THE NET. + + +The day was wearing slowly on; a day more terrible in its moral darkness +and suspense than perhaps had ever before descended upon that old house. + +Mr. Mellen was engaged with a succession of visitors on business, with +whom he remained shut up in the library; Elsie took refuge at first in +her own chamber, but either nervousness or a desire to talk drove her +again to Elizabeth's room. Their dressing-rooms were separated by +Elizabeth's chamber, so Elsie flung the door open and ran into her +sister's room, exclaiming: + +"You must let me stay; I can't be alone." + +Elizabeth only replied by a gesture; she was walking slowly up and down +the floor as she had been during all the morning; it was entirely out of +her power to accept one instant of physical rest. She left the door open +and extended her promenade through the second chamber into Elsie's, and +then back, pacing to and fro till she looked absolutely exhausted, but +never once pausing for repose. + +They were undisturbed, except when one of the servants knocked at the +door for orders, and at each request for admittance Elsie would give a +nervous little cry. + +"Tell them not to come any more," said she, lifting both hands in +nervous appeal. + +"They must have their orders," Elizabeth replied; "come what may, +everything must go on as usual to the last moment." + +Elsie shivered down among her cushions and was silent. She had pulled +the sofa close to the hearth, gathered a pile of French novels about +her, and sat there trying her best to be comfortable in her feeble way. + +"If you would only sit down," she exclaimed, at length. + +"I cannot," replied Elizabeth; and resumed her dreary walk. + +Then there came more interruptions; Victoria wished to know if they +would have luncheon. + +"Marster's got in de library wid dem men--'spect missus don't want to go +down." + +"What is she talking about?" questioned Elsie from her sofa. + +"Luncheon," said Elizabeth; "will you have it up here?" + +"As if one could eat--" + +A warning gesture from Elizabeth checked her. + +"You may bring the luncheon up here," Elizabeth said to the girl. + +Victoria went out and closed the door. + +"I believe they would come if we were dying, to know if we would take +time to eat," cried Elsie. + +"Everything must go on as usual," was Elizabeth's answer. + +"How can you stand there and talk so calmly to them!" cried Elsie. "It's +enough to drive one frantic." + +"It is too late now to be anything but quiet--entirely too late." + +Elsie began some shuddering complaints, but Elizabeth did not wait to +hear them; she had resumed her promenade, walking with the same +restless, eager haste, her eyes seeming to look afar off and unable to +fix themselves upon any object in the rooms. + +"There is another knock," cried Elsie. "Oh, they'll drive me frantic!" + +"Come in," Elizabeth said, sharply. + +It was Victoria with the luncheon tray, and it seemed as if she never +would have done arranging it to her satisfaction. + +"I brung yer some apricot jelly, Miss Elsie," she said; "I knowed you +had one of yer headaches." + +But Elsie only moaned and turned upon her cushions. + +"Dar's only cold chicken and dat patter," said Vic; "I took de ducks in +fur marster." + +"There is quite enough," said Elizabeth; "you needn't wait." + +"Yes, miss," returned Vic. "I hain't had no time yet to sweep de room +Miss Harrington had--Clo, she's ugly as Cain, ter day." + +"It makes no difference," said Elizabeth, while Elsie threw down her +book in feverish impatience. + +"Yes, miss, but tain't pleasant," returned Vic, with her most elegant +curtsey. "I likes to do my work reg'lar and in time, missus knows dat; +but when Clo gets into one o' her tantrums she sets ebryting +topsy-turvey, 'specially when dat yaller nig', Dolf, come down feering +wid de work." + +"Then keep out of the kitchen," cried Elsie; "don't quarrel." + +"Laws, Miss Elsie," said Victoria, with all the injured resignation of +suffering innocence; "I neber quarr'ls wid nobody, but I defy an angel +to git along wid Clo! She's jest de most aggravatin' piece dat eber wore +shoe leather! She's so mad 'cause she's gettin' ole dat she hates a +young girl wuss nor pison, she does." + +Vic was now fairly started on the subject of her wrongs, and hurried on +before Elsie could stop her, with all the energy of a belated steam +engine. Elizabeth had walked into the other room, and Victoria took that +opportunity to pour out her sorrows with the utmost freedom to Elsie. + +"Miss Elsie, sometimes I tinks I can't stand it. I wouldn't nohow, if +twarn't fur my affection fur you--you and miss," Victoria hastened to +add diplomatically, fearful that her mistress might be within hearing +and that the omission would be turned to her disadvantage. "Clo, she +gits agravatiner ebery day, and sence Dolf come back she's wurs'n a bear +wid a sore head." + +"Oh, you make mine ache," cried Elsie. + +"Laws, miss, I wouldn't for the worl'." + +"Then go along, and let me sleep, if I can." + +"Sartin, miss; but let me do somethin' for yer head," said Victoria, out +of the goodness of her heart. + +"No, no; I only want to be let alone." + +"If yer'd only let me bathe it wid cologny," persisted Vic. + +"I don't want it bathed," fretted Elsie. + +"Laws, miss, it does a heap o' good! Pennyryal tea's good--" + +"Oh, do go away!" groaned Elsie. + +"In course I will, miss; but I'd like to do something fur ye--yer looks +right sick." + +"Then just go away, and don't come up again for the next two hours." + +"Yes, miss, I'll jest--" + +"Go out!" shrieked Elsie. + +"I'se only fixin' yer cushins," said Vic. "Dear me, Miss Elsie, yer +allers says I'm right smart handy when yer has dem headaches." + +"Oh, I can't bear anybody to-day." + +"Dear me, ain't it a pity! Now, miss, I knows what 'ud be good for +yer--" + +"Elizabeth," groaned Elsie, "do come and send this dreadful creature +away!" + +This time Victoria deemed it prudent to make a hasty retreat, for she +stood in a good deal of awe of her mistress. She went out, reiterating +her desire to be useful, and really very full of sympathy, for she was a +kindhearted creature enough, except where her enemy, Clorinda, was in +the question. + +"They'll kill me, I know they will!" moaned Elsie. + +Elizabeth did not pay the slightest attention to her complaints, and she +relapsed into silence. Finally, her eye was caught by the luncheon +temptingly laid out. There lay a mould of delicious apricot jelly in a +dish of cut crystal, shining like a great oval-shaped wedge of amber; +the cold chicken was arranged in the daintiest of slices, and there was +custard-cake, Elsie's special favorite. + +She made an effort to fancy herself disgusted at the bare sight of food, +and turned away her head, but it was only to encounter the fragrant odor +from the little silver teapot, which Victoria had set upon the hearth. + +"Could you eat anything, Elizabeth?" she said, dejectedly. + +"No, no; I am not hungry." + +"But you never touched a morsel of breakfast, and you ate nothing all +yesterday." + +"I can't eat now--indeed I can't," was Elizabeth's reply. + +"Oh, nor I!" moaned Elsie. "I feel as if a single mouthful would choke +me." + +She glanced again at the tray, and began to moan and weep. + +"Oh, dear me! This day never will be over! Oh, I wish I were dead, I do +truly! Do say something, Bessie; don't act so." + +But Elizabeth only continued her incessant march up and down the floor, +and Elsie was forced to quiet herself. + +She rose from the sofa at last, stood by the window a few moments, but +some magnetism drew her near the luncheon-tray again. She took up a +spoon and tasted the apricot jelly. + +"I want things to look as if we had eaten something," she said, giving +Elizabeth a wistful glance from under her wet eyelashes. + +"You had better try and eat," said her sister. + +"One ought, I suppose," observed Elsie. "I think I will drink a cup of +tea--won't you have some?" + +Elizabeth shook her head, and with renewed sighs Elsie poured herself +out a cup of tea and sat down at the table. + +"Oh, this wretched day! I'd rather be dead and buried! Oh, oh!" + +In an absurd, stealthy way, she thrust her spoon into the apricot jelly +again, and stifled her moans for a second with the translucent compound. + +"I wish I could eat; but I can't!" + +She put a fragment of chicken on her plate, made a strong effort and +actually succeeded in eating it, while Elizabeth was walking through the +other rooms. + +"I've tried," she said, when her sister appeared in the doorway again, +"but I can't, it chokes me." + +She drank her tea greedily. + +"I am so thirsty; I believe I've got a fever." + +But Elizabeth was gone again, and Elsie stood staring at the paté--a +magnificent affair, she knew it was--one of Maillard's best, full of +truffles and all sorts of delicious things. She felt something in her +throat, which might have been hunger or it might have been weakness; she +chose to think it the latter. + +"I feel so weak," she said, when Elizabeth returned on her round; "such +a sinking here," and she put her hand in the region where her heart +might be supposed to beat. + +"You had better lie down," her sister said, absently. + +That was not the advice Elsie wanted or expected, and she cried out, +spasmodically: + +"How can I keep still! Oh, I wish I had some drops, or something to +take!" + +She moaned so loudly that it disturbed Elizabeth, who became impatient. + +"Drink your tea," she said, "and eat something; you cannot go without +food." + +"Well, I'll try," said Elsie, resignedly. "I wish you'd sit down and +have a cup; perhaps I could eat then." + +"Not now," replied Elizabeth. + +The very sight of food was loathsome to her. She had hardly touched a +morsel for two days. + +After a good deal more hesitation, Elsie attacked the paté, and the +jelly, and the pickles, and the custard-cake, and some crisp little +wafers, and, finally, made an excellent meal; all the while declaring +that she could not eat, that every mouthful choked her, that she +believed she was dying. To all these complaints Elizabeth paid no more +attention than she did to the meal that sensitive young creature was +making. + +Elsie went back to her sofa, feeling somewhat comforted, and prepared to +take a brighter view of things. It appeared possible now for her to live +an hour or two longer--a little while before she had declared that her +death might be expected any moment. + +"Do come and sit down, Bessie," she said, as Elizabeth entered, for +about the hundredth time. "I'll give you the sofa; you must be tired +out." + +"No; I am not tired." + +"But I am sure you have been for three hours march--march--march! Do sit +down." + +Elizabeth only turned away in silence, but Elsie felt so much relieved +after her creature comforts, that she could not forbear attempting to +inspire her sister with a little of the hope which had begun to spring +up in her own narrow heart. + +"Oh, Bessie," she cried, "I feel as if this would get over somehow, I do +indeed." + +"But how? may I ask how?" + +"Oh, I can't tell; but there'll be some way, there always is; nothing +ever does happen, you know." + +Elizabeth did not reply. She was thinking of the books she had read, in +which women's ruin and disgrace were depicted with such thrilling force, +of the accounts in almost every daily journal of families broken up, +their holiest secrets made a public jest; of terrible discoveries +shaking a whole community with the commotion, and dragging all concerned +before the eyes of the whole world in scorn and humiliation. Yet Elsie +could say: + +"Nothing ever does happen!" + +She was thinking that perhaps in a few hours her beautiful home might be +agitated by a discovery, mysterious and full of shame as any of the +occurrences in the novels she was recalling; only a few hours and she +might be driven forth to a fate terrible as that of the unhappy women +whose names she had shuddered even to hear mentioned. + +Not for one instant did she delude herself. She knew that the crisis was +at hand, the fearful crisis which she had seen approaching for weeks. +This time there would be no loophole of escape--this last respite was +all that would be granted her; and even now that she had gained that +much, there seemed every hour less probability of her being able to turn +it to advantage. + +Then the task before her, the thing she had to do, a work at which the +stoutest man's heart might have quailed, alone in the dead of night, +with the fear of discovery constantly upon her, and the horror of an +awful task frenzying her mind! + +She clenched her hands frantically as the scene presented itself, in all +its danger, to her excited fancy. She saw the night still and dark, +herself stealing like a criminal from the house; she saw the old cypress +rising up weird and solemn, she heard the low shiver of its branches as +they swayed to and fro; she saw the earth laid bare, saw---- + +The picture became too terrible, she could endure no longer, and with a +shuddering moan sank upon her knees in the centre of the room: + +"God help me! God help me!" + +Elsie sprang off the couch and ran towards her with a succession of +strangled shrieks. + +"What is the matter? What ails you? You frighten me so. Are you +sick--did you see something? Is he going that way?" + +But the woman neither saw nor heard; her eyes were fixed upon vacancy, +an appalling look lay on her haggard face, which might well have +startled stronger nerves than those of the girl by her side. + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" shrieked Elsie, in genuine terror which there +was no mistaking. + +"I must do it," muttered the woman; "I must do it!" + +"Oh, Bessie, dear Bessie! Get up! Don't look so! Oh, for heaven's sake! +Bessie, Bessie!" + +Elsie threw herself upon the floor beside her sister, crying and +shrieking, clinging to her, and hiding her face in her dress. Her +agitation and wild terror recalled Elizabeth to her senses. She +disengaged herself from Elsie's arms and staggered to her feet. + +"It's over now," she said, feebly, with the weariness of a person +exhausted by some violent exertion; "I am better--better now." + +"Oh, you frightened me so." + +"I will not frighten you again. Don't cry; I am strong now." + +"What was the matter? Did you see anything?" + +"No, no. I was only thinking; it all came up so real before me--so +horrible." + +"But it may be made safe yet," urged Elsie. "If you can escape this +time--only this once." + +She did not connect herself with the trouble which might befall her +sister. Even in that moment of anguish, her craft and her selfishness +made her remember to keep present in Elizabeth's mind the promise she +had made. + +"Only this once," she repeated. + +"It is too late," returned Elizabeth. "I knew the day would come--it is +here!" + +"But he can't discover anything, Bessie, when everybody is abed." + +"Have you thought what I must do?" she broke in. "The horror of +appealing to that man is almost worse to bear than exposure and ruin." + +Elsie wrung her hands. + +"Don't give way now. You have borne up so long; don't give way when a +little courage may save everything." + +"I shall not give way; I shall go through with it. But, Elsie, it will +all be useless; the end has come, deception cannot prosper forever." + +"No, it hasn't! I'm sure it hasn't! Think how many secrets are kept for +ever. It needs so little now to make all secure; only don't give way, +Bessie--don't give way." + +"Be quiet, child; I shall not fail!" + +Elizabeth walked away and left the girl crouching upon the floor, went +to the glass and looked at herself. The rouge Elsie had rubbed on her +cheeks burned there yet, making the deathly pallor of her face still +more ghastly; her eyes gleamed out of the black shadows that circled +them so full of agony and fear that she turned away with a shudder. Her +hair had fallen loose, and streamed wildly about her shoulders. She +bound it up again, arranged her dress and recommenced her restless walk. + +"Get up, Elsie," she said; "some one may come in." + +Elsie took refuge on her sofa, and sobbed herself into a sound slumber, +while Elizabeth, in her haggard anxiety, moved up and down, wounded by +cruel reflections which wrung her soul and left it dumb, with a passive +submission, born rather of desperation than endurance. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +THE SECRET TELEGRAM. + + +Elizabeth at last paused, and in her bitter anguish stood for minutes +regarding Elsie as she lay asleep upon the sofa. She approached and bent +over her. The girl had brushed her long fair curls back from her face, +and they fell over the cushions in rich luxuriance, a feverish color was +on her cheeks, lighting up her loveliness, and her whole appearance was +so pretty, so singularly childlike, as she lay there, that it seemed +impossible, even then, that she could have anything in common with the +trouble that oppressed Elizabeth. + +Elizabeth stood for a long time regarding her, and many changes passed +over her face as she did so, but they all settled into a look of +determination, and she turned away. Whatever was to be borne she would +endure alone; she would keep her promise to the very letter. If ruin and +disgrace came they should fall on her alone. Why attempt to involve that +fair young creature in it? + +She went to a cabinet in the corner of the room, opened a little drawer +and took out a package of letters. They were those her husband had +written to her during his long absence. + +She drew an easy-chair near to the sofa and sat down, with her face +turned towards Elsie, opened one or two of the epistles and read +passages from them. One of the pages ran thus: + +"Whatever may happen, no matter how long my absence may be protracted, I +know that you will take care of Elsie. If the worst should happen--if +death should surprise me in this far-off land, I know that you will +fulfil for me the promise I made my dying mother, and be a parent to +that desolate girl. + +"Forgive me if I pain you by writing so sadly. I do not believe that any +misfortune will happen to me; something tells me that I shall reach home +in safety, and find love and happiness once more awaiting me there. + +"But the charge I have in Elsie's future is always present to my mind. I +never can forget the words that my dying mother spoke; they are with me +night and day, and have been since the hour when they died on her pallid +lips. + +"It rejoices my heart to think how different from most girls our little +Elsie is. If any harm were to reach her I think I should go mad; +disgrace to one whose blood was kindred to that in my veins would kill +me. You may think this pride a weakness, but it is too deeply rooted in +my nature ever to be eradicated. When I look about the world and see +girls disgracing themselves by improper marriages, elopements, often +social crimes, which must blight their lives and those of all connected +with them, I think what I should do under such circumstances. + +"Elizabeth, I could not endure it. You are my wife; I love you more +deeply than you know of; but I tell you that I could better bear sorrow +which came to me through my wife, than the weakness or dishonor of one +who claimed my name by right of birth. It is an inherited pride, which +has, I know, come down from father to son, and will go with me through +life. + +"But Elsie is safe--in your hands quite safe. I rest upon that thought. +I remember her loveliness, her innocence, her sweet childish ways, and I +am at peace again, knowing that you will care for her." + + * * * * * + +This was the letter Grantley Mellen had written during his long exile, +and his wife sat reading it in the presence of that sleeping girl. + +After a time Elizabeth folded up the letters, kissed them passionately, +and laid them away. + +"Perhaps it is the last time," she murmured. "The last time! I must not +think of it. Oh, my God, how will this day pass?" + +She began walking up and down the rooms again, treading softly that she +might not disturb Elsie's slumber. This time her movements had some +purpose. She went into her dressing-room, took her riding dress from a +wardrobe and hastened to put it on. She grew cold, and her poor hands +shivered as she drew on her gauntlet gloves, and tied the veil over her +hat. In passing through the next room, the unhappy woman lingered a +moment to look on that sleeping girl, and her soul filled itself with +the cruel desolation of this thought. + +"He will not feel it so very much when it is only me on whom disgrace +falls," she thought, with mournful satisfaction. "For her at least I +shall have done my best. I have struggled so hard to keep the fair +creature he loves from harm. When I am swept from his path, like a black +cloud that had no silver lining for him, he will be happy with her. I +ought to be comforted by this. Yet, oh, my God! my God! this thought +alone makes the worst of my misery. They will be so happy, and without +me!" + +In passing down stairs Elizabeth met Dolf, moving dejectedly up from the +basement story where Vic had so maliciously disturbed his love making. +He stood aside to make room for his mistress, who addressed him in her +usual calm fashion. + +"Go to the stables," she said, "and order my groom to bring Gipsy round; +he need not trouble himself to attend me. I shall ride alone." + +Dolf hurried down the hall, and his mistress went into her little +sitting-room, opened her desk and wrote some words on a slip of paper +which she folded and thrust under the gauntlet of her glove. Then she +stood by the window watching till her horse was brought round. + +He came at last, a light graceful animal, so full of life, that he +fairly danced upon the gravel, and flung the sunshine from his arched +neck with the grace of a wild gazelle. He whinnied a little, and put out +his head for a tribute of sugar, which Bessie always gave him before she +mounted the saddle. But she had nothing of the kind for him now; +scarcely touching the groom's hand with her foot, she sprang upon his +back and rode slowly away, turning him upon the turf which was like +velvet, and gave back no sound. Thus, with an appearance of indolent +leisure, she passed out of sight. + +There was nothing remarkable in this. Elizabeth had been in the habit of +riding around the estate, without escort, during the two years in which +her husband had been absent, so the groom went back to his work and +thought no more of the matter. + +Elizabeth rode forward, without any appearance of excitement, until a +grove of trees concealed her from the house; then she put her horse upon +the road, and ran him at the top of his speed to the edge of the +village. + +Once among houses she rode on leisurely again, and stopped at the post +office to enquire for letters,--getting down from her horse, an unusual +thing with her. There was a telegraph station connected with the post +office, and while the man was searching his mail, she took the slip of +paper from her glove, and laid it with some money before the operator. + +The telegram was directed to that hotel near the Battery, which has +already been described. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +KITCHEN GOSSIP. + + +The day was passing--that long, terrible day--in which the moments +seemed to lengthen themselves into hours, while with every one the gloom +about the old house deepened and pressed more heavily down. + +Grantley Mellen was in his library still, it had been a busy day with +him; it appeared as if every creature within reach who could invent a +plea of business had chosen that time to trouble him with it. + +He was alone at last, and that was well; he was literally incapable of +enduring any farther self-restraint. + +He rang the bell and gave strict orders to Dolf: + +"Let no one else in to-day; I have letters to write; I will not see +another human being." + +Dolf bowed himself out, and took his way to the lower regions, to +communicate to Clo and Victoria the commands his master had given. Those +three servants kept themselves aloof from the few others employed for +tasks which they considered too menial for the dignity of their +position, and these gaping youths and girls were strictly forbidden to +enter the apartment in which Clo had installed herself. + +They were perfectly well aware, those three sable dignitaries, that +something was wrong in the house; servants always do know when anything +out of the common routine happens, and no pretence can blind their +watchful eyes. + +"Marster says he won't see nobody more," said Dolf, as he entered the +room where Clo was rolling out her pie-crust, and Victoria busily +occupied in watching her. + +"I wonder what's come over 'em all," said Vic. "Der's missus was a +walkin' up an' down like a crazy woman--" + +"She didn't eat no breakfast," interrupted Dolf, "an' she never teched a +thing yesterday; now she's just done gone out a riden' all alone." + +"An' Miss Elsie stretched out on de sofa, lookin' as if she'd cried her +pretty eyes out," went on Victoria. "Says she's got a headache--go +'long; tell dat to blind folks! It's my 'pinion der's more heart-ache +under dem looks dan anythin' else." + +"Dat's jis' what I tink," assented Dolf. + +Clorinda, from her station at the pastryboard, gave a sniff of doubtful +meaning, tossed her head till her frizzed locks shook, brought her +rolling-pin down on the board with great energy, and remained silent for +the express purpose of being questioned. + +"What does yer tink 'bout it, Miss Clorindy?" asked Dolf. + +Vic looked a little spiteful at hearing this appeal to Clo, but she was +so anxious for anybody's opinion, that for once she forgot to quarrel. + +"I tinks what I tink," said Clo, with another toss of her head and an +extra flourish of the rolling-pin. + +"Oh!" said Dolf, quite discomfited. + +"Jis' so," said Clorinda. + +"Any pusson could have guessed dat ar," put in Victoria, in an irritated +way; "yer needn't make sich a mysteriousness." + +"I shall make a mysteriousness or shall luff it alone, jis' as I tink +best," retorted Clo, "so yer needn't go a meddlin' wid my dumplin', Miss +Vic, 'cause yer'll git yer fingers burnt if yer does." + +"Don't wanter meddle wid nothin' that recerns you," cried Vic, jumping +at the prospect of a quarrel, since there was nothing to be gained by +amicable words. + +"Jis' give me any of yer sarse," said Clo, "and I'll mark yer face smash +wid dis ere dough, now I tells ye?" + +"Don't lay a finger on me, cause I won't stand it," shrieked Vic; "yer a +cross ole, ole--dat's what's de matter." + +"Go 'long 'bout yer business," shouted Clo, shaking her rolling-pin in a +threatening rage. "Dis ere's de housekeeper's room, an' yer hain't no +business here." + +"Much business as you has, I guess; yer ain't housekeeper as I knows on; +yer only potwasher anyhow." + +"Missus telled me to use dis room for makin' pies and cakes in till she +got anoder housekeeper, an' I'se gwine ter." + +"I don't keer if she did, dat don't make yer housekeeper any more'n +stolen feathers makes a jackdaw an eagle." + +"Now, ladies, ladies!" pleaded Dolf, fearful of the extent to which the +tempest might reach if not checked in time. "Don't let us conflusticate +dese little seasons of union by savagerousnesses; don't, I beg." + +"Den her leave me alone," sniffled Vic. + +"Larn dat gal ter keep a civil tongue in her yaller head if yer want +peace an' composion," said Clo. + +"Dat ar's religion wid a vengeance," cried Vic; "a callin' names is +pretty piety, ain't it! I'll jis' see what Elder Brown says ter dat ar +de bery next time I sees him." + +"Oh, yes!" said Clo, contemptuous; "yer allers glad ob a 'casion ter +gabble! How's a pusson gwine ter hab religion when dey's persecuted by +sich a born debil; wurs 'en dem in de scripture as was worrying de +swine." + +"Laws!" said Vic, with a vicious sneer, "was yer roun wid dat drove +'bout dat time." + +"I'll drove yer," cried Clo. + +But Dolf interposed again, and luckily Clo's nostrils detected the odor +of burning pie-crust, and she rushed into the kitchen to see if the girl +had allowed her pastry to burn. + +Dolf took that opportunity to soothe the angry Victoria, and succeeded +admirably. + +"Now, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf, when she had relieved her feelings by +abusing Sally for her carelessness about the pies, and was once more +tranquilly occupied with her work; "now, Miss Clorindy, jis' glorify us +wid yer 'pinion 'bout de 'fairs ob dis dwellin' which we has all noticed +is more mysteriouser dan is pleasant." + +"I ain't gwine ter talk, jis' ter be snapped up like a beetle by a +Shanghai," said Clo; "shan't do it, nohow." + +Dolf winked at Victoria, and the artful maiden condescended to mollify +her fellow servant. + +"Now don't be cross, Clo," said she, "it's bad enough ter hab +conflictions above stairs widout us a mussin'." + +"Dem's my sentiments," cried Dolf, "and I knows fair Miss Clorinda +'grees wid dem--she coincidates, if yer'll 'scuse the leetle bit ob +dictionery." + +Victoria made a grimace behind Clo's back, but said, graciously: + +"I'se gwine ter gib yer dat ar blue handkercher Miss Elsie gub me, Clo," +she said, "so now let's make up and be comfoble." + +"I don't want ter fight," replied Clo, "'taint my way--only I knows my +persition and I 'spects ter be treated 'cording." + +The handkerchief was something Clo had coveted for a long time, and the +gift quite restored her good-humor. + +"Dat's as it orter be," said 'Dolf. "Peace and harmony once more +prewails, and we's here like--like--de Happy Family as used ter be at +Barnum's Museum," he added, finding a comparison at length, and quite +unconscious of its singular appropriateness. + +"I'se gwine to mend dis tablecloth," said Vic, "and I'll set here to do +it--when I go upstairs I'll git yer the hankercher, Clo." + +"Oh! laws," said Clo, "yer want it yerself--don't be a givin' away yer +truck." + +"I'd ruther yer had it," observed Vic, "blue's allers becoming to yer, +ain't it, Mr. Dolf?" + +She made another grimace, unseen by Clorinda, which nearly sent Dolf +into fits, but he restrained his merriment, and answered with the +gravity of a judge: + +"Miss Clorindy overcomes whatever she puts on, but since yer wishes my +honest 'pinion, I must say I tink blue's about de proper touch fur her." + +Clo grew radiant with delight, but she worked away resolutely, only +observing: + +"Victy, dar's a leetle cranberry tart I jis' tuk out ob de oben--it's on +de kitchen table--I 'spect we might as well eat it, cause 'taint big +enough to go on de table." + +"I'll fotch it," cried Dolf; "to sarve de fair is my priv'lege." + +He darted into the kitchen, bore off the tart from before Sally's +envious eyes, and closed the door so that she could not be regaled even +with a scent of the delicacy. + +"I've jis' done gone now," said Clo, "so I'll rest a leetle afore I +'gins dinner. I'll jis' taste de tart to see ef it's good--it kinder +eases my mind like." + +"In course it does," said Dolf, and he cut the tart into four pieces, +having an idea that the last slice would revert to him in the end. + +They ate the pie and talked amicably over it, while in the end Dolf +received the extra piece by earnestly pressing it on his companions, who +in turn insisted upon his eating it himself. + +"Mebby Sally'd like a taste," he said, virtuously. + +"Sally, 'deed no!" cried Clo. "It's nuff fur her ter see such tings +widout eatin' 'em--a lazy, good-fur-notin' piece." + +"Den ter 'blige yer I'll dispose of it," said Dolf, and he did so in +just three mouthfuls. + +"If yer wants my 'pinion 'bout what's gwine on," said Clo, suddenly, as +she rose to pile up the dishes she had been using preparatory to making +poor Sally wash them in the kitchen; "it's jis' dis yer! Dis trouble's +all missus!" + +"Missus!" repeated Vic. + +"Now what does yer mean?" cried Dolf. + +Clo nodded her head several times with gravity and precision. + +"Yes, missis," she repeated, with the firmness of a person who meant +what she said, and was fully prepared to defend her opinion. + +"What's come over her?" asked Vic. + +"Dat's jis' it," returned Clo; "now you've hit it prezact--yer might +talk a week, Victy, and not come inter de pint agin." + +Victoria looked at Dolf, and he looked at her, but, however convincing +her own words might have seemed to Clorinda, there was nothing to throw +any light upon their minds. + +"Yer's repeatin' wid yer usual knowledge," said Dolf, softly, "but can't +yer sperficate a leetle more clear." + +"Mr. Dolf," said Clorinda, rolling up her eyes 'till only the whites +were visible, "when I lives in a house de secrets ob dat house is locked +in my bussom--" + +"But ter feller domestics," put in artful Dolf. + +"Jis' 'mong us," said Vic. + +"I know, I feels dat, and so I speak," replied Clo. "I ain't gwine ter +say Miss Mellen is a favoright ob mine, 'cause she ain't--but she's my +missus. Her ways isn't my ways, dat's all I says, and I hain't +recustomed to bein' brung up so sharp roun' de corners as is her way ter +do." + +"Tain't ter be 'spected," said Dolf. + +"Mebby 'tis and mebby 'tisn't," returned Clorinda; "I only says I ain't +recustomed to it, dat's all." + +"But what do yer tinks happened ter her ter put 'em all in sich a +to-do?" questioned Victoria. + +"I ain't prepared ter say ezzactly," replied Clo, "but I tink she's +gwine crossways wid marster and dat lubly angel, Miss Elsie. Dar's a +syrup fur ye! She nebber gubs a pusson orders widout eben lookin' at +'em--she ain't so high and mighty dat de ground ain't good 'nuff for her +ter walk on! Not but what missus a mighty fine woman--she steps off like +a queen, and I tell yer when she's dressed der ain't many kin hold a +candle ter her, and as fur takin' de shine off, wal, I'd jis' like ter +see anybody do dat." + +"It's all true," said Dolf, "as true as preachin'!" + +"Mr. Dolf," said Clo, gravely, "don't take dem seriousnesses so +lightsome on yer lips." + +"I won't," said Dolf, humbly, "I begs ter 'polegise--yer see in gazing +'bout de world a gemman 'quires some parts ob speech as seems keerless, +but dey don't come from de heart." + +"I'se glad dey don't," observed Clorinda, "bery glad, Mr. Dolf." + +"But what do yer tink missus has done?" demanded Victoria. + +Such a straightforward question was rather a puzzler to Clorinda, so she +answered with a stately air: + +"Der's questions I couldn't answer eben ter my most intemancies--don't +press it, Victy." + +Victoria's big eyes began to roll wildly in their sockets; she was +astonished to find that Clo had for some time seen that things were +going wrong, when the fact had escaped her own observation, and, for the +first time in the course of their acquaintance, she felt a sort of +respect for her usual foe but temporary ally. + +"Does yer tink dey's quarr'ling?" she asked. + +"When I hears thunder," said Clo, sententiously, "I allers takes it +there's a storm brewin'." + +Vic looked more puzzled than ever, and Dolf was not much better off, +though he tried to appear full to the brim with wisdom and sagacity. + +"Yer 'members the night missus lost her bracelet, Mr. Dolf?" asked Clo. + +"I does bery well." + +"When missus bemeaned herself to shout out at me as if I'd been a +sarpint," cried Clo, viciously. "Wal, if ever I see thunder I seed it in +marster's face dat ar night!" + +"Oh!" exclaimed Victoria, bundling up her work, "if you and Mr. Dolf has +got secrets to talk ober, I'd better go 'way." + +"Who's a destryin' the harmony now?" shouted Clo. "It's raal sinful, +Victory, to give way to temper like you does." + +"Oh, dat's all fine 'nuff. But I don't wish to stand in nobody's way. +I'd better take my work upstairs." + +"Set still, set still, Miss Victory," urged Dolf. "Der's no secret. We +shall have de uttermost pleasure in making you 'quainted wid de pint in +question." + +Clorinda did not look altogether pleased with his eagerness to explain; +she rather liked Victoria to suppose there was a secret between Dolf and +herself; it seemed like paying off old scores, and though in a friendly +mood, Clorinda was a woman still. + +"'Splain or not, jis' as yer please," said Vic, tossing her head, +viciously, "it's quite 'material to me." + +But Dolf gave a voluble account of what his master and mistress had said +and done the night the bracelet was lost, and ornamented the +conversation beautifully, calling on Clorinda to set him right if he +erred, and the points where Clo most loudly expressed her approval as +being the exact words spoken, were those Dolf embroidered most highly. + +"Why, dar goes marster now," exclaimed Victoria, suddenly. "He's gwine +out to walk." + +They all rushed to the window to look, as if there had been something +wonderful in the sight, and just then Sally rushed in with a cry: + +"The soup's bilin' over, Clo; come--quick!" + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +THE INTERCEPTED TELEGRAM. + + +That afternoon confinement in the house became so irksome to Grantley +Mellen that he could support it no longer, so he put on his hat and +hurried out into the grounds. + +Upon one point his mind was fully made up. The clue to the mystery +appeared to be in his hands; he would follow it out to the end now--he +would know the worst. If this woman had wronged him he resolved to sweep +her out of his life, even as he had done that false one in years gone +by. + +That thought drove him nearly mad, it recalled that writing. Should it +prove the same! If this man had a second time thrust himself into his +life to blacken it with his treachery and hate! Terrible words died, +half uttered, on Mellen's lips, his face was fairly livid with passion, +a loathing and a hatred which only blood could wipe out. + +Below the house the lawn and gardens led away into a grove, and towards +its gloom Mellen mechanically directed his steps under the cold, gray +sky. A chill wind was blowing up from the water, but he did not observe +it; in the fever which consumed him the air seemed absolutely stifling, +and he hurried on, increasing its excess by rapid movements. + +He was in the grove, walking up and down, with no settled purpose, +striving only to escape those maddening thoughts which still clung to +him. + +The wind was shaking the few remaining leaves from the trees and blowing +them about in rustling dreariness, the frosts had already touched the +grass and ferns, and though the place on a bright day would still have +been lovely, it looked bare and melancholy enough under that frowning +sky. + +"It is like my life," muttered Mellen; "like my life, with an added +blackness coming up beyond." + +Then his mood changed; again that fierce passion swept over his face, +leaving it dangerous and terrible. + +"If that woman has deceived me," he cried aloud, "this time I will have +no mercy! She shall taste her degradation to the very dregs; there is no +depth of shame through which I will not drag her, though I ruin my own +soul in doing it! But it can't be! it can't be! It were death to believe +it! Oh, Elizabeth, Elizabeth!" + +Every tender feeling of his nature went out in that last agonizing cry. +For the first time he realised all that this woman had been to him, how +completely she had woven herself with his life, and what a terrible +blank it would become if he were forced to tear her from it. + +He made an effort to check those black thoughts, to invent excuses; he +was almost inclined to rush into the house, beg for the truth and +promise pardon in advance. Then he called himself a weak fool for the +idea that any excuse was possible. + +"I will wait--I have the clue--it will all be made clear soon. I will +wait." + +He clenched his hands with a groan that was half anguish, half rage, and +hurried more swiftly into the depths of the woods. + +He came out upon a little eminence, from whence he could look down on +the paths and avenues leading towards the house, though the dwelling +itself was hidden by the thick growth of trees. + +Along the high road he saw his wife riding at full speed toward the +woods, through which she passed with weary slowness, walking her horse +homeward, and looking anxiously down upon his reeking sides, and +smoothing his neck with her hand, as if troubled by those signs of hard +riding. + +Where had the woman been? What deception was she practising now? + +Mellen could see his wife's face plainly--for she passed near him quite +unconsciously. It was pale and wild with the fear of a hunted animal. + +"Traitoress!" he muttered between his teeth, "she thinks to evade me." + +He watched the slow progress of Gipsy as she walked toward the house, +taking the lawn, evidently because her rider feared to give warning of +her expedition by the sound of hoofs on the beaten track. He saw +Elizabeth dismount unaided, and go wearily into the house. + +Where had she been? + +Over and over Mellen asked himself this question, as he sat minute after +minute, pondering over the most bitter thoughts that ever haunted a +man's brain. + +It might have been an hour after, when he saw a man coming up from the +direction of the village, walking forward with great rapid strides. +Instantly his suspicions fell upon this new object. He was always +keen-sighted enough, but just then the thought in his mind made his +vision still quicker and more clear. + +Without pausing for an instant's reflection he darted down the hill--as +he approached the figure it disappeared. On into the woods Mellen +followed the intruder, and before he could look around grasped his arm +with a clutch so firm that there was no shaking it off. + +"Rascal!" he cried, "what are you doing here? Answer me, or I'll shake +you to pieces!" + +The man struggled violently, but Mellen was like a giant in his passion, +and swung him to and fro as if he had been a child. + +"Let me alone!" cried the man. "I ain't a doing no harm!" + +"What are you prowling about my house for, then? Do you know that I am +master here? I shall take you indoors, and keep you till I can send for +a constable. Take care, no resistance; what is your business here?" + +"I wasn't prowling round," pleaded the man, gasping for breath in +Mellen's hard grasp; "I thought these woods was public property." + +"Then you shall be taught. You had some errand here--speak out, or by +the Lord I'll kill you!" + +"Don't--don't! You're choking me!" groaned the wretch. + +"Then speak! What are you doing here--whom do you want to see?" + +"Just let me go and I'll tell you," pleaded his prisoner. "I can't speak +while you're throttling me." + +Mellen loosened his grasp on the man's throat, but still held him fast. +His hold had been a fearful one--the man was actually breathless. + +"Will you speak now?" he demanded, with terrible menace in his voice. + +The man began to breathe more freely; but, though shaking with fear, he +answered sullenly: + +"I hain't got nothin' to tell; I was going to the house yonder, and took +a short cut through here." + +"What business have you at the house? Tell me the truth, for I will +know." + +The man could both see and feel that he was in horrible earnest; he +might easily have supposed himself in the power of an insane man--and +for the moment Mellen was little better. + +"How do I know that you have a right to ask?" questioned the man. + +"I am the master of that house. Now will you speak?" + +"Yes," faltered the man, "I'll tell you. It's a telegram that I was +carrying to the lady; nothing wrong in that I hope." + +"No harm, certainly; give the telegram to me. I will deliver it." + +The man gave up the telegram. The envelope which contained it was +sealed, but Mellen tore it open without a moment's hesitation. Even as +he unfolded the paper, his hand faltered--in the very height of his rage +he could not think of the woe its contents might bring, without a sharp +pang. + +He read it slowly, standing there motionless, unable, at first, to take +in the full extent of his crushing anguish. "_Have no fear. I will be at +the old spot, prompt to help you. All shall be prepared._" + +This was the telegram. There was no signature--it needed none. Mellen +knew only too well who the writer was, knew it as thoroughly as he did +the woman for whom it was intended. + +For a full half hour Grantley Mellen was a madman. The fever and the +insanity passed at length; he lay upon the ground, staring up at the +cold sky, the telegram still clutched in one hand, the other dug deeply +into the earth, in a wild conflict of passion that shook him to the +soul. He raised himself and looked about; it seemed as if he had been +suffering in a fearful dream--he glanced down at the paper--that brought +conviction back. + +He sat there for a long time revolving vague plans in his mind, and +deciding upon the course he would pursue. + +"Meet craft with craft," he muttered; "their own evil weapons." + +He rose from the ground, arranged his dress, and walked towards the +house. + +"Not a sign, not a word which can betray," he said aloud. "I will meet +her with a duplicity equal to her own,--wait--a little longer--only a +little longer." + +He walked towards the house, and again Victoria called out to her +companions: + +"Here comes marster as fast as fast can be." + +But Clorinda's thoughts were now centred upon her dinner, and she had no +time even for gossip. + +"Get away from dat window and go 'bout your work," cried the dark +spinster, austerely; "what hev yer got to do wid de marster's outgoin's +or incomin's? Beat dese eggs into a foam rite off, for I'se in a hurry. +Mr. Dolf puts one back so." + +Victoria cast one more glance through the window, for the wild agony on +her master's face rather alarmed her. But Clorinda called out in a voice +so shrill that it was not to be disregarded, and she was constrained to +undertake the task assigned her without more delay. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +FORCED HOSPITALITY. + + +While Mellen stood on the veranda in front of the house, Mr. Rhodes came +up the avenue. There was no hope of escape for him; he had not perceived +the visitor until it was too late to retreat, and a voice called out: + +"Oh, there you are, old fellow; I'm in luck after all. You see I walked +over to my farm on the back road," he explained, "intending to take the +half-past three train to New York, but I missed it. So I said to myself, +'I'll cut across the fields, down the hill, and stop at Mellen's, beg a +dinner, and get him to send me over in time for the five o'clock +train'--wasn't a bad idea, eh?" + +"A very good idea on the contrary," Mellen answered, with a desperate +attempt at hospitality, while the visitor wrung his hand again and burst +into shouts of laughter, as if some wonderfully good joke lay in the +affair. "And how is your good lady?" he asked. "And the pretty little +sister--quite well, eh?" + +"Tolerably so," Mellen answered; "complains of headache and that sort of +thing." + +He conducted his guest into the library, and meeting Dolf in the hall, +directed him to inform his mistress of the arrival. + +Mellen made an effort to be civil though the man was tiresome in the +extreme; perhaps it was better to endure his society than to meet his +wife that day without the restraint of a stranger's presence. + +Indeed, without some of those social restraints to which all men are +more or less slaves, it is doubtful if Mellen could have appeared so +perfectly calm. As it was, the fire that consumed him raged unseen. Dolf +carried his message upstairs, where it was received with a little shriek +from Elsie, and blank dismay on the part of Elizabeth. + +"I can't go down," she said; "Elsie, you must take my place at the +table. Say that I am ill, fainting, anything." + +"Indeed, I'll do nothing of the sort," returned Elsie; "if you don't go +down I shall stay with you. I am nervous as I can be, and if you are not +at the table I shall break down completely." + +The girl was full of selfishness to the very last--not willing to yield +her comfort in the slightest particular, but Elizabeth only sighed as +she observed it, and said, quietly: + +"After all, it is just as well--change your dress, Elsie." + +These two women commenced the duties of a dinner toilet with heavy +hearts, scarcely heeding what they put on. + +But when the dinner hour approached, they entered the drawing-room +together and almost smiling, Elsie looking exquisitely pretty in her +dark blue silk, with those bright ringlets floating about her shoulders; +her volatile spirits were already rising at the idea of an escape from +that shadowy chamber where she had dragged through the day. + +Elizabeth was calm and self-possessed as ever. To a casual observer she +looked pale, but her heavy black dress might account for that, and the +delicate contrast it gave to her complexion made amends for any lack of +bloom. + +Mellen sat watching her while she greeted Mr. Rhodes, and listened +patiently to his labored compliments. + +"Is she stone--ice?" he thought. "Is there no touch of nature about her +that she can be so calm?" + +If the man could have read her mind, he might have pitied her even in +the midst of his anger and fearful doubts. What she suffered in putting +that terrible restraint upon herself was almost beyond the power of +belief; but woman-like, having formed her resolution, not all the +tortures of the rack could have driven her from it. + +Elsie had seated herself on a low stool at her brother's feet; he sat +absently playing with her curls, and looking moodily into the fire, but +he had no words even for her, though she tempted him with rather +mournful smiles. But he had been so silent and sullen by times during +the past week, that there was not change enough in his manner to be at +all perceptible. + +Sometimes Elizabeth glanced over at the pair, and then some sharp pain +contracted her brows, but there was no other appearance of emotion; she +would control even that instantly, and bending her head once more, +listen patiently to her persecutor's verbiage. + +Dolf announced dinner, and the party passed into the dining-room, Mr. +Rhodes honoring the hostess with his arm. As Mellen and his sister +followed, Elizabeth heard Elsie whisper in a low voice: + +"Grant, dear, you are not cross with me?" + +In the midst of Mr. Rhodes's uproarious laugh at one of his own jokes, +she caught Mellen's answer: + +"Never, darling, never! You are my one comfort--my only blessing." + +With her head more proudly erect, a faint crimson beginning to burn on +her cheeks, Elizabeth Mellen walked on and took her seat at the table, +appearing so completely engrossed in Mr. Rhodes's conversation that she +did not once meet her husband's eye. + +To all but the guest, that dinner seemed interminable, but Mr. Rhodes +was so busy with the delicacies Clorinda's skillful hands had prepared, +and so full of himself, that he was in a perfect glow of content. + +The lights danced before Elizabeth's eyes, every morsel she ate was +swallowed with a pang, the wine was like a bitter drug on her lips, yet +there she sat in patient endurance. + +Occasionally Mellen glanced towards her, and her composure sent such a +thrill of rage through his soul, that it was with difficulty he could +keep from springing up and overwhelming her with the discovery he had +made, on the spot. + +The dinner was over at last, but tedious as it had seemed to Elizabeth, +she would gladly have prolonged it: anything to lengthen the hours; to +keep afar off the stillness of the night, when she must undertake that +to which she had doomed herself. + +But she would not think of that; she dared not; madness lay so near the +dismal reflection that it must be swept from her mind. + +They dragged through the evening; Elizabeth played cribbage with Mr. +Rhodes, and Elsie gave snatches of desultory music at the piano; every +time her fresh young voice rang out in joyous song Elizabeth started, as +if an unseen dagger had struck her to the heart. + +"You will all come and pass a day with us before long, I hope," Mr. +Rhodes said, with exuberant hospitality, when the time came at last to +order the carriage for his departure. + +Elizabeth only answered with a wan smile. She could hardly stand. Mellen +accompanied his visitor through the hall, and the instant they +disappeared Elizabeth started for the door. + +"Where are you going?" asked Elsie. + +"To my room; I can't bear this." + +"I'll go--" + +"No, no, not yet; stay awhile, for heaven's sake let me rest alone one +moment." She staggered through the dining-room and was gone; when Mellen +entered the library again, Elsie sat alone by the fire, teasing the cat, +looking cheerfully pretty and childlike. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +WAITING FOR THE HOUR. + + +The clock in Elizabeth's dressing-room had struck eleven, but there she +sat desolately looking into the fire, just as she had sunk into her +chair on first entering the chamber. + +She heard her husband and Elsie ascend the stairs a full hour before, +but Mr. Mellen went straight on towards his own apartments. He had not +entered hers since the day the bracelet was found; she knew well that he +would not intrude upon her then. + +For two long hours she had been alone with her dismal thoughts, no sound +broke the stillness, save the monotonous ticking of the clock or an +occasional sob and moan from the half spent wind without. + +There was too much anxiety and agony in her mind for any of the nervous +terrors which had haunted her during the day. Then, as she thought what +the coming of the night would bring her, the heart in her bosom +shuddered. Now it stood still and seemed hardening into iron. If some +spirit had appeared with an articulate warning, she could not have been +more convinced that exposure and ruin were approaching her with rapid +strides. She would do her best, but that, she knew in her innermost +soul, would lead to destruction. She looked back on the past weeks, and +tried to remember if her plans had failed through her own weakness. + +Before Mellen's return it had seemed possible to carry them out, to bury +the past utterly, and build a new palace of hope on its grave, but they +had all failed. It was not her fault, she had borne up as bravely as any +woman could have done under the circumstances, had been as circumspect +and guarded as it was possible to be, but from the moment of his +inopportune arrival, some untoward event had occurred to thwart every +project she had endeavered to carry out for her own salvation. + +"It is fate," she muttered, in a cold whisper; "it is fate! Oh, my God, +help me, help me, for I have yet a right to pray!" + +No, even the consolations of prayer were denied this most wretched +woman; the words seemed to freeze upon her lips; she could only moan in +that broken whisper: + +"My God, help me, help me!" + +As she sat there, the door opened and Elsie softly entered the +apartment. She had taken off her evening-dress, and put on a loose white +wrapper, and over that had thrown a crimson shawl, which made the pallor +that had come over her face still more apparent. + +There was no light in the chamber except that given by the fire. + +Elizabeth had extinguished the lamps; the gloom and the shadows befitted +her mournful thoughts. + +"Bessie, Bessie?" called Elsie, unable at first to distinguish any +object in the half light. "Are you there?" + +"Here I am," was the hoarse answer; "come in." + +"I was so afraid to be alone with Grant," continued Elsie; "I felt as if +I should scream every moment." + +"What did he say to you; what did my husband talk about?" + +"Oh, nothing in particular; he said very little; he did not even ask +where you were. I told him you had gone to bed with a headache, but he +did not seem to hear. He sat and looked in the fire, as if he were +reading something in the red hot coals; after a long time he asked me if +I loved him, and kissed my forehead. That was all." + +Elizabeth struck her hands hard together, choked back the groan which +rose to her lips, and sat gazing into the fire, as if she too read +something terrible in the scarlet caverns which were breaking up and +forming in its midst. + +"I'm so cold," shivered Elsie; "there isn't half enough coal in the +grate." + +Cold! The chill had crept into Elizabeth's very soul which no power of +hers could warm, and close to her that weak creature crouched, moaning +out her petty complaints! + +Even then, up to the last, while the glittering hands of the clock were +seen in the firelight, creeping swiftly over the dial, and its solemn +tick measured off the awful minute on which Elizabeth had agreed with +her own soul to go forth on her terrible errand, the wretched woman was +compelled to pause in that dim chamber, worse than dead herself, to +comfort and soothe the creature who lay like a wounded fawn on the +hearth. + +"What time is it, Bessie?" + +She raised herself and looked at the clock. + +"Half-past eleven," answered Elizabeth, solemnly. "My hour has come!" + +"I thought it was later," groaned Elsie. "Will it never be morning?" + +"Soon enough," whispered Elizabeth, "soon enough." + +"I wonder if Grant has gone to bed; I asked him if he was sleepy, and +he--" + +"Well?" + +"Oh, he only gave a queer sort of laugh, and said, 'Sensible people +always are sleepy when it comes bedtime.'" + +Elizabeth had said truly her hour had come, but she could not go yet; +she must wait until all danger of discovery was over--stand there +breathless while her husband forgot her and her agony in peaceful sleep. +They were both silent for a time, then Elsie began to shiver again, like +some young bird lost from its nest in a storm. + +"Oh, if it would only come morning!" + +"Soon enough, soon enough," repeated Elizabeth, as before. + +"Do talk to me; I shall die if you don't!" + +"What can I say, child? I can only wait--wait." + +"Wait! What do you mean? Oh, I know--I know!" + +The girl broke off with a more violent shudder and buried her face in +her hands. + +"What made you remind me?" she cried. "I shall go crazy now. Bessie! +Bessie!" + +But this time, when the girl clung to her, Elizabeth removed her hands, +not impatiently, but with quiet firmness. + +"You must control yourself," she said. "I have upon me all that I can +bear now. Be still, Elsie!" + +"I will! I will!" she sobbed. "Oh, wouldn't it be better to be dead?" + +"Better! Yes, a thousand times; but it is not easy to die." + +Elsie checked her sobs again, and caught at the hope with which she had +sustained herself all day. + +"This is the last of it," she said; "this night once safely over, and +there is an end." + +"One way or the other," muttered Elizabeth. + +"What did you say?" + +"Nothing--nothing." + +It was worse than useless, to agitate the girl's weakness afresh with +fears that lay so deep in her own mind. Whichever way the end came, +Elsie was safe. Was the creature thinking that as she shut her eyes and +leaned more closely against her sister? + +"Yes, it will be all safe then," she went on. "The money is paid; we +shall have the papers; there is nothing more to fear." + +Elizabeth did not answer; she allowed her to think that the danger from +that quarter was removed. It could do no good to fill her mind with +added fears. + +"There is the wind again!" cried Elsie. "Oh, if it would only stop!" + +The sound recalled all that lay in the coming hours, and she was +unnerved again. + +"You are not frightened, are you, Bessie?" she asked. + +"I suppose not; there is nothing to fear." + +"To be alone with him and--and--Oh, I ought to go with you; I'll +try--I'll try." + +At that late hour some remorse woke in her mind for her unsisterly +selfishness, but Elizabeth said very kindly: + +"You will stay here; you could do no good." + +"But I shall go mad while you are gone." + +"You must get into bed again." + +"How long shall you be away?" + +"I can't tell. Stop--don't talk about it. I shall go through with it +all; let me alone till then." + +Elsie writhed to and fro in hysterical weakness. + +"You must be quiet," Elizabeth said. "Suppose he should hear you?" + +"Grant? Oh, I'll be still--I'll be still as death." + +"What time is it?" Elsie asked again. + +"Almost twelve; the clock will strike in a moment." + +"How much longer shall you wait?" asked the girl in a whisper. "Did he +answer your telegram?" + +"I did not expect that he would, there was too much danger in it. But +hush, I must discover if he is asleep." + +"Grantley?" + +"Yes." + +"What was that noise?" Elizabeth exclaimed suddenly. + +"I heard nothing," Elsie answered, lifting her head and allowing it to +fall again on her sister's knee. + +"It sounded like a step in the hall," said Elizabeth. + +"It was only your fancy," returned Elsie. "This house is as still as the +grave." + +Elizabeth rose from her chair and walked to the window. + +"You are not going?" cried Elsie. + +"No; I only want to look. Be still!" + +Elsie cowered down on the rug and muffled herself more closely in her +shawl, lying quite still, with a sort of comfort in the feeling of +warmth which began to creep over her. + +Elizabeth pushed back the heavy curtains and looked out into the night. +A stream of dim, silvery radiance shot into the room, and played like +rippling water over the floor. + +Elsie half started to her feet with a cry. + +"What is that? What is that?" + +"The moon is up," said Elizabeth, simply. + +Elsie laid her head down again, Elizabeth stood leaning her hands on the +window-sill, looking straight before her. + +The moonlight was peculiarly clear, and millions of stars shone forth +with the diamond radiance seen only in a frosty night. Every object was +visible. Hoar frost shone up whitely from the crisp grass of the lawn, +and long black shadows were cast downward by the trees, shaken like +drapery when the wind tossed the branches up and down. + +From where Elizabeth stood she could look out over the withered +flower-beds and into the thicket beyond. + +Suddenly her eye caught sight of a man standing under the cypress tree, +which rose up gloomy and dark, its branches waving slowly to and fro, +looking, to her excited fancy like spectral hands that beckoned her +forth to her doom. + +She uttered a faint sound and strained her eyes towards it with a chill +feeling of horror. Elsie was roused again by the noise, and asked, +quickly: + +"What is the matter?" + +"Nothing, nothing." + +"What made you groan, then?" + +"I am looking out," returned Elizabeth, in a low voice, leaning more +heavily against the window for support, "he is there!" + +"Come away, come away!" cried Elsie, muffling her face more closely in +her shawl, as if to shut out some dreadful object. "Come back to the +fire, Elizabeth, do!" + +"Surely, if I can go out there to meet him," she said, "I have courage +enough to look at the old tree." + +Elsie only groaned anew. She sat upright and rested herself against the +chair her sister had left. + +"How does the night look, Bessie?" she asked, in a low, scared tone. + +"The moonlight is so ghostly," returned Elizabeth; "it looks frightened. +No wonder--no wonder!" + +Elsie trembled more violently, but it seemed as if some power stronger +than her own will forced her to continue these harassing questions. + +"And the cypress, Bessie, how does it look?" + +"Stern and dark--no wonder, sheltering him," cried Elizabeth. "It +beckons to me; the branches look like giant arms tempting me to ruin. I +must go--I must go!" + +Her voice was little more than a whisper, but it sounded painfully sharp +and distinct. Elsie buried her face in both hands, once more to shut out +the images it conjured up. + +"Come back!" she moaned; "Elizabeth, come back!" + +"I must go. It is time." + +"Wait--wait--just a moment! Don't go yet--don't leave me--I shall die +here alone." + +Elsie dragged herself along the floor to where Elizabeth stood, and +caught her dress in a convulsive grasp. + +"Wait a little--just a little?" + +The very weakness of this girl seemed to give Elizabeth a sort of insane +composure. + +"Let go my dress," she said; "I must be gone." + +"I can't stay here--I can't!" + +"Be still--you must, and shall!" + +She wrenched her garments from Elsie's hands, and the girl fell +helplessly on the floor. + +"Let me creep into bed first," she moaned; "I shall run mad if you leave +me here. Oh, I'll go--I ought to go! What an unnatural creature I am! +I'll go!" + +"Don't talk--don't think--it is too late," whispered Elizabeth. "If you +can pray, do it." + +"I can't--I daren't! Help me up, Elizabeth--help me up." + +But there was no response. Elizabeth was bending towards the window +again, looking straight at the cypress tree; but the dread which had +been in her face before was weak compared to the horror that convulsed +it now. + +"He is going there!" she cried, in an awful voice. + +Elsie caught hold of her and raised herself so as to look out of the +window. + +"Who--who? What do you mean?" + +"See--see!" continued Elizabeth. "Some one is creeping towards the +cypress. He has a spade in his hand. Merciful God, it is too late!" + +"Is it Grantley?" shrieked Elsie. "Is it Grantley?" + +"There he goes! I told you I heard steps! My God! my God!" + +She fell on her knees by the window, still staring out into the spectral +light. Elsie gave one glance, saw her brother walking towards the +cypress, and then sank back, unable to venture another look. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +THE MIDNIGHT SEARCH. + + +Alone in his room, Grantley Mellen had sat for hours with only stern +thoughts for his companions, and they grew so black and fierce that the +most terrible crisis would have been less hard to endure than that +suspense. + +He waited silent, immovable, till the last sound in the house died away; +waited still for slumber to overtake every inmate of the dwelling, that +he might carry out the plan he had formed. + +He was going out to the cypress tree; he would discover if his wife's +agitation, when he proposed digging about it, was in any way connected +with the mystery which surrounded her. He believed that it was so, +though in what manner it was impossible to divine. Perhaps there were +letters hidden there--some condemning evidence against her which she had +found no opportunity since his return to destroy. Whatever it was, he +would discover it, drag it out, and with this fresh proof of her +treachery in his hands, overwhelm her with a knowledge of her guilt. + +He, too, sat watching the clock, counting the strokes as the hours +sounded, but to him the time appointed did not arrive quickly. It seemed +as if the hands scarcely moved; in his mad impatience he thought the +appointed instant never would approach. + +It was a terrible vigil that he kept; the strongest man could not for +many hours have endured that strain of suspense, while tortured by such +fiendish whispers as moaned in his ear. + +The time came at last; the moonlight streamed pale and uncertain through +the casement; no sound broke the stillness, even the wind had ceased its +moaning. He could go forth now without fear of discovery. + +He could go forth, but to what? + +His very inability to form an idea of the discoveries he might make, +increased the fever of his impatience. He could wait no longer--not a +moment--not a second. + +He opened the door and crept cautiously through the gallery, down stairs +into the lower hall, undid the fastenings of the outer door and passed +on to the veranda. + +The garden tools were some of them in a closet in the area; he went down +the steps, opened the door, took out a spade and hurried towards the +cypress tree. + +There he was, standing under the moaning branches, his head bare, +digging wildly and aimlessly about the roots, peering at every lump of +earth with his insane gaze, ready to believe that he had at last come +upon that nameless thing for which he sought. + +And while he dug furiously into the earth, Elizabeth Mellen knelt by the +window-seat watching him; and Elsie lay upon the floor, so utterly +prostrated that she could only cry out to Elizabeth at intervals in her +sharp, discordant voice: + +"Is he there yet--is he there?" + +"Still there," she answered. + +"What is he doing?" + +"Digging, digging! He is on the wrong side of the tree." + +Elsie gave a sigh of relief. + +"No, no," continued Elizabeth; "he stops to throw the earth back--he is +going farther round." + +"Has he found the place--has he?" + +"Not yet." + +Elsie could not even groan; her breath came in quick gasps; her hands +tore madly at the carpet, but Elizabeth leaned motionless against the +window-sill, watching always with that strained gaze. + +"Where is he now, Bessie?" + +"He has not reached it--he is near! No! he is digging again--he has not +found the place." + +"If we could only stop him," cried Elsie, roused to new courage. "If I +opened my window and called out." + +"Too late, too late!" + +"But he will find it--he will find it!" + +"Then God help me, I can do no more!" + +Elsie sprang up with another shriek. + +"You'll tell--you'll tell! I know you will give way--and Grant will +murder you--murder us all." + +Elizabeth caught the frantic creature in her arms, and forced her back +on the couch. + +"Lie still," she said. + +"Let me go, I say--let me go! I want to die--I won't live after he finds +you out. I'll kill you, Elizabeth, if you don't let me go." + +But Elizabeth held her firmly in spite of her insane struggles, crying +out: + +"It is nothing to you--you have no cause to fear. You are mad, mad! I +tell you the trouble is mine; whatever comes falls on my head; be still, +Elsie." + +"You promise. Swear it--swear not to bring my name in." + +"I have sworn and I will keep my oath," returned Elizabeth. "Disgrace, +infamy, death--I will bear them all alone. What should I gain by +dragging you down with me?" + +She fell away from the girl as she spoke, but Elsie did not attempt to +rise; she lay still now, exhausted by her recent violence, and reassured +by Elizabeth's promise. + +Again the woman leaned against the window-sill and looked out towards +the tree. Mellen was at work still, more furiously than ever, throwing +up great shovelsful of earth and dashing them down with frantic haste. + +"Is he there yet?" called Elsie. + +"Yes, yes! How he works--dig--dig--dig!" + +She stopped suddenly: the silence raised wilder horror in Elsie's mind. + +"Has he found it?" + +"Not yet. He is standing still now, he is throwing the earth back." + +"What now--what now?" called Elsie, when Elizabeth paused. + +"He is looking about--he is puzzled. There is only that place left--he +will miss it. The shadows are blackest there." + +Another instant of intent watching, then a low cry. + +"He is there--he is there!" + +"Stop him!" shrieked Elsie. "Shout to him!" + +Elizabeth whispered hoarsely: + +"Too late! too late!" + +"Is he digging?" + +"Yes; wait--wait!" + +She clutched the window-sill until her nails bent and broke against the +woodwork. + +"First on one side, then the other," she whispered. "He doesn't touch +the right spot--I know it so well--night and day I have seen it----" + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +She never heeded the mad cry, pressed closer and closer to the +window-frame, staring out as if every energy of her nature was centred +in that gaze. + +"He has not found it! He stops again--he throws down the spade! He is +stamping on the ground. Oh! once more!" + +Then another pause, and at last Elizabeth cried in the same sharp +whisper: + +"He is throwing the earth back--he turns away!" + +"Saved! saved!" shrieked Elsie. + +Elizabeth watched her husband's movements still. He stood for some +moments in quiet, then walked about the tree; she could feel the baffled +rage that shook him. + +He turned away at last and disappeared around the corner of the house. +Then Elizabeth sprang to her feet. + +"Where are you going?" cried Elsie. + +"Lie still--don't speak, on your life!" + +She ran to the door and locked it, then threw herself down by the fire. + +"He might come in and find us," she whispered. + +Elsie crept across the floor again, seeking protection at her side. +There they waited, hushing their breaths, listening for the echo of his +step on the stairs. It came at last, muffled and cautious, but terribly +distinct to their strained senses. He half paused at the room where they +were, passed on, the door of his chamber opened and shut. + +"He has gone in," said Elizabeth. + +"Saved! saved!" broke again from Elsie, but there was no answering echo +from the woman by her side. + +For a time they sat motionless, whether moments or hours neither of them +ever could have told. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +UNDER THE CEDAR. + + +At last Elizabeth rose, moved noiselessly across the chamber, while +Elsie raised her head to look. + +"What are you going to do?" she asked. + +"You know," Elizabeth answered. + +"You won't--you can't! Oh, wait--wait!" + +"And to-morrow have the whole household look on while the work is more +thoroughly done!" + +"Is there no other way?" + +"None. This is the last hope; I shall try it." + +There was no elation in her voice at the danger she had escaped, no hope +rising up now that she might go through her task in safety, no dread +either of what she had to do, only stern determination, the chill of +utter despair, ready to struggle but not to hope. She wrapped a shawl +about her without the slightest appearance of haste, and stood still a +little longer, more like a marble statue endowed with the power of +motion than a breathing, living creature. + +"Are you going?" called Elsie. + +"Yes; I shall not be long--not long." + +But Elsie rushed after her and caught her in her arms. + +"Every moment is worth a whole life," cried Elizabeth. "Let me go!" + +She forced the girl to release her hold, and with one feeble wail Elsie +fell senseless to the floor. + +"Better so," muttered Elizabeth, "better so!" + +The excitement she was laboring under gave this woman new strength. She +raised the insensible girl, carried her through the vacant chamber, and +laid her on the bed in her own room. She drew the bedclothes over her +inanimate form and turned away. + +"Now for the end," she murmured, "the bitter, bitter end." + +She went back to her own room, closing the doors after her, then, +without further delay, passed down the private staircase which led to +the little entry off the library. + +Once on the stairs she paused to listen, but there was no sound, and she +hurried on noiseless as a spirit. One of the shutters was ajar, +admitting a few gleams of light, by which she could see to unbolt the +door. + +She was out in the air at last; the first step was taken in safety--in +her turn she flew towards the cypress tree. She was under its shadow, +the branches writhed and moaned like living things, the moon shot in and +out of the gathering clouds, and cast a flickering, uncertain light +about that was more terrible than the deepest gloom. + +As she stood in the depth of the shadows, a man came out from the thick +darkness that lay under a neighboring clump of white pines, and drew +close to her. + +"I have been here some time," he whispered. "Everything is ready out +yonder--rather rough work for a gentleman, but take it as a proof how +ready I am to help you, even after all the money is paid in. But do you +know that Mellen has been here?" + +"I saw him--I know it; we have no time!" + +"Fortunately, he will know why the earth is broken up, having done it +with his own hands," said the man, with a suppressed laugh, that made +Elizabeth shudder. "Better still, he has left the spade--threw it down +in angry disappointment. That is fortunate, for mine was partly disabled +out yonder: now show me the exact spot." + +She had no need to search, only too well she knew the place. Night and +day for weeks the dread spot had been with her, in every dream she had +watched men digging, digging--digging with frantic haste; and, as in her +dreams, all strength seemed to fail, and some unseen power to hold her +back, so now, in that frightful reality, her arms fell half paralyzed, +and she could not lift her hand to point out the spot. + +To and fro the branches swayed above her head, beating themselves about, +moaning like evil voices. The wind swept up chill and warningly. + +Such a terrible face it was that confronted the man--such a pale +terrified face, lighted up with those agonized eyes, that seemed to grow +large and wild in the moonlight. + +The man stood before her, leaning on his spade, waiting. + +"It is there just in that line of moonlight," she said at last, pointing +downward with her finger. + +The man lifted the spade with all his fierce might, and struck it deep +into the earth, which the cold nights had frozen, until it gave out a +sharp ringing sound. + +Elizabeth held her breath; what if that sound had reached the house! + +Another firm downward thrust of the spade was scarcely heard. The crust +was broken, the earth grew soft and yielding--the wretched woman +remembered how carefully it had been packed down over the spot. For +nights after, the hollow sound of the spade had rung in her ears, and +nothing could dull its echo. + +A horrible fear was coming over her, a supernatural, ghostly dread, that +made her flesh creep and the hair rise on her temples. + +Spadeful after spadeful of earth was thrown out, but still the bottom +was not reached. She had not thought it deep--so deep. If it should be +empty--if nothing was there! + +What if the place had been searched before, if the least possibility of +removing that terrible evidence was gone beyond her power! + +The idea was too maddening, and she shook off the nightmare-like +oppression which had been upon her, as the spade suddenly struck some +substance harder than the earth, and rang out with a dull, heavy sound. + +For one instant she started back. She was alone in the night, alone with +that man, who uttered an exclamation of delight that his task was so +near done. Elizabeth drew back. She dared not even peer into the cavity. +It was choked up with shadows, and their blackness seemed to warn her +off. + +The mighty strength that had carried this woman forward till now, left +her. The cold pierced her through and through; still she found strength +to speak, and implored the man to complete his work. He took up the +spade again, dropped it into the impalpable darkness of the hole and +pressed it down, leaning his whole weight upon it. + +She shivered violently now. A sharp pain ran through her chest, as if +she, too, had been putting forth some great physical energy. Shadows +from the disturbed cypress boughs were falling all about her, breaking +and forming again in a thousand fantastic movements. But one shadow, +dark, solid and still, fell across a gleam of moonlight at her feet, +freezing her to the heart. She looked slowly up and saw her husband. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +FACE TO FACE. + + +For several seconds the husband and wife remained looking at each other +in utter silence; the moaning of the cypress boughs sounded louder and +more weird; through the whirl of her senses Elizabeth heard it still. + +"Come forward," she heard her husband's voice say at length, in the +hard, icy tones of concentrated passion. "Come forward, woman, that I +may see your face." + +The words seemed to come from a great distance; looking over at him, it +seemed as if that shallow trench between them was a bottomless abyss +which no power could bridge over,--the gulf between them for ever and +ever. + +"Come forward, I say." + +She staggered slowly into the moonlight; the warning was fulfilled; +ruin, disgrace had come; yet there she stood speechless, motionless, +unable even to give utterance to a moan. + +The man who had been digging, flung down his spade with a smothered +oath. + +For a little time Mellen stood almost as still and helpless as herself. +Suddenly, in a voice that sounded scarcely human, he turned upon this +man. + +"Take up the spade, and finish your work!" + +With something between a laugh and an oath, North snatched the spade, +plunged it into the grave, and pressed all his force upon it. Slowly the +edge of a box appeared. That evil man seemed to triumph in his gloomy +work: placed one foot on the handle of the spade to hold it firmly, bent +down and dragged the box into the moonlight. + +Pulling the spade up from the crumbling earth, he raised it on high, and +was about to dash the box open. Elizabeth lifted her hands in mute +appeal. + +She hoped nothing from her husband's forbearance. The action was only an +instinct of her whirling senses, such as makes a drowning man clutch at +straws; but with it her limbs gave way, and she fell upon her knees by +the box, still lifting her white face to that stem, determined +countenance. + +"Do you think to oppose me even now?" he exclaimed. "I wonder I do not +kill you. Ask this man, this double dyed villain to dig deeper his pit, +which has concealed your infamy, and bury you there alive,--that would +be a mercy to us both." + +"If you would only kill me," she moaned, "only kill me." + +"Stand up," he cried again; "stand up, I say." + +But she stretched out her hands over the box; some insane idea of still +preserving it from his touch, rushed across her mind. + +"Open it," he said, turning fiercely on North; "I will look on this +dishonor with my own eyes." + +"Don't open it; don't open it! Let us pass away from your sight for +ever." + +Mellen caught her arm and pulled her roughly away. + +"You shall not touch the dead," she cried; "kill me but do not commit +sacrilege." + +Elizabeth struggled on to her knees, and wound her arms about him in a +convulsive grasp: he shook her off with loathing, as if a poisonous +reptile had brushed his garments. + +North stood with an evil light in his eyes, looking on Mellen, snatched +the spade from his grasp, and while a despairing cry died on Elizabeth's +lips, dashed it upon the cover; again and again, till the frail board +split, revealing a gleam of white underneath. + +Elizabeth was lying on the ground--not insensible; no such blessed +relief came to her--but incapable of a movement; watching her husband +always with those insane eyes. + +His passion had exhausted itself in this sacrilegious violence, and he +stood over the shattered box, struck with remorseful awe. But the wind +swept over it, lifting some folds of transparent muslin from a little +face that Elizabeth had seen night and day in her thoughts and her +dreams, since the dreadful night when that grave was dug under the +cypress tree. + +She saw the face; saw her husband looking down upon it; saw all the +shuddering horror in his eyes. Still she could not move. + +"This has been a murder!" he hissed through his clenched teeth. "I swear +that the guilty ones, even if my own name is dragged down to infamy with +them, shall be brought to judgment." + +"No, no," she moaned; "not murder; not that." + +He caught her arm again and lifted her up. + +"Tell the truth," he cried; "I will hear it!" + +She could only stare at him with an affrighted gaze. + +"I will bring the whole neighborhood to look," he went on; "I will drag +this secret guilt out in the face of day if you do not speak! I will +give you no time; no chance of escape; speak, or I will rouse the whole +house, and let them see you here with this vile man, at your guilty +work." + +"Wait," she shivered; "wait!" + +"Do you know what this is?" he cried. "The murder of a child! Do you +know that to-morrow may find you a criminal in the hands of +justice--you, my wife! You, in whose care I entrusted not only my honor +but the most innocent soul that ever lived. Speak then! Expect no mercy +from me; not to save my own honor; not to keep my own soul would I lift +one finger to help you! Think of it! Picture it to yourself!--The eager +crowd gathering about this spot; the hootings and execrations that will +follow you forth to prison! Think of the days and nights in your lonely +cell; remember the trial! the sentence! the horrible death! you shall +not escape! you shall not escape one of these things." + +"Grantley! Grantley!" + +"Not content with one crime, you have added murder; striving to hide +your guilt with a deeper sin!" + +"This child died," she moaned; "it was God's own mercy, not my crime!" + +"Speak then, and tell the whole truth. Do it. But have no thought that +even confession can save you; never hope for mercy from my weakness! You +can have no enemy who will prove so relentless as I will; if there was a +hope of your escape I would hunt you both down to utter disgrace--nay, +to death itself!" + +"It is only to die," she muttered; "only to die." + +"Will you speak; will you confess? Tell me how you murdered it?" + +"There was no murder." + +"But you buried it; you and this fiend who shared your guilt? Speak that +man's name; I will have it, and from your lips. But, oh, if you have +degraded my sister with this secret; if you have blighted her innocence +with a knowledge of your guilt----" + +"Stop," she broke in; "stop! do not speak of her." + +Even in that moment some recollections came upon her, and her face fell +forward, bowed down to her marble bosom. + +"Elsie knows nothing," she said; "for her sake spare me." + +"If you wish to escape having your shame dragged before the whole world, +tell me the truth." + +"For her sake, for Elsie's, have mercy! I don't expect it--but, +remember, disgrace to me reflects not only on you but her! Think of +that--don't blight her whole future in crushing me!" + +"I left her in your hands--she has been living in daily intercourse with +you--you have stained her lips with your kisses--degraded her by your +affection." + +"I have not hurt her," she cried; "I tell you she never received harm +from me." + +There was only one thought in her mind, to preserve Elsie from his +anger--the worst had come to her now. Her present agony was too great +for dread--the shame of the world--the most loathsome prison--nothing +could bring such pangs as this wrenching away of hope and happiness. + +She sat upright on the ground, folding her hands in her lap. Weaker +women would have fainted, perhaps gone mad, but when the first dizzy +whirl had left her senses, she could see and think clearly. + +"With this man you alone buried the child. Will you own it, or shall I +charge the servants as your accomplices--will you carry out your guilt +to the last, and let others suffer that you may escape?" + +"No, no! I do not struggle. See, I do not defend myself. Let it fall on +me! But no murder, do not charge me with murder. Oh, I am not so bad as +that--I could not harm one of God's creatures." + +"Is not your sin worse than murder? Why, the blackest criminal has white +hands compared to yours! You whom I loved and trusted--you have dragged +a man's soul through the depths of your sin." + +"I have not, I have not!" she broke forth. + +He pointed to the box--he turned his finger to the man who stood in the +shadows, shrouded with blackness, like the fiend he was. What could she +say--how could she deny with that evidence at her feet. + +"Oh, my God, have mercy!" she groaned. + +"Don't take his name on your lips--don't curse yourself more deeply by a +prayer!" + +She crouched lower on the ground, her wild eyes were raised to heaven, +but there was no help--no aid. + +"All the facts--I will hear them from your own lips--speak." + +She was silent. + +"I know--I have been on your track for days. It was not enough that you +destroyed my life, trampled on my honor, but you must choose for the +partner of your guilt the man who had most cruelly wronged me--the one +foe I had on earth." + +"No, no! I never saw that man--never!" + +"Peace, woman! I tell you that man standing yonder with a grin of Satan +on his lips, is William Ford." + +She did cry out then--this was a horror of which she had not dreamed. + +"I never knew it; I never knew it." + +"And you love this wretch? Through him you shall suffer!" + +"I hate him, loathe him!" she cried. "Oh, in this one thing believe +me--I never knew it was Ford. The name was changed to deceive me." + +"I would not believe a word from your lips though you brought an angel +to witness it." + +Then he looked down at the little coffin, and a fierce gust of insanity +swept over him. + +"I will send for some officer of justice." + +She caught his arm and held him firmly. + +"For Elsie's sake--don't overshadow her life with the shame you hurl on +me. Let me go away--you shall never hear of me again--I will never cross +your path! I do not ask for mercy, but for your sister's sake, for your +own honored name, let me go away and die." + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +BURIED OUT OF SIGHT. + + +Lost and guilty as this woman was, there existed still one human virtue +in her soul--even in his rage Mellen could feel that she spoke the +truth--she was not asking mercy for herself--she was pleading for the +innocent girl whose future would be destroyed were it known how vile the +creature was with whom she had been the associate. + +"Where will you go--what will you do?" + +"Anything--anything! You shall never hear from me again." + +"You are going with this man!" + +"There is no life so horrible that I would not prefer it to his +presence," she said; "no death so shameful that it would not be heaven +compared to seeing his face again." + +There was a brief pause then; Mellen grasped her by the arm. + +She thought he was about to kill her. She sank on her knees and a broken +prayer rose to her lips. She would not have struggled; she would have +knelt there and received death patiently from his hands. + +"Do you think me lost and vile as yourself?" he cried, reading her +thoughts in this gesture. "I do not want your life--do with it what you +will! For my innocent sister's sake I will spare you--but go--go where I +never can hear your name--let me have no reason to know that you exist! +If you cross my path again, nothing shall keep me from exposing you to +the whole world." + +All at once, North came out from the shadows that had concealed his +face, and stood before the man he had so foully wronged. + +"Grantley Mellen," he said, "for your own sake, believe me. If this +woman will not speak, I am not coward enough to keep silent." + +Elizabeth stepped forward, her head raised, her eyes flashing. + +"But I charge you--North or Ford, I charge you, make no defence for me. +At your hand, neither he or I, will accept it. There has been no murder, +there must be none. If this most wronged man grants us the mercy of +silence, it is enough." + +"But I am not brute enough to----" + +"Peace," said Elizabeth; "if you would serve me, obey him." + +"Obey him," answered North, with a sneer. "I would do almost anything. +Yes, and I will do even that; but you are the only woman on earth for +whom I would so bend and creep to this man." + +These words stung Mellen like vipers, but he would not allow those two +criminals to know how his heart writhed. + +"It is well," he said; "there is more to be done. Go and finish your +work." + +North took up the spade. + +"Remember," he said. "It is for her sake." + +Elizabeth made an effort to speak. + +"Be still," said Mellen, "we need no more words." + +North began throwing the earth back into the trench, Elizabeth sat still +and watched him. + +It seemed to her that she did not suffer--there was nothing in her mind +save the blank feeling which one might experience sitting over the ruin +an earthquake had made, after burying home, love, everything the soul +clings to. North filled the chasm and smoothed the earth down over it +carefully. Then, without a pause, he straightened the lid of the +coffin--there was no haste, no recoiling--he drove back the nails that +had been loosened, into their place--then he raised the box in his arms, +saying, only: + +"Come!" + +Mellen walked forward, Elizabeth followed a little behind--she did not +ask a single question, but moved slowly down the avenue towards the +outer gates. They passed through, out into the high road, up the little +hill, Mellen walking sternly on, and the woman following, North marching +forward with long strides, bearing the coffin on his shoulder. + +They reached the graveyard; the fence was broken in one place; Mellen +wrenched off the picket and forced a passage. He passed through, and +Elizabeth mechanically kept in his footsteps. At the lower end of the +yard was a single grave, with the earth still fresh around it; not a +tuft of grass had sprung on the torn soil, but dead leaves had drifted +over it, and the frost crusted it drearily, turning its moisture to ice. +Elizabeth might have recognised this grave as one that had been given to +a fair woman who had perished in the late shipwreck, had she found any +room for thought out of her great misery. But she only saw a +dreary-looking grave, at which North paused. He set down the coffin and +again raised his spade. Elizabeth stood by, silently turning to stone, +as it were. She watched him dig a deep cavity, saw him lower the box +down into it, then he began to fill up the gap. + +"It is done, your sin is buried; we part, and forever," said Mellen. + +"We part here!" echoed Elizabeth. + +"I have no more to say," he went on; "if you can live, do so; but, +remember, death comes at last--death and the judgment. I think, had your +sin been other than it is, I could have promised you forgiveness in your +last hour. But the horror of your crime in choosing that man----" + +"I never knew it," she broke in. "Oh, believe that--do believe that! I +ask nothing more--I have no right even to ask so much--but if you should +one day hear that I am dead, believe that I have now told you the +truth." + +"You have the means of subsistence," he went on; "the stocks I settled +upon you will be sufficient for your support. If you ever see this +wretch again, it is because you are altogether bad." + +"Only say that when I am dead you will pardon me--only say that, +Grantley Mellen, for I have great need of one kind word." + +"You will be careful that your name never reaches my ear," he went on, +regardless of her appeal. "Hide yourself in some strange land, where no +tidings of you may ever come near my home. I warn you, for your own +sake." + +"Give me your forgiveness in my dying hour; only that, Grantley, for I +have loved you so!" + +"I will not promise it. This mockery is worse than your sin!" he +exclaimed. "If it were to keep your soul from eternal torture, I could +not speak a pardoning word." + +She fell forward upon the ground. + +"Only for my death-bed--your pardon for my death-bed?" + +"Never! Never!" + +His voice rang out clear and sharp, as steel striking steel. It was like +the sound of prison doors shutting out the last gleam of light and hope +from a condemned criminal. + +"Don't be found here," he said; "nor be heard of again. We are parting +now forever. Take the shelter of my roof for the rest of this miserable +night. I will not send you forth in darkness--go, but we meet no more!" + +He turned and walked away; she watched him threading his path among the +graves, and it seemed as if she must die when her eyes lost him. + +He had reached the palings, he was passing through. She raised herself, +her last expiring energy went out in one agonized appeal: + +"Your pardon--for my death-bed--Grantley--husband!" + +He never turned, never paused--perhaps he did not hear--but walked +steadily and firmly on. + +Elizabeth looked up at the cold sky; the moon was partially hidden, the +dawn was struggling up gray and chilled in the east, the wind moaned +faintly among the graves, and rustled her garments like the stirring of +a shroud; there she stood among the graves of her world, as utterly +helpless and lost as if eternity swept between her and the past, and +there she remained during some minutes that lengthened out like years, +with the wind moaning around her and dead leaves crackling under her +feet. She could see her old home through the naked trees, with the dull +smoke curling in clouds above the chimneys, and the great trees sweeping +their naked branches over it. Oh, how her heart yearned towards it, how +wistfully her eyes watched all those signs of her forfeited life through +the leafless grove and the drifting leaves! + +"Can I help you, can I do anything?" + +Elizabeth lifted her dreary eyes. It was North. The desolation of that +poor woman smote him with remorse, his voice trembled with human pity. + +"The money--you shall have part of that." + +Elizabeth shook her head; she had no strength for resentment. All pride +was crushed within her. + +"Go," she said, "leave me here alone; I want nothing." + +"But I cannot leave you so--I will not." + +Elizabeth arose and stood upright among the graves. + +"I am going somewhere--this way, I think. One cannot rest here, you +know," she said, with a wan and most pathetic smile. "You and I have +been too much in company--the world is wide--oh, misery, misery, how +wide--but you can go that way and I the other. No one will ask for me." + +Was the woman dropping into piteous insanity? + +North thought so, and made another effort to arouse her, but she only +entreated him to go away, and at last he went; afraid that the daylight +would find him there. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +THE HUSBAND RELENTS. + + +Grantley Mellen turned back to the miserable grandeur of his home. The +proud heart ached in his bosom. What if, from fear or weakness, +Elizabeth did not return to the house? What if she remained there among +the cold graves, or wandered off in terror of his wrath? + +The graveyard was full half a mile from the spot where this thought +struck him. He turned at once and went back, feeling how unmanly it was +to leave the miserable creature stricken with such anguish, alone with +that man. He remembered how her uncovered head had drooped under his +denunciations in the moonlight, that the cold wind had lifted the waves +of her hair and revealed the dead marble of a face in which all hope was +quenched. Notwithstanding his wrongs, notwithstanding the ache at his +heart, he would go back and take her home for that one night--only for +that one night. + +He walked rapidly towards the graveyard, more eager now to find +Elizabeth than he had been to separate from her only a brief time +before. He looked to the right and left in search of her, but the moon +was obscured now by thin gray clouds, and a fog drifting up from the +ocean was fast obliterating the crowd of golden stars that had been so +brilliant when he went forth. + +Mellen walked on, growing more and more anxious, till he came in sight +of the graveyard, then he paused under a clump of cedars; for he saw his +unhappy wife forcing her way, in desperate haste, through the broken +pickets of the fence, with her face turned homewards. The gray woollen +shawl was floating loosely around her, giving a weird ghostliness to her +appearance. + +Mellen turned and went back, sheltering himself under the cedar trees. +When he saw that she was safe, a revulsion came upon his feelings; a +sense of the wrong she had done him returned with bitter force, and when +she passed along the outskirts of the cedars, making her way down the +hill, he retreated deeper into the shadows, recoiling from contact with +her. + +"She will go home," he said, gloomily, "no one is more familiar with the +paths through the woods. Thank heaven she does not know that I am weak +enough to care for her safety! Let her reach the house first, we shall +be less likely to meet." + +With these thoughts in his mind he lingered in the cedars till Elizabeth +was out of sight. The wind was dying away in low sobs now, smothered +down by the fog, through which he could hear the moaning of the ocean +afar off. + +Mellen left the woods, and made the best of his way home, believing that +his wife had already found a shelter there. + +The house was dark and still as the grave when he entered it again. +Instinctively he trod with caution along the halls and crept stealthily +upstairs, for in the depths of his heart he was anxious to conceal +Elizabeth's movements that night from the servants, and, above all, from +Elsie. He paused and listened a moment in the square passage that led to +her rooms, hoping to hear some movement by which he could be certain +that she had reached home in safety. But there was no sound, and he +turned away sighing, for compassion and the tender pity which every +generous man feels for a fallen woman whom he has once loved, was +turning the bitterness of his rage into intense pain. + +Hearing nothing, and with vague uncertainty at his heart, the unhappy +man entered his own dark chamber, threw off his clothes and flung +himself into bed, wretched beyond any power of my pen to describe. + +But he could not sleep, could not even rest, the very effort at repose +drove him wild. He got up again, dressed himself and sat down by the +open window, looking out into the darkness. All at once he started and +leaned far out of the window. Was it fancy, or had some wailing voice +pronounced his name? Something gray and weird seemed floating from his +sight through the gathering fog. At first it had the form of a human +being, then it seemed as if a pair of wings unfurled and swallowed it +up. Was it his wife? Could that winglike envelopment be her gray woollen +shawl, tossed by the wind? Had her voice been engulfed in the far-off +moan of the ocean? In this dreary state the unhappy and most wronged man +remained all the rest of that gloomy night. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +GONE. + + +The day began; the sun was up; once more the old house awoke to life and +activity. + +Sitting in his chamber, Grantley Mellen heard the familiar sounds below; +he knew that life must sweep on again, that he must rise once more and +go forth among his fellow-men, hiding his misery as best he might, +taking his place in the world and bearing the secret burden of his +dishonored life. He went to the window, swept back the curtains which he +had drawn over it, and looked at himself in the glass. If he had wished +to know how his corpse would look after the ravages of time and disease, +he could have learned it in that prolonged gaze. + +It was absolutely the face of a dead man; even the eyes looked +lifeless--there was only a heavy, stony expression, which had neither +spirit or humanity in it. + +It was late in the morning when Elsie awoke from the heavy slumber which +had succeeded her swoon. For a few moments she lay still, believing that +the events of the past night had been only a dream. Suddenly she raised +herself with a cry of anguish--she had caught sight of the shawl which +Elizabeth had wrapped about her--she knew that it was all real. + +She sprang out of bed, opened the door, ran through the empty chamber +and entered her sister's room: + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +There was no answer. She looked about--the fire had died down in the +grate, the room was empty and desolate as a grave. + +She hurried through into the sleeping apartment, calling still in a +voice which frightened herself: + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +The bed-chamber was empty too--the bed untouched. + +"Gone!" cried the wretched girl. "Gone! Where is she? What has become of +her? Elizabeth, Elizabeth!" + +She shrieked frightfully in her anguish--cried out in such terrible +anxiety, that the sound reached the chamber where Grantley Mellen sat. + +He went out into the hall and approached the door of the dressing-room. +Elsie heard him--her first impulse was to flee but her limbs refused to +move. + +She heard him try the door--heard him call: + +"Elsie! Elsie!" + +She must meet him--there was no escape. + +Again the summons was repeated, more imperatively now. + +"Elsie, open the door--quick, I say!" + +She got to the door, she turned the key; her brother entered quickly, +and stood in Elizabeth's desolate room. + +"Where is Elizabeth?" she cried. "I can't find her--I want Elizabeth." + +Mellen felt a shiver of dread pass through his frame. He pushed the +chamber-door open and looked in, pale with anxiety. She was not +there--the bed was untouched, and gleamed upon him through the crimson +light that filled the room, like a crusted snowbank. There was none of +that luxurious confusion which usually marks the apartment of a sleeping +lady. The rich toilet service was in complete order. There was no +jewelry flung down with half sleepy indifference, no garments laying +ready for use on the chairs, or across the sofa. The silken window +curtains were drawn close. The carpet looked like moss in the deep +shadows of an autumnal forest. + +"Gone, gone! Oh, my God, what has become of her?" he exclaimed. + +"Where--what has happened? Is she dead? Oh, I shall go mad--I shall go +mad now," cried Elsie. + +She fell into spasms, but still preserved her senses sufficiently not to +speak again--she dared not utter a word more, lest she should betray her +knowledge of Elizabeth's sorrow. + +Mellen carried her to the sofa and laid her down upon it, wrapped shawls +and eider down quilts over her, holding her hands, which trembled like +frightened birds, striving in every way to soothe her, as Elizabeth had +so often done in the time gone by for ever. + +Elsie lay back at length, quiet but utterly exhausted. + +"Where is Elizabeth?" she moaned. "What has happened?" + +"Never take that name on your lips again," he said; "let even her memory +be dead between us. That woman is no longer my wife--you will never see +her. She shall not suffer; I will deal gently with her; but to you, my +dearest sister, she is dead, forever and ever." + +"You have killed her!" shrieked Elsie. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +"She leaves this house of her free will, Elsie--the only condition I +have made is that she takes her name far out of our lives. Have you +known--have you suspected this woman, Elsie?" + +"No, no! I don't know anything but what is good of her--I don't believe +anything! She is good and kind--send for her! You shan't drive her +away--she shall come to me now! My dear Elizabeth--I love her! You shall +not do this--you are mad, mad! She is the best woman that ever lived! +Let me go to her--I will go!" + +She was writhing again in hysterical spasms, but Mellen forced her back +when she attempted to rise. + +"Be still, Elsie--try to understand me! I can't tell you the whole +story--but we are parted. Do not plead for her. Do not mention her +name." + +"But, Grantley, Grantley!" + +"No more, I say--not a word." + +"She is innocent," moaned the girl; "she is innocent." + +"I know what you suffer--think of all that I endure--let that give you +strength." + +"I tell you she is an angel--she has done no wrong!" + +"I had the confession which separates us from her own lips--I tell you I +would not have believed any other testimony. Don't struggle so, +Elsie--lie still." + +The girl fought with him like an insane creature--she had no self +control or reason--it was inability to speak which kept her from +shrieking out in Elizabeth's defence. She could only gasp for breath, +and when words did come, it was that broken cry: + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +"You must try to understand me, Elsie! You are all I have left in the +world--oh, Elsie, Elsie! She has gone forever, and I loved her so--I +loved her so. You and I must live on as best we can--it is only for you, +child, that I live at all." + +"Only bring her back--clear it all up--the truth--the truth at last! Oh, +Grantley, I----" + +Her words were so indistinct that he could not gather their meaning; she +was struggling more fiercely than ever, and it required all his strength +to hold her. + +"If you love me, Elsie, strive to be calm! Oh, think of my trouble, my +anguish--my sister, my sister!" + +"Only send for her--call her here!" + +"Be quiet and I will search, but she went off last night, I do not know +where!" + +Elsie gave one frightful cry and sank back in his arms insensible again. +Her swoon was so death-like that it seemed as if life had gone out for +ever. + +Just as Elizabeth had raised her and carried her into her own room, so +did Grantley Mellen carry her now, stricken by a fear so horrible that +his past agony paled under it. What if she were dead--if she should wake +a raving maniac, and all from the evil influence of that woman. + +He called no assistance; he watched over Elsie in that lonely chamber, +trying every remedy he could find, but for a long time his efforts were +unavailing; she lay there, white and cold, as if the snowy counterpane +had been her winding sheet. + +Just as he was calling her name in a last frenzied burst of grief, Elsie +opened her eyes. She was too feeble for speech, but she remembered +everything clearly, and made a vain effort to rise. + +"You must not talk, Elsie; don't stir--you will hurt yourself!" + +He searched on the toilet table, found a bottle of laudanum, and +administered as large a dose as he dared; he knew that the effects could +not be so dangerous as her present suffering. + +He sat down by the bed, folding his arms about her, calling her by every +endearing name that his tenderness and fear could suggest, striving to +soothe her into slumber. + +Elsie would lie quiet for a few moments, then begin to struggle and cry +out, till it seemed to Mellon that she would die before the opiate could +take effect. + +The potion worked at length; she lay back on the pillows white and +still--her eyes stared drearily about the chamber once more, and then +closed--she had fallen into a heavy sleep. + +For a long hour Grantley Mellen remained on his knees by her bedside, +where he had fallen. + +He rose at length. Victoria was knocking at the door, and warning her +young mistress that breakfast was on the table. + +Mellen went to the door and opened it, checked the girl's cry of +astonishment with a gesture, and said: + +"Miss Elsie is very ill--go downstairs at once, and let there be no +noise in the house." + +Vic crept away in frightened silence; Mellen followed her into the hall, +gave orders to one of the men servants to get a horse ready, went into +the library and wrote a dispatch to his physician in the city, and came +out again. + +By the time the man was starting off to the station, Clorinda and +several of the servants, to whom Victoria had communicated her tidings, +were assembled in the hall. + +In consultation they forgot their awe of the master, and asked a +thousand eager questions, which he answered with brief sternness. + +"Go back to your places, all of you," he said; "Miss Elsie is asleep, +and must not be disturbed till the doctor arrives." + +"Is missus wid her?" demanded Clo. + +He turned upon her with a frown which made her spring back as if she had +received an electric shock, and entirely checked any further desire to +question him where his wife was concerned. + +He turned towards the stairs again, but Dolf interposed with one of his +profound bows. + +"'Scuse me, sar, but de brekfus is on de table." + +Self-restraint must be kept up; whatever suspicions might arise when the +fact of Elizabeth's disappearance became known in the house, this proud +man would not expose himself to the curious eyes of his menials. + +He went into the breakfast-room, drank the coffee Dolf poured out with a +skillful hand, pretended to eat a few morsels, then pushed his chair +back and hurried up to Elsie's chamber--he could not trust himself yet +in the presence of his servants. + +Below stairs all sorts of stories were rife. Victoria peeped into +Elsie's room and came down with the information that "She lay dar +like a beautiful corpus!" + +Everybody groaned in concert, but she added new astonishment by saying: + +"And missus ain't nowhars about. She ain't in Miss Elsie's room, and she +ain't in her own, and her bed ain't been touched all night." + +Clorinda began to nod her turban with a sapient air. + +"What did I tell yer!" cried she. "Now what did I jist tell yer." + +"But whar can she be?" wondered Dolf. "What do yer s'pose has happened, +Miss Clorinda?" + +"'Nuff's happened," returned Clo, "and more'n 'nuff! I told yer de +tunderbust would break, an it has." + +They urged and entreated her to speak; but it was difficult to speak +when she literally knew nothing, so she contented herself with going +about her work with unusual energy, while the rest stood around and +watched her, deeming this an occasion when idleness was to be taken +quite as a matter of course. + +Clo nodded her head, muttered to herself, and made dreadful confusion +among her pots and pans, exciting her fellow-servants to a fearful pitch +by her air of mystery, but not a word would she speak beyond vague and +appalling hints. + +While the servants below stairs wore away the morning in vague +conversation and surmises, growing every instant wilder and more +improbable, Grantley Mellen sat in that darkened chamber watching his +sleeping sister. + +The physician arrived late in the evening; by that time Elsie was awake, +and he looked a little grave while giving his medicines and examining +into the case. + +"Keep her very quiet," he said to Mellen, who followed him into the +hall; "it is a severe nervous attack, but she can endure nothing more. +Don't let her get up--I'll come back to-morrow. Where is Mrs. Mellen? +she is so good a nurse I should like to give her my directions." + +"She--she is not here," Mellen answered. + +"In town, I suppose? You had better send for her, or give me her address +and I will call and tell her how much she is wanted the moment I reach +town. To-night I stay in the village." + +"Thank you, I won't trouble you," replied Mellen. "You will be here +to-morrow morning?" + +"Oh, certainly! Don't be at all alarmed--Miss Elsie is subject to these +nervous attacks. So I shan't call on your wife?" + +"No, sir, no;" Mellen answered, impatiently. "I must return to my +sister." + +He bowed the doctor downstairs and disappeared, leaving the son of +Esculapius to go on with some rather strange ideas in his head. + +He had another patient in the village, and so drove over there in the +carriage which had brought him from the station. As he was standing on +the hotel porch old Jarvis Benson came up, caught him by the button-hole +and began a long story, to which the physician listened with such +patience as he could find. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +UTTER LONELINESS. + + +When Elizabeth Mellen quitted the graveyard, she was for the moment +insane. Mellen had left her alone with the dead and the man she had so +hated. He had forsaken her there in that cold, desolate night, +regardless that she had once been his wife, scorning to remember her +even as a woman. This thought stung her proud soul through all its +anguish. She would not return home; not a single hour would she rest +under the roof which loomed up so gray and ghostly behind those weird +trees. But where could she go? in all the headlands that spread away +from the coast there was no shelter for her. Degraded, broken-hearted, +abandoned to her fate, like a wild animal, she stood alone among the +graves of those who had been happy enough to die. + +This terrible blow, long as it had been dreaded, came upon the poor +woman suddenly at last. At the bottom of her heart there had been all +the while a desperate hope of escape. But it was over now. The worst had +come, and that was almost annihilation. She looked up to the sky. The +stars were all out. The soft gray clouds which had floated over them +only a little while before were turning leaden and heavy, so heavy that +the ocean was one mass of blackness, as if the mighty deep had veiled +itself with mourning, while the throes of a coming tempest heaved its +inner depths. + +The man North had left her at last--she was utterly alone. + +Never in this world had a human being been cast forth to such utter +desolation. She looked down on the torn earth at her feet, and her poor +heart ached to lie down with that other woman who had found her rest so +early, and was at peace. She thought of her with strange envy, +remembering that the ocean had cast her forth when it moaned and heaved +as she could hear it now,--the grand, beneficent ocean, that could give +death to a poor soul pining for it as she did. She bent her head and +listened to the far-off voice which held her with a sort of fascination. + +"I will go," she said, "I will go. It calls me--with ten thousand voices +it calls me." + +She started from the tombstone against which she had leaned, and swiftly +treading a passage through the graves, forced her way out by the broken +pickets. That moment Mellen stood in the cedar grove and saw her pass. +Had he come forth all might have been well, but fierce pride rushed in +and checked the noble impulse that had brought him back so far. She +swept swiftly by him and was lost in the fog. Some strong impulse of +love broke up through the insane fascination which drove her toward the +ocean, and in spite of herself she drifted homewards. Once a break in +the clouds sent down wild gleams of light, throwing up black vistas of +gloom through every break in the woods, and revealing dense, gray masses +of vapor, frowning over the waters. Then came darkness again, and she +wandered on. + +Without knowing how, Elizabeth found herself on the lawn before her old +home. The odor of dead leaves and late autumn blossoms rose up from the +soil, and enveloped her with sickening remembrances. All at once the +woman recognised the place. That pile with its gables and towers had +been her home only a few short hours before. Why had she turned that +way? What mocking fiend had driven her back against her will? The +thought maddened her, but she could not move. The passionate love in her +heart anchored those weary feet. She flung up her arms towards a window +through which a light shone dimly--the window of his room, and an +agonising cry of farewell broke from her. It was his name that fled from +her lips like a burning arrow, and reached her husband in the gloomy +stillness of his chamber. + +The window opened. She tore her feet from the earth and fled. Her +husband, of all others, should not know that she was there, prowling +about the home from which he had driven her. That cry of agony coming +from her lips frightened back her pride. + +She darted away across the flower-beds, through thickets and over the +lawn, which lay moist and heavy under the fog. Her wet feet got +entangled among clusters of dead heliotrope and crysanthemums, still +blooming in defiance of storm and frost. The shawl blew loose from her +hands, which unconsciously huddled it close to her bosom, and was torn +by the thorny rosebushes. Fragments of her dress were left behind. She +plunged into a swampy hollow where clusters of tall catstail, sweet flag +and sedgy rushes grew around a little pond, swarming with trout and gold +fish. Her feet sank into the marsh till the water gurgled over her +gaiters. She stood a moment, looking out upon the black pool, tempted to +throw herself in; but some water-rat or frog, frightened by her +approach, made a great leap, and plunged into the black depths, giving +out a horrible idea of reptile life. + +Not there, not there; no one should find her after she was dead. The +ocean, the great heaving ocean had called her; why was she lingering by +that miserable pool of black water, full of living things? Again she +plunged forward, broke through the tangled sedges, and trampled down the +spicy peppermint, till she reached firm land again. Then on--on--on till +she stood under the beetling cliff which frowned over the shore tavern. + +It was the dark hour now which comes just before daylight. The gleam of +a candle shone through one of the tavern windows, and this faint idea of +warmth drew her that way. She crept up close to the building, and +through the little panes of glass saw Benson with his daughter and her +children at breakfast together. + +When the days grew short it had always been the old man's habit to eat +his breakfast by candlelight. It was a pleasant, homely picture that the +wretched woman looked upon. Her haggard eyes grew wild at the sight of +so much warmth, while her teeth chattered with cold, and terrible chills +shook her from head to foot. A noble wood fire blazed on the hearth, +filling the small white-washed room with its golden glow. The soft steam +from the tea-kettle curled up the chimney, broiled fish and hot Indian +cakes sent a savory odor through the ill-fitted sash. + +Elizabeth had eaten nothing for the past two days, and with the sight of +this comfortable breakfast, an aching desire for food seized on her. +Food and warmth; let her have them and she was ready to die. This animal +want drew her close to the window. A child at the table saw that white +face with its wild burning eyes, and pointed its finger, uttering +frightened shrieks. + +Elizabeth darted away, crying out to the storm, "They will not have me; +even his menials drive me forth." + +The beach was not far off, and from it rose a sound of lashing waves, +hoarse with the thunder of mustering storms. Afar off the moan of the +deep had sounded like an entreaty, but now it came full and strong, +commanding her to approach. She obeyed these ocean voices like a little +child; her powers of reasoning were gone; all consciousness of pain or +danger benumbed; everything else had rejected her, but the great ocean +was strong, boundless. With one heave of its mighty bosom it would sweep +her away forever. + +She walked steadily on to the beach, forcing her way to the sands; +through drifts of seaweed and slippery stones, on, on she walked, +slowly, but with horrible firmness, through great feathers of foam that +curled upon the sands; on and on through whirlwinds of spray, till a +great wave seized her in its black undertow and she was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +PLANS AND LETTERS. + + +All that day Elsie remained in bed, sleeping a good deal, but so nervous +and shaken that she would not permit herself to be left alone for a +single instant. Her brother's presence seemed to fill her with fear, and +she shrank with a strange sort of timidity from every tender word or +soothing caress; still she was wretched if he left her bedside, and +there he watched the long day through. + +Evening came. Mellen was compelled to go through the pretence of another +meal; indeed he forced himself to eat, for he began to grow angry with +his own weakness. + +He had thought when the first struggle was over to feel only an icy, +implacable resentment against the woman who had wronged him; he was +ashamed of the tenderness in his own nature when he found that, stronger +than his rage, more powerful than the horror with which he regarded her +dishonor, was the love he had believed uprooted suddenly from his heart, +as a strong tree is torn up by tornados. + +Yes, he regretted her! It was not only that his life must be a desolate +blank, he pined for her presence. But for his pride he would have rushed +out in search of her, and taken her back to his heart, sweeping aside +all memory of her sin. + +He roused himself from what appeared to him such degrading weakness by +one thought--the partner in her guilt was his old enemy; a man too vile +for vengeance, even. + +That memory brought all the hardness back to his face, all the insane +passion to his soul, but it centered on the man now. + +That night, in the woman's very presence, he could not take the +vengeance that he meditated, but now he was prepared to force her from +the villain's grasp--on to repentance. + +Alone in his library, Grantley Mellen wrote several letters; it was +impossible to tell how that meeting would end, and he must make +preparations for the worst. When all was done he rose to go upstairs +again; a sudden resolution made him pause. He sat down at his desk once +more, and wrote these lines: + + "ELIZABETH--I said that even in your dying hour, I would never + forgive you: I retract. If my pardon can console your last moments, + remember that it is yours. I have made no alteration in my will; if + you can accept the benefits which may accrue to you by my death, + take them; but so surely as you ever attempt to approach the + innocent girl who has been so long endangered by your + companionship, my curse shall follow you, even from the grave to + which you will have consigned me." + +He put the note in an envelope, sealed it carefully, and addressed +it--"To Elizabeth." + +These were necessary precautions. The man who had twice wronged him +possessed the fierce courage of a bravo. If Elizabeth was found with +him, death might come to one of them--even if that followed, the woman +who had been his wife should never share the degrading future of a man +too vile for personal vengeance. In mercy to her he would separate them. + +He found Elsie sitting up in bed. She shrank away among the pillows when +he entered; he saw the movement, and it shook his heart with a new pang. +This artful woman had drawn the spell of her fascinations as closely +about that pure girl as she had enthralled him. Elsie shrank from the +brother who had deprived her of the love on which she had leaned. +Elizabeth had left him nothing but bitterness. + +"Are you feeling better?" he asked, sitting down by the bed. + +"Oh, I never shall be any better," she murmured; "I shall die, and then, +perhaps, you will be sorry." + +Mellen could not be angry with her; it wounded and stung him to hear her +speak thus, but he answered, patiently: + +"When you are able to reflect, Elsie, you will see that I could not have +acted differently. Few men would have shown as much leniency as I have +done; regardless of the consequences to themselves, they would have made +that woman's conduct public, and ruined her utterly." + +"She wasn't bad," cried Elsie; "you are crazy to think so. She was the +best woman in the world." + +"Have you forgotten what I told you this morning--what I was forced to +tell you or submit to your hatred? From yon window you could look out on +the spot where she had buried----" + +"Be still!" interrupted Elsie, with a shriek. "I won't stay in the house +if you go on so--be still, I say!" + +It required all his efforts to soothe the excited girl. He longed to +question her, to know if she had left Elizabeth much alone during his +absence, to understand how she could have been so persistently deceived, +but she was in no state to endure such inquiries then. + +Elsie lay back among her pillows, refusing to be comforted: + +"If you want to cure me send for Bessie--my dear, dear Bessie! Search +for her--send the people out!" + +"Elsie, she has gone with that man; I cannot follow her there." + +"No, no; she is wandering about in the cold. Go, search for her!" + +"Anything but that, Elsie--ask anything else in the world." + +"I don't want anything else." + +"As soon as you are better we will go away from here," he continued; "to +Europe, if you like." + +"But how will she live?" persisted Elsie. "What will become of her? No +money--no friends. Oh, Bessie, Bessie!" + +"She has plenty to live on," he replied. "There are stocks enough +deposited in her name to give her a comfortable income." + +"But they are gone," cried Elsie. Then, remembering the danger of that +avowal, she stopped suddenly. + +"Gone!" he repeated. "How do you know? Oh, Elsie, do you know more than +you own--do--" + +"Stop, stop!" she screamed. "You have driven Bessie away and now you +want to kill me! I don't know about anything--you know I don't. Just the +other day Bessie spoke something about the stocks; I thought from what +she said that you had taken them back for some purpose." + +He was perfectly satisfied with her explanation, but the distress and +fright into which she had fallen nearly brought on another nervous +crisis. Great drops of perspiration stood on her forehead, and the +slender fingers he held worked nervously in his grasp. + +"Don't talk any more, dear child," he said. "Try to go to sleep again." + +"I can't sleep--I never shall rest again--never! I feel so wicked--I +hate myself!" + +"Child, what do you mean?" + +She must restrain herself, no danger must come near her. Even her sorrow +for Elizabeth, her stinging remorse, could not make her unselfish enough +to run any personal risk of his displeasure. + +"I don't know what I mean--nothing at all! But it drives me wild to +think of Bessie. Where can she be--where could she go? Suppose she has +killed herself! Oh, she may be drowned in the bay--drowned--drowned!" + +She went nearly mad with the ideas which her fancy conjured up, but it +was perfectly in keeping with her character that in the very extremity +of her suffering, no word for Elizabeth should be spoken that would +implicate herself. Mellen must not guess at her knowledge of his wife's +fault. + +"You will have her searched for," she cried; "promise me that, if you +don't want to kill me outright, promise me that." + +"It could do no good, Elsie, none whatever. She has chosen her own +destiny." + +"It might, it might! If she has no money what will become of her?" + +"I will inquire to-morrow," he replied. "I will write to my agent. If +she has disposed of the stocks I will see that she has means to live +upon; I promise you that." + +"Really, truly?" + +"Did I ever break my word, Elsie?" + +"No, no; but you are so hard and stern." + +"Never with you, darling--never with you." + +Elsie groaned aloud, but hastened to speak: + +"I am only in pain--don't mind it." + +"My poor little Elsie, my sister, my treasure!" + +"Do you love me so much, Grant?" + +"Better than ever; you are all I have now! Oh, Elsie, don't shut your +heart against me, I can't bear that. Try to believe that I have acted as +justly as a man could. To the whole world I can be stern and silent, but +let me tell you the truth. I loved that woman so, my heart is breaking +under this grief. Bear patiently with me, child." + +"Oh, if you suffer, send for her back," cried Elsie. "Let her explain; +you gave her no time----" + +"Hush, hush! Have I not said all those things to myself?" + +This man's pride was so utterly crushed that he was revealing the inmost +secrets of his soul to this frail girl, scarcely caring to conceal from +her how keenly he suffered. + +"But try," pleaded Elsie; "only try." + +"It is impossible; later you will see that as plainly as I do. Don't you +see what a sin I should commit in taking a false, dishonored woman back +to my heart; what a wrong to my sister in exposing her to the society of +a creature so lost and fallen?" + +"She is good!" cried Elsie. "Bessie was an angel! Oh, I wish I was +dead--dead--dead! I can't bear this; it is too much--too much!" + +Elsie wrung her hands and sobbed piteously; she had wept until nature +exhausted itself, and that choked anguish was more painful to witness +than the most violent outburst of tears. + +"We loved her so," muttered Mellen; "she was twined round that girl's +heart as she enthralled mine; she has broken both." + +"What are you saying, Grant?" + +"Nothing, dear; I only pitied you and myself for loving her so much." + +"I will always love her," cried Elsie; "you never shall change me; +nothing shall do that. She is innocent; I believe it; I would say so +before the whole world." + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + +ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS. + + +Mellen was seized with a sudden fear. + +"Elsie," he said, "if anything should happen to me; if I should die----" + +She caught his hands and began to tremble. + +"What do you mean? Die--die!" + +"Nothing, dear; don't be frightened. But life is uncertain; what I mean +is this--if you should outlive me promise never to seek that woman; +never to let her come near you." + +"I can't promise that; I can't be so wicked." + +"You must, Elsie." + +"I can't; I won't! No, no; I'll never be bad enough for that!" + +"If you refuse me this, Elsie, you will sink a gulf between us which can +never be filled up." + +"Don't talk so; remember how sick I am." + +"I do; I won't agitate you, but we must have an end of this subject. If +I should die--" + +"I won't hear you talk about dying," she broke in. "You frighten me; +you'll kill me." + +But he went on resolutely; + +"Promise never to see or hear from her." + +"Not that; it is too wicked--too horrible." + +"Elsie," he cried, in stern passion, "promise, or I will go out of this +room, and though we live together it shall be as strangers." + +He rose as if to fulfil his threat; she sprang up in bed; her cowardice, +her selfishness mastered every other feeling. + +"I promise. Come back, Grant, come back; oh, do!" + +He seated himself again, soothed and caressed her. + +"We will not talk any more," he said, kindly. "Henceforth let everything +connected with this subject be dead between us; that woman's name must +never be mentioned here; her very memory must be swept out of the +dwelling she has dishonored. You and I will bury the past, Elsie, and +place a heavy stone over the tomb; will you remember that, child?" + +"Yes, yes; anything! Do what you please; I cannot struggle any longer; +it is not my fault." + +"Indeed no, darling! You are tender and forgiving as an angel! Oh, +Elsie, in all the world yours is the only true heart I have found." + +She lay there and allowed him to speak those words; she suffered +terribly in her shallow, cowardly way, but she could not force her soul +to be courageous even then. In time her volatile nature might turn +determinedly from the dark tragedy. She probably would convince herself +that she was powerless; that, since it could do no good to grieve over +Elizabeth and her mournful fate, it was better that she should dismiss +all recollection of it from her mind, drown her regrets, enjoy such +pleasures as presented themselves, and build up a new world between her +and the past. + +But as yet she could not do that; she was completely unnerved and +incapable of any resolution. She writhed there in pitiable pain and +caught at every straw for comfort. + +"You won't forget your promise, Grant?" + +"What, dear?" + +"To send money--that she may live, you know." + +"I will not forget, rest satisfied. I will attend to it this very day; +don't think about that any more." + +"How can I help thinking? You might as well tell me not to breathe; I +must think!" + +"The end has come; it can do no good to look back!" + +Almost the very words Elizabeth had so many times repeated during those +last terrible days; the recollection went like a dagger to Elsie's soul. + +It was a long time before she could be restored to anything like +composure; then Mellen forbade her to talk, fearing the consequences of +continued excitement. + +"You can sleep, now, darling; you will be better in the morning." + +"And you will take me away from here, Grant?" + +"Yes, dear; whenever you like." + +"I don't care about the place--the farther the better! I cannot stay in +this house--I should die here. But not to Europe--oh, you won't take me +to Europe?" + +He only thought the sudden terror in her voice rose from a fear of the +voyage or some similar weakness. + +"You shall choose, Elsie; just where you please. We will go to the West +Indies--as you say, the farther the better." + +"Yes, Grant, yes." + +"Now shut your eyes and go to sleep." + +"You won't leave me," she pleaded. + +"No; I shall stay near you all night." + +"It is so dreadful," she went on, glancing wildly about the room; "I +should go mad to wake up and find myself alone." + +"You shall not, dear; indeed you shall not." + +She grew quiet then; after a little time he heard Victoria in the hall, +and went out to speak with her. + +"You will lie down on the bed in the room next Miss Elsie's," he said, +"and be near her if she wants anything." + +He had not forgotten that he must be absent in the night, and was +careful to guard the cherished girl against every possible cause of +fright or agitation. + +He spent the evening in Elsie's sick chamber as he had passed the day. +Elsie did not sleep, but she was glad to lie quiet and keep her eyes +closed, shutting out the objects around her. Sometimes when her +reflections became too painful to bear, she would start up, catch his +hands and shriek his name wildly, but his voice always served to calm +her. + +Towards midnight she fell into a heavy slumber. More than an hour before +he heard Victoria enter the next room, and knew that he could leave +Elsie in safety. + +He bent over the bed, kissed her white forehead, and stole softly out of +the room. + +He went down into the library and sat there drearily, starting at the +least sound, almost with a belief that he should stand face to face once +more with his wife who might yet return on some possible pretence. The +hours passed, but there was no step from without, no sign of approach +anywhere about the house. + +He went to the window, pushed back the curtains and looked out--the +first thing he saw was the cypress tree waving its branches as they had +done the night before when their moans seemed inarticulate efforts to +speak. + +The moon was up now, streaming down with a broad, full glory, very +different from the spectral radiance of the previous night. How vividly +recollection of those fearful hours came back as he stood there! He +lived over every pang, felt every torture redoubled--started back as if +again looking on the dead object which had shut out all happiness from +him for ever. + +Suddenly he saw the figure of a man, that man, stealing across the lawn; +he did not wait to reflect, flung open the window and dashed out in +pursuit. He was too late--the intruder disappeared, and though he made a +long and diligent search his efforts were futile. + +He returned to the house, livid with the new rage which had come over +him. + +"I will find him," he muttered; "there is no spot so distant, no place +so secret, that my vigilance shall not hunt him down!" + +So the night passed, and when the dawn again struggled into the sky +Grantley Mellen returned to his sister's chamber, and sat down to watch +her deep, painful slumber once more. + +No sleep approached his eyelids--it seemed to him that he must not hope +to lose consciousness again--that never even for an instant would that +crushing sorrow and that mad craving for the lost woman leave him at +rest. + + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + +ALMOST A PROPOSAL. + + +In the basement story of Piney Cove, the absence of Mrs. Mellen was a +continued source of curiosity. But for once, that part of the household +had little but conjecture to go upon; so after a time, curiosity died +out and the selfish element rose uppermost, especially with the mulatto, +Dolf, who had not yet found out the sum total of Clorinda's fortune. + +The night after Mrs. Mellen's disappearance, there had been an anxious +meeting in the neighborhood, at which Elder Spotts had held forth with +peculiar eloquence, and Clorinda had been wonderfully loud in her +responses, a state of things which filled Dolf with serious perplexity; +in fact, it had been a very anxious meeting to him. After their return +home, that young gentleman lingered in the basement, looking so +miserable that Clorinda asked the cause. + +"Yer knows," said Dolf, prolonging the situation as much as possible, in +the hope that some bright thought would strike him by which the +conversation might be led round to the subject uppermost in his worldly +mind; "yer knows very well." + +"Why, yer's making me out jis' a witch." + +"No, Miss Clorindy, no; don't say dem keerless tings--don't! I ain't a +makin' you nothin', only de most charmin' and de most cruel of yer +sect." + +If Clo did not blush it was only because nature had deprived her of the +dangerous privilege, but she fell into a state of sweet confusion that +was beautiful to behold. + +"Dar ye go agin," said she; "now quit a callin' me witches and sich, or +else say why?" + +"Didn't I see you dis berry even'?" said Dolf. + +"In course ye did; we was to Mrs. Hopkins's when de meeting was ober." + +"And wasn't Elder Spotts dar, too?" + +"In course he was; yer knows it well enough." + +"I knows it too well," said Dolf. "Dar's whar de coquettations comes in; +dat's jis' de subjec' I'm 'proachin' yer wid." + +"Me!" cried Clo, in delightful innocence. "Laws, I didn't know yer even +looked at me; I tought ye was fascinated wid dat Vic." + +"I'se neber too busy to reserve you, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf; +"wherever I may be, whatever my ockipation, I'se eyes fur you. And I +seed you; I seed de elder a bending over ye, a whisperin' in yer ear." + +"Oh, git out!" cried Clo. "He didn't do no sich." + +"Oh, yes, he did, Miss Clorindy; dese eyes seen it." + +"Wal, he was a axin' me if I was gwine to come to meetin' more reg'lar +dan I had ob late." + +"It took him a great while to ax," said Dolf, in a reproachful voice. + +Clo laughed a little chuckling laugh. + +"He's a bery pleasant man, de elder," said she; "bery pleasant." + +"Dey say he wants a wife," observed Dolf. + +"Do dey! Mebby he do; anyway he hain't told me dat." + +"But he will, Clorindy, he will!" + +"Tain't no ways likely; don' 'spec I shall knows much bout it!" + +"Oh, yes, yer will," insisted Dolf. + +He was serious, and Clo began to grow dizzy at the thought of so many +conquests crowding upon her at once. + +"I jis' b'lieve he's a sarpint in disguise," said Dolf, with great +energy; "one ob de wust kind of old he ones." + +"Laws, Mr. Dolf, don't say sich things; he's a shinin' light in de +sanctumary, I'se certain." + +"It's a light I'd like to squinch," cried Dolf, "and if he pokes himself +into my moonshine I'll do it." + +Clo gave a shrill scream, and caught his arm, as if she feared that he +was intending to rush forth in search of the elder, and put his menace +into instant execution. + +"Don't kick up a muss wid him," she pleaded: "why should yer?" + +"It 'pends on yer, Miss Clorindy, yer know; de 'couragement yer've ben a +givin' him is 'nuff to drive yer admirers out o' der senses." + +"Oh, dear me, I neber heerd sich audacious nonsense!" said Clo. + +"It's true," answered Dolf, "an' yer knows it. But ye're received in dat +man, Miss Clorindy, yer is! He's got both eyes fixed on de glitterin' +dross. I've heerd him talk 'bout de fortin yer had, an' how it wud set a +pusson up, an' what good he might do wid it 'mong de heathen." + +Clo gave another scream, but this time it was a cry of indignation and +wrath. + +"Spend my money 'mong de heathen!" she cried. "I'd like to see him do +it! comes 'bout me I'll pull his old wool fur him, I will." + +Dolf smiled at the success of his falsehood, and made ready to clench +the nail after driving it in. + +"Dat's what he tinks anyhow. Why, Miss Clorindy, he was a tryin' ter +find out jist how much yer was wuth." + +"'Taint nobody's business but my own," cried Clo, angrily, "folks +needn't be a pumpin' me; 'taint no use." + +"Jis' what I've allers said," remarked Dolf, with great earnestness; +"sich secrets, says I, is Miss Clorindy's own." + +"Yes, dey be," said Clo, holding on to the sides of her stool as tightly +as if it had been the box which contained her treasures. + +"I've said sometimes," continued Dolf, "dat if de day shud eber come +when dat parathon ob her sex made up her mind ter gib her loved hand to +some true bussom, she'd probably whisper musical in his ear de secret +she has kept from all de wuld." + +Clo was divided between the tenderness awakened by these words and the +vigilance with which she always guarded the outposts leading to her +cherished secret. + +"Ain't dat sense, Miss Clorindy?" demanded Dolf, getting impatient. + +"I hain't said it warn't," she replied. + +"Dis wuld is full ob mercenary men," Dolf went on, "searchin' fur de +filty lucre; I'se glad I neber was one ob dem. I allers has 'spised de +dross; gib me lobe, I says, and peace wid de fair one ob my choice, and +I asks no more." + +Clo played with her apron string again, and looked modestly down. + +But Dolf did not know exactly what to say next without committing +himself more deeply than he desired; indeed, he had been led on now +considerably farther than he could wish, but that was unavoidable. + +"Not but what fortins is desirous," he said, "'cause in dis wuld people +must lib." + +Clo assented gently to that self-evident proposition. + +"Do yer know what I'se often tought, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf, starting +on a new tack. + +"'Spect I don't," said Clo. + +"I'se wished many a time, more lately'n I used ter, dat I could take +some fair cretur I lobed ter my heart, and dat 'tween us we had money +'nuff ter start a restauration or sometin' ob dat sort." + +Clo sniffed a little. + +"In dem places de wurk all comes on de woman," said she. + +Dolf was quite aware of that fact; it was the one thing which made him +contemplate the idea with favor. + +"Oh, not at all," he said, "de cookin's a trifle; tink ob de 'counts; my +head's good at figures." + +"Dey kind o' puzzles me," Clo confided to him softly. + +"Tain't 'spected in the fair sect," said Dolf; "dey nebber ort to +trouble 'emselves 'bout sich matters." + +Then Dolf sighed. + +"Yer wonders what's de matter," he said; "I was jis lamentin' dat I +hadn't been able to save as much as I could wish, so dat I could realise +sich a dream." + +"Laws," cried Clo, so agitated and confused she was about to speak the +words he so longed to hear; "how much wud it take? Does yer tink dat if +a woman had--" + +"I say Clo, where be yer?" + +The interruption was a cruel one to both the darkeys, though from +different reasons; the voice was Victoria's. + +"Clo!" she called again, in considerable wrath, "jis' you answer now." + +Clo sprang up in high indignation. Dolf mounted a couple of steps and +appeared to be diligently searching for something in a closet. + +Victoria opened the kitchen door, looked out and tossed her head angrily +when she saw the pair. + +"I s'pose I might a split my throat callin', and yer wouldn't a +answered," she cried. + +"I'se 'bout my business," said Clo, grimly, "jis' mind yours." + +"I s'pose Mr. Dolf am 'bout his business too," retorted Vic. + +Dolf turned around from the closet and asked sweetly, "Did you 'dress +me, Miss Vic?" + +"No, I didn't, and don't mean ter. But Miss Elsie's woke up, and wants +some jelly and a bird; where am dey, Clo?" + +"Look whar dey be and ye'll find 'em," replied Clo. + +"Ef they hain't gone down dat ol' preacher's throat it's lucky," cried +Vic, slamming the door after her, thus defeating poor Dolf in the very +moment of success. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXI. + +FUTILE PLEADINGS. + + +Elsie was better that morning. When the physician arrived he pronounced +her much improved, and confessed to Mellen that he had at first feared +an attack upon the brain, but he believed now it was only the result of +a severe nervous paroxysm. This time he made no inquiries of Mellen +concerning his wife; the manner in which they had been received on the +previous day did not invite a renewal of the subject. + +Elsie was eager to get up, after her usual habit, the moment she began +to feel better; but the doctor ordered her to lie in bed, at least for +that day. + +"But I want to get up so badly," said she, when her brother returned to +the chamber; "I am so tired of lying here." + +"Just have patience for to-day; the doctor would not allow the least +exertion." + +"He's a cross old thing!" pouted Elsie, with a faint return to her old +manner, which made Mellen both sigh and smile. + +"You will soon be able to put him at defiance. But, indeed, you are so +weak now you could not attempt too much." + +"Oh, that's nonsense! I don't believe anything about it. You shall stay +here with me; if I have to be kept prisoner I will hold you fast, too." + +"There is no fear of my attempting to leave the room," he replied. + +Elsie felt much improved. She sat up in bed, made her brother play at +various games of cards with her, talked and looked herself again. + +But into the conversation, in which Mellen did his best to hold a share, +there crept some chance mention of that name which those walls must no +longer hear. It fell from Elsie's lips thoughtlessly, and at once +dispelled her faint attempt at cheerfulness, throwing her into the gloom +which she had succeeded in shutting out for a little time. + +"Did you write that letter, Grant?" she asked, quickly. + +"Yes; I sent it down to the village, to go by the morning's mail." + +"Thank you, Grant, thank you!" + +She attempted to console herself with thinking she had done something in +Elizabeth's behalf, but when her conscience compared it with all that +she ought to have done, her coward heart shrank back at the contrast. + +"I am tired of cards," she said, sweeping the bits of pasteboard off the +bed with one of her abrupt movements, which would have been rude in +another, but seemed graceful and childish in her. "Cards are stupid +things at the best!" + +Mellen patiently collected the scattered pack and laid it away, trying +to think of some other means of relieving her _ennui_. + +"Shall I read to you?" he asked. + +"I don't believe I could listen," she said, tossing her head wearily +about. "I don't know--just try." + +There was a pile of new novels and magazines on the table in the centre +of the room, for Elsie always kept herself liberally supplied with these +sources of distraction, though it must be confessed that she generally +carried the recreation to an extreme, reading her romance to the +exclusion of more solid studies, just as she preferred nibbling +bon-bons, to eating substantial food. + +"There certainly is opportunity for a choice," Mellen said, glancing at +the pile. "What book will you choose?" + +"Oh, bring a magazine; read me some short story." + +Mellen seated himself, opened the periodical and commenced reading the +first tale he lighted upon. It was a story by a popular author, +beginning in a light, pleasant way, and promising the amusement his +listener needed. But as the little romance went on it deepened into a +pathetic tragedy. It was an account of a noble-born Sicilian woman who, +during the Revolution, endured, silently, every species of suffering, at +last death itself, rather than betray her husband to his enemies, yet +the husband had bitterly wronged her and half-broken her heart during +their married life. + +Elsie did not listen at first, but as the story went on her thoughts +became so painful that she tried to fasten her attention upon the +reading. When she began to take notice Mellen was just in the midst of +the account of this Sicilian woman's martyrdom in prison, bearing up +with such serene patience, faithful to her vow, firm in her +determination to save the man who had injured her. + +Elsie fairly snatched the volume from his hand. + +"Don't read it!" she exclaimed. "What made you choose such a doleful +thing; it makes my flesh creep." + +He saw the change which had come over her face, and reproached himself +for his carelessness in having chosen so sad a tale; but the truth was, +in his absorption, he had not the slightest idea of what he was reading, +his voice sounded in his own ears mechanical, and as if it belonged to +some other person. + +He went to the table to make a more fortunate selection. + +"Here is a volume of parodies," he said, "shall I try those?" + +"Anything; I don't care." + +He commenced a mischievous travestie of a poem, but though it was +wittily done, its lightness jarred so terribly on both reader and +listener that it was speedily thrown aside. For some time they remained +in gloomy silence, then Elsie began to moan and move restlessly about, +then Mellen tried to rouse himself and be cheerful again. + +The afternoon passed very much in the same way. At last Elsie declared +that she would sleep awhile. + +"Anything to wear away the time!" she said. + +Mellen wondered if he should ever find anything that would shorten the +hours to him, but he held his peace. + +"I have such an odd, horrible feeling," said Elsie; "just as if I were +waiting anxiously for something--every instant expecting it." + +"That is because you are nervous." + +"Perhaps so," she said, fretfully. + +He was waiting. Henceforth life would be but one long waiting just for +revenge, then to be free from the dull pressure of this existence. + +"How white you are!" Elsie said suddenly. "I don't believe you have +slept at all." + +It was true. For nights Mellen had not closed his eyes, but he felt no +approach towards drowsiness even now. + +"You will fall sick!" cried Elsie. "What shall I do then?" + +"Don't be afraid; I am well and strong." + +He said the words with a loathing bitterness of his own ability to +endure. + +The more powerful his physical organization, the more years of +loneliness and pain would be left for him to bear. His mind flew on to +the future; he pictured the long, long course towards old age; the +dreary lapse of time which would bring only a cold exterior over his +sufferings, like a crust of lava hardening above the volcanic fires +beneath. + +"Don't sit so, looking at nothing," cried Elsie. + +"Yes, dear. There, do you think you can go to sleep?" + +"I won't try, unless you go to sleep too. Draw the sofa up by the bed +and lie down." + +He obeyed her command, willing to gratify her least caprice. She gave +him one of her pillows, threw a part of the counterpane over him, and +made him lie there, holding fast to his hand, afraid to be alone, even +in her dreams. + +"Do you feel sleepy, Grant?" she asked, after a pause. + +"Perhaps so; I am resting, at all events." + +"Don't you remember when I was sick once, years ago, I never would sleep +unless I held your hand?" + +"Yes, dear." + +How far back the time looked--he had been a mere youth then--what a +fearful waste lay between that season and the present! + +Suddenly Elsie started up again. + +"You sent the letter, Grant?" + +"Yes, yes; be content." + +She was so much afraid even to sleep, that it relieved her to turn her +last waking thoughts upon some little good she was doing Elizabeth. + +"Good-night, now," she said; "I can go to sleep. Kiss my hand, Grant. +You love me, don't you?" + +"Always, darling, always; nothing can part you and me." + +She fell away into a tranquil slumber, and Mellen lay for a long time +watching her repose; it was a brief season of peace to her, for burning +thoughts had not followed her into her dreams. + +The extreme quiet, the sight of her placid face soothed him +imperceptibly. A dreary weakness began to make itself felt after that +long continued excitement. At length the lids drooped over his eyes, and +he slept almost as profoundly as Elsie herself. For a long time there +was no sound in the chamber; the brother and sister lay slumbering while +the day wore on and the twilight crept slowly around. + +When Elsie awoke it was to rouse him with the cry which had been so +often on her lips during the previous day-- + +"Bessie, Bessie!" + +He started up, spoke to her, and his voice brought her back to the +reality. + +"I was so happy," she moaned; "I dreamed that Bessie and I were +gathering pond lilies--she was wreathing them about my head--then just +as I woke I saw a snake sting her--before that it was all bright. Oh, +dear, if I could only sleep forever!" + + + + +CHAPTER LXXII. + +TOM FULLER RETURNS. + + +The next day Elsie was still stronger and better. She consented to lie +in bed all the morning, making it a condition that she might get up and +be carried downstairs to pass the evening. + +"That is the dreariest time," she said; "it drags on so heavily." + +Mellen promised her, and she was childishly happy. + +"You shall have an early dinner, Grant, and then we'll take tea in the +evening, and eat toast and jam just as we did when I was a child." + +"Yes, that will be very comfortable." + +He had tried to say pleasant, but he could not speak the word. The day +was so warm and bright that a little after noon he took her out for a +short drive, then she lay down to rest again, resolved to be strong and +pass the evening below. The change was pleasant to her--she felt quite +elated, as she always was in health, at the idea of amusement. + +They got through the day rather quietly, and Elsie did not have a single +relapse of her nervous tremors. + +When she awoke from her afternoon nap it was growing dark. She cried out +quite joyfully when she saw Grantley sitting by the bed: + +"It is almost evening at last!" + +At that moment Victoria appeared at the door. + +"Come in," Mellen said; "what do you want?" + +Victoria entered on tip-toe, though she knew plainly enough that her +young mistress was awake, and whispered in the doleful semitone she +reserved for sick rooms: + +"If you please, Mister Fuller's just arrived, and he's a asking after +all of you in a breath." + +Elsie started up on her pillows, and the brother and sister looked at +each other in blank dismay when they thought of the blow that must be +inflicted upon the warm, honest heart of Elizabeth's cousin. + +"Go and say that we will be down," said Elsie, recovering her presence +of mind. + +Victoria departed, and Grantley cried out passionately: + +"How can I tell him? Poor Tom, he will nearly die." + +"You must not tell him yet," said Elsie, "not one word--just say Bessie +is absent." + +"Such prevarication is useless, Elsie, he must know the truth." + +Elsie began to cry. + +"There, you are contradicting me already. I won't go down--I shall be +sick again--my head swims now." + +"Don't distress yourself, dear, don't." + +"Then let me have my own way," she pleaded. + +"What do you wish? Anything to content you." + +"That's a good brother," said Elsie. "Go down and merely tell Tom I have +been very sick, and that Bessie has gone to New York--anywhere--not a +word more." + +"But he will wonder at her absence during your illness." + +"No, he never wonders; it doesn't make any difference." + +"I detest these white lies, Elsie." + +"Oh, well, if you want to kill me with a scene, go and tell Tom," she +exclaimed, throwing herself back on her pillows; "I shall be worried to +death at last." + +Mellen was anxious to soothe her, and against his judgment submitted. + +"I'll go, darling; I'll go." + +"Good Grant; kind brother! Send Victoria to me; I will be all dressed +when you come back." + +Mellen went out and called the servant, then he passed downstairs, and +in the hall met Tom, who rushed towards him, exclaiming: + +"The woman says Elsie is very sick; is she better; what is it?" + +"She is much better; don't be frightened; she will be downstairs in a +few minutes." + +"Thank God," muttered Tom, his face still white with fears that Victoria +had aroused. + +Mellen was too much preoccupied to notice his extreme agitation, or +speculate upon its cause if he had observed it. + +"I only got back this afternoon," said Tom, "and I hurried over here at +once. How is Bessie?" + +"She--she is not at home," faltered Mellen. + +"Not at home and Elsie sick?" + +"She was gone," said Mellen, "and I did not send for her." + +Tom was too much troubled about Elsie to reflect long upon anything +else, and directly Mellen broke from his eager questions, saying: + +"Go into the library, Tom; I'll bring Elsie down." + +He went upstairs, and knocked at his sister's door. + +"You may come in," Elsie called out; "I am ready." + +When he entered she was sitting up in an easy chair, wrapped in a pretty +dressing-gown of pink merino, braided and trimmed after her own fanciful +ideas, a white shawl thrown over her shoulders, the flossy hair shading +her face, and looking altogether quite another creature. + +For the first time since Elizabeth's departure, a feeling of relief +loosened the oppression on Mellen's heart. + +"You look so well again; God bless you, darling!" + +"Of course I'm pretty!" she cried childishly, pointing to herself in the +glass. "I shall make a nice little visitor." + +"You will always be one, my sunbeam," he said. + +She shivered a little at his words, but she would not permit herself to +think, determined to have her old carelessness, her old peace back, if +she could grasp it. + +"How is Tom?" she asked. + +"Dreadfully anxious about you, poor fellow." + +"Did he ask for Bessie?" + +"Yes--yes." + +"But you said nothing?" + +"No, Elsie; he knows nothing." + +"That is right," she said; "I can tell him better than you. Be kind to +him, Grant." + +"Yes, dear; he saved your life; Tom is very dear to me; poor fellow." + +"I am to be a visitor, remember," she said childishly; "You must not +forget that." + +"I will forget nothing that can give you pleasure, be certain of that," +he answered, kindly. + +"Now you shall lead me downstairs," she said. + +"You must not walk; I will carry you." + +"No, no; I am so heavy." + +But he took her in his arms and carried her downstairs, as he had so +often done in her childhood, while Victoria followed with cushions and +shawls to make her perfectly comfortable. + +"I am your baby again, Grant! Don't you remember how you used to carry +me about?" + +"Indeed I do; you are not much larger now." + +"You saucy thing! I would pull your hair only I am afraid you would let +me fall." + +He carried her into the library and laid her on the sofa. Tom sprang +forward with a cry of terror at the change his absence had made in her +appearance, but a gesture from Mellen warned him that he must control +his feelings lest his anxiety should agitate her. + +"I am so glad to see you, Tom, so very glad," she said, clasping her +delicate fingers about his hands, and so filling him with delight by her +look and words that he could not even remember to be anxious. + +"It has seemed an age to me since I went away," said Tom. "And you have +been sick, little princess, and Bessie gone! that is strange." + +"There, there," cried Elsie; "you must not talk about my appearance or +sickness or anything else! Just tell me how pretty I look, and do +nothing but amuse me." + +"You seem like an angel of light," cried Tom, looking wistfully at her +little hand, as if he longed to hide it away in his broad palm. + +The fire burned cheerfully in the grate, the chandeliers were lighted, +the tea-table spread, and everything done to make the room pleasant +which could suggest itself to Dolf and Victoria, in their anxiety to +please the young favorite. + +"It is so pleasant," she said, with a sigh of relief; "so pleasant." + +Then Victoria brought her a quantity of flowers Dolf had cut in the +greenhouse, and she strewed the fragrant blossoms over her dress and +wreathed them in her hair, making a beautiful picture of herself in her +rich wrappings and delicate loveliness. + +"Now we will have tea," she said, "bring all sorts of nice things, +Victy." + +"Yes, 'deed. I will, Miss! Clo she's ben a fixin' fur yer! Laws, it jis' +makes my heart jump to see you up agin." + +As the girl left the room Mellen said: + +"How she loves you! Everybody does love you, Elsie." + +"They must," she answered; "I should die if I were not petted. Oh, +Grant, it's so nice here; don't you like it?" + +"Yes, indeed; you make the old room bright again." + +Her spirits had risen, she was really quite like her old self, and that +without effort or pretence. + +Then the tea was brought in, and she insisted on at least tasting +everything on the table. Clo was well acquainted with her dainty ways, +and the varieties of preserves and jellies she had brought out from her +stores was marvellous. + +Elsie fed Tom with bits of toast, made him eat everything he did not +want, and beg for all that he did, and was so bright and peaceful that +Mellen himself grew quiet from her influence. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII. + +A FEAST AND A LOVE FEAST. + + +While the evening was passing so pleasantly with Elsie, the principal +personages below stairs were holding a subdued revel in the +housekeeper's room. + +Miss Dinah had come up from the village, and her ebony suitor was +expected. With that and their delight at Miss Elsie's improvement, the +whole staff was in excellent spirits. + +"It's one ob dem 'casions," said Dolf, "when we ort ter do somethin' a +little out ob de common run--what do yer say, Miss Clorindy?" + +Clo smiled affably; certain explanations had passed between her and Dolf +on the previous day, which made her inclined to consider any proposal of +his with high favor. + +She summoned her unfortunate drudge Sally, and ordered her to set the +table at once. + +"And don't spend yer time a gaupin' at Miss Dinah's new dress," said +she, severely; "'taint manners, nohow." + +The truth was Sally had not observed the gown, but its bright crimson +had struck Clorinda's fancy, and being tempted to stare at it enviously +herself, she concluded the girl must be doing the same thing. + +"Jis' obsarve what Miss Clorindy tells yer," remarked Dolf, "and yer'll +be on the road ter 'provement; Sally, yer couldn't hab a more reficient +guide." + +Clo bridled and grew radiant; she cast a glance of triumph at Dinah, and +only regretted that Victoria had not yet come downstairs to hear these +benign words. + +"I 'spect Othello won't get here till late," said Dinah, beginning to +fear that the good things would all have disappeared before his arrival. +"Der's some meeting at de hotel, and he'll be kept dar--de gemmen tinks +nobody else can wait on em." + +"He desarves deir 'preciation," said Dolf, loftily, with the air of a +man so supremely great that he could well afford to allow ordinary +people to claim their little virtues unchallenged. + +"Wal," said Clo, "arter all it needs trabbel and the world to develop a +man proper." + +"Jis' so, Miss Clorindy; yer's allers rezact." + +He gave her a very tender glance, and Clo giggled in delightful +confusion. + +"But I tell you, Mr. Othello mustn't lose his share of 'freshment," +pursued Dolf, anxious to secure as many extra meals as possible. "Miss +Clo, will you permit me to make a proposition?" + +"I'll feel it an honor," said Clo. + +"Yer does me proud," returned Dolf with a profound bow, while Dinah sat +quite aghast at their stateliness and high breeding, and Sally began to +think Clo must speak Spanish as well as Dolf. + +"I moves we has our tea now," said Dolf; "it's a sort of delercate +compliment to Miss Elsie to eat when she does, and later in de ebenin' +arter Mr. Othello comes we might make a brile ob dat chicken in de +closet--marster don't eat nothin', and I'se afeared it'll be wasted." + +Clo was complaisance itself, and went to work while Dolf encouraged her +with his smiles. + +By the time Victoria came downstairs the table was spread sumptuously, +and in order to carry out Dolf's extraordinary idea of complimenting +Miss Elsie, there were sweetmeats and cakes, hot muffins, cold tongue, +and stores of eatables that brought the water into Dolf's crafty mouth. + +The meal began in greatest harmony, Miss Dinah was very affable, Vic +really was the best-natured creature in the world, and just now she was +perfectly happy from seeing her beloved young mistress better; Dolf was +so circumspect in his conduct that Clo was kept in the state of high +good humor befitting the glory of her new turban, and the first +brightness of the change which had come upon her prospects. + +The truth was, the day before, while she was peeling onions, Dolf grew +desperate, and was led on to that point beyond which there was no +turning back. Clo had grown tender and confidential--he learned the +amount of her fortune--five hundred hard dollars in the bank. After this +the happiness of that sable pair was supreme. For the moment she really +looked beautiful in his eyes, and with tears in their depths--the result +of affection, not of the onions he assured her--he implored her to make +him the happiest of men. He performed his part in the most grandiloquent +style, dropping on one knee as he had seen lovers do from the upper loft +of the Bowery Theatre, and holding her hands fast, one of which grasped +a knife and the other an onion. + +Before they were disturbed matters were completely settled, though Dolf +pleaded for the engagement being kept secret a little while. + +"I jis' want to see what dat ole parson'll say," he averred, though the +truth was, Dolf had been so indiscreet in his protestations to Victoria +that he was a little fearful of consequences if that high-spirited +damsel learned the news without a little preparation. + +"Nebber you mind de parson," said Clo; "laws, I wouldn't wipe my ole +shoes on him, 'sides it ed be something wuth while jis' to denounce our +connubiolity to de hull company dis ebening." + +But Dolf flattered and persuaded until she consented to comply with his +wishes. + +Victoria had been so much occupied above stairs that she found no +opportunity for observation, otherwise Dolf's manner and the mysterious +air of importance which Clo assumed, would have warned her that +something extraordinary had happened. + +Clo made Sally wait on her more than ever, boxed the girl's ears for her +own mistakes, tried on new turbans, surveyed herself in the glass, and +fluttered from room to room in the highest state of feminine triumph. +Dolf tried his best to be happy, but it required a vivid recollection of +the money lying in that bank to make him at all comfortable. He kept +repeating to himself: + +"Five hundred dollars! One--two--three--four--five!" + +Then he would remember Victoria's youth and golden beauty, his own +delicious freedom, and groan heavily. But he was sure to bring up his +spirits again by muttering, vigorously: + +"Five hundred dollars! One--two--three--four--five!" + +But it was a season of holiday delight to Clorinda. The highest +aspiration of her spinster soul was soon to be gratified--she would have +a husband! No long engagement for her; she made up her mind to that on +the moment. With that yellow bird once in the cage, she was not going to +lose time in closing the door--not she! + +She fed her intended to repletion with dainties, and it spoke marvels +for his digestion that after all the dinner he had eaten he could make +such havoc among the cake and preserves, still looking complacently +forward to the prospect of broiled chicken. Crisp crullers disappeared +like frostwork in his nimble jaws, he laid in a very unnecessary stock +of tongue considering his natural advantages that way, made a dismal +cavern of an immense fruitcake, and softened the effect with a whole +mould of apricot jelly. + +Dinah and Vic certainly kept him in countenance, but Clorinda rather +trifled with the sweets, drinking so much strong tea in her pleasurable +agitation, that to an observer given to ludicrous ideas, her jetty face +would have suggested the idea of an old fashioned black teapot, with her +pug nose for the chubby spout. Sally witnessed this dashing festival +from behind the door, scraped up the jelly left in the glasses, stole +bits of toast and muffins on their road to the table, and solaced her +appetite on various fragments, till at last, growing bold and getting +hungry, she crept to the pantry and purloined half a pumpkin pie. Until +it had disappeared, like a train down a tunnel, she never remembered +that Clo was sure to miss it in the morning, but reflected, in her +fright, that it was possible to shut the cat up in the closet at +bedtime, and so escape detection. + +After tea Dolf brought out a pack of cards--a pack which had +mysteriously disappeared from the library table some time before--and +inducted the ladies into the mysteries of sundry little games, winning +their pennies easily and cheating them without the slightest +compunction. + +That was a point beyond Clo, she could not lose her money even to Dolf, +and vowed from that time out she would only play for pins. + +"Gamblin's wicked," she said, virtuously. + +So they played for pins, and Dolf allowed her to be the gainer. When she +lost, Clo gave crooked ones in payment, and thus her high spirits were +preserved untarnished. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV. + +THAT MONEY IN THE BANK. + + +At last Othello arrived and made the circle complete. A great, shiny +creature, uglier than a mortal easily can be, at whom Miss Dinah cast +admiring glances, and did the fascinating in a way which Clo copied on +the instant. + +Dolf reminded her of the chicken, and proposed making a bowl of flip +while she cooked the fowl, an idea which received unanimous approval. + +They were gathered about the supper-table, Dolf was carver, and managed +to secure an unfair portion of the delicate bits, proposing all sorts of +trifles to suit Othello's palate, and then devouring them before the +unfortunate creature could get more than a look at the dainties. + +Othello was giving an account of his labors during the evening, and from +his story it was quite evident that he had been the most important +personage in the assembly, and Dinah shone like a bronze Venus with the +triumph in his success. + +"Oh, laws!" said he, suddenly; "I quite forgot!" + +"What, what?" they asked. + +"Why, what Mr. Moseby said. 'Spec it don't consarn nobody here; only, as +Miss Clorindy's a lady of property, she naterally feels interested in +what happens to oder folks wid fortins." + +Clo bridled, and Dolf said majestically, feeling that he had already a +share in her wealth: + +"In course, in course; perceed, Mr. Othello." + +"Wal, yer see the gemmen was talkin' 'bout de banks--I didn't hear de +beginning, 'cause dat boy, Pete Hopkins, let de punch glasses fall, and +I was a fixin' him." + +"Did it break 'em?" cried Dinah, feeling an interest in the details not +shared by the others. + +"Only two. I gave him six cracks for each--the little limb!" + +"Wal, 'bout de bank," said Dolf, impatiently. + +"Yes, dat's what I'm gwine to tell. Mr. Moseby, he said--you know +him--dat tall man----" + +"Laws, we know him well 'nuff," said Vic. "Go on if you're gwine to." + +Dinah looked reproachfully at her, and Othello continued: + +"Mr. Moseby--he said de Trader's Bank had blowed all to smash--clean +up." + +A scream from Clorinda brought them all to their feet. + +"Massy sakes," cried Vic; "what is it?" + +"Have yer got fits?" demanded Dinah. + +"Bring de peppermint," suggested Othello. + +"Miss Clorindy, dear Miss Clorindy, what am it?" cried Dolf, with a +sudden sinking at his heart. + +Clo would have had hysterics, but not being a fine lady, she gave two or +three yells, kicked the table, pulled her frizzed hair, and shouted, +amid her tears: + +"You Sally, git my bunnit--quick!" + +She rose, and they crowded about her. + +"Whar be you gwine? What's up?" + +"Git my bunnit!" she repeated. "Ise gwine to York, I is." + +"To York, this time o' night?" cried Vic. + +"Yes, I is--let me go." + +Dolf laid a hand on her arm. + +"Only 'splain, Clorindy, 'splain!" + +"Ise gwine to git at dem rascals. I want my money--I'll have it! Marster +shall git it. Oh de villin scampsesses! I want my money." + +Dolf dropped speechless in a chair, while the rest poured out floods of +questions, which Clorinda was in no state to answer. + +"Was yer money in dat bank?" + +"Ise gwine to York; get my bunnit!" + +They fairly shook her, the general curiosity was so great. + +"Why don't yer speak?" said Vic. "Was yer money in de bank?" + +"Yis; ebery red cent. Oh! oh! Five hundred dollars--and it's a--all +g--gone!" she sobbed. "I'll hev it! I'll hev it! Call marster! Git my +bunnit. Oh! oh!" + +They made her sit down, they explained to her that nothing could be done +until the next day, and finally she subsided into silent tears. All this +while Dolf sat without offering one word of consolation; now he said: + +"Mebby dar's some mistake, Othello." + +"No, dar ain't," persisted Othello. "Mr. Moseby's lost ten thousand +dollars; he'd orter know. De bank's gone to smash, clar nuff." + +Clo burst into a new paroxysm of distress, and Dolf, after a brief +struggle with his own disappointment, turned on her: + +"Yer needn't rouse de house wid yer hurlyburly," said he, savagely. +"Better 'member Miss Elsie's sick." + +Clo stared at him in tearless horror; a new fear struck her; was he +going to prove false? + +"Don't talk so," she said; "tink of yesterday, Dolf!" + +Dolf drew himself up, and looked first at her and then at the company +with an air of profound astonishment. + +"I tink her brain am turned," said he. + +"'Taint!" roared Clo. "Oh, Dolfy, yer said yer loved me; yer knows yer +did; dat yer didn't care for money; dat I was a Wenus in yer +eyes--oh--oh!" + +"Wal, I do declar!" cried Vic. + +Dolf flew into a great rage. + +"Miss Clorindy, yer sorrow makes yer forget yerself; yer've ben a +dreaming." + +Clo drew her apron from her eyes and looked at him; lightning was +gathering there which he would have done well to heed, but he did not. + +"Does yer mean that?" she demanded, sternly. + +"Sartin, I does." + +"Yer denies kneelin' at my feet an' sayin', "Wasn't de onions made yer +cry;" a pleadin' and a coaxin' till I 'sented to marry yer." + +"In course I does," repeated Dolf, doggedly. + +"Take care! Jis' tink!" + +"Miss Clo, dis ere ain't decorous; I'se 'stonished at yer!" + +With a bound like an unchained tigress Clo sprang at him. Dolf dodged, +ran behind the startled group, in and out among the chairs, through the +kitchen, back again, and Clo at his heels. She had caught up a broom; +once or twice she managed to hit him, and her sobs of rage mingled with +Dolf's cries of distress. + +"Take her off," he shrieked; "ketch a hold of her!" + +"I'll kill him," shouted Clo. "I'll break every bone in his 'fernal +body! Oh, yer varmint, yer cattle!" + +They laid hands on Clorinda at length, though it was a difficult +operation; and Dolf took refuge behind a great chair, peeping through +the slats at the back, with his eyes rolling and his teeth chattering +like some frightened monkey in a cage. + +The women were consoling and blaming Clo; Vic divided between conviction +and anger, and Othello, like a sensible man, siding neither way. + +Suddenly they were roused by a prolonged cry from the floor above, a cry +so shrill and unearthly that it froze the blood in their veins. In an +instant there followed a loud knocking at the outer door, and forgetful +of their own troubles, they crowded together like a flock of frightened +crows driven from a cornfield. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXV. + +UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS. + + +The evening had passed very pleasantly to Elsie; Mellen had humored her +caprices at whatever cost to himself, and kept her thoughts as much +aloof as possible from the events of the past days. + +It was growing late, and he had several times reminded her that it was +time she went to rest. Tom Fuller had taken the first hint and retired. + +"Let me sit up a little longer," she pleaded; "I am not in the least +sleepy; it is so nice to get out of that dull chamber." + +"But I am afraid you will tire yourself so completely, that to-morrow +you cannot come down at all." + +"There is not the slightest danger of that; I am stronger than you +think. When this little dizziness in my head leaves me I shall be quite +well." + +They talked a few moments longer, then she began turning over the papers +on a stand near her sofa. Suddenly she took up a letter, and glancing at +the writing, exclaimed: + +"This is from Mr. Hudson! You did not tell me that you had heard." + +"It came this afternoon while you were asleep." + +"What does he say? Does he know where she is? Will you send him money +for her?" + +"There is no necessity." + +"But she must have it; she can't live." + +"My dear, she has her money. He writes me that sometime since he sold +out the stocks by her orders. She was doubtless preparing to leave the +country with that man." + +Elsie fell back on the sofa overwhelmed by the new fear which came over +her. The money had been paid; but where was Elizabeth? What to do--how +to act! Before the whirl had left her brain there was a sound at the +door of the little passage already described. + +"What is that?" exclaimed Mellen. "Some one trying that door." + +"No, no," she cried. "Come back; it's nothing; I'm afraid; come back!" + +He gave no attention to her cry, but hurried towards the door, while she +was attempting to rise from the sofa; he had it open, Elsie heard a +muttered curse, an answering imprecation from another voice, looked out, +saw the outer door ajar and a man just entering the passage with whom +Mellen closed instantly in a fearful struggle. + +That one glance had been enough; she knew the man; then it was her +insane shriek rang through the house. + +Mellen forced Ford into the room, flung him against the wall, locked the +door, and exclaimed in a terrible voice: + +"At last! at last!" + +A bell rang at the front entrance, but no one in that room heeded it. + +Mellen sprang towards the man again, but he cried out savagely: + +"Keep off, if you value your life, keep off." + +"One of us dies here!" cried Mellen. "William Ford, one of us dies +here!" + +After that long shriek Elsie had fallen back helpless; she had not +fainted, but a sort of cateleptic rigor locked her limbs; there she lay +without voice or power of motion, listening to their words, which seemed +to come through blocks of ice. + +"I did not expect to meet you here," said Ford, calling up a sudden +audacity. "It's an honor I did not wish." + +"I know who you expected to see; but the woman is gone; you must seek +her elsewhere!" + +"Then you have driven her to destruction at last. I tell you, sir, we +are a pack of cowards hunting down an angel. You and I and that pretty +imp of satan. I came to tell you this: bad as I am, her goodness has +touched me with human feelings. If she is here and alive, justice shall +be done her, and for once the truth shall be spoken under this roof. +That woman has bribed me to shield another through her. Soul and body +she has been made a sacrifice. There is danger to me here. This bit of +goodness may bring ruin upon me, but I cannot leave the country forever, +and know that she is being ground to dust under your heel; while that +other flimsy coward crowds her from hearth and home. For once, Grantley +Mellen, you shall be forced to hear the truth and believe it." + +"The truth from you!" exclaimed Mellen, with unutterable scorn, "that or +anything else from so vile a source I reject--go, sir, we are not +alone!" + +Ford, or North, glanced towards the sofa; recognised Elsie lying there, +and turned again towards Mellen. + +"Twice you have broken up my life," cried Mellen, "but this time you +shall not escape! Here, in the home you have dishonored, you shall meet +your fate. Burglar, villain, how did you get here?" + +"By the way I have been in the habit of reaching these rooms. I hoped to +see your wife here, and tell her that at last I was resolved to knock my +chains from her soul. She never would have spoken; but nothing, even +though she had gone on her knees again, should have silenced me! If she +is not alive to benefit by the exculpation, I am resolved that her +memory, at least, shall be saved all reproach." + +"I believe," said Mellen, with cool scorn, "that it is expected that a +man should perjure himself in behalf of a woman whom he has dragged into +sin, but here, impudent falsehoods of this kind, count for nothing." + +"But you shall believe me! If that woman is lost, if she has gone mad, +for she was mad, when I left her in the graveyard, if she has wandered +off and perished, or worse still----" + +"Hold, hold!" cried Mellen, shuddering. + +"If she is lost or dead," continued North, without heeding the anguish +in this cry, "you have murdered the sweetest and noblest woman that ever +drew breath, and only that the worthless thing lying yonder, should +continue to be pampered and sit above her." + +Mellen started to his feet. + +"Silence!" he thundered. "Do not dare to take the name of that innocent +child into your lips." + +A keen, sarcastic laugh, preceded the answer North gave to this. + +"So that strikes home, does it? Your wife has probably died by her own +hand, but you do not feel it. When that paltry thing is mentioned, you +tear at the bit and begin to rave, as if she were the most worthy +creature on earth. Ah, ha! There you are wounded, my friend." + +Mellen remembered Elsie's presence. + +"Well," he cried, pointing to her, "that woman only had my heart; my +blood did not run in her veins; if you had struck me there the blow +would have been keener." + +The man laughed again; Elsie heard both words and laugh, as she lay in +that marble trance. Had she been laid out shrouded for burial she could +not have been more helpless. + +"So you drove your wife away; out of the house?" cried the man. "I +guessed as much." + +"She is gone for ever, but you shall not live to join her." + +"Before now she is dead! Listen to what you have done. I repeat it, your +wife was as innocent as an angel. She is dead, and I tell you so, +knowing how it will poison your life. If there was guilt or dishonor in +loving me it belonged to that pretty heap of deception on the sofa. Hear +that, and let your soul writhe under it, for your blood does run in her +veins. I came to tell you this. That great hearted creature forced the +truth back in my throat, the other night; but you shall hear it now. +There lies the mother of the child we buried, the other night!" + +"Liar! Traitor!" cried Mellen. + +Again came a violent ringing of the door-bell; steps in the hall; this +time the two men listened. + +"I am pursued," muttered Ford; "they've cornered me; it is your turn +now." + +"I will give you up if these are enemies," cried Mellen; "there is no +escape." + +He took one stride towards the door, but Ford called out: + +"You are giving up your sister's husband; remember the whole world shall +know it." + +There was bitter truth in the tone, but before Mellen could move or +speak, the door opened and two officers entered the room. + +"We have him safe," said one of the intruders as he passed Mellen. +"Caught at last, my fine fellow." + +Ford started back--thrust one hand under his vest, and drew it out +again--there was a flash--a stunning report--he staggered back against +the wall, shot through the chest. + +For a few instants there was wild confusion; the servants rushed in, the +wounded criminal was lifted up, but during all that time Elsie lay on +the sofa quite unnoticed, not insensible yet, but utterly helpless, so +blasted by the shock that mind and body seemed withering under it. + +Ford sat on the floor in gloomy silence. In spite of his resistance an +effort was made to staunch the blood which was trickling down his shirt +bosom, but he said in a low, quiet voice: + +"It is useless. I have cheated you at last--the first good act of my +life has killed me--I am a dying man. It was my last stake, and I have +lost it." + +A great change in his face proved the truth of his words; even the +officers, inured to scenes of suffering and pain, recoiled before his +stony hardihood. + +One of them spoke in explanation to Mellen. + +"We don't know what he wanted here; we have been on his track for days; +he committed a forgery, months ago, and was trying to get off to Europe +just as it was found out." + +"He's bound on a longer journey, that you cannot stop now," said Ford. +"Mellen, I have something to say to you--better send these men away +unless you want our little affairs discussed before them." + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI. + +THE CONFESSION. + + +After a few moments the men went out and left Mellen alone with the +suicide--in his excitement Mellen forgot Elsie's presence, and the +dreadful state she was in. + +"I am dying," said Ford; "I may live the night out--it don't matter! You +are glad to see my blood run--that's natural enough! Man, man, the +torment I go to isn't half as bad as that I shall leave behind for you." + +"Say quickly what you wish," exclaimed Mellen, forgetting even his +hatred in the dreadful picture his enemy made, his garments red with +blood, his face pale with the death agony, distorted with baffled rage +and hate. "I believe nothing you say--you cannot move me." + +"So be it," said the man. "These fellows have tied my hands--put yours +in my coat pocket--you'll find three letters, a paper and a roll of +money." + +Mellen obeyed, shuddering to feel the blood drops warm on his fingers as +he drew forth the package. + +"Read them," said Ford, briefly. + +Mellen opened one after another of the epistles and read--they were in +Elsie's writing--they proved the truth of the villain's assertions. The +smaller paper was a marriage certificate. The roll of bills--each note +for a thousand dollars--was the price of Elizabeth's bonds. + +Mellen staggered back with one heartbroken cry. + +"I have touched you," exclaimed the man! "There lies your precious +sister in a dead faint--here I am, dying, a criminal, but your +brother-in-law none the less--stoop down, I want to whisper something." + +Mellen bent his head, for his enemy was dying. + +"It is a fair certificate you see, but I was a married man all the +time." + +As Ford whispered these words a fiendish smile covered the lips on which +death was scattering ashes. + +Mellen started forward with a wild impulse to choke the ebbing life from +his lips, but they whispered hoarsely: + +"You can't fight a dying man--you'll only put me out of this cursed pain +if you choke me." + +Mellen stood transfixed. + +"I'll tell you the story," continued Ford; "novels always have dying +confessions in them--hear mine. I tell you because it is too late to +remedy what you have done--your wife is gone--I'm glad of it. She was +ten thousand times too good for any of you. She's dead, I dare say; just +the woman to do it, without a word, and all for that little heap of +froth." + +Mellen could not speak; he felt about blindly for support, and sank into +a chair. + +"I always hated you," Ford went on, and the hatred of a life burned in +his voice and convulsed his face. "When we were boys together, I swore +to pay you off for getting that old man's money away from me, his +rightful heir. That was bad enough, but your insolent kindness, your +infernal, condescending generosity, was ten times worse. Mighty willing, +you were, to dole out money that was more mine than yours, and claim +gratitude for it. But I had a little revenge at the time, remember. I +took away the woman you loved--I cheated you out of money--that was +something, but not enough. I came back to this country just after you +sailed from Europe, and even before I ever saw the woman who became your +wife, or your sister, I had formed my plan--it succeeded. I met that +bunch of flimsy falsehood--I made her love me--made her mad for me--you +wince--I'm glad of it. But mind me, I would not have married her after +all, but that I thought she had inherited half her old uncle's property. +It would not have been worth while to saddle myself with a thing like +that. Then came your turn to laugh, if you had but known it. I was taken +in--sold. The creature had not a cent, and no hope of one if she +offended you. + +"It was a hateful position, especially as I did not care for the pretty +fool after the speculation failed, and what's better, she soon got over +caring for me, just as the other did, and wanted to be off her bargain. +I had given her a glimpse or two of my way of life. That did not +frighten her, but my poverty did. This little sister of yours has +luxurious tastes, and understands the value of wealth uncommonly well. +But she had told me just how far you had made your wife independent in +means. It was a pretty sum, and I saw a way of getting it. + +"Elsie had told me a great deal about your wife, and I made my own +observations, though she detested me from the first, some women will +take such fancies. I say nothing of certain wires that I had laid in the +basement region of your house. + +"The little goose yonder really believed that you had married that +glorious woman only as a companion for her--that you did not love her in +the least. I knew better; she was a woman to adore, worship for ever and +ever: and you are no fool in such matters, I know that of old our tastes +in that direction have always harmonized beautifully. Your wife adored +you; I can say this now that you have killed her, but that little witch +convinced her of the story she told me, and it was breaking her heart, +for that woman had a heart. + +"To save you from trouble and the creature that you worshipped even in +her presence from disgrace, I knew that she would give up everything, +even her life, which you have taken at last. + +"I told Elsie the truth, after I got a little tired of her, which was +early in the honeymoon; let her know frankly that I had a wife living in +Europe, though it was impossible for any one to prove it against my +will. The very day that I told her this I managed to convey some of her +letters to me--fond, silly things they were--into your wife's room. Then +I sent Elsie home to tell her own story. + +"The girl was mad, crazy as a March hare, went into hysterics, made an +insane effort to kill herself, took poison and heaven knows what else in +the presence of your wife. I knew she would, and set her loose for that +purpose. These tragedies were kept up till your wife, thinking your soul +bound up in the girl, and herself nothing in comparison, made a solemn +promise never to betray Elsie's secret, and to shield her from all harm +with her own life if needful. I heard this and knew that my money was +safe. + +"Your wife came to me, for I was not permitted to enter the house after +she found me out. There was a woman! I swear the only creature of the +sex that I ever respected. She was firm but grand in her generosity, +ready to sacrifice everything so long as it took Elsie out of my power. +I gave up more of the letters, reserving these three for use, unknown to +her. She raised all the money in her power at the time, but I kept the +certificate, resolved not to sell that without demanding the last cent +she possessed. + +"In telling my grand secret, I had been cautious to keep all possibility +of proof to myself. They knew that my first wife, your old lady love, +was living, but had no means of proving the fact, or even that I had +ever been married at all, otherwise my position might have been +dangerous; as it was, those two women were like flies in a spider's web. + +"Our child, your nephew, was born, and died, fortunately for us all. +They were obliged to trust me a little then. Your wife summoned me to +the house, for she was afraid to claim help from any other human +being--I went, and with my own hands buried it under a cypress tree in +your grounds. That heroic woman stood by and watched. She would not +trust me out of her sight, fearing that I might attempt to see Elsie, +whom she guarded like a mother bird when hawks are near. Noble soul. It +was all useless; I had no wish to see that faithless little imp, and as +for her, I dare say she was glad to get rid of me even at the bitter +cost she was paying. In fact I know she was, after that other noble +creature took up her burden. + +"Well, after this I got a little money from your wife now and then, +under threats of claiming my wife, which always brought her to +terms--remember I had told her she was not my legal wife, but held +proofs that she was--I could claim or reject her as I pleased. + +"But one day a new idea came into my head; I found out that you were +coming home just as the steamer which brought you was on the coast. That +your will had been made, leaving all you had to be equally divided +between your wife and sister. If you should never reach shore Elsie +would be worth claiming in earnest. But with that news came a letter +from my wife; against my commands she was following me to this country, +just when her presence was certain ruin." + +The man broke off in his narration here, evidently convulsed with more +than physical pain, specks of foam flew to his lips, great drops of +agony stood on his forehead. + +"Brandy; give me some brandy!" he cried out huskily. "Some brandy, I +say." + +Mellen poured some brandy into a glass and held it to his mouth. He +drank eagerly, and sank back to the floor again. + +"What's the use of talking about that? I would have saved her at the +last, and tried hard enough, but the storm was too much for me. After +all that, you baffled me and got on shore; the fiends must have guided +that pilot boat. I got frightened too. It was not a part of my programme +to go down with you." + +"Wretch!" said Mellen, struck with a sudden idea, "you were the person +who nearly lost me among the breakers." + +"Yes," answered Ford. "We both had a narrow chance, but the risk was +worth running--that is, if your will really was made--but when you once +touched shore all hope for me was over. I must leave America; I sent +word to your wife that I must have twenty-five thousand dollars or claim +my wife. + +"She was trying to get it; she gave me the bracelet as a bribe for +delay, one night when I came. Still of one thing I pledge you my soul, +it is pretty much all I have left now, your wife never dreamed that I +was your enemy, Ford. She knew I was a villain, and held the fate of +that pretty fool in my hands. Now you have the whole story. I came here +to-night because I had not heard from her; now I believe she's dead. I +thought I would see that girl there. Now, then, Grantley Mellen, are you +satisfied? You have driven your wife away, you could believe her guilty, +and pet that frivolous thing in her place!" + +"'When did I first see her?' when she was a flirty little school girl. + +"'When did I marry her?' what there was of it, remember--just after you +started for California, when the widow Harrington innocently brought me +a guest into this house against the wishes of its mistress, who had seen +me about the boarding-school, charming the canary birds with serenades. +Once or twice she caught me with my guitar playing the fool under her +own window. Of course she was not certain whether the homage was +intended for her or Elsie, but I think took it to herself and was +indignant, giving me in exchange for my music, such looks as a queen +might bestow on her slave. I rather liked her for it; that kind of +homage was not suited to her. The heap of thistle down yonder liked it. +She knew what it meant. The only deep thing about such creatures is +their craft. That girl is cunning as a fox. The pure, innocent thing, +for whom that splendid creature was sacrificed; if I were not dying, the +idea would make me laugh. + +"There, now are we even? You deprived me of a fortune I was brought up +to expect; I have managed to get some of it back. You loved a woman, and +I married her. You married another woman, the most glorious creature I +ever saw, and in a fit of jealous rage with me, turned her out upon the +world to die. + +"Tell me now, if my revenge has been complete?" + +Mellen ran to the door and opened it. + +"Come in," he cried to the officers. "Carry that man away! Take him to +the lodge; he shall not even die here." + +"As you will," cried Ford. "I will hold my tongue for that poor woman's +sake." + +He could not walk, so they carried him down to the lodge, and there, +while waiting for a doctor to come, he sat looking death in the face, +with the same desperate bravado that had marked his conduct all the +night. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII. + +SEARCHING. + + +Shriek after shriek from Elsie roused Mellen. She was raving in horrible +delirium, and when assistance arrived it proved that she had been seized +with brain fever, and there was scarcely a hope of her recovery. + +Standing there by her bed, this thought must have been a relief to +Mellen; but he did not forsake her, his pride was utterly crushed. He +longed to cast himself down by her side and die there. + +The next morning, when nurses and physicians arrived, Mellen left the +house. He was going out on an aimless search for his lost wife--the +woman who had given up her last hope for him and his. + +He learned at the lodge that the wounded prisoner had been carried to +the village by his own command; that he was alive still, but could not +last more than another day; that his name was North, and he was +well-known among the sporting gentry who came to the shore tavern. All +this was told him as news. + +Mellen hurried to the city and commenced his task. He sought for +Elizabeth in every place where there was a possibility of her having +taking refuge, but without avail. He used every means in his power to +make some discovery, but they were ineffectual. + +When night came he returned home, only to hear Elsie's mad shrieks and +laughter echoing through the desolate house, to pass the night with +those sounds ringing in his ears, and feel that terrible remorse tugging +at his heart. + +The next morning he started again on his errand. He was told in the +village that the man was dead. The story had gone abroad that he was a +daring burglar, and that the officers had surprised him breaking into +Mellen's house. He had found no strength to tell his story, so fear of +open disgrace perished with him. + +In the madness of his grief, Mellen had forgotten that Tom Fuller was +his guest. The young man's chamber was in another wing of the building, +and he heard nothing of the wild turmoil that distracted the family. Tom +was not a very early riser, and when he came down in the morning, +sauntering lazily into the breakfast-room, expecting to see Elsie there +in her pretty blue morning-dress and flossy curls, he found the room +empty, no table spread, and no human being to greet him. + +"Well, this is strange," said Tom; "but when Bessie is away things will +go to sixes and sevens, I dare be sworn. And Elsie isn't well, poor +darling! Hallo! there goes Mellen, riding like a trooper! What on earth +does all this mean? I am getting hungry, and lonesome, and----" + +Here Tom gave a jerk at the bell, and cast himself into an easy chair. + +Dolf presented his woe-begone face at the door. + +"What's the matter, Dolf? Isn't it breakfast-time? Where is your master +going--and--and--Well, Dolf, can't you tell me why Miss Elsie isn't +down?" + +"Miss Elsie, oh, sah, she am sick." + +"Sick, Dolf! You don't say that?" cried Tom, starting up, with his face +all in a chill of anxiety. + +"Yes, I mean just dat, and nothing else." + +"No, no; not very sick, Dolf," cried Tom, trembling through all his +great frame, "only a little nervous, a headache, or something of that +sort." + +"She's just ravin'--crazy--ask Vic if you don't believe me. The doctors +come in before daylight; I went after 'em myself. Robbers broke into de +house last night, sah, and frightened our sweet young lady a'most to +death." + +"Robbers, Dolf!" + +"Yes, sah. A gemman, too, as has been a visitor in dis dentical house. +Marster catched him in de act ob takin' out de silver, and de +gemman--robber, I mean--felt so 'shamed ob himself dat he up and banged +a bullet straight frough his own bussom, afore Miss Elsie, too!" + +"Poor thing; precious little darling," cried Tom; "Mellen's left her all +alone, and Elizabeth away; dear me! Dolf, Dolf, what was that?" + +"It's her a screaming." + +"What, Elsie, my Elsie?" + +"Yes, sah; dat am her." + +"Dolf, I say," cried Tom, in breathless anxiety, thrusting a ten dollar +gold piece into the negro's hand; "Dolf, would it be very much amiss, +you know, if I was to take off my boots and just steal up?" + +"Well, I doesn't 'zactly know; de fair sex am so captious 'bout us +gemmen; but Vic is up dar, and you can ask her, she knows all 'bout de +'prieties. Smart gal, dat Vic, I tell you; loves Miss Elsie, too, like +fifty." + +"Does she?" said Tom; "here's another gold piece, give it to her, with +my best regards, Dolf." + +Dolf pocketed the gold piece, and that was the last time it saw the +light for many a day. Tom took off his boots and crept upstairs in his +stocking feet, holding his breath as he went. Vic came out of the shaded +room, and the young man's grief softened her so much that she allowed +him to steal into Elsie's boudoir, where he sat all the morning +listening to the poor girl's muttered fancies, after bribing Vic with +gold pieces to leave the door open, that he might catch a glimpse now +and then of the beloved face, flushed and wild as it was. + +Generous, noble-hearted Tom Fuller; he had been really hungry when he +came from his own room, but all that was forgotten now, and there he sat +fasting till the shadows slanted eastward. Then he saw Mellen riding +towards the house at a slow, weary pace, which bespoke great depression. + +Tom arose and went downstairs, urged to meet his friend by the kindest +heart that ever beat in a human bosom. + +"She's better, I am quite sure; she slept two or three minutes; so don't +look so downhearted," he cried, seizing Mellen's hand as he dismounted. +"But where's Elizabeth? I thought you had gone after her." + +"Elizabeth, my wife," answered Mellen, lifting his haggard eyes to Tom's +face. "She is gone--lost--dead. My friend, my friend, I have murdered +your cousin, murdered my own wife." + +"Murdered her; now I like that," said Fuller; "but where is she? not +gone off in a tiff. Bessie wasn't the girl to do that any way; but as +for murder, oh nonsense!" + +"Fuller, you are her only relative, and have a right to know. Come out +into the grounds, the air of the house would stifle me." + +They sat down together on a garden chair within sight of the old +cypress. + +"I have been a proud man, Fuller, sensitive beyond everything to the +honor of my family, but never knowingly have I allowed this feeling to +stand between my soul and justice. Your cousin has been terribly wronged +since she came under my roof. It is now too late for reparation, but to +you, her only relative, the truth must be known. I will not even ask you +to keep the facts secret. I have no right." + +"Look here, old fellow," said Tom, wringing Mellen's slender hand in +his; "if this is a lover's quarrel between you and Elizabeth, don't say +another word. Lord bless you! I can persuade her into anything, she +knows me of old. Besides, I am glad there is something that I can do to +make you both good-natured just now, for as like as not, I shall be +asking a tremendous favor of you before long, and this will pave the +way; tell me where your wife is, I'll take care of the rest." + +"Tom, I believe--I fear that she is dead." + +The solemnity with which this was spoken, appalled Tom. + +"Dead!" he repeated, and the ruddy color faded from his face. "Dead--you +can't mean it." + +"Listen patiently to me if you can," said Mellen, sadly. "This must be +told, but the effort is terrible." + +Tom folded his arms and bent his now grave face to listen. Then Mellen +told him all; the anguish, the deception, the anxiety which these pages +have recorded so imperfectly. There was but little exhibition of +excitement, Mellen told these things in a dull, dreary voice that +bespoke utter hopelessness. He was so lost in his own misery that the +signs of anguish in Tom's face never disturbed his narrative. + +When he had done Tom Fuller arose, and stood before him, white as death, +but with a noble look in his eyes. + +"Mellon, give me your hand, for you and I are just the two most wretched +dogs in America at this minute. I loved her, Mellen, O God help me! I +love her as you did the other one. Great heavens, what can we do?" + +"Nothing," answered Mellen; "I did not think another pang could be +added, and my soul recoils from this. Could she prove so base to you +also?" + +"Base; look here, Mellen, you don't take this in the true light. It was +all my fault. I forced myself upon her; I--I----" + +The poor fellow broke down, a convulsion of grief swept his face, and he +walked away. + +Directly he came back, holding out his hand. + +"Come, now let us search for Elizabeth," he said. + +"It is useless; I have searched." + +"But come with me--it was not in town you should have looked; Elizabeth +would not go there." + +Mellen arose and walked towards the bay. In passing a clump of +rosebushes Tom stopped to extricate a fragment of silk from the thorns. + +"What dress did she wear that night?" he inquired, examining the shred +in his hand. + +"I remember well, it was purple," answered Mellen, without lifting his +weary eyes from the ground. + +"Come this way, for she has been here," said Tom. "This path leads to +the fishpond." + +They walked on, Tom searching vigilantly all the thickets he passed, and +Mellen looking around him in terror lest the dead body of his wife +should appear and crush his last hope for ever. + +"She has been this way," said Tom, when they reached the pond. "See, +that tuft of cat-tails has been broken. No, no, don't be afraid to look; +see yonder where the bushes are swept down; she went away towards the +shore." + +Mellen groaned aloud. This was his most terrible fear. They walked on, +taking a path that curved round the bay, and leaving the shore tavern on +the right, went down to the beach. It was now sunset, and a golden glow +lay upon the waters till they broke along the beach like great waves of +pearls and opals drifting over the Sound together, and melting in the +sand. Near the two men was a winrow of black seaweed, on which great +drops of spray were quivering. Something in the appearance of this dark +mass arrested Tom's attention. He went up to the pile of weeds and +kicked them apart; a dark sodden substance, compact and heavy, lay +underneath. He took it in his hands, gave the weeds that clung to it a +shake, and held it up. Mellen came forward, his white lips parted, his +breath rising with pain. He reached forth his hand, but uttered no word. + +It was the ample shawl that Elizabeth had worn that night. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII. + +IN BENSON'S TAVERN. + + +She was dead! That fiendish man had spoken the truth--Mellen believed it +now. Elizabeth was dead, and he had killed her--that noble, grand woman, +so resolute in her sacrifice, so determined to save that girl, to +preserve him from the hardest shock to his honor and pride, had offered +herself up to death, body and soul. + +Those few moments of conviction changed him more than many years would +have done. The pride and anger which had helped to aid him in his first +grief were gone now--he was the wronger--searching for the wife he had +driven forth to perish. And she was dead! + +No clue--no hope! + +He did not touch the shawl, but leaving Tom Fuller, went back and sat +down in Elsie's room, with the sick girl's delirious cries smiting his +ear, and terrible images rising before his eyes of Elizabeth--dying, +dead--drowned and dashed upon some lonely beach, with her cold, open +eyes staring blankly in his face. + +Tom dropped the shawl in a wet mass at his feet, and walked away without +attempting to detain or comfort the stricken husband. He too believed +Elizabeth dead, and had no heart to offer consolation. Indeed, the pang +of sorrow that this conviction brought took away his own strength. + +He walked on, over the wet sands of the beach, ready to cry out with the +anguish of this sudden bereavement, when the figure of old Caleb Benson +cast its long shadow on the shore. + +"Is that you, Mr. Fuller, and alone? I'm mighty pleased to find any one +from the Cove--most of all you." + +"Do you want me for anything particular?" asked Tom in a husky voice; +"if not I--I'm engaged just now." + +"Well, yes; I must tell you," said the old man. "I've bin to your house +twice--once in the night--I thought mebby I'd see the young gal." + +"What is it?" asked Tom, in the impotence of his grief. + +"She made me promise not to tell--but whatever's wrong, you're her +cousin, and can't be hard on her--she's dreadful sick." + +Tom caught his arm. + +"My cousin--are you talking of my cousin, Mrs. Mellen?" + +"Why yes, sure enough, though she never will forgive me for telling +you." + +"But where is she? Where is she?" shouted Tom. "How did you find her? +Who got her out of the water? Great heavens, old man, can't you speak?" + +"Well, this is the way it was," answered the old man. "T'other night, or +morning, for it was nigh on to daylight, I was eating breakfast with the +young uns, when one on 'em got scared by a face at the winder looking in +on us as we eat. I jist got one sight of the face, and kinder seemed to +know it. So up I jumps, and on with my great coat, and out into the fog. +Something gray went on afore me, and I follered, for sometimes it looked +like a woman, and sometimes not. Down it went, making a bee-line for the +beach, and I arter it full split, for it travelled fast, I can tell you. +The night had been kinder rough, and the waves dashed up high, +considering that the storm wasn't nothing much to speak on. But the +woman, for I could see that it was a woman now, went right straight on, +as if she'd made up her mind to pitch head forred into the sea and drown +herself the first thing. + +"This riled me up, and I went on arter her like a tornado, now I tell +you. But jist as I was reaching out both hands to drag her back from a +wave that came roaring along, it broke, and the undertow sucked her in +right afore my face. + +"Now some folks might a pitched in arter her, but I knew better'n that. +We should both on us have gone to kingdom come and no mistake if I had. +Not a bit of it; I planted myself firm and waited. Sure enough the +second wave arter that came tearing along, tossing the poor cretur up +and down like a wisp of seaweed, and pitched her ashore right in my +tracks. + +"In course the next wave would have dragged her out to sea agin, but I +got hold of her shawl and tried to haul her back, but the tarnal thing +gave way, and I had just time to drop it and make a grab at her clothes, +when it came crashing over us agin. But I held on, and planted myself +firm, so it only dragged us both a foot or two and went roaring off. +Then I got a fair hold of the lady and dragged her up the beach out of +harm's way. But I really thought that she was dead; the daylight broke +while she lay on the sand, and then I saw who it was, and the sight of +her cold face drove me wild. I took her up in my arms and carried her +home. There was a good fire burning, and my darter is used to taking +care of sich cases. So she wrapped her in hot blankets, and worked over +her till the life came back." + +"And she's alive--doing well," cried Tom, "at your house; old Benson, +you're--a--a--trump. If I hadn't given away every gold piece I had in my +pocket, you should have a double handful--by Jove, you should! But never +mind, just come along, I must have one splendid hug, and then for the +Cove. No, no, that won't be fair after all," thought the generous +fellow, "Grant must have the first kiss, he must tell her----" + +The thought of what must be told her went through the poor fellow's +brain like an arrow of fire. But he dashed into the path which led to +Piney Cove, calling back to Benson, "Don't tell her anything!" and +strode away. + +Breathless, eager, forgetful of his own great sorrow, Tom cleared the +distance between the shore and Piney Cove with enormous strides. He +crossed the lawn almost at a run, leaped up the steps two at a time, and +found Mellen lying upon a sofa in the balcony, with his face to the +wall. + +"Get up, old fellow, get up and shake yourself," he cried, seizing upon +Mellen and turning him over as if he had been a Newfoundland dog in the +wrong place; "I've found her--by Jove, I have!--she's at old Benson's. +Isn't he a brick? She's well--no, she isn't quite that according to the +latest accounts, but by all that's sacred, your wife is alive!" + +Mellen started to his feet, bewildered, wild. + +"Tom Fuller, is this true?" + +"Do I look like a man who tells lies for fun?" said Tom, drawing himself +up. + +"Have you seen her--is my wife truly alive?" + +"Yes--no--no--I haven't seen her--was in too great a hurry for that. But +she's there at Benson's tavern, just as sure--as sure--as a gun." + +Mellen brushed past the kind fellow while he was hesitating for a +comparison. His saddle horse stood at the door--for he had been too +excited for any orders regarding it. He sprang upon its back and dashed +across the lawn, through the grove and out of sight, quickly as a fast +horse could clear the ground. He drew up in front of old Benson's house, +leaped off and rushed in. + +"Where is she?" he cried, to the frightened woman who met him. "My +wife--where is she?" + +A cry from the upper room answered his words; he dashed into the +apartment. There, on the humble bed, lay Elizabeth, pale and changed, +but alive! + +She was cowering back in deadly terror--putting out her hands in wild +appeal. + +"I'm going away," she moaned; "don't kill me! I can start now--I'll +go--I'll go!" + +He fell on his knees by the bed, he was telling the truth in wild, +broken words. + +"Only forgive me, Elizabeth; only forgive me; my wife, my darling, can +you forgive me? You would if my heart lay in your hands. Oh, Elizabeth, +speak to me!" + +She could not comprehend what he was saying at the moment; when she did +understand, her first thought was of the girl--his sister. + +"Elsie! Elsie!" + +"She is ill--dying perhaps. Oh, my wife! my wife! Try to speak--say that +you forgive me." + +She was too greatly agitated for words then, but she put out her hands +with a gesture he understood. He lifted her in his arms and folded her +close to his heart. She lay in their passionate clasp with a long sigh +of content. + +"God is very good," she whispered; "oh, my beloved, let us thank Him." + +There, in that lowly room, Grantley Mellen held his wife to his bosom +and the last fire of his old wrong impetuous nature, went out forever in +thankfulness and tears. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX. + +RECONCILIATIONS. + + +Elizabeth Mellen was home again--home under her husband's roof, for ever +at home in his heart. She sat in her dressing-room. The autumnal +sunshine came through its windows, with a rich, golden warmth. A hickory +wood fire filled the room with additional cheerfulness, which was +scarcely needed, for that awful chill had left her heart for ever. A few +days of supreme happiness had given back the peach-like bloom to her +cheek and the splendor to her eyes. Full of contentment, all the +generous impulses of her character rose and swelled in her bosom, till +she longed to share her heaven with anything that was cast down or +unhappy. + +The door between her room and Elsie's boudoir was open, and through it +she could hear a soft, pleading voice amid a struggle of sobs and tears. +Prompted by tender sympathy, Elizabeth half-rose from her easy-chair, +but fell back again, murmuring: + +"No, no, she will best find her way to his heart alone. God help her to +be frank and truthful." + +Still she listened, and her beautiful face grew anxious, for the +sternness of her husband's voice, in answer to those feeble plaints, +gave little hopes of conciliation. Directly Mellen came through the +boudoir and sat down on a couch near his wife, shading his face with one +hand, not wishing her to see how much he was disturbed. Elizabeth arose, +bent over him, and softly removed the hand from his eyes. + +"For my sake, Grantley," she said, "for my sake." + +Generous tears filled her eyes, pleading tenderness spoke in her voice. +Her lips, tremulous with feeling, touched his forehead. + +"For my sake, Grantley." + +Mellen lifted his eyes to hers--a mist, such as springs from the unshed +tears of a strong man, softened them. She fell upon her knees by his +side, laid her head upon his bosom with soft murmurs of entreaty which +no living man could have resisted. + +Mellen folded her close, and touched his lips to her forehead with +tender reverence. + +"For your sake, my beloved; what is there that I would not do for your +sake?" + +"And this forgiveness is perfect," she questioned. + +"Her fault from this hour is forgotten, sweet wife." + +"It was terrible--more terrible than you dream of. When I tell you that +she had engaged herself secretly to Thomas Fuller, even your mercy may +be qualified." + +Elizabeth withdrew from her husband's arms and bowed her lovely face for +a moment in sad thoughtfulness. Then she looked up, smiling faintly. + +"Elsie is so thoughtless--she does not mean the wrong she does poor +Tom--still we must not be unmerciful, so once more let us forgive her +wholly--without reservation." + +A knock at the door disturbed them. It was Victoria, who came to +announce Mr. Fuller, who was close behind her. + +"Elizabeth, I've come back. It was no use trying to stay in that +confounded city. To save my life I couldn't do it," he said, pushing by +the pretty mulatto and closing the door upon her. "Can I see her +now--only for once, you know?" + +Elizabeth blushed crimson. + +"Oh, Tom, you don't know your----" + +"Yes, I do know." + +"And still wish to see her?" + +"Why not? of course I do; because one--infernal villain--excuse me, I +won't talk. Where is she?" + +Elizabeth, a little shocked and quite taken by surprise, glanced towards +the blue boudoir. In Tom strode and shut the door resolutely after him. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXX. + +TOM ACCEPTS THE SITUATION. + + +Lying upon a couch, over which that pale marble statue was bending with +its cold lilies in mocking purity, lay a pale little creature, covered +with a pink eider-down quilt, which but half concealed a morning dress +of faint azure; quantities of delicate Valenciennes lace fluttered, like +snowflakes, around her wrists and bosom, and formed the principal +material of a dainty little cap, under which her golden tresses were +gathered. She looked like a girl of twelve pretending womanhood. + +When Tom came in she uttered a sudden cry, flung up her hands and +dropped them in a loose clasp over her face, which flushed under them +like a rose. + +Tom walked straight to the couch, drew one of the fragile gilded chairs +close to it, and sat down. + +"Don't--don't--go away. It's cruel. I shall faint with shame," she +cried, trembling all over. + +"Not till you have answered me a few questions," said Tom, firmly. +"Questions that I have a right to ask and you must answer." + +Elsie drew the little hands slowly from her face and looked at him. The +blue eyes--grown larger from illness--opened wide, her lips parted. That +was not the lover she had trifled with and domineered over. She was +afraid of him and shrunk away close to the wall. + +"Elsie, one word," said Tom, pressing a hand firmly on each knee and +bending towards her. + +Her lips parted wider, and she watched him with the glance of a +frightened bird when a cat looks in at the door of its cage. + +"You have come to torment me," she faltered. + +"Torment you! I! It isn't in me to do that. Torment! I do not know what +it is." + +"Well, what do you want of me then?" + +"What do I want, Elsie, dear? What do I want? Nothing but God's truth, +and that I will have!" + +Elsie's eyes grew larger, and the flush of shame left her face. + +"I can't--I can't tell you the truth, Tom Fuller, now. Elizabeth can say +enough to make you ready to kill me, but I would rather die than talk of +it." + +"I know all that Elizabeth can tell me," said Tom, resolutely. + +"What did you come for, then?" + +"To ask this one question: Did you love that man?" + +A shiver of disgust ran through her and broke out in her voice: + +"Love him! No! At first it seemed as if I did; but after I saw what he +was and how he lived, it was dreadful, I hated him so." + +"But how came you married to him?" + +"I don't know; I never could tell. It was when we went on that picnic. +He asked me to walk with him. It was good fun to set you all wondering, +and I went. He took me down the hill and towards the beach, close by the +tavern. We had been flirting for weeks then in New York and here, for he +always met me when I went out to walk or ride, or anything; but I never +thought of marrying him in earnest, upon my sacred word. Well, that day, +just as we came to the tavern, he said, 'Let us stop a moment and get +married; there is a clergyman in here.' + +"I didn't believe him, and said so. 'Come in and see for yourself,' was +his answer. I went in laughing. A gentleman sat in one of the rooms, and +Mr. North's mulatto servant, who was sauntering about the door when we +came up, followed us in. I don't know what possessed me. Perhaps for the +minute I loved him; it seemed to me that I must stand up when the +strange man rose. He only said a few words, and before I really believed +it was a true ceremony the man said I was Mr. North's wife, and wrote +out a paper, which I dropped, thinking that I should be really married +if I took it, but which Mr. North picked up, saying I did not know its +value." + +"The scoundrel! The infamous, double-dyed scoundrel!" cried Tom. "But +you didn't love him--you didn't love him?" + +"No," said Elsie, shaking her head. "I tried my best to get away from it +all, but it was of no use. Then he petted me so, and told me how +beautifully we would live somewhere in Europe, and I thought him so +rich. But it was my money he meant to use. He thought that half of +uncle's property was mine, and when I told him how it was, oh, I won't +tell you how rude he became. Just after he told me about that other +person." + +Elsie broke off here, and covered her face with both hands again. Tom +saw the scarlet glow where it shot up to her temples and bathed her +white throat, and gave his hands one hard grip in a wild desire to +strike something. + +"There comes a question," he said, hoarsely; "did you leave him?" + +"Yes, yes; that very hour." + +"And never saw him again?" + +"Never but once; and then I ordered him out of the house." + +"Because you hated him so?" + +Tom seized both her hands as he asked this question, and wrung them till +she could scarcely keep from crying out with pain. + +"Oh, how I did hate him!" she exclaimed, shuddering. + +"Elsie," said Tom, "look into my face, straight into my eyes." + +She obeyed him, with a look of piteous appeal. + +"Did you ever love me?" + +Her hands were locked together, she lifted them up with more of energy +than he had ever witnessed in her before. + +"Did you?" repeated Tom, and a glow came into his face. + +"Yes." + +The word had scarcely left her lips when Tom flung the gilded chair back +and fell on his knees, gathering her up in his arms with a wild outburst +of feeling. + +"Then I'll be d---- hung and choked to death if anything on God's +beautiful earth keeps me from marrying you!" + +She clung to him, she lifted her quivering lips to his. + +"Say it again, just once, darling?" cried Tom, shaking back his tawny +locks with energy. "Is this love downright, honest, whole-hearted love?" + +"Yes, yes!" + +"God bless you, darling! And when was it? about what time did it begin?" + +She answered him honestly, but with a faltering voice: + +"Oh, Tom, I'm afraid it wasn't till after you got so rich. Don't think +hard of it; I do love beautiful things so much--but indeed, indeed I +love you more." + +"Then I'm glad the old covey left me all his money. I don't care a +d---- red cent why you love me, only I must be sure that it's a fixed +fact. Now I'll go straight out and tell Bessie." + +Elsie turned cold. + +"Oh, Tom, she'll never consent to it." + +"Won't she! I'd just like to know why?" + +"And my brother, he is so cold, so unforgiving." + +"Is he? then I'll take you away to a warmer climate. But don't believe +it; he's proud as a race-horse, but you'll find him a trump in the end." + +"Don't go yet, Tom, I am afraid they will--" + +"No, they wont," cried Tom, and away he went into Elizabeth's +sitting-room, with tears sparkling in his eyes and a generous flush on +his face. + +"Mellen," he said, wringing Grantley's hand, "I want to be married +to-morrow, and carry her away." + +"Fuller, what is the meaning of this?" demanded Mellen, pained and +surprised, while Elizabeth stood up aghast at this sudden outburst. + +"It means just this, Mellen, I don't care a tin whistle for what has +gone before, and I feel strong enough to take care of anything that may +come after. Your sister loves me, and I love her, that's enough. I am +satisfied, and--there--that's enough. The whole thing is a family +secret, and who is going to be the wiser. I only hope they have dug the +fellow's grave deep enough, that's all." + +"But, Fuller, have you reflected?" + +"Reflected! I've done nothing else for a week, and this is just what it +has brought me to. So give us your hand." + +Elizabeth came up to Tom, put her arms around his neck, and burst into +tears. + +"That's the time o' day," shouted Tom. "Silence gives consent; now just +give us a good brotherly grip of the hand, Mellen, and it's all right." + +Tom folded one arm around his cousin, and held out the other a second +time. Mellen took it in his, wrung it warmly, and left the room. + +"Just go in and comfort her a little, Bessie, poor darling, she's afraid +you won't consent." + +"Generous, noble fellow," said Elizabeth, kissing him with warmth; "but +where will you go? what will you do? It is all so very sudden." + +"Do! what on earth can I do but love her like distraction? Go! any place +where she can find life and fun, plenty of shopping. Paris, isn't that a +nice sort of place for pretty things? I think we'll go to Paris first. +But, I forgot, Rhodes's daughter, the old maid, is waiting for you +downstairs. Victoria would have told you if I hadn't shut her out." + +Elizabeth went down, leaving Tom in the only spot he cared to occupy on +earth. She found Miss Jemima in a state of wild commotion, with her +riding-dress buttoned awry, and one of her gauntlets torn half off with +hard pulling. + +"Did you know it? had you any suspicion?" she demanded, confronting +Elizabeth like a grenadier; "I could think it of your sister, but +you--you--" + +"What is it? I know nothing," answered Elizabeth. + +"They are married, absolutely married; my par and that painted lay +figure you introduced to him, that Mrs. Harrington." + +"What, your father married to her!" cried Elizabeth; "you surprise me." + +"It's a solemn truth, though a disgraceful truth, but she shall never +come into the house that shelters me. I'll burn it down first. Where's +your sister?" + +"She is ill in her room." + +"Yes, I dare say. But she's had a hand in this, and I'll pay her for it, +or my name isn't Jemima Rhodes. Tell her so, with my compliments. Good +morning!" + +With this abrupt adieu the spinster took herself off, tugging away at +her gauntlet, or what was left of it, and diversifying the movement with +a vicious crack of her whip now and then. + +Elizabeth smiled and went upstairs again. Thus the great events of the +day ended. + +In less than a week Tom Fuller was quietly married, and took his wife at +once on board a steamer bound for Europe. She had come forth from her +sick room greatly subdued and changed in many respects, but able, from +her peculiar character, to put a veil between her and the past, which +would have been impossible to a woman like Elizabeth. + +I am happy to state that Dolf's treachery met with its proper reward. +Clorinda succeeded in saving her money, and she married the parson, +leaving Dolf to his shame and remorse. Victoria gave him the cold +shoulder, and made herself so intimate with a new male Adonis, who came +to the house as domestic, that Dolf's days were full of misery and his +nights made restless with legions of nightmares. + +The house by the sea shore stands up in its old picturesque stateliness, +and within the sunshine never fails, and the summer of content is never +disturbed. + +Old Benson, a very short time after these events, became possessed of a +fine tract of land running back from the point where his house stood; +how he paid for it, and got a clear deed, no one could tell except +himself and Mr. Mellen. It is certain that both of these men knew how to +keep a secret, for to this day it is utterly unknown in the +neighborhood, that Elizabeth ever lay ill and suffering in that good +man's house. The servants speak of her visit to New York about that +time, and so this great family mystery ended. + +THE END. + + + + +MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS. + + + _A NOBLE WOMAN._ + + _PALACES AND PRISONS._ + + _MARRIED IN HASTE._ + + _RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY._ + + _THE CURSE OF GOLD._ + + _WIVES AND WIDOWS; OR, THE BROKEN LIFE._ + + _THE REJECTED WIFE._ + + _THE GOLD BRICK._ + + _THE HEIRESS._ + + _FASHION AND FAMINE._ + + _THE OLD HOMESTEAD._ + + _SILENT STRUGGLES._ + + _MARY DERWENT._ + + _THE WIFE'S SECRET._ + + _THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS._ + + _MABEL'S MISTAKE._ + + _DOUBLY FALSE._ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Noble Woman, by Ann S. Stephens + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NOBLE WOMAN *** + +***** This file should be named 30111-8.txt or 30111-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/1/1/30111/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Stephens.. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i8 {display: block; margin-left: 8em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +--> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Noble Woman, by Ann S. Stephens + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Noble Woman + +Author: Ann S. Stephens + +Release Date: September 27, 2009 [EBook #30111] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NOBLE WOMAN *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>A NOBLE WOMAN.</h1> + +<h2>BY MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS.</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF "PALACES AND PRISONS," "FASHION AND FAMINE," "MARRIED IN +HASTE," "MABEL'S MISTAKE," "DOUBLY FALSE," "WIVES AND WIDOWS," "MARY +DERWENT," "THE HEIRESS," "THE REJECTED WIFE," "THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS," +"THE OLD HOMESTEAD," "RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY," "THE CURSE OF GOLD," "THE +WIFE'S SECRET," "THE GOLD BRICK," "SILENT STRUGGLES," ETC.</h3> + + +<h4>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by<br /> +T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS,<br /> +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.</h4> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p>"A Noble Woman," is the name of the new novel written by Mrs. Ann S. +Stephens. Its pages are replete with incidents of absorbing interest, +and her admirers will read it with avidity, and with a zest which would +indicate that the freshness and interest of each of her new novels are +still as potent as were her earliest productions. The leading characters +are carried through a series of exciting adventures, all of which are +narrated and drawn out with such ingenuity that the reader's attention +is kept on a tension of interest from the opening page to the close of +the volume. This is the great secret of Mrs. Stephens' success—her +readers cannot get out of her influence. She does not fatigue them with +the subtleties of metaphysics or philosophy. She gives you a thrilling +story, pure and simple, sensational if you please, and she leaves the +whole affair in the hands of her readers, feeling quite secure of a +favorable verdict on every new emanation from her pen. "A Noble Woman" +will prove to be the most popular novel that she has ever written.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">PHILADELPHIA:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">306 CHESTNUT STREET.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.—A PROPOSAL</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.—TOM THE GROOMSMAN</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.—A FRIGHT AND A RESCUE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.—HIGH FESTIVAL AT PINEY COVE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.—A BALL IN THE BASEMENT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.—THE WEDDING</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.—THE FIRST CLOUD</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.—THE BRIDE'S WELCOME HOME</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.—COUSIN TOM VISITS PINEY COVE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.—SHADOWS OF A SEPARATION</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.—THE BALL</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.—TOM MAKES A DECLARATION</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.—WHO COULD IT HAVE BEEN?</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.—THE HUSBAND'S LAST CHARGE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.—MRS. HARRINGTON'S FRIENDS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.—THE WIDOW'S FLIRTATION</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.—STARTING FOR THE PIC-NIC</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.—FACE TO FACE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.—LETTERS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.—AN INTERVIEW IN THE WOODS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.—FIRE AND WATER</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.—AMONG THE BREAKERS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.—DEAD AND GONE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.—HOME IN A STORM</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.—THE SUNSHINE OF THE HOUSE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.—SUNSHINE AND STORMS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.—COURTSHIP IN THE KITCHEN</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.—THE DEAD SECRET</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.—TOM FULLER'S LETTER</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.—THE WIDOW'S FASCINATIONS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.—THE HEIR COMES HOME</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.—THE GAUNTLET BRACELETS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.—SEARCHING FOR THE BRACELET</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.—BELOW STAIRS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.—MRS. MELLEN AND HER COUSIN</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER XXXVI.—LURED INTO DANGER</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER XXXVII.—THE AFTER STRUGGLE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER XXXVIII.—A HALF UNDERSTANDING</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER XXXIX.—TRIFLES LIGHT AS AIR</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER XL.—TWO FACES IN THE GLASS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">CHAPTER XLI.—SECRECY IMPOSED ON TOM FULLER</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">CHAPTER XLII.—THE RIDE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">CHAPTER XLIII.—KINDLY ANXIETIES</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">CHAPTER XLIV.—ALMOST DEFIANCE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLV">CHAPTER XLV.—THE TIGER IN HIS DEN</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVI">CHAPTER XLVI.—THE PAWNBROKER'S SHOP</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVII">CHAPTER XLVII.—TEASING CONTINUALLY</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLVIII">CHAPTER XLVIII.—THE PET MESSENGER</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XLIX">CHAPTER XLIX.—ELSIE FINDS THE BRACELET</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_L">CHAPTER L.—IN THE TEMPEST</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LI">CHAPTER LI.—THE OLD CEDAR TREE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LII">CHAPTER LII.—WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LIII">CHAPTER LIII.—CLORINDA'S GHOST STORY</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LIV">CHAPTER LIV.—THE SABLE FORTUNE HUNTER</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LV">CHAPTER LV.—IN THE NET</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LVI">CHAPTER LVI.—THE SECRET TELEGRAM</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LVII">CHAPTER LVII.—KITCHEN GOSSIP</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LVIII">CHAPTER LVIII.—THE INTERCEPTED TELEGRAM</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LIX">CHAPTER LIX.—FORCED HOSPITALITY</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LX">CHAPTER LX.—WAITING FOR THE HOUR</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXI">CHAPTER LXI.—THE MIDNIGHT SEARCH</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXII">CHAPTER LXII.—UNDER THE CEDAR</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXIII">CHAPTER LXIII.—FACE TO FACE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXIV">CHAPTER LXIV.—BURIED OUT OF SIGHT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXV">CHAPTER LXV.—THE HUSBAND RELENTS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXVI">CHAPTER LXVI.—GONE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXVII">CHAPTER LXVII.—UTTER LONELINESS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXVIII">CHAPTER LXVIII.—PLANS AND LETTERS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXIX">CHAPTER LXIX.—ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXX">CHAPTER LXX.—ALMOST A PROPOSAL</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXI">CHAPTER LXXI.—FUTILE PLEADINGS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXII">CHAPTER LXXII.—TOM FULLER RETURNS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXIII">CHAPTER LXXIII.—A FEAST AND A LOVE FEAST</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXIV">CHAPTER LXXIV.—THAT MONEY IN THE BANK</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXV">CHAPTER LXXV.—UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXVI">CHAPTER LXXVI.—THE CONFESSION</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXVII">CHAPTER LXXVII.—SEARCHING</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXVIII">CHAPTER LXXVIII.—IN BENSON'S TAVERN</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXIX">CHAPTER LXXIX.—RECONCILIATIONS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_LXXX">CHAPTER LXXX.—TOM ACCEPTS THE SITUATION</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#MRS_ANN_S_STEPHENS_WORKS">MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS.</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A NOBLE WOMAN.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>A PROPOSAL.</h3> + + +<p>She was eighteen years old and would graduate in a few weeks, yet Elsie +looked like a child, lying there in that little white bed, with her +golden curls scattered on the pillow and the soft whiteness of her neck +and hands shaded by the delicate Valenciennes with which her night robe +was profusely decorated. A quantity of hot house flowers lay scattered +on the counterpane, where the girl had flung them, one by one, from a +bouquet she was still tearing to pieces. A frown was on her pretty +forehead, and her large violet eyes shone feverishly. It was seldom +anything half so lovely appeared in the confined sleeping rooms of that +highly fashionable boarding school. Indeed, since its foundation it is +doubtful if a creature half so beautiful as Elsie Mellen had ever slept +within its walls.</p> + +<p>Just as the girl had littered the whole bed with flowers, which she +broke and crushed as a child breaks the toys he is weary of, the door of +the room opened, and a young lady entered, with a plate of hot-house +grapes in her hand. She was older than the sick girl by two or three +years, and in all respects a grave and most womanly contrast. Calm, +gracious and dignified, she came forward with an air of protection and +sat down by the bed, holding out her grapes.</p> + +<p>"See what your brother has sent you."</p> + +<p>The girl started up and flung back the hair from her face.</p> + +<p>"From Piney Bend," she exclaimed, lifting one of the purple clusters in +her hand, and crowding two or three of the grapes into her mouth at +once, with the delicious greed of a naughty child. "Oh, how cool and +nice. Dear old Grant, I wonder when he is coming."</p> + +<p>"Sometime to-day, the messenger said," answered the young lady, and a +soft peach-like bloom swept over her face as she spoke.</p> + +<p>Elsie was looking at her friend; and a quick, mischievous light came +into her own face.</p> + +<p>"Bessie," she murmured, in a voice mellowed and muffled by the grapes in +her mouth. "Don't tell me anything—only I think—I think—oh! wouldn't +it be fun?—there, there, how you are blushing."</p> + +<p>"Blushing, how foolish! But I am glad to see you well enough even to +talk nonsense."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! look here, Miss Prim: if you're not in love with my brother +Grantley Mellen, I never was in love with anybody in my life."</p> + +<p>"Elsie!"</p> + +<p>"There, there! I shan't believe a word you say—more than that, I +believe he's in love with you."</p> + +<p>No blushes burned that noble face now, for it grew white with a great +surprise, and for a moment Elizabeth Fuller's heart ceased to beat.</p> + +<p>Could this be true! These light, careless words from a young girl seemed +to shake the foundation of her life. Did she love the man, who for three +weeks had been a daily visitor in that sick room, whose voice had been +music to her, whose eyes had been so often lifted to hers in tender +gratitude. Could her heart have proved so cruelly rebellious? Then the +other impossible things the girl had hinted at. Elsie had not meant it +for cruelty, but still it was very cruel, to startle her with glimpses +of a heaven she never must enter. What was she but a poor orphan girl, +teaching in that school in order to pay for the tuition which had +refined and educated her into the noble woman she unconsciously was. Of +course Mr. Mellen was grateful for the care she had taken of his +beautiful sister, and that was all. Elsie was almost well now, and would +leave the school that term. After that there was little chance that she +would ever see Grantley Mellen again.</p> + +<p>"What on earth are you thinking about?" questioned Elsie, still busy +with her grapes. "Just tell me if we are to be sisters,—and I'm set on +it—you shall know all my secrets; it'll be so nice to have some one +that won't tell,—and I'll know yours. To begin, dear old Bessie: +<i>somebody</i> sent me these flowers, and I hate 'em. It's my way. So many +at once, it stifles me. I wish he could see 'em now; wouldn't he just +long to box my ears—there, that's my first secret."</p> + +<p>"But who is the man, Elsie?" enquired Miss Fuller, really disturbed by +this first confidence; for the girl was her room-mate, and had been +placed particularly under her care.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's my second secret—I'll tell you that when you're Grant's +wife. You haven't told me about your own adorer yet."</p> + +<p>"How could I? One does not talk of lovers till they come."</p> + +<p>"Oh Bessie Fuller; what a fraud you are! Just as if he hadn't been under +this very window again and again: just as if the flowers that get into +our room, no one can guess how, did not come from him. Why, half the +girls in school have seen him prowling round here like a great, +handsome, splendid tiger!"</p> + +<p>"What are you talking of, Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"No matter; I shan't tell Grant, he must think himself first and +foremost—what a lovely sister-in-law you will make."</p> + +<p>"Elsie, my dear girl——"</p> + +<p>"Don't interrupt me—don't say you wouldn't have him: that you like the +other fellow better, and all that. I tell you Grant is a prince, and you +shall be his princess. He's awful rich, too; our horrid old uncle left +him everything. I haven't got the value of a hair bracelet all my +own—that's another secret. The girls all think we share and share +alike, and I want them to keep up the idea; but you are different. Don't +you see it would be horrid hard for me if my brother should marry some +close, stingy thing, that might even grudge me a home at Piney Bend; but +with you—oh Bessie! Promise me that you will marry him."</p> + +<p>Here Elsie flung down the stem of her grapes, and reaching out her arms, +threw them lovingly around Elizabeth's neck.</p> + +<p>"Promise me, promise me!"</p> + +<p>"You foolish darling! Lie down and be quiet, or I shall think you +light-headed again."</p> + +<p>"But you shall, I declare you shall!—Hush! there is some one at the +door. Come in!"</p> + +<p>A servant opened the door and informed the young ladies that Mr. Mellen +was in the parlor.</p> + +<p>"Tell him to come up," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>The servant went out, and Elsie sat up among her pillows, twisting that +splendid mass of hair around her head. As she stooped forward, her eyes +fell on the litter of broken flowers, and she called out eagerly,</p> + +<p>"Oh Bessie, do sweep them up; throw them out of the window, under the +bed, anywhere, so that he does not know about them. There would be no +end to his questions, if he saw so much as a broken rose bud."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth swept up the scattered flowers with her hands and cast them +through the open window, scarcely heeding what the girl said about them, +in the agitation of the moment. As she turned from the open sash, +Grantley Mellen came into the room. He was indeed a grand and noble +looking man, with dignity in his manner, and character in his face; +evidently possessed of strong but subdued passions, and a power of +concentration that might engender prejudices difficult to overcome. That +he was upright and honorable, you saw at a glance. When he sat down by +that fair young creature, and took her hand in his, the tenderness in +his voice and eyes thrilled Elizabeth to the heart. Elsie it simply +gratified.</p> + +<p>"Why Bessie," she said, with threatening mischief in her eyes, "you +haven't spoken to Grant yet."</p> + +<p>"Because he was occupied with you," answered Elizabeth with grave +dignity, that kept down the rebellious spirit in Elsie's eyes. "Now I +will shake hands with Mr. Mellen and go down to my class."</p> + +<p>With a gentle, but not altogether unembarrassed greeting, the young lady +went out of the room, leaving the brother and sister together.</p> + +<p>Two days after this scene in Elsie's chamber, Elizabeth Fuller stood in +one of the parlors of the establishment with her hand locked in that of +Grantley Mellen; startled, trembling, almost terrified by the great +happiness that had fallen upon her. He had asked her tenderly, +earnestly, and with a thrill of passion in his voice, to become his +wife.</p> + +<p>The girl had not answered him: she literally could not speak; her large +gray eyes were lifted to his, wild with astonishment one moment, soft +with exquisite love light the next.</p> + +<p>"Will you not speak to me?"</p> + +<p>She attempted to answer him, but smiles rather than words parted her +lips; and tears, soft as dew, flooded the joy in her eyes. What did the +man want of words after that?</p> + +<p>They sat down together on the nearest couch, and scarcely knowing how, +she found her heart so close to his, that the two seemed beating +together in a wild, sweet tumult. The glow of his first kiss was on her +lips; he was telling her in earnest, broken words, how fondly, how +dearly he loved her. Nobly would she feel herself mated when she became +the mistress of his home.</p> + +<p>There was something besides smiles on those beautiful lips now. The +heart has its own language, and in that she had answered him.</p> + +<p>"Do I love you?" she said; "who could help it? Is there a woman on earth +who could refuse such happiness? I forget myself, forget everything, +even the poor pride that might have struggled a little against the +disparity between us which seems lost to me now. I did not think it +would be so sweet to accept everything and give nothing."</p> + +<p>"You certainly love me and no other living man!" he said in answer to +her sweet trustfulness. "Tell me that in words! tell me in looks! Make +me sure of it."</p> + +<p>"Love you! Indeed, indeed I do. Never in my life have I given a thought +of such feelings to any man. If you can find happiness in owning every +pulse of a human soul, it is yours."</p> + +<p>"I believe it and accept the happiness; now my wife—for in a few weeks +you must be that—let us go up to Elsie. She must be made happy also, +for the dear child loves you scarcely less than I do."</p> + +<p>A thought of something like shame shot through the joy of the moment, +with Elizabeth. Had Elsie suggested this?</p> + +<p>"Will she be pleased? Will she be surprised?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so, I think so!" was Mellen's frank answer; "for hereafter, my +sweet wife must be a guardian angel to the dear child, for she has been, +till now, the dearest creature to me on earth."</p> + +<p>"I, too, have loved her better than anything," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Have I not seen that? Yes, I am sure we shall make Elsie perfectly +happy. She has dreaded the loneliness of my home. Now it will be bright +as heaven for her and for me."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>TOM THE GROOMSMAN.</h3> + + +<p>Music in the Central Park! Such music as made the flowering thicket, +covered with late May blossoms, thrill in the soft air and glow out more +richly from the sweet disturbance. It was a glorious afternoon, the +lawns were as green as an English meadow, and my observation of +beautiful things has no higher comparison. All the irregular hills, +ravines, and rocky projections were so broken up with trailing vines and +sweet masses of spring-flowers, that every corner and nook your eye +turned upon, was like a glimpse of paradise.</p> + +<p>This was the still life of the scene, but above and beyond was +congregrated that active, cheerful bustle which springs out of a great +multitude bent on enjoyment—cheerful, luxurious, refined, or otherwise, +as humanity is always found. Carriages dashed in and out of the crowd, +the inmates listening to the music or chatting together in subdued +voices: groups of smiling pedestrians wandered through the labyrinths of +blooming thickets, or sat tranquilly on rustic seats sheltered by such +forest trees as art had spared to nature. The whole scene was one of +brilliant confusion; but out of the constantly shifting groups, forms so +lovely that you longed to gaze on them forever, were now and then given +to the beholder; and equipages vied with each other that might have +graced the royal parks of London or Paris without fear of criticism.</p> + +<p>Just as the sun began to turn its silver gleams into gold, the music +ceased with a grand crash. The final melody was over, and the swarm of +carriages broke up, whirled off in different directions, and began to +course about the ring again, or drive through the various outlets +towards Harlem, Bloomingdale, or the city, which lay in the soft +gathering haze of the distance.</p> + +<p>Among the stylish equipages that disentangled themselves from the crowd +was a light barouche, cushioned with a rich shade of drab which had a +pink flush running through it, and drawn by a pair of jet-black horses. +The carriage was so perfect in its proportions and so exquisitely neat +in its appointments, that it would have been an object of general +admiration during the whole concert, had not its inmates carried off +public attention before it had time to settle on the vehicle.</p> + +<p>The eldest, a woman of thirty-two or three, elegantly dressed and +generally recognized, seemed to be the mistress, for it was her gloved +hand which gave the signal for moving, and the coachman always looked to +her for directions.</p> + +<p>A slight gesture indicated home, the moment she saw her equipage free +from the crowd, but the lovely young creature on the front seat uttered +a merry protest and gave a laughing counter-order, threatening the elder +lady with her half-closed parasol, till the point lace which covered it +fluttered like the fringed leaves of a great white-hearted poppy.</p> + +<p>"Only a short drive," she said; "you can't want to go into the house, +dear Mrs. Harrington, such a heavenly day as this."</p> + +<p>"But, my love, I have forty things to do!"</p> + +<p>"All the more reason why you should neglect every one of them, since it +is not possible for you to do them all," replied the young girl, with a +laugh and a pretty wilful air that few people could have resisted. +"Elizabeth, are you tired?"</p> + +<p>The young lady whom she addressed had been leaning back in her seat by +Mrs. Harrington, quite regardless of this laughing contention, looking +straight before her in a smiling, dreamy way, which proved that the +brightness of the scene and the spell of the music had wiled her into +some deep and pleasant train of thought.</p> + +<p>Her friend spoke twice before she heard, laughing gayly at her +abstraction, and Mrs. Harrington added—</p> + +<p>"Do come out of dreamland, dear Miss Fuller; I am sure I cannot manage +this wilful little thing without your help."</p> + +<p>The young girl shook her parasol again in a pretty, threatening way as +she said—</p> + +<p>"You are not tired, Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p>"Tired! Oh no; it is very pleasant," she replied, in a voice that was +low and musical with the sweetness of her broken reverie.</p> + +<p>"See, you are in the minority, Mrs. Harrington," cried Elsie Mellen. +"You had better submit with a good grace."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I knew Elizabeth dared not side against you; she spoils you worse +than anybody, even your brother."</p> + +<p>"But it's so nice to be spoiled," said Elsie, gayly; "and you must help +in it, or I shall do something dreadful to you just here before +everybody's eyes."</p> + +<p>She clenched her hand playfully, as if to carry her threat into instant +execution, and Mrs. Harrington cried out—</p> + +<p>"I promise! I promise! James, take another turn."</p> + +<p>The man turned his horses with a broad sweep, taking the road around the +largest lake. Here the spoiled beauty ordered him to stop. She wanted to +look at the swans, "such great, white, lovely drifting snowballs as they +were." Mrs. Harrington made no objection, but leaned back with a +resigned smile on her lips.</p> + +<p>A person possessed of far more imagination than Elsie Mellen ever +dreamed of, might have stopped on the very road to paradise to gaze on +that pretty, Arcadian scene.</p> + +<p>The lake was one glow of silver, broken up in long, glittering swaths by +troops of swans that sailed over it with leisurely gracefulness, now +pausing to crop the short grass from the sloping banks, or ruffling +their short white plumage, and stretching their arched necks for +payments of fruit whenever they came near a group of children, or saw a +rustic from the country, who was sure to delight in seeing the birds +feed.</p> + +<p>The sunshine came slanting in from the west, cooling half the park with +shadows, and lighting the rest with gleams of purplish gold. The paths +around the margin of the lake, and all the sloping banks were alive with +gayly dressed people, and a single boat, over which a flock of gay +parasols hovered like tropical birds, mirrored itself in the water.</p> + +<p>"Now see what you have gained by obeying my orders," exclaimed Elsie, +casting her merry eyes over the scene. "I declare the swans look like a +fleet of fairy boats. How I would like to sail about on one! There, that +will do James, drive on."</p> + +<p>"Home?" inquired the man.</p> + +<p>Before his mistress could answer, Elsie broke in—"Yes, Mrs. Harrington, +since you are properly submissive, we will go home, if you wish."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I only proposed it because we have so much to do. I should enjoy a +longer drive. Indeed, now that you have suggested it, we will take at +least one turn."</p> + +<p>"That's a darling," cried Elsie; and, without further ceremony, she +ordered the coachman to take the Bloomingdale road, laughing out +something about dying for old sheep instead of lambs. "But I want to +stop at Maillard's," protested Mrs. Harrington, "and I then must see +about—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind, we shall have time enough," exclaimed Elsie. "Drive +like the wind, James, the moment you get beyond these horrid policemen. +I wouldn't have anybody pass us for the world."</p> + +<p>The coachman obeyed, and directly those two black horses were dashing +along the road in splendid style, leaving care and prudence far behind +them.</p> + +<p>Elsie was in her element, wild as a bird and gay as the sunset. She +talked and laughed incessantly, saying all sorts of merry things in a +childish fashion, that kept Mrs. Harrington in explosions of laughter, +more natural than she often indulged in, while Elizabeth Fuller leaned +back in her seat, listening, absently sometimes, to their graceful +banter, glancing at the young girl with affectionate admiration of her +youthful loveliness, but oftener losing herself in the pleasant train of +thought which had absorbed her all the afternoon.</p> + +<p>Three persons more unlike in appearance than these ladies, it would have +been difficult to find; but a casual observer would probably have been +most attracted by the buoyant loveliness of Elsie Mellen.</p> + +<p>She was eighteen,—but seemed younger with her fair curls, her brilliant +bloom, and the childish rapidity with which smiles chased each other +across her face. She looked the very personification of happiness, with +a bewitching <i>naiveté</i> in every word or movement, that made her very +childishness more captivating than the wisdom of older and more sensible +women.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington was a stylish, dashing widow, with a suspicion of rouge +on her somewhat faded cheeks, and an affectation of fashionable +listlessness which a look of real amiability somewhat belied. She was +one of those frivolous, good-natured women, who go through life without +ever being moved by an actual pleasure or pain, so engrossed by their +petty round of amusement, that if they originally possessed faculties +capable of development into something better, no warning of it ever +touches their souls.</p> + +<p>Really the most noble and imposing person present was Miss Fuller. The +contrast between her grave, sweet beauty and the frivolous loveliness of +the other two, was striking indeed. Sometimes her large gray eyes seemed +dull and cold under their long black lashes, and the dark hair was +banded smoothly away from a forehead that betokened intellectual +strength; the mouth was a little compressed, giving token of the +reticence and self-repose of her nature, and a classical correctness of +profile added to the quiet gravity of her countenance.</p> + +<p>But it was quite another face when deep feeling kindled the gray eyes +into sudden splendor, or some merry thought softened the mouth into a +smile—then she looked almost as girlish as Elsie herself.</p> + +<p>But grave or smiling, it was not a face easy to read, nor was her +character more facile of comprehension, even to those who knew her best +and loved her most.</p> + +<p>She looked very stately and queen-like, wrapped in her ample shawl and +leaning back in her seat with a quiet grace which Mrs. Harrington +attempted in vain to imitate. Indeed, the effort only made the ambitious +little woman appear more fussy and affected than ever.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Tom Fuller," cried Elsie, suddenly. "Was there ever such an +ungraceful rider! Just look at him, Bessie, and laugh, if he is your +cousin. I insist upon it!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think he's such a love!" cried Mrs. Harrington. "Deliciously +odd."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell him you said that," cried Elsie; "just to see him blush."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't!" exclaimed the widow, clasping her hands as if she thought +Elsie was about to stop the carriage and inform him then and there. +"What would he think?"</p> + +<p>The young man at whom Elsie was laughing quite unrestrainedly, rode +rapidly towards them, and when he saw Elsie, his face glowed with a +mingled expression of pleasure and embarrassment that made her laugh +more recklessly than ever.</p> + +<p>He made a bow almost to the saddle, nearly lost his hat, and did not +recover his presence of mind until the carriage had dashed on, and he +was left far behind to grumble at his own stupidity.</p> + +<p>"It is too bad of you to laugh at him," said Elizabeth Fuller, a little +reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"Why, darling, he likes it," cried Elsie, "and it does him good."</p> + +<p>"I am sure his devotion to you is plain enough," said Mrs. Harrington, +with a sentimental shake of the head. "Hearts are too rare in this world +to be treated so carelessly."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't!" exclaimed Elsie. "You'll be repeating poetry next! Tom is a +nice man, just a great awkward lump of goodness; but I must laugh at +him. Dear me, what a groomsman he will make! Bessie, I know he will step +on my dress."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," Elizabeth replied, good naturedly; "I shall consider you +served right."</p> + +<p>"Oh," cried Mrs. Harrington, roused by a fear she was fully capable of +appreciating, "it would be such a pity to have all that beautiful +Brussels point torn—do caution him, my dear."</p> + +<p>"No," said Elsie, with mock resignation, "Bessie insists upon having him +for groomsman, and I shall let him put his foot through my flounces with +perfect equanimity, by way of showing my affection for her. Talk of +giving your life for your friends, what is that in comparison to seeing +your flounces torn!"</p> + +<p>Her companions both laughed, but Elizabeth said seriously, "When you +know Tom better, you cannot help respecting him; he is my one relative, +and I love him dearly."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Elsie, "and I mean to be his cousin, too; but it is my +cousinly privilege to laugh at him."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he will not be content with a cousinly regard," said Mrs. +Harrington, mysteriously.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth glanced quickly at Elsie, with a little trouble in her face, +but the girl laughed, and replied—</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, he will; Bessie is his ideal—he will never think of poor +little me."</p> + +<p>"Family affection is so sweet!" added Mrs. Harrington. Elsie made a +grimace, and hastened to change the conversation, for there was nothing +she dreaded so much as the widow's attempt at romance and sentiment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>A FRIGHT AND A RESCUE.</h3> + + +<p>For some time the ladies rode on in silence. Then Elsie broke into a fit +of ecstasy over the horses.</p> + +<p>"They are so perfectly matched," she said. "Brother Grant needn't have +been doubtful about them; he sha'n't persuade you to change them, shall +he?"</p> + +<p>"They are beautiful creatures," Bessie observed, absently.</p> + +<p>"Naturally, Mr. Mellen was anxious that they should be entirely safe," +said Mrs. Harrington, theatrically, "for he has trusted his dearest +treasures—his sister and his betrothed wife—to me; and if there is +danger, it is for them as well as me."</p> + +<p>"What a pretty speech!" said Elsie. "I know you got it out of a novel!"</p> + +<p>Elsie had a gay scarf wound about her neck, and began complaining of the +warmth.</p> + +<p>"I would not take it off," Mrs. Harrington urged, "you will be certain +to get cold."</p> + +<p>"There is no danger," replied Elsie; "I shall smother, wrapped up in +this way."</p> + +<p>"But you must keep it on!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I won't; there!"</p> + +<p>They had a playful contention for an instant, then Elsie snatched the +scarf from her neck with a triumphant laugh, and held it up beyond Mrs. +Harrington's reach.</p> + +<p>A sudden rush of wind carried the light fabric out of her hand, and it +sailed away like a gorgeous streamer. Elsie gave a little cry, but it +was frozen on her lips. One of the horses had been restive from the +first. The scarf floated over his head, curved downward, and one end got +entangled with his bridle. The shy, spirited creature gave a wild bound, +communicated like terror to his companion, and away the frenzied pair +dashed, taking the coachman so completely by surprise, that he was +helpless as a child. It was one of those brief occurrences which pass +like lightning to lookers-on, but seem an eternity to the persons in +danger. Mrs. Harrington's shrieks rang out sharp and shrill; Elsie gave +one shuddering moan, and crouched down in the bottom of the carriage, +hiding her face in Elizabeth's dress.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Fuller was deathly pale. She realized the full terror of their +situation. She uttered no shriek, but clasped her arms around Elsie, and +strove to speak a few reassuring words to Mrs. Harrington, which were +drowned by the woman's terrified shrieks.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth looked desperately down the road over which the horses were +rushing like wild desert steeds. The carriages in sight were turned +quickly on one side, and their inmates seemed uncertain how to assist +them. Any attempt to stop the frightened and infuriated animals +threatened certain death.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth saw this, and her heart died within her. They were now at the +top of a long hill, keeping the road, but hurled onward like lightning. +At the foot of the hill was a loaded cart, its driver vainly striving to +whip his team out of the way. The brave girl saw this new danger, and +fell back with a groan. She knew that the carriage would be whirled +against that ponderous load, and dashed to atoms. Effort was hopeless, +she could only stretch forth her arms, draw Elsie close, close to her +cold heart, and pray dumbly that she might in mercy be permitted to die +for <i>his</i> sister.</p> + +<p>Still, in her anguish and terror, she looked out beyond the leaping +horses, as they thundered down the hill. The man had sprung from his +cart, and, with his whip in both hands, was lashing his overtasked +beasts in frantic terror. Beyond him came a person on horseback, riding +furiously. But they were close to the cart now. It was still more than +half across the road. Sick with dread, she closed her eyes, holding +Elsie close, and turning, as it were, to stone, with the shrieking young +coward in her arms.</p> + +<p>In another instant there was a shock which threw them all off their +seats; and when Elizabeth could realize anything, or recover from the +deafening effect of Mrs. Harrington's cries, she knew that the horses +had been stopped—the peril was over.</p> + +<p>The gentleman she had discovered through blinding clouds of dust, riding +swiftly towards the hill, had seen their danger, dismounted, and with +ready presence of mind, prepared to seize the horses the instant the +carriage struck against the cart.</p> + +<p>One wheel was forced partially off, but there was no other harm done. +Elsie and Mrs. Harrington had both flung themselves on Elizabeth, so +that she could neither see nor hear; but the widow discovering that she +was still alive, made a little moan, and began to shake out her flounces +when she saw the gentleman who had rescued them standing by the side of +the carriage.</p> + +<p>"You are safe, ladies," he said, opening the door; "you had better get +out and walk on to the hotel—it is only a few steps."</p> + +<p>"How can we ever thank you!" sobbed Mrs. Harrington. "You are our +preserver—we owe you our lives!"</p> + +<p>He smiled a little at her exaggerated manner, which would break out in +spite of her real terror, and helped her to alight from the carriage.</p> + +<p>"We are saved," moaned Elsie, lifting herself from Elizabeth's bosom. +"I'm not hurt—I'm not hurt!"</p> + +<p>She was lifted out of the carriage, and stood trembling by Mrs. +Harrington. For the first time, relieved of their weight, Elizabeth was +able to move and look up.</p> + +<p>The stranger was standing by the carriage with his arm extended to +assist her. She partially rose—then, and without the slightest warning, +beyond a deep, shuddering breath, sank back insensible.</p> + +<p>Elsie and Mrs. Harrington gave a simultaneous cry, but there was no +opportunity for the widow to go into hysterics, as she had intended, +since the stranger and the footman were fully occupied in lifting +Elizabeth from the broken carriage. Elsie was crying wildly, "Bessie! +Bessie!" and wringing her hands in real affright.</p> + +<p>"She has only fainted," said the stranger hurriedly; "we will carry her +on to the hotel."</p> + +<p>He raised the insensible girl in his arms, and carried her down towards +the inn, as if she had been a child; while her companions followed, +sobbing off their terror as they went.</p> + +<p>Once in the house, and the stranger out of the way, Mrs. Harrington +recovered her wits sufficiently to give Elizabeth assistance, and +restore her to consciousness.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth opened her eyes, gave one glance around, and closed them +again.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>"What made you faint so suddenly?" demanded Mrs. Harrington. "The danger +was over."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth made a strong effort at self-control, sat upright, and tried +to answer.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell—I—"</p> + +<p>"Do you know that gentleman?" asked Mrs. Harrington.</p> + +<p>"Why, how can she?" said Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Well, she fainted just as she looked at him."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth controlled herself, found strength to rise, saying in reply to +Mrs. Harrington's repeated inquiries—</p> + +<p>"How should I know him?—what folly!"</p> + +<p>But she was trembling so violently, that they forced her to lie down +again.</p> + +<p>"Stay with her, Elsie," said the widow, "I will go and see how we are to +get home."</p> + +<p>She went out of the room, and in the hall encountered the gentleman just +as she had expected.</p> + +<p>She overwhelmed him with protestations of gratitude, to which he +listened with no great appearance of interest, though Mrs. Harrington +was too completely dazzled by his brilliant appearance and manner to +perceive the absent, preoccupied way in which he received her.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how we are to get home," she said.</p> + +<p>"Your coachman has engaged a carriage from the hotel-keeper," he +replied; "it will be ready in a few moments. Your own horses are not +hurt, luckily."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what Mr. Mellen will say!" she exclaimed. "He warned me +not to keep the horses."</p> + +<p>The stranger turned quickly toward her, with a sudden flush on his face.</p> + +<p>"May I know whom I have had the pleasure of assisting?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am Mrs. Harrington," she replied, "of —— street. I am so—"</p> + +<p>"And your friends?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Mellen, the sister of Grantley Mellen; and the other lady is his +betrothed wife."</p> + +<p>"She! That—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! Dear me, if any accident had occurred, how terrible it would +have been! They are to be married next week," continued the widow, +hurriedly. "Mr. Mellen is out of town, and will not be back till just +before his wedding. Oh, I shudder to think! Dear, dear sir, how can I +thank you!"</p> + +<p>The servant came up that moment to say that a carriage was ready to take +the ladies back to the city, and the gentleman escaped from her flood of +meaningless gratitude.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington ran back to call her friends, and found Elizabeth quite +composed and strong again.</p> + +<p>"He's the most magnificent creature!" exclaimed the widow. "And you +don't know him, Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p>"Have I not said so? Come, Elsie."</p> + +<p>As she passed into the hall, Elizabeth hurried on, leaving Mrs. +Harrington to repeat her thanks, and Elsie to utter a few low, and +apparently thankful words, to which he listened with more interest than +he had done to all the widow's raptures.</p> + +<p>They were in the carriage: the door closed; the stranger gave his +parting bow, Elizabeth leaned further back in her seat, and they drove +on, leaving him standing in the road.</p> + +<p>"His name is North," said Mrs. Harrington. "Such an adventure! What will +Mr. Mellen say?"</p> + +<p>"We won't tell him yet," Elsie replied; "it would only frighten him. Be +sure and not mention it, dear Mrs. Harrington."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course not,—just as you like. But what a handsome man that was! +North—North? Who can he be? I have never met him!"</p> + +<p>"Whoever he is, he has saved our lives," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! But, dear Miss Fuller, how oddly you acted!"</p> + +<p>"Do put up your veil, Bessie," added Elsie.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth obeyed, showing her face, pale and tremulous still.</p> + +<p>"I was very much frightened," she said; "I think my side was hurt a +little—that was why I fainted."</p> + +<p>She made no other answer to their wondering questions, and they drove +rapidly back to Mrs. Harrington's house.</p> + +<p>The stranger stood upon the porch of the hotel, looking after the +carriage so long as it was in sight, with a strange, inexplicable +expression upon his handsome face.</p> + +<p>After a time, he roused himself, mounted his horse, and rode slowly back +to the city.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>HIGH FESTIVAL AT PINEY COVE.</h3> + + +<p>On the shores of Long Island, where the ocean heaves in its wildest and +most crystalline surf, a small cove had broken itself into the slopes of +an irregular hill, after generations of beating storms and crumbling +earth, taking a crescent shape, and forming one of the most picturesque +bits of landscape to be found along the coast. The two points or +promontories that stretched their green arms to the ocean, were clothed +with thickly growing white pines, scattered with chestnuts, and a few +grand old oaks. The country sloped beautifully down to this bright sheet +of water, and swept around it in rocky points and broken groves, giving +glimpses of rich grass-land, more luxuriantly cultivated than is usual +to that portion of the island. As you looked on the scene from the +water, a house was visible on the hillside, and came in full view as the +shore was approached. It was a noble stone mansion, old as the hills, +people were used to say, and solid as their foundations. The house had +been a stately residence before the Revolution, and, without an +earthquake or a ton of powder, would remain such for a century to come.</p> + +<p>Whatever the body of the house had been in the good old times, when +ornament was little thought of, it was now rendered picturesque by lofty +towers, and additional wings with oriel windows and carved balconies in +one direction; while the other wing clasped in a conservatory, of which +nothing could be seen from the distance but wave upon wave of rolling +crystal emerald, tinted like the ocean by the wealth of green plants +they covered.</p> + +<p>This was the residence Grantley Mellen had inherited from a maternal +uncle just after his first struggle in life commenced. It was backed by +many a fruitful field and broad stretch of timber-land, which altogether +went under the title of Piney Cove.</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen, since he became possessed of the estate, had completed +the work his uncle commenced when he built the two grand towers, and a +more picturesque building could not well be imagined, with its broad +lawn, its clumps of forest trees, and that magnificent ocean view, which +was broken only by the pine groves on the two points.</p> + +<p>This was by no means the only house visible from the cove. As you turned +the southern point, a village was seen down the coast; and about half +way between that and the pines was a wooden house, brown and +weather-beaten, standing unsheltered on the bleak shore. Back of this +house, shutting out all prospect but that of the ocean, was a tall +cliff, covered with ragged yellow pines and stunted cedars, from which +on stormy nights many a quivering flame had shot upward, luring ships to +their ruin. Still, with this grim protest against the name looming +behind it, the lonely old house was called "The Sailor's Safe Anchor," +and was known all along the coast as a fishing-lodge and small tavern.</p> + +<p>But once within the cove, you saw no sign of habitation save the mansion +house and its appurtenances.</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen had been some weeks at the cove, renovating and +preparing the house for the reception of his bride; for it was +understood that he intended henceforth to make it his permanent +residence. But the wedding-day was near, and he had gone up to the city, +leaving the last preparations to the care of a singular class of +household servants, one of his uncle's philanthropic importations from +the South, where he had owned a plantation, and emancipated all its +slaves except a half dozen, that would only accept liberty on condition +that they might follow the old man to his northern home.</p> + +<p>Grantley had accepted this sable household with the general inheritance; +for, spoiled and pampered as family negroes are apt to be, they had +proved generally faithful and obedient.</p> + +<p>Though a very reverential and submissive person when her master was +present, Clorinda, who had appointed herself housekeeper of the +establishment, was apt to get on to a very high horse indeed when there +was no superior authority to hold her in check; and, on this particular +occasion, she was absolutely what she declared herself—"chief cook and +bottle-washer."</p> + +<p>This sable functionary was very busy two or three mornings before the +time set for her master's wedding, not only in the general preparations +for that event, but with a grand idea of her own, which she was +earnestly carrying into effect. If the house was going into the hands of +a new mistress, the colored persons of the establishment had resolved to +commemorate the event in advance with a grand entertainment.</p> + +<p>To this end, Clorinda, who appointed herself lady patroness in general, +had betaken herself to Mr. Mellen's library with Caleb Benson, the +high-shouldered, bald-headed occupant of "The Sailor's Safe Anchor," and +the person whose prerogative it had been to supply fresh fish to the +family at Piney Cove. Besides this, he performed a good deal of work in +the grounds, and made himself generally useful.</p> + +<p>This morning Benson had come up to the house at Miss Clorinda's special +request, in order to assist in the literary department of the coming +entertainment. Neither Clorinda nor any of her dark compeers could read +or write, but invitations must be sent out after the most approved +fashion; and Clorinda had a fancy that the neighborhood of so many books +would be a great help, so she led Caleb with august ceremony into the +spacious library, and laid a quantity of pink note-paper and yellow +envelopes, all covered and embossed with silver, on the table before +him.</p> + +<p>"Jes set down, Mr. Caleb, and write dem tings out special," she said, +rolling up a great leathern chair, and patting its glossy green cushions +enticingly. "Set down, Caleb, an' write, for I know yer kin."</p> + +<p>Caleb laid his cap on one chair, and his stout walking-stick across +another. Then he rubbed the hard palms of his hands fiercely together, +and sat down on the edge of Mr. Mellen's chair, that threatened to roll +from under him each moment.</p> + +<p>"Now, Miss Clo, what is it you want of me? I'm on hand for a'most +anything."</p> + +<p>"I knows you is, and ales wuz, Caleb; that's why I trusted yer wid de +delicatest part ob dis entertainment. 'Member its premptory to de +weddin'."</p> + +<p>"Preparatory, isn't that the correct word, Miss Clo?"</p> + +<p>"Well, take yer chice, if you ain't suited, Caleb Benson."</p> + +<p>"Wal, wal; don't git out to sea afore the tide's up, old woman."</p> + +<p>"Ole woman! Ole woman yerself, Caleb Benson!" retorted Clorinda.</p> + +<p>"Jes so!" answered the fisherman, seizing upon the largest steel pen to +be found, and grinding it on the bottom of a bronze inkstand. Clorinda +put both hands to her mouth, and would have cried out; but, remembering +how few teeth she had to be set on edge, thought better of it, and stood +in glum silence while Caleb made his preparations.</p> + +<p>That remarkable functionary had a piece of business before him which +threatened to task the resources of his genius to their full extent, but +he was not the man to shrink from the responsibility which his desire to +retain a high place in the powerful Clorinda's good-will had induced him +to accept.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said Caleb, giving his chair another hitch, dipping his pen +afresh into the inkstand, and holding it suspended over the paper, with +a threatening drop slowly collecting on the nib. "Now we'll get under +weigh just as soon as you give the signal."</p> + +<p>"Tak car ob de ink!" shrieked Clorinda, pulling the paper from under his +hand in time to preserve it from the great blot of ink that descended on +the table-cover instead. "Dat's a purty splotch, now, ain't it; yer a +nice hand, Caleb Benson!"</p> + +<p>"Taint much, nobody'll ever notice it," said Caleb, wiping it off with +his coat-sleeve. "Don't raise a breeze about nothin', Clorindy."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk to me 'bout breezes," she retorted, in an irritated tone, +for Clorinda, I am sorry to say, had not even a fair portion of the +small stock of patience which usually falls to our sex. "I 'clar to +goodness dere ain't nothin' so stupid as a man. I jis hate de hull sect +like pison, I duz."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no you don't, Clorindy," he replied, "you hain't got so old yet but +what you can hold your own with the youngest of 'em when there's a fancy +mulatter chap round."</p> + +<p>"What doz yer mean by ole!" cried Clorinda. "I tells you what, Caleb +Benson, ef yer only undertuk this job to be a aggrawatin' and insultin' +me, you and I's done! I ain't gwine to stand sich trash, now I tells +yer! Is dis yer thanks fur all I'se done? Who got ye de run ob de house, +I'd like to know; who sot ye up for selling better fish than anybody in +de neighborhood; who nebber said nothin' when de soap-fat all +disappeared, and you said it had melted in de sun; who fixed up +mince-pies fur you; who—"</p> + +<p>There is no telling to what extent Clorinda might have carried her +revelations, but the old man interrupted her with all the excuses he +could think of at so short notice.</p> + +<p>"I was just funning, Clorindy; don't go off the handle. In course I want +to obleege you. Thar, thar! Now what do you want to have wrote? We ain't +going to quarrel—old friends like us."</p> + +<p>"Ain't we!" cried Clorinda, folding her arms. "Then jis you keep a civil +tongue, dat's all. Times is changed, and der's a new misses a comin'; +but you may all onderstand dat I rules de kitchen yet, and I'se gwine +to."</p> + +<p>"Sartin, sartin! Wal now, about these here billet ducks," said Caleb, +cunningly; "I must hurry up, you see, or I shan't get round afore +night."</p> + +<p>Clorinda forgot her injured feelings in excitement about the party, and +ordered him to commence work without farther delay.</p> + +<p>"Wal," said Caleb, spreading out the paper again, "I'll leave a blank +for the names, that'll save trouble. I reckon you want somethin' like +this—'Miss Clorindy and Miss Victory's compliments—'"</p> + +<p>"What's Vic got to do wid it, I'd like to know?" Clo burst in; "it's my +party, just 'member dat. It's enough to hev her company, widout her +settin' up for a hostage."</p> + +<p>"Any thing to suit," said Caleb, patiently. "Wal, then I'll say that +Miss Clorindy hopes to have the pleasure of Mr. so and so's company, and +wants to see you to a little tea drinkin' this evening."</p> + +<p>"Lord!" cried Clo. "If ye hain't got no more larnin' dan dat, I'd better +find somebody else! Do yer tink I got pink paper and silver-sprigged +'welopers to write sich trash on? Tea drinkin' indeed! Why dis here's to +be a rigler scrumptious, fash'nable 'tainment! I want yer to say, 'Miss +Clorindy consents her most excruciating compliments, and begs to state +that, owing to de 'picious ewent ob de master's weddin', she takes dis +opportunity to 'quest de 'stinguished company ob Mr. Otheller Jones for +dis evenin', to a reparatory 'tainment; and she would furder mention dat +dare will be plenty ob weddin'-cake, wid a ring in it, ice cream in +pinnacles, red and white, and a dance in de laundry to fiddles.' Dar, +dat's somethin' like."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Caleb, quite breathless; "now tell it to me as I get ahead, +'cause it's a mighty long rigmarole."</p> + +<p>"Oh," added Clorinda, "den at the bottom you must put—' P. S.—Yaller +gloves and 'rocur pumps, if convenient.'"</p> + +<p>That last touch of elegance quite upset Caleb, and he began to think +that if Clorinda was black, and couldn't write her name, she really was +a wonderful woman. Clo was so softened by his applause that they got on +very harmoniously, and the invitations were written out in Clorinda's +peculiar phraseology and in Caleb's largest hand. As it was an affair of +importance, he put capitals at the beginning of nearly every word, +sometimes in the middle and altogether the writing made such a show, +that Clorinda was delighted.</p> + +<p>"Don't forget de P. S.," said she.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Caleb, making a tremendous flourish. "P. S.—Yaller gloves +and 'rocur pumps, if convenient."</p> + +<p>Clo inspected the first note as carefully as if she could read, +expressed her approbation, and urged him on, till, with much labor, +Caleb completed the requisite number, put them safely in their gorgeous +envelopes, and directed them to the persons Clorinda mentioned.</p> + +<p>"Now, jis be as quick as you kin," she said; "I'se got to go back to see +to tings—can't trust dat Vic, no how! Wal, I guess Mr. Dolf'll see de +difference 'tween folks and folks."</p> + +<p>Benson knew that Dolf, Mr. Mellen's own man, was a special weakness of +Clorinda's, though it was only her reputation for accumulated wages +which induced that dashing yellow individual to treat her with any +attention.</p> + +<p>Caleb received his last instructions, and started on his mission, which +was successfully fulfilled. Then he took his way homeward after going +back to the house to acquaint Clorinda with the result, which was equal +to her expectations, and that was saying a great deal.</p> + +<p>As he approached the little tavern, he saw a gentleman standing on the +steps, with a colored servant guarding a pile of guns, fishing-rods, and +other tackle, with which idle men frequently came down from the city to +endure Caleb's humble fare for a while, and gratify their masculine +propensity for destruction.</p> + +<p>But this gentleman was a stranger to Caleb, and he looked at him +enviously, though with the approbation which his appearance would have +elicited from more refined judges.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are Caleb Benson," the gentleman said, throwing away the +end of a cigar, as the old man mounted the steps.</p> + +<p>"Wal, they call me so, sometimes," replied Caleb; for the instincts of +his New England birthplace had not deserted him, and he never answered a +question in a straightforward manner, if he could help it.</p> + +<p>"Some friends of mine told me I could find very comfortable quarters +with you," pursued the stranger. "I have run down to see the place, and +take a day's duck shooting. I want to engage rooms, and leave my traps +here, so that I can come over whenever I feel like it."</p> + +<p>"I want to know,—mean to have a good long shute do you!" said Caleb. +"Wal, I guess I could fix you up, if you ain't too particular."</p> + +<p>"I am not at all particular what I pay," replied the gentleman; "I +suppose that is satisfactory."</p> + +<p>"I ain't going to say 'tain't," returned Caleb, his eyes beginning to +twinkle at the prospect of a liberal guest, who meant to come +frequently.</p> + +<p>"I reckon you'd like to see what I can do in the way of rooms, Mr., +Mr.——Wal, I don't think I quite ketched your name."</p> + +<p>"Mr. North," said the stranger, smiling at the man's shrewdness.</p> + +<p>He stood for a few moments talking with Caleb, and though the old fellow +was not easily pleased, he was quite fascinated by the stranger's +manner; and, having a very vague idea of princes, was almost inclined to +think that this splendid-looking creature might be one who had strayed +over from his native kingdom on a fishing excursion.</p> + +<p>"Now let me see the rooms," said Mr. North. "I suppose my man may as +well carry the traps up stairs now—the place is certain to suit me."</p> + +<p>Caleb looked at the stylish colored individual who was leaning, in a +graceful attitude, over the luggage, and a brilliant idea struck him.</p> + +<p>"I say you," he called, "I've got a ticket that'll just suit you, +Mr.——What's your name?"</p> + +<p>"If you are redressing me," replied the sable gentleman, majestically, +"my name is Mr. Julius Hannibal."</p> + +<p>"Want to know!" said Caleb. "Wal, here's an invite that was just meant +for a fine-looking chap like you."</p> + +<p>Caleb drew one of the notes from his pocket, and held it out. Hannibal +took it with considerable dignity, doubtful how to receive such +unceremonious compliments.</p> + +<p>"You are in luck, Ju," said his master. "What's it all about, Mr. +Benson?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Mellen—he's one of our rich men down here—is going to be +married this week, so his servants thought they'd have a blow-out +to-night, for fear they wouldn't get the chance after the new mistress +comes."</p> + +<p>"Go, by all means," said North, almost eagerly. "Make all the friends +you can, Ju, for we shall be here a good deal—go, certainly."</p> + +<p>Hannibal drew himself up, bowed to his master, and said to Caleb in a +stately way——</p> + +<p>"I shall be most happy to mixture in the festive throng, but would most +'spectfully state to Miss Clorindy that morocur pumps is banished from +polite society, and only patting leathers is worn—but these is +trifles."</p> + +<p>North took the note from his servant's hand, and could not repress his +merriment as he read it; but Caleb received that as a compliment, and +looked so conscious, that it was easy to discover what share he had +taken in the matter.</p> + +<p>"Pinnacles of ice cream, and a dance in the landing," read Mr. North. +"Why choose the landing, Mr. Benson?"</p> + +<p>"Laundry, laundry! I guess it's blotted a leetle."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes—I see! Upon my word, quite magnificent! So Mr.—Mellen, did you +call him?—is to be married this week. Well, well, that fate overtakes +most of us, sooner or later. We will go up stairs now, if you please, +Mr. Benson."</p> + +<p>The old man led the way up to the room, which was kept in readiness for +visitors of importance, and which had been made quite comfortable by the +various articles of furniture that the different occupants had presented +to Caleb, on leaving his house.</p> + +<p>The bargain was not a difficult one, as Mr. North appeared quite willing +to pay Benson his own price, and the old fellow was only in doubt as to +the extent to which he might safely carry his extortion.</p> + +<p>When they went down stairs again, the steamboat had just come in to the +landing, and Dolf, Mr. Mellen's man, was making his way to the tavern, +having come to the island to see that the house was in readiness, and +dazzle the eyes of the females by the wonderful new clothes which had +fallen to his share of the wedding perquisites.</p> + +<p>"That's just the ticket," said Caleb; "Mellen's man'll take you over to +the place, Mr. Julius, and set you a goin'. I'm going there myself now, +but you'll have to fix your master up first, so you can come with Dolf."</p> + +<p>While Julius was going through the ceremonies of an introduction, Mr. +North called him away, and seemed to be giving him some very particular +directions. When he came back, Dolf, who was greatly rejoiced at this +acquisition, said, anxiously,</p> + +<p>"Won't he let you go?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," answered Hannibal, but a little uneasily. "It was only +about a fishing-rod I left behind."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>A BALL IN THE BASEMENT.</h3> + + +<p>The day wore on. Everything was in a state of preparation in the old +mansion-house. The last ovenful of cake had been placed by an open +window in the pantry, that its frosted surface might harden into beauty. +The ice-cream freezers, ready to yield up their precious contents, were +set away in a cool place, and Victoria, a pretty mulatto girl who had +come to the house an orphan child, was busy carving red and white roses +out of a little pile of turnips and delicately shaped blood-beets, +intended to ornament divers plates of cold turkey and chicken salad. +This pretty fancy work was carried on in the front basement or +housekeeper's room, while a bustle of preparation gave promise of great +things from the kitchen. Clorinda, the moving spirit of all this +commotion, rushed from basement to kitchen, and then to pantry and +store-room, in a state of exhilaration that set fresh currents of air in +circulation wherever she went. This was the great day of the faithful +servant's life, and she felt its importance in every cord of her heart.</p> + +<p>"Now," she called out, addressing Victoria with a pompous lift of the +head, "yer can come up stairs and help about thar. Them roseys ain't so +bad but that I've seen wuss; but there's 'nuff of 'em, so cum 'long o' +me, and shut up de draw'n'-room winder-blinds."</p> + +<p>Victoria ran up stairs, two steps at a leap, and, in a breath, was +shutting out the beautiful sunset, and quenching a thousand flashes of +arrowy rays that scattered gold over the plate-glass.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Clorinda, as the last shutter was closed, "yer can take the +spy-glass and see if any pusson is comin' up from the pint."</p> + +<p>Victoria was only too glad. She sprang across the tessellated pavement +of the hall, and seizing the glass, swept the shore with a slow movement +of her slender person from right to left.</p> + +<p>"Nary a pusson coming," she said, laying down the glass, with a +disappointed air.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk," snapped Clorinda, snatching up the glass and levelling it +fiercely at the ocean. "Jes like yer, now—can't see yer hand afore yer +face. There's a boat put inter the cove whilst yer was looken, and here +am Caleb Benson."</p> + +<p>"So thar am," cried Victoria, snatching the glass, "acomin' full split +across the medder. Now for it!"</p> + +<p>The lithe limbed mulatto gave a hop on to the portico, and another bound +to the soft grass of the lawn, whence she ran, like a deer, to meet our +sea-loving friend, with the high shoulders, who was crossing towards the +house at a far brisker pace than was usual to him.</p> + +<p>"Hav yer give the instergations?" cried Victoria, out of breath with +swift running. "Am the folks a coming to our party?"</p> + +<p>Caleb looked wonderfully grave, and attempted to shake his head; but Vic +saw, by the gleam in his eyes, that it was all pretence, and clapping +her hands like a little gypsy as she was, dashed into a break-down on +the grass, calling out, "Hi, dic-a-dory, I told yer so—I told yer so!"</p> + +<p>"Well, what am all dis muss 'bout?" exclaimed Clorinda, sailing out to +the lawn with a broad straw flat overshadowing her like an umbrella. +"Well, Caleb, I 'low ebbery ting am pernicious 'bout de party."</p> + +<p>Caleb, who was ah old fisherman, reared at Cape Cod, and not to be put +out of his way easily, occupied plenty of time before he answered. The +afternoon was warm, so he took the oil-cloth cap from his head, and +wiped its baldness vigorously with an old silk handkerchief. Then he +deposited the handkerchief in the crown of his cap, and settled himself +into his garments with a shake, sailor fashion.</p> + +<p>Clorinda's broad flat vibrated with its wearer's impatience, and +Victoria was stamping down the grass, and menacing the old man with her +fist during the whole of his slow performance.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said, "now."</p> + +<p>"Wal, the long and the short of it is, they're all a coming, especially +from Squir Rhodes. Miss Jemima wasn't willing at first, but the Squir +sot in and said his colored people hadn't much chance for fun anyhow, +and shouldn't be kept back from what come along in a nat'ral way."</p> + +<p>"Squir Rhodes was ales a pusson as I s'pected," said Clorinda. "Let's +see how many of 'em will count up."</p> + +<p>She made rather bungling work in counting her fingers, going over them +three or four times, and getting terribly puzzled in the end.</p> + +<p>In the midst of her confusion, Victoria gave a little cry of dismay, and +made a rush for the house, where she frantically tore off her apron and +tucked it under one of the hall mats.</p> + +<p>Clorinda, filled with indignation by this strange proceeding, turned in +search of the cause, and lo! there was Dolf, Mr. Mellen's own man, +crossing the lawn, with two other gentlemen of color, evidently from the +city.</p> + +<p>Clorinda snatched the broad straw flat from her head, and began to +arrange her Madras turban with both hands, thus unhappily exposing some +tufts of frosty gray that had managed to creep, year after year, into +her wool. After this rather abrupt toilet, she drew herself up with a +grand air, and marched forward to receive the strangers in a glorious +state of self-complacency.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dolf, yer welcome as hot-house peaches—and these gemmen, may I +'quest an interdiction?"</p> + +<p>Dolf had just been informing his companions that the lady approaching +them was not to be sneezed at in any particular whatever, as she ruled +the roost of Piney Cove, and had, everybody said, laid up lots of rocks; +besides, as for cooking—well, he said nothing, it was not necessary; +they would see what Clorinda was in that line when the supper came on. +She had learned down South where people knew how to live.</p> + +<p>This speech prepared the strangers to receive their sable hostess with +great distinction, and when she launched a stupendous courtesy at them +in acknowledgment of their elaborate bows, the mutual admiration that +sprang up among the whole group then and there, was an oasis in the +desert of human nature.</p> + +<p>"Miss Clorinda—Mr. Sparks, of the Metropolitan Hotel; Mr. Hannibal, +private attendant of an upper-crust gentleman, who is going to stop at +the Sailor's Safe Anchor, fishing and shooting."</p> + +<p>Clorinda had just recovered herself from one courtesy, but she took the +wind in her garments and fluttered off into a couple more without loss +of time.</p> + +<p>"I 'low de neighborhood am obligated to any gemmen as brings sich +pussons inter de serciety ob Piney Cove. If yer hasn't had deceived an +invite from Mr. Benson, dat white pusson yer sees up yunder, remit me de +ferlicity."</p> + +<p>Clorinda took two buff envelopes from her bosom as she spoke, and gave +them to Mr. Sparks, of the Metropolitan, and Mr. Julius Hannibal, +private, with a smile that flitted across her face like smoke from a +furnace.</p> + +<p>"It speaks ob pumps and yeller gloves as bein' indispenserable, but dem +as comes promiscus as yer friends dus, Dolphus, can't be spected ter +imply."</p> + +<p>The gentlemen smiled in bland thankfulness, exhibiting a superb display +of ivory and second-hand white kids in the operation.</p> + +<p>"You didn't expect me," whispered Dolf, joining Clorinda when she turned +to conduct the party to the house, "but the hart will pant after clear +water. I couldn't stand it three days longer; so when the master told me +to come over and see that every thing was ready, I jumped at it. Hope +you're not offended at my bringing these fellows?"</p> + +<p>"'Fended!" exclaimed Clorinda, stepping upon the grass as if it had been +egg-shells, that she had resolved not to crush. "When was yer Clo ebber +fended wid yer, Dolphus?"</p> + +<p>"Poor fellows," said Dolf, looking back at his friends, "They see my +ferlicity and are ready to burst with envy."</p> + +<p>"Am dey?" exclaimed Clorinda, bridling—"poor souls; but no pusson can +be spected to cut up inter half a dozen, so dey am bound ter suffer."</p> + +<p>The whole group had reached the front portico by this time. Vic, who had +stolen behind the hall-door and stood watching their approach through +the crevice, came forth now, blushing till the golden bronze on her +cheeks burned red. Clorinda flamed up at the sight.</p> + +<p>"What hab yer done wid yer apron, chile? jes march right 'bout an' get +it ter once. Who ebber hearn bout a chile ob yer age widout apron?"</p> + +<p>Victoria's black eyes flashed like diamonds; she drew aside, leaning +against the wall, with the grace of a bronze-figure, half-frightened out +of her wits, but defiant still. What right had Clorinda to tell about +her apron, or drive her down stairs? She cast an imploring glance at +Dolf, but he looked resolutely away.</p> + +<p>"Come in, gemmen, out ob sight ob dis obstinit chile," cried Clorinda, +almost sweeping poor little Vic down with a flourish of her skirts.</p> + +<p>"No," interposed gentlemanly Dolf, who had a genius for keeping out of +storms. "The gentlemen were just saying, as we came up, how much they +would like a walk towards the woods. So with your permission, Miss +Clorinda, we will leave you to the feminine duties of the toilet; though +beauty when unadorned is most adorned."</p> + +<p>"'Cept when de gray hairs will peek out. Hi! hi! look dar!"</p> + +<p>These audacious words were uttered by Victoria, whose pouting wrath +could no longer be restrained.</p> + +<p>The two city gentlemen fell to examining their gloves with great +earnestness. Dolf made a hasty retreat through the door, calling on them +to follow him, and Clorinda left five handsomely defined finger-marks on +Victoria's hot cheek before she darted off to a looking-glass, and fell +into a great burst of tears over the state of her treacherous turban.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Vic, gathering herself up from the wall, and rubbing her +cheek, down which great hot tears were leaping with passionate +violence—"Now I'se gone and done it, sure; she won't let me—"</p> + +<p>"Vic! Vic!"</p> + +<p>It was the treacherous voice of Dolf, who came stealing in from the +portico.</p> + +<p>"Vic, don't be so audacious, you lovely spitfire; go this minute and +make up with her, or we've lost all chance of that new cotillion I was +learning you."</p> + +<p>"I can't! I won't!" burst forth the pretty, bronze fury, stamping down +the mat and her apron under it. "She's a—a—she's fat cattle, thar!"</p> + +<p>Dolf snatched the little sprite from the rug, and stopped her mouth +with—no, it wasn't with his <i>hand</i>. And I'd rather say no more about +it.</p> + +<p>Five minutes after, Victoria went demurely in search of Clorinda, found +her sitting before the glass in utter humiliation, and protested that +the whole thing was nonsense. That she hadn't seen a gray hair, and if +the turban was awry, it must have happened when Clorinda ran up stairs +in such hot haste. Victoria was sorry: oh, very, very sorry. Would Miss +Clo only overlook it this once, and begin to dress for the ball?</p> + +<p>Clorinda's heart swelled like a rising tide under Vic's hypocritical +condolence, but she could not be quite convinced about the turban; she +was a woman of resources, however, and felt that the evil was not +without its remedy. So she kindled an immense quantity of wax-lights, +crowded them before her looking-glass, and at once commenced the +mysteries of a full toilet. The result was so satisfactory when she took +a survey of her pink barege dress, covered with innumerable small +flounces, and the gorgeous white gauze scarf, glittering with silver, +which formed a turban, with long sweeping ends falling to the left +shoulder—that she melted at once towards the girl who had helped to +make her so resplendent.</p> + +<p>"Jes see what splendiferous idees that chile Miss Elsie hab, Vic," she +cried, shaking the flounces into place over her enormous crinoline. "Now +'serve she never wore dis sumptious dress more en once, but sent it down +here good as new; 'sides de turban, jes see it shine. Yes, Vic, I +forgives yer, so don't rub dem knuckles in yer eyes no more."</p> + +<p>Vic darted away, and in a marvellously short time came back glorious, +her hair braided in with scarlet ribbons, and a dress of several +gorgeous colors fluttering with every joyous movement of her slender +person. She was pluming herself before the glass when Clorinda started +up.</p> + +<p>"What am dat?"</p> + +<p>"Dat? why it am a carriage. Oh, golly, golly, they'm coming," cried Vic, +wild with delight; and away the two darkies went down the great +staircase and into the hall, where the honors of the house were extended +with astonishing elegance.</p> + +<p>Two or three wagons sat down their sable loads, and directly the sounds +of a brace of fiddles rang though the basement story, and the laundry +floor vibrated to the elastic tread of dancers, whose natural love of +music gave grace and spirit to every movement. The two fiddles poured +out triumphant strains of music, and in every particular Clorinda's ball +was a success.</p> + +<p>At last Clorinda disappeared from the laundry, and Dolf followed her +into the supper-room, where he fell into raptures over the gorgeousness +of the table.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the housekeeper, modestly, "but how am we to get 'long +without wine; Marse Mellen carried off de keys, and without dat—"</p> + +<p>"Jes look here!" cried Dolf, holding up a key which had been resting in +his pocket; "catch me unprepared; I thought about the wine."</p> + +<p>Clorinda almost embraced Dolf in her delight, but in his haste to reach +the wine-cellar, he did not seem to observe the demonstration.</p> + +<p>When her lover came back with his arms full of long-necked bottles, +Clorinda's happiness was supreme, and directly after there was a rush of +feet and abrupt silence with the two fiddlers. The company had gone in +to supper.</p> + +<p>After the rush and bustle had subsided a little, Dolf placed himself at +the head of the table, with a corkscrew in one hand and a bottle in the +other.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my!" whispered Virginia, "I hope dar's lots of pop in it."</p> + +<p>A rushing explosion, and the rich gurgle of amber wine into the crowding +goblets satisfied her completely.</p> + +<p>Dolf lifted his glass and prepared himself for a speech.</p> + +<p>"Ladies of the fair sect and gentlemen—"</p> + +<p>That moment Mr. Julius Hannibal, who had allowed himself to be crowded +towards the door, stole out and went softly up stairs. With the stealthy +motion of a cat, he crept along the hall and opened the front door.</p> + +<p>A man came out from the shadows of the portico, and glided into the +hall. It was Mr. North, Hannibal's master.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE WEDDING.</h3> + + +<p>A crowd of carriages stood in front of the church—a throng of +richly-dressed persons filled it, with such life and bustle as sacred +walls never witness, save on the occasion of a grand wedding. Mrs. +Harrington had done her pleasant work famously. Not a fashionable person +among her own friends, or a distinguished one known to bridegroom or +bride, had been omitted. Thus the stately church was crowded. Snowy +feathers waved over gossamer bonnets; lace, glittering silks, and a +flash of jewels were seen on every hand, fluttering in the dim religious +light around smiling faces and gracefully bending figures.</p> + +<p>A buzz of whispered conversations rose from nave to gallery; for a large +portion of that brilliant throng had never seen the bride, and curiosity +was on the <i>qui vive</i> regarding a person so utterly unknown to society, +who had carried off the greatest match of the season.</p> + +<p>In one of the front pews a friend of Mrs. Harrington was sitting with a +group of her own confidential acquaintances. Of course she knew all +about it, and could tell them why Mr. Mellen had chosen a wife so +utterly unknown to their set.</p> + +<p>Certainly Mrs. C. knew all about it—had the particulars from her sweet +friend, Mrs. Harrington, who was, they all knew, a sort of lady +patroness to the affair. Would she tell? Of course—why not? There was +no secret about it now, and it might be ten minutes before the bridal +party came in.</p> + +<p>"Well, this was it. Mr. Mellen was—"</p> + +<p>Oh they all knew about Mr. Mellen; he had been in business down town +before that worthy old gentleman his uncle died, and left him so +enormously rich that there was no guessing how many millions he was +worth. Did they know his sister? Of course: what a sweet pretty creature +she was! Strange that the old uncle forgot to make her an heiress,—cut +off a relative whom he had almost adopted, and left everything to +Mellen, who did not expect it. Sweet Elsie was quite overlooked, and had +nothing on earth but her beauty. But the bride, the bride, what about +her?</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. C——, coming out of this storm of whispers smiling +and flushed, "there is no great mystery in the bride. Indeed, so far as +she was concerned, everything was rather common-place—such people had +been done up so often in romances that it was tiresome."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that she was that eternal governess who is +continually travelling through magazines and marrying the rich young +gentleman of the house?" cried a voice, almost out loud.</p> + +<p>"No, no, nothing quite so bad as that," answered Mrs. C——, with a low +soothing "hush," and shaking her head till all the pink roses on her +bonnet fluttered again. "She came from somewhere in New England. The +father was thought to be a rich man. At any rate he gave her a splendid +education, and travelled with her in Europe nearly two years, when she +was quite a missish girl. He also educated her cousin, the young man who +is to be groomsman, and gave him a handsome setting out in life; but +when the father died there was nothing left—all his property mortgaged +or something—at any rate Elizabeth never got a cent, and her cousin +would have been poor as a church-mouse but for the money which had set +him up in a splendid business. He wanted to make that over to her at +once."</p> + +<p>"Generous fellow!"</p> + +<p>"You may well say that," continued Mrs. C——, hushing down the +enthusiasm of her friends with a wave of her whitely gloved hand. "She +would not take a cent of his money, but came here to the very school +where she had been educated, and hired out as a teacher; it is said—but +I do not vouch for it—that her bills at the school were left unpaid, +and she worked the debt out."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible!"</p> + +<p>"Dear me, how noble!"</p> + +<p>"But how did she get acquainted with Mr. Mellen?" cried a third voice; +"make haste, or they will be upon us before we know a word about it."</p> + +<p>"His sister, Miss Elsie Mellen, was a pupil in the school. Her love for +Miss Fuller was perfect infatuation. The brother worshiped her—sweet +creature, who could help it?—and so the acquaintance began in the +parlor of a boarding school, and ends—Hush, hush!"</p> + +<p>There was a slight commotion at the door, followed by the soft rustling +of silks and turning of heads. Then a gentleman of noble presence, calm +and self-possessed, as if he were quite unconscious of all the eyes bent +upon him, came slowly up the broad aisle with the object of all this +conversation leaning on his arm.</p> + +<p>Certainly the bride gave no evidence of her low estate in that rustling +white silk, which shone like crusted snow through a sheen of tulle; or +in the veil of Brussels lace that fell around her like a fabric of +cobwebs overrun with frostwork. You could detect intense emotion from +the shiver of the clematis spray, mingled with snowy roses, in her black +hair; but otherwise she seemed quiet and remarkably self-sustained.</p> + +<p>Following close upon this noble pair, came a tall, loose-jointed young +man, glowing with pride of the lovely creature on his arm; and, really, +any thing more beautiful, in a material sense, could not well be +imagined than that youthful bridesmaid. Like the stately girl who had +passed before her, she moved in a cloud of shimmering white, with just +enough of blue in the golden hair and on the bosom to match the violet +of her eyes.</p> + +<p>Once or twice Tom Fuller missed step as they were going up the aisle, +when Elsie would make a pause, look ruefully at her gossamer skirts, and +only seem relieved when her partner stumbled into place again. Then she +followed the bride, her cheeks one glow of roses and smiles dimpling her +fresh, young mouth, as if she were the Queen of May approaching her +throne.</p> + +<p>The bridal-pair knelt at the altar, and a solemn stillness fell upon +that brilliant multitude as the vows which were to unite that man and +woman for all time were uttered. Even Elsie looked on with shadowy +sadness in her eyes; as for Tom—the noble-hearted fellow made a fool of +himself of course, and was compelled to shake the tears surreptitiously +from his eyes, before he dared to look up from the long survey he had +been taking of his patent-leather boots.</p> + +<p>It is almost frightful to remember how few moments it takes to bind +immortal souls together in a union which may be for happiness, and, +alas, may be for such misery as eternal bondage alone can give.</p> + +<p>The feeling of awe befitting that sacred place had scarcely settled on +the gay assembly, when the altar was deserted, and Grantley Mellen led +his wife out of the church. Agitation had brought a faint glow of color +to her cheek, softened the mouth into its sweetest smile, and whenever +the clear gray eyes were lifted, one could see the timid, shrinking +happiness, which made their depths so misty and dark.</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen was a proud, somewhat stern man, and at the church-door +he betrayed, in spite of himself, some annoyance at the <i>eclat</i> which +Mrs. Harrington had given to the affair, in spite of his express wishes. +But whenever he looked at the lovely girl at his side, or felt the +clinging touch of her hand upon his arm, his face cleared and softened +into an expression of such tenderness as changed its entire character.</p> + +<p>Elsie followed close, dexterously keeping her dress from under Tom's +feet; indeed, she looked so lovely and fairy-like, that it made the +awkwardness and embarrassment of her great, honest-hearted companion +more apparent.</p> + +<p>Tom Fuller knew that he appeared dreadfully out of place playing a part +at this imposing ceremony, but he had never in all his life refused a +request that Elizabeth made, and during the last three months, the +mischievous sprite by his side had kept his blundering head in a state +of such constant bewilderment, and so stirred every chord in his great, +manly heart, that he would not have minded in the least stumbling over +red hot ploughshares for the pleasure of walking with her even the +length of a church aisle.</p> + +<p>The group had reached the porch and lingered there a moment, waiting for +the carriages to draw up. The shadows were all gone from Grantley +Mellen's face now; he bent his head and whispered a few words, that made +Elizabeth's cheek glow into new beauty. Suddenly her glance wandered +towards the crowd on her left—a sudden pallor swept the roses from her +cheek—her hand closed convulsively on Mellen's arm; but in an instant, +before even he had noticed her agitation, it had passed—she walked on +to the carriage graceful and queen-like as ever.</p> + +<p>Standing among the throng at which she had cast that one glance, stood +the man who had rescued her from danger only a few days before. He was +gazing eagerly into the faces of the newly made husband and wife, with +an expression upon his features which it was not easy to understand. But +after that quick look, Elizabeth never again turned her head, and the +stranger shrank back among the crowd and disappeared.</p> + +<p>The guests were gathered about the sumptuous table which Mrs. Harrington +had prepared, and the fair widow herself, in a dress which would have +been youthful even for Elsie, was in a state of flutter and excitement +which baffles description.</p> + +<p>She was gay and coquettish as a girl of sixteen; but there was enough of +real kindliness in her character to make those who knew her forgive +these girlish affectations and the little delusion under which she +labored—that certain specially-favored people, like herself, never did +get beyond eighteen, being so sensitive and fresh of soul, that age +never reached them.</p> + +<p>I doubt if there ever was a wedding reception that did not prove a +somewhat dull affair, and though this was as nearly an exception as +possible, Mellen seized the first opportunity to whisper Elizabeth that +it was time to prepare for their departure.</p> + +<p>"And so I shan't see you for a whole week," said Tom Fuller, ruefully, +as he accompanied Elsie out of the room, when she followed Elizabeth up +stairs to change her dress. "What shall I do with myself all that time?"</p> + +<p>"A whole week!" repeated she, laughing merrily; "it's quite dreadful to +contemplate—I only hope you won't die, and put poor Bessie into +mourning before the honeymoon is over."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are laughing at me," said Tom, heaving a sigh that was a +perfect blast of grief.</p> + +<p>"How can you fancy that?" cried Elsie; "I thought I was showing great +sympathy."</p> + +<p>"You always do laugh at me," urged Tom, "and it's downright cruel! I +know I am awkward, and always do the wrong thing at the wrong moment, +but you needn't be so hard on a fellow."</p> + +<p>"There, there!" said Elsie, patting his arm as she might have smoothed a +great Newfoundland dog; "don't quarrel with me now! Next week you are +coming down to Piney Cove, and you shall see how nicely I will entertain +you."</p> + +<p>"Shall you be glad to see me—really glad?" pleaded Tom, red to the very +temples.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course," cried Elsie, laughing; "you are a sort of cousin +now—it will be my duty, you know."</p> + +<p>Elsie danced away, leaving him to pull his white glove in a perplexed +sort of way, by no means certain that he was satisfied with being +considered a relation, and treated in this cavalier manner.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST CLOUD.</h3> + + +<p>Mrs. Harrington had run up stairs for an instant, and stopped Mellen and +his bride on the landing for a few last words.</p> + +<p>"I hope you are satisfied, Grantley," she said; "I have done my best; I +do hope you are pleased."</p> + +<p>"My dear friend, everything has been perfect," he answered.</p> + +<p>"I can't thank you for all your kindness to me," Elizabeth said, holding +out her hand; "but believe me, I feel it deeply."</p> + +<p>"My dear, don't speak of it! Grantley and Elsie are like relatives to +me," cried Mrs. Harrington, "and I love you so much already! You looked +lovely—what a mercy we came off so well from our fright—"</p> + +<p>"There is no time for pretty speeches," broke in Elsie, giving her a +warning glance, and pulling Elizabeth towards their dressing-room; "go +back to your guests, Mary Harrington; what will they do without you. +Besides, you must cover our retreat. We don't want to be stared at when +we go out."</p> + +<p>But Mellen stood still after they had entered the chamber, and detained +Mrs. Harrington.</p> + +<p>"What fright?" he demanded; "what did you mean?"</p> + +<p>She was too thoroughly confused to remember her promise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing, nothing!" she said; "I have sold the horses, so it doesn't +make any difference."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" he asked. "Have you had an accident?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; the gentleman saved us—such a splendid creature! But it was so +odd. The moment Elizabeth looked in his face she fainted dead +away—courageous as a lion till then—just like a novel, you know. But +she said she never saw him before; it was really quite interesting."</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen turned suddenly pale; doubt and suspicion had been his +familiar demons for years, and it never required more than a word or +look to call them up.</p> + +<p>He controlled himself sufficiently to speak with calmness, and Mrs. +Harrington was not observant; but he did not permit her to return to her +guests until he had heard the whole story.</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it," she entreated; "I promised Elizabeth not to tell; +she thought you would be frightened, and perhaps displeased."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington hurried down stairs, and Mellen passed on to the chamber +which had been appropriated for his use. But his face had not recovered +its serenity, and Master Dolf, who presided over his toilet, did not at +all approve of such gravity on a man's wedding-day—having drank quite +champagne enough in the kitchen to feel in as exuberant spirits as was +desirable, himself.</p> + +<p>The leave-takings were over; Tom Fuller had given his last tempestuous +sigh as Mellen drove off with his sister and his bride towards the home +where they were to begin their new life.</p> + +<p>The journey was not a tedious one; the swift train bore them for a +couple of hours along one of the Long Island railroads, to a way +station, where a carriage waited to carry them to the quiet old house in +which they were to spend the honeymoon.</p> + +<p>There was to be no journey, both Mellen and Elizabeth wished to go +quietly to the beautiful spot which was to be their future home, and +spend the first weeks of their happiness in complete seclusion.</p> + +<p>The drive was a charming one, and the brightness of the Spring day would +have chased even a deeper gloom from Mellen's mind than the shadow which +Mrs. Harrington's careless words had brought over it.</p> + +<p>From the eminence along which the road wound, they caught occasional +glimpses of the silvery beach and the long sparkling line of ocean +beyond; then a sudden descent would shut them out, and they drove +through beautiful groves with pleasant homesteads peeping through the +trees, and distant villages nestled like flocks of birds in the golden +distance.</p> + +<p>The apple-trees were in blossom, and the breeze was laden with their +delicious fragrance; the grass in the pastures wore its freshest green, +the young grain was sprouting in the fields, troops of robins and +thrushes darted about, filling the air with melody, and over all the +blue sky looked down, flecked with its white, fleecy clouds. The +sunlight played warm and beautiful over this lovely scene, and through +the early loveliness of the season, the married pair drove on towards +their new life.</p> + +<p>At a sudden curve in the road, they came out full upon the ocean, and +Elizabeth, unacquainted with the scene, uttered an exclamation of wonder +at its dazzling loveliness.</p> + +<p>Below them stretched a crescent-shaped bay, with a line of woodland +running far out into the sea; away to the right, at the extremity of the +bay, a little village peeped out; its picturesque dwellings were dotted +here and there, giving a home look to the whole scene. At the end of the +shady avenue into which they had turned, the tall roofs and stately +towers of the Piney Cove mansion were visible through the trees.</p> + +<p>"The dear old house!" cried Elsie, clapping her hands. "The dear old +house!"</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen was watching his wife, and a pleased smile lighted his +face when he saw how thoroughly she appreciated the beauty of the place. +He did not speak, but clasped her hand gently in his, and held it, while +Elsie uttered her wild exclamations of delight. They drove up to the +entrance of the house.</p> + +<p>"Welcome home!" exclaimed Mellen, and his face glowed with tenderness as +he lifted his wife from the carriage and conducted her up the steps, +Elsie following, and the servants pressing forward with their +congratulations, headed by Clorinda: and for the first few moments, +Elizabeth was conscious of nothing but a pleasant confusion.</p> + +<p>From the hall where they stood, she could look out upon the ocean which +rolled and sparkled under the sunshine. She could even hear the waves +lapsing up to the grounds which sloped down to the water's edge in a +closely shaven lawn, broken by stately old trees and blossoming +flower-beds. The view so charmed her with its loveliness, that at first +she hardly heeded the magnificence of the different apartments through +which they led her.</p> + +<p>There were quaint, shadowy old rooms, full of odd nooks and corners, and +heavy with antique furniture, where one could idle away a morning so +pleasantly; and in the modern portion of the dwelling, a long suite of +drawing-rooms, with a library beyond, which had been fitted up with +every luxury that wealth and refined taste could devise.</p> + +<p>"Be happy," Grantley Mellen whispered, when his wife tried to find words +to express her delight. "Be happy—peace, rest and affection is all I +ask."</p> + +<p>He looked in her face, eager for the smiling surprise which he had +expected to find there. It was sadly grave. She too had her after +thought.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE BRIDE'S WELCOME HOME.</h3> + + +<p>Elsie took Elizabeth up the broad flight of steps which led from the +hall, and conducted her to the suite of rooms that had been prepared for +her reception. "I had them arranged close to my little nest," she said, +"because I knew Grantley would never be content unless I was within +call. I hope you will like them, Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth answered that they were beautiful, as indeed they were. But it +was a grand, lonely splendor that she looked upon, which almost chilled +her. The chamber was large and richly furnished. Every thing was massive +and costly. The carpet soft as a flower-bed and as brilliant in tints. +Wherever she turned, her eyes fell on exquisite carvings reflected by +limpid mirrors; curtains of richly tinted satin shut out a perfect view +of the ocean, and Elizabeth could not help remarking that the principal +windows faced northward, away from the bloom and glory of the grounds. +Even her dressing-room, which was in one of the octagon towers, looked +out on the only barren spot in view—a storm-beaten grove of cedars that +stood, ragged and bristling with dead limbs, on the beach.</p> + +<p>Spite of herself, Elizabeth was chilled. She loved the morning sunshine +like a worshiper, and felt as if all the grandeur which surrounded her +was shutting it out from her own portion of this new home.</p> + +<p>"Did Mr. Mellen arrange these rooms?" she asked in a faltering voice. +"Was it his taste?"</p> + +<p>"Dear me, not at all," answered Elsie. "He exhausted himself in fitting +up my snuggery. The rest was left to me. I had <i>carte blanche</i>, you +know, as to money; and it was splendid fun going about and ordering +things. Don't you remember how much I used to be away from school?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth smiled, and made an effort to appear thankful and pleased.</p> + +<p>"See what close neighbors we are," said Elsie, lifting a curtain that +seemed to drape a window, but revealing a door which she pushed open.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth stepped forward, and in contrast with the rich gloom of her +own chamber, saw a suite of the brightest, sunniest rooms, that ever a +capricious beauty inhabited.</p> + +<p>The dressing-room which she entered, was hung with bright, cerulean +blue, overrun with what seemed to be a delicate pattern of point-lace. +The carpet was thick, soft, and almost as white as ermine, with a +tangled vine of golden water-lilies and broad, green leaves running over +it, as if the water they grew in had been crusted with snow, and the +blossoms, soft, fresh, and bright, frozen upon the surface. The couch, +easy-chair, and general furniture, were of polished satin-wood, +cushioned with delicate azure silk shot and starred with silver. A +luxurious number of silken cushions lay upon the couch, chairs, and even +on the floor; for two or three were heaped against the pedestal, on +which a basket of flowers stood, and upon them lay a guitar, with its +broad, pink ribbon hanging loose. Every table was loaded with some +exquisitely feminine object of use or beauty, till the very profusion +was oppressive, light and graceful as every thing was.</p> + +<p>Two of the windows were open, and their lace curtains held back, one by +a marble Hebe that mingled her cold stone flowers with the lace; the +other by a Bacchante, whose garland of snow-white grapes was seen dimly, +through the transparent folds it gathered away from the glass.</p> + +<p>Through these open windows came glimpses of the flower-garden, green +slopes on the lawn, and farther off the wind swept up perfumes from a +distant orchard, and sifted it almost imperceptibly through the delicate +network of the curtains. Back of this boudoir was a bed-chamber, and +beyond that a dressing-room. Elizabeth could see through the open door a +bed with hangings of blue and white, with all the objects of luxury +which could please the taste of a pampered and fanciful girl.</p> + +<p>"Grantley chose these rooms for me long ago, before he went to Europe," +said Elsie, looking around with quiet complacency. "He would not hear of +my giving them up; besides, I knew you would like something a little +darker and more stately," she said. "Are you pleased with the house, +Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Very, very much. I did not expect any thing so magnificent," she +answered. "It overpowers me."</p> + +<p>"I had not seen it for years," said Elsie, "till I came down with Grant +to decide about the new furniture. Now you must be happy here. You ought +to be! Just contrast this place with that old barn of a school; it makes +one shudder to think of it! You must be happy, Bessie, for I hate +discontented people."</p> + +<p>"I trust so, dear; I believe so; we shall all be happy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you can't help it," pursued Elsie; "Grant is always a darling! But +you must love and pet me, you know, just as he does."</p> + +<p>"You exacting little thing!" said Elizabeth, lightly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you must," she urged; "you never would have had all this but +for me."</p> + +<p>"No," murmured Elizabeth; "I should never have known Grantley but for +you."</p> + +<p>"I told him that day, you know, just what I had set my heart on," +pursued Elsie, shaking her curls about, and chattering in her careless, +graceful way. "I said I loved you like a sister, and I should die if I +was separated from you. That settled it."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth had seated herself in a low chair, with her back towards the +window; she looked up quickly as Elsie paused.</p> + +<p>"Settled it?" she repeated.</p> + +<p>"Yes, exactly!"</p> + +<p>Elsie flung herself on the carpet at her sister's feet, and caught one +of her hands, playing with the wedding ring so lately put on that +delicate finger, in her caressing fashion.</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?" asked Elizabeth, quietly, though there was a sudden +change in her face which might have struck Elsie could she have seen it. +"Settled it; how do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why he never had refused me anything in all his life," said Elsie; "it +was not likely he would begin so late! Nobody ever does refuse me +anything; now, remember that, Bess."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear! So you told Grantley you were very fond of me—"</p> + +<p>"And that I wanted him to marry you—of course I did."</p> + +<p>It was only Elsie's childish nonsense; Elizabeth felt how foolish it was +to heed it, and yet she could not repress a desire to question further.</p> + +<p>"That was long after he came home, Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I had written him all sorts of things about you; and you +remember when he came to the school to visit me, how I made you go down +without telling you who was there."</p> + +<p>"Yes—I remember."</p> + +<p>"He praised you very highly, and I told him what a dear you were; and +how sad it was for you to have lost all your fortune and be obliged to +teach."</p> + +<p>The color slightly deepened on Elizabeth's cheek; was it possible that +in the beginning Grantley Mellen had been interested in her from a +feeling of pity and commiseration?</p> + +<p>Her engagement had been a brief one; during it, the days had passed in a +constant whirl of excitement and happiness, and she had found little +time to question or reflect: up to the last hour there had been no +shadow on her enjoyment—she had resolutely swept aside everything but +her deep happiness.</p> + +<p>But it was strange that in the very first flush of her married life this +conversation with Elsie should come up. She knew it was only the girl's +heedlessness and pretty egotism that made her talk in this really cruel +fashion, she was sure of that; still her nature was too proud and +self-reliant, for the idea that Mellen had been first attracted towards +her from sympathy at her lonely condition, to be at all pleasant.</p> + +<p>But Elsie was going on with her careless revelations, playing with the +rings which Mellen had put one after another on those delicate fingers +during their engagement, making each one precious with kisses and loving +words.</p> + +<p>"So, when I saw how sorry he was for you, I knew that I should have my +own way. I longed to see this dear old house open once more; it had been +given up to the servants ever since he hurried off to Europe; and I +wanted you for my companion always, you darling."</p> + +<p>"It was fortunate for your wishes that Grantley's heart inclined in the +direction you had marked out," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Oh," exclaimed Elsie with hasty recklessness, and her usual want of +thought, "Grant had no heart to give anybody; all his love was centred +on me; after the experience he had years ago, I don't suppose he could +ever love any woman again—he is just that odd sort of character."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth gave no sign of the blow which struck her this time cruelly on +the heart; she drew her hand away from Elsie, lest its sudden coldness +should rouse some suspicion of the truth in the girl's mind, and asked +in a singularly quiet voice—</p> + +<p>"What experience, Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't mean to say that," she replied; "I am always letting +things out by mistake; Grant would be really angry with me; don't ever +mention it to him."</p> + +<p>"I will not; but what experience has he had that can prevent a husband's +giving his heart even to his own wife?"</p> + +<p>"Dear me, I oughtn't to tell you; but you'd surely find it out sometime; +only promise me not to open your lips."</p> + +<p>"I promise," replied Elizabeth, a cold, gray shadow settling over her +face, out of which all the bloom had faded.</p> + +<p>"He had a friend, a cousin you know, that our rich old uncle had partly +adopted, whom he was very, very fond of," pursued Elsie, "and he was +engaged to be married into the bargain. This man treated him +dreadfully—ran off with the girl Grant loved, and cheated him out of a +great deal of money—money that he could not afford to lose, for he was +not rich then. Grant was nearly mad. I was a little thing, but I +remember it perfectly. When his uncle died he sent me to school, and +started to Europe; he has been there all these four long years; but his +cousin was punished; his uncle gave everything to Grant."</p> + +<p>And of all this grief, this disappointment, he had never told her one +word. Elsie spoke the truth—he had married her that his sister might +have a companion, and his house a mistress.</p> + +<p>A prouder woman than Elizabeth Mellen never existed; but she sat +motionless and gave no sign, while her brief dream of happiness fell +crushed and broken at her feet under this revelation.</p> + +<p>"There," cried Elsie, "that's all, so don't ever think about the thing +again. What a fortunate creature you are! how happy we shall be, shan't +we, dear?"</p> + +<p>She attempted to throw her arms about Elizabeth in her demonstrative +way, but the woman rose quickly, and avoided the caresses which would +have stifled her.</p> + +<p>"It is time to dress," she said; "I am going to my room."</p> + +<p>She passed into her chamber with that dreary chill at heart, which, it +seemed to her, would never leave it again! How could she endure that +fearful pang of humiliation and self-abasement that wrung her soul, and +would grow stronger with every proof of kindness that her husband could +give?</p> + +<p>No love—no heart to give her under all his goodness and attention. She +kept repeating such words to herself—they would never cease to ring in +her ears—there could be no pleasure so entrancing that they would not +mar it by their whispers—no grief so deep that they would not torture +her with the recollection that she was powerless to comfort or aid the +man who had made her his wife.</p> + +<p>But she must bear it all in silence; hers was one of those deep, +reticent natures which could resolve on a painful thing and carry out +her determination to the very end. She would weary him with no sign of +affection.</p> + +<p>The playful exactions of a young wife, which are so pleasant to a loving +husband, must be carefully avoided. He must be allowed to endure her +without revolt—not finding her much in his way.</p> + +<p>That was the first thought upon which she settled, even while this +earliest whirl of pain and tremble made her head dizzy and her heart +sick.</p> + +<p>She heard Elsie's voice ringing out in a gay song: she went mechanically +on with her dressing, listening to that merry song in the midst of her +bewildering thoughts with a dreary feeling of desolation.</p> + +<p>If she could have sat down in the midst of her new life, and died +without further trouble or pain—that became her one thought! If that +man who was her husband, and his sister could enter the room and find +her dead, they might feel regret for a time, but very soon even her +memory would pass away from that old house, and out of their hearts, +where she had so shallow a resting-place, and in the grave she might +find quiet.</p> + +<p>Elsie came dancing in, and exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are dressed! I hear Grant on the stairs. May I open the door?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was seemingly quiet, but the change in her manner would have +been apparent to any one less self-engrossed than Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Open it," she answered; "I am ready."</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen entered the room, and led them both away down stairs; +but he felt the sudden tremor in his young wife's hand, the sort of +shrinking from his side, and his suspicious mind caught fire instantly. +He noted every change in her face, every sad inflexion in her voice, and +at once there came back to him the conversation he had held with Mrs. +Harrington.</p> + +<p>Could Elizabeth have known this man? Was there a secret in her past of +which he was ignorant? The bare idea made his head reel; though he might +banish it from his mind for a season, the slightest recurrence would +bring it back to torture him with inexplicable fear and dread.</p> + +<p>So their new life began with this shadow upon it—a shadow imperceptible +to all lookers on, but lying cold and dim on their hearts nevertheless, +slowly to gather substance day by day till it should become a chill, +heavy mist, through which their two souls could not distinguish each +other.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>COUSIN TOM VISITS PINEY COVE.</h3> + + +<p>Grantley Mellen was still a young man, only thirty-three, though the +natural gravity of his character, increased by certain events in his +life, made him appear somewhat older.</p> + +<p>His father had died many years before, and as Elsie had told his bride, +an uncle had left him in the possession of a fine property, which had +increased in value, till he was now a very wealthy man.</p> + +<p>His mother died when Elsie was a girl of about fourteen, and on her +death-bed Grantley Mellen had promised to act the part of parent as well +as brother to the young girl. He had never once wavered in his trust, +and the love and tenderness he felt for her were beautiful and touching +to witness.</p> + +<p>He was never suspicious, never severe with her, though these were the +worst failings of his character. Elsie was to be treated as a child; be +petted, and indulged, and allowed to live in the sunshine, whatever else +might befall himself or others.</p> + +<p>Although her health was good, she had always been rather delicate in +appearance, and that made him more careful of her. He was haunted with +the fear that she was to fade under their family scourge, consumption, +though in reality she was one of those frail looking creatures who are +all nerves—nerves, too, elastic as tempered steel; and who always +outlive the people who have watched them so carefully.</p> + +<p>It was true Grantley Mellen had met with a humiliating disappointment in +his early youth, which had embittered all his after years, and increased +the natural jealousy of a reticent disposition almost to a monomania. +These were the facts of his history:</p> + +<p>He had a college friend of his own age, a cousin twice removed, whom +from boyhood he had loved with all the strength and passion which made +the undercurrent of his grave, reserved character. He had helped this +young man in every way—befriended him in college, been to him what few +brothers ever are.</p> + +<p>The time came when Mellen found the realization of those dreams which +fill every youthful soul: he loved, with all the fire and intensity of a +first passion. His cousin was made the confidant of this love; he shared +Mellen's every thought, and seemed heartily to sympathize with his +feelings.</p> + +<p>It is an old story, so I need not dwell upon it. Both friend and +betrothed wife proved false. There came a day when Grantley Mellen found +himself alone with a terrible misery, with no faith left, no trust in +humanity to give a ray of light in the darkness of his betrayal.</p> + +<p>The friend whom he had trusted eloped with his affianced bride, and +cheated him out of a large sum of money. With that sudden treachery and +bitter grief, Mellen's youth ended.</p> + +<p>He left Elsie at school and went away to Europe, wandering about for +years, and growing more saddened and misanthropic all the while.</p> + +<p>He returned at last. Elsie was eighteen then. She had a school-friend, +to whom she had been greatly attached; a girl older than herself, and so +different in every respect, that it was a wonder Elsie's volatile +character had been attracted to her, or that her liking had been +reciprocated.</p> + +<p>This was the state of events when Mellen returned from Europe. Elsie's +account of her friend interested him in the unfortunate girl. When he +made her acquaintance that sympathy deepened into a feeling which he had +never thought to have for any woman again,—he loved her, and she was +now his wife.</p> + +<p>It was a restless, craving affection, which threatened great trouble +both to himself and its object. He had no cause for jealousy, but his +suspicious mind was always on the alert—he was jealous even of her +friends, her favorite studies—he wanted every look and thought his own, +yet he was too proud to betray these feelings.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth's character was not one easy to understand, nor shall I enter +into its details here. The progress of my story must show her as she +really was, and leave you to judge for yourself concerning it, and the +effect it had upon her life.</p> + +<p>She was singularly reticent and reserved, but impetuous and warm-hearted +beyond any thing that the man who loved her dreamed of. He saw her gay, +brilliant, fond of society, yet apparently content with the quiet life +he was determined to lead. Still there was something wanting. He felt in +the depths of his heart that he was not master of her whole being. That +sometimes his very kisses seemed frozen on her lips, and she turned from +his protestations of love with sad smiles, that seemed mocking him. And +she, alas, the woman who believes herself unloved by her husband, is +always in danger—always unhappy.</p> + +<p>The first weeks of this strange honeymoon had passed, and Tom Fuller was +able to gratify the chief desire of his honest soul, and rush down to +the island to bewilder himself more hopelessly in the spell of Elsie's +fascinations, like a great foolish moth whirling about a dazzling light.</p> + +<p>She had never scrupled to laugh at him and his devotion, even to +Elizabeth herself; but just now she was not sorry to see him. The +stillness of the house and the seclusion of those slow love weeks, was +not at all in unison with her taste, and she was already regretting that +Mellen had not allowed her to accept Mrs. Harrington's invitation to +remain with her during the first period of that dreary honeymoon.</p> + +<p>Mellen and Elsie were standing on the porch when Fuller drove up to the +house, and dashed in upon them with such an outpouring of confusion and +delight that it might have softened the most obdurate heart.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't stop away another day," he cried, wringing Mellen's hand +till it ached for half an hour after.</p> + +<p>"We are very glad to see you," replied Mellen; "very glad."</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged, I'm sure," exclaimed Tom, "and you're just a trump, +that's the truth."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's the reason you keep him so carefully in your hand," +interposed Elsie, laughing.</p> + +<p>Tom was instantly covered with confusion, and let Mellen's hand drop. He +knew there was a joke somewhere, but for the life of him he could not +see where it come in.</p> + +<p>"You are beginning to laugh at me before you have even said 'How do you +do?'" cried he, ruefully.</p> + +<p>"And am I not to laugh at you, if I please?" exclaimed Elsie. "Shake +hands, you cross-grained old thing, and don't begin to quarrel the +moment we meet."</p> + +<p>Tom blushed like a girl while he bent over the little hand she laid in +his, holding it carefully, and looking down on it with a sort of +delighted wonder, as if it had been some rare rose-tinted shell that his +fingers might break at the slightest touch.</p> + +<p>But Mellen was not looking at them; he stood there wondering if this man +could have been of any consequence in Elizabeth's past. Could she have +loved him, and been prevented from marrying him in some way? No, it was +impossible; he felt, he knew that it was so; but the idea would come +into his mind nevertheless.</p> + +<p>"When you have done examining my hand, Mr. Tom Fuller, please give it +back," said Elsie. "It don't amount to much, but, as the Scotchwoman +observed of her clergyman's head, 'it's some good to the owner.'"</p> + +<p>Tom dropped the little hand as if the pink fingers had burned his palm.</p> + +<p>"I'm always the awkwardest fellow alive!" cried he, dismally. "And how +is Bessie, dear girl?"</p> + +<p>Mellen roused himself.</p> + +<p>"I will call her," he said; "she is quite well, and will be delighted to +see you."</p> + +<p>He went into the house in search of his wife, and Elsie began to tease +her unfortunate victim, a pastime of which she never wearied. It seemed +to her the funniest thing in the world to make that great creature blush +and stammer, to lead him on to the perpetration of absurd things, to +laugh at him, to bewilder his honest head; for any pain he might suffer, +she considered it no more than she did the sorrows of a Fejee Islander, +or the chirp of her canary.</p> + +<p>"Have you come down here prepared to be agreeable?" she asked. +"Remember, I expect you to devote yourself completely to my service—to +wait on me like the most devoted of knights."</p> + +<p>"I'd stand on my head if you asked it," answered Tom, impetuously.</p> + +<p>"How deliciously odd you would look!" cried Elsie; "you shall try it +some day; I only hope it won't leave you with a brain fever, but then it +couldn't, Tom,—where is the capital for such a disease to come from?"</p> + +<p>"You may tease me as much as you like," said Tom, "if you'll only say +you are glad to see me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you will be invaluable," replied Elsie; "I was getting bored with +watching other people's love-making. Can you row a boat and teach me to +play billiards, and be generally nice and useful?"</p> + +<p>"Just try me, that's all!" said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid. I shall put you to every possible use; you may be +quite certain that your position will not be a sinecure."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll make me the happiest fellow alive!"</p> + +<p>"You don't know what you are saying; you don't know what your words +mean," cried Elsie, with one of her bewildering glances.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do! Oh, Miss Elsie, if you only could—"</p> + +<p>Elsie interrupted him, as her sister came out on the portico, followed +by Mellen. "There is Bessie!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was rejoiced to see honest Tom; he was the only relative she +possessed, and she loved him like a sister. She was thoroughly +acquainted with his character, and honored him for the sterling goodness +concealed by eccentricities of manner which made him so open to laughter +and misconception.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad to see you!" cried Tom, shaking hands all round again, and +growing redder and redder, to Elsie's intense delight. "I've been like a +fish out of water since you all came away; I just begin to feel like +myself again. Bessie, old girl, are you glad to see me?"</p> + +<p>"We shall always be glad to see you, Tom," Elizabeth said, glancing at +her husband.</p> + +<p>"Indeed we shall," he said; "you will always find a room at your +service, and a sincere welcome."</p> + +<p>No, Elizabeth never could have cared for him—the idea was simply +absurd—he would never think of it again, never!</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you how much obliged I am," said Tom, twisting about as if +his joints were out of order, and he was trying to set them straight.</p> + +<p>"Your chamber is ready," said Elizabeth; "we expected you to-day."</p> + +<p>"He doesn't need to go up now," interposed Elsie; "that checked coat is +bewitching, and he is going to take me out to row. Come along, Don +Quixote—come this instant!"</p> + +<p>Elsie ran off, and he followed, obedient as a great Newfoundland dog.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth looked after them a little sadly, and smothered a sigh of +anxiety. She saw what Elsie was so heedlessly doing, and knew Tom well +enough to understand how acute his sufferings would be once roused from +his entrancing dream.</p> + +<p>So things went on during the whole time of his stay, and there was no +help for it. Elsie made him a perfect slave, and Tom no more thought of +disputing her wildest caprice, than if he had been some untutored fawn, +made captive to the spells of a Dryad.</p> + +<p>Elsie saw plainly enough that he loved her, but she regarded that part +of the affair very lightly. She was accustomed to being loved and +petted—it was her right. The idea that it could be cruel or +unprincipled to encourage this young fellow as she did, never entered +her mind. Indeed, if the misery she was bringing upon him had been +pointed out to her, she would only have laughed at it as a capital jest, +a source of infinite amusement.</p> + +<p>When Tom Fuller went back to town, Elsie was taken with a strong desire +to visit dear Mrs. Harrington. Tom was a sort of cousin, now, and would +make a capital escort. Besides, she was sure Grantley and Elizabeth +would be much happier alone. Perhaps Mellen thought so too. At any rate, +he made no objections, and Elsie went.</p> + +<p>The husband and wife were alone. The days were so pleasant—those long, +golden, June days!—they might have been so happy in the solitude of +that beautiful spot, but for the chasm which lay between the souls of +these married people, scarcely perceptible as yet, but widening every +hour!</p> + +<p>Elizabeth watched her husband incessantly. She tortured every evidence +of affection into a forced kindness, an attempt to hide his want of +love; he was trying to make all the atonement in his power, to give her +everything that could make life pleasant, except the place in his heart +which was her right. How her soul revolted against the thought!</p> + +<p>She was mortally hurt and grieved that he could have deceived her. If he +had only spoken the truth, only left her to decide whether she could be +content to accept an outer place in his regard, to make his home happy, +to guard and cherish his sister—if he had only left this decision in +her hands, the matter would have worn a different aspect.</p> + +<p>But that he should have been silent—that even now he should guard his +secret, practising this daily deception, and meaning to let it lie +between them all through life—was a never-ceasing thorn in her heart.</p> + +<p>Mellen, in turn, was watching her; watching her with that morbid +suspicion which made the groundwork of his character. Observant of the +change in her manner, and trying always to account for it, but only +making himself restless and anxious to no purpose.</p> + +<p>He had loved her, he did love her, and the only reason she was, as he +supposed, ignorant of the humiliating story of his past, was because he +had put it resolutely out of his mind; and it hurt his pride too much to +go over the detail of the deceit and treachery from which he had +suffered, even in his own thoughts.</p> + +<p>Elsie's absence was prolonged to a fortnight, and when she returned, +Mrs. Harrington and Tom Fuller came back with her.</p> + +<p>The girl was in more joyous spirits than ever; more bewitching and +beautiful, if possible; and Elizabeth could see plainly that Mellen's +love for her fell little short of absolute idolatry.</p> + +<p>She was not jealous. If Elsie had been her own sister, she could not +have become more attached to her than she had grown during their year of +companionship. But it was very hard to see of what love her husband was +capable, and to remember that no part of it could be won for her; that +between her soul and his, rose the image of that false woman, whose +treachery had steeled his heart against such love as she thirsted for.</p> + +<p>Tom Fuller was a more hopeless lunatic than ever; but Elsie had begun to +grow impatient of his devotion. She often treated him cruelly now. The +poor fellow bore it all with patience, and still clung to his beautiful +dream, unable to realize that it was a baseless delusion, which must +pass away with the summer that had warmed it to its prime.</p> + +<p>The weeks passed on with all-seeming pleasantness, and in many respects +they were pleasant to both husband and wife, though the secret thoughts +in the minds of both, kept them aloof from the perfect rest and +happiness to which they had looked forward during that brief courtship.</p> + +<p>But a sudden change and a great break were nearing their lives, and +unexpectedly enough they came.</p> + +<p>Mellen owned a large mining property in California, an immense fortune +in itself, and ever since his return from Europe, he had been much +occupied with a lawsuit that had sprung up concerning the title. He had +sent out his man of business, but the case did not go on satisfactorily, +and letters came which made his presence there appear absolutely +imperative.</p> + +<p>He could not take his wife and sister; the discomforts to which they +would be exposed, the dreadful fears where Elsie was concerned, from her +apparent delicacy, entirely prevented that idea.</p> + +<p>He informed them that he might be obliged to go; he had written other +letters by the steamer; the answer he might receive would decide.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth pleaded to go with him, but Elsie frankly owned that she could +not even think of a sea voyage without deathly horror. Mellen pointed +out to his wife the necessity there was that she should remain with +Elsie, and she submitted in silence.</p> + +<p>"He married me to take care of her," she thought; "I will do my duty—I +will stay. Perhaps this absence will change him: but no, I am mad to +hope it. Elsie says he never changes. That woman's memory must always +lie between his heart and mine." So she turned to her dull weary path of +duty, and gave no sign.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>SHADOWS OF A SEPARATION.</h3> + + +<p>October comes, and scarcely four months after his marriage, Mellen was +compelled to leave his wife and home, it might be for a year. Elizabeth +grew white and cold when this certainty was forced upon her, yet she +made no protestation, and uttered nothing like regret or complaint. +Grantley was chilled through and through the heart by this. He had been +so lonely, had longed for the warmth and happiness of love with such +intense yearnings, that her calm stillness wounded him terribly. Was she +of marble? Would nothing kindle affection in that proud heart? Had he +married a beautiful statue?</p> + +<p>No wonder Elizabeth was proudly cold. She did not believe in the +necessity of this journey. His indifference had grown into dislike, she +thought, and, yielding to inevitable repulsion, he was going away to +avoid her.</p> + +<p>But Elsie was loud in her expressions of grief. She had floods of tears +to give—protestations and caresses without end. Her sweet voice was +constantly reproaching Elizabeth for want of feeling. She was forever +hovering about her brother in atonement, as she said, for his wife's +coldness. But the roses on her cheek were always fresh, and her blue +eyes never lost a gleam of their brightness, while Elizabeth grew thin +and white beneath the withering ache of a famished heart.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the desert of these months! Oh, my God, my God, I shall perish +without him! Alone here—all alone with this child—what will become of +me! How shall I endure, how resist this wild clamor of the heart?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth had flung herself upon the couch in her own room, her face was +buried in the purple cushion, and she strove to smother the words, which +sprang out of a terrible pain which had no business in that young heart. +As she lay, convulsed and sobbing, on the couch, the door opened, and +her husband came into the room. The thick carpet smothered his +footsteps, and he stood by the couch before she knew it—stood there a +moment, then fell upon his knees, and softly wound his arm around her.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, my wife."</p> + +<p>She started up with a cry; her face was wet with tears; her large grey +eyes wild with sorrow. He lifted her to his bosom, put back the thick +waves of hair that had fallen over her face, and kissed her forehead and +her lips with gentle violence.</p> + +<p>The pride went out from her heart as she felt these passionate kisses +rained on her face. She clung to him, trembling from the new joy that +possessed her.</p> + +<p>"Is it for me that you are weeping, sweet wife? are you sorry to part +with me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, yes! you are my life, my salvation."</p> + +<p>"Ah, how hard you make it for me to go!"</p> + +<p>"And you must? you must?"</p> + +<p>"It is inevitable; my duty to others demands it; but it shall not be for +long."</p> + +<p>The door of Elsie's boudoir was opened, the curtains held back, and the +smiling young creature looked in. Elizabeth saw her, struggled out of +her husband's arms, and sat with the wet eyelashes sweeping her cheek, +which was hot with blushes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho! one too many, am I?" she cried, entering without ceremony. +"Why, sister Bessie, I haven't seen you blush so since that day when +Mrs. Harrington would insist on it that you recognised a certain +person."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was so confused by the sudden rush of joy sweeping through her +whole being, that she did not remark this speech; but her husband did, +and withdrew his arm gently from her support. She looked up, and saw +that he was changed within the minute.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to find you looking so amiable," said Elsie, going up to the +glass, and threading her curls out into fluffy and beautiful confusion; +"for I've thought of something that would make this place delightful, +just as you are going away, Grant. Besides," she added, looking down and +coloring a little, "people will get such ideas into their heads, and say +such things. It is quite necessary to let them see how very happy you +and Bessie are together, or they never will believe that you are not +running away from her."</p> + +<p>"What!" demanded Mellen almost sternly,—"What are you saying, Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's dreadful; I've been crying about it half the night; but a +splendid ball, or something of that sort, will put everything on velvet. +Nothing like champagne and the <i>et ceteras</i> to stop people's mouths."</p> + +<p>"A ball! Why, Elsie, what is your mind running on?"</p> + +<p>"The idea is dreadful, I know; and just as you are leaving us, when +every moment is precious as a grain of gold. But it's really necessary. +If you go off without seeing people, Grant, they will be sure to say +that you and Bessie have quarreled, and all sorts of horrid things about +her being melancholy, and you—well it's no use repeating these +speeches, but the ball we must have. Bessie shall entertain them like a +princess; as for poor little me, I'm good for nothing but dancing."</p> + +<p>She gave a waltzing step or two, and whirled herself before the mirror +again.</p> + +<p>"Well, who shall we invite?" she said, gazing at the pretty image that +smiled back her admiration. "I made out a list this morning in my room; +shall I bring it?"</p> + +<p>She ran into her room and came out again with a handful of engraved +cards, some of them already filled in.</p> + +<p>"I knew, of course, that the ball was to be, so had the cards struck +off. Tom Fuller brought them down. Just add what names you please, +Bessie, and we will leave the rest to Mrs. Harrington."</p> + +<p>"Why, Elsie!" began Mrs. Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?"</p> + +<p>"How can you think of—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's settled, so don't discuss it. What! looking cross? Why, Grant +dear, I—I—did not think you would be offended."</p> + +<p>"But I am, Elsie."</p> + +<p>She dropped into a chair, pressed both hands to her side, and shrunk +away into a grieved, feeble little thing, that had been crushed by a +single blow.</p> + +<p>"Why, Elsie!"</p> + +<p>Her eyes filled with tears, and she covered them with both hands.</p> + +<p>"I am not angry, child, only surprised."</p> + +<p>"But you will be—you will be very angry when I tell you that some of +the invitations are sent out. Oh, I wish I were dead!"</p> + +<p>Her lips quivered like those of a grieved and half-frightened child. Her +cheeks were wet, and their color had left them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Grantley, Grantley, don't—don't look at me in that way. Dear +Bessie, tell him how sorry I am."</p> + +<p>Mellen was walking the floor in considerable agitation. He had hoped for +a little peace in his own home—a few days of tranquil confidence with +his wife. Now everything was broken in upon. There would be nothing but +confusion up to the very hour of his starting.</p> + +<p>Elsie watched him furtively, and with sidelong glances. She knew how +terrible his anger was when once aroused.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if my poor mother had lived."</p> + +<p>"Peace, Elsie! I will not have that sacred name dragged into an affair +like this. Have your way, but remember it is the last time that you must +venture on the prerogatives of my wife."</p> + +<p>Elsie left the room really frightened, and sobbing piteously, but the +moment she found herself in her boudoir a smile broke through her tears, +and she laughed out.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't care, we shall have the ball. I wonder if Bessie put him +up to that. Hateful thing, he never scolded me so before. Her +prerogatives, indeed."</p> + +<p>As for Grantley Mellen, this untoward intrusion had broken up the happy +moment which might have given him an insight into all that his wife felt +and suffered. The interview which had promised such gentle confidence +only ended in mutual irritation.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>THE BALL.</h3> + + +<p>The evening of the ball arrived; the house was crowded, and for the +scores it was impossible to accommodate, Mellen had made arrangements in +his usual lavish way, for a conveyance back and forth in a steamer +chartered for the occasion.</p> + +<p>The old house was a beautiful sight that evening. The long suite of +drawing-rooms were flung open, and in the far distance a noble +conservatory, half greenness, half crystal, terminated the view like +some South Sea island flooded with moonlight.</p> + +<p>It was not alone that these noble rooms were shaded with richly-tinted +draperies, and filled with costly furniture; any wealthy man's house may +offer those things; but Mellen had thrown his fine individual taste into +the adornments of his home. Antique and modern statues gleamed out of +the general luxuriousness. Pictures that made your breath come +unsteadily broke up the walls, and groups of bronze gave you surprises +at every turn. The works of art, sometimes arrayed in one long dreary +gallery, were here scattered in nooks and corners, completing each room +with their beauty.</p> + +<p>And all this was kindled up into one brilliant whole. There was no +crowding in those rooms. Each rare object had its peculiar light and +appropriate space. A master mind had arranged every thing.</p> + +<p>In these almost palatial saloons Elizabeth stood by her husband, +receiving their guests as they came in.</p> + +<p>Elsie was in brilliant spirits that night, and her buoyant gayety formed +a singular contrast with the quiet repose of Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>Tom Fuller followed the pretty elf about everywhere in spite of her +cruel rebuffs, for he was sadly in her way that night; and when she +refused to dance with him, peremptorily ordering him away to entertain +dowagers, or perform any similar heavy work, he would take the post she +assigned him, and watch her with fascinated eyes as she floated down the +dance or practised her wiles on every man who approached, just as she +had once thought it worth while to entrance him.</p> + +<p>On that evening Tom Fuller woke to a consciousness of the truth; he +understood the confusion and bewilderment which had been in his mind for +weeks past; he loved this bright young creature with the whole force of +his rugged nature, and began dimly to comprehend that she cared no more +for him or his sufferings than if his heart had been a football or +shuttlecock.</p> + +<p>He captured Elizabeth, and there, in the midst of the lights and gayety, +told her of his wrongs, with such energy that it required her constant +effort to prevent him from attracting general attention.</p> + +<p>"I love her," he burst out, "I do love her! She might run my heart +through with a rusty bayonet, if she would only care for me."</p> + +<p>The beginning was not at all coherent, but Elizabeth perfectly +understood what he meant. Several times during the past weeks she had +attempted to open his eyes to the truth; but he would neither see nor +hear, and had insisted upon rushing on to his fate like a great +blundering bluebottle into a spider's web.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there's any hope, Bessie, do you? I ain't handsome, and I +ain't disgustingly rich; but I'll give her all my heart! I'll work for +her, die for her; I'd lay my own soul down for her to walk over, only to +keep her little feet dry, upon my honor I would."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth drew him into a window recess, and tried to soothe his +agitation.</p> + +<p>"Poor old Tom!" she whispered; "poor dear old Tom!"</p> + +<p>"I know what that means," he said, choking desperately; "you don't think +there is any hope. You know there is not!"</p> + +<p>"I have tried to talk to you, Tom, but you wouldn't listen—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know, I know! It's my own fault—I'll—I'll turn up jolly in a +little while—it's only the f-first that's hard!"</p> + +<p>And Tom blew and whistled in his efforts to keep his composure, in a way +that was irresistibly ludicrous. In the midst of his distress the poor +fellow could not help being comical. Even in the suffering which was so +terribly real to him he made Elizabeth smile.</p> + +<p>"I'm a great fool!" he exclaimed. "Just pitch in and abuse me like +smoke, Bessie, I think it would do me good."</p> + +<p>"Only wait till to-morrow," she said, "I will talk with you then—we +shall be overheard now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't help it if the whole world hears," he groaned; "I can't +wait! The way she's going on with those dashing young fellows drives me +mad! Why couldn't I have been a dashing fellow too, instead of such a +great live-oak hulk! I can't stir without stumbling over somebody, and +as for saying those dainty things that they are pouring into her ears, +and be hanged to 'em—I can't do it. No wonder she scorns me!"</p> + +<p>Tom dealt his unfortunate forehead a blow that made it scarlet for +several moments, and quieted him down somewhat.</p> + +<p>"What would you advise me to do, Bessie?" he asked. "You're so sensible +and so good—just give a fellow a hint."</p> + +<p>"Dear Tom, there is nothing for it but to wait—"</p> + +<p>"That's pretty advice!" he burst in. "You might as well tell a person in +a blaze of fire to wait! No, I shan't wait—I shan't, I say!"</p> + +<p>Tom ran his hands through his hair till it stood up, quivering as if he +had received an electric shock.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't look so black at me, Bessie; I know just what a humbug +I am as well as you."</p> + +<p>"I wasn't looking black at you; I am very, very sorry, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Don't pity me; I shall break right down if you do."</p> + +<p>"I must go back, Tom," she said; "I can't stay here any longer."</p> + +<p>"I know it; of course you can't. I'll just wait a minute and +then——there, go! What a nuisance I am!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth went back into the ball-room, where she saw Elsie whirling +through a waltz, looking as happy and unconscious as if she had not just +crushed a warm, loving human heart under her pretty foot.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Mellen stood a moment arrested; no one seemed to heed her.</p> + +<p>She saw Mrs. Harrington forcing Mellen to walk through a quadrille, and +felt certain that he was as restless as herself.</p> + +<p>"But it is for Elsie," she thought; "he will not mind so long as it is +for her. None of them will miss me."</p> + +<p>Tom Fuller stood in the bay window for some time trying to collect his +scattered faculties. Any thing like rational thought was quite out of +the question with him; he felt as if a great humming-top were spinning +about in his ears, and his heart was in a state of palpitation that +utterly defies description.</p> + +<p>Finally he passed through the drawing-rooms where people were busy over +their cards or their small-talk, and entered the ball-room from which he +had rushed in such frenzy.</p> + +<p>There was a pause in the music, and Elsie was standing surrounded by a +group of gentlemen, not even seeing Tom as he approached. He managed to +edge himself into the circle at last, and stood watching Elsie very much +like a sheep-dog that wanted dreadfully to worry something, but knew +that he would get himself into difficulty if he even ventured on a bark.</p> + +<p>But speak with her, he would; Tom had reached that point where his +feelings must find vent or explode, and scatter mischief all around.</p> + +<p>Finally a brilliant idea struck him, and he got near enough to whisper—</p> + +<p>"Bessie wants to see you a moment."</p> + +<p>Elsie turned away impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Now, this moment," added Tom, growing very red at his own fib, but +following it up courageously.</p> + +<p>He knew very well that the dandies were quizzing him; he saw that Elsie +was provoked; but though he trembled in every joint, and his face had +heat enough in it to have kept a poor family comfortably warm from the +reflection, he resolutely held out his arm, and the young lady took it, +pouting and flinging back smiles to her forsaken admirers.</p> + +<p>"My sister wants me," she said, in explanation to her friends. +"Tiresome, isn't it? for there is no guessing when she will let me come +back."</p> + +<p>Tom led his captive away, but he was dreadfully frightened at the +success of his own manoeuvre.</p> + +<p>"Where is Bessie?" asked Elsie, impatiently, as they walked down the +ball-room.</p> + +<p>"This way," faltered Tom; "we shall find her in a moment."</p> + +<p>Elsie never deigned him another word; she was very angry, as she could +be with any thing or anybody that marred her selfish enjoyment, and Tom +walked on towards one of the parlors which he knew was empty, feeling +like a man about to charge a battery single handed, but determined to +persevere nevertheless.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>TOM MAKES A DECLARATION.</h3> + + +<p>Tom led his captive into the parlor. Elsie looked about in +surprise—there was not a soul visible.</p> + +<p>"Are you crazy, Tom Fuller?" cried she; "Bessie is not here."</p> + +<p>"She shall be here in a minute," stammered Tom; "just wait, please."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I will do no such thing," returned Elsie, sharply, snatching her +hand from his arm. "Did she send you for me, Tom Fuller?"</p> + +<p>"No," cried Tom, with sudden energy, "I told a lie! I couldn't stand it +any longer; I must speak with you; waiting was impossible!"</p> + +<p>Elsie turned on him like a little kingbird darting on a hawk.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by this unwarrantable liberty!" she exclaimed. "Have +you no idea of the common usages of society? Don't come near me again +to-night; don't speak to me."</p> + +<p>She was darting away, but Tom caught her hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh, wait, Elsie, wait!"</p> + +<p>"You ridiculous creature!" said Elsie, beginning to laugh in spite of +her vexation. "What on earth do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Laugh at me!" groaned Tom; "I deserve it—I expect it—but I can't live +this way any longer! You are driving me crazy. I love you, Elsie! Only +speak one kind word—just say you don't hate me."</p> + +<p>He was holding out his two hands, looking so exceedingly energetic in +his wretchedness, that Elsie burst into perfect shrieks of laughter.</p> + +<p>"You silly old goose!" she said; "don't you know you mustn't talk in +that way to me! You have no right, and it is very impertinent! There, go +along—I forgive you."</p> + +<p>Tom stared at her with his astonished eyes wide open.</p> + +<p>"You can laugh at me!" he exclaimed. "Why, all these weeks you have let +me go on loving you, and never hinted that it was so very disagreeable."</p> + +<p>"Now, Tom, don't be tiresome!"</p> + +<p>Tom groaned aloud.</p> + +<p>"Why I never saw such conduct!" cried Elsie, impatiently. "It's too bad +of you to behave so—you are spoiling my whole evening! You are just as +disagreeable as you can be. Oh, I hate you!"</p> + +<p>"Elsie! Elsie!"</p> + +<p>"Let go my hand; suppose anybody should come in! Oh, you old goose of a +Tom—let me go, I say."</p> + +<p>"Just one minute, Elsie—"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow—any time! Don't you know civilized beings never behave in +this way at a ball."</p> + +<p>"I don't know—I can't think! I only feel I love you, Elsie, and must +speak out. I will speak out."</p> + +<p>A few weeks earlier Elsie would only have been amused at all this from +general lack of amusement, but now it vexed and irritated her. Girl-like +she had not the slightest pity on his pain. He was keeping her sorely +against her wishes.</p> + +<p>"I am served right for treating you as a friend," she said; "I looked +upon you as a relation, and thought you understood it; now you are +trying to make me unhappy. Bessie will be angry, and tell Grant. Oh, you +ought to be ashamed."</p> + +<p>"I won't make you any trouble," shivered Tom; "I won't distress you! +There—I beg your pardon, Elsie, I am sorry! And you don't—you never +can, Elsie, Elsie—"</p> + +<p>"No, no, you silly old fellow, of course not! Now be good, and I'll +forget all about this folly. Let me go, Tom, I can't stay here any +longer—let me go."</p> + +<p>Tom still held her hand.</p> + +<p>"This is earnest!" he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! Tom, if you don't let me go I'll scream! You are absurd—why, +you ought to be put in a straight jacket."</p> + +<p>Tom dropped her hand, and stood like a man overpowered by some sudden +blow.</p> + +<p>Elsie saw only the comical side of the matter, and began to laugh again.</p> + +<p>"Don't laugh," he said, passionately; "for mercy's sake don't laugh!"</p> + +<p>There was a depth of suffering in his tone which forced itself to be +realized even by that selfish creature; but it only made her begin to +consider herself exceedingly ill-used, and to blame Tom for spoiling her +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Now you want to blame me," she said, angrily, "and I haven't done a +thing to encourage you."</p> + +<p>"No, no; I don't blame you, Elsie," he said; "it's all my own fault—all +mine."</p> + +<p>"Yes, to be sure," cried Elsie. "Who could think you would be so +foolish. There, shake hands, Tom, for I'm in a hurry. You are not +angry?"</p> + +<p>"Angry—no," said Tom, drearily.</p> + +<p>"That's right! Good-by—you'll be wiser to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Elsie glided away, and Tom watched her go out of the room, and realized +that she was floating out of his life forever, that the dream of the +past was at an end, and he was left alone in the darkness.</p> + +<p>Poor old Tom! It was very hard, but no one could have resisted a smile +at his appearance! When Elsie left him, he dashed out of the room, and +hid himself in the most out of the way corner he could find.</p> + +<p>As he crossed the hall, he heard Elizabeth call—</p> + +<p>"Tom, Tom!"</p> + +<p>He stopped, and she came towards him. One look at his face revealed the +whole truth. She did not speak, but took his hand in hers, with a mute +expression of sympathy which overpowered him.</p> + +<p>"Don't! don't!" he said. "Let me go, Bessie! I'm a fool—it's all over +now! There, don't mind me—I'll be better soon! I've got a chance to go +to Europe for awhile, in fact it's to Calcutta. I shall be all right +when I come back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my poor old Tom! Elsie is a wicked girl to have trifled with you +so."</p> + +<p>"She didn't!" he exclaimed, indignantly. "Don't blame her. I won't have +it. There's nobody in fault but me. I deserve it all! I'm a blundering, +wrong-headed donkey, and she's lovely as—as—"</p> + +<p>Here Tom broke down, and going to a window looked resolutely out.</p> + +<p>"But you won't go away, Tom?" said Elizabeth following him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will. I shan't be gone but a few months. Don't try to keep me. +I'll be all right when we meet again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom, Tom!" said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Now, be still; that's a good girl; I don't want to be pitied. It's of +no consequence, not the slightest."</p> + +<p>He broke abruptly away, and disappeared, leaving Elizabeth full of +sympathy for his distress, and regret at the idea of losing her old +playmate—she had depended on him so much during her husband's absence.</p> + +<p>There had been a lull in the music, but it struck up again now, and the +saloons reverberated with a stirring waltz. Elizabeth stood a moment +listening to the crash of sound and the tread of light feet, but her +heart was full and her brow anxious. She went to the window and looked +out. It was a lovely night, but the eternal roll and sweep of the ocean +seemed to depress her with some terrible dread. In all that splendid +tumult she was alone. As she stood by the window her husband came down +the hall smiling upon the lady who hung upon his arm. He had not missed +her, would not miss her. There was no fear of that. She glided away with +this dreary thought in her mind. Mellen almost touched her as she turned +into a little room opening upon the conservatory, but she went on +unnoticed.</p> + +<p>Tom Fuller had retreated into the conservatory, and was sitting +disconsolately in an iron garden chair, sheltered by a small tree, +drooping with yellow fringe-like blossoms, when a lady entered from one +of the side doors, and passed out towards the gardens.</p> + +<p>Tom started up, and called out, "Bessie! Why, Bessie, is that you? What +on earth—"</p> + +<p>The lady made no response, but looked over her shoulder, and sprang +forward like a deer, causing a tumult among the plants as she rushed +through them.</p> + +<p>Tom stood motionless, lost in amazement; for over a ball dress which +seemed white—he could discover nothing more,—the lady was shrouded +head and person, in a blanket shawl, which he knew to be Elizabeth's, +from the broad crimson stripes that ran across it.</p> + +<p>After his first amazement Tom sat down again, heaving a deep sigh, and +retreated further behind the flowering branches, that no one might look +upon his unmanly sorrow.</p> + +<p>"Poor Bessie, poor thing," he muttered, "I suppose she feels just as I +do, like a fish out of water, in all these fine doings. I'd follow her, +and we'd take a melancholy walk together in the moonlight, if it was not +that Elsie might happen to get tired of dancing with those fellows, and +come in here to rest a minute, when I could hide away and look at her +through the plants."</p> + +<p>Tom had in reality startled the lady shrouded in that great travelling +shawl, for once out of doors she stood full half a minute listening with +bated breath, and one foot advanced, ready to spring away if any sound +reached her. Then she walked on with less desperate haste, bending her +course through the shrubberies towards a grove of trees that lay between +the open grounds and the shore.</p> + +<p>It was a balmy October evening, moonlight, but shadowed by hosts of +white scudding clouds. The wind blew up freshly from the water, +scattered storms of gorgeous leaves around her as she approached the +grove which was still heavy with foliage, perfectly splendid in the +sunlight, but now all shadows and blackness. On the edge of the grove, +just under a vast old oak, whose great limbs scarcely swayed in the +wind, the lady paused and uttered some name in a low, cautious voice.</p> + +<p>A spark of fire flashed down to the earth, as if some one had flung away +his cigar in haste, and instantly footsteps rustled in the dead leaves. +The branches of the oak bent low, and behind it was a thicket of young +trees. The lady did not feel safe, even in the darkness, but moved on to +meet the person who advanced in the deeper shadows, where even the edges +of her white dress, which fell below the shawl, were lost to the eye.</p> + +<p>As she stood panting in the shelter, a man's voice addressed her, and +his hand was laid upon her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"How you tremble!"</p> + +<p>The voice sounded, in that balmy October night, sweet and mellow as the +dropping of its over-ripe leaves. The female did indeed tremble +violently.</p> + +<p>"Look, look! I am followed," she whispered.</p> + +<p>The man stepped a pace forward, peered through the oak branches, and +stole cautiously to her side again.</p> + +<p>"It is Mellen!"</p> + +<p>She darted away, dragging her shawl from the grasp that man had fastened +upon it,—away under the old oak, and along the outskirts of the grove. +She paused a moment in breathless terror at the narrowest point of the +lawn, then darted across it, huddling the skirt of her ball dress up +with one hand, and sweeping the dead leaves in winrows after her with +the fringes of her shawl. She avoided the conservatory, for Tom was +still visible through its rolling waves of glass—and, turning to the +servants' entrance, ran up a flight of dark stairs into the shaded +lights of a chamber. She flung the heavy shawl breathlessly on a couch, +shook the snowy masses of her dress into decorous folds, and stole to +the window on tip-toe, where she stood, white and panting for breath, +watching the lawn and grove, with wild, eager eyes, as if she feared her +footsteps in the leaves might have been detected even in the darkness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>WHO COULD IT HAVE BEEN?</h3> + + +<p>The evening passed drearily enough to Grantley Mellen. He was in no +spirits for society and the gay bustle; the lights, the music, the +constraint he was forced to put upon himself, and the cheerfulness he +was obliged to assume, only wearied him.</p> + +<p>A strange and unaccountable dread of his approaching journey possessed +him. It had grown stronger as the days passed on, and that night was +more powerful than ever.</p> + +<p>Sometimes he was almost ready to think it a presentiment; perhaps he was +never to return from that voyage; some unseen danger awaited him in that +distant land, and he should die there, far from the sound of every +voice, the touch of every hand that was dear to him.</p> + +<p>He was vexed with himself for indulging in this superstitious weakness; +but, in spite of all his efforts, the thought would recur again and +again, oppressing him with a dreary sense of desolation that made the +brilliant scene around absolutely repulsive.</p> + +<p>He left the lighted rooms at last, and passed through the hall on to the +piazza which overlooked the sea.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful evening; the moonlight, escaping from under a bank of +clouds, lay silvery and broad upon the lawn, and broke a path of +diamonds across the rippling waters, lighting them up to wonderful +splendor. The air was balmy and soft as spring, the wind rippled +pleasantly among the trees, but there was no melody in its tones to his +ear; it seemed only a repetition of the mournful warning which had +haunted his thoughts.</p> + +<p>He walked on across the lawn, anxious to get beyond the sound of the +music and gayety which followed him from the house, for it jarred upon +his ears with deafening discordance.</p> + +<p>He entered a little thicket of bushes and young trees, in the midst of +which rose up a dark, funereal-looking cypress, that always waved its +branches tremulously, however still the air might be, and seemed to be +oppressed with a trouble which it could only utter in faint moaning +whispers.</p> + +<p>As he stood there, looking into the gloom, with a sense of relief at +finding some object more in unison with his dark thoughts, he saw a +figure glide away from the foot of the cypress, and disappear in the +shrubbery beyond.</p> + +<p>It was a woman wrapped in some dark garment—in movement and form like +his wife—could it be his wife wandering about the grounds at that hour?</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth!" he called; but there was no answer.</p> + +<p>He hurried forward among the trees, but there was no object visible, no +response to the summons he repeated several times.</p> + +<p>It might be some guest who had stolen out there for a few minutes' +quiet; yet that was not probable. Besides, the movements of the slender +form appeared familiar to him. In height and shape Elsie and Elizabeth +resembled each other; it was possibly one of them, but which?</p> + +<p>Elsie it could not be, she had a nervous dread of darkness and could not +be persuaded to stir off the piazza after nightfall. It must have been +Elizabeth, then; but what was she doing there!</p> + +<p>He started towards the house with some vague thought in his mind, to +which he could have given no expression.</p> + +<p>His wife was not in any of the rooms through which he passed, and he +hurried into the ball-room. The music had just struck up anew; he saw +Elsie whirling through a waltz; but Elizabeth was nowhere visible.</p> + +<p>He drew near enough to Elsie to whisper—</p> + +<p>"Where is Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she answered. "I have been dancing all the while, and +have not seen her for some time."</p> + +<p>He turned away; but, just then, Mrs. Harrington captured him, and it was +several moments before he could escape from her tiresome loquacity.</p> + +<p>The moment he was at liberty Mellen hurried through the parlors and up +the stairs, opened the door of Elizabeth's dressing-room, and entered. +There she was, standing at the window, looking out. She turned quickly, +and in some confusion at his sudden entrance.</p> + +<p>"Is it you?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I have been looking for you everywhere!"</p> + +<p>"I came up here for a moment's quiet," she answered. "I am very, very +tired; I wish it was all over, Grantley."</p> + +<p>"Have you been out?" he asked.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that she hesitated a little, as she answered—</p> + +<p>"Out? No; where—what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I thought I saw you in the grounds a little while ago."</p> + +<p>"I should not be likely to go out in this dress," she replied, glancing +down at the point lace flounces that floated over the snowy satin of her +train. "Come, we must go down stairs; our guests will think us careless +hosts."</p> + +<p>Mellen felt and looked dissatisfied, but could not well press the matter +farther.</p> + +<p>"Are you coming down?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; of course," he replied, coldly. "Don't wait for me."</p> + +<p>She walked away without another word.</p> + +<p>"She avoids me," he thought. "I see it more and more."</p> + +<p>The ball was over at last. Even Elsie was completely tired out, and glad +to nestle away under the azure curtains of her bed when the guests had +departed.</p> + +<p>With the next morning began preparations for Mellen's departure; and +during the bustle of the following week, no one found much time for +thought or reflection.</p> + +<p>Tom Fuller came down suddenly, and opened his heart to Elizabeth. He was +going to Europe; he did not ask to see Elsie; lacking the courage to +meet her again for the present—once more, perhaps, before he went away; +but not yet.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not reproach the girl for her share in the honest fellow's +unhappiness. She merely said—</p> + +<p>"Tom is going to Europe on business; he sails next week."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the foolish old fellow," replied Elsie; "and he never could learn +to speak a French word correctly—what fun it would be to be with him in +France."</p> + +<p>"You will miss him," Mellen said, quietly.</p> + +<p>"Oh," replied his wife, with a forced smile, "I must make up my mind to +be lonely. I shall live through the coming dreary months as I best can."</p> + +<p>"It's horrid of you to go, Grant!" cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"I know it, dear; but there is no use in fighting the unavoidable."</p> + +<p>"Mind you write to me as often as you do to Bessie," she said. "If she +gets one letter the most, I never will forgive either of you."</p> + +<p>As she said this, the girl ran up to her brother, and stood leaning +against his shoulder, with a playful caress, while he looked down at her +with such entire love and trust in his face, that Elizabeth crept +quietly away, and left them together.</p> + +<p>The few days left to Mellen passed in a tumult of preparation. Sad +doubts were at his heart, vague and so formless that he could not have +expressed them in words, but painful as proven realities.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was greatly disturbed also; her fine color had almost entirely +disappeared. She trembled at the slightest shock, and her very lips +would turn white when she spoke of her husband's departure. She seemed +stricken with a mortal terror of his going, yet made no effort to detain +him. She, too, had presentiments of evil that shocked her whole system, +and made her brightest smile something mournful to look upon.</p> + +<p>But the husband and wife had little opportunity to observe or understand +the feelings that tortured them both. Elsie's cries, and tears, and +hysterical spasms, kept the whole household in commotion. She should +never see her brother again—never, never. Elizabeth might not be good +to her. Sisters-in-law and school-friends were different creatures; she +had found that out already. If she could only have died with her mother!</p> + +<p>These cries broke out vehemently on the night before Mellen's departure. +The spoiled child would not allow her brother to spend one moment from +her side. So all that night Elizabeth, pale, still, and bowed down by a +terrible heart-ache, watched with her husband by the azure couch which +Elsie preferred to her bed. It was a sad, mournful night to them both.</p> + +<p>At daylight, Elsie's egotism was exhausted, and she fell asleep. The +first sunshine came stealing up from its silvery play on the water, and +shimmering through the lace curtains, fell on the young girl as she +slept. There was trouble on that sweet face—genuine trouble; for Elsie +loved her brother dearly, and his departure agitated her more deeply +than he had ever known her moved before.</p> + +<p>How lovely she looked with the drops trembling on those long, golden +lashes, and staining the warm flush of her cheeks! One arm, from which +the muslin sleeve had fallen back, lay under her head, half-buried in a +tangle of curls; sobs broke at intervals through her parted lips, ending +in long, troubled sighs.</p> + +<p>Mellen was deeply touched. Elizabeth bent her head against the end of +the couch, and wept unheeded drops of anguish. The heart ached in her +bosom.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE HUSBAND'S LAST CHARGE.</h3> + + +<p>Elizabeth Mellen shuddered visibly when the first sunbeam fell through +the curtains. Only a few moments were left to them. Sick and faint, she +lifted her head and turned her imploring eyes on her husband's +face—eyes so full of yearning agony, that his heart must have leaped +through all its doubts to meet hers, had not his glance been fixed upon +Elsie. The long, black lashes drooped over those gray eyes when she +found their appeal disregarded, and the young wife shrunk within +herself, shuddering at her own loneliness.</p> + +<p>A servant came to the room, and by a sign announced breakfast. It was +the last meal they might ever take together. This thought struck them +both, and brought their hands in contact with a thrilling clasp. He drew +her arm through his, and led her down stairs. She felt his heart beating +against her arm, looked up, and saw that he was regarding her with +glances of searching tenderness. Her eyes filled; her bosom heaved; and, +but for a wild struggle, she would have burst into a passion of tears +before the servant, who held the door open for them to pass into the +breakfast-room.</p> + +<p>How bright and cheerful it all looked—the crusted snow of the linen; +the delicately chased silver, and more delicate china; and this was +their last meal. She sat down and poured out his coffee. Her hand +trembled, but she tried to smile when he took the cup and praised its +aroma. She drank some herself, for the chill at her heart was spreading +to her face and hands.</p> + +<p>Little was said during the meal, and less was eaten. Elizabeth looked at +the clock as a convict gazes on the axe that is to slay him. She counted +the moments as they crept away, devouring the brief time yet given to +them, while he glanced at his watch, nervously every few minutes.</p> + +<p>Then the husband and wife went up stairs again. Elizabeth turned from +Elsie's door and went into her own dressing-room. With all her +magnanimity she could not give her husband up to his sister during the +last moments of his stay. He followed her into the room, but directly +lifted the curtain and went into Elsie's boudoir, where the young girl +lay profoundly sleeping. Elizabeth would not follow. Her heart was +swelling too painfully. She sat down, clasped both hands in her lap, and +waited like a statue.</p> + +<p>He had only crossed the boudoir, bent over Elsie, and pressed a cautious +but most loving kiss on her forehead. She did not move, but smiled +softly in her sleep, and he stole away, blessing her.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth's heart gave a sudden leap when he came into her room again +and sat down by her side. He felt how cold her hand was, and kissed it.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>She turned, frightened by the tone of his voice. It was hoarse with +emotion.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, I have one charge to give before we part."</p> + +<p>She bent her head in sorrowful submission.</p> + +<p>"Elsie, my sister!"</p> + +<p>He did not notice the red flame that shot up to her cheek, or the +shrinking of her whole frame, but went on.</p> + +<p>"The child is so precious to me. The dearest human being I have on +earth—" He hesitated a moment, and added, "Except—except you, my +wife."</p> + +<p>She was grateful even for this. Was it that she was conscious of +deserving nothing more, or did the hungry yearning of her heart seize on +this sweet aliment with thankfulness after the famine of her recent +life?</p> + +<p>He saw the tears spring into her eyes, and drew her closer to his side.</p> + +<p>"Be careful of her for my sake, Elizabeth. She was given me in solemn +charge at my mother's death-bed. She has been the sweetest solace of my +barren life. Let no harm come near her—no evil thing taint the mind +which I leave in your hands pure as snow. Guard her, love her, and give +her back to me, gentle, guileless, and good, as she lies now, in the +sweetest and most innocent sleep I ever witnessed."</p> + +<p>"I will! I will!" answered Elizabeth, conquering a sharp spasm of pain +with the spirit of a martyr. "If human care, or human sacrifice can +insure her welfare, I will not be found wanting."</p> + +<p>Grantley bent down and kissed his wife gratefully.</p> + +<p>"Remember, Elizabeth, my happiness and honor are left in your keeping."</p> + +<p>Did he mean that honor and happiness both were bound up in Elsie, or had +he really thought of her rightful share in his life?</p> + +<p>This question flashed through the young wife's mind, but she would not +accept it in a bitter sense then. The parting hour was close at hand. +She trembled as each moment left them.</p> + +<p>"I will be kind to Elsie as you can desire; indeed I will," she said. +"You can trust me."</p> + +<p>"If I doubted that, harassing as the voyage is, I would take her with +me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you only could take us both! It terrifies me to be left alone, +surrounded with—"</p> + +<p>"That is out of the question now. But when I come back, we will try and +make this life of ours happier than it has been."</p> + +<p>She looked at him—her great, mournful eyes widening with pain.</p> + +<p>"Have you been very unhappy, then, Grantley," she faltered.</p> + +<p>"Unhappy! I did not say that; but hereafter our bliss must be more +perfect. We shall understand each other better."</p> + +<p>"Shall we—shall we ever? Oh, Grantley, without love what perfect +understanding can exist?"</p> + +<p>Her fine eyes were flooded with tears; every feature in her face +quivered with emotion.</p> + +<p>A clock on the mantel-piece chimed out the hour of his departure. On the +instant Dolf knocked at the door.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth started up, trembling like a wounded bird that struggles away +from a second shot.</p> + +<p>"So soon! so soon!" she cried, wringing her hands. "I had so much to +ask; everything to say, and now there is no time."</p> + +<p>Grantley took her in his arms, and kissed her very hurriedly, for the +servant was standing in sight.</p> + +<p>"God bless you, Elizabeth, I must go!"</p> + +<p>She flung her arms wildly around him. Her pale face was lifted to his in +mute appeal. Was it for pardon of some unknown offence, or the deep +craving of a true heart for love?</p> + +<p>Grantley put her away, and went hurriedly into Elsie's room. He came out +pale and troubled. Elizabeth stood by the door gasping her breath; he +wrung the hand she held forth to stop him, and was gone. She heard his +steps as they went down the walnut-staircase, and they fell upon her +like distinct blows. The great hall-door closed with a sharp noise that +made her start, and with a burst of bitter, bitter anguish, cry out. +Then came the sound of carriage-wheels grinding through gravel, and the +beat of hoofs that seemed trampling down the heart in her bosom. As +these sounds died off, she attempted to reach the window and look out, +but only fell upon the couch which stood near it, and fainted without a +moan.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>MRS. HARRINGTON'S FRIENDS.</h3> + + +<p>A day or two after Mellen's departure, Elizabeth, who was taking her +solitary promenade on the veranda, was surprised by a visit from Mrs. +Harrington, who came fluttering across the lawn between two gentlemen, +with whom she seemed carrying on a right and left flirtation. She came +up the steps with her flounces all in commotion, her face wreathed with +insipid smiles, and her hair done up in a marvellous combination of +puffs, curls and braids under a tiny bonnet, that hovered over them like +a butterfly just ready to take wing.</p> + +<p>"I knew that you would be moping yourself to death," she cried, floating +down upon Elizabeth with both hands extended; "so I gave up everything +and came in the first train. Now do acknowledge that I am the kindest +friend in the world."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth received her cordially, and with a great effort shook off the +gloomy thoughts that had oppressed her all the morning. Mrs. Harrington +did not heed this, she was always ready to welcome herself, and in haste +to secure her full share of the conversation, and before Elizabeth could +finish her rather halting attempts at a compliment she presented her +companions.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth had hardly glanced at the gentlemen till then, but now she +recognized the elder and more stately of the two as the person who had +probably saved her life on the Bloomingdale road.</p> + +<p>"I need not ask a welcome for this gentleman, I am sure," said Mrs. +Harrington, clasping both hands over Mr. North's arm, and leaning +coquettishly upon him. "He is our preserver, Mrs. Mellen,—our hero."</p> + +<p>North smiled, but rejected these compliments with an impatient lift of +the head.</p> + +<p>"Pray allow Mrs. Mellen to forget that this is not our first meeting," +he said; "so small a service is not worth mentioning."</p> + +<p>He looked steadily at Elizabeth as he spoke. She seemed to shrink from +his glance, but answered,</p> + +<p>"No, no; it was a service I can never forget—never hope to repay."</p> + +<p>"Now let me beg a welcome for my other friend," interposed Mrs. +Harrington. "Mr. Hawkins. I told him it was quite a charity to come with +me and rouse you up a little, besides, he is dying to see your lovely +sister-in-law."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hawkins, a very young Englishman, was leaning against a pillar of +the veranda in an attitude which displayed his very stylish dress to the +best possible advantage. He appeared mildly conscious that he had +performed a solemn duty in making a perambulating tailor's block of +himself, and ready to receive any amount of feminine admiration without +resistance. He came forward half a step and fell back again.</p> + +<p>"Such a charming place you have here—quite a paradise," he drawled, +caressing the head of his cane, which was constantly between his lips. +"I trust—aw—the other angel of this retreat is visible?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth replied with a faint smile. She had borne a good many similar +afflictions from Mrs. Harrington's friends, but it was too much that +they should be forced upon her just then.</p> + +<p>"Where is Elsie?" cried the widow, with vivacious affection, shaking her +gay plumage like a canary bird in the sun.</p> + +<p>"In her own room," replied Elizabeth. "Pray walk in, and I will call +her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind, I'll go!" said Mrs. Harrington. "Gentlemen, I leave you +with Mrs. Mellen; but no flirtation, remember that!"</p> + +<p>She fluttered, laughed a little, and shook her finger at the very young +man, who said "Aw!" while North seemed absorbed in the scenery. Then +away she flew, kissing her hand to them, and leaving Elizabeth to gather +up her weary thoughts and make an effort at entertaining these unwelcome +guests.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington found Elsie yawning over a new novel, and quite prepared +to be enlivened by the prospect of company.</p> + +<p>"But I can't go down such a figure," she said; "just wait a minute. One +gets so careless in a house without gentlemen."</p> + +<p>"Poor dear! I am sure you are moped."</p> + +<p>"Oh, to death. It's dreadful!" sighed Elsie. "I feel things so acutely. +If I only had a little of Bessie's stoicism!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's all very well; but you are made up of feeling," said the +widow. "Change your dress, dear. Oh, you've made a conquest of a certain +gentleman."</p> + +<p>"What, that Hawkins! He's a fearful idiot!" cried Elsie. "But he'll do, +for want of a better."</p> + +<p>The sensitive young creature had quite forgotten her low spirits, but +dressed herself in the most becoming morning attire possible, and +floated down to greet the guests and quite bewilder them with her +loveliness.</p> + +<p>Hawkins had been mortally afraid of Mrs. Mellen, but with Elsie he could +talk, and Elizabeth sat quite stunned by the flood of frivolous nonsense +and the peals of senseless laughter which went on about her. As for Mr. +North, Elsie scarcely gave him a word after the first general +salutation.</p> + +<p>After awhile Elizabeth managed to escape, on the plea that household +duties required her presence, and stole up to her room for a little +quiet. All at once she heard Tom Fuller's voice in the hall; opened her +dressing-room door, and there he stood in his usual disordered state.</p> + +<p>"I've come to say good-bye," were his first words.</p> + +<p>"Then you are really going, Tom?" she said, sorrowfully, taking his hand +and leading him into the chamber. "Oh, how sorry I am."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm off to-morrow," he said, resolutely, running both hands +through his hair, and trying to keep his courage up. "A trip to Europe +is a splendid thing, Bess—I'm a lucky fellow to get it."</p> + +<p>"I shall be all alone," she said, mournfully; "and I had depended on you +so much."</p> + +<p>"Oh," cried Tom, "It's good of you to miss me—nobody else will! But +there, Bessie, don't you set me off! I wanted to bid you +good-bye—I—I—well, I'm a confounded fool, but I thought I'd like to +see her just once more."</p> + +<p>"And those tiresome people are here," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Who do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mrs. Harrington and two men she has brought to spend the day—one +of them is the person who checked our horses that day."</p> + +<p>"I thought I heard the widow's voice as I came through the hall," said +Tom. "Well, well, it's better so! You see I don't want to make a donkey +of myself."</p> + +<p>"Tom, you are the best creature in the world," cried Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Lord bless you, no," said Tom, rubbing his forehead in a +disconsolate way; "I ain't good; there's nothing like that about me. +'Pon my word, I'm quite shocked lately to see what an envious, +bad-hearted old wretch I'm getting to be."</p> + +<p>"We won't go downstairs yet," said Elizabeth; "sit down here and let's +have a comfortable talk, like old times, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Well, no, I guess not, thank you—it's very kind of you," returned he, +getting very red. "You see I can't stay but an hour—I must take the +next train, for I've lots of things to do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I thought you would spend the night."</p> + +<p>"Now, don't ask me—I can't—it wouldn't be wise if I could," cried Tom, +giving his hair an unmerciful combing with his fingers.</p> + +<p>"No," she replied, regarding him with womanly pity; "perhaps not. And +you would like to go down stairs?"</p> + +<p>"I'm a fool to wish it," he answered; "those fine people will only laugh +at me, and I know when I see that magnifico and his popinjay friend +about Elsie I shall want to wring their conceited necks. But I'll +go—oh, it's no use telling lies! You understand just what a fool I +am—I came because I feel as if I must see her once more!"</p> + +<p>Tom was twisting his hat in both hands, his features worked in the +attempt he made to control his agitation; but Elizabeth loved him too +well for any notice of his odd manner—she was entirely absorbed in +sympathy for his trouble.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom, Tom!" she said, "I do hope absence—the change—will do you +good."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he broke in, with a strangled whistle that began as a groan; +"yes, of course, thank you—oh, no doubt! You see, there's no knowing +what good may come. But Lord bless you, Bess, if the old ship would only +sink and land me safe as many fathoms under salt water as was +convenient, it would be about the best thing that could happen to me."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk so, Tom; you can't think how it pains me."</p> + +<p>"Well, I won't—there, I'm all right now! Ti-rol-de-rol!" and Tom +actually tried to sing. "I say, Bessie, she never—she don't seem, you +know—?"</p> + +<p>"What, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"To be sorry I was going, you know?"</p> + +<p>"Elsie? She has been so engrossed with her brother's journey——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course," Tom broke in; "oh, it's not to be expected—nobody +that wasn't a flounder ever would have asked! Ri-tol-de-rol! I'm a +little hoarse this morning, but it's no matter—I only want to show I'm +not put about, you know—that is, not much."</p> + +<p>He moved uneasily about the chamber, upset light chairs and committed +disasters generally; but all the while looked resolute as possible, and +kept up his attempt at a song in a mournful quaver.</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't stay," he said; "I mustn't lose the train! Now, don't +feel uncomfortable, Bessie; Lord bless you, I shall soon be all +right—sea-sickness is good for my disease, you know," and Tom tried to +laugh, but it was a dismal failure compared with his former +light-heartedness.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth saw that he was restless to get once more into Elsie's +presence, painful as the interview must be to him, so she smoothed his +hair, straightened his necktie and accompanied him downstairs.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you dear, delightful Tom Fuller!" cried Mrs. Harrington, pleased to +see any man arrive, for Elsie had carried off both her victims into the +window-seat, and was making them dizzy with her smiles and brilliant +nonsense.</p> + +<p>"I—I'm delighted to see you," cried Tom, frantically, thrusting his hat +in her face, in a wild delusion that he was offering his hand, for he +was so upset by the sight of Elsie that he felt as if rapidly going up +in an unmanageable balloon.</p> + +<p>"I'll just say good-bye at the same time," pursued Tom; "for I'm rather +in a hurry, thank you."</p> + +<p>"Why, you're not going away directly!" cried the widow. "Oh, you must +stay and entertain me. Elsie has left me quite desolate."</p> + +<p>"Thank you; it's of no importance; I'm not quite on my sea legs yet," +gasped Tom, growing so dizzy that he was possessed of a mad idea he was +already on shipboard.</p> + +<p>"Why, you look quite white and ill," said the widow.</p> + +<p>"Yes; oh, not any, thank you," cried Tom, stepping on the widow's dress, +dancing off it and dealing Elizabeth a blow with his hat.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Mellen felt herself grow sick at heart; she glanced at Elsie; the +girl was laughing gaily, and chatting away with young Hawkins, +regardless of Tom's presence. North stood by, looking at her with his +deep, earnest eyes, as if searching her character in all its shallow +depths. Elizabeth felt bitterly indignant, and exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Elsie, my cousin has come to wish us good-bye, if you can spare him a +moment."</p> + +<p>"So you are really going?" called Elsie. "You oughtn't to run away so. +It's so unkind of you."</p> + +<p>Tom lifted his eyes mournfully to her face.</p> + +<p>"My lap is so full of flowers," cried Elsie, glancing down at a mass of +roses that glowed in the folds of her morning dress, "I can't possibly +get up; come and shake hands with me."</p> + +<p>It was well for Tom that Mrs. Harrington seized his arm, and afforded +him a few instants to regain his composure, while she asked all sorts of +questions about his journey and its object.</p> + +<p>"Mary Harrington," said Elsie. "Just let Mr. Fuller come here; you +mustn't assault peaceable men in that way."</p> + +<p>"La, dear, what odd things you do say! I was just talking with Mr. +Fuller about his journey."</p> + +<p>Elsie glanced at North and whispered to his companion, who laughed in a +very polite way. Tom knew it was at him, and grew more red and awkward. +Elizabeth recognised the silly insult, and darted a look of such +indignation towards the offender that the youth was quite subdued, +although it had no effect whatever on Elsie.</p> + +<p>She rose, dropping her flowers over the carpet, put her hand in Mr. +North's arm, left Hawkins to follow, and caress his cane in peace, and +moved towards the group.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Mr. Fuller," said she, touching his shoulder with the tips of +her fingers. "If you bring me a beautiful lava bracelet perhaps I'll +forgive you for going away,—and some pink coral,—don't forget."</p> + +<p>Tom was a sight to behold between confusion, distress, and his +superhuman efforts to be calm.</p> + +<p>"I'll bring you twenty," said he, recklessly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would be overpowering," laughed Elsie. "Good-bye. I'm sure +you'll look touching when you are seasick."</p> + +<p>"He! he!" giggled Hawkins, as well as he could for the cane.</p> + +<p>Tom turned on him like a tiger.</p> + +<p>"You'll ruin your digestion if you laugh so much over that tough meal," +said he, and for once Tom had the laugh on his side.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Miss Elsie," he continued, determined to get away while he +could still preserve a decent show of composure; "good-bye."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Tom Fuller, good-bye!"</p> + +<p>She flung some of the flowers she was holding, at him. Tom caught them +and hurried out of the room, pressing the fragrant blossoms against his +waistcoat, and smothering a mortal pang.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth followed him into the hall, but their parting was a brief one, +spoken amid bursts of laughter from within, and in a broken voice by the +warm hearted young fellow.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Bessie—God bless you."</p> + +<p>"You'll write to me, Tom? I shall miss you so."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't; it ain't worth while! I'll write of course; good-bye."</p> + +<p>Tom dashed down the steps and fled along the avenue in mad haste, and +Elizabeth returned to her guests.</p> + +<p>It seemed to her that the day would never come to an end. Mrs. +Harrington and Elsie scarcely heeded her, but fluttered from room to +room with the two guests, doing the honors with great spirit, and urging +them to extend their visit some days. Elizabeth was offended at the +reckless offer of hospitality.</p> + +<p>Elsie saw this and whispered, "It wasn't my fault; don't blame me, dear! +Grant is gone, and he told you not to be cross with me."</p> + +<p>So Elizabeth controlled herself; perhaps the girl had done all this harm +unconsciously. She would believe so, at least; no cloud must come +between them. These almost strange men were invited, and must remain if +they so decided.</p> + +<p>As if she had not enough to bear already, Elizabeth's inflictions were +increased towards the dinner hour by the arrival of a Mr. Rhodes and his +daughter, who lived at an easy distance, and thought it a neighborly and +kind thing for them to drop in to dinner with Mrs. Mellen, and console +her in her loneliness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE WIDOW'S FLIRTATION.</h3> + + +<p>Mrs. Harrington plunged into her natural element at once; Mr. Rhodes was +a rich widower, vulgar and pompous as could well be imagined; but that +made no difference, the lady spread her flimsy net in that direction and +put on all her fascinations at once, leaving the younger men to their +fate. This was splendid sport to Elsie, for Miss Jemima, the daughter, a +gaunt, peaked-nosed female, had been Miss Jemima a good many more years +than she found agreeable, and when any woman ventured even to look at +her stout parent, she was up in arms at once and ready to do battle +against the threatened danger, resolved that one man at least should own +her undivided dominion, even if that man was her pompous old father. Mr. +Rhodes was at once captivated by the widow's flattery, and Elsie +mischievously increased Jemima's growing irritation by whispers full of +honied malice, that almost drove that single lady distracted.</p> + +<p>"Quite a flirtation, I declare," said she; "really, Miss Jemima, widows +are very dangerous, and she is so fascinating."</p> + +<p>"It's ridiculous for a woman to go on so," returned the spinster, +shaking her head in vehement agitation; "you may just tell her it's no +use, my pa isn't likely to be caught with chaff like that."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but Mrs. Harrington is considered irresistible."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't see it for my part," retorted Jemima; "She's a tolerable +specimen of antique painting; but my pa isn't given to the fine arts."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mrs. Harrington," called Elsie, "I wish you could induce Mr. Rhodes +to give us a picnic in his woods before the weather gets too cold—they +are delightful. I daren't ask him, but you might venture, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>Miss Jemima looked as if she had three minds to strangle the pretty +torment on the spot.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, dear," said Mrs. Harrington, "I am sure I could have no +influence."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you painted humbug!" muttered Jemima.</p> + +<p>"I should be delighted—charmed!" exclaimed Mr. Rhodes. "Madam, it would +be a day never to be forgotten that honored my poor house with your +presence," he broke off, puffing till the brass buttons on his coat +shook like hailstones.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are a dreadful flatterer, I see!" answered the widow, quite +aware of Jemima's rage, and delighted to increase it.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said the stout man, "on the honor of a gentleman, I never +flatter. Miss Elsie, defend me."</p> + +<p>"Not unless you promise to get up the picnic," said the little witch. +"Miss Jemima is anxious to have it——"</p> + +<p>"Me," broke in the acid damsel, unable to endure anything more, "I am +sure I never thought of such a thing, don't speak for me, if you +please."</p> + +<p>"But you will be delighted, you know you will."</p> + +<p>"Pa's got to go to Philadelphia," said Jemima, sharply.</p> + +<p>"But I could defer the trip, Mimy," said her parent, appealingly.</p> + +<p>"Business is business, you always say," retorted the damsel.</p> + +<p>Elsie gave a little scream.</p> + +<p>"Why, how odd," said she. "Mrs. Harrington goes to Philadelphia next +week you can escort her, Mr. Rhodes, she is a sad coward about +travelling alone."</p> + +<p>"I shall be delighted," said the widower, "delighted."</p> + +<p>Jemima fairly groaned; she made a strangling effort to turn her agony +into a cough, but it began as a groan; both Elsie and Mrs. Harrington +were convinced of that, and it delighted them beyond measure.</p> + +<p>"It would be very, very kind of Mr. Rhodes," said the widow, "but Elsie, +you are inconsiderate, to think of him taking so much trouble only for +us, and I a stranger."</p> + +<p>"It would be an honor and delight to me," insisted Rhodes.</p> + +<p>Jemima resolutely arose from her chair, and planted herself in a seat +directly in front of her parent—he could not avoid her eye then—the +wrath burning there made him hesitate and stammer.</p> + +<p>"Miss Jemima," said Elsie, "come and look at my geraniums; I think they +are finer even than yours."</p> + +<p>But nothing short of a torpedo exploding under her chair would have made +the heroic damsel quit her post, not for one instant would she leave her +parent exposed to the wiles of that abominable widow.</p> + +<p>"My dear, I am so tired," said she, "you must excuse me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'd like to go and lie down," persisted Elsie.</p> + +<p>"You look fatigued," said Mrs. Harrington.</p> + +<p>"Do I, ma'am; you're kind, I'm sure," snapped the spinster, trying to +smile. "I never lie down in the daytime; I'm very comfortable where I +am, thank you."</p> + +<p>She might be very perfectly at ease herself, but she made her father +very uncomfortable, while Elsie and the widow never gave over teasing +for a single instant, till Elizabeth returned to the room.</p> + +<p>Luckily dinner was announced, and the asperity of Miss Jemima's feelings +softened a little by that, especially as she reflected that her father +would be obliged to lead Mrs. Mellen into the dining-room. But that +dreadful Elsie destroyed even that forlorn hope.</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said she, "we must ask Mr. Rhodes to play host and sit at the +foot of the table, so he shall lead Mrs. Harrington in."</p> + +<p>Even Elizabeth could not repress a smile at the little elf's malicious +craft, and there was nothing to be said. The wretched Jemima grew fairly +white with rage, but she was obliged to control herself, and the dinner +passed off in the most social, neighborly fashion.</p> + +<p>At a very early hour Miss Jemima insisted upon returning home, but Elsie +had a parting shaft ready for her.</p> + +<p>"I have persuaded Mrs. Harrington and these gentlemen to stay over +to-morrow," said she. "May I promise them that we'll all drive to your +house and take luncheon, Miss Jemima, by way of returning your visit."</p> + +<p>The spinster was compelled to express her gratification. She could do no +less, after having invited herself and her father to dinner at Piney +Cove, but her face was a perfect study while the pleasant words fell +from her compressed lips, like bullets from a mould.</p> + +<p>"We shall be in ecstasy," said Mr. Rhodes.</p> + +<p>"You will be in New York," retorted Jemima; "you have to go early in the +morning."</p> + +<p>"My dear, the day after will do as well."</p> + +<p>"Now, pa, you know you said——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Jemima," broke in Elsie, "I shall think you don't want us to +come!"</p> + +<p>"And I," said the widow, "shall be mortally offended if Mr. Rhodes runs +away the very first time I have the pleasure of visiting his house."</p> + +<p>"Of course, of course!" said the stout man. "My daughter, Mimy, is a +great business woman—girl, I mean—but on an occasion like this even +business must wait. Ladies, I go home to dream of the honor to-morrow +will bring."</p> + +<p>"Well, pa, if we're going at all, I think we'd better start," cried the +spinster; "we are keeping the horses in the cold."</p> + +<p>She made her farewells very brief and carried off her parent in triumph, +darting a last defiant look at the widow as she passed.</p> + +<p>The moment they were gone Elsie went into convulsions of laughter, and +clapping her pretty white hands like a child, cried out:</p> + +<p>"She'll poison you, Mary Harrington, I know she will."</p> + +<p>"My dear, I'll eat luncheon before I go."</p> + +<p>Even Elizabeth was forced to laugh at the absurd scene. Elsie mimicked +the spinster, and turned the affair in so many ridiculous ways that it +afforded general amusement for the rest of the evening.</p> + +<p>The whole party did drive over to Mr. Rhodes's house the next day, and +Miss Jemima was tormented out of her very senses; while Mr. Rhodes was +made to appear ridiculous as only a pompous old widower, with a keen +appetite for flattery, can be made look.</p> + +<p>The question of the picnic came up again, but Elizabeth settled that +matter by refusing to have any share in it. She was in no spirits for +such amusement, and had decided to refuse all invitations during Mr. +Mellen's absence.</p> + +<p>From that day Miss Jemima always felt a liking for Mrs. Mellen, who had +so quietly come to her rescue, and she was the only one of the party to +whom the claret would not have proved a fatal dose if the spinster's +sharp glances or secret wishes could have had their due effect.</p> + +<p>From some caprice Mrs. Harrington prolonged her stay at Piney Cove for +an entire week, and all this time she protested against either of the +gentlemen who had accompanied her there returning without her. Elsie, in +her careless, childish way, seconded the widow, so these two men dropped +into such easy relations with the family that it seemed difficult to +assign any period to their visit. Nothing could be quieter than Mr. +North's mode of life during his sojourn at the house. If he joined in +the light conversation so prevalent at all times, it was with a quiet +grace that modified it without offering rebuke. He seemed to give no +preference to the society of any one of the three ladies, but most +frequently attended Mrs. Harrington in her walks and rides. To Elsie he +was reserved, almost paternal, and in his society the young girl would +become grave, sometimes thoughtful, as if his presence depressed her +childish flow of spirits.</p> + +<p>If North ever had more than ordinary intercourse with his hostess no one +witnessed it, yet a close observer might have seen that he watched her +with a quiet vigilance that bespoke some deep interest in her movements. +Those who have seen this very man creep into the mansion house at night +and wander cautiously from room to room, as if to fix a plan of the +dwelling in his mind, will understand that his visit, which seemed so +purely accidental, had its object; but no one could have discovered, by +look or movement, what that object was.</p> + +<p>At last the party broke up and returned to the city. Elsie went with +them. At first Mrs. Mellen opposed her going, but the pretty creature +was resolute enough when her own wishes were concerned, and would listen +to no opposition.</p> + +<p>"I am not going to live in this stupid place, like a nun in a convent, +just because my brother desires to amuse himself in California," she +said, when Elizabeth would have dissuaded her from leaving home. "I tell +you, Grant would not wish it. I am not married and obliged to shut +myself up and play proper like you. It's downright cruel of you wanting +me to stay here. I'm half dead with grieving already. The house isn't +like home without Grant. At any rate, I'm going; you are not my mother!"</p> + +<p>She carried her point; Elizabeth had no absolute authority which could +enforce obedience on a creature at once so stubborn and so volatile. So +she made no further opposition, fearing that anything like violent +measures might prove distasteful to her husband.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>STARTING FOR THE PIC-NIC.</h3> + + +<p>But one day now remained of Mrs. Harrington's unwelcome visit. The whole +party, except Elizabeth, were to start for New York in the morning, +where Mrs. Harrington had resolved to open a splendid succession of +receptions and parties in Elsie's behalf.</p> + +<p>This last day Elsie declared should be the crowning pleasure of Mrs. +Harrington's visit. They would ride down to the sea-side tavern on +horseback, have a chowder party on the precipice behind it, looking out +upon the ocean, and return home at dusk or by moonlight, as caprice +might determine. Mr. Rhodes and Miss Jemima were to be included, and +some of the colored servants were forwarded early in the morning to +superintend the arrangements.</p> + +<p>The dew was hanging thick and bright on the lawn when Mr. Rhodes and his +daughter rode up to the Piney Cove mansion. A group of horses were +gathered in front of the veranda, and a little crowd of ladies, in long +sweeping dresses, gauntlet gloves and pretty hats, stood chatting around +the door.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rhodes preferred to sit on his handsome bay horse, and wait for the +party to arrange itself, for it was rather inconvenient for him to mount +and dismount the high-stepping beast oftener than was absolutely +necessary. As for Jemima, she rode a long-limbed, slender-bodied horse, +and sat him in grim dignity, as the dames of old occupied their +high-backed chairs. Her beaver hat towered high, and the stiff tuft of +feathers that rose from it in front gave a dash of the military to her +usually defiant aspect, grimly imposing.</p> + +<p>She drew her horse up to the front steps, and sat viciously regarding +the city widow, as that lady shook out the folds of her riding-skirt, +pulled the gauntlets to a tighter fit on her shapely hands, and kept her +cornelian-headed riding-whip in a constant state of vibration, for the +benefit of that evidently too admiring widower on the great bay horse.</p> + +<p>The party mounted at last, and cantered in a gay cavalcade across the +lawn, leaving the mansion behind them almost in solitude. It was a +lovely day, bright with sunshine, and freshened by a cool breeze from +the ocean. Mrs. Mellen that day seemed among the most joyous of the +party. Whatever care had hitherto possessed her she evidently threw off; +her sweet voice rang out pleasantly, and her face grow beautiful in the +animation of the moment.</p> + +<p>For a while the party moved on at random; but when the road branched off +into a long tract of the woodland the equestrians naturally broke up +into pairs, and, either by chance or design, Mr. North joined Elizabeth, +who was riding a little in advance. It was almost the first time that he +had seemed to prefer her society during his whole visit, and this +movement naturally created a little observation. Elsie looked after the +splendid pair as they rode under the overhanging trees, with an +expression of subdued wonder in her blue eyes, which amounted almost to +dismay. Mrs. Harrington laughed with as much meaning as her small share +of intellect could concentrate on one idea, and said in a low voice to +Elsie:</p> + +<p>"Did I not tell you they had met before? She has been playing dutiful +like a martyr. See how she breaks out now. Look! look! she is turning +down a cross road; it is a mile farther round."</p> + +<p>"We will go on direct," said Elsie. "If my brother's wife chooses to +ride off alone with any man through the woods, let her. It was decided +that we should take the highway, and we will."</p> + +<p>Elsie spoke with decision, a cold light came into her blue eyes, and the +expression about her lips was almost stern; for a moment the girl was +transfigured before her friend.</p> + +<p>At the cross roads there was a little debate. Miss Jemima turned her +horse in the direction Elizabeth had taken. The generally obedient papa +was following this lead, when Mr. Hawkins was sent forward to arrest +him.</p> + +<p>"Straight ahead, that's the programme," he called out, taking the gold +head of his riding-whip from his mouth long enough to speak clearly, +"Miss Elsie told me to call you back."</p> + +<p>"And the—the other lady," stammered Rhodes, flushing red, to the +intense scorn of the spinster.</p> + +<p>"Oh, she's gone ahead."</p> + +<p>"Then I take this way," exclaimed Jemima, with emphasis; "come, pa."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rhodes had wheeled his horse half round, and was casting irresolute +looks towards the two ladies riding slowly along the shady road.</p> + +<p>"But, daughter, we cannot leave them to ride on alone."</p> + +<p>"This—this—person is with them, and they seem to count him as a man," +answered Jemima, with a gesture of intense scorn.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington here was seen to draw up her horse in the shade of a +huge chestnut, and playfully beckon the widower with her whip.</p> + +<p>"Jemima, I must. It would be underbred," cried the desperate man, riding +away to the enemy.</p> + +<p>Jemima sat upon her horse, petrified with amazement. Her father looked +anxiously back when he reached the widow, with sad forebodings of the +tempest that would follow, but there the spinster sat at the cross roads +like an equestrian statue.</p> + +<p>"Come, come," said the widow, touching him playfully with her whip. +"Elsie is getting impatient. Now for a race."</p> + +<p>Her spirited horse dashed forward at a run. The ponderous steed of the +widower thundered after, making the forest reverberate with the heavy +fall of his hoofs.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hawkins fell into a dainty amble, and away the whole party swept +into the green shadows of the woods.</p> + +<p>Jemima looked right and she looked left. Should she ride on and leave +her pa in the hands of that designing creature? Perish the thought, +better anything than that! She touched her horse. It turned sharply, and +swept down the highway like a greyhound. She struck him on the flank, +then the tiny lash of her whip quivered about his ears till he dashed +on, flinging back dust and stones with his hoofs.</p> + +<p>The party was riding fast. Mr. Hawkins by Elsie, Mr. Rhodes close to the +widow—so close, that somehow her right hand, whip and all, had got +entangled with his. They were on a curve of the road, around which +Jemima came sweeping like a torrent. With a single bound her horse +rushed in between them, leaving the widow's gauntlet glove in the grasp +of that frightened man, and the cornelian-headed whip deep in the mud of +the highway.</p> + +<p>Not a word was spoken. The widower sank abjectly down in his saddle, and +with his apprehensive eyes turned sideways on the spinster, +surreptitiously thrust the stray glove into the depths of his pocket. +The widow, convulsed with mingled laughter and rage, gave no doubt of +genuine color now, for her face was crimson. Thus, like two prisoners +under military guard, they moved on, with Jemima riding in grim +vigilance between them.</p> + +<p>The spot chosen for the chowder-party commanded a splendid sea view and +a broad landscape in the background, of which the distant mansion of +Piney Cove was a principal object. It was an abrupt precipice, clothed, +except in the very front, with a rich growth of trees; splendid masses +of white pine and clumps of hemlock darkened with the deep green of +their foliage such forest trees as cast their leaves from autumn till +spring time. The broken precipice in front was tufted here and there +with clumps of barberry bushes and other wild shrubs, which might have +aided a daring adventurer to climb up it, had the temptation been +sufficient.</p> + +<p>Between this precipice and the shores of the ocean, stood the little +tavern we have before spoken of, from which the negroes of Piney Point +were now bringing up a huge iron pot wherein to cook the chowder, which +would be nothing if not culminated in the open air, over a fire of +sticks, and eaten beneath the hemlock trees.</p> + +<p>A bridle path led to the top of this precipice, winding along the back +slope of the hill, and by this route the highway party rode to the +summit, some fifteen minutes before Elizabeth and Mr. North joined them. +Whatever evil feelings had sprung up on the road, at least a majority of +the company resolved to enjoy themselves now. Jemima entered heart and +soul into the preparations, keeping a sharp eye on her father all the +time. He, poor man, scarcely required her vigilance, for when a chowder +was to be concocted, the stout man forgot all his gallant weaknesses, +and gave his whole being up to the important subject.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington had no great talent for cookery, and feeling beaten and +awed by Jemima's dashing generalship, hovered around the outskirts of +the preparations, and flirting a little with Hawkins, from languid +habit, rather than any special regard for the young gentleman.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>FACE TO FACE.</h3> + + +<p>During the bustle of these preparations, Elizabeth, Mr. North and Elsie +had dropped out of the party and wandered off, no doubt, into the shady +places of the woods; no one had observed how or where they went. Hawkins +had been with Elsie at first, but she had sent him down a ravine for +some tinted ash leaves, and when he came back to the stone on which she +had been sitting, it was vacant. Probably she had become tired of +waiting, and had gone in search of the forest leaves herself; as for +Mrs. Mellen and North, of course they were all right somewhere, and +would be on hand safe enough when the chowder was ready.</p> + +<p>While Mrs. Harrington and Hawkins were talking in this idle fashion, +they sat on a large ledge of rock that crowned the very brink of the +precipice; and chancing to look down, saw two persons near the foot +moving towards the tavern. One they recognised, even from that distance, +to be Mr. North, for his tall, grand figure was not to be mistaken. The +other was a lady; the dark riding-dress and floating plumes might belong +to any female of the party, there was no individuality in a dress like +that. The couple had evidently found some passage down the brow of the +precipice, for it would have been impossible to reach the spot where +they stood by any other route.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Harrington, "if that isn't a sly proceeding; what on +earth does it mean? How Mrs. Mellen can drag her long skirts down that +hill, just to look at a common tavern, which she's seen a hundred times, +I cannot imagine."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are going down to the beach," said Hawkins, who had no +more malice in his composition than a swallow.</p> + +<p>"No, no! they are turning toward the house," said the widow, +considerably excited. "What can they want there?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, very likely they have gone in to rest. You know North lives there +when he comes on the island to fish or shoot."</p> + +<p>"What! Mr. North, he live there and never tell me! I thought he was a +perfect stranger on the island."</p> + +<p>"As to that," answered Hawkins, a little startled by her earnestness, +"he only comes down for a day now and then. It's nothing permanent, I +assure you."</p> + +<p>"There! there! they have gone in!" exclaimed the lady. "I wonder where +Elsie is; I must tell Elsie."</p> + +<p>"Why, what nonsense!" answered Hawkins, with some spirit; "can't Mrs. +Mellen step into a house to rest herself a moment without troubling her +friends so terribly?"</p> + +<p>"Just be quiet, Hawkins, you don't know what you are talking about," +answered the lady, keeping her gaze fastened on the tavern. "Turn an eye +on the house while I look at the time. It must be five minutes since +they went in. Dear, dear, what a world we live in!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington kept the little enamelled watch, sparkling with +diamonds, in her ungloved hand full ten minutes, only glancing from it +to the door of the tavern in her vigilance. At the end of that time Mr. +North and his companion came out of the house and disappeared in the +undergrowth which lay between that and the precipice.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington watched some time for them to appear again, but her +curiosity was baffled, and her attention soon directed to other objects. +At last she was aroused by Elsie coming suddenly upon the ledge, +flushed, panting for breath and glowing with anger. She turned upon +Hawkins like a spiteful mockingbird.</p> + +<p>"A pretty escort you are, Mr. Hawkins, to leave a lady all alone in the +woods. I declare, Mrs. Harrington, he lost me in one of those dreadful +ravines, and I scrambled up the wrong bank and have been wandering +everywhere, climbing rocks and tiring myself to death. Only think of +dragging this long skirt over my arm and tearing my way through the +bushes. I heard the servants laugh and that guided me, or I might have +been roaming the woods now."</p> + +<p>"My poor dear," said the widow, full of compassion, "how heated and +wearied you look! Hawkins, can't you find something to fan her with?"</p> + +<p>Hawkins broke off a branch full of leaves and offered to fan her with +it. But she snatched it out of his hand and flung it over the precipice.</p> + +<p>"Where is Elizabeth? Go tell Elizabeth I wish to speak with her, if you +want to make up with me."</p> + +<p>"We have not seen Mrs. Mellen since you went away; nor Mr. North either. +They have finished that ride by strolling off together," said Mrs. +Harrington.</p> + +<p>Elsie started, and the warm color faded from her face.</p> + +<p>"What! Elizabeth; has she been roaming about? and—and——"</p> + +<p>"With Mr. North, Elsie."</p> + +<p>The tone in which this was conveyed said more than the words. At first +Elsie looked bewildered; then, as if her gentle spirit had received the +shock of a painful idea, she fell into troubled thought.</p> + +<p>"And you saw her go away," she said, in a low voice. "In what +direction?"</p> + +<p>"We did not know how or when she went, but certainly did see her and Mr. +North together."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"Down yonder, going into that low tavern."</p> + +<p>Elsie gazed into her friend's face, startled and astonished.</p> + +<p>"She would not go there. You must be mistaken, Mrs. Harrington. No +person could be recognised from this distance—it's all nonsense."</p> + +<p>"Ask her," said Mrs. Harrington, "for here she comes."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth came up from a hollow in the woods and joined the party. She +seemed completely worn out, and sat down on a fragment of rock, panting +for breath. She was very pale, as if some great exertion had left the +weariness of reaction upon her. She had evidently rested somewhere +before joining them.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, where have you been?" said Elsie, looking anxiously at her +sister-in-law.</p> + +<p>"Down in the woods."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth pointed to the forest that sloped back from the precipice.</p> + +<p>Before Elsie could resume her questions Mrs. Harrington broke in with a +faint sneer on her lips.</p> + +<p>"And where did you leave Mr. North?" she said, fixing a cunning, +sidelong glance on Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I have not seen Mr. North," answered Mrs. Mellen, with apparent +indifference, though the hot color mounted to her face, brought there +either by some inward consciousness or the perceptible sneer leveled at +her in the form of a question.</p> + +<p>"Not seen Mr. North," exclaimed the widow, "dear me what things optical +delusions are!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not hear or heed this, for that instant Mr. North came up +to them very quietly and sat down near the widow.</p> + +<p>"Have you had a pleasant ramble?" he said, addressing Elsie. "I saw you +and Hawkins in the woods and had half a mind to join you."</p> + +<p>"But changed your mind, and went—may I ask where?" said Elsie, with a +shade of pallor on her face; for it seemed as if the man had surprised +her with bitter thoughts of his deception in her mind, and she could not +refrain from revealing something of distrust.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I took a ramble around the brow of the precipice," he answered, +carelessly, "and went into the tavern for a glass of water."</p> + +<p>"And the lady," said Elsie, looking steadily in his face. "What lady was +it in a riding-dress who bore you company? Mrs. Harrington saw one from +her perch here on the ledge."</p> + +<p>North cast a quick glance on Elizabeth, who did not speak, but sat +looking from him to her sister-in-law, as if stricken by some sudden +terror.</p> + +<p>"It was a mistake. No lady shared my rambles," said North.</p> + +<p>"But there was a lady," cried Mrs. Harrington, a good deal excited. "I +saw her with my own eyes. Mr. Hawkins remarked her too."</p> + +<p>North smiled and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"She had on a riding-habit and an upright plume like——"</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said North, gently, "it is useless going on with the +subject. I assure you that I went down the precipice alone and came up +alone."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington looked at Elsie and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Of course he is in honor bound to say that," she whispered.</p> + +<p>Elsie seemed disturbed and answered quickly, "I, for one, believe that +he speaks the truth. It is folly to say that you saw any one in that +dress; besides, it was just as likely to be me as Elizabeth—our habits +are alike."</p> + +<p>"Poor generous dove!" whispered the widow, "you know better; but if you +are satisfied it's no business of mine, only if Mellen asks me about it +I must tell the truth."</p> + +<p>"Mary Harrington, you must have better proof than this before you dare +to make mischief between my brother and his wife," said Elsie, with a +force of expression that made the widow open her eyes wide. "Don't be +slanderous and wicked, for I won't bear that, especially against +Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>"Dear me, what a storm I have raised. Well, well, I did not see a lady, +that's enough. And there comes that wonderful colored person of yours, +to say that the feast is spread and the chowder perfect. Come, come, one +and all."</p> + +<p>The whole party had assembled on the ledge by this time. At Mrs. +Harrington's invitation, it moved off, and went laughing and chatting +towards a large flat rock, that gleamed out from among the surrounding +grass and mosses, like a crusted snow bank, so white and crisp was the +linen spread over it. Here a dainty repast presented itself, for the +smoking dish of chowder that stood in the centre gave its name to what +was, in fact, a sumptuous feast. Directly the noise of flying corks and +the gurgle of amber-hued wines, with bursts of laughter and flashes of +wit, frightened the birds from their haunt in the great maple-tree +overhead, and made its rich yellow leaves tremble again in the sunshine +that came quivering over the forest, and rippled up the broad ocean with +silvery outbursts.</p> + +<p>Whatever had gone before, all was hilarity and cordial good-humor now. +North, for one, came out resplendently; such graceful compliments, such +bright flashes of wit no one had ever heard from his lips till then. It +aroused the best talent of every one present. When the party broke up +and its members went to the covert where their horses had been fed, it +was joyously, like birds flying home to their nests.</p> + +<p>A ride through the golden coolness of a lovely sunset brought the party +back to Piney Cove, and all that had gone wrong during the day seemed +forgotten.</p> + +<p>The visitors were to start for New York early in the morning, and, as +all were somewhat fatigued, the house was closed somewhat earlier than +usual.</p> + +<p>Elsie had retired earlier than the rest, having some preparations to +make for her little journey. She busied herself awhile about her boudoir +and bed-room, selecting a few articles of jewelry and so on to be +packed, then sat down and read awhile; tired of that, she turned down +the lights in the alabaster lily cups, which one of the statues held, +sat down in the faint moonshine, with which she had thus flooded the +room, and fell into a train of restless thought; a pale gleam darted up +now and then from the lilies, and trembled through the floss-like curls +under which she had thrust her hand, revealing a face more earnest and +thoughtful than was usual to the gay young creature. Whether it was that +she had become anxious from the dart of suspicion that had been that day +cast at her brother's wife, or was disturbed by some other cause I +cannot say, but her eyes shone bright and clear in the pale radiance +that surrounded her; now and then she would start up and listen at +Elizabeth's door, as if about to enter and question her of the things +that evidently troubled her mind. At last she fell into quiet, and lying +on the couch, scarcely seemed to breathe. It was almost midnight then. +The house was still, and she could hear the distant waves beating +against the shore. She closed her eyes and listened dreamily, reluctant +to seek any other place of rest, yet changing the azure cushions of her +couch impatiently from time to time.</p> + +<p>At last, as she half rose for this purpose, a noise from the outer room, +which was a square passage or hall, in which were placed some bronze +statues and antique shields, arrested her attention. Resting on her +elbow, she held her breath and listened.</p> + +<p>The noise came again more distinctly. It seemed as if a door had been +opened with caution. Elsie arose, stole softly across the carpet, turned +the lock of her dressing-room door and entered the passage, carrying a +little night-lamp in her hand, which she had kindled among the alabaster +lilies. She had half crossed the hall, casting frightened looks around, +when a cry of dismay broke from her lips, for close by the door which +led to her sister-in-law's apartments she saw Elizabeth standing, pale +as death, but with her eyes burning like fire, turned upon a man who +stood leaning against one of the statues. It was Mr. North.</p> + +<p>The two women stood face to face, regarding each other in dead silence, +while North smiled upon them both. The lamp trembled in Elsie's hand, +her face became white as snow. Without uttering a word she turned, +entered her room and locked the door.</p> + +<p>The next day she left Piney Point with Mrs. Harrington. Mr. North left +also, but he went alone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>LETTERS.</h3> + + +<p>Months had passed since Grantley Mellen's departure for California; the +winter had gone, the summer faded, and though his absence had been +prolonged almost two years, there was little hope of his speedy return.</p> + +<p>The business upon which he had gone out was not yet settled, and however +great his anxiety to meet his family, he would not endanger his worldly +interests so vitally as he would have done by any neglect or reckless +inattention in that affair.</p> + +<p>Since the night of that unpleasant scene in the hall at Piney Cove, +Elsie Mellen had been at home so irregularly that all intimate relations +had died out between her and her sister-in-law. Some dark thought seemed +to possess the young girl, since the night of that strange adventure; +and, though the subject was never mentioned between her and Elizabeth, +Elsie's demeanor towards her brother's wife was one of cold, almost +hateful distrust, while Elizabeth grew more pensively sad each day, and +seemed to shrink from any explanation with painful sensitiveness.</p> + +<p>At last Elsie almost entirely absented herself from the house. The very +premises seemed to have become hateful to her. Without deigning to +consult Elizabeth, she had been visiting about among her former +schoolmates, making Mrs. Harrington's house her headquarters. This was +all the announcement of her movements that she chose to make to the +woman who had been left her guardian.</p> + +<p>How this fair, thoughtless girl lost all respect for her brother's wife +so completely that she refused to remain accountable to her for +anything, no one could tell, for she never mentioned the affair of that +night to her nearest friend. It evidently worked in her heart, but never +found utterance.</p> + +<p>So the winter wore away drearily enough at Piney Cove; for with all her +waywardness, Elsie had been like a sunbeam in the house; and Elizabeth +pined in her absence till the dark circles widened under her eyes, and +her voice always had a sound of pain in it. But with the most sorrowful, +time moves on, and even grief cannot retain one phase of mournfulness +for ever.</p> + +<p>The second spring began to scatter a little brightness about the old +house, and in this fresh outbloom of nature Elizabeth found some sources +of enjoyment. Since her virtual separation from Elsie she had received +no company, but lived in utter seclusion. Letters from her husband came +regularly, but her replies were studied, and written with restraint. She +never folded one of these missives without tears in her eyes, and when +his letters spoke of coming home, she would ponder over the writing with +a look of strange dread in her face.</p> + +<p>One lovely spring morning Elizabeth Mellen was alone in that quiet old +mansion. Elsie had not been home for months, and only brief notes +announcing some change of place, or anticipated movements, had warned +Elizabeth of her mode of existence. These notes were cold as ice, and +the young wife always shivered with dread when she opened them.</p> + +<p>It might have been a package of these letters that she had been +reviewing. She was alone in the library; quite alone, of course, but the +repose and silence about her brought no rest to her soul. Her whole +appearance was in strange contrast to the quiet of the scene; her face +so changed by the thoughts which kept her company, and forced themselves +upon her solitude, that it hardly seemed the same.</p> + +<p>She walked up and down the room in nervous haste, her head bent, her +eyes looking straight before her, full of wild bewilderment which +follows an effort at reflection when the mind is in a fever of unrest. +Sometimes she stopped before the table, on which lay a package of open +letters; she would glance at them with a shudder of horror, wringing her +hands passionately together at the time, and uttering low moans which +sounded scarcely human in their smothered intensity.</p> + +<p>Then she would glance towards the mantel, upon which lay a letter with +the seal still unbroken, though it had reached her early that morning. +It was from her husband, and she had not yet dared to read its contents!</p> + +<p>She had been thus for hours, walking to and fro, sometimes sweeping the +package on the table away, as if unable longer to endure it before her +eyes, only an instant after to recover it as if there were danger in +allowing it out of her sight. Then she would take up her husband's +letter and attempt to open it, but each time her courage failed, and she +would lay it down, while that sickening trouble at her heart sent a new +pallor across her face, and left her trembling and weak, like a person +just risen from a sick bed.</p> + +<p>It was growing late in the afternoon; the sunlight played in at the +windows, and cast a pleasant glow through the room; but the glad beams +only made her shiver, as if they had been human witnesses that might +betray her fear and misery.</p> + +<p>At last she took up the package, resolved to put it resolutely away +where she could no longer look at it; as she raised it a miniature fell +from among the papers, and struck the floor with a ringing sound. She +snatched it up quickly, crushed the whole into a drawer, locked it and +put the key in her bosom.</p> + +<p>Then, with a sudden struggle she started forward to the mantel, caught +up her husband's letter, and began to read. A sharp cry broke from her +lips; she dropped slowly to her knees, and went on reading in that +attitude, as if it were the only one in which she could venture to +glance at those kindly words:</p> + +<p>"Not coming quite yet," she gasped at length; "thank God, not yet—not +yet."</p> + +<p>She allowed the letter to drop from her hand, and for a few moments gave +herself completely up to the horrible agitation which consumed her.</p> + +<p>It would have been a piteous sight to the coldest or most injured heart +to have seen that beautiful woman crouched on the floor, in the +extremity of her anguish, writhing to and fro, and moaning in mortal +agony, which could find no relief in tears.</p> + +<p>She remained thus for a long time; at last some sudden thought appeared +to strike her, which brought with it an absolute necessity for +self-control and immediate action.</p> + +<p>She rose to her feet, muttering:</p> + +<p>"He will be here again soon; he must not find me like this!"</p> + +<p>She walked to the mirror, arranged her disordered dress and hair, and +stood gazing at her own features in a sort of wondering pity; they were +so death-like and contracted, with suffering that she felt almost as if +looking into the face of a stranger.</p> + +<p>At length she caught up a cloak which lay on the sofa, wrapped herself +in it and went out of the house.</p> + +<p>She took her way through the woods, walking rapidly, quite regardless +that the moisture from the damp earth was penetrating her thin shoes, +not feeling the keenness of the wind, which was growing chill with the +approach of evening.</p> + +<p>The expression of her face changed; she was deadly pale still, but a +look of resolution had settled over her features, and a naturally strong +will had begun to assert itself.</p> + +<p>Beyond the shrubbery that thick grove of evergreens extended to the very +shore, and into their shadow Elizabeth walked with a determined step.</p> + +<p>Evidently waiting for some one she paced up and down among the trees, +the dry leaves rustling under her tread and making her start, as if she +feared being surprised in that solitary spot by some curious wanderer.</p> + +<p>It was growing almost twilight, but still she kept up that dreary +promenade, struggling bravely with herself, and trying to restrain the +agonizing thoughts which threatened to overwhelm her forced composure.</p> + +<p>"He will not come," she muttered; "I must wait—wait—he will not come +to-day."</p> + +<p>She shuddered at the very sound of her own voice, but it seemed to have +disturbed some one else; for a step sounded on the grass, and a man came +out from the deeper recesses of the grove, and paused for a moment, +glancing on either side as if uncertain which path to pursue.</p> + +<p>It was Mr. North.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>AN INTERVIEW IN THE WOODS.</h3> + + +<p>Elizabeth saw the man and yet neither moved or spoke, but remained +standing there in dumb silence, gazing at him with an expression in +which so many diverse emotions struggled, that it would have been +difficult to decide which feeling was paramount.</p> + +<p>The flutter of her cloak caught his attention, and he came hurriedly +forward with a smile on his lips, holding out his hand in an easy, +reckless fashion.</p> + +<p>"Ten thousand pardons," he exclaimed, "I fear that I have kept you +waiting—I shall never forgive myself."</p> + +<p>She put up her hand as if to check him, feeling, perhaps, some mockery +in these words which was not apparent in his voice.</p> + +<p>"We need not make excuses to each other," she said, in a cold, hard +tone, "neither you nor I came here for that."</p> + +<p>"Scarcely, I believe," and he laughed in a reckless way, which appeared +natural to him.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Mellen shuddered in every limb at that repulsive sound; an +absolute spasm of pain contracted her features, she gave no other sign +of emotion, but clenched her hands hard together, forcing herself to be +calm.</p> + +<p>"I only received your letter this morning," he continued, watching her +every movement carefully, while standing there with his back against a +tree with apparent unconcern; "I should have been earlier, had it been +possible."</p> + +<p>She made an impatient gesture.</p> + +<p>"No more of that," she exclaimed, "enough!"</p> + +<p>He looked at her with the same careless smile that lighted up his +somewhat worn face into an expression of absolute youthfulness. He was +still a splendidly handsome man; a type of rare beauty which could not +have failed to attract general observation wherever he appeared.</p> + +<p>He was tall; the shoulders and limbs might have served as a model for a +sculptor; the neck was white almost as a woman's; the magnificent head +set with perfect grace upon it, and was carried with a haughty air that +was absolutely noble. He might have been thirty-eight, perhaps even +older than that, but he was one of those men concerning whose age even a +physiognomist would be puzzled to decide.</p> + +<p>The face was almost faultless in its contour; the mouth, shaded by a +long silken moustache, which relieved his paleness admirably, and lent +new splendor to his eyes, which possessed a strange magnetic power that +had worked ill in more than one unfortunate destiny.</p> + +<p>It was a face trained to concealment, and yet so carefully tutored that +at the first glance one only thought what an open, pleasant expression +it had. Even after long intercourse and a thorough knowledge of the +man's character, that face would have puzzled the most skillful +observer.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Mellen was looking at him in a strange silence; whatever might +have been in the past there was no spell now in those glorious eyes +which could dazzle her soul into forgetfulness; shade after shade of +repressed emotion passed over her features as she gazed, leaving them at +last white and fixed as marble.</p> + +<p>"You are pale," he said, "so changed."</p> + +<p>She started as if he had struck her.</p> + +<p>"I did not come here to talk of my appearance," she said.</p> + +<p>"True," he replied, "very true; but I cannot help wondering. I think of +that day when I saved your life——"</p> + +<p>"If you had only let me die then!" she broke in passionately. "If God +had only mercifully deprived you of all strength!"</p> + +<p>"You were blooming and gay," he went on as if he had not heard her +words. "Yes, you are changed since then."</p> + +<p>"I will not hear these things," she cried; "I will not be made to look +back upon what we all were then."</p> + +<p>She closed her eyes in blind anguish; his words brought back with such +terrible force the time of that meeting—the day but one before her +marriage, when he had started up so fatally in her path, and never left +it till this terrible moment.</p> + +<p>"Then to change the subject," he said. "In our brief conversation the +other day we arrived at no conclusion whatever, nor was your letter any +more satisfactory; will you tell me exactly what you have decided upon?"</p> + +<p>A sudden flash of anger leaped into her eyes above all the suffering +that dilated them.</p> + +<p>"Now you are talking naturally," she said, "now you are your real self!"</p> + +<p>He bowed in graceful, almost insulting mockery.</p> + +<p>"It is your turn to pay compliments," he answered; "but I shall not +receive them so ungraciously as you did mine."</p> + +<p>She passed her hand across her throat as if something were choking her, +then she said in a hard, measured tone:</p> + +<p>"Have you considered the proposition I made you—will you go away from +this country, and remain away for ever?"</p> + +<p>He stood playing with his watchchain in an easy, careless way, as he +replied:</p> + +<p>"It is cruel to banish me—very cruel!"</p> + +<p>"Listen!" she exclaimed passionately; "I know more than you think—your +residence here is not safe!"</p> + +<p>He only bowed again.</p> + +<p>"It may be so, but I leave few traces in my path. If you do indeed know +anything which could affect me, I am very certain that in you I have a +friend who will be silent."</p> + +<p>He opened his vest slightly and drew forth from an inner pocket a small +paper, at the sight of which Elizabeth grew whiter than before. She made +a gesture as if she would have snatched it from him, but he thrust it +back in its hiding-place with a sarcastic smile.</p> + +<p>"Secret for secret," said he; "but never mind that. After all, you treat +me very badly. I wonder I am in the least inclined to be friends with +you."</p> + +<p>"Don't mock me!" she exclaimed. "Friends! There is no creature living +that I loathe as I do you! No matter what the danger may be, I will +speak the truth; tell you how utterly abhorrent you are to me, and brave +the result."</p> + +<p>"Yet once——"</p> + +<p>She interrupted him with an insane gesture; perhaps he knew her too well +for any attempt at trifling further with her just then, for his manner +changed, and he said:</p> + +<p>"You will take cold here; it is growing dark and the wind is very +chill."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter," she replied, recklessly. "Let us finish what there +is to say, then I will go."</p> + +<p>The wretched woman could stand upon her feet no longer, she was shaking +so with agitation and exhaustion that she was forced to sit down on a +fallen log. He seated himself by her side, regardless of her recoiling +gesture, and began to talk earnestly.</p> + +<p>For a full hour that strange interview went on, their voices rising at +times in sudden passion, then sinking to a low tone, as if the speakers +remembered that they spoke words which must not be overheard.</p> + +<p>At last Elizabeth arose from her seat, folded her cloak about her, and +said, quickly:</p> + +<p>"Be here to-morrow at the same hour."</p> + +<p>Without giving him time to answer, or making the least sign of farewell, +she darted rapidly through the darkening woods and disappeared in the +direction of the house.</p> + +<p>North rose, began whistling a careless air, and walked slowly back along +the path by which he had entered the grove.</p> + +<p>When Elizabeth came in sight of the house she saw a light in the library +window.</p> + +<p>"Elsie is back at last. God help us all!" she muttered.</p> + +<p>She moved near the low casement, looked in and saw the girl standing on +the hearth, and hurried towards the entrance.</p> + +<p>Elsie had returned home a full hour before, and had searched for +Elizabeth vainly about the house. She entered the library, and was +walking restlessly about the spacious room, slowly and sadly, as if +oppressed by this cold welcome home.</p> + +<p>Suddenly her eye caught sight of a paper lying under the table; it was +one of the letters which had fallen unnoticed by Elizabeth when she put +away the package.</p> + +<p>Elsie caught it up, glanced her eyes over it, uttered a faint cry, then +read it in a sort of horrified stupor.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" broke from her lips.</p> + +<p>The discovery which she had made froze the very blood in her veins, and +left her incapable of thought or action. She sat shivering, as if struck +with a mortal chill, and at last crept close to the fire, clutching the +letter in her hands, but holding them out for warmth. Sometimes her +sister's name broke from her lips in a horrified whisper, and low words +died in her throat, the very sound of which made her shudder.</p> + +<p>At length the darkness and the solitude seemed to become insupportable +to her; she started forward and opened the door, with the intention of +fleeing from the room. It had suddenly become odious to her. She took +one step into the hall and met Elizabeth face to face. The woman saw the +letter which Elsie held in her hand, caught the recoiling gesture which +she instinctively made, then for an instant they both stood still, +staring at each other.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Elizabeth caught Elsie's hand, drew her back into the library, +and, once there, closed and locked the door.</p> + +<p>For more than an hour the pair were alone in that darkened apartment. +When at last they emerged from it they were both deadly white, and +exhausted as if by passionate weeping. Not a word was spoken between +them, but they turned away from each other like ghosts that had no +resting-place on earth.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>FIRE AND WATER.</h3> + + +<p>When North left Mrs. Mellen in the woods he took a moment for +consideration, and then walked quickly towards the shore tavern. As he +turned a point which led from Piney Point to the bluff which overhung +it, his servant, the young mulatto, who had spent most of the season at +this retreat, came to meet him with a letter in his hand.</p> + +<p>"It had a foreign postmark," said the man; "so I started to meet you the +moment it came in, according to orders."</p> + +<p>"Right, boy, you are very right," cried North, tearing at the envelope +as a hawk rends its prey; "never let a scrap of writing from abroad rest +a moment out of my hands."</p> + +<p>The man read the letter—only a few lines—and his hands shook till the +paper rattled again.</p> + +<p>"Boy—boy, what day of the month is this?" he questioned, trying to fold +the letter, which he crushed instead.</p> + +<p>"The tenth, sir."</p> + +<p>North went into a mental calculation, then the cloud on his face broke +away and he almost shouted:</p> + +<p>"It is in time—it is in time! Any other letters?"</p> + +<p>"One for the Cove. Shall I slip it into the old man's parcel or would +you rather——"</p> + +<p>"Give it to me," said North, cutting the servant short, and snatching at +the letter, which was in Mr. Mellen's handwriting and bore the +California postmark.</p> + +<p>He was too eager for caution, and broke the seal recklessly.</p> + +<p>"He, too—he coming, too! By Jove, this is glorious sport! Made his will +before sailing, ha!—provident man!—one half to his dear wife, the +other to his darling sister, Elsie Mellen. A safe precaution, for ships +will get lost at sea."</p> + +<p>North crushed the two letters into his pocket, and walked with rapid +steps towards the tavern. But he only remained long enough to get a +telescope, with which he reappeared, and turned into a path leading to +the bluff. Once upon the ledge, high above the house, he levelled his +glass and took a hasty sweep of the ocean with it. Nothing was in sight +that seemed to interest him, so he turned the glass a little landward +and levelled it on the Piney Cove mansion, which made an imposing +feature in the landscape. From the eminence on which the mansion stood +the grounds sloped down to the water's edge in a closely-shaven lawn, +pleasantly broken up by flower-beds, and knots of old trees that looked +aged and mysterious enough to have watched that distant sweep of sea for +whole centuries.</p> + +<p>North seemed to be counting every clump of trees, and calculating the +value of each broad field that stretched back from the crescent-like +Cove.</p> + +<p>"It is a glorious old place, and we might live there like monarchs. If I +could only command the winds and waves for one week, now, we might defy +the rest. Half his property! Why, it is splendid; and the will safe."</p> + +<p>With these words he turned his glass again. On a clear morning there was +a glorious view from the bluff, showing the full extent of the curving +bay, with its long line of steep woodlands stretching along the coast +and the bright rush of waters beyond, till the eye was lost in the white +line of the distant ocean.</p> + +<p>Other mansions peeped out from among the trees, or stood boldly down on +the shore, and on the right hand a small village nestled in at the +furthermost extremity of the bay, forming a pleasant life picture. The +man cared nothing for these things, but turned his glass directly +oceanward, and searched the horizon with keen interest.</p> + +<p>A ship hove in sight, like a great white bird, beating up from its nest +in mid-ocean. The heart in that bad man's bosom made a great bound, and +the blasphemy of a thanksgiving sprang to his lips; but the joy was only +for a moment. Dropping his glass, he muttered:</p> + +<p>"Madman! to suppose, of all the ships on the ocean, it must be this one. +But if it should—if it should!"</p> + +<p>He sat down on a fragment of rock, rested his glass on the drooping +branch of a tree, and watched the ship as it swept through a bank of +luminous fog and took a more definite form. Hitherto it had seemed +floating between a curve of the sky and the blue line of water, but now +it came out clearly, and as North looked he saw a dark pile of +storm-clouds muster up behind it with slow, threatening danger.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour the man sat and watched that one object. The glass was a +powerful one, and seconded his keen vigilance. At length he was +rewarded, a burst of sunshine fell upon the vessel, the last that +illuminated the horizon that day, and he saw her name on the stern. The +telescope dropped from his hand, his face turned pale; the cry that +leaped to his lips perished there. The man was frightened by the +completion of his own wishes. Had some evil spirit performed a miracle +for him?</p> + +<p>All the time this man had been watching, a tempest blackly followed the +homeward-bound ship. The ocean began to dash and torment itself into a +fury of wrath. A high wind came roaring up from the bosom of the waters, +and over all gathered a world of lurid gloom, kindled fiercely red by +the sun when it went down, and slowly engulfed the ship, which was last +seen struggling fearfully in the wild upheaving of the elements.</p> + +<p>North seemed possessed of a demon that night. He left his telescope on +the earth, and went desperately to work, gathering up dry wood and +brush, which he stacked on the overhanging ledge, never pausing till a +great mound was created sufficiently large to keep a fire blazing all +night. By the time this was done the darkness became profound. Now arid +then he could see drifts of foam tossed upwards, like the fluttering +garments of a ghost fleeing from the storm. The little tavern at the +foot of the rock was lost in the overwhelming darkness. The lights from +the village seemed put out, and there was no vestige of Piney Cove +visible. No rain, as yet had fallen; and at this North rejoiced, for his +stock of wood was like tinder in its dryness, and the wind came fiercely +from the ocean, so fiercely that it threatened the death of any vessel +approaching the shore.</p> + +<p>With all these elements of terror surrounding him, North worked till the +perspiration dropped from his forehead like rain. That cliff had been +blackened before with wreckers' fires, but never had a man heaped wood +upon wood with so vivid a conviction of the crime he meditated, with +such earnest desire for death to follow his toil.</p> + +<p>When the evening had reached its darkest gloom, this man struck a match, +which he took from his pocket in a little case of enamelled gold—for +even in his crimes he was dainty—and thrust it among the yellow pine +splinters with which he had laid the foundation of his deathfire. The +blue light of the match flashed close to his face, revealing it white as +death, but smiling.</p> + +<p>Directly a column of flame shot upward, first in fine quivering flashes, +then in long, curling wreaths of fire, that the wind seized upon and +tore into hot, red tatters, laughing and wrangling among them with +fearful grotesqueness.</p> + +<p>North retreated from the blaze, and ran back into the woods, hiding +himself, for he feared to be seen from the tavern below. Now and then he +would start forth, toss a handful of fuel on the flames, and plunge back +into the darkness, where he listened greedily for some token to come out +of the storm and prove that his evil work was well done.</p> + +<p>It came at last—a gun boomed out from the tempest. The man started and +began to tremble. Still he listened. Another gun, with loud cries +cutting sharply through the storm, then dead silence, followed by a +tumult upon the shore, as if men were gathering in haste.</p> + +<p>North was not surprised at this. When a vessel struck in these days on +the Long Island shore, wreckers appeared in dozens, not eager for death, +for they would rather have avoided that, but keen for plunder. Now the +cries of these men made the storm terrible. Blue lights from the +stricken ship revealed her struggling fiercely among the breakers, which +were rending her like wild beasts.</p> + +<p>Then North trampled out his death fire and went down to the beach among +the crowd of wreckers that stood waiting, with horrid patience, for the +ship to go to pieces and give its treasures into their greedy keeping.</p> + +<p>"No boat could live among the breakers three minutes, I tell you," said +old Benson with gruff decision, when North, horrified by the terrible +shrieks that rang up from the sinking ship, was seized with an awful fit +of remorse, and cried out fiercely for help which no man could give. He +would have undone his work then had it been possible, for the last faint +light that went up from the wreck revealed a woman, with outstretched +arms and hair streaming back on the storm, pleading so wildly for help +that a fiend would have pitied her. It was this woman's life he had +sought, but with the sight of her his heart failed utterly.</p> + +<p>But an evil deed once written in the eternal book of God cannot be +recalled. While this man stood in dumb helplessness on the beach, the +ship sunk. Out of the whirlpool which it made, the wretched woman was +tossed back among the breakers, that seized upon her, fiercely hurled +her to and fro against the rocks, then gave her over to a great +inheaving wave, which left her shrouded in a drift of seaweed almost at +her murderer's feet.</p> + +<p>Daylight had broken on the wreck before it went down. Leaden and cold it +fell over the corpse of that poor woman as it was borne up to the +tavern, with the seaweed trailing from it and the wet garments clinging +to the limbs like cerements. Two rude seamen carried her away, for North +fled from the first sight of his work and plunged madly into the water, +where many a poor wretch was buffeting with the waves. He called on the +wreckers to help him, and dragged two or three exhausted creatures to +the beach, for he was ready to brave death in any shape rather than look +upon that cold form again.</p> + +<p>They carried the lifeless woman up to the tavern, and, careless of +ceremony, laid her on the bed in North's room. Here they left her, with +the salt sea-water dripping in a heavy rain from her garments, soaking +the bed and forming dreary rivulets along the uncarpeted floor.</p> + +<p>Deep in the morning North came up from the beach pale and staggering +from exhaustion. He went into his chamber and was about to cast himself +on the bed, when, lo! that face on the pillow met his gaze, ghastly and +cold. The heavy dropping of the water struck upon his ear like the fall +of leaden bullets. He stood paralyzed yet fascinated. A shudder colder +than spray from his garments shook his form from head to foot; and, +turning, he fled down the stairs again out upon the beach, and helped +the wreckers to haul in their plunder, till he fell utterly exhausted on +the sands.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>AMONG THE BREAKERS.</h3> + + +<p>The storm had abated, but still the sea rose tempestuously, and broken +clouds filled the sky as with great whirlpools and drifts of smoke. A +good deal of rain had fallen, and this calmed the waters somewhat; but +the disturbed elements of the tempest made the most experienced seaman +look anxious when his face was turned oceanwards. An assistant pilot, +whose duty lay in that range of the shore, had been injured in helping +to save the crew of that ill-fated vessel. His comrades had carried him +up to the tavern, and laid him on a settee in the bar-room, where he +grew worse and worse, till it became dangerous to remove him to more +comfortable quarters.</p> + +<p>In this state North found the man on the second day after the wreck, +when he came up from the village, where he had sought accommodations +till the coroner's inquest should be over, and his room cleared of its +mournful incumbrance.</p> + +<p>Independent of his personal hurt, the boatman was suffering from intense +anxiety regarding the duties of his occupation. It had been his +employer's pride to be always first in the incoming course of the +California steamers, and now his little craft lay with its sails furled +in a cove below the house, waiting for a signal to put to sea. The man +had been very anxious to intercept the steamers of that month, because +it was thought that Mr. Mellen might possibly be on board, and he was +sure of a good round sum, in that case, for bringing this gentleman on +shore, while his superior, the pilot, took the steamer into port.</p> + +<p>North heard all these muttered regrets as he sat gloomily in the +bar-room, and they seemed to affect him more than so unimportant a +subject should have done. It was now drawing towards night, and the man +became terribly restless, for the pilot was expected every moment, and +from vague conjecture the poor fellow worked his mind up into a +certainty that Mellen would come, and the reward for bringing him on +shore be lost.</p> + +<p>"If there was only a man about that could take care of the craft," he +said, "I'd divide with him a fair half to take my place, but there +isn't, and ten chances to one the boss loses his chance with the +steamer, all because of this confounded foot of mine. I wish we'd let +the passengers drown; well, not quite so bad as that, but it's plaguey +hard on a fellow to give up his luck in this way."</p> + +<p>The bar-room happened to be empty just then, with the exception of North +and the injured man. North aroused himself and looked around. Seeing no +listeners near, he went up to the grumbler, and began to condole with +him.</p> + +<p>"Is there no one who can take your place?" he questioned.</p> + +<p>"Not a man. These fellows do well enough in fishing boats that can hug +the shore, but sometimes the boss runs his craft clear out to sea. +Besides, this weather is enough to frighten a fresh hand," was the +impatient answer.</p> + +<p>"What if I should make an offer to go."</p> + +<p>"You!"</p> + +<p>The man laughed in spite of his pain and annoyance.</p> + +<p>"You. I like that."</p> + +<p>"But I can handle a boat in pretty rough waters, let me tell you, my +man."</p> + +<p>"But you look too much of a gentleman. The boss would never trust you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, a suit of your clothes, which I see they have had sense enough to +dry, and a few things I have on hand will make that all right."</p> + +<p>"But, how much? how much?" inquired the man, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Why, nothing; I shall go for the fun of it, or not at all."</p> + +<p>"That's the idea," answered the seaman, rubbing his hands—which still +trembled with weakness—in sudden delight, "a real gentleman and no +mistake, but bear a hand at once. It won't do for the commodore to find +you in this rig."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye," answered North, sailor fashion, and in a voice that seemed +hoarse from years of sea service.</p> + +<p>The man started up on the settee, aroused to dangerous enthusiasm by +astonishment.</p> + +<p>"That's the time o' day," he cried in high glee.</p> + +<p>North snatched up the seaman's clothes, and retired with them into a +little room back of the bar. He had got over the first shock of +nervousness regarding the dead body lying upstairs, but still shrunk +from looking on it again with shuddering terror. The remembrance of his +crime did not prevent the contemplation of another equally atrocious, +but he did not care to look on that sight again. After a little he came +out from the room, so completely changed that the sick man stared wildly +at him, and called out,</p> + +<p>"Where away, messmate; are you one of the fellows we saved from the +wreck?"</p> + +<p>North laughed, settled himself in his loose clothes sailor fashion, and +walked with wide steps across the floor, as if it had been a +quarter-deck. A dawning conviction of the truth seized upon the man. He +fell back upon the settee, uttering broken ejaculations of delight +intermingled with groans.</p> + +<p>"That'll do. It's all right. He'll take you for one of the chaps we +saved from the wreck, and ask no questions," he panted out.</p> + +<p>"It's going to be a roughish night," said North. "I hope your Mr. Mellen +can swim, if we happen to get into any trouble."</p> + +<p>"No, no, don't depend on that, but he knows the coast, and is as brave +as a lion; still I shouldn't like him to be brought into danger, +remember that."</p> + +<p>"It's not at all likely that he'll be on board," answered North, +carelessly.</p> + +<p>"Hush up," cried the seaman, "don't you hear the commodore coming? +They've just told him about this confounded foot. Hear him swear."</p> + +<p>The pilot came in while his assistant was speaking.</p> + +<p>"What the thunder is all this about? just when I wanted you most, too, +and a rough night. They'll get ahead of us, and all through this +confounded wrecking business. Couldn't you keep out of it for once, you +rascal?"</p> + +<p>"Keep a stiff upper lip, commodore. It's all right," cried the man, +pointing to North; "here's a chap I have done a service to, who is +willing to take my night's work on himself, just out of gratitude. He's +a safe hand."</p> + +<p>"Let him bear away, then," cried the pilot, casting a glance at North, +which seemed to prove satisfactory; "come on, my man, we have no time to +lose."</p> + +<p>North followed the pilot in silence, only stopping by the sick man long +enough to whisper, "Don't mention this to a living soul!"</p> + +<p>The man promised, and kept his word.</p> + +<p>The pilot boat was soon unmoored and flying out to sea like a stormy +petrel. North performed his duty well, and received a word or two of +commendation from the superior, which proved the efficacy of his +disguise, for he had seen this person more than once at the shore +tavern.</p> + +<p>At last they came in sight of a large steamer laboring heavily with a +roughish sea and uncertain wind. She hailed them, and the little boat +bore down upon her. The steamer lay to, and the pilot mounted her side, +after giving some directions to his man. A crowd of persons met him as +he leaped over the bulwarks, and among them North searched with burning +eagerness for that one face. It appeared at last, looking down upon the +boat from over the bulwarks. The bad man's heart rose to his mouth; he +watched every movement on deck with keen interest.</p> + +<p>The pilot came to Mellen's side, and made a signal for the boat to wait. +Then some luggage was lowered and Grantley Mellen came down the side of +the steamer, and took his seat in the little craft, which flew away with +him towards the clouded shore. The wind increased as they sped along, +and though not so terrible as it had been when that other vessel was +wrecked, it gradually rose to a degree of violence that threatened the +little pilot boat with destruction. But the gale blew shoreward, and +urged the boat on till it fairly leaped over the hissing waves.</p> + +<p>A dismal twilight came on, and the storm was rapidly increasing to its +full power as they drew near the shore. The wind roared among the hills, +and lashed the waters into foam, the rain beat heavily and chill as +sleet, but Mr. Mellen sat cold and firm on his luggage, neither heeding +the disguised boatman's ejaculations or offering to aid him in his +difficult task.</p> + +<p>It was a position to test the courage of the strongest man, and many a +time it seemed that the wind and waves must conquer and swamp the light +craft completely; but no matter how rude or sudden the shock, Mr. Mellen +neither betrayed any anxiety, nor gave any more sympathy to the toiling +boatman, than if he had been a wooden machine.</p> + +<p>The disguised seaman now and then cast a furtive look at his passenger, +who seemed almost unconscious of the increasing gale. A heavy gust +sometimes seized his cloak and sent it sweeping out like the wings of a +great bird, but he only pulled it impatiently about him and sat quiet +again, looking out through the stern night.</p> + +<p>This perilous voyage was a long one, and its difficulties grew fearfully +as they neared the end. The wind seemed to come from every point at +once, and tossed the boat about till it fairly leaped in the water, as +if trying to escape from its combined enemies.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the rain almost ceased, the clouds parted, and the moon cast a +frightened glare over the scene. In the distance Mr. Mellen could see +his own dwelling, with the broad sweep of woods and waters in front; +then a sharp exclamation from his companion aroused him to the new +dangers that threatened him.</p> + +<p>The boat had been swept in near the shore, where a ring of sunken rocks +girdled the beach, breaking the waves into whirlpools, and sending the +white foam out into the storm. In this spot that good ship had gone +down, yet the boatman made no effort to veer his little craft from the +awful danger, but with a furious light in his eyes and a horrid smile on +his lips, bore down upon the breakers. True, it required almost +superhuman strength to turn the course of that light craft, for the +blast was dashing it forward like a battalion of fiends.</p> + +<p>They were close upon the breakers, when Mellen sprang up, pushed the +boatman back with a violence that sent him headlong into the bottom of +the boat, and seized the helm himself. Mr. Mellen struggled with all the +power desperation gives a man, but his efforts were futile as those of a +child. The boat spun round and round till they were fairly dizzy; +another fierce blast and they were blown directly into the breakers.</p> + +<p>Mellen's agonized cry was answered by a hoarse murmur from his +companion, which sounded like a malediction. Before either could think +or act, a more violent blast raging up from the sea, struck the skiff +and whirled it in among the rocks.</p> + +<p>Now Mellen's eyes kindled, and all the reserved force of his character +came out. He knew every inch of the coast for miles each way. Through +these boiling white breakers was a channel wide enough to carry them +over, and towards that he forced the little craft, which seemed +absolutely to leap through the breakers into the leaden current, where +she rested one moment, trembling from stem to stern like a great +crippled bird hunted to death by the elements.</p> + +<p>North saw that they were in possible safety. He had not anticipated a +storm so terrible as that, but had intended to swamp his boat in the +breakers and swim ashore, leaving Mellen, who could not swim, as he +supposed, to his fate. But now everything else was forgotten in a +cowardly thirst for life. No man could exist for a moment in that awful +riot of waters. He watched Mellen as he kept the boat steadily in the +current, with the keen anxiety of a man to whom death is the terror of +terrors.</p> + +<p>The little craft swept on, reeling and recoiling along the narrow path +into comparatively smooth waters. Mellen, still with one hand bearing +down the helm, seized the cable and flung it towards the disguised +boatman, who lifted his wild face for the orders he had not the power to +ask.</p> + +<p>"Be ready," cried Mellen, with the quick resolution which marked his +character, "jump out as she nears that rock—we are safe then."</p> + +<p>They both stood upright in the boat, swaying to and fro, but managing to +retain a firm position.</p> + +<p>Again the hope of safety seemed a delusive one; the skiff swooped away +from the rock, spun more giddily about, and threw both men upon their +knees. Another instant that seemed endless,—an instant which decided +the fate of both, as far as this world was concerned,—these men +trembled on the brink of eternity. If the skiff obeyed the counter blast +that was upon them and swept towards the breakers, they were lost; still +there was a hope, if it veered upon the rock which loomed out from the +shore.</p> + +<p>The moon gave light enough to enable them to watch the scene and see +their danger. Again the conflicting blasts struck them; the boat reeled, +righted itself and was dashing by the rock, upon which the two men +sprang by a simultaneous movement. A few more vigorous leaps and they +reached the shore, standing there for a moment in breathless awe. Then +they commenced hauling in the crippled boat, which the blast had seized +upon and was tearing out to sea.</p> + +<p>"Safe!" cried Mellen, in a tone of hearty thanksgiving. "I did think +that the brave little craft would go down, but thank God, we are on dry +land."</p> + +<p>"Safe and defeated!" muttered North, turning his face from the wind. +"The storm that helped me two days ago proves treacherous now."</p> + +<p>"Come!" shouted Mellen, lashing the cable to a stunted pine that grew in +a cleft of the rock, "come up to the house, we shall find a fire there +and a glass of brandy. The old man will send some of his people for the +luggage."</p> + +<p>North made no answer, but moved off towards the house, which he passed, +walking moodily towards the village. Mellen went up to the tavern.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>DEAD AND GONE.</h3> + + +<p>Lights shone cheerfully through the uncurtained windows of the Sailor's +Safe Anchor, and the stranger could see the inmates of the dwelling +gathered about the tea-table, looking comfortable enough to make a +strong contrast to the chill and darkness without.</p> + +<p>"There is not the least change," he muttered, drawing his cloak more +closely about him; "I could almost think I had been gone only since +morning, instead of two years."</p> + +<p>He hurried on to the house, and hardly waiting for his imperative knock +to be answered, pushed open the door and entered the kitchen. The old +fisherman looked tranquilly up at the intruder, keeping his knife poised +in one hand, not easily ruffled in his serenity, while the younger +members of the family stared with all their might at the tall man, whose +garments were dripping wet, driven by the storm into their dwelling.</p> + +<p>"Good evenin', sir," said the old man; "it's a dark, wet night—wont you +sit down?"</p> + +<p>"I want a horse and a man," said Mellen, betraying by the haste in which +he spoke, and his impatient movements, that he was too hurried for much +attention to the old man's attempt at civility. "I want to go to the +other end of the bay—can you let me have a horse and some one to look +after my luggage?"</p> + +<p>"What, to-night?" demanded the old man. "Why you can't want to go round +the bay to-night."</p> + +<p>"I should not have come for a horse if I had not wished to get home," +said Mellen, impatiently. "Get one out at once, Benson; I am in great +haste."</p> + +<p>"'Taint a decent night to put a dog out o' doors," returned the +fisherman; "it's a good deal mor'n likely you'd get swamped in the +marsh, if I let the hoss go."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mellen. "I know this part of the country too well +for that. There is no more risk than in this room."</p> + +<p>The old man's obstinacy was roused, and he had a full share of that +unpleasant quality when he chose to call it into action.</p> + +<p>"Mebby you know more about it than I do," he grumbled; "but I've lived +here a goin' on thirty years, and ort to be acquainted with this coast, +and I say I ain't a going to risk my critters sich a night. If there +ain't no danger 'taint fit to send any horse out in a storm like this +anyhow."</p> + +<p>"I can't stand arguing here," Mellen began, but the old man +unceremoniously interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Where do you want to go?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Over to Piney Cove."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mellen's place! Why it's good three miles, and he ain't to hum, nor +hasn't been, nigh on to two years."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know me, old friend?" exclaimed Mellen throwing back his +cloak.</p> + +<p>The old fisherman rose in astonishment, while his married daughter, who +kept his house and owned the flock of children, called out:</p> + +<p>"Why, pa, if it ain't Mr. Mellen!"</p> + +<p>"I thought I knowed your voice, but couldn't make out who it belonged +to; but Californy ain't so nigh as some other places," said the +fisherman. "So you've got back! Wal, wal! You've been gone a good +while."</p> + +<p>"So you can't wonder at my impatience when I find myself so near home," +said Mellen.</p> + +<p>"In course, in course," replied the old man. "But, dear me, you'll have +to wait till Jake comes in, and I expect he'll grumble awful at having +to start out agin."</p> + +<p>"I will pay him his own price——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you allays was freehanded enough, I'll say that, Mr. Mellen. But +sit down by the stove; Jake'll come in a few minutes. Mebby you'd try a +cup of tea?"</p> + +<p>But Mr. Mellen refused the proffered hospitality, and though he walked +up to the fire, neither sat down or paid much attention to the questions +the old man hazarded.</p> + +<p>As Mellen stood there, though his restless movements betrayed great +impatience, there was little trace of it visible in his face, whose cold +pride seldom revealed the emotions which might be stirring at his heart. +He was dressed in his sea clothes, which hung about him in wet masses. +His face was bronzed by the exposure of a long sea voyage, but he was +still a man of imposing presence, and retained his old, proud manner so +thoroughly, that even the old man in his fever of curiosity, felt the +same hesitation at questioning him too far which had always awed the +villagers when Mr. Mellen formerly dwelt among them.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose you've seen a sight sence you went away," said the old man, as +he pushed his chair towards the fire. "All them gold mines; though I +don't s'pose you went to work at them. People will talk you know, and +they wondered at your going off in such a hurry——"</p> + +<p>"Do you think that man will be here soon?" interrupted Mr. Mellen.</p> + +<p>The fisherman felt ruffled and injured at having his gossiping +propensities cut short in that manner, but that instant a step sounded +on the stone porch without, and he said, grumblingly:</p> + +<p>"There he is. I 'spect there'll be a touse about getting him to go."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Mellon took the matter in his own hands when the man entered, +and the liberal offer he made speedily put Jake in excellent spirits for +the expedition.</p> + +<p>"My baggage must be disposed of first," said Mr. Mellen. "Some one must +get it from the pilot-boat."</p> + +<p>"Jake and I'll fetch it in here," returned the old man.</p> + +<p>"I will send for it in the morning," observed Mr. Mellen.</p> + +<p>While they went down to the shore and were bringing in the trunks Mr. +Mellen stood by the fire, quite regardless of the curiosity with which +the children regarded him, and unconscious of several modest attempts at +conversation made by the old man's daughter:</p> + +<p>"Your clothes are wringing wet; hadn't you better get some things of +father's and start dry?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Mellen, glancing at the water-proof carpet-bag which he +had seized on leaving the boat, remembering that it contained important +papers. "I have some things in here, and they will find my macintosh in +the boat."</p> + +<p>He left the room while speaking, and, knowing the house well, went +upstairs, in order to change his wet garments. The young woman uttered a +little cry of dismay and ran a step or two after him, but turned back, +seized with terror of the dead body, about which she would gladly have +given warning.</p> + +<p>Mellen had taken a candle from the table when he left the kitchen, and +entered the little room upstairs with it flaring in his hand. It did not +illuminate the whole chamber, but a cold feeling of awe crept over the +man as he stepped over the threshold, and a shudder, which sprang from +neither cold nor wet, passed to his heart.</p> + +<p>With a trembling hand he set the light on a little pine table and looked +around. A bed stood in the further corner of the room, a great and +coldly white bed, on which a human form was lying in such awful +stillness as death alone knows.</p> + +<p>Breathless and obeying a terrible fascination, he went up to the bed and +drew down the coarse linen sheet. A beautiful face, chiselled from the +marble of death, lay before him, with a cold smile on the lips, and the +blue of the eyes, that had been like violets, tinging the white lids +that covered them. Masses of rich chestnut hair were gathered back from +the face; and over the bosom, struck cold in the bloom of life, two +white hands were folded in an attitude of solemn prayerfulness.</p> + +<p>As Mellen gazed on this cold vision his lips grew white with terrible +emotions, for he knew that face, notwithstanding all the changes that +years and an awful death had left upon it. Moment after moment crept by +and he did not move. At last, reaching forth his hand, he touched the +woman's hair, then a convulsion of grief swept over him, his eyes +filled, his lips quivered and he fell upon his knees crying out:</p> + +<p>"Oh, woman, woman, has he driven you to this?"</p> + +<p>The stillness, which was his only answer, crept to his heart. He arose, +covered the face of his false love, and quitted the room, leaving the +candle behind. He could not bear to think of her lying alone in that +grim darkness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir, I am so sorry. It was dreadful to let you go upstairs to dress +and find <i>that</i>," cried the woman, in a tumult of self-reproach.</p> + +<p>"When did it happen?" he questioned, in a hoarse voice. "When and how?"</p> + +<p>"Day before yesterday. It was washed ashore from the wreck."</p> + +<p>Mellen turned away and asked no more questions. Enough for him that the +woman he had once loved to idolatry, had passed out of his life forever +and ever.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>HOME IN A STORM.</h3> + + +<p>The storm was still raging upon the ocean and sweeping its cold way +across the island; but Mellen was not a man to rest within sight of his +own dwelling, after a long absence, without an effort to reach it in +defiance of wind or weather. So, heedless of all protestations, he +mounted his horse and rode forward, with the wind howling around him and +the rain beating in his face. His temporary attendant grumbled a little +at the violence of the storm, while the darkness was so intense that +both the horses went stumbling on their way like blind creatures on an +unknown path. But Mellen scarcely heeded the danger or discomfort. His +eyes were fixed on the lights of his own home, which twinkled now and +then through the fog and rain, like stars striving to break through a +cloud.</p> + +<p>Their road ran along the coast, and they had the rushing winds and roar +of the ocean all the way. Before they reached the Piney Cove grounds the +blackness of the tempest began to break away overhead; the wind had +lulled a little, but the rain still beat, and at intervals the moon +would burst through the clouds and add to the ghostly effect of boiling +foam in the distance.</p> + +<p>They passed through the strip of woodland which extended down to the +water's edge, and at last reached the grounds connected with the +dwelling upon that side, and came out upon the broad lawn.</p> + +<p>"Home at last!" cried Mellen, as a warm glow of lights shone out from +his dwelling. "Ride on, my man; you shall sleep here to-night, and +return in the morning."</p> + +<p>In his exultation Mellen dashed forward, urging his horse across the +open space till he was considerably in advance of his attendant. The +moon shivered out again for an instant, and Mr. Mellen saw a woman +shrouded in a long cloak rushing towards the house. Some instinct, +rather than any real recognition of her person, made him cry out, as he +leaped from the horse and left him free:</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>The figure paused. There was a faint cry; at the same instant Mellen +heard a violent rustle in the shrubbery, with a sudden downpour of +raindrops, scarcely noticed, as he hurried towards the lady, but well +remembered afterwards. She was standing upright and still, as if that +unexpected voice had changed her to stone; her hair had broken loose and +was streaming wildly over her shoulders; one hand was lifted above her +eyes, as she strained her sight through the gloom.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth!" he called again.</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" she cried, in a suppressed voice, that had all the +sharpness of an agonised shriek. "Who calls to me?"</p> + +<p>He reached her side as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know me?" he exclaimed. "My wife! my wife! I have come back +at last!"</p> + +<p>There was one wild look—one heavy breath—he heard a low exclamation:</p> + +<p>"My God! oh, my God!"</p> + +<p>Before he could discover whether this was a cry of thanksgiving or not, +she fell forward and lay motionless at his feet.</p> + +<p>After that first second of stupefaction, Mr. Mellen checked the +wonderment of the man—who by this time had come up—and between them +they carried the senseless woman to the house.</p> + +<p>The servant who met them in the hall gave a cry of dismay at the sight +of her master thus suddenly entering the house with his wife lying like +a dead woman in his arms, and was ready to believe that the whole sight +was a ghostly illusion.</p> + +<p>"Bring some wine," called Mellen; "is there a fire? Are you deaf and +blind, girl?"</p> + +<p>"It is the masther!" exclaimed the frightened creature. "It's the +masther come back—oh, I thought I'd seed ghosts at last!"</p> + +<p>Her cries brought the whole household up from the basement; but +regardless of their wonder and alarm, Grantley Mellen carried his wife +away towards the library, and laid her upon a couch.</p> + +<p>It was some moments before Elizabeth Mellen opened her eyes, then she +glanced about with a vacant, startled look, as if unable to comprehend +what had happened.</p> + +<p>Her husband was standing in the shadow, gazing down at her with the +strange, moody look so unlike the active alarm which would have filled +the mind of most men, and she did not at first perceive his presence.</p> + +<p>"I thought I saw Grantley," she murmured. "I—I have gone mad at last."</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>She struggled up on the couch, and looked towards him with a wild +expression of the eyes, forced out by recent terror or sudden joy at +finding that she had not been deceived by some mental illusion.</p> + +<p>"Is it you, Grantley?" she exclaimed. "Is it really you?"</p> + +<p>"It is I," he said; "but it is a strange welcome home to a man when he +finds his wife wandering about in the storm, and sees her faint at the +sound of his voice."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Mellen forced her physical strength back by a sheer exercise +of will. She sat upright—a singular expression passed over her face—an +inward struggle to appear like herself and act as was natural under the +circumstances.</p> + +<p>"I was so frightened," she gasped; "I did not expect you for a +fortnight—perhaps a month. When I heard your voice I can't tell what I +thought—a dread—a terror of something terrible—something +supernatural, I mean, came over me."</p> + +<p>"But what could have taken you out of doors on a night like this?" he +persisted.</p> + +<p>She did not hesitate; she hurried to answer, but it was like a person +repeating words studied for the occasion, and all the while her two +hands clutched hard at the arm of the sofa.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what drove me out, the storm made me wild. I thought of +the sea—you on it, perhaps—I don't know why I went."</p> + +<p>"You are wet," he said—"thoroughly drenched. You must change your +dress."</p> + +<p>She seemed to grasp at the opportunity to go away, and started up with +such eagerness that his suspicious eyes noticed it.</p> + +<p>"This is a singular meeting," he said, bitterly; "two years apart, and +not a word of welcome."</p> + +<p>She turned impulsively towards him, and threw her arms about his neck, +with a burst of passionate tears.</p> + +<p>"I do love you, Grantley," she cried; "I do love you! I am so glad to +see you; but this fright—it was so sudden—so——"</p> + +<p>Her voice died away in a sob, and she clung more closely to him, while +he kept his arm about her waist, pressed his lips on her forehead and +gave himself respite from the whirl of dark thoughts which had been in +his jealous mind. The joy of reunion and the pleasure of finding himself +at home after that long absence, broke through it all.</p> + +<p>He felt her shiver all over, and remembered the danger they both ran +standing there in their wet clothing.</p> + +<p>"You are cold—shivering—and I am keeping you in these wet things!" +cried Grantley, gathering her in his arms and mounting the stairs. "You +are drenched, my sweet child. It was wrong to go out in a storm like +this. Indeed, indeed it was, dear one."</p> + +<p>She made no answer, but was seized with a cold shivering fit in his +arms. He carried her into the little sitting-room, and, seating her in +an easy chair, took off her hood and cloak, speaking soft, tender words +as he removed the garments, and smoothed her hair with a caressing +movement of the hand.</p> + +<p>"You must change your dress, Elizabeth," he said. "Do it at once. I have +some dry clothes in my room, I suppose, which I shall put on."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she returned, hurriedly; "go—go at once. You are glad to get +home, are you not—glad to see me, Grantley?"</p> + +<p>There was a tone of almost piteous entreaty in her voice; she was so +disturbed by the shock of his sudden presence that her nerves could not +recover their firmness at once.</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen held his wife to his heart and whispered fond and loving +words, such as he had breathed during their brief courtship before a +shadow clouded over the beauty of their lives.</p> + +<p>"There shall be no more clouds," he whispered, "no more trouble. Look +up, Elizabeth! Say that you love me—that you are glad as I am."</p> + +<p>"I do love you, my husband—with all my heart and soul I love you! I +<i>am</i> glad—very, very glad."</p> + +<p>"And I love you, Bessie. I did not know how well until I went away. But +we shall never part any more—never more."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was weeping drops as cold as the rain on her face. It was +unusual for her to allow any feeling of joy or pain to overcome her so +completely.</p> + +<p>"You are weak and nervous to-night, Bessie," he said, tenderly. "I was +wrong to come upon you so suddenly."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" she cried, vehemently. But even in her denial she shuddered, +remembering whom she had just left and how she had met her husband.</p> + +<p>Then she arose to go, but staggered in her walk and held herself up with +difficulty. He looked at her with such tender love in his eyes that she +held out her arms to him. He drew her close to his bosom:</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, we will be happy now."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," she said, in the same hurried manner, "we will be happy +now—quite happy."</p> + +<p>She went out of the room as she said these words and entered her +chamber, locking the door carefully behind her, as if she feared that he +might intrude upon her.</p> + +<p>Half an hour after the newly-united husband and wife met at the +supper-table, and Grantley Mellen saw that Elizabeth had quite recovered +from the sudden shock of his arrival in that unexpected way.</p> + +<p>"I cannot realize it yet," she said, coming into the room and walking up +to the hearth where he stood; "I cannot believe you are actually here."</p> + +<p>She stole close to his side and folded his hand in hers. For an instant +there was a slight hesitation amounting almost to timidity, as if she +were doing something or assuming a place to which she had no right, but +it passed quickly. She was looking up into his face with a pleasant +smile, a little pale yet from her recent emotion, or else those two +years which had elapsed since their parting had robbed her of a portion +of her girlish bloom,—but self-possessed and full of happiness.</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen looked at her more closely as she stood there in the +cheerful light. Two years had changed her, but that was natural; he was +altered too.</p> + +<p>"Do I look very different, Elizabeth?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>"You are browned, you look a little older, perhaps; but you are not +really changed—you are Grantley still."</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell if you are altered," he said; "I must wait till I have +seen you a day or two. You seem paler—thinner."</p> + +<p>She shivered a little, but quickly regained her self-control and +cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>"You cannot judge how I look to-night," she said. "I am sorry Elsie is +gone."</p> + +<p>"When did she go away, Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p>"Only yesterday; she seemed to be getting low spirited, so I advised her +to visit Mrs. Harrington for a while."</p> + +<p>"I suppose she has not left you often—you two kept together?" he asked, +the old jealousy creeping through his voice.</p> + +<p>"Of course; she has visited a little," replied his wife, quietly, but +she turned away to the table as she spoke.</p> + +<p>A servant brought in the supper, and they sat down opposite to each +other at the board; but even during those first hours of reunion the +strange greeting which his return had met would linger in Grantley +Mellen's suspicious mind, and, in spite of Elizabeth's cheerful manner, +her color would come and go with tremulous fitfulness. Sometimes there +was a restless expression in her eyes, and she seemed with difficulty to +repress a nervous start at any sudden sound—she had not recovered +wholly, it appeared, from her surprise.</p> + +<p>"You will send for Elsie in the morning," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. One of the men will go to town early."</p> + +<p>"Don't tell her I have come."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth hesitated.</p> + +<p>"She would be so startled if I did not," she said. "I really think her +happiness will be greater if she expects to meet you."</p> + +<p>"As you please," he returned, a little coldly. "I believe you are right. +Surprises generally are failures."</p> + +<p>"Where is Dolf?" Elizabeth asked.</p> + +<p>"I sent him on with the steamer to deliver some letters I had brought +for various people; he will be up in the morning. He is just the same +remarkable darkey as ever. His language is even grander, I think."</p> + +<p>When they were sitting over the fire again, Mr. Mellen said:</p> + +<p>"Now, tell me everything that has happened; your letters were all so +vague."</p> + +<p>"I had nothing of importance to write, you know," she answered; "we were +very quiet here."</p> + +<p>"Has Elsie changed much?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Not at all; gay and thoughtless as ever."</p> + +<p>There seemed a suppressed bitterness in her voice. Perhaps that gayety +and frivolity had sometimes jarred upon the deeper chords in her own +nature.</p> + +<p>"Little darling!" he said, fondly, "I feel more attached to her than +ever since I went away—she seems more like my daughter than my sister."</p> + +<p>"And she loves you very dearly, you may be sure of that."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; nothing could ever come between Elsie and me! I have thought +of the promise I made our dying mother; I have kept it, +Elizabeth—wherever else I have erred, I have kept that vow."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said; "yes."</p> + +<p>But the tone grew a little absent, her eyes wandered about the room as +if she were perplexed anew by some thought far away from the subject of +their conversation.</p> + +<p>"You have been happy and content here, Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p>"Not happy," she answered, "I forced myself to be patient; but the time +seemed very long."</p> + +<p>"Then you do love me?" he cried, suddenly.</p> + +<p>She looked at him reproachfully, with some pain stirring under that +reproach.</p> + +<p>"Can you ask me such questions now?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; you do love me. I believe it. But you know what a morbid, +suspicious character mine is."</p> + +<p>"I had hoped—"</p> + +<p>She did not finish her sentence, but sat twisting the links of her +chatelaine about her fingers, and looking almost timidly away from his +face.</p> + +<p>"Go on," he said, "what did you hope?"</p> + +<p>"That this long absence might have—that—I hardly know how to say it +without offending you."</p> + +<p>"You hoped I had learned to accept life more like a reasonable being, +isn't that it? I think I have, Bessie; we will be happy now, very happy; +you and Elsie and I."</p> + +<p>He took her hand and held it in his own; was it true that it trembled, +or only his fancy that made him think so?</p> + +<p>"We shall be happy, Elizabeth?" he repeated, this time making the words +an inquiry.</p> + +<p>"I hope so—oh, I do hope so!" she exclaimed with sudden passion; "I +want to be happy, oh, my husband! I want to be happy."</p> + +<p>She threw her arms about his neck, and her head dropped on his shoulder; +but the face which he could not see wore a strained, frightened look, as +if she saw some dark shadow rise between her and its fulfilment.</p> + +<p>Mellen strained her to his heart, and showered kisses down upon her cold +face,—kisses, so warm from the heart, that her cheeks kindled into +scarlet under them, and she began to weep those gentle tears that drop +from a loving heart like dew from a flower.</p> + +<p>"Our lives shall go on quietly and pleasantly now," he continued, giving +himself to the full happiness of this reunion; "we will have one long +summer, Bessie, and warm our hearts in it."</p> + +<p>"I have been in the cold so long," she murmured.</p> + +<p>"But that is over—over for ever! We will be trustful Bessie: we will be +patient and loving always; can't we promise each other this, my wife?" +he said, drawing her closer to his bosom.</p> + +<p>"I can, Grantley; I do!"</p> + +<p>"And I promise, Elizabeth, I will never be suspicious or harsh again. +You and I could be so happy now."</p> + +<p>"You will love me and trust me!" she cried, almost hysterically.</p> + +<p>"Always, Bessie, always!"</p> + +<p>Again he clasped her in his arms, pressing kisses upon her forehead, and +murmuring words which, from a husband's lips are sweeter and holier than +the romance of courtship could ever be, even in the first glow of its +loveliest mystery.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth nestled closer to his heart, and a feeling of rest and +serenity stole over her so inexpressibly soothing and sweet, that she +almost longed to float away for ever from the care and dimness of this +world upon the sacred hush of that hour.</p> + +<p>There was a sound without which startled them both, making Mellen turn +hastily, and sending the sickly pallor anew across Elizabeth's face.</p> + +<p>"Only the wind," he said, "blowing one of the shutters to with a crash."</p> + +<p>"That is all, it——"</p> + +<p>She did not finish; her eyes were fixed upon the window; she made one +movement; tried to control herself; looked in the other direction before +her husband could observe the eagerness with which her eyes had been +strained out into the night; but all her attempts at self-control were +in vain; she gave one heavy sigh, and sank lower and perfectly helpless +in his arms.</p> + +<p>For the second time that evening Elizabeth Mellen had swooned completely +away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE SUNSHINE OF THE HOUSE.</h3> + + +<p>The day was so bright and beautiful that the preceding storm seemed only +to have added freshness to both the earth and sky.</p> + +<p>The hills rose up majestic in their richest verdure, the lovely bay was +at rest in the sunshine, and the long white line of distant water shone +out tranquilly, as if no treacherous wind would ever again lash it into +fury.</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen stood with his wife on the broad stone portico, looking +towards the ocean. They had been wandering over the house and grounds +that the master might see what changes had taken place in his absence, +talking pleasantly and gaily, though even in the midst of his happiness +the old restless suspicion would intrude. Grantley Mellen could not +understand the strange agitation of his wife at his return. It troubled +him even in his newborn joy. She was quite herself this morning; so +lovely in her delicate mauvé morning dress, with the soft lace relieving +her neck and wrists. Her dark hair was banded smoothly back from the +grave, earnest face, and fell behind in heavy braids, rich and glossy as +the plumage of a raven. Her mouth was tremulous with gladness and her +whole face kindled into smiles and blushes under her husband's gaze. She +was so calm that it seemed folly to vex his heart with vague fancies, +instead of yielding to the full, rich joy of the occasion.</p> + +<p>But she was changed: his jealous eyes took note of that. She was paler, +thinner; there was a single line between the dark brows that had +gathered there during his absence; an added gravity about the mouth, a +slight compression of the lips, as if they had grown accustomed to +keeping secrets back.</p> + +<p>Then with one of those quick transitions of feeling peculiar to a mind +like his, he reproached himself for that change. Why search for other +reasons when he remembered many things which had preceded their parting; +the last restless year of their married life, disturbed by jealousy and +suspicion; the long months of loneliness which she had spent during his +absence. There was answer enough for all the questions with which he had +vexed himself all the morning.</p> + +<p>"Of course Elsie will come home in the afternoon boat," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; I don't think it is in yet—I have not heard the whistle," +replied Elizabeth. "Our people will send her across the bay in a +sail-boat, no doubt. It is shameful of them to leave the shore road in +the state it is; we must either go to the village by water, or take that +long out-of-the-way back road."</p> + +<p>"There is a sail-boat now," exclaimed Mellen, pointing across the bay.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth looked and saw the tiny streamers shining like silver +traceries in the sun.</p> + +<p>"It must be Elsie," she said, bringing a glass from the hall, which Mr. +Mellen took eagerly from her hand.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said. "I can see a woman in the boat—it is Elsie."</p> + +<p>His face was all aglow with brotherly love; a sweet expectation kept him +restless. He walked up and down the porch talking of his sister, asking +a thousand trivial questions, and complaining of the slowness of the +little boat.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth stood leaning against one of the pillars, her eyes shaded with +her hand, looking over the bright waters. The tranquillity and bloom +faded out of her countenance, while her husband talked so eagerly of his +desire to see the child—as he called her. Sometimes her face grew +almost hard and stern, as if she could not endure that even this beloved +sister should come between her heart and his in the first hours of their +reunion.</p> + +<p>The little sail-boat flew swiftly on before the wind—drawing nearer and +nearer each instant—they could distinctly see the young girl half lying +back in the stern, allowing her hand to fall in the water with an +indolent enjoyment of the scene.</p> + +<p>She saw them at last, fluttered her handkerchief in the air by way of a +signal, and after that they could see how full of eager impatience she +was. Every instant her handkerchief fluttered out, and when the wind +took that, she unwound an azure scarf from her neck and flung it on the +breeze.</p> + +<p>When the boat neared the landing, Mr. Mellen ran across the lawn and +received his sister in his arms as she sprang on shore.</p> + +<p>Standing on the portico where he had left her, Elizabeth regarded the +pair; she heard Elsie's eager exclamation of joy—her husband's deep +voice—then the two blended in confused and eager conversation. An +absolute spasm of pain contracted the wife's features; her eyes dilated, +and a moan broke from her lips.</p> + +<p>"He loves her so! he loves her so! He will believe anything she says," +muttered Elizabeth in a tone which trembled with passionate emotions.</p> + +<p>The sound of her own voice seemed to recall her recollection and the +necessity of concealing these turbulent feelings. With that power of +self-control which she was striving so hard to strengthen, in order to +bear her life with calmness, she forced her features into repose, and +stood quietly waiting for them to come up. There was nothing in her +appearance now to betray agitation; her pallor seemed only the +reflection of her mauvé draperies, and her lips forced themselves into a +smile.</p> + +<p>"There is Bessie," cried Elsie, coming up the lawn, clinging to her +brother's arm with both hands, and shaking her long curls in the +sunshine, till the sight of her loveliness and grace might have softened +for the time even that heart filled with fear of her sisterly influence, +and jealous of the love which she received with such caressing warmth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bessie!" she cried, as they reached the steps, "I am so happy! When +I got the news this morning I felt as if I must fly here directly. Oh, +you darling brother, to come back at all; but you deserve to be punished +for staying away so long!"</p> + +<p>She raised herself on tip-toe to kiss him anew, allowed her bonnet to +fall off, and her curls to trail in bright confusion over her shoulders; +then she flew towards Elizabeth and showered a greeting of warm kisses +on her face.</p> + +<p>"Never mind that dark subject," she whispered; "we'll be happy now in +spite of everything."</p> + +<p>Again that singular look passed over Elizabeth Mellen's face; she +listened and endured rather than returned the young girl's caress, but +Mr. Mellen was watching his sister and did not observe it.</p> + +<p>"And isn't he brown?" cried Elsie, rushing over to her brother again; +"he looks like an Indian, don't he, Bess? Oh, you bad, bad boy, to stay +so long."</p> + +<p>Thus Elsie laughed and talked incessantly, begun a dozen sentences +without finishing one of them, and was so demonstrative in her +expressions of affection to both, so lovely in her youth and brilliant +happiness, that it was no wonder her brother regarded her with that +proud look; it seemed almost impossible that Elizabeth herself could +help being won into happiness by her caressing ways.</p> + +<p>"You'll never go away again—shall he, Bess? But isn't it luncheon-time? +I could eat no breakfast for joy, but I do think I am hungry now."</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen laughed, and Elsie went on again.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Grantley, I saw Dolf on the steamboat; he is coming over with your +luggage. The ridiculous creature has more airs than ever. I wish you had +forced him to come ashore in the pilot-boat, it would have been such +fun, when he got among the breakers; but, oh dear! how frightened I was, +hearing how near you were to getting in. It makes, me feel pale now!"</p> + +<p>Here Elsie gathered up her bonnet and shawl, tossed her curls back, +kissed her brother again, and ran, off, saying:</p> + +<p>"I must go upstairs and brush my hair. Do come, Bessie; I never can do +it myself."</p> + +<p>"I must go and see what the servants are doing," Elizabeth said.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! Come with me."</p> + +<p>Elsie caught her sister-in-law about the waist, waltzed away towards the +stairs and forced her to ascend, while Mr. Mellen stood looking after +them with a pleasant smile on his lips.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>SUNSHINE AND STORMS.</h3> + + +<p>When they reached Elsie's room the girl drew Elizabeth in and closed the +door. Mrs. Mellen sank wearily into a seat, as if glad to escape from +the restraint she had been putting upon herself all that day.</p> + +<p>"Your note frightened me so!" cried Elsie. "It was wicked of you to +write like that."</p> + +<p>"He came upon me so suddenly," gasped Elizabeth. "I was out in the +grounds in the rain—I had gone to—"</p> + +<p>"And Grantley came upon you there?" interrupted Elsie. "What did you +do? what did you do?"</p> + +<p>"I fainted in the end."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you would have been worse in my place," returned Elizabeth. "It was +so sudden; how could I tell what he had seen?"</p> + +<p>"But you are yourself now. You will not give way again?"</p> + +<p>"I must not," said Elizabeth drearily. "I must bear up now."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk in that dreadful voice," shivered Elsie; "it sounds as if +you were dying. I thought you had more courage. Don't be afraid of me; +if he held a bowl of poison to my lips I wouldn't tell."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie, what would death be compared to the agony of discovery?"</p> + +<p>"Do stop!" pleaded Elsie, pressing both rosy little palms to her ears, +with a piteous, shrinking movement. "We mustn't talk. I won't talk, I +tell you! I can put everything out of my head if you will only let me; +but if you look and talk like that I shall give way. Why can't you try +and forget it? I will. Be sure of that!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth rose from her seat; a wan, hopeless look came over her face.</p> + +<p>"You are right; let us be silent. But, oh, if I only could forget—but I +can't, Elsie—I can't! The thought is with me day and night. The +dread—the fear!"</p> + +<p>"Be still!" shrieked Elsie, breaking into a passion of which no one +would have believed her capable, and stamping her foot upon the carpet. +"You'll drive me mad. I shall go into spasms, and then who knows what +may happen! I won't promise not to speak if you drive me crazy."</p> + +<p>All the youthful brilliancy was frightened out of her face, her lips +turned blue, her whole frame shook so violently that Elizabeth saw +absolute danger unless the girl were soothed back to calmness.</p> + +<p>"I won't torment you any more, Elsie," she said. "I'll bear it +alone—I'll bear it alone."</p> + +<p>"One can always forget if one is determined," said Elsie; "but you +won't—you will brood over things——"</p> + +<p>"I shall be more myself, now," interrupted Elizabeth. "It was from +seeing Grantley so unexpectedly, just when I was waiting for——"</p> + +<p>"Be still!" interrupted Elsie, sharply. "I won't hear that—I won't hear +anything; you shall not force unpleasant things upon me."</p> + +<p>The sister and the sister-in-law stood opposite each other, oppressed by +the same secret, but bearing it so differently. Elsie's share seemed to +be only a burdensome knowledge of some mystery; no evil seemed to +threaten her in its discovery, but deep sympathy appeared to have broken +through her careless nature, moulding it into something grand. She was +the first to recover from the cold, shivering distress which had come +over both; the volatile, impressible creature could not dwell long +enough upon one subject, however painful it might be, to produce the +effect which even slight trouble had upon a character like Elizabeth's.</p> + +<p>"You look like a ghost," she cried, in sudden irritation. "It is cruel, +Bessie, to frighten me in this way. You know what a weak, nervous little +thing I am. It is wicked of you!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth turned slowly towards the door.</p> + +<p>"Be at peace, if you can," she said; "I will trouble you no more."</p> + +<p>"Now you are angry!" cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"No, dear, not angry."</p> + +<p>"Kiss me, then, and make up," said Elsie, with a return of childish +playfulness. "I'll help you all I can, but you mustn't put too much on +me; you know I'm not strong, like you."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth trembled under the touch of those fresh young lips, but she +answered, patiently:</p> + +<p>"I will bear up alone; don't think about it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shouldn't," cried Elsie, frankly, "only you make me."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth looked at her in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"You needn't stare so," said Elsie, in an injured tone; "I know I am not +a deep, strong character, like you. But let me rest—let me enjoy my +little mite of sunshine!"</p> + +<p>"I will not overshadow it," Elizabeth answered, "be certain of that. +But, oh, Elsie, it's so dreadful to bear this constant fear! If Grantley +should find out anything—he is so suspicious——"</p> + +<p>"There you go again!" broke in Elsie. "I vow I wont live in the house +with you if you act in this way! Just as one is getting a little +comfortable you begin all this again. I can't stand it; and I won't."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not reply. She looked at Elsie again with a mingled +expression of astonishment and fear; but a strange sort of pity softened +the glance.</p> + +<p>"There shall be no more of it, Elsie," she said, after a long silence, +during which Elsie had shivered herself quiet once more. "I ought to +have borne this trouble alone from the first."</p> + +<p>"That's a nice darling!" cried Elsie. "Nothing will happen, I am sure of +it. Just hope for the best; look at everything as settled and over with. +Things don't keep coming up to one as they do in a novel."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth said no more, she stood leaning against the window frame and +watched Elsie as she arranged her ringlets before the glass, and called +back the brilliant smiles which softened her face into something so +youthful and pretty. Then they heard a voice from below, which made them +both start.</p> + +<p>"It's Grantley," said Elsie. "It sounds so odd to hear his voice! Open +the door, Bessie; I am ready."</p> + +<p>She ran to the head of the stairs, while Elizabeth followed slowly.</p> + +<p>"Are you calling, Grant?" demanded Elsie, looking down at him as he +stood at the foot of the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Calling! I should think so! Are you both going to stay up there for +ever? Dinner is ready."</p> + +<p>"And so are we," cried Elsie, "and coming, Mr. Impatience."</p> + +<p>Downstairs she tripped, humming a tune and making a little spring into +her brother's arms when she reached the lower step.</p> + +<p>She was such a dainty little thing, so light and graceful in all her +movements, with such childish ways, such power of persuasion and +coquetry, so light-hearted and frivolous, that it was quite impossible +not to love her and treat her as if she were some blithe fairy, that +would be frightened out of sight by a harsh word or look.</p> + +<p>She was just one of those creatures whom everybody fondles and pets, who +have sacrifices made for them which they are never capable of +appreciating. The loves and fears and hates of these flimsy creatures +are shallow and transient, though capable of leading them to great +lengths during their first fever; creatures whom we miss as we do +sunshine and flowers, or any other pretty thing; for they seem born to +feed upon the froth and honey-dew of life, and from that very fact take +with them, even towards middle age, a fund of light-heartedness and +joyous spirits, which is, in some sort, a return for the demands they +make upon others.</p> + +<p>It seemed hard that a creature like this should have her youth burdened +with any secret; it was scarcely wonderful that she grew impatient and +spoke harshly to Elizabeth when she insisted upon forcing trouble on her +mind, which left to itself she was able, out of the very shallowness of +her nature, to throw aside so completely.</p> + +<p>Wrong and cruel it seemed in Elizabeth to burden her thus—she should +have kept Elsie aloof from all domestic mysteries, whatever they might +be, and have borne her sorrow, her fears, perhaps her remorse, alone. It +was not easy to tell from her face or her words all that lay back of her +half-uttered despair. But she should have endured in silence things to +be held as far away from Elsie's joyousness and Elsie's youth as the +deep undercurrent of her character was apart from the bird-like +blitheness which made the girl so pleasant. Thus the world would have +judged had they seen these women standing there together.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>COURTSHIP IN THE KITCHEN.</h3> + + +<p>While they were still seated at the luncheon-table the door opened, and +Dolf came in with a flourish of bows to report his return to the master.</p> + +<p>"So, there you are, Dolf," said Mr. Mellen, carelessly. "Did you lose +half the letters I gave you to deliver?"</p> + +<p>Dolf drew himself up with a great deal of dignity.</p> + +<p>"Master knows I'se trusty as Solomon's seal," he said. "De'pistles is +safe in de honorable hands for which dey was originally intended."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad they went off at the right moment," said Elsie, laughing.</p> + +<p>Dolf rather missed her play upon his mispronunciation of the word, but +he gave another magnificent flourish.</p> + +<p>"Jes so, Miss Elsie; you've 'spressed it beautiful."</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Dolf?" asked Mrs. Mellen, kindly, rousing herself from +the abstraction into which she had fallen while Elsie and her brother +had been chatting together. "Are you glad to get back?"</p> + +<p>"I'se ebery reason to be satisfactory with my health, and am much +'bliged by de 'quiry," replied 'Dolf, with a bow so profound that it +seemed by a miracle he recovered his balance, "I'se bery glad to see de +ole place again, Miss Mellen, and de faces of yerself and young Miss +Elsie is like de sunshine to me."</p> + +<p>"Bless me, Dolf," cried Elsie, "that's poetry."</p> + +<p>Dolf gave a deprecatory wave of the hand, as if the poetry had been +unavoidable, and a smile which insinuated that he was capable of still +higher flights of fancy, as he said:</p> + +<p>"Mebbe, mebbe, Miss Elsie—I didn't reserve partic'lar—dese tings takes +a pusson onawares mostly."</p> + +<p>"Now, Dolf," said his master, "try and put my things in some sort of +order before the day is over."</p> + +<p>"Yes, marster; ebery ting dat's wanting shall be toppermost."</p> + +<p>Elsie laughed unrestrainedly, but Dolf only took that as a compliment, +and was immensely satisfied with the impression he had produced.</p> + +<p>"Don't get up another flirtation with the cook," she said; "she is old +enough to be your mother, so old that she's growing rich with hoarding, +Dolf."</p> + +<p>Dolf bowed himself out of the room with much ceremony, and took his way +straight towards the lower regions. His brain had always formed numerous +projects on the strength of Clorinda's wealth, and he felt it incumbent +upon him to have an interview as soon as possible with this elderly +heiress.</p> + +<p>He came upon her in the kitchen hall; she was walking upright as a +ramrod with a large tin dish-pan in her hands, and looking forbidding as +if she had been the eldest daughter of Erebus.</p> + +<p>"Dat's de time o' day," thought Dolf; "she is parsimmony just now and no +mistake, but here goes for de power of 'suasion."</p> + +<p>He made her a bow which flattered the sable spinster into a broad smile, +and almost made her drop the dish-pan, in the flutter of her delight.</p> + +<p>"Dolf, Dolf, am dat you?" she exclaimed, growing a shade darker.</p> + +<p>"Permit me," said Dolf, gracefully, taking the pan from her hand; "it's +my expressive delight to serve de fair, and I'se most happy, through dis +instrumentation, to renew your honorable acquaintance."</p> + +<p>He followed this up with another tremendous bow; Clorinda thought it +quite time that she should make a show of high breeding likewise. She +gave her body a bend and a duck, but unfortunately, Dolf was bowing at +the same moment, and their heads met with a loud concussion.</p> + +<p>A wild giggle from the kitchen door completed Dolf's confusion. He +looked that way, and there stood Victoria, the chambermaid, now a spruce +mulatto of eighteen, enjoying Clorinda's discomfiture.</p> + +<p>"De fault was mine," cried Dolf, in his gallantry; "all mine, so dat +imperent yaller gal need'n larf herself quite to death."</p> + +<p>"Imperent yaller gal? am no more yaller den yer is," answered Vic.</p> + +<p>"Any how yer needn't stand dar a grinning like a monkey, Vic," exclaimed +Clorinda, in wrath.</p> + +<p>"Accidents will recur," said Dolf. "But, laws, Miss Victory, is dat you? +I had de pleasure of yer 'quaintance afore me and marster started on our +trabels."</p> + +<p>"I've been alone here eber since," explained Victoria, not proof against +his fascinations. "I'm sure yer haint altered a bit, Mr. Dolf."</p> + +<p>"I guess if yer don't go upstairs miss'll know why," cried Clorinda, +sharply. "Jes give me dat pan, Mr. Dolf; I kint wait all day for you to +empty it."</p> + +<p>Dolf was recalled to wisdom at once—he could not afford to make a +misstep on the very day of his return. He emptied the pan, followed +Clorinda into the kitchen, making a sign of farewell to Vic which the +old maid did not observe. Once in Clorinda's own dominion, the darkey so +improved the impression already produced that he was soon discussing a +delicate luncheon with great relish, and so disturbing Clorinda's +equanimity by his compliments, that she greatly endangered the pie-crust +she was industriously rolling out on one end of the table where he sat.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE DEAD SECRET.</h3> + + +<p>The morning after Elsie's return Grantley Mellen mounted his horse, and +rode off towards the shore tavern, a sad and heavy-hearted man. The +woman whom he had loved so devotedly with the first passion of his +youth, lay in that little chamber waiting for burial. Where destined +when she met her fate, or how much she suffered, he could only guess. +But there she was, after years of separation, thrown upon his charity +even for a grave, with no one to mourn her death, no one to care how or +where she was buried. He had not mentioned her to his wife or sister, an +aching memory at heart forbade that, but underneath the joy of his +return home lay this dead secret, haunting him with funereal shadows.</p> + +<p>The woman was in her coffin when he entered the little chamber, which +was now so desolately clean; for he had given orders regarding her +interment before leaving the house that stormy night, and they had been +well obeyed. A veil of delicate gauze covered the face, softening it +into singular loveliness. Mellen did not lift this veil, which +neutralised the coldness of death so beautifully, but his breast heaved +with a farewell sigh, while tears blinded his last look, which carried +deep and eternal forgiveness with it.</p> + +<p>A noise in the next room disturbed him. He turned hastily, and went down +stairs, shrinking from observation.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had Mellen disappeared when the door which connected the death +chamber with a small inner room was pushed open, and a pale, wild face +looked in. It was that of North; after a quick survey of the room, he +darted towards the door leading to the stairs and shot the bolt. Then he +went up to the coffin, flung back the gauze from that marble face, and +looked down upon it. Those black eyes burned too hotly for tears, but +the raven beard trembled about his mouth, his hand was clenched, the +burning consciousness of a great crime was upon him, and he felt it in +every nerve and pulse of his system. If North had ever loved this woman, +all the force of that passion came back upon his soul now in an agony of +remorse. As he gazed, his hand released its iron grip, his strong limbs +shook like reeds, and flinging himself down by the coffin he cursed +himself, his crime, and that living woman for whose sake it had been +committed.</p> + +<p>They were coming upstairs. He heard the heavy blundering footsteps of +two men, and knew what they were after. Creeping softly to the door he +drew the bolt back with intense caution, and stealing into the little +chamber, fell upon the floor and held his breath, listening.</p> + +<p>He heard the coffin-lid closed; the slow turning of the screws; a sudden +jar, and then the footsteps again, broken and disturbed by the mournful +burden those two men carried. Then all was still for a moment, and up +through the passage, vibrating like electricity through that evil soul, +came the sound of a clear, solemn voice, reading the burial service.</p> + +<p>Still he listened, with his head lifted from the floor, and supporting +himself by one arm like a worn-out gladiator. A sort of terror had +seized upon him with the sweet low sound of that voice. Great drops +gathered upon his forehead and grew cold there. He was like an evil +spirit looking through the gates of Paradise. Then came another pause, +followed by the slow roll of wheels and the tramp of horses. North +leaped to his feet, and threw up the window. A hearse was moving heavily +down the street, and close behind it rode Grantley Mellen, alone.</p> + +<p>Near the Piney Cove mansion was an ancient burying-ground, with the +graves of many generations crowded around a little stone church, which +rose up in solemn stillness among a grove of cypress trees and wild +cedars. In one of the sunniest corners of the ground a grave was dug, +and a pile of blossoming turf was laid ready to cover that hapless woman +in her place of rest. While the men performed their sad work, Mellen +stood by, with his head bared reverentially, and the heart in his bosom +standing still. When he turned away it was with a deep, solemn sigh of +relief. The bitterness and the pain of his first love was buried +forever. Henceforth Elizabeth would have no rival, even in his memory.</p> + +<p>Mellen went home a calmer and a better man, after laying his lost one +down in her grave. Hitherto her memory had been an aching bitterness, +but with death came forgiveness, and out of that his spirit arose +chastened, gentle and tending towards a healthy cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was too deeply observant not to remark the softened +seriousness of her husband's manner when he came home that day, but +every look of tenderness that he gave her was a pang, and smote her +worse than reproaches. Could the wife who deceived her husband find joy +in the confidence which was but a mockery of her deceit. Many times +during those few days Elizabeth wished that her husband would be harsh +and cruel again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>TOM FULLER'S LETTER.</h3> + + +<p>As they were sitting at dinner the next day, Mellen inquired about +Fuller.</p> + +<p>"I have quite forgotten to ask you about Tom," he said; "he was in +France when you last wrote to me."</p> + +<p>"He has not come yet," Elizabeth replied; "the house in which he was +employed, concluded to keep him at Bordeaux for a time; in his last +letter he wrote that he might be gone another year."</p> + +<p>"Poor old Tom," Elsie said, laughingly.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth's brows contracted a little; she had never been able entirely +to forget the suffering this girl had caused the young man. Whenever she +heard her mention his name in that trifling way, it jarred upon her +feelings and irritated her greatly.</p> + +<p>"Bessie doesn't like any one to laugh at Tom," said Mellen, noticing the +expression of her face.</p> + +<p>"I confess I do not," she replied; "he is such a noble fellow at the +bottom, with an honest, kindly heart, and it seems to me that no one +really acquainted with Tom can help respecting him, in spite of his +eccentricities."</p> + +<p>"But you need not be so heroic, Bessie," returned Elsie; "Tom always +allowed me to laugh at him as much as I pleased; you know I don't mean +to be ill-natured."</p> + +<p>"No one would ever suspect you of that, Birdie," added Mellen, with a +fond glance.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth said nothing more, and the conversation "We shall have the +house crowded with visitors, I suppose," Elsie said; "Mary Harrington +told me she should only give us one day for family affection—"</p> + +<p>"I hope she won't come to stay any time just yet," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I hope so, too," added Mellen; "I should like a little enjoyment of my +home, if possible, for a week or two at least."</p> + +<p>"But people will come," said Elsie; "you must expect it. They look for +all sorts of invitations, and you must give them or mortally offend +everybody."</p> + +<p>Perhaps the idea of the gayety that would ensue was not unpleasant to +Elsie, in spite of her joy at Mellen's return; it was quite natural at +her age, and to her character, which drooped in solitude like a flower +deprived of the sun.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Mellen, "we will give them as many dinners and parties as +they like, provided they won't domicile themselves with us, Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I don't mind that so much."</p> + +<p>"Shall you take a house in town, Grant?" asked Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Do you particularly wish it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it would be pleasant, of course."</p> + +<p>"Just as you and Elizabeth choose," he said.</p> + +<p>"For my part I would rather stay here," exclaimed Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"And so would I," said Mellen.</p> + +<p>Elsie looked a little disappointed, but she concealed the feeling with +her usual quickness.</p> + +<p>"I have not told you what Doctor Peters said," she continued.</p> + +<p>"What?" her brother asked, anxious at once.</p> + +<p>"He thinks the sea air too strong for me in the winter; but, I dare say, +it is only his fancy; I would not have either you or Elizabeth disturbed +on my account."</p> + +<p>"My dear child," cried Mellen, "that settles the matter at once; we will +certainly go away from here before the cold weather comes; any where you +like; Bessie will gladly give up Piney Cove, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," answered the wife, quietly.</p> + +<p>Elsie looked triumphant; she was always elated at having her own way, +whether the thing was of importance or not.</p> + +<p>"We need not think about it now," she said, demurely; "it will be warm +and pleasant for several weeks yet."</p> + +<p>"But you must be careful," returned Mellen, "dear child; I cannot reach +home safely only to see your health give way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense, Grant, don't begin to fidget! I am ever so well; make him +believe it, Bessie."</p> + +<p>"I think so," Bessie replied; "you are stronger than you look."</p> + +<p>"Elsie requires great care," said Mellen, decidedly.</p> + +<p>Elsie did not look displeased; she liked being considered weak and +delicate; it made her more petted and at liberty to indulge her +numberless caprices in the most interesting manner.</p> + +<p>The family had that evening entirely to themselves, and it passed off +very pleasantly. Elizabeth and Elsie joined in the old songs Mellen +loved, and they all talked and laughed gaily, forgetful of the clouds +that lowered above that house.</p> + +<p>The next morning when the family met in the breakfast-room the post had +arrived, and Dolf presented Elsie and Elizabeth with several letters; +only the journals were left for Mellen, and he said, laughingly:</p> + +<p>"The division is not just—Bessie having two letters; you might give me +one."</p> + +<p>"I'm too selfish," she answered.</p> + +<p>"Mine is from Mary Harrington," observed Elsie. "Bess, you shall not +read yours till you have given us our coffee. I'll just see what the +widow says."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth poured out the coffee while Elsie opened her note.</p> + +<p>"She is coming to-day," she exclaimed; "I told you so. She sends all +sorts of messages to you, Grant; calls you a god-like, wonderful +creature, and is dying to see you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course," said Mellen.</p> + +<p>"She asks after Mr. Rhodes, Bessie—poor old fellow—she has quite +turned his head."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" asked Mellen.</p> + +<p>So Elsie explained how the widow delighted in worrying Miss Jemima, had +made desperate love to the stout man on every occasion; and in laughing +at her quaint speeches Elizabeth quite forgot her own epistles.</p> + +<p>"Why, where are your letters?" asked Elsie.</p> + +<p>"I forgot them," returned Elizabeth, drawing them from under her plate, +and adding as she glanced at the superscription of the upper one, "it is +only from the dressmaker."</p> + +<p>Elsie snatched the other, and cried out:</p> + +<p>"Why, this is from Tom Fuller; oh, see what it says."</p> + +<p>"From Tom? oh, I am so glad; I have been expecting a letter for a week +past."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth took the letter, and her face lighted up joyously as she broke +the seal and began to read.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Elsie, impatiently, "what does he say? read it out."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth uttered an exclamation of delight.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you provoking creature," cried Elsie, "do tell us what it is?"</p> + +<p>"Tom must have found a diamond mine," said Mellen.</p> + +<p>"He has," returned Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Bless me," said Elsie, "will he go about covered with diamonds?"</p> + +<p>"His old uncle has left him a fortune," explained Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>Elsie fairly screamed, and clapped her little hands with graceful fury.</p> + +<p>"Who would have thought it! Only fancy Tom Fuller rich! Why he'll be +robbed every day of his life."</p> + +<p>"How much is it?" asked Mellen. "I am very glad. Tom is a good fellow +and deserves it."</p> + +<p>He had entirely got over any suspicion that Elizabeth might ever have +cared for her cousin, and was prepared to rejoice in Tom's good fortune.</p> + +<p>"How much—how much?" broke in Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Thirty thousand a year," replied Elizabeth; "Tom is in a state of +bewilderment that makes his letter sadly incoherent; he never expected a +penny; his uncle changed his will at the last moment."</p> + +<p>"But wasn't he your uncle, too?" asked Elsie.</p> + +<p>"No; he was aunt Fuller's brother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do let me see the letter," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth gave it to her, but between excitement and his usual odd +penmanship Tom's epistle was quite a puzzle to unpractised eyes, and +Elsie went into shrieks over it.</p> + +<p>"He promised to bring me a bracelet," said she, "diamonds it shall be +now. If he brings anything less I'll send him straight back."</p> + +<p>"But when is he coming?" Mellen asked.</p> + +<p>"I can't make out," said Elsie; "here is something at the end about I +shall burn—no return—at the—the—can that be Millennium?"</p> + +<p>"Scarcely, I should think," said Mellen, laughingly.</p> + +<p>"Try and make it out, Bess," said Elsie, giving her the letter.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth took it, examined the lines to which she pointed, and after a +moment's study read it correctly.</p> + +<p>"I shall return by the Hammonia."</p> + +<p>"Why that's due now," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth glanced at the date.</p> + +<p>"The letter has been delayed," she said; "he may be here already."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it will be beautiful to see him," said Elsie; "why, he will give +all he is worth to the person that asks first. Won't it be fun!"</p> + +<p>"You shall not tease him, Elsie, as you formerly did," said Elizabeth; +"I will not have it."</p> + +<p>"But I will," said Elsie. "Thirty thousand a year! Good gracious, it +will seem as if he had fallen from the moon. Of course I'll tease him +half to death."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>THE WIDOW'S FASCINATIONS.</h3> + + +<p>About midday Mrs. Harrington arrived with a little party of friends; she +would not allow Mellen to escape her till she had overwhelmed him with +compliments and congratulations, all of which he received with becoming +resignation. When they went upstairs she said to Elsie:</p> + +<p>"I haven't seen anything of that mysterious creature, North, in an age; +what can have become of him?"</p> + +<p>"Horrid creature," cried Elsie, "don't mention his name! Now, Mary +Harrington, don't forget for once in your life! If Grant knew that we +had even one visit from a stranger he would be furious; if you let it +out neither Elizabeth or I will ever speak to you again."</p> + +<p>"My dear, I won't open my lips."</p> + +<p>"Mind you don't, that's all; if you do, I'll be even with you, as sure +as my name is Elsie."</p> + +<p>"You need not be so ferocious."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hate to be scolded, and Grant would be dreadfully angry! I +promised Bessie I would warn you, so be sure and remember."</p> + +<p>"I'll swear it if you like."</p> + +<p>"Bless me, don't be tragic! The matter is of no consequence to me, only +Bess makes such a point of it; besides that, I dread to see Grant +angry."</p> + +<p>"He never could be angry with you," said Mrs. Harrington.</p> + +<p>"Well, it would be just as bad if he scolded her."</p> + +<p>"How good you are!" cried the widow. "You are just the dearest thing in +the world."</p> + +<p>"Of course I am; but there's no use in standing here to say pretty +things to each other, for there is no one to hear."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you odd creature!" laughed Mrs. Harrington. "But, really, that man +was the strangest, fascinating person—"</p> + +<p>"There you go!" interrupted Elsie angrily.</p> + +<p>"My dear, there is no one in the room but ourselves."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if there is not; I don't want to hear that man's name."</p> + +<p>"I can't see why you dislike him so," pursued the widow. "It always +seemed to me that he and Elizabeth treated each other oddly—"</p> + +<p>Elsie interrupted her, quite pale with anger.</p> + +<p>"Mary Harrington," said she, "if you and I are to remain friends, stop +this instant. I won't hear another word, nor must the subject come up +again."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington was quite subdued by her friend's vehemence, and dropped +the matter without another allusion to the forbidden subject.</p> + +<p>When they went downstairs after the rest of the party were assembled, +Mellen began laughing at the widow about the conquest she had made of +Mr. Rhodes.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it delicious?" she cried. "I just want you to see us together—it +is better than a play."</p> + +<p>"And Jemima's spite is something to witness," added Elsie. "I know she +will poison you yet, Mary Harrington."</p> + +<p>"I am on the watch constantly," replied the widow. "I don't even engage +a strange servant now for fear it should be one of the old maid's secret +emissaries."</p> + +<p>"You are as badly off as the Duke of Buckingham," said Mellen, laughing +at Mrs. Harrington's pretended distress.</p> + +<p>"It is dreadful, I assure you," she said, shaking her plumage of lace +and gauze; "but it is very amusing, nevertheless."</p> + +<p>"Of course, if you can annoy somebody," answered Mellen; "that is the +very acme of female happiness."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you barbarous creature!" cried the widow. "Ain't you ashamed to +utter such atrocious sentiments! Mrs. Mellen, your husband has come back +a perfect savage."</p> + +<p>Everybody laughed—it never occurred to the widow it could be at her own +airs and affectations, which were a very clumsy imitation of Elsie's +childish grace; she was too thoroughly satisfied with her own powers of +fascination to suppose it possible, even for an instant, that she could +become a subject of amusement.</p> + +<p>"After all, it is tiresome to inspire a <i>grande passion</i>," said she, +with a theatrical drawl.</p> + +<p>"No woman ought to be better able to decide," cried Elsie; "you have +made enough in all conscience."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, no!" said the widow.</p> + +<p>"Don't deny it," said Elsie, who never scrupled to make sport of her +most intimate friends, and with all her fondness for Mrs. Harrington was +always leading her on to do and say the most absurd things.</p> + +<p>Elsie was in the most extravagant spirits, and had been ever since her +brother's return. She flitted about the house like a beautiful elf, and +Elizabeth could see that Mellen watched her every movement, his face +kindling with affection and each look a caress.</p> + +<p>"He has not changed," she thought, sadly; "all his tender words to me +came only from the first pleasure of finding himself at home."</p> + +<p>Then she began to shudder, as she often did now when the icy chill of +some stern thought crept over her.</p> + +<p>"Better so," she muttered; "what should I do with love and +affection—what right have I to expect them from him or any one on +earth. Is not my whole life a lie."</p> + +<p>But she banished these reflections quickly, determined to have at least +a few days of perfect freedom from anxieties, a little season of peace +and rest, in which her tired soul might restore its strength, like a +seabird reposing on the sunlit bosom of some inland lake after the +exhaustion of a long and perilous flight amid storms and tempests.</p> + +<p>Mellen, too, had laid by the suspicions which the strange circumstances +connected with his return had caused, and appeared, as he could always, +when so disposed, the most charming host possible.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth sunned her heart in the smile which lighted up his face +whenever their eyes met, and kept the dark shadows resolutely aloof from +her mind. She was determined to be happy in spite of fate.</p> + +<p>"Peace and rest!" she murmured. "I need them so much. I will have them +at any cost."</p> + +<p>The day passed as such days usually do, when all parties are amused; and +though the conversation might not have been such as altogether suited +the intellectual tastes of Mellen and his wife, they were too well-bred +for any expression of distaste, and Elsie made even nonsense charming by +her brilliant sallies and buoyant spirits.</p> + +<p>The widow had not forgotten her old ambition to fascinate Mellen, and +her efforts were highly amusing to the lookers-on. She was in doubt +whether he preferred the queenly manner and repose of Elizabeth or the +arch grace and exuberant gayety of his sister, and attempted airs which +she considered a happy medium between the two, and a most fortunate +result followed. Her efforts to support the double character delighted +Elsie immensely, who, with the usual good-nature of intimate friends, +made as much sport of her before her very face as she dared to venture +on in Mellen's presence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE HEIR COMES HOME.</h3> + + +<p>They were all assembled in the library before dinner, tired with +laughing and roaming about, tired of rowing over the sunny waters, and +glad to rest a little before the important business of dining should +commence.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a bustle in the hall, followed by a loud good-natured +voice that made Elizabeth start to her feet.</p> + +<p>"It's my cousin Tom," she cried. "Grantley, Tom Fuller has come."</p> + +<p>She rushed into the hall, and sure enough, there stood her cousin; +sunburned, a little thin from sea-sickness, but the same droll old Tom +as ever.</p> + +<p>He caught Elizabeth in his arms and uttered his first incoherent +expressions of delight when Mellen came up, and Tom commenced shaking +his two hands with immense energy, as if they had been pump handles, and +nothing but the greatest exertion on his part could save the ship.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad to see you!" he cried. "I'm so glad to get back. I declare +I can't say a word."</p> + +<p>"And I'm glad; very, very glad," replied Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"And we congratulate you heartily on your new fortune," said the widow, +joining in and extending both hands.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't speak of it," cried Tom; "it's no end of a bother to me +already. God bless you, I don't know what to do with it! How—how is +your sister?" he stammered, addressing Mellen with desperate energy; for +Elsie's name came up from his heart with a jerk.</p> + +<p>"She is quite well," Mellen answered, "and will be charmed to see you; +we were expecting you."</p> + +<p>"That's nice of you. So you've only just got back! Well, it's good to +get home, isn't it? that is, if I had any home—but it's dreary for a +solitary chap like me, now isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"This house will always seem like home to you, I hope," said Mellen, +kindly.</p> + +<p>"Always," added Elizabeth; "don't forget that, Tom."</p> + +<p>"You're too good to me," cried the soft-hearted fellow; "you always +were!"</p> + +<p>"Of course they were," said a laughing voice, that made Tom start, and +appeared to take every particle of strength out of his limbs.</p> + +<p>Elsie suddenly appeared before Tom in her brilliant evening dress and +cloud-like loveliness, reducing him to a pitiable state at once.</p> + +<p>"Don't you intend to speak to me?" pursued Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Of—of course!" said Tom. "I'm so glad to see you—will you shake +hands—will you—be—be glad to see me?"</p> + +<p>"There is my hand," replied Elsie; "the pleasure depends on how +agreeable you make yourself. I suppose you have come back with such fine +foreign manners that you will hardly deign to notice us poor plain +untravelled people."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you don't think that!" said Tom. "You are laughing at me just as +usual."</p> + +<p>"Did you bring me my bracelet?" demanded Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I did; I'd have brought all Paris if I had thought it would +please you."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth now plainly thought poor Tom had returned no wiser than when +he went away; but Mellen, man-like, never perceived the state in which +Elsie's fascinations had thrown the honest fellow, and would not have +thought seriously of the matter if he had.</p> + +<p>"Of course you speak French like a native—Iroquois, I mean," pursued +the pitiless Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Just about," replied Tom, as ready as ever to laugh at his own +blunders.</p> + +<p>"So you did not forget the bracelet?" urged Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I did not; it's in my carpet-bag."</p> + +<p>"Then I will be good natured to you all the evening," said she, "and +won't tease you the least mite."</p> + +<p>Tom was quite in ecstasies at the prospect; but Mellen said:</p> + +<p>"She can't keep her promise, no matter how hard she tries—don't trust +her, Fuller."</p> + +<p>Elsie made a gesture of playful menace and carried Tom off into the +drawing-room, quite regardless of the fact that Elizabeth had, as yet, +found hardly an opportunity of speaking to him.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington was excessively cordial to the new comer; as a poor man +she had always liked Tom for his extreme good-nature and willingness to +wait on her caprices to any extent; but now that he made his appearance +in the character of a semi-millionaire, it was perfectly natural that +she should look upon him in a totally different light, being of the +world, worldly.</p> + +<p>Tom's awkwardness would only be a pleasant eccentricity now; his +unfortunate taste in dress must pass readily as the carelessness of +wealth, and all his good qualities, which had been quite overshadowed +during his days of poverty, would now be brought to the foreground with +glowing tints.</p> + +<p>Not that Tom ever thought of this result to his heirship, he was too +unsuspicious even for a thought of the kind. When people bestowed more +interest on him than before, he would only wonder at their kindness and +think what a pleasant world this was after all, and what scores of +good-natured people there were in it, despite of the grumblers and +misanthropes.</p> + +<p>Elsie kept her word; she did not tease Tom in the least, but +deliberately bewildered him with her arts and coquetry—which set +Elizabeth to wondering what her motive could be—but perhaps she had +none at all, and was only obeying the whim of the moment.</p> + +<p>Tom produced the gold humming-bird for Elsie's hair, and a lovely little +ornament it was, with the gorget in its throat composed of emeralds and +rubies, and the long, slender bill and delicate wings formed of the most +beautiful enamel.</p> + +<p>Elsie perched it among her curls and was happy as a child with her new +toy. Nobody in the world was ever so much delighted with novel +ornaments, and few persons ever allowed the gloss to wear off them so +quickly. In all probability she would rave over Tom's gift for a week, +and by that time, if she did not lose it, would break the wings, by way +of amusement, or tear the bill off to make the point of a stiletto, or +ruin it in some other way, just to gratify her caprice, and an odd love +of destruction which was in her very nature.</p> + +<p>Tom Fuller spent the first happy evening he had known for months at +Piney Cove, and he was so deliciously good-natured and noisy in his +pleasure, that he could have supplied any lack of merriment on the part +of the other guests if it had been necessary. But it was not.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE GAUNTLET BRACELETS.</h3> + + +<p>No man with any wisdom whatever thinks of returning from a journey +without gladdening all the feminine hearts in his sphere with goodly +presents. Mellen had by no means forgotten his duty in this respect. He +had brought all sorts of curious Chinese ornaments, wonderful pagodas +for glove boxes, scented sandal wood repositories for laces, exquisitely +carved ivory boxes, and such costly trifles, which kept Elsie in perfect +shrieks of delight during the first glow of possession. He had also +brought stores of valuable ornaments which had once belonged to wealthy +Mexican families, their value increased by the quaint, old time setting, +and the romance connected with them; and Elsie consumed hours in +adorning herself with them, laughing at her own fantastic appearance, +and dancing about like a regular Queen Mab.</p> + +<p>Among these presents were a pair of very valuable bracelets, made after +a fashion prevalent in Spain two hundred years ago—you may see such +things even now preserved among the old Castilian grandees, to be kept +through all changes of time and fortune, aired on festive occasions +only, and at last, if parted with at all, left in a fit of devotion +before some Catholic shrine, as a bribe for some Heavenly privilege.</p> + +<p>When Louis XIV. was a youth and in love with Marie Mencini, he once +offended her mortally by bestowing a similar bracelet upon a young +stranger at the court. I dare wager it required a whole set of jewels to +put the haughty Marie in good humor and satisfy her Italian cupidity.</p> + +<p>These bracelets Mellen brought with him, and gave one to his wife, the +other to Elsie. They were made of a gauntlet-shaped piece of gold, +widening at the back of the wrist, and covered with delicate chasing; +the gold was so fine and pure that they were supple as a bit of kid. A +double row of pearls and emeralds ran about the edge, and the clasps +were of large diamonds, arranged in the shape of a shield.</p> + +<p>The jewels were exceeding valuable, though to anybody possessing the +least fancy, that made their least charm; they were ornaments that had +undoubtedly owned a history, and one might have woven a thousand +romances concerning the lives of those who had once worn them—that is, +one who is not ashamed of being a dreamer in this rushing, practical +age.</p> + +<p>These were the last gifts Mellen displayed, and they certainly made a +very splendid climax to the costly exhibition.</p> + +<p>As I said, the first fortnight passed off delightfully, then the +visitors departed, and there were a few days of quiet. The Mellens +renewed the gayeties then by giving a dinner-party to several families +in the neighborhood to whom they owed civility.</p> + +<p>"They are stupid people to be sure," Elsie observed, "but then it's a +little change from our own special dullness, and we have been alone for +three days."</p> + +<p>"You are such a foolish child!" returned Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all very well," laughed Elsie; "but I don't wish to make a +female Robinson Crusoe of myself, I do assure you. Bessie, old Mrs. +Thompson will wear that wonderful new head-dress, and her son will ask +me to sing and be so scarlet and fluttered when I look at him. Yes, yes, +there is some fun to be got out of a dinner-party."</p> + +<p>She mimicked the expected guests in turn, and did it so cleverly that +her companions were both obliged to laugh, so everybody prepared for the +infliction of a country dinner in the best possible spirits. It was +rather stupid to be sure, but Elsie so lighted up the room with her +radiance, and Elizabeth was so pleasant a hostess in her stately beauty, +that everything passed off tolerably, and even the most common-place of +the party brightened up a little under the influence of their hosts.</p> + +<p>The ladies had risen from the table, giving the gentlemen an opportunity +to enjoy their cigars in comfort, and were passing through the hall +towards the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>The moon shone broad and full through the windows of the hall, and +somebody remarked on the beauty of the night. Elsie darted away and +flung open the hall door.</p> + +<p>"You will get cold; don't stand there," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>Elsie danced out upon the portico in playful defiance of her sister, and +the other ladies went after her, expostulating with true feminine +eagerness.</p> + +<p>As Elsie ran away to the other end of the veranda something fell upon +the stones with a ringing noise, followed by a little shriek which she +uttered in starting back.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" called out several voices, but before they reached +her Elsie stooped, picked something up and ran towards them.</p> + +<p>"I dropped my brooch," she said; "come in. Elizabeth was right. I am +chilled through and through."</p> + +<p>She drove them playfully before her, and they all entered the parlors +laughing gayly—all but Elizabeth. It was a trifling thing to disturb +any one, and her nerves must have been in a strange state from constant +watchfulness when this little event could move her so greatly. She +leaned against the door-frame quite cold and chill. As Elsie passed her +the girl slipped something in her hand, unperceived by the others.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth stood motionless until they had all gone, then she started +forward with something like desperation, and moved towards the hanging +lamp. She opened her hand and looked down at a slip of paper carefully +folded about a broken bit of iron, as if to give it weight enough to be +thrown with sure aim. She shut her hand quickly as if the sight of the +harmless paper filled her with loathing, conquered the convulsion which +shook her from head to foot, unfolded the note and read the brief lines +it contained.</p> + +<p>Then she tore the paper into fragments and thrust them down into the +hall fire, watching till even the ashes were gone, fearful that a trace +should be left.</p> + +<p>"I must!" she muttered, "I must go—I must not wait!" She looked +eagerly about; the gay laughter of the men rang up from the dining-room; +she could distinguish her husband's voice; through the closed doors of +the parlors came the sound of the piano and a bird-like song, gleeful +and joyous, with which Elsie was amusing the ladies.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth flung her arms aloft with sudden passion.</p> + +<p>"Laughing, singing, all enjoying themselves!" she moaned, "and I here +with this horrible suffering! I must go—I must go!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth took up a shawl which lay on a chair, opened the outer door +softly, hurried down the steps and disappeared among the trees.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen did not give his male guests a very lengthy opportunity to +enjoy their claret and cigars; he had no interest in their talk about +the political affairs of the country, a recent bankruptcy, the price of +corn, or any of the topics which came up, and some time before it might +have been expected, he rose, anxious to counteract the dullness by the +presence of his wife and sister, both of whom he had regarded all the +evening with new tenderness and admiration, as they sat like a couple of +rare birds among all those fussy, ill-dressed women. Elsie was still at +the piano when the gentlemen entered. Mr. Mellen looked about for +Elizabeth, but she was not there.</p> + +<p>"She has not come in yet," said old Mrs. Thompson, in answer to his +inquiry.</p> + +<p>Elsie heard the words—she had ears keen as a little beast of prey.</p> + +<p>"One of the servants stopped her," she called out; "servants always are +stopping her—mine will be better regulated. Come here, Grantley, and +help me in this old song you like so much."</p> + +<p>"In a moment, dear," he replied.</p> + +<p>Mellen left the room, fearing that Elizabeth might be drawn away by a +headache. He had never felt so tenderly solicitous about her. These last +weeks of sunshine had made his proud nature kindly genial. He was +anxious to atone for all his old suspicions and little neglects of her +comfort.</p> + +<p>He was crossing the hall, when the outer door opened, and Elizabeth +entered. She did not observe him, and he saw her in all her unrestrained +emotion. She was deadly white, and rushed in as if seeking escape from +some danger.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth!" he called out.</p> + +<p>She started as if he had struck her, but she was accustomed now to +controlling herself, and after that first trembling fit, threw off her +shawl and forced her face into composure.</p> + +<p>"Where have you been?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Only on the veranda," she said, a little too hurriedly; "I was so tired +and my head ached—I wanted air."</p> + +<p>He looked at her, dissatisfied and suspicious.</p> + +<p>"You might have caught your death," he said; "I wonder at you."</p> + +<p>"It was foolish," she returned, trying to laugh, "but the dinner was so +tedious. Come into the drawing-room."</p> + +<p>She made an effort to speak playfully, as Elsie might have done, but it +was a failure.</p> + +<p>"Your shoes are damp," he exclaimed suddenly; "you have been on the +grass—pray what could take you there?"</p> + +<p>"I—I just ran down the steps—I won't do so again."</p> + +<p>Elsie heard their voices—she always heard everything—and opened the +door.</p> + +<p>"Come in here, you naughty people," she cried, laughing and speaking +lightly, though there was a gleam in her eyes. "Oh! Mrs. Thompson, +husbands and wives who have been separated are worse than lovers."</p> + +<p>She forced them to enter, talking in her excited way, and making +everybody laugh so much that neither the frown on Mellen's brow nor his +wife's paleness were observed.</p> + +<p>"You have been out," she found an opportunity to whisper to Elizabeth; +"you must be mad!"</p> + +<p>"I shall be!" groaned the woman; "I shall be!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>SEARCHING FOR THE BRACELET.</h3> + + +<p>The very sight of her sister's carelessness and gayety, made Elizabeth +feel how necessary it was to be composed; her husband was watching her +still. Some one asked her to play; she took her seat at the piano and +played one of her most brilliant pieces—to sing, and her rich contralto +voice rang out with new passion and power. I tell you even women can +only marvel at the power many of the sex preserve over themselves when +playing for a great stake, and the least betrayal of look or movement +might be full of danger.</p> + +<p>The evening passed off without further incident, and the guests went +away delighted with their reception, thinking what agreeable people the +Mellens were, and how happy they must be in their beautiful home.</p> + +<p>"Oh—oh—oh!" cried Elsie, flinging up her arms with a yawn that +distorted her pretty mouth out of all proportion. "Thank heaven, they +are gone! I am sure another half hour would have killed me."</p> + +<p>"You deceitful little thing!" said her brother, who had nearly recovered +his cheerfulness. "I heard you tell poor young Thompson that you had +never enjoyed yourself so thoroughly."</p> + +<p>"Of course I did; what else could I say."</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen laughed and went out of the room.</p> + +<p>Elsie was standing by the fire, she was always complaining of cold, and +Elizabeth walked towards her as the door closed.</p> + +<p>"Don't!" whispered Elsie, "you are going to talk—don't!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth dropped into a seat with a wearied look, such as a person +wears after hours of self-restraint.</p> + +<p>"It's of no use to talk," said Elsie, with an impatient gesture. "You +ought not to have gone out——"</p> + +<p>"I know; but I dared not wait. Oh, Elsie! such a scene——"</p> + +<p>"Be still!" exclaimed Elsie, with the old passion which seemed so +foreign to her nature. "I can't hear—I won't! Grantley saw you!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he was in the hall when I entered," she replied, with the same +dreary despair in her voice. "I know, I feel that something will happen +at last."</p> + +<p>"There must not—there shall not!" broke in Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Such madness—such greedy selfishness——"</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me," shivered Elsie; "please don't!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth dropped her hands into her lap with a gesture full of +weariness and desolation; as they fell apart she lifted them up to +Elsie, with a look of helpless distress.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" cried Elsie. "Don't frighten me!"</p> + +<p>"My bracelet!" moaned Elizabeth. "My bracelet!"</p> + +<p>"You have lost it?"</p> + +<p>"Gone, I tell you! He would have money—I was nearly mad—I pulled it +off to pacify him."</p> + +<p>"Which bracelet—not the new one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the one Grantley brought me. Oh, what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"He won't notice it," said Elsie; "you can wear mine."</p> + +<p>"He will notice it," returned Elizabeth. "It may be sold—he may find +it."</p> + +<p>"You can say that you lost it."</p> + +<p>"But your brother is so suspicious."</p> + +<p>"You ought to have had your wits about you," said Elsie, fretfully.</p> + +<p>"It is easy for you to talk!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "If you had been in +my place, listening to those threats——"</p> + +<p>"Stop, stop!" Elsie almost shrieked, hiding her face in her hands. "I am +going into spasms—I shall choke!"</p> + +<p>"But a crisis is near!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "You don't know all that a +bad, desperate creature is capable of, to accomplish his ends."</p> + +<p>"I can't do anything," moaned Elsie. "What am I in all this? You +promised to leave me in peace."</p> + +<p>"So I will, Elsie—I will. God knows I am ready to bear my burthen +alone; but sometimes I must speak."</p> + +<p>"It does no good," said Elsie, beginning to cry. "I'd rather be dead +than live in this way!"</p> + +<p>"Be a woman, with some feeling for a sister woman!" cried Elizabeth, +aroused into severity.</p> + +<p>"It's all very well for you to talk, you are a great strong thing; I +don't mean that you are big, but your nerves are like iron and I am so +weak. Grantley says he believes the least thing would kill me; he knows +how frail my health is."</p> + +<p>Passionate indignation lighted up Elizabeth's face for an instant, but +it softened into pity, like that with which she might have regarded a +pet animal whimpering under a hurt.</p> + +<p>"Be good to me," said Elsie. "I can't help you. I don't mean to be +selfish, but I must have my sunshine. I don't dare even to talk about it +at all. If Grant ever should find out anything, even my talking to you +about it would enrage him so!"</p> + +<p>"And what would become of me?" demanded Elizabeth. "Do you never think +of what would happen to me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but he won't find out anything," urged Elsie, changing her tone at +once. "Just let things rest. The wretch will be quiet for a time."</p> + +<p>"No, no; I tell you money must be raised."</p> + +<p>"More money?"</p> + +<p>"I promised it; there was no other way. But heaven knows where I shall +get it."</p> + +<p>"Well, tell Grant about some family or hospital——"</p> + +<p>"Lies!" interrupted Elizabeth; "always lies! Sinking deeper into the pit +every day. I tell you this constant deceit makes me hate myself!"</p> + +<p>"Now you are going off again! Oh, my head!"</p> + +<p>"Hush, I say! You are safe, at any rate!"</p> + +<p>"Whatever comes, I shall not be dragged into it?" pleaded Elsie.</p> + +<p>"No, no; have I not promised?" returned Elizabeth, in her anguish and +her bitterness, hardly noticing the girl's selfish fears.</p> + +<p>Elsie threw both arms about her neck and kissed her.</p> + +<p>"You are so good!" she said. "Oh, I wish I wasn't such a weak little +thing! Don't despise me, Bessie, because I can't do anything to help +you."</p> + +<p>"I don't—I don't. Your arm hurts me!" Elizabeth pushed the girl's +caressing arm away, struggling hard to be calm.</p> + +<p>"If I had never known——"</p> + +<p>But Elizabeth checked the selfish wail.</p> + +<p>"It is too late now to think of that. I tell you I shall not trouble you +any more."</p> + +<p>"When the paper fell on the stones," said Elsie, "I was so frightened."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth gasped for breath at the very thought.</p> + +<p>"But I managed cleverly. I am very weak and nervous, but I have my wits +about me sometimes."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was shivering from head to foot, whether with remorse at the +knowledge of evil which this young girl had gained through her, or some +hidden fear, no one could tell.</p> + +<p>"I must go to town," she said; "but what excuse can I make?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, anything! Tell Grant we want to make purchases. I'll do it. But why +must you go?"</p> + +<p>"The money, I tell you the money! I have those stocks; if I could sell +them. I might tell Mr. Hinchley I was in debt and feared to have my +husband know it. Another lie—another lie!"</p> + +<p>"Oh," groaned Elsie, "the lying is the least part of it! if that could +do you any good!"</p> + +<p>"You don't know the worst. If you had to face him! Oh, Elsie, the shame, +the remorse!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth wrung her hands again with the same passionate fury she had +displayed after reading the note. Then Elsie began to grow hysterical +and cry out:</p> + +<p>"You must stop! you must stop!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth made an effort to control her own suffering and soothe the +girl's nervous paroxysm, to which Elsie gave way with wilful +abandonment, half because she felt it, and half to escape a scene.</p> + +<p>By the time they were both quieted Mr. Mellen returned to the room, and +by one of those evil chances that often happen he began speaking of the +very subject that had aroused their fears.</p> + +<p>"Those bracelets are the admiration of everybody," he said.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth glanced at Elsie. Her first impulse was to hide her hands, but +she checked that and forced herself to utter some sort of answer to his +remark.</p> + +<p>Elsie gave another long yawn.</p> + +<p>"I am going to bed," she exclaimed; "I advise you both to do the same."</p> + +<p>"I wish I understood the meaning of the device. Let me see your +bracelet, Bessie," he continued, without heeding his sister and bent on +his own train of thought. "Just let me look——"</p> + +<p>Elsie thrust out her arm.</p> + +<p>"Look at mine," she said.</p> + +<p>"No, no; Bessie's has a different design. I want to see that. Show me +yours, Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not stir. Whiter she could not grow, but a hopeless +despair settled over her face, pitiful to witness.</p> + +<p>"Can't you show me your bracelet?" demanded her husband, with natural +impatience.</p> + +<p>"I haven't it," she faltered.</p> + +<p>"Why, I saw it on your arm at dinner!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't bother, Grant," interposed Elsie; "talking about devices, +when one is half asleep."</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, where is your bracelet?" demanded her husband, imperiously.</p> + +<p>The exigency of the case gave her courage.</p> + +<p>"I have lost it," she said, her voice sounding fairly indifferent from +the effort she made at composure.</p> + +<p>"Lost it!" he repeated. "How? Where?"</p> + +<p>"While I was out——"</p> + +<p>"She was just beginning to tell me when you came in," interrupted Elsie. +"We are both frightened to death, so don't scold."</p> + +<p>"Such unpardonable carelessness," continued Mr. Mellen. "At least, +Elizabeth, you need not appear so indifferent."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, very sorry," she answered coldly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I had lost mine, I should be wretched," cried Elsie, kissing +hers. "You dear old bracelet!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth shot one terrible look at her, but was silent.</p> + +<p>"I am glad that you at least prize my gift," said Mr. Mellen. "I suppose +you have not taken the trouble to search, Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p>"I have had no time——"</p> + +<p>"The moon is down," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>"There are lanterns, I suppose."</p> + +<p>He rang and ordered a servant to bring a lantern, went out and searched +for the missing ornament, while Elsie cowered over the hall fire and +Elizabeth stood, cold and white, in the way.</p> + +<p>Clorinda came out of her domain while Mr. Mellen and Dolf were searching +the hall.</p> + +<p>"Lost something marster?" she demanded, with the coolness peculiar to +her race.</p> + +<p>"Missis has lost her bracelet," interposed Dolf.</p> + +<p>"Laws!" cried Clorinda, not perceiving her mistress on the veranda. "I +neber seed nobody lose tings so; 'taint a month since she lost a di'mond +ring, and all she said, when her maid missed it, was, 'It can't be +helped.'"</p> + +<p>This was an aside to Dolf, but Mr. Mellen heard the words plainly, so +did Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet yer don't find it," pursued Clorinda. "I heerd steps early in +de evenin'; I knows I did, though missis called me a foolish cullud +pusson once when I told her of hearing 'em. Dar's thieves about, now; +member I tells yer!"</p> + +<p>"Clorinda," called Elizabeth, "go into the house. The next time you +venture any remark on me you will leave my service."</p> + +<p>Clorinda sallied back as if she had been shot, and darted into her own +dominions, less favorably disposed than ever towards the mistress for +reproving her before Dolf.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen dismissed the man, walked into the veranda and confronted his +wife. He was pale as death, in the moonlight. His agitation made +Elizabeth more sternly cold; she knew that look, she had borne it in his +suspicious, jealous moments in the old time.</p> + +<p>"Did you lose that bracelet, Elizabeth?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Did I not say so?" she retorted.</p> + +<p>"I can't understand it," he went on; "these sudden frights and tremors, +these mysterious losses——"</p> + +<p>"The old suspicions," she broke in, goaded into defiance by the actual +danger. "You promised me to have done with all those things, Grantley."</p> + +<p>"Admit at least——"</p> + +<p>"I will admit nothing. I will not talk to you when you speak in that +tone. I am sorry the bracelet is gone, but I am not a child to be +threatened."</p> + +<p>Elsie heard it all, and when the dialogue reached that point she crept +quietly upstairs, determined that at least she would be beyond even the +sound of their difficulty.</p> + +<p>For a few moments they retorted bitterly upon each other. Formerly it +had been Elizabeth's resolution to bear in silence, but it is hard to be +patient when one has a fatal wrong to conceal.</p> + +<p>It was very unsatisfactory, but there the matter ended.</p> + +<p>The next morning Mr. Mellen made another thorough search for the +bracelet. Still no signs of it was discovered, but he did find traces of +footsteps in the grass, which proved the truth of Clorinda's suspicions.</p> + +<p>"It's over, at all events," said Elsie, as she met Elizabeth on the +stairs.</p> + +<p>"Over!" repeated the half-distracted woman, desperately; "who can tell +how or when it may come up again?"</p> + +<p>Elsie kissed her and flew away, leaving Elizabeth to seek safety in the +solitude of her chamber, while she went in search of her brother, not +with the object of benefiting Elizabeth, but anxious to impress upon his +mind that she at least did nothing to distress or vex him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>BELOW STAIRS.</h3> + + +<p>While matters were moving on thus excitedly above stairs there was an +unusual commotion in the lower regions, effected by the machinations and +deceptions of that arch-flirt, Dolf. He had succeeded in accomplishing +what no sable gallant had ever done before; he had softened Clorinda's +obdurate heart, and made her think it possible that at some future time +she might be persuaded to place her fair self, and what she prized more, +her money, in Dolf's keeping.</p> + +<p>But the worst of it was, Dolf's susceptible fancy led him strongly in +another direction, even while his discretion warned him to follow up the +success he had achieved with the culinary nymph. Victoria was a stylish, +handsome young mulatto, and Clorinda was, undoubtedly, pure African to +the very root of her genealogical tree. African from the soul of her +broad foot to the end, I cannot say point, of her flat nose. Indeed, it +is quite possible that Dolf's yellow skin went for something in her +admiration; but unfortunately Dolf preferred the café-au-lait complexion +also, and had a masculine weakness in favor of youth and good looks.</p> + +<p>Poor Clorinda certainly did present a rather dry and withered aspect; +her hands bore rough evidence of the toil with which she had earned the +money her sable lover coveted, and their clasp was very unsatisfactory +to a man whose flirtations had hitherto been with ladies' maids. She was +sadly destitute of the airs and graces with which Victoria fascinated +the grand sex so freely upon all occasions; Clo's curly tresses held +quantities of whiteness, and she could only hide it under gorgeous +bandannas, which were now wofully out of fashion among the colored +aristocrats, and gaze enviously at Victoria's long curls, feeling her +fingers quiver to give them a pull when that damsel fluttered them too +jauntily in her eyes.</p> + +<p>There had always been trouble enough between the two, but after Dolf's +arrival the kitchen department grew very hot and uncomfortable, and even +the wary Dolf himself, skilled as he was in Lotharian practices, +frequently had great difficulty in steering clear of both Scylla and +Charybdis.</p> + +<p>Clorinda was much given to devotional exercises, and went to meeting on +every possible occasion; while Victoria, with the flightiness of her +years, laughed at Clo's psalm-singing, and interrupted her prayers in +the most fervid part by polka steps and profane redowas. In order to +propitiate Clorinda, Dolf had accompanied her to meeting much oftener +than his inclinations prompted, expressing the utmost desire to be +remembered in her prayers, all the while denouncing himself as a +miserable sinner not worth saving.</p> + +<p>But good women with a weakness for helping masculine sinners are alike +in one thing, no matter what their color may be—wickedness has a +strange attraction for them. It was the peril in which she considered +Dolf, that made Clo so lenient towards him; it would be such a triumph +to win him from his wicked ways, and lead him up to a height where he +would be secure from the craft of the evil one, and what was more +important, beyond the wiles of that yellow girl Victoria, who was +regarded by her fellow-servants as a direct emissary of the prince of +darkness.</p> + +<p>Clo labored faithfully with 'Dolf, though it must be confessed she +allowed her religious instructions to be diversified with a little more +love-making than would have been quite sanctioned by her class leader, +and for the first time in her life became extravagant in the matter of +dress, wearing the most gorgeous bandannas every day, and even adopting +an immense crinoline, which she managed so badly that it was constantly +bringing her into grotesque difficulties, to Victoria's intense delight.</p> + +<p>Of course these females, like their betters, never quarreled openly +about Dolf, but they found endless subjects of dispute to improve upon, +and sometimes that adroit fellow got into serious difficulty with both +by attempting to mediate between them.</p> + +<p>On occasions the sable rivals would hide their bitterness under smiles +and good nature, and appear almost affectionate after the influence of a +sudden truce; but Dolf learned to dread those seasons of deceitful calm, +for they were the sure precursors of an unusually fierce tempest, which, +blowing in opposite directions, it was impossible for him to escape.</p> + +<p>These three restless persons went out one evening to pay a visit to some +sable friends in the neighborhood, where the colored gentry often met +and had choice little entertainments; where the eatables came from +perhaps it would not have been wise for their employers to inquire.</p> + +<p>Old Mrs. Hopkins and her fascinating daughter, Miss Dinah, were the +possessors of this abode, and Clo and Victoria had for some time been +promising Dolf a visit there. That night seemed a favorable occasion for +the expedition, as a store of fruit pies, blanc mange and chicken salad, +had that day been moulded by Clo's own expert hands, and half a jelly +cake set aside in the closet ready for the basket which took so many +mysterious journeys in Mrs. Hopkins' direction.</p> + +<p>"I nebber sends back pieces to de table," said Clo; "it's wulgar."</p> + +<p>"In course it is," returned Dolf; "I'se sure nothing would orritate +master more."</p> + +<p>Vic attempted no deceptions on her conscience; she liked jelly cake, and +did not trouble herself about the manner in which it was obtained; since +her earliest remembrance stolen delicacies had never given her a +moment's indigestion, or the least approach to moral nightmare.</p> + +<p>They went over to visit Mrs. Hopkins and Miss Dinah, and the evening was +made a festive one, with Clo's pies, the hard cider which Mrs. Hopkins +provided, and other delicacies which composed a sumptuous entertainment.</p> + +<p>But as ill-luck would have it, two or three other friends strayed in, +and among them was a young woman as much given to coquetry as Dolf +himself; and before a great while Dolf's love of flirtation got the +better of his prudence, and plentiful doses of the hard cider rendered +him reckless. In spite of the indignation which both Clo and Victoria +displayed, he was exerting all his fascinations on the newcomer, while +her neglected beau sat looking like a modern Othello, with every glance +expressive of bowie-knives at least.</p> + +<p>When the damsel went out with Miss Dinah, for an extra bench from the +wash-house, Dolf accompanied them, and directly the company were +startled by a direful commingling of laughter and doleful shrieks.</p> + +<p>Clo flew to the door and opened it; Victoria peeped over her shoulder; +there was that perfidious Dolf encircling the stranger damsel with his +right arm, and making bold efforts to lay hold of the wash-bench with +his left.</p> + +<p>Dolf looked up and saw Clo; he was not so much under the excitement of +the cider that he could not understand the risk he ran.</p> + +<p>"Dare is pretty conducts!" exclaimed Clo.</p> + +<p>"I shud tink so," chimed in Victoria. "If you please, Miss Clorinda, I +tink I will locomote home; I ain't accustomed to sich goings on myself; +dey isn't de fashion in de Piney Cove basement."</p> + +<p>Clorinda got her bonnet and tied it on her head with an indignant jerk.</p> + +<p>The outraged damsels would hear no persuasions, and Dolf was forced to +accompany them back, and a very uncomfortable time he had of it.</p> + +<p>First they abused the impudent young pusson they had left behind, and +nearly annihilated Dolf when he attempted a word in the young woman's +favor.</p> + +<p>"I 'clar," cried Clo at last; "Mr. Dolf, yer go 'long as crooked as a +rail fence; what am de matter, are yer jest done gone and no 'count +nigger any how?"</p> + +<p>Dolf only gave a racy chuckle.</p> + +<p>"I guess goin' into the wash-room turned his head," said Vic.</p> + +<p>"De siety I'se enjoyin' at dis minit," said deceitful Dolf, "is enough +to turn de head of any gemman."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we know all 'bout dat," said Vic.</p> + +<p>"In course you does," returned Dolf, forgetting Clorinda, and trying to +seize Vic's hand, but so uncertain were his movements that she readily +escaped him.</p> + +<p>Clorinda saw it all; it was fuel to the flame which consumed her.</p> + +<p>"Miss Victory," said she, "yer needn't push me into de brook."</p> + +<p>"Who's a pushin' of yer?" retorted Victoria, with equal acidity.</p> + +<p>"Yer was, yer own self."</p> + +<p>"I didn't—so dar! Guess somethin' ails yer head too, de way yer go +on—pushin' indeed."</p> + +<p>"I scorns yer insinivations," said Clorinda, "and despises yer +actuations!"</p> + +<p>"Jis' don't go pitchin' into me and callin' me names," retorted Vic; +"'cause I won't stand it."</p> + +<p>"Ladies, ladies!" interposed Dolf. "Don't resturb de harmonium of our +walk by any onpleasant words."</p> + +<p>"I ain't a sayin' nothin'," said Vic.</p> + +<p>"Yer've said more'n I," returned Clo, "and I ain't gwine to be pushed +inter de ditch by nobody—thar!"</p> + +<p>Clorinda was naturally more irritated than Vic, because Dolf had made no +effort to seize upon her hand, which trembled to give him a pardoning +clasp.</p> + +<p>"Nobody wants ter push yer," said Vic.</p> + +<p>"I don' know 'bout dat," said Clo, solemnly; "I b'lieve if I was +murdered in my bed I shud know whar ter look for de murderer."</p> + +<p>"Sich subjects, Miss Clorinda, is not fit for yer lubly lips," said +Dolf; "don' gib dem houseroom, I begs."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dolf," returned Clorinda, with a severity that pierced like a +warning through the elation of Lothario's brain; "don' try none ob dem +flightinesses wid me; I ain't one ob dat sort."</p> + +<p>"What sort?" asked Victoria.</p> + +<p>"Neber yer mind," said Clo, with majesty; "neber yer mind, miss; +children don' comprehensianise sich like."</p> + +<p>"I onderstands Miss Clorinda, and I venerates her sentimens," observed +Dolf; "but when a gemman finds hisself in sich siety as dis, de language +of compliments flows as naturally ter his lips as—as—cider from a junk +bottle."</p> + +<p>This well-rounded period softened both the damsels a little; Dolf got +Clo on his right arm and Vic on his left; the support was not unwelcome +to himself just then; and he managed to keep them both in tolerable +humor until they nearly reached the house.</p> + +<p>Whether Dolf stumbled, or Victoria gave a sly, vicious push, it was +difficult to tell in the darkness, but Clorinda went suddenly down full +length in the path.</p> + +<p>Victoria gave a laugh of derision, and this gratification of her +malicious feelings in the misfortune of her rival, put her in high +good-humor.</p> + +<p>Dolf hastened to help Clorinda up, but his movements were a little +uncertain, and the first thing he did was to set his foot through the +crown of her bonnet, which had fallen back from her head.</p> + +<p>"I'se killed," shrieked Clo.</p> + +<p>"Do scream low, like a 'spectable ole woman!" cried the unsympathising +Vic; "yer'll hab de whole house out."</p> + +<p>"I don't keer," moaned Clorinda: "I don't keer."</p> + +<p>"Why don' yer get up?" demanded Victoria.</p> + +<p>"I'll 'sist yer, I'll 'sist yer," said Dolf, making another sidelong +movement.</p> + +<p>Clorinda endeavored to help herself, but the effort was a failure, and +there she lay covered with confusion, for she could not think of giving +the real cause of her continued prostration. The truth was she had +knocked one high heel from a pair of Mrs. Harrington's French boots, +which that lady was not likely to miss before morning; and had sprained +her ankle in the process, a very unpleasant situation for a modest and +churchgoing darkey to find herself in, late at night, and her lover +looking on.</p> + +<p>"Be yer gwine to lay dar all night!" asked Vic.</p> + +<p>"I kin't get up, I tell yer," said Clo.</p> + +<p>"Is yer bones broke?"</p> + +<p>"Smashed. One of 'em am smashed," answered Clo, ruefully.</p> + +<p>"No, no; Miss Clory, not as bad as dat," said Dolf; "don't petrificate +us wid sich a idee. Jis let me sist yer now."</p> + +<p>"No, no," cried Clorinda; "wait a minit—my foot—my foot!"</p> + +<p>"Hev yer hurt it?" demanded Vic; "let me zamine."</p> + +<p>"It's my ankle; can't yer understand?"</p> + +<p>"No, I kin't onderstand nothin' 'bout it, only yer makin' a outrageous +ole fool o' yerself, and freezin' us to death. Mr. Dolf, 'spozen we go +in."</p> + +<p>"Yer wouldn't desart a sister in distress," said Dolf, dancing about the +prostrate form, unable to comprehend why Clo would not permit him to +assist her; while she huddled herself in a heap, in true spinster fear +of showing her ankles or exposing the borrowed boot.</p> + +<p>"Now, Clo," cried Victoria, "jis git up; I won't stand dis fooling no +longer."</p> + +<p>"Help me," said Clo; "do help me."</p> + +<p>"Hain't Mr. Dolf ben a tryin' dese ten minits!"</p> + +<p>"No, no! Bend down here, Vic. Mr. Dolf, if yer's a gemman I ax yer to +shut yer eyes."</p> + +<p>"My duty is to sarve de fair," said Dolf, turning his back and peeping +over his shoulder, very curious to know what could be the difficulty.</p> + +<p>Clo whispered in Victoria's ear with agonised sharpness,</p> + +<p>"Dem boots am so high, an' my ankle is guv out, jes ondo de buttons!"</p> + +<p>A stone might have sympathised with her maidenly distress, but that +wicked Victoria burst into absolute shrieks of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, oh! yer ole fool!" she cried, between her shouts of merriment. +"Yer too ole for new fashions—telled yer so!"</p> + +<p>Clorinda's outraged modesty was forgotten in the fury which Victoria's +lack of sympathy caused.</p> + +<p>"Jis let me git up!" cried she. "I'll fix yer; I'll frizzle dem long +beaucatchers like a door mat, an' stamp on 'em."</p> + +<p>"What am it?" demanded Dolf.</p> + +<p>As well as she could speak for laughing, Victoria began "She's just +choked up her foot in Miss Harrington's high pinercled boots!"</p> + +<p>"Hush up!" interrupted Clo. "I'll pisen yer if yer don't shut yer +impudent mouth."</p> + +<p>"Ki! ki! ki! oh, laws, I shall die! Ole folks hadn't orter try to be +young uns. I've telled yer so, Clo, fifty times," shrieked the yellow +maiden; "'tain't no wonder yer snickered, Dolf; borrered feathers! he, +he! Vic!"</p> + +<p>Clorinda sprang to her feet with a yell of triumph and rage, and limping +toward Victoria, caught that yellow maiden by her much-prized tresses, +and for a few moments the battle between the rivals raged furiously.</p> + +<p>Clo quite forgot her religion in the excitement, and her language might +have shocked the elders had they heard it, while Victoria struggled +bravely to save her tresses from extermination.</p> + +<p>"De hall door's a openin'," cried Dolf, struck with a brilliant thought; +"I believe it's marster comin' out."</p> + +<p>The battle ceased. Dolf ran towards the house and the combatants after +him; Clorinda limping like a returned soldier, but Dolf never stopped +till he was safe in his own dormitory, not caring to trust himself in +the presence of either of the infuriated damsels.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the next morning it required the special interference of Mrs. +Mellen herself to settle the matter, and several days passed before +perfect harmony was restored in the lower regions at Piney Cove.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<h3>MRS. MELLEN AND HER COUSIN.</h3> + + +<p>The next afternoon Tom Fuller came down to the island again.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth and Elsie were quite alone, for Mellen had driven over to the +village on some matter of business; but the sisters were not taking +advantage of their solitude to indulge in one of those long, cozy, +confidential chats which had been their habit in former years.</p> + +<p>Elsie was in the upper part of the house amusing herself after her own +fashion, and Elizabeth sat in the little morning-room which had become +her favorite apartment of late.</p> + +<p>It was a small room in the old part of the house, somewhat sombre in its +character, but on a bright day relieved by a beautiful view of the sea +which was afforded from the French windows, the only modern feature +which Mellen had added to it.</p> + +<p>On a dark morning the apartment was gloomy enough; the ceilings were +low, crossed with heavy carved beams that made their want of height +still more apparent; the upper portion of the walls were hung with dark +crimson cloth, met half way down by a wainscoating of unpolished oak, +dark and stained with age.</p> + +<p>The furniture had been in the house since the Revolution; the massive +chairs, each one of which was a weight to lift, had been covered with a +fabric to match the hangings. The whole room had a quaint aspect, and +was filled with a store of relics and curiosities which would have +delighted a lover of the antique.</p> + +<p>Elsie detested the apartment and never would occupy it, but when alone +Elizabeth sought it from choice; the darker and drearier the day the +more pertinaciously she clung to the old room, where the shadows lay +heavy and grim, and every sound was echoed with preternatural sharpness.</p> + +<p>But this day was bright and beautiful as summer itself. The apartment +looked cheerful and picturesque, and Elizabeth made a pretty picture, +seated by one of the open windows, with her light dress forming an +agreeable contrast to the sombre draperies about her.</p> + +<p>She had a work-basket on the little spider-legged table by her side and +a mass of embroidery on her lap, but the needle had fallen from her +hold, her hands lay idly upon her knee, and she was looking out over the +bright waters with a dreamy, wistful gaze, which had become habitual +with her whenever the necessity for self-restraint was removed and she +was free to suffer, unobserved.</p> + +<p>Tom entered the room in his usual haste, and found her sitting in this +dreamy attitude; she started at the sound of his tread, and with the +caution she was daily acquiring changed her listless position, and threw +the mask of a smile over her face, which it was so dangerous to lift +even for an instant.</p> + +<p>"Here I am," cried Tom; "back again, like a bad penny. I hope you are +not beginning to hate the sight of my ugly face."</p> + +<p>He rushed towards her, upset the spider-legged table that was always +ready to topple over on the least provocation, made a hopeless labyrinth +of her embroidery silks, gave her a kiss of greeting, and hurried on +with numberless questions, just as if he were in the greatest possible +haste, and it was a necessity of life and death that he should throw off +everything that happened to be on his mind before he dashed away.</p> + +<p>"And you are not tired of seeing me, Bessie, you are sure of that?" he +repeated.</p> + +<p>"You are a silly fellow to ask such questions," she replied; "you know +how glad I am to have you come."</p> + +<p>"You're a darling old girl," cried Tom, "and there's no more to be said +about it."</p> + +<p>"Then, if you have finished, please pick up my unfortunate table. See +what a state these poor silks are in."</p> + +<p>"I'm always in mischief," said Tom, contritely, restoring the table to +its equilibrium with great difficulty; "I'm more out of place in a +lady's parlor than an owl in a canary bird's cage."</p> + +<p>"Your mistakes are better than other men's elegancies," said Elizabeth, +heartily.</p> + +<p>It rested her to be in Tom's society; with him she was not forced +constantly to play a part, and he had been a great resource to her ever +since his return.</p> + +<p>Many times she said to herself:</p> + +<p>"He would love me, whatever came—I can always depend on him."</p> + +<p>She was thinking something of the kind, just then, while she began +assorting her silks; and Tom stood meekly by, longing to repair the +mischief he had occasioned, but perfectly certain that he should only do +a good deal more harm if he attempted it.</p> + +<p>Besides that, something else was in his mind—there always was before he +had been five minutes in the house if Elsie did not make her appearance.</p> + +<p>He shuffled about, answered Elizabeth's questions haltingly, and at last +burst out:</p> + +<p>"Where is the little fairy—has she gone out, too?"</p> + +<p>"Elsie, do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Who else, of course? Where is she?"</p> + +<p>"Up in her room, I fancy," replied Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you can bear her out of your sight for an instant," +cried Tom; "I'm sure I couldn't if I lived in the house with her."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"There is no nonsense about it; it's just the truth."</p> + +<p>Several times Elizabeth had attempted to point out to him the folly of +going on in his old insane fashion, but either he would not listen or +something interrupted their conversation. Now she determined to take +advantage of the present opportunity and speak seriously with him.</p> + +<p>"I have brought her a paper of Maillard's sweet things," said Tom; +"might I call or send for her?"</p> + +<p>He darted towards the door as he spoke, but Elizabeth stopped him.</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment, Tom," she said; "come back here."</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course; I'll be back in a flash—I'll just send her these +traps," and he pulled a couple of tempting packages from his pocket, +nattily tied with pink ribbons and got up generally in the exquisite +taste which distinguishes everything from our Frenchman's establishment.</p> + +<p>"No," urged Elizabeth, "come here first; I have something to say to you, +Tom—Elsie can eat her bon-bons after."</p> + +<p>Tom came back, rather unwillingly though, and stood leaning against the +window like a criminal.</p> + +<p>"Sit down," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"No, no! I like to stand! Well, what is it, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Tom," she said, seriously, "I am afraid you have forgotten the +experience which cost you so much pain and drove you off to Europe; I +fear you are making other and deeper trouble for yourself."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Bessie—it's of no consequence any way," returned Tom, turning +fifty different shades of red at once, "What a pretty green that silk +is."</p> + +<p>"It is bright blue, but no matter! So you wont listen to me, Tom?" +continued Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"My dear girl, did I ever refuse to listen in all my life!" cried Tom. +"But you see, you're a little mistaken, Bessie; I'm not such a goney as +I used to be."</p> + +<p>"That has nothing to do with the matter."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, it has; I mean, I don't allow myself to be such a dunce, even +in my own thoughts. I never even think about—about—you know what I +mean."</p> + +<p>Tom broke down and made a somewhat lame conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom, Tom!" Elizabeth said.</p> + +<p>"Well, there!" cried he, with sudden energy; "there is no use in +standing here and telling you fibs! I do love her—I must love her—I +always shall love her—hang me if I shan't!"</p> + +<p>He was in a state of great agitation now, and trembled all over as if he +had been addressing Elsie herself.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth sighed wearily.</p> + +<p>"I thought so," she said; "I feared so."</p> + +<p>"You mean the dear girl will never care for me. How could any one expect +her to—I couldn't—'tisn't in reason."</p> + +<p>"Then, Tom, she certainly ought not to treat you as she does and lead +you on."</p> + +<p>"She doesn't lead me on."</p> + +<p>"But her manner does not forbid your attentions, and you are too worthy, +dear cousin, for anything but honest dealing."</p> + +<p>"It's my fault—all my fault."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth shook her head.</p> + +<p>"You have the best heart and the worst head in the world," said she.</p> + +<p>"You musn't blame her," continued Tom; "I can't stand that! Pitch into +me as often and as hard as you like, you never can say enough, but don't +blame her."</p> + +<p>"Let us leave her share in the matter, then, out of the question," +continued Elizabeth. "If you believe what you say, is it wise to run +into danger as you do?"</p> + +<p>"There's no help for it, Bessie; I should die if I could not see her +dear little face! Oh, you can't think what I suffered while I was +gone—I didn't talk about it—I don't even want to think of it; but, +Bessie, dear, sometimes I used to think I should go out of my senses."</p> + +<p>He was speaking seriously now; his face was absolutely pale with +emotion, and his eyes—the one fine feature of his face—were misty with +a remembrance of old pain.</p> + +<p>"Poor Tom," murmured Elizabeth, in her pitying way, always full of +sympathy for the trouble of others, whatever her own might be; "poor, +dear Tom, I know how hard it is."</p> + +<p>"No; you can't know, Bessie; you can't have the least idea! You don't +know what it is to have something to hide—to go about with a secret +gnawing at your heart—never able to open your lips—suffering night and +day—"</p> + +<p>He stopped suddenly and looked at his cousin with wonder; she was +leaning back in her chair, her face was pale as death, and her lips +parted in a dreary sigh.</p> + +<p>Tom drew close to her chair and bent over her, with a look of anxious +surprise on his disturbed features.</p> + +<p>"Are you sick, Bessie?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No, no," she answered, controlling herself.</p> + +<p>His words brought up her own secret burden so vividly before her that +for an instant she had been dreadfully shaken.</p> + +<p>"You look so pale; I'm afraid you are going to be ill."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I am not," she answered.</p> + +<p>Tom knelt down by her on both knees, played with her embroidery silks, +and finally said:</p> + +<p>"Bessie, since we're talking plainly, may I say something?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Somehow, since I came back from Europe, you don't seem so happy as you +used—maybe it's only one of my blunders—but I have thought you looked +troubled—like a person that was always expecting something dreadful to +happen."</p> + +<p>She forced a smile upon her lips and then compelled them to answer him:</p> + +<p>"Oh, you foolish Tom!"</p> + +<p>"Then it is not so!" he urged. "You are not unhappy?"</p> + +<p>"How could I be unhappy—is not my life pleasant, prosperous beyond +anything I could ever have hoped for?"</p> + +<p>"It seems so; that made me think it must be just one of my silly +fancies."</p> + +<p>"Nothing more, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Mellen's the most splendid fellow in the world," pursued he; "and you +couldn't well be sad with that little darling about you."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth took up her silks again.</p> + +<p>"Dismiss all such thoughts from your mind, Tom."</p> + +<p>"I shall be only too glad. But tell me once more that I am an +over-anxious busybody, minding everybody's concerns but my own. You see, +Bessie, I love you like a sister, and will stand by you, by Jupiter, +always. But these stupid ideas of mine, there's no foundation for them?"</p> + +<p>"How could there be?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I say to myself always," cried Tom. "Well, dear, I won't +think such nonsense again."</p> + +<p>"Do not, I beg; and never mention it to anybody."</p> + +<p>"There's no danger of that," said Tom. "But you know, if you should get +unhappy or in trouble, there is always one old chap you could lean on."</p> + +<p>"I believe that, Tom; I do indeed."</p> + +<p>"And you would come to me, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"If you could help me, yes. But trouble must come to all, Tom; and, +generally, we must each bear our burdens alone."</p> + +<p>"How sad your voice sounds, Bessie."</p> + +<p>She made an effort to speak playfully:</p> + +<p>"You are getting all sorts of ridiculous fancies in your head; don't be +so foolish."</p> + +<p>Tom was relieved by her manner, and began to laugh at his own ridiculous +mistakes, rising from his knees and brushing the dust away with his +handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"My head is a poor old trap," he said. "Well, well, I am glad you are +happy—very glad."</p> + +<p>"And I want you to be happy, Tom."</p> + +<p>"I am, upon my word, I am! I don't allow myself to think any more or to +look forward, but just live on, glad to be in the sunshine. 'Tisn't a +bad world, after all, Bess; things usually come right in the end."</p> + +<p>If she could only believe it—if she could but accept his cheerful +philosophy and his unwavering trust; but, alas! the sleepless dread at +her heart prevented that.</p> + +<p>"And about my stupid self, Bessie," added Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, about your dear, good self," answered Elizabeth, glad to remove +the subject from any connection with her secret dread.</p> + +<p>"And my useless bits of affairs," pursued Tom; "just let things rest as +they are, it's the best way."</p> + +<p>"I don't wish to do anything to annoy you," she replied; "and you know +very well I am the last person in the world to interfere——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't talk like that, or I shall think you are offended."</p> + +<p>"Not in the least, Tom; I only meant to say that it was my regard for +your happiness that made me speak."</p> + +<p>"I know—I feel that, Bessie; but just let things go on! Perhaps I am +asleep and dreaming, but the slumber is pleasant, so don't wake me; it's +cruel kindness, dear."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth said nothing more; it was useless to pursue the subject; where +Tom was concerned she saw plainly that it could do no good, his heart +was fixed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>LURED INTO DANGER.</h3> + + +<p>Just as Elizabeth was thinking over this conversation, and giving +another little sigh for Tom and what she feared for him, a blithe young +voice rang in the hall, carolling like a bird.</p> + +<p>"There she is!" exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>His face lighted up, his whole frame seemed to expand with delight. +Elizabeth watched him. She knew better than ever that his heartstrings +were twined about that young creature, that his very soul had gone out +in worship at her feet.</p> + +<p>"And where are you hidden, Lady Bess?" sang Elsie, gayly.</p> + +<p>Tom rushed to the door and flung it open, upsetting the table again, and +this time leaving Elizabeth to pick it up herself.</p> + +<p>"Here she is, my fairy princess!" he called, standing in the doorway and +looking up at her as she paused on the stairs.</p> + +<p>"In that dismal den and guarded by a dragon," cried Elsie, peeping at +him through the banisters, mischievously. "Pray where did you come from, +C[oe]ur de Lion?"</p> + +<p>"If you knew what I had brought for my lady-bird, you would be on your +prettiest behavior and give me your best welcome," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"It's bon-bons!" cried Elsie with a shriek of delight. "The ogre means +pralines and caramels and marons glacés!"</p> + +<p>"Come down and see," said Tom, mysteriously.</p> + +<p>Elsie danced downstairs and entered the room where her sister sat.</p> + +<p>"Ugh, the ugly place!" said she. "It makes me shiver!"</p> + +<p>"Better come into the den than lose the sweets," said Tom, opening the +papers and pretending to eat greedily.</p> + +<p>"He won't leave a drop!" cried Elsie, darting upon him.</p> + +<p>Tom prolonged the playful struggle artfully enough; and when a truce was +concluded it was only on condition that he should feed her with the +sugarplums, and as he did not satisfy her greediness fast enough, there +was a great deal of sport and laughter between the pair.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth sat in the window and watched them, sighing sometimes and +regarding Elsie with a strange pain in her eyes, as if annoyed and +troubled that the happy creature could not leave her the full affection +of this one heart.</p> + +<p>"I want to go out on the water," said Elsie. "Will you take me, you ugly +giant?"</p> + +<p>"Won't I!" said Tom. "I'd take you to the moon if you liked."</p> + +<p>"But I don't wish to try the moon, thank you; a nice long row will +satisfy me. Come along, Bessie!"</p> + +<p>"Not to-day," answered Elizabeth coldly.</p> + +<p>"You're a hateful, poky thing!" cried Elsie. "Well, I shall go, the sun +is lovely."</p> + +<p>"I'll run down to the shore and get the boat ready," said Tom, +ecstatically.</p> + +<p>He darted away, and Elsie stood for a few moments crushing the candies +between her white teeth and looking at Elizabeth, half frightened, half +defiant.</p> + +<p>"You are very busy," said she.</p> + +<p>"One can't be idle," replied Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, can't one? It just suits me, thank you."</p> + +<p>"Elsie," said her sister, suddenly, "I want to say something."</p> + +<p>"If it is anything unpleasant, I won't hear. I won't hear. I want to be +happy. Let me alone!"</p> + +<p>"It is about yourself; don't be alarmed."</p> + +<p>"Well, say it; but you are going to scold or something else dreadful, I +know by your voice."</p> + +<p>"Don't be such a baby," said Elizabeth, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"There! I knew you were cross! How can I help being a baby? I like it, +and I will be one."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you are acting honestly with Tom?" said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I'm not acting at all," replied Elsie fretfully. "I can't help his +coming here constantly. You wouldn't have me rude to your own cousin?"</p> + +<p>"You know what I mean. He loves you, in spite of your conduct before he +went abroad——"</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," Elsie broke in again. "If people will fall in love +with me it's their own fault; I don't ask them."</p> + +<p>"But you can help encouraging him and leading him on to greater pain."</p> + +<p>Elsie pouted.</p> + +<p>"How do you know I shall?"</p> + +<p>"You would not marry him," exclaimed Elizabeth, suddenly. +"You—you—you——"</p> + +<p>"You don't know anything about it. Let Tom and me alone. I think you are +growing a cross old thing."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie, do be serious for one moment."</p> + +<p>"Let me alone!" she repeated. "You are always spoiling my sunshine. I +believe you hate me!"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk so wildly, Elsie. But you cannot blame me for being anxious +about Tom's happiness."</p> + +<p>"And, pray, should I make him wretched if I married him?" she exclaimed +defiantly.</p> + +<p>"You won't do that. You——"</p> + +<p>"I'll do what I please; and don't you meddle with me, just remember +that!"</p> + +<p>The voice was sharp and unlike Elsie's usual tone, but she quickly +resumed her childish manner, and added:</p> + +<p>"I'll be good—don't scold. There, I'm going now—good-bye!"</p> + +<p>She danced out of the room and through the house, and Elizabeth heard +her voice on the lawn, calling to Tom, to know if the boat was ready.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth kept her seat, looking absently across the water. Presently +she saw the little skiff shoot out from the shore, under the impetus of +Tom's muscular arms, while Elsie leaned back in the stern, wrapped in a +pale blue shawl, and reminding Elizabeth of the old German legend of the +Lurlei.</p> + +<p>She sat there a long time, with her former mournful thoughts all +trooping back, like ravens to a desolated nest. The gloom upon her +spirits waxed deeper, and the chill that had begun during the past days +to creep about her heart tightened and grew cold, as if it were changing +to an icy band, which would freeze her pulses in its tightening clasp. +She looked out through the sunshine, watching the light boat till it +became a mere speck in the distance, and finally disappeared among the +windings of the long curve of land which stretched out into the ocean.</p> + +<p>Thinking, thinking, always the same dreary round, till she grew so weary +with the ceaseless anxiety, the constant necessity for plots and plans, +the need of reflection, even, in slightest act, and, worse than all, the +sleepless fear of discovery which hovered over her, asleep or awake, +that it seemed sometimes that she could no longer uphold the burden, but +must allow it to fall and crush her.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was passing, but the little boat had not yet appeared in +sight again. There was no danger that Tom would think of fatigue while +he could sit looking in the face of his syren, listening to her low, +sweet songs; nor was there the slightest possibility of her ever +remembering that the strongest muscles must at last feel a little need +of relaxation. Just as long as it pleased her to float over the sunlit +waters, carolling her pretty melodies or talking gay nonsense to Tom, +and blinding him utterly with the wicked lightning of her eyes, she +would think of nothing else.</p> + +<p>At last Mr. Mellen's step sounded in the hall. Elizabeth heard it, and +immediately gathered up her embroidery silks, making a great pretence of +being busy, lest he should enter suddenly, and pierce her with one of +his dark, suspicious glances, which made her heart actually stand still +with apprehension.</p> + +<p>He came on towards the room, looked in at the door and saw his wife +sitting there apparently quiet, comfortable, and wholly occupied with +her pretty task.</p> + +<p>She glanced up and nodded a welcome.</p> + +<p>"So you have come back," she said; "I have been wishing for you."</p> + +<p>He smiled, came forward and stood by her, saying:</p> + +<p>"I thought you had given up any such weakness. You seem very busy."</p> + +<p>"This tiresome embroidery has been lying about so long that I am working +on it for very shame," she replied.</p> + +<p>"Elsie began it and was delighted with it for three days, but she has +not touched it since."</p> + +<p>"Very like the little fairy," he said, with a smile any reference to the +young girl always brought to his lips.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not wish to talk, it was important that she should hide +the real feelings that oppressed her even under an appearance of +playfulness. She looked up and smiled:</p> + +<p>"If you were good-natured you would sit down here and read to me. There +is Bulwer's new book."</p> + +<p>"I will, with pleasure; but where is Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom Fuller came, and she made him take her out for a row; so I have +been alone in my den, as she calls it."</p> + +<p>"The child can't bear the least approach to a shadow," he said; "she +must have her sunshine undisturbed."</p> + +<p>He drew an easy chair near the window where Elizabeth sat, took up the +novel she had asked him to read, and began the splendid story.</p> + +<p>He read beautifully, and Elizabeth was glad to forget her unquiet +reflections in the melody of his voice and the rare interest of the +tale. Mellen himself was in a mood to be comfortable and at rest.</p> + +<p>The brightness of the sunset was flooding the waters before either of +them looked up again. Then Mellen said:</p> + +<p>"Those careless creatures ought to come back; it grows chilly on the +water as evening comes on, and the least thing gives Elsie cold."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth shaded her eyes with her hand and looked over the bay.</p> + +<p>"They are coming," she said; "I can see them."</p> + +<p>Mellen looked in the direction to which she pointed, and saw the boat +rounding a point of land and making swiftly up the bay.</p> + +<p>"Tom is as strong as a young Hercules," he said, watching the little +skiff as it fairly flew through the water under the impulse of that +powerful arm, and aided by the inward rush of the tide.</p> + +<p>They remained watching it till it approached near enough for them to +distinguish Elsie's white wrappings. Suddenly Mellen said:</p> + +<p>"She is rocking the boat dreadfully! She is standing up—The girl is +crazy to run such risks!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth looked and saw Elsie erect in the skiff, her shawl floating +around her, rocking the boat to and fro with reckless force, while she +could see by Tom's gestures that he was vainly expostulating with her +upon her imprudence.</p> + +<p>Mellen went into the hall and out on the veranda, with some vague idea +of trying to attract the imprudent girl's attention by signals; but the +skiff was far off, and Elsie too much occupied to observe them.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth threw down her work and followed him, standing by his side in +silent apprehension.</p> + +<p>"She is mad!" exclaimed Mellen, "absolutely mad!"</p> + +<p>Elsie's gay laugh rang over the waters, and they could see Tom +expostulating with more animated gestures.</p> + +<p>"She will fall overboard, as sure as fate!" cried Mellen. "Oh! Elsie, +Elsie!"</p> + +<p>But the exclamation could not reach the reckless creature; probably she +would have paid no attention had she heard it.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see how it rocks!" cried Elizabeth with a shiver.</p> + +<p>"She is frightened at her own recklessness," said Mellen, "but will not +stop, because it disturbs Tom."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps there is less danger than we think," began Elizabeth, but a cry +from her husband checked the words.</p> + +<p>She looked—the boat had tipped till the edge was even with the water; +suddenly Elsie tottered, lost her balance—there was a smothered shriek +from the distance—then she disappeared under the crested waves.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE AFTER STRUGGLE.</h3> + + +<p>Mellen sprang down the steps and rushed across the lawn, with some mad +idea of trying to rescue his sister; and, following as well as her +trembling limbs would permit, Elizabeth saw Tom throw off his coat and +plunge into the water.</p> + +<p>"He will save her!" she cried; "he will save her!"</p> + +<p>Mellen only answered by a groan; he was looking wildly about for a boat, +but there was none in sight; thus powerless to aid his darling—he could +only stand and watch the struggles of another to rescue her from that +death peril. They saw an object rise above the waves—saw Tom swim +towards it—seize it—he had caught the girl in his arms. The couple on +the lawn could neither move nor cry out; but stood in breathless +expectation, and watched him support his burthen with one arm, while +with the other he swam towards the skiff, which the tide was bearing in +towards the shore. It was a long pull; they could see that he began to +falter after his exertions in rowing; a deathly fear crept over both +those hearts, but they did not speak—scarcely breathed.</p> + +<p>Suddenly an outgoing wave washed the helpless girl from Tom's grasp; she +was sinking again. Strong man as he was, Grantley Mellen's courage gave +way; then covering his face with his hands he sallied back, resting +against a tree, afraid to look again. White and cold, Elizabeth watched +the boat drift one way, and saw Tom snatch at the girl's dress and get +her again in the grasp of his strong arm.</p> + +<p>"He has caught her!" she gasped. "He has almost reached the boat. +Grantley! Grantley! she is safe!"</p> + +<p>Mellen looked up. Tom had just put his hand on the side of the skiff, +and was lifting Elsie in. It was evidently the last effort of his mighty +strength, for he floated for some distance, holding on to the boat +before he had power to attempt more. The husband and wife watched him +while he got into the boat himself, lifted Elsie's head on his knee, and +allowed the tide almost entirely to wash them towards the beach.</p> + +<p>As they approached the bank Elsie began to recover consciousness. As Tom +took her in his arms and sprang with a staggering bound on shore, she +opened her eyes and saw her brother and Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I'm safe," she said, faintly, "quite safe. Don't be afraid."</p> + +<p>It was not a moment for many words. With an exclamation of thankfulness, +Mellen snatched Elsie from Tom's arms and carried her into the house. In +a few moments their united exertions brought the reckless girl +completely to herself. She looked up and saw the anxious faces bent over +her.</p> + +<p>"Don't scold," she cried, "Tom saved me, Grant, Tom saved me!"</p> + +<p>Mellen grasped Fuller's hands.</p> + +<p>"I can't thank you, I can't," he said. "God bless you, my friend."</p> + +<p>Tom was shaking from head to foot, his drenched garments dripping like a +river god's, but he answered as soon as his chattering teeth would +permit:</p> + +<p>"Don't say a word. I'd have drowned myself, if I hadn't saved her."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth insisted upon Elsie's being carried upstairs to her room, and +sent Tom off to change his dress; luckily, in his frequent visits, he +had always forgotten some portion of his baggage, so dry clothes were +found in his room.</p> + +<p>Before Mellen had recovered from the shock sufficiently to be at all +composed, Elsie was dressed and lying on the sofa in her own room, quite +restored, with the exception of her unusual pallor. She had been wrapped +in a rose-colored morning robe, trimmed with swansdown, and lay in +delicate relief on the blue couch of her boudoir. Mellen was bending +over her and holding her hands, as if he feared to let her free for an +instant; while Elizabeth stood near, finding time, now that her labors +were over, to watch her husband and wonder if danger to her would have +brought a pang like this to his heart.</p> + +<p>"I am quite well now," said Elsie, "and I didn't feel much frightened."</p> + +<p>"Oh, child!" said her brother, "promise me never to run such risks +again."</p> + +<p>"But you mustn't scold," she pleaded; "think of the danger I was in! Oh! +it was horrible to feel the water closing over my head—to go +down—down!"</p> + +<p>"Don't think of it," cried Elizabeth, making a sudden effort to change +the conversation, from a fear that dwelling upon the danger which she +had incurred might bring on one of Elsie's nervous attacks.</p> + +<p>"No," added Mellen; "it is all over now, quite over—don't think of it +any more."</p> + +<p>"You look pale, Grant."</p> + +<p>"No wonder, no wonder!"</p> + +<p>The girl gave him one of her wilful smiles.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I tried the experiment to see how much you loved me?"</p> + +<p>Mellen lifted her in his arms and rested her head upon his shoulder, +while many emotions struggled across his face.</p> + +<p>"Child!" he said, in a tremulous voice, "you knew before—you have +always known. My mother's treasure—my pride—my blessing!"</p> + +<p>There Elizabeth stood, forgotten, disregarded—so it seemed to her; but +she made no sign which could betray the bitter anguish at her heart.</p> + +<p>There came a knock at the door.</p> + +<p>"That's Tom Fuller," said Elsie; "tell him to come in, Bessie."</p> + +<p>Mellen started up and opened the door himself. There stood Tom, clad in +dry garments, but still greatly agitated.</p> + +<p>"How is she?" he asked. "Is she better?"</p> + +<p>"You have saved her life!" exclaimed Mellen, grasping his two hands; +"you have saved her life!"</p> + +<p>"But is she better?" he repeated, quite too anxious for any thought of +the credit due himself, and too unselfish to desire it even if he had +remembered.</p> + +<p>"Come in and see," called Elsie, in a tender voice from her sofa.</p> + +<p>Tom brushed by Mellen, and down he went on his knees by the couch, +exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"She looks all right now. Oh, thank God!"</p> + +<p>Mellen had been too profoundly disturbed himself for conjecture +regarding this passionate outburst; to him it seemed natural that every +one should be agitated, and Elsie soon brought them back to safer +common-places by her gayety, which not even the peril from which she had +been so recently rescued could entirely subdue.</p> + +<p>"I declare, Tom," said she, "you are useful in a household located near +the water, as a Newfoundland dog."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't laugh," cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"But you must!" said the wilful creature. "You will not put on long +faces because I am saved, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Elsie," said her brother, "you ought to sleep awhile; Tom and I will go +out."</p> + +<p>"No, no," she persisted, "I am not in the least sleepy—you must not go +away—I shall only get nervous if you leave me alone; I shall be quite +well by dinner-time. Tom Fuller, don't go!"</p> + +<p>They did not oppose her; every one there knew that it was of no use, for +in the end they would surely yield to her caprices.</p> + +<p>"I haven't thanked you yet, Tom," she said.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what there is to thank me for."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said Elsie; "so you don't think my life of enough importance +to have the saving of it a matter of consequence?"</p> + +<p>"You know that wasn't what I meant," said Tom, rubbing his damp hair +with one hand.</p> + +<p>"You are too bad," said Mellen, laughing, "too bad, Elsie."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I shall tease him more than ever," replied Elsie; "he will grow +conceited if I don't. Tell him how much you like me to tease you, old +Tom."</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, a little ruefully, "you have always done it, and I +suppose you always will—I shouldn't think it was you if you stopped +now."</p> + +<p>Even Elizabeth laughed, and Elsie said:</p> + +<p>"There, there, old Tom, don't get sentimental. Perhaps I'll be +good-natured for three days by way of reward for pulling me out of the +water."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to save your life every day in the week at that rate," cried +Tom in ecstasy.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" added Mellen; "I think one such exploit is quite enough."</p> + +<p>Elsie seized Tom's hand, and said with real feeling:</p> + +<p>"Tom, I do thank you—I can't tell you how much."</p> + +<p>"Don't, don't!" he pleaded. "If you say another word I'll run off and +never show my face again."</p> + +<p>Elsie began to laugh once more, and the lingering trace of seriousness +died quite out of her face.</p> + +<p>"Tom is good at a catastrophe," said she, "but he can't carry on the +blank verse proper to the after situation."</p> + +<p>"Blank enough it would be," rejoined Tom, and then he was so much +astonished to find that he had made a sort of joke, that the idea +covered him with fresh confusion.</p> + +<p>Elsie's disaster passed off without dangerous consequences to the +reckless girl, and she had half forgotten the occurrence long before +Mellen recovered composure enough to thank, with sufficient fervor, the +noble-hearted man who had saved her life.</p> + +<p>From that day Tom Fuller took a place in Mellen's esteem which he had +never held before; his gratitude was unbounded, and as he learned to +know and appreciate the young man, he found a thousand noble qualities +to admire under that rugged exterior. And as Elsie softened into gentler +earnestness, and drew closer to him day by day, Tom became so completely +engrossed in his happy love-dream that he had not a single thought +beyond it. In her loneliness and her anxieties which separated her so +completely from those three hearts, Elizabeth Mellen watched, sighed +sometimes, whispering to herself:</p> + +<p>"She has taken even Tom from me. I have nothing +left—husband—relative—all, all abandon me for her."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A HALF UNDERSTANDING.</h3> + + +<p>Elsie was twenty now, but looking younger from her fragile form and the +extreme delicacy of her complexion. The reader knows how winsome and +playful her manners were; how she was loved and cherished by her +brother, and it seemed hard that a creature like her, so innocent and +winsome, should have even a knowledge of the secret which oppressed +Elizabeth. It seemed to prove more depth of character than one would +have expected, that she was in any way able or willing to help her +sister-in-law to bear her secret burthen, let that burthen be what it +might.</p> + +<p>The vague thoughts which had troubled Grantley Mellen on the night of +his arrival, had died out. On calm reflection he could understand that +it was quite in keeping with the restrained intensity of Elizabeth's +nature, that the very violence of the storm should have forced her into +it. That the sudden sound of his voice and step should have brought on +the nervous weakness to which she so seldom gave way, was equally +natural after so much excitement.</p> + +<p>Then Elsie came back so blithe and blooming, brought so much sunshine +into the house, and drew them both so much into her amusements, that the +first days of Mellen's return were pleasant indeed.</p> + +<p>The weather had been delightful; they enjoyed rides and drives, +moonlight excursions upon the water; there had been visits to receive +and return among neighbors and friends; people had heard of Mellen's +return, and came uninvited from New York, bringing all that festal +bustle and change which puts holidays every now and then into the +ordinary routine of our lives.</p> + +<p>The first days passed and still the sky was unclouded. Grantley Mellen +began to think that he was at last to be happy, and grew cheerful with +the thought. So for a time love cast out all fear in the husband's +heart.</p> + +<p>There had been no further return of that inexplicable nervousness in +Elizabeth; the strained, anxious look almost entirely left her face; she +was even more lively than was customary with her. It was not that the +fear and dread had left her mind, but she was on her guard, and there +was a reticence and strength in her character which even those who knew +her best did not fully understand. A stern, settled purpose would keep +her through her course, whatever might lie behind.</p> + +<p>During those happy days there had been no more confidences between her +and Elsie; indeed it seemed almost as if Elizabeth avoided the girl—not +in a way to be noticed even by Mellen's quick eyes—if it was so, Elsie +on her side did not attempt to break through these little restraints +that had fallen around them. It was natural that she should be glad to +escape from the gloom which surrounded Elizabeth, and in this respect +the fickleness of her character was fortunate; from her lack of +concentrativeness, the girl was able to throw off any trouble the moment +its actual danger was removed from her path.</p> + +<p>Thus the first days had passed, allowing them to settle down into +tolerable quiet, but not too much of it, for Elsie could not endure +that. Society was her element; trifle and champagne seemed her natural +nourishment, and she drooped so quickly if compelled to seclusion, that, +with his usual weakness where she was concerned, Mellen relinquished his +own desires to gratify her caprices.</p> + +<p>You may think this not in keeping with his character and habits, but +reflect a little and you will see that it was perfectly natural. The +promise which he had made to his mother was always in his mind; he never +forgot his fears for Elsie's health; she was more like a daughter than a +sister to him, and her very childishness was a great charm to a man of +his grave nature. The very servants delighted in waiting on her, though +her requirements were numerous; but they did it all willingly, and put a +great deal more heart into her service than they ever exhibited in +obeying Elizabeth's moderate and reasonable requests. They mistook Mrs. +Mellen's quiet manners for pride, and held her in slight favor in +consequence; so dazzled by Elsie's manner, that when she gave them a +cast-off garment or a worthless ornament, it seemed a much greater boon +than the real kindness Elizabeth invariably displayed when they were in +sickness or trouble.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth humored her sister-in-law with the rest, but there was a +soreness at her heart all the while; for sometimes when she saw this +young creature clinging about her husband, her face wore the strange +expression it had done while she watched their meeting after his return.</p> + +<p>The domestic life at Piney Cove was nearly happiness at this time. But +for Elizabeth's hidden anxieties, Mellen's return would have made that +old house almost like heaven. As it was, this haunted woman would +sometimes forget her causes of dread, and break out into gleams of +loving cheerfulness in spite of them.</p> + +<p>After the night on which the bracelet was lost, the sunshine which had +brightened the little household at Piney Cove was dimmed by a thousand +intangible shadows. In spite of all his efforts, Grantley Mellen's +suspicions were aroused and kept on the alert, searching for proofs that +could only bring unhappiness when found.</p> + +<p>You would not have said that he was suffering from jealousy; there was +nothing upon which his mind settled itself that gave rise to that +feeling, but he fretted absolutely because he had no power to discover +every thought of Elizabeth's soul during his absence. Then as he +reflected upon the mystery connected with his arrival, came up afresh +the disappearance of the bracelet, and he lost himself in a maze of +irritating conjecture, of which his fine judgment often grew ashamed.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth wore her old proud look for several days after the night of +the dinner-party. Grantley felt that the ice of the past was freezing +between them once more, and the idea caused him acute pain.</p> + +<p>He sat watching her one day as she bent over her needlework, talking a +little at intervals, listening occasionally to passages from his book; +oftener sitting there with her fingers moving hurriedly, as if she were +pressed for time, but her anxious face proving how far from this +occupation her thoughts had wandered.</p> + +<p>More than once Mellen saw the dark brows contract as if under actual +distress, and as he ceased to speak, and seemed wholly absorbed in his +book, he could see that her reverie became more absorbing and painful.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth!" he said suddenly.</p> + +<p>His wife started. In her preoccupation she had forgotten that he was in +the room—forgotten that she was not alone with those dark reflections +which cast their shadow over her face.</p> + +<p>"Did you speak, Grantley?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; how you started!"</p> + +<p>"Did I start?" she asked, trying to laugh. "I don't know how it is that +I grow so nervous."</p> + +<p>"You never were so afflicted formerly."</p> + +<p>"No; I don't remember," she replied quickly. "But you know I had a good +deal of care and responsibility during your absence; it may be that +which has shaken me a little."</p> + +<p>"Do you believe it?" he asked, in a constrained voice.</p> + +<p>She shot one glance of indignant pride at him; for an instant she looked +inclined to leave the room, as had frequently been her habit during the +first months of their marriage, when he irritated her beyond endurance.</p> + +<p>But if Elizabeth had the inclination she controlled it. After a moment's +silence she laid down her work and approached the sofa where he was +lying.</p> + +<p>"Don't be severe with me, Grantley," she said, with a degree of humility +unknown to the past; "my head aches drearily—I don't think I am well."</p> + +<p>His feelings changed as he looked at her; she was not well; he could see +the traces of pain in the languid eyes and the contracted forehead, but +whether the suffering was mental or physical even a physiognomist could +not have told.</p> + +<p>He reached out his hand and drew her towards him; she sat down on the +sofa and leaned her head against his shoulder with a little sigh of +weariness.</p> + +<p>"I can rest here," she whispered; "it is my place, isn't it, Grantley?"</p> + +<p>There was tender, almost childish pleading in her voice; he lifted her +face, looked into her eyes and saw tears there.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Bessie?" he asked. "Have I hurt you?"</p> + +<p>The recollection of all the doubts and suspicious thoughts which had +been in his mind came back, and forgetful of his idea that some recent +anxiety made the change in her manner, he reproached himself with having +brought a cloud between them by his own actions.</p> + +<p>"Have I pained you in anything, Bessie?" he repeated.</p> + +<p>"I feared the old trouble was coming back," she whispered.</p> + +<p>"No, no; it must not, it shall not, Bessie! I am to blame—but if you +knew what this wretched disposition makes me suffer! Every heart I +trusted in my early life deceived me. I have only you left now—you and +Elsie."</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was natural that she should feel a little wifely jealousy at +having his sister forced in, even to their closest confidence; her face +was overclouded for an instant, but she subdued the feeling and said, +kindly:</p> + +<p>"I know what you have suffered, dear; I can understand the effect it has +had upon your character—but you may trust me—indeed you may."</p> + +<p>"I know that, dear wife; I believe that!"</p> + +<p>He drew her closer to him; for a few moments she sat with her hand among +the short, dark curls of his hair, then she said, abruptly:</p> + +<p>"Grantley?"</p> + +<p>"What is it, dear?"</p> + +<p>"I want to ask you something."</p> + +<p>"It can't be anything very terrible; you need not hesitate so."</p> + +<p>"Only because it sounds foolish!"</p> + +<p>"Nothing ever can seem foolish from your lips," he said, softly; and she +blushed like a girl at his praise.</p> + +<p>"That woman you—you loved once," she said; "was she dearer to you than +I am?"</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen's face darkened.</p> + +<p>"Let me blot out all thought of that time," he exclaimed, passionately; +"I would like to burn out of my soul every trace of those years in which +she had a part. I loved her with the passion of youth—no, Bessie, it +was not a feeling so deep and holy as my love for you, and it is over +for ever."</p> + +<p>His face softened, and his voice trembled with a more gentle emotion, +for he thought of that lone grave on the hillside, which he had so +lately seen closed over his first love.</p> + +<p>"Then you do love me?" whispered his wife; "you do love me?"</p> + +<p>"What a question, darling!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know it is silly."</p> + +<p>"Bessie," he exclaimed, after a moment's thought; "I cannot help the +feeling—you seem changed."</p> + +<p>"I—changed, Grantley?"</p> + +<p>"It may be my fault; but I feel as if there was a something which kept +us apart—a mystery which I cannot penetrate—a gulf which no effort of +mine can bridge."</p> + +<p>She was a little agitated at first, but that passed.</p> + +<p>"What mystery could there be?" she asked. "I don't understand you, +Grantley."</p> + +<p>"I hardly know what I mean myself. Is it my fault, Elizabeth? Are you +angry still at what I said the night you lost your bracelet?"</p> + +<p>She did not stir; she kept the hand he held even from quivering, but the +face he could not see grew white and contracted under a sterner pain.</p> + +<p>"Were you angry, Bessie?" he repeated.</p> + +<p>"Not angry," she said, in a low voice, hesitating somewhat. "I was hurt +and indignant—you ought to trust me, my husband."</p> + +<p>"I do, dearest, I do trust you! Why should I not? There is no secret +between us, Bessie—no mystery—nothing which keeps our hearts asunder!"</p> + +<p>She was silent—she was struggling for power to speak, knowing that +every second of hesitation told against her in a way which volumes of +protestation could never counteract.</p> + +<p>"There is no such cloud between us?" he said again.</p> + +<p>"No, Grantley, no!"</p> + +<p>She spoke almost sharply.</p> + +<p>"Don't be angry with me, Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>"I am not, indeed I am not!"</p> + +<p>She was speaking firmly now—her voice was a little hard, like that of a +person making an effort to appear natural.</p> + +<p>"I am not angry, but I ask you to reason—to reflect. What secret could +I have—what mystery?"</p> + +<p>"None, wife, none; I know that!"</p> + +<p>"And yet you cannot be at rest?"</p> + +<p>"I am—I will be."</p> + +<p>For a few moments they sat together in silence, then Mellen said:</p> + +<p>"Even in your past, Bessie, you have no secret!"</p> + +<p>"None," she answered, and her voice was perfectly open and sincere now. +"There is not in all my girlhood the least thing that I could wish to +conceal from you; it passed quietly, it was growing very dreary and cold +when you came with your love and carried me away to a brighter life."</p> + +<p>"It is so sweet to hear this, Bessie!" he whispered, as his face grew +gentle with the tenderness which warmed his heart. "We have been +separated so much, had so little time to realize our happiness, that +neither of us have quite learned to receive it quietly—don't you think +it is so, dear child?"</p> + +<p>"It may be," she exclaimed, and her voice deepened with sudden +intensity. "Only trust me, my husband; trust and love me always. I will +deserve it. Only trust me!"</p> + +<p>"Always, Bessie, always! My darling, I have only you in the whole +world—all my hopes, my love, centre upon you—I am like a miser with +one treasure which he fears to lose."</p> + +<p>"Only a treasure to you," she said, playfully; "you would be astonished +to see what a common-place pebble it is to other people."</p> + +<p>"That is not so; you know it, Bessie."</p> + +<p>"Never mind how it may be; if I am precious in your eyes it is all I +ask."</p> + +<p>So they talked each other into serenity for the time. Their married life +had been so broken up that it was natural that much of the enthusiasm of +lovers should remain—even in their old difficulties there had been none +of the common-place quarrels which degrade love, and wear it out much +more quickly than a trouble which strikes deeper ever does.</p> + +<p>"Since I came back," Grantley said, "I have sometimes thought it might +be a little feeling towards Elsie which made you so strange."</p> + +<p>"What feeling but kindness could I have?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"True; it would not be like you, Bessie. You love her, don't you? It was +through her we knew each other—remember that!"</p> + +<p>"I do, and very pleasantly; but I have no need to think of that to be +kind and gentle with her—when have you seen me otherwise?"</p> + +<p>"Never; I can honestly say never!"</p> + +<p>"Has Elsie complained?"</p> + +<p>"No, dear, and never had such a thought, I am certain."</p> + +<p>"When I married you, Grantley, your sister became mine—I could not be +more anxious for her, more willing to guard and cherish her, if she had +been a legacy from my own dead mother, than I am now."</p> + +<p>"I am certain of that, and I love and honor you for it. But in your +place I should perhaps be annoyed even to have a sister share affection +with me."</p> + +<p>"It is not like your love for me?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; no love could be like that! But Elsie is such a child, such a +happy, innocent creature, and I never look at her without remembering my +dying mother's last words. If any harm came to her, Bessie, I think I +could not even venture to meet that lost mother in heaven."</p> + +<p>"No harm will come to her, Grantley—none shall!"</p> + +<p>"I think she is one of those creatures born to be happy; I trust she may +never have a great trial in all her life. I don't believe she could +endure it; she would fade like a flower."</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to tell how any one would receive suffering," +Elizabeth replied; "sometimes those very fragile natures are best able +to bear up, and find an elasticity which prevents sorrow taking deep +root."</p> + +<p>"It may be so; but I could not bear to have any pain come near her—It +would strike my own heart."</p> + +<p>"Could any one be more light-hearted and careless than she is?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she is happy as a bird—only let us keep her so."</p> + +<p>Even into the utmost sacredness of their affection, that sister's image +must be brought—it did cause Elizabeth pain in spite of all her +denials—Mellen might have discovered that if he had seen her face. But +the feeling passed swiftly, the face cleared, and while it brightened +under his loving words the strength of a great resolution settled down +upon it.</p> + +<p>They sat in that old fashioned room talking for a long time. It was the +happiest, most peaceful day they had spent since Mellen's return.</p> + +<p>After a time, Mellen proposed that they should go out to ride, for the +afternoon was sunny and delightful.</p> + +<p>"A long gallop over the hills will do you good," he said; "it is a shame +to spend such weather in the house."</p> + +<p>While he ordered the horses, Elizabeth went up to her dressing-room to +put on her habit.</p> + +<p>She dressed herself without assistance, and with a feverish haste which +brought the color to her face and light to her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I will be happy," she muttered; "I will not think. There is no looking +back now; it is too late; only let me keep the past shut close and go on +toward the future."</p> + +<p>As she stood before the glass, gazing absently at the reflection of her +own face and repeating those thoughts aloud, her husband's voice called +her from the hall below.</p> + +<p>"Bessie, come down—the horses are at the door."</p> + +<p>She broke away from her reverie and hurried downstairs, where he met her +with a fond smile and a new pride in her unusual beauty.</p> + +<p>"The very thought of the fresh air has done you good," he said.</p> + +<p>"It is not that, Grantley—not that."</p> + +<p>He looked at her tenderly, understanding all that her words meant.</p> + +<p>"Because we are happy?" he whispered.</p> + +<p>"With your love and confidence to bless my life I have all the happiness +I can ask," she said, earnestly.</p> + +<p>He led her down the steps, seated her upon her horse, and they rode away +down the hill, and dashed out upon the pleasant road.</p> + +<p>"We will go over the hills," Grantley said; "the air is so delightful +there, and one has such a magnificent view of the ocean."</p> + +<p>"I believe you would be wretched away from the boisterous old sea," said +Elizabeth, laughing.</p> + +<p>"I do love it; when I was a boy my one desire was to be a sailor. Some +time, Bessie, we will have a yacht and go cruising about to our heart's +content; after Elsie is married though, for she suffers so dreadfully +from fright and illness."</p> + +<p>"It would be very pleasant, Grantley."</p> + +<p>"Would it not? Just you and I alone; it would be like having a little +world all to ourselves. <i>Allons</i>, Bessie; here is a nice level place for +a gallop; wake Gipsy up."</p> + +<p>They rode on swiftly, growing so light-hearted and joyous that they were +laughing and talking like a pair of happy children, seeming quite out of +reach of all the shadows which had darkened their hearts during the past +days.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>TRIFLES LIGHT AS AIR.</h3> + + +<p>While Mellen and Elizabeth rode off through the golden afternoon, Elsie +and Tom Fuller came in from a stroll about the grounds. They had seen +the husband and wife galloping down the avenue, and as they entered the +hall, Elsie said:</p> + +<p>"They have left us to amuse ourselves the best way we can; what shall we +do, Tom Fuller?"</p> + +<p>"I'm ready for anything."</p> + +<p>"We might go out rowing."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie!"</p> + +<p>"Only Grant would be angry, and you have grown afraid of the water."</p> + +<p>"No wonder, where you are concerned," cried Tom. "I can't think of that +dreadful day without a shudder."</p> + +<p>"I don't allow myself to think of it at all," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>She led the way into the library and sat down in a low chair, throwing +off her garden-hat, and beginning to arrange the wild flowers which she +held in her hands around the crown.</p> + +<p>"What color is this, Tom?" she asked, holding up a delicate purple +blossom that drooped its head, as if faint with its own perfume.</p> + +<p>Tom's ignorance of color was a never-failing source of amusement to her. +He looked at the flower very seriously; then after reflection said, in +the tone of a man who was certain of being perfectly correct for once:</p> + +<p>"That's blue, of course; I am not quite blind, whatever you may think."</p> + +<p>Elsie screamed with delight.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you delicious old goose! I suppose you call this one pink?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tom, confident that he must be right this time; "I suppose +the most prejudiced person would have to call that pink."</p> + +<p>"It's the most delicate lavender," cried Elsie, in fresh shrieks of +ecstasy at Tom's blindness. "Oh, I never saw such a stupid in all my +life."</p> + +<p>Tom rubbed his forehead for an instant, then Elsie's laughter proved so +contagious that he burst into merriment as hearty as her own.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose," said Tom, "there's such an idiot on the face of the +earth as I am."</p> + +<p>"I really don't suppose there is," replied Elsie, candidly.</p> + +<p>"It is absolutely beyond belief," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"It is," answered Elsie.</p> + +<p>"And I shall never be any better," cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"I have told you so a thousand times," rejoined Elsie, humming a tune, +inclined to perfect truthfulness for once.</p> + +<p>Tom's face lengthened for an instant, he gave his hair another +unmerciful combing with his fingers.</p> + +<p>"And you think there's not the least help for it?"</p> + +<p>"Not the very least in the world, Tom, not a gleam of hope! But don't +feel bad about it; I am tired of brilliant men; everybody is something +wonderful now-a-days; it's really fatiguing."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" demanded he; "do you really?"</p> + +<p>"Upon my honor."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm glad I am a donkey," said Tom, energetically.</p> + +<p>"And so am I," returned Elsie. "There, see, isn't that a lovely wreath?"</p> + +<p>She held up the hat for Tom to scent the delicious fragrance of the +garland twisted around it.</p> + +<p>"You take the color quite out of them, holding them near your cheeks," +said Tom, with a glance of admiration.</p> + +<p>"I declare you are getting complimentary! You shall have a wild rosebud +for your button-hole in payment; kneel down here, while I put it in."</p> + +<p>Tom dropped on his knees while Elsie leisurely selected the flower. She +was talking all the while, and Tom on his part would have been glad to +prolong the situation indefinitely, for the pleasure of having her +little face so close to his, and her hands flirting the blossoms about +his lips was entrancing.</p> + +<p>"No," pursued she, "I am tired of brilliant men; they always make my +head ache with their grand talk. You know I'm a childish little thing, +Tom, and learned discussions don't suit me."</p> + +<p>"You're a fairy, a witch, an enchanted princess!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Exactly," replied Elsie. "Perhaps a verbena would look better than a +rosebud, Tom."</p> + +<p>Tom cared very little what she put in his button-hole; a thistle, thorns +and all, would have been precious to him if her hands had touched it, +and he would have torn his fingers against the prickles with an +exquisite sense of enjoyment.</p> + +<p>"No, the rose is the prettiest," said Elsie, and she threw the verbena +away, and began her task again.</p> + +<p>"Are you tired; do you want to get up, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"You know I'd rather be here than in heaven!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Elsie gave him one of her bewildering glances.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean that," said she; "you know you don't!"</p> + +<p>"I do, I do! Oh, Elsie!"</p> + +<p>"Keep still, keep still. You jump about so that I can't fasten the rose; +there, I've lost the pin; no, here it is."</p> + +<p>She was so busy with her work now that her face bent quite close to his, +her fair curls touched his cheeks, her breath stirred the hair on his +temples; the intoxication of the moment carried Tom beyond all power of +self-restraint.</p> + +<p>He snatched Elsie's two hands and cried out:</p> + +<p>"I must speak; I shall die if I don't! I haven't said a word since I +came back; I know it's useless; but I love you, Elsie, I do love you."</p> + +<p>She struggled faintly for an instant, then allowed him to keep her +hands, and looked down into his face through her drooping lashes with an +expression that made Tom's head fairly reel.</p> + +<p>"Don't be angry with me," he pleaded; "don't drive me away! I'll never +open my lips; just let me speak now! You can't think how much I love +you, Elsie. I'd cut myself into inch pieces if it would do you any good. +I'd die for you."</p> + +<p>"I would rather you lived," whispered Elsie.</p> + +<p>Tom caught the words; a mad hope sprang up in his honest heart; he knew +that it was folly, but he could not subdue it then.</p> + +<p>"If you could only learn to love me," he went on, hurriedly; "I'd be a +slave to you, Elsie! I am rich now; I could give you everything your +heart desired; if you could only care for me; such lots of candies and +pretty things."</p> + +<p>"You saved my life, Tom," she returned, in that same thrilling whisper +which shook the very heart in his bosom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't bring that up as a claim," he said; "what was I born for +except to be useful to you? But I love you so; if you could only make up +your mind to endure my ugliness and my awkward ways, and—and——"</p> + +<p>"You are a great big fellow and I like that, and don't think you ugly," +said Elsie; "and I don't care if you are awkward. I am sick of men that +walk about like ballet-dancers."</p> + +<p>"You only say that out of good-nature," said Tom; "you are afraid of +hurting my feelings."</p> + +<p>"Don't I always say what I think?" rejoined she.</p> + +<p>"But you don't care for me—you couldn't love me!"</p> + +<p>"You have told me so three times already," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>But all the while there was something in her face and voice which made +him persevere. He had never thought to speak of his love to her again. +This was the last, last time; but he would open his whole heart now, she +should see the exact truth.</p> + +<p>In his great excitement, Tom forgot all bashfulness; he did not halt in +his speech, but poured out his story in strong, manly words, that must +have awakened at least a feeling of respect in any woman's bosom.</p> + +<p>"I tried to cure myself," continued Tom. "I thought absence—entire +change—might make a difference in my feelings. But when the two years +ended I came back, only to find my love grown deeper from the lapse of +time, with every feeling more firmly centred there. You speak kindly to +me sometimes. You pity me—at least you pity me! But you couldn't love +me, of course; that is impossible! Let me get up—I mustn't talk any +more—let me go!"</p> + +<p>But Elsie's hand still rested upon his shoulder,—she did not stir.</p> + +<p>"You could not love me," repeated Tom; "never, never: you have told me +so ever so many times."</p> + +<p>"I was silly and wicked," she whispered; "I am wiser now."</p> + +<p>Her words lifted Tom into the seventh heaven. He cried out:</p> + +<p>"Don't trifle with me, Elsie—not just now—I couldn't stand it!"</p> + +<p>"I am not trifling with you, Tom."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean that you care for me?"</p> + +<p>His voice was broken and low. He waited for her to push him away, to +break the spell rudely, but her hand never moved from his shoulder. It +seemed to rest there with a caressing pressure, as a bird settles on a +fondling hand, and still the fair curls swept his cheek.</p> + +<p>"Elsie! Elsie!" he cried, half-wild with struggling emotions.</p> + +<p>"Dear Tom," she murmured again.</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you in earnest?" he almost sobbed. "Could you take me, Elsie? +Let me be your slave—ready to tend you—to care for you—only living +for your happiness!"</p> + +<p>Elsie shook her head archly:</p> + +<p>"You would grow tired of petting me."</p> + +<p>"Never, never! You know it!"</p> + +<p>"I should be a dreadful little tyrant—it is in my nature; you would +never have a will of your own."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't want it; I wouldn't ask it!"</p> + +<p>"I should flirt and drive you wild."</p> + +<p>"I would never try to stop you."</p> + +<p>"I should tease you incessantly."</p> + +<p>"You'd only make me the happier."</p> + +<p>"I should tell you all sorts of fibs."</p> + +<p>"There would be no necessity, for I would not dispute your wishes."</p> + +<p>"You would grow tired of that."</p> + +<p>"Only try me."</p> + +<p>"You couldn't love me always, and pet me, and never get out of patience, +and think I was perfect."</p> + +<p>"I could—I should—I always shall! Oh, Elsie, Elsie, I love you so—I +love you so!"</p> + +<p>"Get up, Tom; you are a foolish old goosey!"</p> + +<p>Tom started to his feet; those playful words were a cruel waking. He +stood before her painfully white, and there was a suppressed sob in his +voice as he cried, in passionate reproach:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie! Elsie!"</p> + +<p>She gave a wicked laugh at his distress.</p> + +<p>"So you really were in earnest?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>"You know that I was," he said. "You are cruel—cruel!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, now you are angry—now you begin to hate me!"</p> + +<p>"Never, Elsie! If you tore my heart and stamped on it, I could not hate +you."</p> + +<p>"But you are angry; and you said you could be patient."</p> + +<p>"I could, if you cared for me only the least bit!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you selfish monster! There, Tom, kneel down again; you have shaken +my flower out of your coat."</p> + +<p>"No," said Tom, passionately; "I can't play now! This is dreadful +earnest to me, Elsie, however great sport it may be to you."</p> + +<p>"Then you refuse my gift?"</p> + +<p>"I can't trifle now—don't ask it."</p> + +<p>"And you mean to rush off and leave me?"</p> + +<p>"I had better."</p> + +<p>"Very well. If you refuse me my one little wish!"</p> + +<p>"I'll stay if you want me to," cried Tom. "I'll do anything you bid me. +But do be serious for a minute, Elsie. Just answer me one question."</p> + +<p>"Only one? Will that satisfy you?"</p> + +<p>"To set the matter at rest," pursued he. "I'll never trouble you again. +I won't open my lips——"</p> + +<p>"Then how shall I know what you want to ask?" she interrupted.</p> + +<p>Tom fairly groaned.</p> + +<p>"I do believe you are a witch, Elsie; one of those snow women in the old +German stories."</p> + +<p>"Lurlei—Lurlei!" she sang, flourishing the blossoms about his head.</p> + +<p>Tom dashed off the flowers in a blind despair. The scene was growing too +much for him to bear.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, drearily, "I'll go—I'll go! I shan't trouble you again. +I hope the day may never come when you will be sorry, Elsie."</p> + +<p>He was so pale and trembled so violently, that she was absolutely +terrified.</p> + +<p>"Tom, don't look so!" she exclaimed. "I only wanted to tease you. I +wouldn't have you leave me for the world; I should be wretched!"</p> + +<p>"Now you are kind again! I will stay. I won't tire you with telling you +of my love—"</p> + +<p>"But I want to hear," interrupted Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, little child, it could do you no good! I suffer, Elsie, I suffer!"</p> + +<p>"Tom, you're a goose—what you call a goney!"</p> + +<p>"I know it, dear!"</p> + +<p>"And you are just as blind as a bat."</p> + +<p>"I suppose I am," he replied, dejectedly.</p> + +<p>"And you're too stupid to live," cried Elsie, going into a great +excitement. "Don't you know a woman can say one thing and mean another?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tom, with more energy, "I do know that. I know it too well."</p> + +<p>"Great Mr. Wisdom!" said she mockingly. "Then can't you +understand—don't you see?"</p> + +<p>He looked at her in bewildered surprise. She was smiling tenderly in his +face.</p> + +<p>"Elsie!" he cried.</p> + +<p>She let her hands fall in his.</p> + +<p>"I don't want you to go," she whispered, "never—never!"</p> + +<p>"You love me—you will marry me?"</p> + +<p>She did not speak, but she made no resistance when Tom caught her to his +heart and rained kisses on her face, utterly bewildered and unable to +comprehend anything except that happiness had descended upon his long +night at length.</p> + +<p>But Elsie raised herself, pushed him off and said, with a dash of her +old wickedness:</p> + +<p>"I'll tease you to death, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed. "Oh, say it once—say 'I love you!'"</p> + +<p>"I do love you, Tom—there!"</p> + +<p>In an instant she flashed up again, while he was covering her hands with +kisses, crying:</p> + +<p>"My little Elsie! My own at last!"</p> + +<p>"No more sentiment," said she. "Let's be reasonable, Tom; the +catastrophe has reached a climax."</p> + +<p>But it was a long time before Tom Fuller could regain composure enough +to talk at all coherently, or in what Elsie termed a sensible manner.</p> + +<p>"It's so sudden," he said. "And to have so much happiness just when I +thought the last rope was going out of my hand! Why, I feel like the +fellow who clung all night to the side of a precipice, expecting every +moment to be dashed down a thousand feet, and when daylight came found +he had hung within a foot of the ground all the while!"</p> + +<p>"The comparison is apt and delicious," said Elsie, laughing.</p> + +<p>"And you love me! Only say it again, Elsie—just once!"</p> + +<p>"I won't!" said she. "But I'll box your ears if you don't stop behaving +like a crazy man."</p> + +<p>Tom caught Elsie up in his arms and ran twice with her across the floor, +paying no more attention to her cries and struggles than if she had been +a baby.</p> + +<p>"That's for punishment!" said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Let me down! Please let me down!" pleaded Elsie. "I know you'll drop +me! Oh, you hurt me, Tom!"</p> + +<p>Tom placed her on the sofa and seated himself by her side. But she +started away and ran upstairs, sending back a laugh of defiance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<h3>TWO FACES IN THE GLASS.</h3> + + +<p>When Elsie entered her boudoir, flushed with laughter and breathless +with running, she threw herself on the azure couch, and gathering her +ringlets in a mass between her hand and the warm cheek under which it +was thrust, fell into a deeper train of thought than was usual to her.</p> + +<p>"It's done, and I don't care. He loves me, and I must be loved. He's +rich, generous, devoted, worships me and always will, that's one +comfort. There'll be no one to halve his devotion or his money with me, +no one to look glum if I want to be a little bit extravagant. Grant +never refused me anything in his life, but I'm always afraid to ask half +that I want. But with Tom everything will be my own. He won't ask a +question. Such laces as I will have! As for cashmere shawls and silks, +he shall get them for me by the dozens. Elizabeth won't say that such +things are out of place then. I shall be a married woman, free of her +and this old house too, free of everything, but—but——"</p> + +<p>Elsie started up, breaking this selfish train of thought with the +action.</p> + +<p>"I wish she'd stop talking to me; I don't want to hear about it. Why +won't she bear her trouble alone, if she will make trouble about what +isn't to be helped? I'll have no more confidences with her, that's +certain. It is like breaking one's heart up in little pieces. I don't +want to keep secrets, but forget them; and I will, too, in spite of her. +She shan't make me eternally miserable with her pining and remorse."</p> + +<p>Elsie paused before a mirror as these thoughts rose in her mind and half +broke from her lips. She was threading out her curls and trying the +effect as they floated, like golden thistledown, over the roses of her +cheek. All at once she started, and a look of pale horror stole to her +face; the hand which had been wandering among her hair dropped to her +side, turning cold and white as marble; the lips which had been just +parted with an admiring smile of her own beauty, lost every trace of +color. She still gazed intently into the glass, but not at herself. +Beyond her pretty image, reflected from the distance, sat a man with a +pen in his hand, as if just arrested in the act of writing. Rich shadows +of crimson drapery lay around him, and a gleam of pure light from a +half-closed upper blind fell across his head, lighting it up grandly.</p> + +<p>It was a magnificent picture that Elsie gazed upon, far beyond her own +image in the glass. But she only saw the man, without regard to his +surroundings, and the very heart in her bosom turned sick with loathing +or with fear.</p> + +<p>It was North, looking at her through the open door, with a sneering +smile on his lip—North in the very chamber of her brother's wife, +quietly seated there as if he had been master of the house. For a full +minute Elsie stood, forming a double picture in the glass with that +bold, bad man, then her color came hotly back, and she turned upon him, +brave with indignation.</p> + +<p>"You here!" she said, advancing into the room till its crimson haze +overwhelmed her. "You here, and in this chamber! Get up at once and +begone. If my brother finds you under his roof he will shoot you on the +spot."</p> + +<p>"Never fear, pretty one," said North, with an evil gleam on his face. +"Two can play at a game of that sort. If he made the first assault +nothing would give me more pleasure. Self-defence is justifiable in law, +and his will is made."</p> + +<p>Elsie was trembling from head to foot, but she leaned one hand heavily +on the table that he might not see her agitation.</p> + +<p>"Man, man, you would not—you dare not meet my brother. You that have +wronged him so!"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said North, biting the feather of his pen and looking down +on a sheet of note-paper on which he had been about to write; "I do not +see this wrong so clearly. If a woman's heart will wander off in any +forbidden direction, am I to blame because it flutters into my bosom? +And if other hearts follow after——"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Elsie, stamping her little foot passionately on the +carpet. "How dare you speak of a fraud so black, of treason so +detestable! I am his sister, sir, and have something of his courage, +frivolous as people think me. Persecute her or provoke me too far and I +will tell him all."</p> + +<p>"Indeed you would not," answered North, quietly.</p> + +<p>"What should prevent me?"</p> + +<p>"She will. You dare not break a solemn promise to her."</p> + +<p>"I dare!" she almost shrieked, clenching her little hand in a paroxysm +of rage. "I will, if ever you come here again."</p> + +<p>"No; I think not. Women are weak creatures, but they generally find +strength to keep secrets that bring ruin in the telling. You cannot be +over anxious to see this proud brother of yours commit murder on——"</p> + +<p>"On a villain—a household traitor—a—a——"</p> + +<p>Elsie stopped for want of breath.</p> + +<p>"Be quiet," said North, rising sternly and towering over her. "I have no +dealings with you. One might as well reason with a handful of silkweed +thrown upon the wind."</p> + +<p>"But I will have something to say—everything to say. You have pursued +her, plundered her, tortured her long enough. More than once she has +been on the brink of discovery by your persistence in prowling over the +grounds and from her attempts to conceal your rapacious extortions. All +this must end."</p> + +<p>"With all my heart; let the lady accede to my terms and I disappear."</p> + +<p>"What are those terms?"</p> + +<p>"I will write them, and your own fair hands shall give her the note."</p> + +<p>Elsie did not answer, but her white lips closed firmly, and her blue +eyes glittered like steel in the glow of a hot fire, as he dipped his +pen deliberately in the bronze inkstand and began to write.</p> + +<p>"There," he said, folding the note and presenting it to her with a +princely air, as if her courage had impressed him with respect; "place +this in her hands and she will know how to carry it out."</p> + +<p>Elsie took the note and hid it away in the folds of her dress.</p> + +<p>"Do not fail," he said, before taking his hat from the table.</p> + +<p>"I will not," answered Elsie. "But these cruel visits must cease now and +for ever. I will give the note only on this condition."</p> + +<p>"Her answer will decide that. Now, good-bye."</p> + +<p>He reached forth his hand, smiling pleasantly upon her; but she clenched +hers, as if tempted to strike him for the insolent offer, and turned +away biting her pale lips.</p> + +<p>The hand, rejected with such disdain, fell towards the hat which North +placed lightly on his head, casting one glance in the opposite mirror as +he did so. Then, with the elastic step of a man retiring from a +festival, he left the chamber, while Elsie looked after him with +wondering eyes and parted lips, astonished by an audacity which was +absolutely sublime.</p> + +<p>The young creature stood with bated breath till his light footsteps died +away in the nearest passage. She listened anxiously, but heard no door +close or further movement of any kind. His exit was noiseless as his +entrance had been.</p> + +<p>When Elsie was left alone she sat down in the dim light of Elizabeth's +room, pushed the hair back from her forehead and pressed both palms on +her temples, where pain was throbbing like a pulse. She moaned and cried +out under the sudden anguish, for resistance to suffering of any kind +was killing to this young creature, and the reaction which followed that +passionate outburst of feeling left her helpless as a child.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<h3>SECRECY IMPOSED ON TOM FULLER.</h3> + + +<p>During fifteen or twenty minutes Elsie sat pressing both hands to her +head, while her eyes filled with tears, and her lips quivered like those +of an infant grieved by some hurt it cannot understand. A voice from the +outer passage aroused her. It was that of Tom Fuller, who had worked +himself into a state of intense excitement from fear that his rough +tenderness had mortally offended its object.</p> + +<p>"Miss Mellen—Elsie, do come down and speak to a fellow. I'm sorry as +can be that I made such a donkey of myself and frightened you away. Just +give one peep out of the door, darling, to say that you will forgive me +by-and-bye, and I never will kiss you again so long—that is if it's +very disagreeable."</p> + +<p>The door of Elsie's chamber opened and a face all flushed with tears, +through which a smile was breaking, looked out on the repentant Tom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie, darling, I didn't mean it, and you've been crying all this +time. If somebody would take me out and lynch me I'd be obliged to +'em—upon my soul, I would."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Tom. I'm not angry—only such a fright, with crying," said +Elsie, reaching her hand through the opening, which he forthwith covered +with penitent kisses. "It's only a headache."</p> + +<p>"A headache! dear me, what a brute I am. But wait a minute. I'll send +right to the city for a dozen bottles of bay rum, or schnapps, or +something of that sort."</p> + +<p>"No, no," answered Elsie, laughing herself into semi-hysterics, "I shall +be better in a minute."</p> + +<p>"And come downstairs—will you come downstairs?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; wait a minute while I get the tangle out of my hair."</p> + +<p>Tom retreated to the staircase and waited with his eyes fastened on +Elsie's door like those of a good-natured watchdog. As for the girl +herself, she bathed her face in cold water, chilling the pain away, +straightened out her curls, twisted all her hair in a great knot back of +the head, and came out softly, like a dear little forgiving nun, filled +with compassion for other people's sins.</p> + +<p>Tom followed her into the little morning-room where his confession had +been made, and sat down on the sofa to which she retreated with great +caution, as if she were afraid.</p> + +<p>"Won't Bessie and Mellen be astonished," he insinuated; "I do wonder how +they will look, when we tell 'em how it is."</p> + +<p>"You won't have an opportunity of judging just at present," replied +Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Why won't I?"</p> + +<p>"Because I don't choose you to say one word about the matter to any +human being until I give you permission."</p> + +<p>"Now, what is that for?" asked Tom, somewhat discomfited.</p> + +<p>"Just because I prefer it," answered the young lady.</p> + +<p>"But I want the whole world to know how happy I am," said he.</p> + +<p>"Tom Fuller," cried Elsie, menacingly; "are you going to begin already +to dispute and annoy me, after what I've just suffered, too?"</p> + +<p>"Lord bless you, no! I am as sorry as can be."</p> + +<p>"Then do exactly as I tell you," continued she, "and promise me not to +mention what has happened till I give you leave."</p> + +<p>"It's a little hard," said Tom, "not to be able to show how happy a +fellow—why, I shall tell in spite of myself."</p> + +<p>"If you don't promise, I'll take back every word I've said—"</p> + +<p>"I will! I will!" he interrupted, terrified at the bare threat. "Don't +be angry, pet; I'll do just as you say."</p> + +<p>"That's a nice old Tom; now you are good and I love you."</p> + +<p>"But you, won't keep it long, Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; but just at present I choose; I told you what a terrible tyrant +I should be."</p> + +<p>"I like it," said Tom, with the thorough enjoyment of her mastery, which +only an immense creature like him can feel in a pretty woman's graceful +tyranny.</p> + +<p>"So much the better for you," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, little girl, we will be as happy as the day is long!" cried he.</p> + +<p>"And you'll never contradict me?"</p> + +<p>"Never!"</p> + +<p>"And I shall have my own way more and more every day?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tom, thoughtfully; "I don't see how you could easily; but +you may try."</p> + +<p>Elsie laughed; his oddity amused her.</p> + +<p>"You are a perfect ogre of a lover," cried she. "What a head of hair!"</p> + +<p>"It never will keep in order," said Tom, pressing down the shaggy locks +with both hands.</p> + +<p>"Let them alone," said Elsie; "you look more like a lion that way; I +like it."</p> + +<p>She was gracious and playful as a kitten, but Tom's happiness was +disturbed all too quickly by the entrance of Victoria, crying:</p> + +<p>"Missis horse runned off wid her; but she y'arnt hurt; she's a comin' in +de carriage."</p> + +<p>Out of the room Tom and Elsie went, anxious to learn the full meaning of +her words.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<h3>THE RIDE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.</h3> + + +<p>The husband and wife galloped joyously on for miles and miles in the +soft light of that delicious afternoon; with every step the gloom and +the shadows seemed to lift themselves from each heart, till they were +cordial and gay almost as Elsie herself.</p> + +<p>These few happy hours, soon to be dimly overclouded, were so bright and +sweet, that even in the midst of after trouble, their memory would come +up like fragments of exquisite melody, haunting those two people.</p> + +<p>Whatever the secret was which oppressed Elizabeth, its recollection was +put aside for the time, and Mellen gave himself up to the pleasure of +the hour with all the intensity of a nature which enjoys and suffers so +sharply, that even trifles can make for it a keener excitement than +great happiness or acute suffering bring to more placid characters.</p> + +<p>"You are not tired, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Tired, no! I could ride on forever!"</p> + +<p>"See how the waters shine in the sun; they seem so full of joyous, +buoyant life, that it gives one strength to watch them."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth could fully share in his enthusiasm, and she allowed her +poetical fancy full play, indulging in beautiful comparisons and earnest +talk, which unveiled a phase of her nature seldom revealed except to +those who knew her well.</p> + +<p>"I never heard a woman talk as you can," said Mellen, admiringly; "we +shall have you writing books, or coming out as a genius yet."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth laughed gaily.</p> + +<p>"You need not be afraid; I know you would not like it."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I should not; it springs from my selfishness I know, but I like +to keep your real self entirely for my own life."</p> + +<p>The afternoon was wearing away when they turned homewards, but still +retained its brightness and beauty, as their hearts kept the new glow +which warmed them.</p> + +<p>They galloped down the long hills and through the level groves till they +were nearly home.</p> + +<p>The sunlight faded—a strong breeze swept up from the ocean, and a +sudden cloud obscured the sun; one of those abrupt changes so common in +autumn fell upon the sea, robbing the day of its loveliness, and making +it so cold and leaden that it was more than dreary from contrast with +the glorious morning.</p> + +<p>They were near the gates which led into their own domain, when a man +came running swiftly towards them, and as he passed looked up in +Elizabeth's face.</p> + +<p>Whether her horse was frightened by the stranger rushing so abruptly +past him, or whether she gave some nervous jerk to the reins, was not +apparent; but a sharp cry rang from her lips, the horse made a +simultaneous spring, and though a good rider, Elizabeth was unseated and +thrown from her saddle. Mellen sprang from his horse and bent over his +wife.</p> + +<p>"I am not hurt," she said faintly, "not hurt."</p> + +<p>The old woman who lived in a little house at the entrance of the grounds +which they had transformed into a lodge, came out at that moment, and +being a Yankee woman of energy and resources, caught Elizabeth's horse, +and was ready to lend a helping hand wherever it might be required.</p> + +<p>While this woman led the two horses within the gates and fastened them, +Mellen raised his wife and carried her into the lodge. She was deathly +pale and trembling violently, though in reply to his anxious inquiries, +she repeated the same answer:</p> + +<p>"I am not hurt—not at all hurt."</p> + +<p>She drank a glass of water, lay down for a few moments on a +cane-bottomed settee, which the room boasted as its principal elegance, +then insisted upon rising.</p> + +<p>Mellen sent the woman on to the house, with orders for the people to +send down the carriage, as he would not have permitted Elizabeth to +walk, even if her strength had seemed more equal to the exertion than it +really was.</p> + +<p>"Did that man frighten the horse?" he asked, when she appeared composed +enough to speak. "The whole thing was over before I knew it—even before +I saw him clearly he was gone—you cried out—the horse started—"</p> + +<p>"No!" she answered with feverish earnestness, "the horse started +first—I should not have shrieked but for that—why should I?"</p> + +<p>"The scoundrel must have frightened the horse; did you recognise him?"</p> + +<p>"He was running fast, you know, and darted into the woods so suddenly."</p> + +<p>"I should like to have lain hands on him!"</p> + +<p>"He meant no harm. Gipsy has grown shy of late. Don't think about the +matter—there is no mischief done."</p> + +<p>"But there might have been great danger; I cannot bear even now to think +of it."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth closed her eyes wearily; her recent elation of spirits was +quite gone. She looked so pale and ill that Mellen could not feel +satisfied that she had suffered no injury.</p> + +<p>"You are sure that the fall has not hurt you, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Quite sure," she answered, in the same changed voice; "don't trouble +yourself about me. I was only frightened."</p> + +<p>Mellen could not understand her manner, but he said nothing more. She +lay back on the settee, and closed her eyes while he stood there +regarding and wondering whether she lay thus from weakness or to escape +further conversation.</p> + +<p>At last the woman returned and announced that the carriage would be down +immediately.</p> + +<p>"That are man frightened the horse," she said; "I was a looking out of +the window—it's my belief he's a hanging about the place for no good."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever seen him before?" asked Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Why, I think it's the chap you was a talking with one day, Mrs. +Mellen," said the woman.</p> + +<p>"I thought you did not know him?" observed Mellen, turning quickly +towards his wife.</p> + +<p>She sat upright, gave him one of her quick, indignant glances, and +answered coldly:</p> + +<p>"I simply said he ran by me so fast I could not tell whether I knew him +or not."</p> + +<p>"Wal, it was the same fellow," pursued Mrs. Green; "I'm sure of that."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember?" questioned Mellen.</p> + +<p>"I do not," replied Elizabeth haughtily.</p> + +<p>Mellen colored and bit his lip, but he saw the woman looking curiously +at them and said no more.</p> + +<p>"I wish, Mrs. Green," he said, "you would take great care to close the +gates at night; we are near enough the city for dangerous characters to +stray down here."</p> + +<p>"Law, sar, we're just as careful as can be. There ain't a night we don't +shut and lock the gates. I hope we ain't a coming to no blame; I'm a +lone woman and Jem's a cripple. It would be hard on us."</p> + +<p>Mellen tried to stop her flood of protestations and appeals, but she +insisted upon telling the whole story of every misery she had endured +during her life, before she would pause in her plea of sorrow for an +instant. By that time the carriage fortunately arrived and they were +able to escape the sound of her tongue.</p> + +<p>The husband and wife drove somewhat silently home. Mellen was very +anxious about Elizabeth, who had recovered her usual serenity of temper, +and could do her best to reassure him, though the color would not come +back to her face, nor the startled look die out of her eyes.</p> + +<p>When they reached the house, Elsie was standing on the steps, and ran +down to the carriage full of alarm, having just learned that Elizabeth +had met with some accident, while Tom came forward more anxious still.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt? are you hurt?" demanded Elsie.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth assured her that she was not in the least injured, tried to +laugh at Mellen's solicitude, but looked very nervous still.</p> + +<p>"You are sure you are not hurt?" urged Tom.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly sure."</p> + +<p>"Maybe I'd better run after a doctor though?"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Tom," she said, a little impatiently, "when I tell you I am +not hurt in the least."</p> + +<p>Tom and Elsie cried out together to know how the accident had happened, +but Mellen gave a very brief explanation, while Elizabeth entered the +hall and sat down in a chair to rest.</p> + +<p>Tom ran to bring her a glass of wine which she did not want, and they +all worried her with their solicitude, till it required great patience +to restrain herself from breaking away from them rudely and rushing into +the solitude she so much needed.</p> + +<p>"If I had hold of the creature that scared the horse, I'd mill him," +cried Tom, irately.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose he was to blame," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," added Elizabeth; "of course not."</p> + +<p>Mellen made no remark; he was watching Elizabeth, who still looked pale +and oppressed.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel better?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Much, I assure you; don't be frightened about me."</p> + +<p>"Bessie is such a heroine!" cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth gave one of the irritated looks with which she had sometimes +regarded Elsie of late, but made no remark.</p> + +<p>"She's a trump!" said Tom; "that's all there is about it."</p> + +<p>Elsie laughed.</p> + +<p>"I shall go up to my room and lie down," Elizabeth said; "an hour's rest +will restore me completely."</p> + +<p>Mellen assisted her upstairs and Elsie accompanied them, quite ready to +accept Elizabeth's assurance that she was not injured, and doing her +best to make them both laugh.</p> + +<p>"Accidents seem the order of the day," she said; "it's lucky for us, +Bessie, that we always have some one near to help us."</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the weary reply.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could go to sleep now?" Mellen asked.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," she said; "I will try, at all events."</p> + +<p>"The best thing for you," said Elsie. "I'll sit with you a little while, +and be still as a mouse."</p> + +<p>Elsie was never sorry to escape from sickness or unpleasant occurrences +of any kind, and could be of no more use in trouble than a canary-bird +or a hot-house blossom. But just now she had an object in remaining.</p> + +<p>The moment Mellen had withdrawn, she took North's letter from its +hiding-place, and thrust it into Elizabeth's hand.</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven I've got rid of it at last," she exclaimed, shaking the +flounces of her dress as if the note had left some contamination behind.</p> + +<p>"How did you get it?" faltered Elizabeth, looking at the folded paper +with strained eyes, as if it had been an asp which she held by the neck.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elizabeth, he was in this very room."</p> + +<p>"Here! here! Great heavens! why will no one shoot this man?" exclaimed +the tortured woman.</p> + +<p>"I thought of it, upon my word I did," said Elsie. "But, then, I don't +know how to fire off a pistol!"</p> + +<p>"How madly we are talking!" said Elizabeth, pressing one hand to her +throbbing forehead.</p> + +<p>Elsie pressed her own soft palm upon the strained hand, striving to +soothe the evident pain. But Elizabeth shrunk away from the half caress, +and said, in a low, husky voice:</p> + +<p>"Leave me, Elsie, leave me; I will deal with this alone."</p> + +<p>The young girl went away with a sense of relief. Then Elizabeth started +up in bed, tore open the hateful note, and read it through.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<h3>KINDLY ANXIETIES.</h3> + + +<p>Elsie went in search of Tom; who was walking up and down the veranda, +looking anxious still, but his face cleared when he saw Elsie, like a +granite rock lighted up by a sudden flood of sunshine.</p> + +<p>"How is she?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, a great deal better; she is going to sleep; that is, if Grant will +be sensible enough to leave her alone; you men are dreadfully stupid +creatures."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear," replied Tom, meekly.</p> + +<p>"Well!" said Elsie; "you might show a little spirit at least."</p> + +<p>"I thought I was to agree with you!"</p> + +<p>"There is nothing I hate so much; if you don't contradict me, I shall +die certainly."</p> + +<p>"Then, since you want the truth, I must say I think you are a little +hard on men in general."</p> + +<p>"And you in particular, perhaps?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes you are."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said she, tossing her curls. "Very well, Mr. Fuller, if you +have such dreadful opinions as that, you had better have nothing more to +do with me; I'll go away."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't; I didn't mean it," cried Tom, in a fright.</p> + +<p>Elsie laughed at his penitence and teased him more unmercifully than +ever, but Tom could bear it now with undisturbed equanimity. She had +given him happiness, lifted his soul into such a flood of light as he +had never thought to reach in this world, and his state of rapturous +content utterly defied description.</p> + +<p>They walked up and down the long colonnade, jesting and merry, Tom +unable to think or talk of anything long except his new bliss, saying +all sorts of absurd things in spite of Elsie's expostulations.</p> + +<p>"I shall go in at once, if you don't behave more sensibly," she said, +snatching her hand from him, as he tried to kiss it. "What would Grant +think if he happened to come down."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear," sighed Tom; "how long before you will let me tell him; this +having to steal one's happiness is dreadful."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you selfish, insatiable monster! not an hour ago you promised to be +perfectly content if I would only say I might care for you sometimes, +and there now you go!"</p> + +<p>"I am a selfish wretch," said Tom, struck with remorse.</p> + +<p>"And selfishness is such a dreadful failing," rejoined Elsie.</p> + +<p>"It is, I know it."</p> + +<p>"In a man."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, a little astonished at the close of her sentence.</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued Elsie; "It's a woman's privilege."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," said Tom, eagerly, "that women claim a great many +privileges, and very odd ones, sometimes."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it our privilege!" demanded Elsie, belligerently. "Do you mean to +deny that we haven't a right to be just as selfish and whimsical as we +please, and that it's your duty to submit?"</p> + +<p>"If you'll let me kiss your hand I'll acknowledge anything you desire," +said artful Tom.</p> + +<p>"Then I won't, and if you value your peace in the slightest degree, I +should advise you to behave more decorously."</p> + +<p>Elsie drew herself up, and looked as prim as a little Quakeress, who had +never indulged a worldly thought in all her days.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would come into the music-room and sing to me," said Tom, +struck with a bright idea.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, you don't care about music?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do; your voice is like an angel's."</p> + +<p>"You couldn't tell whether I was singing something from Trovatore or +Yankee Doodle?" replied Elsie.</p> + +<p>Tom rubbed his forehead again, fairly bewildered; but whether he knew +anything about music as a science or not, he listened to Elsie's singing +with his heart, and very sweet music it was.</p> + +<p>"You shall teach me," he said.</p> + +<p>"A hopeless task, Tom! And you really have some voice if you only had +any ear."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Tom, putting up his hands, as if taking her words literally.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Elsie, with a shriek, "they prove your race beyond a doubt; +don't fear."</p> + +<p>Tom laughed, good-natured as ever.</p> + +<p>"But come in," he urged; "you will get cold, with nothing on your head."</p> + +<p>"You are not to become a Molly," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>"I won't," replied Tom, "nor a Betty, nor any other atrocity; only just +come in, like a duck."</p> + +<p>Elsie allowed herself to be persuaded for once, and they went into the +house, seating themselves at the piano in the solitary music-room, +enjoying the hour after their own fashion, with no apparent perception +of the shadows which lay upon the hearts of the husband and wife in that +darkened home.</p> + +<p>Some time after Elsie had gone, Mellen returned to his wife's chamber. +She lay with one hand partially over her face, but was watching him all +the while; there was an eager expression in her eyes, as if she longed +to have him go away, but was afraid to express the wish.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel sleepy, Bessie?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I think so," she replied; "don't let me keep you shut up here any +longer—go down and play chess with Elsie."</p> + +<p>"You will come down after you are rested?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly; I will be down to tea."</p> + +<p>He kissed her and turned to leave the room.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" she asked, huskily.</p> + +<p>"I have some letters to write; I shall go to the library in order to do +it in peace—Elsie is certain not to come there."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," said Elizabeth, speaking with hysterical sharpness, which +jarred a little on Mellen's quick ear.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<h3>ALMOST DEFIANCE.</h3> + + +<p>He was gone and the door closed; Elizabeth raised herself on her elbow +and remained listening till the sound of his steps died upon the stairs, +then she threw aside the shawls he had flung over her, and sprang to her +feet.</p> + +<p>"Not a day's rest," she exclaimed, "not an hour's—not one! I must go +out and answer the demands of this villain. If Grantley should meet +me—I don't care—I must have it out! I shall go mad in the end—I shall +go mad!"</p> + +<p>She wrung her hands in a sort of fury, and paced up and down the room +with quick, impatient steps.</p> + +<p>"I might go now," she said at length; "he is in the library—it is +growing dark, too."</p> + +<p>She stopped before one of the windows and looked out; the afternoon was +darkening under the mustering clouds and a heavy mist that had swept up +from the ocean.</p> + +<p>"Coming nearer and nearer," muttered Elizabeth, pointing to the waving +columns of fog as if she were addressing some unseen person; "just so +the danger and the darkness gather closer and closer about my life!"</p> + +<p>She turned away, urged forward by the courage with which a brave person +is impelled to meet a difficulty at once, threw a shawl about her and +left the room.</p> + +<p>She ran through the hall to a back staircase seldom used, and which led +into a passage from whence she could pass at once into the thickest part +of the shrubbery.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the stairs she paused an instant, listened then with a +quick, choking sigh, opened the door and hurried away.</p> + +<p>Seated in his library, Mellen found it impossible to fulfil his task of +letter writing. He could not account for the feelings which crept over +him. The quiet content of the afternoon was all gone; and in its place +came, not only anxiety about his wife, but a host of wild suspicions so +vague and absurd, that he was angry with the folly which forced him to +insult his reason by dwelling upon them.</p> + +<p>The confinement of the house became absolutely hateful to him. He opened +one of the French windows, stepped out upon the veranda and walked up +and down in the gathering gloom, looking across the waters where the fog +shifted to and fro, like ghostly shadows sent up to veil the ever +restless ocean.</p> + +<p>At last Mellen passed down the steps and entered the grounds; he was +some distance from the house when he heard a sound like a person moaning +aloud in distress.</p> + +<p>He looked about—the mist and the coming night made it impossible to +distinguish objects with any distinctness—but he saw the garments of a +woman fluttering among the trees.</p> + +<p>He darted forward; with what impulse he could hardly have told; but the +woman had disappeared, whether warned by his hasty movement or urged +forward by some other motive, he could not tell.</p> + +<p>The thought in his mind was—</p> + +<p>"That is my wife, Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>Then the folly of this suspicion struck him; not an hour before he had +left his wife almost asleep in her room, how was it possible that she +could be there, wandering about like a demented creature in the misty +twilight?</p> + +<p>"I will go up to her room," he thought; "I will cure myself of these +absurd fancies."</p> + +<p>He entered the house and ran upstairs quickly, opened the door of his +wife's room and looked in. She was standing before the fire—at the +noise of the opening door she thrust something into her bosom—a paper +it looked like to Mellen—then she turned and stood silently regarding +him.</p> + +<p>"You are up," he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied, a little coldly. "Did you want anything?"</p> + +<p>"Only to see if you slept—if you were coming down soon."</p> + +<p>"I shall be down directly."</p> + +<p>He hesitated an instant, then he said:</p> + +<p>"Were you not in the grounds just now?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not answer; she had let her hair down and was beginning to +arrange it, shading her pale face with the floating tresses.</p> + +<p>"Were you?" he inquired again.</p> + +<p>"What did you ask?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>He repeated the question.</p> + +<p>"It does not seem quite probable," she said, walking away towards the +mirror.</p> + +<p>"I thought that I saw you there only a few minutes since," he said.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was busy lighting a candle; after she had succeeded, she +replied:</p> + +<p>"If you had seen me in the grounds would it have been so very singular."</p> + +<p>"No; only as I left you lying down——"</p> + +<p>She interrupted him with an impatient gesture.</p> + +<p>"I am tired of this," she said passionately. "What is it you wish to +know—what do you suspect?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, Elizabeth; I only thought it was foolish if not dangerous to +go out on such a night."</p> + +<p>He was ashamed of himself now, but she did not offer to help him in his +dilemma. She stood silent and still, as if waiting for him to leave the +room.</p> + +<p>"We will wait tea for you," he said.</p> + +<p>"Very well."</p> + +<p>As he passed near the sofa his foot got entangled in a shawl which lay +on the floor; he picked it up—it was heavy with damp.</p> + +<p>"I was given to understand that you had not been out," he exclaimed, +holding it towards her.</p> + +<p>For an instant Elizabeth looked confused, then she snatched the shawl +from his hand, crying angrily:</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I was out—now are you satisfied?"</p> + +<p>"Always deception," he said, "even in trifles."</p> + +<p>"Of course," she exclaimed, in the same passionate tone, "you make it +necessary. I went out because these nervous attacks make me feel as if I +were choking—you are so suspicious, you see something to suspect in the +most trivial action."</p> + +<p>"So you——"</p> + +<p>"Told you a lie," she added, when he hesitated; "well, let it go at +that. Are you through with this examination—have you any more questions +to ask?"</p> + +<p>"That tone—that look, Elizabeth; you are not like yourself!"</p> + +<p>"No wonder—blame yourself for it. I cannot and will not endure this +system of <i>espionage</i>—I will have my liberty—that you may understand!"</p> + +<p>Mellen's passionate temper flamed up in his face, but he controlled it +resolutely and did not speak.</p> + +<p>"Be good enough to say all you wish and have done with the subject," she +continued in the same irritating tone, utterly unlike her old method of +parleying or enduring his evil words.</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to ask," he said; "you are nervous and excited—we won't +quarrel to-night."</p> + +<p>He went out of the room, Elizabeth fell upon her knees by the couch, and +groaned aloud.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I am no longer myself! What wonder! what wonder!"</p> + +<p>She drew a letter from her bosom and began to read it, moaning and +crying as she read; then she threw it in the fire, stood watching till +the last fragments were consumed, then sinking into a chair, buried her +face in her hands. She remained a long time in that despondent attitude, +her whole frame shaking at intervals with nervous tremors, and her +breath struggling upwards in shuddering gasps.</p> + +<p>There was a knock at the door at length.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" she called sharply; "what do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Elsie wished to know if you were coming to tea," said a servant. +"There is a gentleman come to see Mr. Mellen from the city, ma'am."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth started up and went on dressing; as was usual with her after +one of those strange excitements, a sudden fever crimsoned her cheeks +and brightened her eyes.</p> + +<p>She went downstairs and received her guest with affable grace, which +contrasted painfully with her late excitement, and before the evening +was over, seemed to have forgotten the hasty words she had spoken to +Mellen, and was like her old self again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<h3>THE TIGER IN HIS DEN.</h3> + + +<p>IT was a small room, in one of those mysterious hotels in the narrow +streets near the Battery, which appear to be usually appropriated to +foreigners, and about which dark-whiskered, sallow-faced individuals may +be seen lingering at all hours of the day, their very faded, seedy +appearance calling up images of duns, scant dinners, and a whole train +of petty evils.</p> + +<p>The chamber was small, but not uncomfortably furnished, though the +articles had originally been of the tawdry fashion which such places +affect, and had probably not been new by several stages when first +established there.</p> + +<p>The remains of a fire smouldered in the little grate, but the ashes were +strewn over the hearth. The torn and frayed carpet was littered with +loose cards, and the whole apartment was in hopeless confusion which +added greatly to its original discomfort.</p> + +<p>In the centre of the room was a small table covered with empty champagne +bottles and glasses, standing in half dried puddles of wine, with a +bronze receiver overflowing with cigar ashes all huddled untidily +together, and giving repulsive evidence of a long night of dissipation.</p> + +<p>The low bedstead had its moth-eaten, miserable attempt at a canopy swept +back and heaped carelessly on the dirty counterpane by a man in a +restless slumber, just as he had thrown himself down, ready dressed, +long after daylight peered in through the broken shutters.</p> + +<p>His appearance was in keeping with the room; a soiled dressing-gown, +that had once been very elegant, was wrapt carelessly about him; his +black hair streamed over the pillow, and gave an almost ghastly effect +to his face, as he lay in that troubled dream, already pale and worn +from many sleepless nights.</p> + +<p>It was a handsome face, but one from which a physiognomist would have +shrunk, had he seen it in its hard truthfulness, without a gleam of the +fascination which it was capable of expressing in guarded moments and +under more fortunate circumstances.</p> + +<p>The sleeper was on the sunny side of mid-age, but his countenance was +one of those which carries no idea of youth with it, even in early +boyhood it was so marked by craft and recklessness that nothing of the +<i>abandon</i> of fresh feeling ever left an imprint there.</p> + +<p>It was nearly noon, but he had not stirred or opened his eyes; once or +twice the dilapidated chambermaid, who performed a slatternly duty in +that part of the building, opened the door and peeped in, but her +entrance had not served to arouse him, and she knew better than to +venture upon any further attempt.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he woke from a troubled dream and looked about him.</p> + +<p>"I dreamed they were railing me up in a coffin," he muttered; "pah, how +plainly I heard them driving in the nails!"</p> + +<p>He turned upon his pillow with a shuddering oath, but that instant there +came a knock at the door, this time quick and impatient—it was the +first summons which had caused him that unquiet vision.</p> + +<p>"Come in," he called out; "the door isn't locked."</p> + +<p>The man raised himself indolently on the bed and looked towards the +door—it opened slowly and a woman entered the room.</p> + +<p>Her face was concealed under a heavy veil, but the man seemed to +recognize her at once, for he started up and gave a muttered execration +as he caught sight of his untidy appearance in the little mirror.</p> + +<p>Then he hurried towards his visitor, who had closed the door and stood +leaning against it.</p> + +<p>"You have come," he exclaimed; "so kind of you—excuse the disorder +here—I did not know it was so late."</p> + +<p>He held out his hand with a smile, but she turned away with a gesture of +abhorrence which had no effect upon him save that it deepened the smile +to an ugly sneer.</p> + +<p>She threw back the long veil and displayed her face—the visitor was +Elizabeth Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Pray be seated," he went on, placing a chair near the hearth; "this +room looks dreadful, but I was up late and overslept myself—had I +dreamed you would favor me with so early a visit, I should have been +prepared."</p> + +<p>She glanced at the table, which bore evidence of the manner in which the +night had been passed, and said abruptly, pointing towards the cards +scattered on the carpet:</p> + +<p>"Did those things keep you wakeful?"</p> + +<p>He smiled complacently.</p> + +<p>"Nothing ever escapes your eye, dear lady. Well, I won't deny the +fact—we were playing cards a little. I was not absolutely fortunate," +he answered, with another disagreeable smile; "but you know the old +proverb—'Lucky in love, unlucky at cards,' so I never expect much from +the mischievous paste-boards."</p> + +<p>Her face flushed painfully to the very waves of her hair, then grew +whiter than before; she sank to a seat from positive inability to stand.</p> + +<p>"I have brought you no money," she said, abruptly, looking in his face +with sudden defiance.</p> + +<p>His brows contracted in an ugly frown, though his lips still retained +its smile—he looked dangerous.</p> + +<p>"That is bad, very," he said; "I wonder you should have come all the way +here to bring these unpleasant tidings!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not answer; she had drawn towards the hearth and was +pushing the ashes back with the point of her shoe, gazing drearily into +the dying embers.</p> + +<p>"You received my letter?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes—don't send in that way again, or let yourself be seen. You +frightened me so that I fell from my horse."</p> + +<p>"How sad! I should never have forgiven myself had any harm resulted from +it," he said, so gravely, that one could not tell whether he was in +earnest or mocking her. "You were not hurt—nothing unpleasant occurred! +I despaired of seeing you in the grounds after that, and so went away."</p> + +<p>She started up in sudden passion, goaded by his attempt at sympathy +beyond the power of prudence or self-control.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had been hurt," she exclaimed. "I could have borne being +maimed for life had I seen the brute's hoofs trampling you down as I +fell."</p> + +<p>He seated himself opposite her and looked earnestly in her face. These +bitter words did not seem to excite his anger—he was smiling still, and +his face wore a look of admiration which appeared to excite her still +more desperately.</p> + +<p>"You are so beautiful in one of these moods," he said; "don't restrain +yourself. What a Medea you would make!"</p> + +<p>She looked at him with a glance which had the menace of a hunted animal +brought suddenly to bay, and ready from very despair to defend +itself—in moments like that many a desperate woman has stained her soul +with crime—but her companion betrayed no uneasiness.</p> + +<p>"You don't like me to say complimentary things to you," he said; "it is +unkind to deprive me even of that pleasure."</p> + +<p>"I have no time to waste," she said, controlling herself by a strong +effort, and speaking in a cold, measured tone. "I came to tell you that +you must wait—I can't give you the money to-day—if you were successful +with those cards you can afford to be patient."</p> + +<p>"My dear friend," returned he, "you know how anxious I am—how I desire +to put the ocean between me and this accursed country."</p> + +<p>"You will not go when you get the money," she said; "you will drink, +gamble—leave yourself without a penny."</p> + +<p>"So harsh always in your judgments," he returned, deprecatingly.</p> + +<p>"I have no hope of escaping you," she went on; "but I have one +consolation—you are ruining me, and that will be your own destruction! +My husband suspects me—watches me—the day he discovers a shadow of the +truth, there is an end to these extortions."</p> + +<p>"Don't speak so angrily—my dear lady! I hardly think your husband would +refuse to listen to reason—your proud men will do a great deal to +procure silence where a lady is concerned."</p> + +<p>"You know that he would not be silent! With his home once broken up, his +peace destroyed, he would be utterly careless of the world's +knowledge—his wrongs and his revenge would lead him to desperate +measures."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible? What an unpleasant character! Well, well, we must take +pains that he is not enlightened—that is the way—you see how very +simple it is."</p> + +<p>"I warn you, this is the last money I shall give you for years," she +said; "it is only from having these stocks in my hands that I am able to +do it now."</p> + +<p>"My dear friend, you forget; your husband may give you more stocks," he +returned, with a laugh which made her shrink with abhorence.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Forbes has promised me the money this week—that will be in time +for the steamer."</p> + +<p>"How coldly you betray anxiety to have me gone!" he said; "it is really +cruel."</p> + +<p>"I have no idea that you will go," she returned; "you will spend the +money—you will demand more—my husband will discover it. But at least I +shall have the satisfaction of knowing that there is no place secret +enough, no land distant enough to guard your life safely after that."</p> + +<p>He only received her passionate words with a shrug of the shoulders and +a deprecating wave of the hand.</p> + +<p>"But it is so sad to go into exile alone," he said; "if I could take +with me——"</p> + +<p>"Oh! you are such a base, miserable coward!" she broke in. "Such a +pitiful, dastardly wretch! Don't frown at me—I have never been afraid +of you—I am not now! I tell you the hour of retribution will come!"</p> + +<p>His face never changed, he made her a gracious bow and said pleasantly:</p> + +<p>"You are inclined to do the prophetess this morning—but don't be such a +fearful Cassandra, I beg."</p> + +<p>She rose from her chair and folded her shawl about her.</p> + +<p>"I need stay here no longer," she said, "I have told you what I came to +say."</p> + +<p>"Don't be so cruel as to run away so soon," he pleaded; "give my poor +room the glory of your presence a little longer. You see to what I was +driven before I could force myself to trouble you again. These are not +proper apartments for a gentleman; you will admit I had an excuse. The +whole thing is miserably humiliating."</p> + +<p>"I shall be here on Monday," said Elizabeth, ignoring his excuses. "I +shall have the money ready for you, but I will not bring it—those +letters must be first placed in my hands."</p> + +<p>"Ah! you are going to drive a hard bargain, I see."</p> + +<p>"You have evaded so often, cheated me so often; I have given you +thousands of dollars—this is the last—take it—enough to make you +comfortable for years if you are careful; but the letters come into my +possession first, and that paper too."</p> + +<p>"You really mean to have your freedom, do you?" he asked, jestingly; "to +sweep me out of your life for ever; that is hard."</p> + +<p>"Don't think to cheat me; neither your forged writing or any pretence +will answer here. I tell you I am desperate now—you can't force me down +a step farther."</p> + +<p>"You are a magnificent woman!" he exclaimed; "a wonderful woman! I don't +believe the country could boast another such."</p> + +<p>She turned away.</p> + +<p>"Now you are angry. But let it pass."</p> + +<p>"Remember what I have said," retorted Elizabeth. "I tell you I am +desperate now! At least I shall have placed it out of your power to +injure any one but myself. I have reached that point when I will have +freedom from your persecutions or drag the ruin down on my own head +while crushing you."</p> + +<p>She was in terrible earnest—he was a sufficient judge of character to +see that. It was in her nature to grow so utterly desperate that, +whatever her secret might prove, she would find the courage to give it +up to her husband and madly urge on the crisis of her fate in all its +blackness and horror, rather than endure the slavery and suspense in +which she had lived.</p> + +<p>"There will be no need of all this," he said. "Place in my hands the sum +you have promised, and I will at once put it out of my own power to harm +you or yours. After all," he continued, with another sneering laugh, "I +am selling my claim much too cheaply; twenty-five thousand dollars is a +pitiful little sum, considering what I give up."</p> + +<p>"You can get no more—you cannot frighten me! If you betrayed everything +you would ruin your hopes of a single penny. I tell you my husband would +perish rather than buy your silence. I know him—he might shoot you down +like a dog, but would never pay gold to bind your vicious tongue."</p> + +<p>"Dear friend, I infinitely prefer transacting this little business with +you," he said, laughing again. "We shall not quarrel; for your sake I +will content myself with the twenty-five thousand dollars, but I warn +you I cannot wait after Monday."</p> + +<p>"I tell you it will be ready on that day."</p> + +<p>"The letters and that troublesome little document shall be placed in +your hands—I promise on——"</p> + +<p>She interrupted him contemptuously: "There is nothing you could swear by +that would make the oath worth hearing."</p> + +<p>The man bowed, as if she had paid him a compliment. He was so utterly +hardened that even her burning scorn could not affect him.</p> + +<p>"Don't write to me, don't send to me," she said; "it will only be +dangerous—more so for you than for me—remember that."</p> + +<p>"I can trust you; I have the utmost faith in your word."</p> + +<p>She gathered her shawl about her and moved towards the door.</p> + +<p>"Are you going already?"</p> + +<p>"That bracelet!" she said, with a sudden thought. "You parted with it of +course—could you get it back?"</p> + +<p>He shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I received your note concerning it; we will see—very doubtful I fear. +But when I am once gone—even if your husband does discover it—there +will be no trouble."</p> + +<p>She turned her back on him. He started forward to open the door for her, +his hand touched hers on the knob, she started as if a scorpion had +stung her, but he only cast a smile in her face and allowed her to pass +out.</p> + +<p>"A wonderful woman!" he said to himself, after she had disappeared. +"What a pity she hates me so; the only woman in the world worth having +at your feet."</p> + +<p>He went to the table, searched among the bottles till he found one that +still contained brandy, poured the contents into a glass and drank with +feverish eagerness.</p> + +<p>"That'll put a little life in me," he muttered. "Well, there is nothing +for it but to wait. I must keep myself very quiet. I think I'll have +some breakfast—at any rate I can afford to leave this den."</p> + +<p>He pulled out a pocket-book with a laugh, glanced at the contents and +put it away.</p> + +<p>"Luck enough for a parlor and bed-room in the best uptown hotel for a +week or so," he muttered; "pah! how I loathe this hole!"</p> + +<p>North threw off his dressing-gown, bathed his face in cold water, +arranged his dress a little, and went down stairs in search of his +morning meal.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Mellen hurried through the narrow street in which the hotel +stood, as if trying to walk herself into calmness. Once she murmured:</p> + +<p>"Five days more—five! If I can live through them and keep the tempest +back I may be safe. If I can! Such a dread at my heart—worse as the +time shortens—oh heavens, if discovery should come now when the haven +is so near!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE PAWNBROKER'S SHOP.</h3> + + +<p>Weeks had glided along. It was now late autumn; the gorgeous leaves lay +strewn along the ground, and the wind sighed up from the ocean chill and +bleak, scattering thoughts of decay with each gust. With that gathering +desolation, the coldness and the shadows had crept deeper and deeper +into Grantley Mellen's life.</p> + +<p>He had accompanied Elizabeth to the city, one of these chilly autumn +days, and put her in a carriage at the ferry, that she might attend to +the purchases and calls which was her ostensible errand to town, while +he went about the business on hand, with an arrangement that they were +to meet in time for the afternoon boat.</p> + +<p>Elsie had chosen to pass the day at home; indeed, the light-hearted girl +and Elizabeth were never together now when it could possibly be avoided. +Elsie seemed determined to keep aloof from the mystery of the unhappy +woman's life, lest its gloominess should cast some shadow over the +brightness of her own path.</p> + +<p>While Elizabeth was absent on her mysterious visit, Mellen occupied +himself with a matter which would have added another trouble to the +anxiety of that bitter day, had she dreamed of it. From the first he had +determined that the disappearance of that gauntlet bracelet should be in +some way explained, if it lay in human power to discover the mystery. +What his precise motive was he could hardly have told. The trinket might +have been picked up by some vagabond who had wandered into the grounds; +if so there was little hope of ever gaining any tidings concerning it, +but Mellen could not satisfy himself that such was the case; he believed +the jewel would yet be found.</p> + +<p>There was some mystery in Elizabeth's life—of that irksome suspicion he +could not divest himself. Twenty times each day he went over in his mind +every event that had occurred since his return, from the moment when he +came upon her wandering so wildly about on that stormy night.</p> + +<p>Twenty times each day he convinced himself that there was nothing in the +whole catalogue to awaken the slightest doubt in any mind not given up +to self-torture and jealousy like his; yet, argue as he would, bring +conviction as closely home to his soul as he might, doubts rose up again +and haunted him like ghosts that had no power to speak, but pointed +always towards trouble and blackness which lay in the past.</p> + +<p>If the bracelet had been given to a needy person for any reason, it +would undoubtedly find its way to the hands of some pawnbroker—that was +his thought. He reproached himself for indulging it—he called himself +unworthy the love of any woman while he could harbor such suspicions, +but they would not pass out of his mind—the treachery which had wrecked +his youth had sown the seeds of suspicion too deeply in his soul to be +easily eradicated.</p> + +<p>Then he compounded with his conscience, and decided that he was right in +taking every step possible to solve these doubts, if only to prove the +innocence of his wife. He kept repeating to himself that this was the +reason which urged him on.</p> + +<p>"I want to be convinced," he thought again and again, "of my own +injustice—it is right that I should endure this self-abasement as a +punishment for doubting a woman who is beyond suspicion."</p> + +<p>Solacing his self-reproaches a little by such arguments and reflections, +he had gone to work in earnest to make such discoveries as would drive +these harassing doubts away forever.</p> + +<p>Among other efforts, he had confided to a leading pawnbroker the details +of the affair, and it was in him that his hopes principally lay. If the +bracelet was not brought to this man's establishment he had means of +discovering if it was carried elsewhere.</p> + +<p>That day Mr. Hollywell had news for him; a bracelet similar to the one +he had described, was in the possession of an old Chatham street Jew, +and they went together in search of this man.</p> + +<p>The old Israelite was dreadfully afraid of getting himself into +difficulty, but Mr. Hollywell satisfied his fears in regard to that, and +assured him that the gentleman would reward him liberally for any +disclosures that he might make regarding this particular bracelet.</p> + +<p>Then it came out that the bracelet had been disposed of for a +considerable sum—it was a sale rather than a deposit. The man who +brought it there had more than once come to the shop on similar errands; +and always pledged valuable ornaments or sold them recklessly for +whatever would satisfy the needs of the moment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen grew more interested when he described the man's appearance; +the keen eyes of the money-lender and the sharp sight of the old Jew, +accustomed to reading countenances, saw a singular expression of +uncertainty rested upon his face, which took a slow, deadly paleness as +the identity of this man seemed to strike him.</p> + +<p>He walked several times up and down the little den where the aged +Israelite kept watch, like a bloated spider ready to pounce upon any +unwary fly that might venture into his mesh, and at last returned to the +place where the two men were standing.</p> + +<p>"Have you any of that man's writing?" he asked. "Just a scrap—I don't +ask to see his name—only a few words in his writing."</p> + +<p>The old Jew looked doubtful.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes he has write me, my good sare, but not often, he ish very +careful—very careful."</p> + +<p>"And have you nothing by you?"</p> + +<p>The old Jew turned to a great desk that filled up one end of the dark +room, unlocked a variety of doors and drawers, turned over piles of +dirty notes, and at last selected a scrap of paper from among them.</p> + +<p>"This is his writin'," he said, in a guttural whisper. "I'm taking great +trouble, great trouble," he whined; "de good gentleman ought to remember +that."</p> + +<p>"You shall be well rewarded," said Mr. Mellen impatiently, snatching the +paper from his hand.</p> + +<p>He glanced at the writing—the paleness of his face grew death-like—he +stood like a statue, with his eyes rivetted upon the page, while the two +men regarded him in silence.</p> + +<p>The writing was peculiar. It had an individuality so marked and so +increased by practice, that any person who had seen a page of the +delicate characters, could have sworn to the writing among whole +volumes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen looked up—the astonishment in his companions' faces brought +him to himself.</p> + +<p>"That is what I wanted," he said.</p> + +<p>"I hopes it ish all right," urged the Jew. "The good gentleman is +satisfied!"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly, perfectly! Now I want the bracelet! How much did you receive +on it?"</p> + +<p>The old Jew's face changed at once.</p> + +<p>"And I won't get my reward?" he faltered. "You will sheat a poor man's +out of his earnings."</p> + +<p>"Who talks of cheating you," said Mr. Hollywell.</p> + +<p>"I am ready to pay you," pursued Mr. Mellen; "I would rather give double +the price of the bracelet than not get it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hollywell made a sign of caution; such words would increase the old +rascal's cupidity to a height money could hardly satisfy, but they were +interrupted by a groan from the Jew.</p> + +<p>"And it ish gone!" cried he; "and so leetle paid—so leetle paid. The +good gentleman would have given more."</p> + +<p>"Gone!" repeated Mr. Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you say so?" asked Mr. Hollywell angrily. "It was only +yesterday you told me it was safe in your possession."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I knows, and so I had."</p> + +<p>"Where is it, then?"</p> + +<p>"The man came for it—he has brought his ticket, paid his money and took +the bracelet; I was out—my boy let him have it! Oh, my reward—my +reward!"</p> + +<p>"Shut your foolish old mouth!" exclaimed Mr. Hollywell.</p> + +<p>The old Jew sank into a chair, still groaning and lamenting, while the +money-lender turned to Mr. Mellen.</p> + +<p>"What will you do now, sir?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing."</p> + +<p>He looked despondent now, though the fierce anger that had blazed in his +face at the first sight of the writing lighted it up still.</p> + +<p>"I am perfectly satisfied," he continued. "I am much obliged to you for +your trouble."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry," Mr. Hollywell began, but Mellen checked him.</p> + +<p>"It is just as well—don't be troubled."</p> + +<p>He took out his pocket-book, laid down a bank note whose value made the +old Jew's eyes sparkle with avidity, and hurried out of the dark little +shop.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVII" id="CHAPTER_XLVII"></a>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2> + +<h3>TEASING CONTINUALLY.</h3> + + +<p>All the next day the house at Piney Cove was in confusion with guests +coming and going. This husband and wife were not once left alone.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington had come up to spend the day, and go out with them in +the evening, and Tom Fuller was at his post as usual, though he appeared +with a very blank face indeed.</p> + +<p>"You look more like Don Quixote than ever," was Elsie's salutation, as +he entered the room, where she sat with Elizabeth and their guests.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Mr. Fuller?" cried the widow. "I wonder you have any +patience at all with that little witch; she teases you constantly; I am +sure you must be amiability itself."</p> + +<p>"She won't have the chance for some time to come, more's the pity," +returned Tom, disconsolately.</p> + +<p>"And why not, pray?" demanded Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Because I've got to go to Pittsburg, and flounder about in coal mines, +and the Lord knows what."</p> + +<p>"Have you business there?" asked Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to be sure! Bless me, I was better off when I had no property. I +could do as I pleased then, and didn't have to go about breaking my neck +in pits, and bothering over all sorts of business that I understand no +more than the man in the moon—taking care of my interests as they call +it."</p> + +<p>"Poor, unfortunate victim!" mocked Elsie.</p> + +<p>"The penalty of riches," sighed Mrs. Harrington. "But think of the good +they bring to yourself and all about you, Mr. Fuller."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know," returned he; "I'm an ungrateful wretch; it's in my +nature; I need to have my head punched twenty times a day, there's no +doubt of that."</p> + +<p>They all laughed at his energy; even Elizabeth tried to come out of her +anxious thoughts, and confine her wandering fancies to the conversation.</p> + +<p>"When are you going, Tom?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"He speaks as if it were the Day of Judgment," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>"And I may be gone a whole week or more," pursued he.</p> + +<p>"A small eternity," cried Elsie. "Dear me, dear me, how we all pity +you."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you care a straw," said Tom, dismally; "you won't miss +me."</p> + +<p>"He wants to be flattered," cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"I am sure you will be missed, dear Mr. Fuller," said the widow; "you +wrong your friends by a suspicion so cruel."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, I'm sure," returned Tom, glancing at Elsie; but she was in +one of her mischievous moods, and would not give him a gleam of +consolation.</p> + +<p>"Don't spoil him, Mary Harrington," said she; "the creature's vanity is +becoming inordinate; isn't it, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"You can ill-treat him sufficiently without my assistance," said Mrs. +Mellen, smiling; "I shall not help you, certainly."</p> + +<p>"That is right, Bess," cried Tom; "stand by a fellow a little; she +hasn't a spark of pity."</p> + +<p>"Take care, sir!" said Elsie, lifting her embroidery scissors. "Don't +try to win my natural allies over to your side by underhand +persuasions."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you don't need allies or assistance of any sort to be more +than a match for a dozen men," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Another of my womanly prerogatives," replied Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tom, "there seems to be no end to them."</p> + +<p>Everybody laughed at his tone, and Tom sat down near Elsie, tumbling her +work, and making signs to her to go out of the room, that he might +secure a few moments alone with her, but the little witch pretended not +to understand his signals in the least, and went on demurely with her +work.</p> + +<p>"You ruin my work!" cried she, snatching her embroidery from his touch. +"What on earth are you making such faces for?"</p> + +<p>Tom laughed in a distressed way, red with confusion.</p> + +<p>"Dazzled by your presence, Elsie," cried the widow, seeing that Tom had +not presence of mind enough for the compliment.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth began to get restless again; it was perfectly impossible for +her to keep quiet any length of time that day, and she made some excuse +for leaving them.</p> + +<p>"Let me go with you," said Mrs. Harrington; "I know you are going to +order luncheon, and I should so like to get a peep at your kitchen; it +is a perfect Flemish picture."</p> + +<p>"Particularly the crowd of dusky faces," said Elsie. "Mary Harrington, +you're a humbug."</p> + +<p>"I am sure she is quite right," said Tom, anxious to insure her +departure; "I was in the kitchen one day and it looked as picturesque as +Niagara."</p> + +<p>Elsie perfectly understood the motive which led him to speak, and +hastened to rejoin:</p> + +<p>"If you think it so stupendous you had better accompany them, and get +another peep."</p> + +<p>"No," said Tom; "I might disturb the colored persons; I'll stay where I +am."</p> + +<p>"Bless me," cried Elsie; "what consideration! You will be bursting into +unpremeditated poetry about the dark future, before we know it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie," said Mrs. Harrington, "what a provoking creature you are."</p> + +<p>She followed Elizabeth out of the room, and Tom was alone at last with +his idol.</p> + +<p>"Are you sorry I am going?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Do I look so?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, you don't."</p> + +<p>"Well, looks can't tell fibs," said she, provokingly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie, be good to me now; just think; I shall be gone a whole +week!"</p> + +<p>"It's a calamity I dare not contemplate," replied she. "Now, whatever +you do, don't break your neck in those horrid coal mines, or come back +smelling of brimstone like a theatrical fiend."</p> + +<p>"I believe you would jest during an earthquake."</p> + +<p>"If it would stop the thing shaking I might," she answered. "There, +there, don't be cross, Tom."</p> + +<p>Elsie threw down her work, and with one of her quick changes of manner +brought her lover back to serenity.</p> + +<p>"If you would only let me do one thing before I go," he said, getting +courage enough from her kindness to propose an idea that had been in his +mind ever since he arrived.</p> + +<p>"What is it, <i>Monsieur Exigeant</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Just let me tell Grant of our—our—"</p> + +<p>"Our what, stammerer?"</p> + +<p>"Of the happiness you have promised me," said Tom, changing the original +word from fear of vexing her.</p> + +<p>"You were going to say engagement; don't deny it."</p> + +<p>"And aren't we engaged?" he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, Mr. Tom Fuller; I am just as free as air; please to +remember that."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie!"</p> + +<p>"And Elsie oh!" cried she. "But it's true! You said all sorts of foolish +things about love, and I let you talk, but what right have you to say we +are engaged?"</p> + +<p>Tom instantly became so nervous that he could not sit still.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Elsie, Elsie, how can you?" he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Now, aren't you deliciously miserable," said Elsie; "that is the way I +like to see you; it's your duty, sir."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't think you so cruel at such a time."</p> + +<p>"Oh, wouldn't you? And pray what right have you to think at all; no man +has a right; that's another female privilege."</p> + +<p>"You are worse than the Women's Rights people," said he.</p> + +<p>"Now you are calling me names," cried Elsie, indignantly. "I won't stay +with you another moment."</p> + +<p>She half rose, but Tom caught her dress.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't go, don't!"</p> + +<p>"Go on your knees then, and beg my pardon," said Elsie.</p> + +<p>"No," said Tom, "I'll do no such thing."</p> + +<p>"Ah, do now, just to please, you know."</p> + +<p>Down went Tom in dumb obedience. After enjoying his distress and +penitence for a few moments, Elsie suddenly threw both her arms about +his neck, and whispered:</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry you are going. I do love you dearly, Tom!"</p> + +<p>He strained her to his heart with a burst of grateful delight.</p> + +<p>"And may I tell Grant?" he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," she said; "wait till you come back; not a word till then."</p> + +<p>"But as soon as I come?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; if you are good. But not a look till I say the word."</p> + +<p>She tried to escape from him, but he would not let her go until he had +extorted one other pledge.</p> + +<p>"You must write to me," he said.</p> + +<p>"Now, Tom, I hate to write letters! I never write even to Grant, when I +can possibly help it."</p> + +<p>"But just a few words—"</p> + +<p>"If you will behave yourself properly, perhaps yes."</p> + +<p>"Every day?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, worse and worse! Tom, get up. I hear Mary Harrington's voice; she's +the most inveterate gossip."</p> + +<p>"Promise then!"</p> + +<p>"Yes—yes—anything; oh, get away!"</p> + +<p>She struggled from him, and Tom had just time to resume his seat and +look as decorously grave as perfect happiness could permit, when the +door opened, and Mrs. Harrington entered, with her usual flutter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVIII" id="CHAPTER_XLVIII"></a>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE PET MESSENGER.</h3> + + +<p>"Elsie, Elsie!" the widow cried out, "Mr. Rhodes and the fascinating +Jemima are driving up the avenue; the old maid is rushing on destruction +again without the slightest warning."</p> + +<p>"It's delightful!" said Elsie. "I shall tell her how rich Tom Fuller is, +and that he wants a wife."</p> + +<p>"Don't set the old dragon at me," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will! Mary, you must flirt desperately with the dear old man; +between her desire to watch you and be agreeable to Tom, the spinster +will be driven to the verge of distraction."</p> + +<p>"I'll go and find Elizabeth," said the widow, "and appear after the old +maid gets nicely settled."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrington darted away, and just made her escape as Dolf opened the +hall-door to admit the guests.</p> + +<p>The father and daughter were ushered into the room where Elsie and Tom +sat, looking demure and harmless as two kittens.</p> + +<p>"Here we are again, you see," said the stout man; "no one can resist +your fascinations, Miss Elsie."</p> + +<p>"Pa would stop," said Miss Jemima, "though I told him it was a shame to +come so often."</p> + +<p>The truth was, the spinster's appetite had warned her that it was quite +luncheon time, and recollecting the bounteous repasts always spread at +Piney Cove, she had graciously assented to her parent's proposal that +they should call.</p> + +<p>"I am delighted to see you," said Elsie, shaking hands as if they were +her dearest friends; "my brother and sister will be down in a moment; +you must stay to luncheon, of course."</p> + +<p>"No, oh, no," said Miss Jemima, glancing at Tom through her scant +eyelashes. "We couldn't think of it!"</p> + +<p>"But you must, you shall!" said Elsie. "Let me present Mr. Fuller."</p> + +<p>The spinster curtseyed and looked grimly propitious. Tom was nearly out +of his wits; while Mr. Rhodes talked to him he saw Elsie whisper to Miss +Jemima, and felt perfectly certain that she had given the threatened +information about his being a rich bachelor in search of a wife.</p> + +<p>"And when did you see your charming friend, Mrs. Harrington, last?" +asked Mr. Rhodes.</p> + +<p>"The oddest thing!" said Elsie. "Why, she is here now; hadn't you a +suspicion of it, Mr. Rhodes?"</p> + +<p>Miss Jemima's face changed so suddenly, that Tom made a great effort to +keep from laughing outright.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Rhodes," continued Elsie; "I am afraid the attractions of this +house are only borrowed ones."</p> + +<p>The good man was thrown into a state of blushing and pleasant confusion, +but the spinster brought him through it without mercy.</p> + +<p>"If there's company we won't stay, pa," said she.</p> + +<p>But Elsie would not permit her to go; she whispered again about Tom, and +between her desire to stop long enough to fascinate him and her fear of +exposing her father to the wiles of the artful widow, Jemima was in +terrible perplexity.</p> + +<p>In the midst of it Elizabeth entered, and welcomed her neighbors; Mellen +followed; and after a few moments the widow swooped down on the +unfortunate Mr. Rhodes in spite of the dragon, as a well-practised hawk +pounces on a plump chicken.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Mr. Rhodes, this is such a surprise," she cried, fluttering up to +him with a simper on her face, which of late years had done the duty of +a blush.</p> + +<p>"I dare say a great surprise," snapped in Jemima, siding up to her +father.</p> + +<p>This was exquisite sport for Elsie and Mrs. Harrington; Tom would have +enjoyed it more if the spinster had not beset him as much as her divided +attention would permit, and Elizabeth and Mellen bore the infliction as +people must endure all things that come to an issue in their own house, +smiling and polite, however much they may wish for a release.</p> + +<p>While they were at luncheon, Elizabeth's dog ran into the room with a +paper in its mouth. It was the most intelligent little creature in the +world, educated to fetch and carry in a surprising manner.</p> + +<p>This pretty creature, which seemed almost human in her intelligence, ran +towards her mistress, but another, a new pet of Elsie's, a frolicsome, +wicked animal that had quite worried poor Fanny's life out ever since +her intrusion in the house, followed it.</p> + +<p>Piccolomini sprang at the paper in Fan's mouth, and a contention ensued +between them which attracted general attention.</p> + +<p>"Fanny's got a paper," cried Elsie, pointing towards her pets.</p> + +<p>"It may be a letter," said Mellen; "Dolf often sends them in by her; +call off Pick, Elsie; she'll tear it."</p> + +<p>But Pick would not be called off, and Fanny refused to relinquish her +hold; between them the paper was rapidly destroyed, Fanny howling +dismally all the time, and making sagacious efforts to fulfil her errand +in her usual trusty manner.</p> + +<p>Mellen went towards them; as he did so Fanny sprang towards Elizabeth; +she stooped, caught sight of the paper, and grew pale. Fairly pushing +Mellen aside, she snatched the paper from the animal's mouth.</p> + +<p>"It's only an old bill, I must have dropped it," she said, thrusting it +hurriedly in her pocket.</p> + +<p>Mellen saw how pale his wife had become; he noticed her alarm; he +remembered, too, seeing Fanny running about the shrubbery just before he +came in.</p> + +<p>It was another phase of the mystery, he was certain of that; the little +creature was carrying a note to his wife. He seated himself at the table +again, and appeared to forget the circumstance, but Elizabeth hardly +looked like herself during the entire meal.</p> + +<p>It was late before the visitors departed; after that Tom Fuller was +compelled to take his leave,—a heartrending performance as far as he +was concerned; so the day drew to a close, leaving both the husband and +wife more preoccupied and anxious than the dreary morning had found +them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIX" id="CHAPTER_XLIX"></a>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2> + +<h3>ELSIE FINDS THE BRACELET.</h3> + + +<p>There was a dinner engagement the next day. When Elizabeth came down to +the library in full dress, her husband sat moodily over the fire. He +looked up as she entered, and gazed upon her with mournful admiration, +for her beauty that day was something wonderful; unabated excitement had +fired her eyes with a strange lustre, and lent a rich scarlet to cheeks, +from which protracted suspense had of late drained all the color. Her +dress, of rose colored silk, was misty with delicate lace that shaded +her neck and arms like gossamer on white lilies. Star-like jewels +flashed in the rich blackness of her hair and shone through the soft +lace. The calm loveliness of former days was nothing to the splendor of +her beauty now a feverish restlessness was upon her,—a glow of pain +conquered by courage.</p> + +<p>Mellen arose from his seat as his wife came in with the graceful rush of +a cloud across the sky. He watched her approach gloomily. It seemed to +him that her first impulse was to flee when she saw him sitting there, +but if so the desire was quickly controlled, and she came up to the +hearth, standing so near him that the folds of her dress brushed his +arm.</p> + +<p>"You are ready too," she said. "But it is impossible to say how long we +shall have to wait for Elsie and Mrs. Harrington!"</p> + +<p>He made no answer; she began clasping and unclasping her bracelets, but +was watching him all the while from under her downcast lashes.</p> + +<p>"Are you ill, Grantley?" she asked at length.</p> + +<p>"Oh! no; quite well."</p> + +<p>"You are so silent, and you sat there in such a dreary way, I feared +something was the matter."</p> + +<p>He made an effort to rouse himself and shake off the oppression—the +heavy, heavy weight which had lain on his soul all day.</p> + +<p>"I am only stupid," he replied, with an attempt at playfulness. "I have +been forced to talk so incessantly to those people, that I have no ideas +left."</p> + +<p>"I am sure conversation with people in general doesn't consume one's +ideas," she said, with a lightness which appeared forced like his own.</p> + +<p>"How long does Mrs. Harrington stay?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Only till to-morrow. You don't like her, I fancy?"</p> + +<p>"There is too much of her in every way," he said, peevishly; "she +dresses too much, talks too much—she tires one."</p> + +<p>"That is very cruel and ungrateful; the lady confided to me only a +little while ago that she had a profound admiration for you, and was +dying to get up a flirtation, if I did not mind."</p> + +<p>"Don't repeat such nonsense," he said, almost rudely, "you know how I +hate it. I think either the married man or woman who flirts, deserves to +be as severely punished as if he or she had committed an actual crime."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you would condemn the greater part of our acquaintance," +she said. "After all, with most women it arises only from +thoughtlessness."</p> + +<p>"Thoughtlessness!" he repeated satirically. "I can only say that the +woman who endangers her husband's peace from want of thought, is more +culpable than a person who does wrong knowingly, urged on by +recklessness or passion."</p> + +<p>"I have never thought about it," said Elizabeth vaguely; "it may be so."</p> + +<p>She was playing with her bracelets again; the action reminded him of the +lost trinket. He did not speak, but a restrained burst of passion broke +over his face, which might have changed a plan she was revolving in her +mind, had she seen or understood it.</p> + +<p>It was too late!</p> + +<p>That moment Elsie came dancing into the room, her thin evening dress +floating around her like a summer cloud, her fair hair wreathed with +flowers, and everything about her so pure and ethereal, that it seemed +almost as if she must breathe some more joyous air than the +pain-freighted atmosphere which weighed so heavily on others. She was +holding her hands behind her, and ran towards them in her childish way, +exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"I have found something! Who'll give a reward? Won't you both be +glad—guess what it is!"</p> + +<p>Mellen's face had brightened a little at her entrance, but as she spoke +a sudden thought shook his soul like a tempest.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Elizabeth asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, guess, guess!"</p> + +<p>"But I never can guess," she replied, seeming to enter into the spirit +of the thing.</p> + +<p>"You try, Grant. Come, do credit to your Yankee descent!"</p> + +<p>He rose suddenly and stood looking full in his wife's face, fixing her +glance with a quick thrill of terror, which the least thing unusual in +his manner caused her now.</p> + +<p>Elsie began to dance up and down before the hearth, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Oh! you provoking things—you stupid owls! Now do guess—oh! Grant, +just try. Tell me what I have found."</p> + +<p>Mellen's eyes had not moved from his wife's face.</p> + +<p>"Have you found Elizabeth's bracelet?" he asked in a tone which made the +unhappy woman shiver from head to foot, and startled Elsie out of her +playfulness.</p> + +<p>"Why, how did you think of that?" demanded Elsie; "did she tell you? +Have you——"</p> + +<p>She stopped short, the words frozen on her lips by the look which +Grantley Mellen still fixed upon his wife. Without changing that steady +gaze, he extended his hand towards Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Give me the bracelet!" he said, in the cold, hard tone which, with him, +was the sure forerunner of a tempest of passion.</p> + +<p>Elsie hesitated; she had grown nearly as pale as Elizabeth herself, but +she looked like a frightened child. Elizabeth did not speak or move, but +though her face was absolutely death-like, her eyes met her husband's +with unflinching firmness.</p> + +<p>"Give me the bracelet!" repeated Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Here it is!" exclaimed Elsie, nervously, putting the bracelet in his +hand. "What is the matter with you, Grant? I am sure there is nothing to +make a fuss about. I found the bracelet among a lot of rubbish in one of +Bessie's drawers—I suppose she forgot it was there."</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen turned furiously towards her.</p> + +<p>"Are you learning to cheat and lie also?" he said.</p> + +<p>Elsie burst into a passionate flood of tears.</p> + +<p>"You are just as cruel and bad as you can be!" she moaned. "You ought to +be ashamed to talk so to me! I haven't done anything; I thought you +would be so pleased at my having found the bracelet, and here you behave +in this way. You needn't blame me, Grant—I don't know what it all +means! I am sure your dear mamma never thought you would speak to me +like that! I wish I was dead and buried by her—then you'd be sorry——"</p> + +<p>"I am not angry with you, child," interrupted Mellen, softened at once +by this childish appeal. "Go away and find Mrs. Harrington, Elsie. The +falsehood and the treachery are not yours—thank God! at least my own +blood has not turned traitor to me!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth sank slowly in a chair; Elsie stole one frightened look +towards her, then the woman in her confusion and dizziness saw her float +out of the room, and she was alone with her husband. He held the +bracelet up before her eyes, his hand shaking so that the jewels flashed +balefully in the light.</p> + +<p>"Your plan was carried out too late; you should have had it found +before!" he said, and his last effort at self-control was swept away.</p> + +<p>She must speak—must try to stem the tide, and keep back a little longer +the exposure and ruin which for days back some mysterious warning had +told her was surely approaching.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean," she faltered.</p> + +<p>"I mean that the bracelet was found where you put it!" interrupted +Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Why should I have hidden it? What reason—"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" he broke in. "Not another word—not a single falsehood more! You +brought this bracelet back with you from the city—don't speak—I went +to the pawnbroker's—it had just been taken away."</p> + +<p>In the whirl of that unhappy woman's senses the words seemed to come +from afar off; the lights were dancing before her eyes; the flashing +gems blinded her with their rays, but she still controlled herself. She +must make one last effort—she must discover how much of the truth he +knew—there might be some loophole for escape—some effort by which she +could avert a little longer the coming earthquake.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you speak?" he cried. "Say anything—another lie if you +will—anything rather than this black truth! That man; you know him! +Speak, I say!"</p> + +<p>"What man?" she faltered.</p> + +<p>"That traitor—that wretch! He had the bracelet; he got it from you! +Explain, I say—woman, I will have an explanation."</p> + +<p>"I never gave the bracelet away," she said, desperately. "I have no +explanation to make. I will not open my lips while you stand over me in +that threatening way."</p> + +<p>"Will you defy me to the last?" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"You can only kill me," she moaned; "do it and let me have peace!"</p> + +<p>He flung the bracelet down upon the table.</p> + +<p>"I have loved you, and I know that you are false!"</p> + +<p>"What do you suspect?" she demanded. "What do you know?"</p> + +<p>The momentary weakness of passion passed; the husband stood up again +cold and stern.</p> + +<p>"I know," he said, "that this bracelet was in the hands of a bad, wicked +man; only yesterday he took it from the pawnbroker's, and now I find it +in your possession."</p> + +<p>There was a hope; only in another deception; but she must save herself; +while there was a thread to grasp at, she could not allow herself to be +swept down the gathering storm.</p> + +<p>"And is there no possibility that I may be innocent in all this?" she +exclaimed. "If I receive an anonymous letter, telling me I can find my +bracelet by paying a certain reward, is it not natural that I should go? +Knowing your strange disposition, is it not equally natural that I +should keep the whole thing a secret, and strive to make every one +believe that the bracelet had been mislaid."</p> + +<p>"Is this true?" he cried. "Can you prove to me that you speak the +truth?"</p> + +<p>She was not looking at him; the apathy of despair which came over her +seemed like sullen obstinacy.</p> + +<p>"I can prove nothing," she said; "if it were possible I would not make +the effort. Do what you like; believe what you please; I will defend +myself no more."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_L" id="CHAPTER_L"></a>CHAPTER L.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE TEMPEST.</h3> + + +<p>Mellen turned away, and walked up and down the room in silence. There +was a fearful struggle in his mind; the love he still felt for his wife +was contending against horrible doubts, and almost threatening his +reason.</p> + +<p>He could not decide what to think or how to act! For the moment at least +he was glad to grasp at any pretext which might prove a settlement to +the question, whatever his thoughts and belief might be on after +reflection.</p> + +<p>He looked again at Elizabeth; her stony calmness irritated him almost to +a frenzy. He was too much excited to perceive that her very quiet was +the apathy of despair; it seemed to him that she was only testing her +power over him to its full extent. If her story was true, she would die +rather than humble her pride by protestations or proof; if it was false! +There was deceit somewhere, he felt that; but even in his madness he +could not believe that Elizabeth had been guilty of anything that +affected his honor; that was a black thought which had not reached him +yet.</p> + +<p>"Are you determined to drive me mad?" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>She lifted both hands with a strange gesture of misery and humiliation, +which he could not have understood.</p> + +<p>"What have I done?" she cried. "What have I said?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing! There you sit like a stone, and will not speak."</p> + +<p>"It is useless to say anything," she returned; "quite useless."</p> + +<p>"And you expect me to leave this matter here; to endure this mystery +patiently?"</p> + +<p>"I expect nothing—nothing!"</p> + +<p>The same dreary, desperate wail pervaded her voice, but it was not +strange that he mistook her coldness for obstinacy or indifference; the +very intensity of agony she was enduring made her appear heartless.</p> + +<p>"You won't explain—you won't—"</p> + +<p>She drooped her head wearily.</p> + +<p>"I have no explanation to make; there is the bracelet."</p> + +<p>He caught up the bracelet, snatched her arm so rudely, and fastened the +bracelet on it with such reckless haste, that she uttered a cry of pain.</p> + +<p>"You hurt me," she exclaimed; "this is cruel, unmanly."</p> + +<p>"Wear it," he cried; "wear it, and when you look at it remember that you +have dug a gulf between my heart and yours! Wear it, and remember how +you have perjured yourself; how your whole conduct since my return has +been a lie, and if you have any shame or power of repentance left, the +gems will burn into your very soul when you look at them."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth fell back in her chair cold and white. He rushed out of the +room. She was not conscious of any thought; her brain was too dizzy; but +sat there clasping her forehead between her hands, and seeming to feel +the whole world reel into darkness before her gaze.</p> + +<p>"Has he gone; where is he?"</p> + +<p>It was Elsie's voice; she had stolen into the room to learn how the +matter had ended.</p> + +<p>"Can't you speak, Bessie; what did he say?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth dropped the hands from her face, and rose from her seat.</p> + +<p>"No matter what he said; the end is coming. I told you it would; the end +is coming!"</p> + +<p>"Don't look so!" cried Elsie, "you frighten me."</p> + +<p>"Frighten!" she repeated with intense bitterness. "You haven't soul +enough in your bosom to be frightened."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you cruel, wicked creature!" sobbed Elsie. "Oh, oh! I'll kill +myself if you talk so to me; I'll go to Grant; I'll—"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" interrupted Elizabeth. "There—I will say no more! I don't blame +you—remember that! Whatever comes, I won't blame you for this new +danger."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you good, unselfish darling!" cried Elsie, drying her tears at +once.</p> + +<p>She made a step forward as if to throw her arms about her sister, but +Elizabeth retreated.</p> + +<p>"Don't touch me," she said, faintly; "don't touch me!"</p> + +<p>"Should I poison you?" cried Elsie, angrily. "One would think I was some +dreadful reptile."</p> + +<p>"No, no; don't be angry! I need all my strength! Let me alone, Elsie; +don't speak to me."</p> + +<p>"The carriage is at the door," said Elsie, "and Mrs. Harrington is +waiting; for mercy's sake don't let her think anything is wrong. I am +going to find Grant; wait here."</p> + +<p>She ran out of the room, and Elizabeth stood thinking over her words.</p> + +<p>Very soon perhaps the whole world would know that she was a lost, ruined +woman, without a home, a friend, or even a name.</p> + +<p>Could she bear up; could she find strength to go on to the end and not +die till then?</p> + +<p>The hardness and desperation died out of her face; she fell to her +knees, and a prayer for help rose to her lips; low and faint, but +intense with agony.</p> + +<p>She heard steps in the hall; they were coming for her. She sprang to her +feet, moved towards the door and opened it; her husband, Elsie and their +guest were there. She answered Mrs. Harrington's careless words; passed +on with them through the hall, and took her misery out into the world as +we all do so often, hidden carefully in the depths of a tortured soul.</p> + +<p>At dinner that day Elizabeth met two or three superior people from the +city, men and women of note, whose presence at the board was like meteor +flashes—kindling everything with brilliancy; but among the most +cheerful and most witty this wretched woman shone forth preëminent. +Every word she spoke carried electric fire with it. Her cheeks were +scarlet; her eyes radiant. The lips that had been so pale in her +husband's presence a few hours before, glowed like ripe cherries with +the sunshine upon them. In her desperation she was inspired, and kindled +every mind around her with enthusiasm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LI" id="CHAPTER_LI"></a>CHAPTER LI.</h2> + +<h3>THE OLD CEDAR TREE.</h3> + + +<p>Immediately after breakfast the next morning, Mrs. Harrington returned +to the city, perhaps glad to escape from the unnatural mental atmosphere +of the house, certainly much to the relief of all the inmates of the +dwelling.</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen drove his guest down to the railway train. The moment +they departed Elizabeth and Elsie, as if by a common impulse, started in +a different direction, apparently anxious not to be left alone with each +other.</p> + +<p>Elsie was passing through the hall when her brother drove up to the +door. She stopped him after he got out of the carriage for a few +moments' trifling conversation, then allowed him to pass on towards the +library.</p> + +<p>As the girl fluttered back towards the veranda, she saw old Jarvis +Benson approaching the house, and hurried out.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jarvis, I wanted to see you."</p> + +<p>Jarvis took the pipe out of his mouth, regarded her complacently, and +answered:</p> + +<p>"Then thar's a pair on you, Miss Mellen."</p> + +<p>"I want to have a pair of very light oars made to the little boat, so +that I can learn to row it," pursued Elsie.</p> + +<p>"That's easy done," said Jarvis. "I guess I've got a pair that'll +answer. Only don't dround yourself."</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of that," she replied, laughing. "But who else wants +you, Jarvis?"</p> + +<p>"Your brother told me to come up, and—oh, there he is."</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen had heard voices, and came through the hall out on the +veranda.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Jarvis!" he said, in his quiet way.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, sir! You don't look very well, I think," observed the +keen-sighted old man.</p> + +<p>Elsie glanced at her brother; he was very pale, and his heavy eyes told +of a long, sleepless night.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen frowned slightly; it displeased him to have his personal +appearance commented upon, and wounded his pride to know that he had not +sufficient strength to keep back every outward sign of the anxiety and +trouble he was enduring.</p> + +<p>"Be you well, now?" continued the pertinacious old man, who had a habit +of asking questions and expressing his opinions with the utmost freedom +to people of every degree.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly well," replied Mr. Mellen. "You have come up about that tree, +have you?"</p> + +<p>"Wal, yes," said Jarvis. "I hadn't much to do this morning, so I thought +I'd just come round and find out what's the matter. You hain't found no +gardener yet?"</p> + +<p>"No; I have sent to town for one. You have sufficient knowledge to keep +the greenhouse in order until one is found."</p> + +<p>"Just as you say, sir; I'll do my best."</p> + +<p>The gardener at Piney Cove had seen fit to leave the place a few days +before without the slightest warning, with the true, reckless +independence of the Hibernian race. When a dilemma of this kind arose, +the people of the neighborhood were in the habit of sending for old +Benson, who seemed, in some mysterious way, to have acquired a +smattering of knowledge about everything that could make him generally +useful.</p> + +<p>Elsie did not feel particularly interested in the subject of +conversation, and was moving off in search of other amusement, when she +heard old Jarvis say:</p> + +<p>"It's the big cypress yonder, in the thicket, ain't it?"</p> + +<p>She stopped short in the hall, and stood leaning against the door with +her back towards them.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Mr. Mellen answered. "I am afraid it is dying. I want you to dig +about the roots and see if you can find out where the trouble lies."</p> + +<p>"Loosening the earth a bit'll maybe do a world of good," said Jarvis; +"I've seen it 'liven a tree right up."</p> + +<p>"We will try, at all events," observed Mr. Mellen. "First you may take +those plants under the library window into the greenhouse; it is too +late for them to be left out."</p> + +<p>He walked to the side of the house to point out the flowers he wished to +have removed. Elsie darted through the hall and up the stairs in +breathless haste.</p> + +<p>She paused at the door of her sister's room and tried the knob, but the +bolt was drawn.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" she called out in a frightened whisper, utterly +incapable of speaking aloud. "Open the door—for heaven's sake, open the +door!"</p> + +<p>There was terror in her voice which communicated itself to the woman +sitting so apathetically in her chamber. She rose and opened the door, +whispering, in a voice full of alarm:</p> + +<p>"What is it? What is it?"</p> + +<p>Elsie pushed her back into the room, shut and locked the door, and +staggered to a couch.</p> + +<p>"The cypress tree!" she gasped. "They are going there."</p> + +<p>"Who?" cried Elizabeth. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I can't speak—oh, I am choking!" gasped Elsie.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth seized her arm, and fairly shook her with frenzied impatience.</p> + +<p>"Speak!" she exclaimed. "Speak, I say!"</p> + +<p>"Grant has sent old Jarvis to dig about the roots," returned Elsie, in a +shrill whisper.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Mellen sank slowly upon her knees, her limbs giving way +suddenly, as if she had been struck with paralysis. She caught at +Elsie's dress, the girl raised herself, and there they remained for +several moments, staring in each others' faces, with a white, sickening +terror, which could find no relief in words.</p> + +<p>After a time Elizabeth shook herself free from Elsie's grasp and rose; +the power to think and act was coming back to her.</p> + +<p>"You heard them say this?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" cried Elsie. "Grant sent for old Jarvis to come up and dig +round the tree; he thinks it is dying."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth threw up her arms in silence, more expressive of agony than a +shriek.</p> + +<p>"It has come at last!" broke from her white lips. "It has come at last!"</p> + +<p>Elsie cowered down upon the sofa and buried her head in the cushions, +shaking with hysterical tremors from head to foot, and uttering +repressed sobs.</p> + +<p>"Exposure—ruin—disgrace!" moaned Elizabeth, as if repeating words that +some secret voice whispered in her ear. "It has come at last! It has +come at last!"</p> + +<p>"I shall die!" shrieked Elsie. "I shall go mad!"</p> + +<p>She beat the couch wildly with her clenched hands and gave way to a +violent nervous spasm, but this time Elizabeth made no effort to soothe +her; she stood there, cold and white, repeating at intervals, in that +dismal whisper:</p> + +<p>"It has come at last! It has come at last!"</p> + +<p>"Do something," sobbed Elsie. "Don't stand there as if you were turning +to stone. Think of some way to stop them."</p> + +<p>"What can I do?" returned Elizabeth. "I tell you it has come! I knew it, +I have been expecting it!"</p> + +<p>Elsie gave another shriek, sprang off the sofa, threw herself at her +sister's feet, clutching her dress with both hands, and cried out:</p> + +<p>"Do something—anything! I shall go crazy—my brain is burning! I won't +live—I tell you I won't live if you don't stop this."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth shook off her grasp, not angrily, not impatiently even, but +with a sudden change of expression, as if Elsie's despair had brought +back some half-forgotten resolution, and given her wild strength once +more.</p> + +<p>"You will not suffer," she said, drearily. "You are safe."</p> + +<p>"But you—what will become of you?" groaned the girl.</p> + +<p>"Let go my dress—get up, Elsie! See, I am calm. I tell you, no harm +will come to you—get up."</p> + +<p>Elsie staggered to her feet, and sat down on the sofa with a burst of +tears.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather kill myself than see you tormented so!" she cried. "I have +the poison yet—I've always kept it. If they don't stop, Elizabeth, they +shall find us dead and cold——"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" said Elizabeth. "I won't hear such wicked words! The danger is +mine, the ruin and disgrace are mine—all mine; but I do not talk of +killing myself."</p> + +<p>"You are so brave," moaned Elsie, "and I am such a poor, weak thing. Oh, +oh! This will kill me either way, I know it will!"</p> + +<p>"I know what will happen to me," said Elizabeth, in a voice of unnatural +calmness. "Do you know what this day will bring? Before two hours are +gone I shall be driven out of this house, a lost, ruined woman."</p> + +<p>"No, no! Grant will forgive you—he loves you so!"</p> + +<p>"Does a man ever forgive a wrong like that?"</p> + +<p>"But you will say you don't know—I will."</p> + +<p>"Are you a baby? Don't you know there will be an exposure—we shall all +be questioned—forced to give evidence."</p> + +<p>"We will say anything—anything!" cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"We cannot satisfy Grantley Mellen. I tell you, Elsie, this is the last +interview we shall ever hold under this roof."</p> + +<p>Elsie threw herself down in renewed anguish, shrieking and sobbing so +violently that nothing could be done or thought of till she had been +restored to composure by the strong remedies Elizabeth administered.</p> + +<p>"Promise not to tell that I ever knew of it," she pleaded. "Swear! I'll +kill myself if you don't!"</p> + +<p>"I have promised," returned Elizabeth, in a hollow voice. "I will bear +whatever comes—ruin, death—and bear it alone, you shall not be dragged +in."</p> + +<p>These words, so solemnly spoken, appeared to give the girl new life and +energy.</p> + +<p>"Go downstairs," she said; "stop them. You can stop them yet."</p> + +<p>"How—what can I say?"</p> + +<p>"Tell Grant that the gardener said the tree must be left till +spring—bribe old Jarvis to say so—oh, anything, anything; only try, +Elizabeth. Save yourself if possible."</p> + +<p>The woman walked to the window and looked out.</p> + +<p>"They are going," she said.</p> + +<p>"Go down!" shrieked Elsie. "Go down, I say!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth took a few steps towards the door—caught sight of her face in +the mirror, and stopped appalled at the haggard image reflected there.</p> + +<p>"Look at me," she said; "my face tells the whole story."</p> + +<p>"There is some rouge in that drawer," said Elsie. "Mrs. Harrington left +it. I'll put it on your cheeks."</p> + +<p>Elsie could think, now that Elizabeth showed herself ready to bear her +danger alone. She got out the rouge, rubbed it on her sister's cheeks, +and smoothed her hair.</p> + +<p>"Now you look like yourself—nobody would notice. Go quick—stop +them—stop them!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LII" id="CHAPTER_LII"></a>CHAPTER LII.</h2> + +<h3>WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE.</h3> + + +<p>Elizabeth dared not pause an instant for reflection; she opened the +door, walked downstairs, through the library, and joined her husband on +the lawn.</p> + +<p>He turned at her approach. She felt a mad sort of courage nerve her—she +could speak now.</p> + +<p>"What, planning against the great cypress?" she asked, and even in that +moment of supreme agony and fear she was conscious of vague wonder at +the composure of her voice.</p> + +<p>"It seems to be dying," replied Mellen; "I am going to have the earth +dug away from about the roots."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you will only kill it," returned Elizabeth; "it is so late +in the season."</p> + +<p>"I did not know that you were a gardener," he said, coldly.</p> + +<p>He looked at her standing there with that unnatural brightness on her +cheeks, that wild glitter in her eyes, and it seemed to him that she had +only come out in her beauty and unconcern, to mock him after the long +night of wild trouble which he had spent.</p> + +<p>"I know that is what Jones said," she went on. "He thought in the spring +something could be done, but not now."</p> + +<p>He was turning away—that action deprived her of all self-control—she +caught his arm, crying:</p> + +<p>"Don't touch that tree—don't go near it."</p> + +<p>He stopped and looked at her in blank amazement; she saw the danger in +which her impetuosity had placed her—dropped his arm and tried to +appear composed again.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with you?" he asked. "The tree is not a human being +that I am going to assassinate."</p> + +<p>She forced herself to laugh; even then the woman's self-mastery was +something astounding.</p> + +<p>"I was a little theatrical," she said; "but I can't bear to have the old +tree touched."</p> + +<p>"Why, marm, it'll die if it ain't," put in Jarvis, who considered that +he had been silent quite long enough.</p> + +<p>"You don't know anything about the matter!" cried Elizabeth, sharply.</p> + +<p>The old man drew himself up, and looked so indignant that she felt sure +he would oppose her now with might and main.</p> + +<p>"I mean," she added, "you don't know how I feel about it, I want the +poor thing left alone."</p> + +<p>The old man relinquished his erect attitude and looked somewhat +mollified.</p> + +<p>"If it's yer whim, marm, that's another thing, but I thought I'd lived +too long in this neighborhood for anybody to accuse me of not knowing a +thing when I pretended to, especially about trees."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no," interrupted she; "I always knew that you were a universal +genius, a better gardener than half the professed ones."</p> + +<p>"Wal, I don't know about that," said Jarvis, his face beaming all over +with satisfaction, for the old man was peculiarly susceptible to +flattery.</p> + +<p>"Then you won't touch the tree?" cried Elizabeth, turning again towards +her husband.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen had been watching her while she talked; he was growing more +and more angry now, thinking that she only wished to interfere +unwarrantably with his plans.</p> + +<p>"You will leave the tree till spring?" she continued.</p> + +<p>"I shall have the earth loosened," he answered, "I don't choose to +sacrifice the tree to a mere caprice."</p> + +<p>"It is not a caprice," she exclaimed, forgetting herself once more. "I +ask you not to touch it—I beg you not to touch it!"</p> + +<p>"Might I ask the reason of your extraordinary conduct?" he began; then +remembering old Benson's presence, checked himself quickly.</p> + +<p>"I think it the best thing for the tree," he added.</p> + +<p>"But Jones did not think so, and he ought to know."</p> + +<p>"I fancy he said that to avoid the work."</p> + +<p>"No, no! In the spring you can do it—not now—not now."</p> + +<p>"By spring it will be too late; the earth must be dug away now."</p> + +<p>She clasped her hands under her shawl, resolved to make one effort +more—a respite must be found—for a day, at least.</p> + +<p>She looked out toward the tree—the lower part of it was hidden, where +they stood, by a thicket of shrubs and bushes, but the stately top +towered up dark and solemn, waving in the morning breeze and seeming to +whisper an omen of dread to her half maddened senses.</p> + +<p>"Not to-day," she exclaimed; "at least do not touch it to-day."</p> + +<p>His suspicious mind, so wildly on the alert since the strange events of +the past week, was now fully aroused by the singular earnestness and +trouble of her manner.</p> + +<p>There was another secret! It was no desire to contradict him which +actuated her—there was something at the bottom which he could not +understand—a new phase of the mystery with which he had felt himself +surrounded from the first moment of his arrival, and which had gathered +and darkened so rapidly during the past week.</p> + +<p>"Leave the tree at least to-day," pleaded Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I can't send for Jarvis and put him off without a reason," he said; "he +has plenty of work on his hands."</p> + +<p>"It can't make no difference, Miss Mellen," the old man joined in; +"'tain't no use to put it off—anyhow I couldn't come again till the +last of the week."</p> + +<p>"Let it go till then," she said, eagerly; and new life stole over her +face at the bare hope of obtaining that delay.</p> + +<p>"This is sheer folly," said her husband. "Go in—go in. You will catch +cold—the grass is damp. Come, Jarvis, get your spade."</p> + +<p>"It won't hurt the tree a spec, Miss Mellen," said he; "don't feel +oneasy about it—I'll be as tender of it as if it was a baby."</p> + +<p>He moved away as he spoke, and left the husband and wife together. +Elizabeth was pale even through her artificial bloom—no matter what he +thought, she must obtain some delay.</p> + +<p>"Grantley," she cried, "don't touch the tree—I ask it as a favor—you +will not refuse—let it stand as it is."</p> + +<p>He gave one look at her face and turned his head away to hide the +expression of anger and doubt which crept over his own.</p> + +<p>"Can you give any reason?"</p> + +<p>"No, no! It is one of my fancies—only gratify it—let the tree alone +for a day or two at least."</p> + +<p>Fierce passion shook Mellen like a sudden tempest. His first impulse was +to drag her into the house and force from her lips the secret and the +mystery which surrounded her, but he controlled the impulse and +answered:</p> + +<p>"As you please. I will leave it for the present."</p> + +<p>With this curt concession Mellen walked away, and Elizabeth went back +into the house. She paused to rest a few moments in the library; her +limbs were shaking so violently that they refused to support her. She +was roused by the sound of her husband's voice in conversation with old +Benson—he might come in and find her there.</p> + +<p>She started up like a wounded animal that concentrates its dying +strength in one wild effort for escape—hurried from the room and up the +stairs into her own chamber.</p> + +<p>Elsie was still lying on the sofa; she sprang up as Elizabeth entered.</p> + +<p>"Will he leave it?" she cried. "Will he leave it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he has promised."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth sank in a chair, so broken down by agony that it might have +softened the heart of her deadliest enemy could he have seen her then.</p> + +<p>"Saved again!" cried Elsie. "Don't despair, Bessie—it will all end +right."</p> + +<p>"Saved!" repeated Elizabeth. "Have you thought what must be done before +I can breathe again?"</p> + +<p>Elsie gave a cry and hid her face.</p> + +<p>"Be still!" said Elizabeth. "I will do it—be still!"</p> + +<p>"Don't let me know—don't tell me—I should die of fright!"</p> + +<p>"Think of me, then," she returned. "In the night—alone with +that——what can I do?"</p> + +<p>Elsie interrupted her with another cry and her old appealing wail.</p> + +<p>"You are killing me! You are killing me!"</p> + +<p>"Be still," repeated Elizabeth, in the same awful voice. "Be still!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIII" id="CHAPTER_LIII"></a>CHAPTER LIII.</h2> + +<h3>CLORINDA'S GHOST STORY.</h3> + + +<p>Mellen set old Benson about some other duties and went into the library. +While he stood at one of the windows, looking gloomily out on the autumn +landscape, he heard the voices of 'Dolf and his spinster inamorata in +the area below.</p> + +<p>"What's marster gwine to have done to de tree?" Clo asked.</p> + +<p>"He's afeared it's deceasin'," replied Dolf, pompously, "and he wishes +to perwent."</p> + +<p>"Don't come none o' yer furrin lingo over me," said Clorinda, angrily. +"Can't yer say what he's gwine to do, widout any of dem dern outlandish +Spanish 'spressions."</p> + +<p>"'Twarn't Spanish, lubly one," said 'Dolf, greatly delighted at the +effect his grandiloquent language had produced. "Sometimes I do 'dulge +in far away tongues jist from habit; its' trabeling so much, you know."</p> + +<p>"Don't know nothin' about it, and don't want to," interrupted Clorinda. +"Ef yer can't answer a civil question as it outer be, yer needn't stay +round dis part of de house."</p> + +<p>"Don't be ravagerous," returned Dolf. "Any question ob yours it is my +delight to answer, only propose it."</p> + +<p>"I does, plainly enough. What's marster gwine to have done to dat ar ole +tree?"</p> + +<p>"Hab de airth dug up," said Dolf, deeming it wiser to use a more simple +phraseology; "he's 'feared it's dying."</p> + +<p>Mellen was about to order them away from that part of the house—the +veriest trifle irritated him now—when Clorinda's next words made him +pause.</p> + +<p>"I wish he'd hev it dug up by the roots," she said; "I do 'lieve dat ar +tree is haunted."</p> + +<p>"Haunted!" screamed Dolf, who possessed a large share of the +superstition of his race. "Now what does yer mean, Miss Clorindy?"</p> + +<p>"Jes' what I ses," replied she sharply; "I ain't one ob de kind dat +tittervates up my words till dey haint got no sense left."</p> + +<p>"But I never heerd of a haunted tree," said Dolf, gaining new courage as +he remembered that it was broad daylight. "Haunted houses I've heerd on +in plenty; but a tree——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, mebby yer don't know eberything yet!" said Clo, viciously.</p> + +<p>Clo had been rather short with her lover of late, having interrupted +several private flirtations of Victoria, with the faithless one.</p> + +<p>"Do tell me what yer mean, Clorindy," pleaded Dolf, his eyes fairly +started out of his head with curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mebby you'd better go to Vic," she retorted, "she's a heap cuter +dan what I be. I ain't coffee-colored, I'se only a nigger."</p> + +<p>"Now, Miss Clorindy!" cried Dolf, understanding that this was an +occasion when flattery and soft words were absolutely necessary. "You +know I'se ales in for de genuine article."</p> + +<p>"Don't know nothin' ob de sort," said Clo. "I kint flirty and flighty +about like some folks; but, anyhow, I ain't fool enough to put all my +wages on my back. I guess marster cud tell what I've got in de bank."</p> + +<p>That allusion to her golden charms drove the youthful graces of Victoria +quite out of Dolf's head. He grew more tender and submissive at once.</p> + +<p>"Yer's de pearl ob de creation!" he cried enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>Mellen stamped his foot passionately, furious with their nonsense, +upbraiding himself that he could listen to the conversation of his own +servants, yet unable to move away without hearing the revelation which +Clorinda evidently had to make.</p> + +<p>After a little more persuasive eloquence which began to restore +Clorinda's good-humor, Dolf said:</p> + +<p>"But do tell me what yer means 'bout de tree?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Clorinda, mysteriously; "it's one ob dem tings as is best not +talked 'bout. I don't run and tell all I sees and hears."</p> + +<p>"Jis' confide in my buzzom," said Dolf, tenderly.</p> + +<p>"Men is so duberous, 'specially dem as brags 'bout der mean white blood, +which comes out coppery any how," said Clorinda.</p> + +<p>"Yer knows I'se de most faithful and constance ob my sect," cried Dolf. +"Yer may speak freely to me."</p> + +<p>"I 'spose yer'd say de same to Vic."</p> + +<p>"Neber, Miss Clorindy! What, dat silly, giggling girl—don't tink it!"</p> + +<p>His persuasions met with their reward at last; he pleaded again:</p> + +<p>"Jis' tell me what yer means 'bout de tree bein' haunted?"</p> + +<p>She yielded to his flattery and her feminine desire to tell all that she +had seen or imagined about the old cedar.</p> + +<p>"Mebby 'twas two months 'fore you came back," she said, in the tone of a +person trying to be exact in her recollection of events.</p> + +<p>"What was?" cried Dolf, impatiently, "de hauntin'?"</p> + +<p>"Ef I'm gwine to tell you my story I'll do it in my own way," said +Clorinda, majestically.</p> + +<p>"In course, in course," returned Dolf. "I begs pardon for de 'ruption. +Jis' go on, sweetest Miss Clo'."</p> + +<p>"I tells yer dar's been somethin' agoing on in dis house," pursued +Clorinda. "Dat ar bracelet losing was all of a piece wid what went +afore. Missus was awful mad at me for saying so, but I don't care. She's +queer—stuck up like. There's Miss Elsie, sweet allers as a young +kitten!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," Dolf said, ready to agree with anything in order to get at +the heart of Clorinda's mystery.</p> + +<p>"Afore ever dat ring was lost I seed a man in de house in de dead ob de +night—a man and a woman!"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" cried Dolf.</p> + +<p>"I'd had de toothache, and ben down to de kitchen fire a smokin' +pennyryal, and awful sick it made me. I was gwine up de back stairs, +when I heard steps in de hall. I looked in and I seed a man and woman +plain. I had de candle in my hand. I screeched right out, and shut my +eyes, and let de candle fall. When I opened 'em again missus had come +out of her room, wid a shawl over her and a lamp in her hand.</p> + +<p>"'What yer doin' dar?' says she.</p> + +<p>"I up and telled her 'bout de man and woman, and she larfed in my face.</p> + +<p>"'Whar be dey?' says she. 'Dar's nobody here but us.'</p> + +<p>"'Twarn't no use to say nothin', she flew off into one o' her tantrums, +and scolded me like all possessed. I don't like her, anyhow, and dat's +all 'bout it!"</p> + +<p>"But is dat all?" questioned Dolf, in a disappointed tone.</p> + +<p>"No, it ain't all; jis' wait and don't go off de handle afore you knows +which end you've got hold on."</p> + +<p>"But de tree, Clorindy," said Dolf; "tell me 'bout de tree."</p> + +<p>"I'se comin' to dat," replied Clo, growing eager again. "I'd ben down to +see Dinah Jameson, at de cross roads; it was real late; we'd had a +prayer meetin' and I kinder forgot myself in de refreshin' season——"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Dolf, fearing she would go off in a long digression and lose +sight of the all-important topic, "dey is refreshin'; as preserves is to +de taste so is meetin's to de spirit—soothin', yer know."</p> + +<p>"Jis' so," said Clorinda.</p> + +<p>"Wal, yer was comin' home," suggested Dolf.</p> + +<p>"Yes; two or tree on 'em came with me to de gate and dar dey left me. I +heeled it up de avenue jis' as hard as I could, but when I got near de +house I thort, suppose missus should see me, she's a pokin up at all +hours, she'd scold me like smoke. I jis' cut out ob de road to take de +path trough de thicket, and came in sight ob de ole cypress tree."</p> + +<p>Clorinda broke off abruptly to recover her breath and to allow her +narrative to have its full effect upon her listener.</p> + +<p>"Go on; oh, do go on!" cried Dolf.</p> + +<p>Could the pair have seen the face leaning over the balcony, straining to +catch every word, they might almost have thought that one of the ghosts +they so dreaded had started up before them.</p> + +<p>"I came in sight ob de cypress tree," recommenced Clo, working up her +story to a climax with great art.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Dolf again. "In sight ob de tree——"</p> + +<p>"I seed somethin' all in white a couchin' down dar, a throwin' up its +arms and moaning like. I jis' give one yell and danced away. When I got +to de house, what do you tink? dar was missus. Whar she come from I +don't know, and she give me goose again for screaming; but la! she was +white as a dead woman all de while."</p> + +<p>"What could it all a ben?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know more'n you. The next morning she sent for me, and she +telled me she'd hev to send me away ef I didn't quit dat habit of bein' +up so late and skeerin' de gals wid stories 'bout ghosts; so I jis' held +my tongue."</p> + +<p>"And had you ebber seed anytink more?"</p> + +<p>"Laws, I wouldn't go near dat tree after dark for all de money on Long +Island! I tells you dar's sometin' queer somewhar."</p> + +<p>"So dar is," assented Dolf, in a perplexed manner, "dar is, sure."</p> + +<p>"Don't yer say nothin', 'cause I'd get my walkin' papers ef yer did. But +ef you're so mighty wise, jis' tell me what yer makes ob all dis +mysteriousness?"</p> + +<p>"Clorindy," said Dolf, in a solemn voice, "ghostesses is a subject +'taint proper to talk on, and the queernesses ob our marsters and +misseses is not tropics for us."</p> + +<p>"A body must wonder, I s'pose, black or white," said Clo, angrily.</p> + +<p>"But dat's all you've seen?"</p> + +<p>"Dat's all, and it's 'nuff and more too."</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen stepped back into the library and closed the window. He +had need to be alone. Every day, every hour, the mystery which had +intruded into his home deepened and took more appalling shapes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIV" id="CHAPTER_LIV"></a>CHAPTER LIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE SABLE FORTUNE HUNTER.</h3> + + +<p>The pair of sable retainers went on with their conversation, totally +unconscious of a listener, and when the interest connected with that +subject had culminated, diverged to themes more intimately connected +with their own affairs.</p> + +<p>One of the chief desires of Dolf's soul was to find out exactly how much +money Clorinda had in the bank, but he had never been able, with all his +arts, to bring her to that degree of confidence necessary to make him a +partner in that dearest secret of her life.</p> + +<p>The other servants and her friends in the neighborhood gave very +contradictory accounts concerning the amount, and Victoria openly avowed +her belief that—</p> + +<p>"De whole ting was just gammon—didn't b'lieve she had no money no +whar—she know'd she was so old dat it was her only chance of ketchin' a +beau, so she tried it on; dat was 'bout all it 'mounted to."</p> + +<p>But Dolf was too wise to be influenced by Victoria's sneers, and had +lately convinced himself that the sum was larger than he at first +supposed. In that case Dolf felt the extreme folly of allowing a fancy +for Victoria to stand in the way of his interest. Already he had +incurred Clorinda's serious displeasure; it had required a vast amount +of eloquence to reconcile matters after his indiscretion with the +strange young woman at old Mother Hopkin's, besides, his flirtations +with Victoria were a constant bone of contention between them.</p> + +<p>Dolf felt certain that if he only came directly to the point and made +Clorinda a bona fide offer of his hand with his heart in it, she would +forgive him; but it required a good deal of resolution to make up his +mind to that step.</p> + +<p>Clorinda was not prepossessing in her appearance,—that her most partial +friends would have been forced to admit; probably in her youth she might +have had her attractions, but now that years, avarice, and a not very +patient temper had worn their furrows in her face, it really required +all the glitter of her reported wealth to make her endurable in Dolf's +mercenary eyes.</p> + +<p>Then her color and her frizzed locks, at which Victoria sneered so +openly—that was a tender point with Dolf; he had the general contempt +for the jetty hue which one is certain to find among those of the bronze +complexion.</p> + +<p>Dolf stood there looking at Clorinda and revolving all those things in +his mind, while she washed her vegetables and made herself busy as +possible at the kitchen dressers.</p> + +<p>"Dis life is full of mysteriousness, Miss Clorindy," he said in a +meditative tone.</p> + +<p>Clorinda snipped off the tops from the carrots she was preparing for her +soup, and assented.</p> + +<p>"Dar ain't much wuth livin' for," she said gloomily.</p> + +<p>Dolf was frightened at once; when Clo got into one of her desponding +humors she became very religious without delay; and he trembled with +fear that she would condemn him to Methodist hymns and a prayer-meeting +that very night.</p> + +<p>"Don't say dat, Miss Clorindy, now don't!" he exclaimed pathetically. +"You's de light ob too many eyes for sich renumerations—you lights der +hearts as de sun does de sky at noonday."</p> + +<p>Clorinda relented; with all her firmness and numerous other grim +virtues, she was a thorough woman at heart, and never could withstand +flattery adroitly administered.</p> + +<p>"Go 'long wid yer poety nonsense," said she, giving a coquettish toss to +her head that made her gorgeous bandanna flutter as if suddenly +electrified. "Go 'way wid sich, I say."</p> + +<p>"Don't call it nonsense, sweet Miss Clorindy," urged Dolf; "when a +gemman disposes de tenderest feelins' ob his bussom at yer feet, don't +jist at 'em."</p> + +<p>To be called by such endearing epithets in two consecutive sentences, +softened Clorinda greatly; this time something uncommon must be +coming—Dolf certainly was in earnest.</p> + +<p>"I don't see nothin' at my feet," said she, with a little giggle.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yer does, Miss Clorindy," pleaded Dolf; "yes, yer does—now don't +deny it."</p> + +<p>"La!" said Clorinda, in a delightful flurry, "you men is so confusin'."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean ter be confusin', Miss Clorindy," said Dolf; "it's far +from my wishes—leastways wid you."</p> + +<p>There was a tender emphasis on the concluding pronoun which quite upset +Clorinda. She allowed the carrots to fall back in the pan of water, and +seated herself on a stool near by—if anything serious was coming she +would receive it with dignity befitting the occasion.</p> + +<p>Artful Dolf, profound in his knowledge of the sex, read her thoughts +without the slightest difficulty, and chuckled inwardly at the idea that +any female heart could resist his fascinations. Still he was in a +condition of great perplexity; he had no intention of committing himself +until he had learned the exact price Clorinda could pay for the +sacrifice he was prepared to make of his youth and good looks. On the +other hand, he was sorely puzzled how to obtain the desired information +without laying his heart at her feet. All his craft in that direction +had signally failed; in that respect Clorinda was astute enough to be +fully his match.</p> + +<p>But he must say something; Dolf could not afford to lose time in +misunderstandings, particularly as he had lately discovered that the +sable parson whose meetings she attended, was becoming seriously devoted +in his attentions.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Miss Clorindy," he said, "de sect is all resemblous in one +particular."</p> + +<p>"What do yer mean?" inquired Clo, and her voice softened in response to +the tenderness in his.</p> + +<p>"In yer cruelty," said Dolf, "yer cruelty, Miss Clorindy."</p> + +<p>"Laws, nobody ebber sed I was cruel," returned the matter-of-fact Clo. +"I wrings de necks ob de chickens and skin de eels alive, 'cause it's a +cook's lookout, but I hasn't got a speck ob cruelty in me."</p> + +<p>Dolf shook his head, then dropped it on one side with an air which he +had found very effective in former flirtations.</p> + +<p>"In course yer'll deny it—it's de way ob de sect, but de fact is dar."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what yer mean," said Clorinda, beginning to resume a +little of her usual rigidity; "if yer ain't a talkin' Spanish now, it's +jist as bad."</p> + +<p>"I alludes to de coquettations in which yer all indulge."</p> + +<p>"I don't," said Clo; "I leaves all sich foolishnesses to silly things +like dat Vic—I hasn't no patience wid 'em."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Miss Clorindy, Miss Clorindy!"</p> + +<p>"Dat's my name, fast 'nuff; yer needn't go shouting it out dat ways."</p> + +<p>"When I'se seed wid my own eyes," said Dolf.</p> + +<p>"What has yer seen? Jis' 'ticlarise—I hate beatin' round de bush."</p> + +<p>Clo really believed that Dolf was getting jealous; the bare idea filled +her with a delicious thrill—triumphs of that sort were sufficiently +rare in her experience to be exceedingly precious.</p> + +<p>"But I don't know what yer mean," she went on, "no more'n de man in de +moon."</p> + +<p>"Dar it is!" said Dolf. "Why, I b'lieves dat ar's de only reason de sect +looks at de moon, cause dar's a man in it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's too far off," returned Clo, with a prolonged chuckle at her +own wit; "too high up for much use."</p> + +<p>"Bery good," said Dolf, "bery good indeed! Yer's in fine spirits to-day, +Miss Clorindy."</p> + +<p>Here Dolf sighed dolefully.</p> + +<p>He certainly was in earnest this time—Clo felt assured of that. She +forgot the half-washed vegetables, the unseasoned soup, and tried to +pose herself with becoming dignity.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why," she said, in sweet confusion. "But any how yer didn't +prove nothin' 'bout my bein' coquettious."</p> + +<p>"Dar it is!" cried Dolf. "It all goes togeder."</p> + +<p>"Oh, laws," cried Clo, "as ef dat ar would set you a sighin'; I knows a +heap better'n dat, Mister Dolf."</p> + +<p>"Yer don't do me justice, Clorindy," said Dolf, seriously, putting on an +injured look; "yer neber has done me justice."</p> + +<p>"Why, what have I done now?" demanded Clo, beginning to play with her +apron string.</p> + +<p>"Clo! I say, ole Clo!"</p> + +<p>Victoria, who was getting impatient with her confined position behind +the laundry door, where she had done jealous duty as a listener, now +dashed in upon the lovers, and broke up the conversation just as it +reached a most interesting point.</p> + +<p>"I say, ole Clo, them perserves are a bilen over; you can smell 'em +here."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LV" id="CHAPTER_LV"></a>CHAPTER LV.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE NET.</h3> + + +<p>The day was wearing slowly on; a day more terrible in its moral darkness +and suspense than perhaps had ever before descended upon that old house.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mellen was engaged with a succession of visitors on business, with +whom he remained shut up in the library; Elsie took refuge at first in +her own chamber, but either nervousness or a desire to talk drove her +again to Elizabeth's room. Their dressing-rooms were separated by +Elizabeth's chamber, so Elsie flung the door open and ran into her +sister's room, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"You must let me stay; I can't be alone."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth only replied by a gesture; she was walking slowly up and down +the floor as she had been during all the morning; it was entirely out of +her power to accept one instant of physical rest. She left the door open +and extended her promenade through the second chamber into Elsie's, and +then back, pacing to and fro till she looked absolutely exhausted, but +never once pausing for repose.</p> + +<p>They were undisturbed, except when one of the servants knocked at the +door for orders, and at each request for admittance Elsie would give a +nervous little cry.</p> + +<p>"Tell them not to come any more," said she, lifting both hands in +nervous appeal.</p> + +<p>"They must have their orders," Elizabeth replied; "come what may, +everything must go on as usual to the last moment."</p> + +<p>Elsie shivered down among her cushions and was silent. She had pulled +the sofa close to the hearth, gathered a pile of French novels about +her, and sat there trying her best to be comfortable in her feeble way.</p> + +<p>"If you would only sit down," she exclaimed, at length.</p> + +<p>"I cannot," replied Elizabeth; and resumed her dreary walk.</p> + +<p>Then there came more interruptions; Victoria wished to know if they +would have luncheon.</p> + +<p>"Marster's got in de library wid dem men—'spect missus don't want to go +down."</p> + +<p>"What is she talking about?" questioned Elsie from her sofa.</p> + +<p>"Luncheon," said Elizabeth; "will you have it up here?"</p> + +<p>"As if one could eat—"</p> + +<p>A warning gesture from Elizabeth checked her.</p> + +<p>"You may bring the luncheon up here," Elizabeth said to the girl.</p> + +<p>Victoria went out and closed the door.</p> + +<p>"I believe they would come if we were dying, to know if we would take +time to eat," cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Everything must go on as usual," was Elizabeth's answer.</p> + +<p>"How can you stand there and talk so calmly to them!" cried Elsie. "It's +enough to drive one frantic."</p> + +<p>"It is too late now to be anything but quiet—entirely too late."</p> + +<p>Elsie began some shuddering complaints, but Elizabeth did not wait to +hear them; she had resumed her promenade, walking with the same +restless, eager haste, her eyes seeming to look afar off and unable to +fix themselves upon any object in the rooms.</p> + +<p>"There is another knock," cried Elsie. "Oh, they'll drive me frantic!"</p> + +<p>"Come in," Elizabeth said, sharply.</p> + +<p>It was Victoria with the luncheon tray, and it seemed as if she never +would have done arranging it to her satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"I brung yer some apricot jelly, Miss Elsie," she said; "I knowed you +had one of yer headaches."</p> + +<p>But Elsie only moaned and turned upon her cushions.</p> + +<p>"Dar's only cold chicken and dat patter," said Vic; "I took de ducks in +fur marster."</p> + +<p>"There is quite enough," said Elizabeth; "you needn't wait."</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss," returned Vic. "I hain't had no time yet to sweep de room +Miss Harrington had—Clo, she's ugly as Cain, ter day."</p> + +<p>"It makes no difference," said Elizabeth, while Elsie threw down her +book in feverish impatience.</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss, but tain't pleasant," returned Vic, with her most elegant +curtsey. "I likes to do my work reg'lar and in time, missus knows dat; +but when Clo gets into one o' her tantrums she sets ebryting +topsy-turvey, 'specially when dat yaller nig', Dolf, come down feering +wid de work."</p> + +<p>"Then keep out of the kitchen," cried Elsie; "don't quarrel."</p> + +<p>"Laws, Miss Elsie," said Victoria, with all the injured resignation of +suffering innocence; "I neber quarr'ls wid nobody, but I defy an angel +to git along wid Clo! She's jest de most aggravatin' piece dat eber wore +shoe leather! She's so mad 'cause she's gettin' ole dat she hates a +young girl wuss nor pison, she does."</p> + +<p>Vic was now fairly started on the subject of her wrongs, and hurried on +before Elsie could stop her, with all the energy of a belated steam +engine. Elizabeth had walked into the other room, and Victoria took that +opportunity to pour out her sorrows with the utmost freedom to Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Miss Elsie, sometimes I tinks I can't stand it. I wouldn't nohow, if +twarn't fur my affection fur you—you and miss," Victoria hastened to +add diplomatically, fearful that her mistress might be within hearing +and that the omission would be turned to her disadvantage. "Clo, she +gits agravatiner ebery day, and sence Dolf come back she's wurs'n a bear +wid a sore head."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you make mine ache," cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Laws, miss, I wouldn't for the worl'."</p> + +<p>"Then go along, and let me sleep, if I can."</p> + +<p>"Sartin, miss; but let me do somethin' for yer head," said Victoria, out +of the goodness of her heart.</p> + +<p>"No, no; I only want to be let alone."</p> + +<p>"If yer'd only let me bathe it wid cologny," persisted Vic.</p> + +<p>"I don't want it bathed," fretted Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Laws, miss, it does a heap o' good! Pennyryal tea's good—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, do go away!" groaned Elsie.</p> + +<p>"In course I will, miss; but I'd like to do something fur ye—yer looks +right sick."</p> + +<p>"Then just go away, and don't come up again for the next two hours."</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss, I'll jest—"</p> + +<p>"Go out!" shrieked Elsie.</p> + +<p>"I'se only fixin' yer cushins," said Vic. "Dear me, Miss Elsie, yer +allers says I'm right smart handy when yer has dem headaches."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't bear anybody to-day."</p> + +<p>"Dear me, ain't it a pity! Now, miss, I knows what 'ud be good for +yer—"</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth," groaned Elsie, "do come and send this dreadful creature +away!"</p> + +<p>This time Victoria deemed it prudent to make a hasty retreat, for she +stood in a good deal of awe of her mistress. She went out, reiterating +her desire to be useful, and really very full of sympathy, for she was a +kindhearted creature enough, except where her enemy, Clorinda, was in +the question.</p> + +<p>"They'll kill me, I know they will!" moaned Elsie.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not pay the slightest attention to her complaints, and she +relapsed into silence. Finally, her eye was caught by the luncheon +temptingly laid out. There lay a mould of delicious apricot jelly in a +dish of cut crystal, shining like a great oval-shaped wedge of amber; +the cold chicken was arranged in the daintiest of slices, and there was +custard-cake, Elsie's special favorite.</p> + +<p>She made an effort to fancy herself disgusted at the bare sight of food, +and turned away her head, but it was only to encounter the fragrant odor +from the little silver teapot, which Victoria had set upon the hearth.</p> + +<p>"Could you eat anything, Elizabeth?" she said, dejectedly.</p> + +<p>"No, no; I am not hungry."</p> + +<p>"But you never touched a morsel of breakfast, and you ate nothing all +yesterday."</p> + +<p>"I can't eat now—indeed I can't," was Elizabeth's reply.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nor I!" moaned Elsie. "I feel as if a single mouthful would choke +me."</p> + +<p>She glanced again at the tray, and began to moan and weep.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me! This day never will be over! Oh, I wish I were dead, I do +truly! Do say something, Bessie; don't act so."</p> + +<p>But Elizabeth only continued her incessant march up and down the floor, +and Elsie was forced to quiet herself.</p> + +<p>She rose from the sofa at last, stood by the window a few moments, but +some magnetism drew her near the luncheon-tray again. She took up a +spoon and tasted the apricot jelly.</p> + +<p>"I want things to look as if we had eaten something," she said, giving +Elizabeth a wistful glance from under her wet eyelashes.</p> + +<p>"You had better try and eat," said her sister.</p> + +<p>"One ought, I suppose," observed Elsie. "I think I will drink a cup of +tea—won't you have some?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth shook her head, and with renewed sighs Elsie poured herself +out a cup of tea and sat down at the table.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this wretched day! I'd rather be dead and buried! Oh, oh!"</p> + +<p>In an absurd, stealthy way, she thrust her spoon into the apricot jelly +again, and stifled her moans for a second with the translucent compound.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could eat; but I can't!"</p> + +<p>She put a fragment of chicken on her plate, made a strong effort and +actually succeeded in eating it, while Elizabeth was walking through the +other rooms.</p> + +<p>"I've tried," she said, when her sister appeared in the doorway again, +"but I can't, it chokes me."</p> + +<p>She drank her tea greedily.</p> + +<p>"I am so thirsty; I believe I've got a fever."</p> + +<p>But Elizabeth was gone again, and Elsie stood staring at the paté—a +magnificent affair, she knew it was—one of Maillard's best, full of +truffles and all sorts of delicious things. She felt something in her +throat, which might have been hunger or it might have been weakness; she +chose to think it the latter.</p> + +<p>"I feel so weak," she said, when Elizabeth returned on her round; "such +a sinking here," and she put her hand in the region where her heart +might be supposed to beat.</p> + +<p>"You had better lie down," her sister said, absently.</p> + +<p>That was not the advice Elsie wanted or expected, and she cried out, +spasmodically:</p> + +<p>"How can I keep still! Oh, I wish I had some drops, or something to +take!"</p> + +<p>She moaned so loudly that it disturbed Elizabeth, who became impatient.</p> + +<p>"Drink your tea," she said, "and eat something; you cannot go without +food."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll try," said Elsie, resignedly. "I wish you'd sit down and +have a cup; perhaps I could eat then."</p> + +<p>"Not now," replied Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>The very sight of food was loathsome to her. She had hardly touched a +morsel for two days.</p> + +<p>After a good deal more hesitation, Elsie attacked the paté, and the +jelly, and the pickles, and the custard-cake, and some crisp little +wafers, and, finally, made an excellent meal; all the while declaring +that she could not eat, that every mouthful choked her, that she +believed she was dying. To all these complaints Elizabeth paid no more +attention than she did to the meal that sensitive young creature was +making.</p> + +<p>Elsie went back to her sofa, feeling somewhat comforted, and prepared to +take a brighter view of things. It appeared possible now for her to live +an hour or two longer—a little while before she had declared that her +death might be expected any moment.</p> + +<p>"Do come and sit down, Bessie," she said, as Elizabeth entered, for +about the hundredth time. "I'll give you the sofa; you must be tired +out."</p> + +<p>"No; I am not tired."</p> + +<p>"But I am sure you have been for three hours march—march—march! Do sit +down."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth only turned away in silence, but Elsie felt so much relieved +after her creature comforts, that she could not forbear attempting to +inspire her sister with a little of the hope which had begun to spring +up in her own narrow heart.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bessie," she cried, "I feel as if this would get over somehow, I do +indeed."</p> + +<p>"But how? may I ask how?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't tell; but there'll be some way, there always is; nothing +ever does happen, you know."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not reply. She was thinking of the books she had read, in +which women's ruin and disgrace were depicted with such thrilling force, +of the accounts in almost every daily journal of families broken up, +their holiest secrets made a public jest; of terrible discoveries +shaking a whole community with the commotion, and dragging all concerned +before the eyes of the whole world in scorn and humiliation. Yet Elsie +could say:</p> + +<p>"Nothing ever does happen!"</p> + +<p>She was thinking that perhaps in a few hours her beautiful home might be +agitated by a discovery, mysterious and full of shame as any of the +occurrences in the novels she was recalling; only a few hours and she +might be driven forth to a fate terrible as that of the unhappy women +whose names she had shuddered even to hear mentioned.</p> + +<p>Not for one instant did she delude herself. She knew that the crisis was +at hand, the fearful crisis which she had seen approaching for weeks. +This time there would be no loophole of escape—this last respite was +all that would be granted her; and even now that she had gained that +much, there seemed every hour less probability of her being able to turn +it to advantage.</p> + +<p>Then the task before her, the thing she had to do, a work at which the +stoutest man's heart might have quailed, alone in the dead of night, +with the fear of discovery constantly upon her, and the horror of an +awful task frenzying her mind!</p> + +<p>She clenched her hands frantically as the scene presented itself, in all +its danger, to her excited fancy. She saw the night still and dark, +herself stealing like a criminal from the house; she saw the old cypress +rising up weird and solemn, she heard the low shiver of its branches as +they swayed to and fro; she saw the earth laid bare, saw——</p> + +<p>The picture became too terrible, she could endure no longer, and with a +shuddering moan sank upon her knees in the centre of the room:</p> + +<p>"God help me! God help me!"</p> + +<p>Elsie sprang off the couch and ran towards her with a succession of +strangled shrieks.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter? What ails you? You frighten me so. Are you +sick—did you see something? Is he going that way?"</p> + +<p>But the woman neither saw nor heard; her eyes were fixed upon vacancy, +an appalling look lay on her haggard face, which might well have +startled stronger nerves than those of the girl by her side.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" shrieked Elsie, in genuine terror which there +was no mistaking.</p> + +<p>"I must do it," muttered the woman; "I must do it!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bessie, dear Bessie! Get up! Don't look so! Oh, for heaven's sake! +Bessie, Bessie!"</p> + +<p>Elsie threw herself upon the floor beside her sister, crying and +shrieking, clinging to her, and hiding her face in her dress. Her +agitation and wild terror recalled Elizabeth to her senses. She +disengaged herself from Elsie's arms and staggered to her feet.</p> + +<p>"It's over now," she said, feebly, with the weariness of a person +exhausted by some violent exertion; "I am better—better now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you frightened me so."</p> + +<p>"I will not frighten you again. Don't cry; I am strong now."</p> + +<p>"What was the matter? Did you see anything?"</p> + +<p>"No, no. I was only thinking; it all came up so real before me—so +horrible."</p> + +<p>"But it may be made safe yet," urged Elsie. "If you can escape this +time—only this once."</p> + +<p>She did not connect herself with the trouble which might befall her +sister. Even in that moment of anguish, her craft and her selfishness +made her remember to keep present in Elizabeth's mind the promise she +had made.</p> + +<p>"Only this once," she repeated.</p> + +<p>"It is too late," returned Elizabeth. "I knew the day would come—it is +here!"</p> + +<p>"But he can't discover anything, Bessie, when everybody is abed."</p> + +<p>"Have you thought what I must do?" she broke in. "The horror of +appealing to that man is almost worse to bear than exposure and ruin."</p> + +<p>Elsie wrung her hands.</p> + +<p>"Don't give way now. You have borne up so long; don't give way when a +little courage may save everything."</p> + +<p>"I shall not give way; I shall go through with it. But, Elsie, it will +all be useless; the end has come, deception cannot prosper forever."</p> + +<p>"No, it hasn't! I'm sure it hasn't! Think how many secrets are kept for +ever. It needs so little now to make all secure; only don't give way, +Bessie—don't give way."</p> + +<p>"Be quiet, child; I shall not fail!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth walked away and left the girl crouching upon the floor, went +to the glass and looked at herself. The rouge Elsie had rubbed on her +cheeks burned there yet, making the deathly pallor of her face still +more ghastly; her eyes gleamed out of the black shadows that circled +them so full of agony and fear that she turned away with a shudder. Her +hair had fallen loose, and streamed wildly about her shoulders. She +bound it up again, arranged her dress and recommenced her restless walk.</p> + +<p>"Get up, Elsie," she said; "some one may come in."</p> + +<p>Elsie took refuge on her sofa, and sobbed herself into a sound slumber, +while Elizabeth, in her haggard anxiety, moved up and down, wounded by +cruel reflections which wrung her soul and left it dumb, with a passive +submission, born rather of desperation than endurance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVI" id="CHAPTER_LVI"></a>CHAPTER LVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE SECRET TELEGRAM.</h3> + + +<p>Elizabeth at last paused, and in her bitter anguish stood for minutes +regarding Elsie as she lay asleep upon the sofa. She approached and bent +over her. The girl had brushed her long fair curls back from her face, +and they fell over the cushions in rich luxuriance, a feverish color was +on her cheeks, lighting up her loveliness, and her whole appearance was +so pretty, so singularly childlike, as she lay there, that it seemed +impossible, even then, that she could have anything in common with the +trouble that oppressed Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth stood for a long time regarding her, and many changes passed +over her face as she did so, but they all settled into a look of +determination, and she turned away. Whatever was to be borne she would +endure alone; she would keep her promise to the very letter. If ruin and +disgrace came they should fall on her alone. Why attempt to involve that +fair young creature in it?</p> + +<p>She went to a cabinet in the corner of the room, opened a little drawer +and took out a package of letters. They were those her husband had +written to her during his long absence.</p> + +<p>She drew an easy-chair near to the sofa and sat down, with her face +turned towards Elsie, opened one or two of the epistles and read +passages from them. One of the pages ran thus:</p> + +<p>"Whatever may happen, no matter how long my absence may be protracted, I +know that you will take care of Elsie. If the worst should happen—if +death should surprise me in this far-off land, I know that you will +fulfil for me the promise I made my dying mother, and be a parent to +that desolate girl.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me if I pain you by writing so sadly. I do not believe that any +misfortune will happen to me; something tells me that I shall reach home +in safety, and find love and happiness once more awaiting me there.</p> + +<p>"But the charge I have in Elsie's future is always present to my mind. I +never can forget the words that my dying mother spoke; they are with me +night and day, and have been since the hour when they died on her pallid +lips.</p> + +<p>"It rejoices my heart to think how different from most girls our little +Elsie is. If any harm were to reach her I think I should go mad; +disgrace to one whose blood was kindred to that in my veins would kill +me. You may think this pride a weakness, but it is too deeply rooted in +my nature ever to be eradicated. When I look about the world and see +girls disgracing themselves by improper marriages, elopements, often +social crimes, which must blight their lives and those of all connected +with them, I think what I should do under such circumstances.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, I could not endure it. You are my wife; I love you more +deeply than you know of; but I tell you that I could better bear sorrow +which came to me through my wife, than the weakness or dishonor of one +who claimed my name by right of birth. It is an inherited pride, which +has, I know, come down from father to son, and will go with me through +life.</p> + +<p>"But Elsie is safe—in your hands quite safe. I rest upon that thought. +I remember her loveliness, her innocence, her sweet childish ways, and I +am at peace again, knowing that you will care for her."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>This was the letter Grantley Mellen had written during his long exile, +and his wife sat reading it in the presence of that sleeping girl.</p> + +<p>After a time Elizabeth folded up the letters, kissed them passionately, +and laid them away.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is the last time," she murmured. "The last time! I must not +think of it. Oh, my God, how will this day pass?"</p> + +<p>She began walking up and down the rooms again, treading softly that she +might not disturb Elsie's slumber. This time her movements had some +purpose. She went into her dressing-room, took her riding dress from a +wardrobe and hastened to put it on. She grew cold, and her poor hands +shivered as she drew on her gauntlet gloves, and tied the veil over her +hat. In passing through the next room, the unhappy woman lingered a +moment to look on that sleeping girl, and her soul filled itself with +the cruel desolation of this thought.</p> + +<p>"He will not feel it so very much when it is only me on whom disgrace +falls," she thought, with mournful satisfaction. "For her at least I +shall have done my best. I have struggled so hard to keep the fair +creature he loves from harm. When I am swept from his path, like a black +cloud that had no silver lining for him, he will be happy with her. I +ought to be comforted by this. Yet, oh, my God! my God! this thought +alone makes the worst of my misery. They will be so happy, and without +me!"</p> + +<p>In passing down stairs Elizabeth met Dolf, moving dejectedly up from the +basement story where Vic had so maliciously disturbed his love making. +He stood aside to make room for his mistress, who addressed him in her +usual calm fashion.</p> + +<p>"Go to the stables," she said, "and order my groom to bring Gipsy round; +he need not trouble himself to attend me. I shall ride alone."</p> + +<p>Dolf hurried down the hall, and his mistress went into her little +sitting-room, opened her desk and wrote some words on a slip of paper +which she folded and thrust under the gauntlet of her glove. Then she +stood by the window watching till her horse was brought round.</p> + +<p>He came at last, a light graceful animal, so full of life, that he +fairly danced upon the gravel, and flung the sunshine from his arched +neck with the grace of a wild gazelle. He whinnied a little, and put out +his head for a tribute of sugar, which Bessie always gave him before she +mounted the saddle. But she had nothing of the kind for him now; +scarcely touching the groom's hand with her foot, she sprang upon his +back and rode slowly away, turning him upon the turf which was like +velvet, and gave back no sound. Thus, with an appearance of indolent +leisure, she passed out of sight.</p> + +<p>There was nothing remarkable in this. Elizabeth had been in the habit of +riding around the estate, without escort, during the two years in which +her husband had been absent, so the groom went back to his work and +thought no more of the matter.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth rode forward, without any appearance of excitement, until a +grove of trees concealed her from the house; then she put her horse upon +the road, and ran him at the top of his speed to the edge of the +village.</p> + +<p>Once among houses she rode on leisurely again, and stopped at the post +office to enquire for letters,—getting down from her horse, an unusual +thing with her. There was a telegraph station connected with the post +office, and while the man was searching his mail, she took the slip of +paper from her glove, and laid it with some money before the operator.</p> + +<p>The telegram was directed to that hotel near the Battery, which has +already been described.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVII" id="CHAPTER_LVII"></a>CHAPTER LVII.</h2> + +<h3>KITCHEN GOSSIP.</h3> + + +<p>The day was passing—that long, terrible day—in which the moments +seemed to lengthen themselves into hours, while with every one the gloom +about the old house deepened and pressed more heavily down.</p> + +<p>Grantley Mellen was in his library still, it had been a busy day with +him; it appeared as if every creature within reach who could invent a +plea of business had chosen that time to trouble him with it.</p> + +<p>He was alone at last, and that was well; he was literally incapable of +enduring any farther self-restraint.</p> + +<p>He rang the bell and gave strict orders to Dolf:</p> + +<p>"Let no one else in to-day; I have letters to write; I will not see +another human being."</p> + +<p>Dolf bowed himself out, and took his way to the lower regions, to +communicate to Clo and Victoria the commands his master had given. Those +three servants kept themselves aloof from the few others employed for +tasks which they considered too menial for the dignity of their +position, and these gaping youths and girls were strictly forbidden to +enter the apartment in which Clo had installed herself.</p> + +<p>They were perfectly well aware, those three sable dignitaries, that +something was wrong in the house; servants always do know when anything +out of the common routine happens, and no pretence can blind their +watchful eyes.</p> + +<p>"Marster says he won't see nobody more," said Dolf, as he entered the +room where Clo was rolling out her pie-crust, and Victoria busily +occupied in watching her.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what's come over 'em all," said Vic. "Der's missus was a +walkin' up an' down like a crazy woman—"</p> + +<p>"She didn't eat no breakfast," interrupted Dolf, "an' she never teched a +thing yesterday; now she's just done gone out a riden' all alone."</p> + +<p>"An' Miss Elsie stretched out on de sofa, lookin' as if she'd cried her +pretty eyes out," went on Victoria. "Says she's got a headache—go +'long; tell dat to blind folks! It's my 'pinion der's more heart-ache +under dem looks dan anythin' else."</p> + +<p>"Dat's jis' what I tink," assented Dolf.</p> + +<p>Clorinda, from her station at the pastryboard, gave a sniff of doubtful +meaning, tossed her head till her frizzed locks shook, brought her +rolling-pin down on the board with great energy, and remained silent for +the express purpose of being questioned.</p> + +<p>"What does yer tink 'bout it, Miss Clorindy?" asked Dolf.</p> + +<p>Vic looked a little spiteful at hearing this appeal to Clo, but she was +so anxious for anybody's opinion, that for once she forgot to quarrel.</p> + +<p>"I tinks what I tink," said Clo, with another toss of her head and an +extra flourish of the rolling-pin.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Dolf, quite discomfited.</p> + +<p>"Jis' so," said Clorinda.</p> + +<p>"Any pusson could have guessed dat ar," put in Victoria, in an irritated +way; "yer needn't make sich a mysteriousness."</p> + +<p>"I shall make a mysteriousness or shall luff it alone, jis' as I tink +best," retorted Clo, "so yer needn't go a meddlin' wid my dumplin', Miss +Vic, 'cause yer'll git yer fingers burnt if yer does."</p> + +<p>"Don't wanter meddle wid nothin' that recerns you," cried Vic, jumping +at the prospect of a quarrel, since there was nothing to be gained by +amicable words.</p> + +<p>"Jis' give me any of yer sarse," said Clo, "and I'll mark yer face smash +wid dis ere dough, now I tells ye?"</p> + +<p>"Don't lay a finger on me, cause I won't stand it," shrieked Vic; "yer a +cross ole, ole—dat's what's de matter."</p> + +<p>"Go 'long 'bout yer business," shouted Clo, shaking her rolling-pin in a +threatening rage. "Dis ere's de housekeeper's room, an' yer hain't no +business here."</p> + +<p>"Much business as you has, I guess; yer ain't housekeeper as I knows on; +yer only potwasher anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Missus telled me to use dis room for makin' pies and cakes in till she +got anoder housekeeper, an' I'se gwine ter."</p> + +<p>"I don't keer if she did, dat don't make yer housekeeper any more'n +stolen feathers makes a jackdaw an eagle."</p> + +<p>"Now, ladies, ladies!" pleaded Dolf, fearful of the extent to which the +tempest might reach if not checked in time. "Don't let us conflusticate +dese little seasons of union by savagerousnesses; don't, I beg."</p> + +<p>"Den her leave me alone," sniffled Vic.</p> + +<p>"Larn dat gal ter keep a civil tongue in her yaller head if yer want +peace an' composion," said Clo.</p> + +<p>"Dat ar's religion wid a vengeance," cried Vic; "a callin' names is +pretty piety, ain't it! I'll jis' see what Elder Brown says ter dat ar +de bery next time I sees him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" said Clo, contemptuous; "yer allers glad ob a 'casion ter +gabble! How's a pusson gwine ter hab religion when dey's persecuted by +sich a born debil; wurs 'en dem in de scripture as was worrying de +swine."</p> + +<p>"Laws!" said Vic, with a vicious sneer, "was yer roun wid dat drove +'bout dat time."</p> + +<p>"I'll drove yer," cried Clo.</p> + +<p>But Dolf interposed again, and luckily Clo's nostrils detected the odor +of burning pie-crust, and she rushed into the kitchen to see if the girl +had allowed her pastry to burn.</p> + +<p>Dolf took that opportunity to soothe the angry Victoria, and succeeded +admirably.</p> + +<p>"Now, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf, when she had relieved her feelings by +abusing Sally for her carelessness about the pies, and was once more +tranquilly occupied with her work; "now, Miss Clorindy, jis' glorify us +wid yer 'pinion 'bout de 'fairs ob dis dwellin' which we has all noticed +is more mysteriouser dan is pleasant."</p> + +<p>"I ain't gwine ter talk, jis' ter be snapped up like a beetle by a +Shanghai," said Clo; "shan't do it, nohow."</p> + +<p>Dolf winked at Victoria, and the artful maiden condescended to mollify +her fellow servant.</p> + +<p>"Now don't be cross, Clo," said she, "it's bad enough ter hab +conflictions above stairs widout us a mussin'."</p> + +<p>"Dem's my sentiments," cried Dolf, "and I knows fair Miss Clorinda +'grees wid dem—she coincidates, if yer'll 'scuse the leetle bit ob +dictionery."</p> + +<p>Victoria made a grimace behind Clo's back, but said, graciously:</p> + +<p>"I'se gwine ter gib yer dat ar blue handkercher Miss Elsie gub me, Clo," +she said, "so now let's make up and be comfoble."</p> + +<p>"I don't want ter fight," replied Clo, "'taint my way—only I knows my +persition and I 'spects ter be treated 'cording."</p> + +<p>The handkerchief was something Clo had coveted for a long time, and the +gift quite restored her good-humor.</p> + +<p>"Dat's as it orter be," said 'Dolf. "Peace and harmony once more +prewails, and we's here like—like—de Happy Family as used ter be at +Barnum's Museum," he added, finding a comparison at length, and quite +unconscious of its singular appropriateness.</p> + +<p>"I'se gwine to mend dis tablecloth," said Vic, "and I'll set here to do +it—when I go upstairs I'll git yer the hankercher, Clo."</p> + +<p>"Oh! laws," said Clo, "yer want it yerself—don't be a givin' away yer +truck."</p> + +<p>"I'd ruther yer had it," observed Vic, "blue's allers becoming to yer, +ain't it, Mr. Dolf?"</p> + +<p>She made another grimace, unseen by Clorinda, which nearly sent Dolf +into fits, but he restrained his merriment, and answered with the +gravity of a judge:</p> + +<p>"Miss Clorindy overcomes whatever she puts on, but since yer wishes my +honest 'pinion, I must say I tink blue's about de proper touch fur her."</p> + +<p>Clo grew radiant with delight, but she worked away resolutely, only +observing:</p> + +<p>"Victy, dar's a leetle cranberry tart I jis' tuk out ob de oben—it's on +de kitchen table—I 'spect we might as well eat it, cause 'taint big +enough to go on de table."</p> + +<p>"I'll fotch it," cried Dolf; "to sarve de fair is my priv'lege."</p> + +<p>He darted into the kitchen, bore off the tart from before Sally's +envious eyes, and closed the door so that she could not be regaled even +with a scent of the delicacy.</p> + +<p>"I've jis' done gone now," said Clo, "so I'll rest a leetle afore I +'gins dinner. I'll jis' taste de tart to see ef it's good—it kinder +eases my mind like."</p> + +<p>"In course it does," said Dolf, and he cut the tart into four pieces, +having an idea that the last slice would revert to him in the end.</p> + +<p>They ate the pie and talked amicably over it, while in the end Dolf +received the extra piece by earnestly pressing it on his companions, who +in turn insisted upon his eating it himself.</p> + +<p>"Mebby Sally'd like a taste," he said, virtuously.</p> + +<p>"Sally, 'deed no!" cried Clo. "It's nuff fur her ter see such tings +widout eatin' 'em—a lazy, good-fur-notin' piece."</p> + +<p>"Den ter 'blige yer I'll dispose of it," said Dolf, and he did so in +just three mouthfuls.</p> + +<p>"If yer wants my 'pinion 'bout what's gwine on," said Clo, suddenly, as +she rose to pile up the dishes she had been using preparatory to making +poor Sally wash them in the kitchen; "it's jis' dis yer! Dis trouble's +all missus!"</p> + +<p>"Missus!" repeated Vic.</p> + +<p>"Now what does yer mean?" cried Dolf.</p> + +<p>Clo nodded her head several times with gravity and precision.</p> + +<p>"Yes, missis," she repeated, with the firmness of a person who meant +what she said, and was fully prepared to defend her opinion.</p> + +<p>"What's come over her?" asked Vic.</p> + +<p>"Dat's jis' it," returned Clo; "now you've hit it prezact—yer might +talk a week, Victy, and not come inter de pint agin."</p> + +<p>Victoria looked at Dolf, and he looked at her, but, however convincing +her own words might have seemed to Clorinda, there was nothing to throw +any light upon their minds.</p> + +<p>"Yer's repeatin' wid yer usual knowledge," said Dolf, softly, "but can't +yer sperficate a leetle more clear."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dolf," said Clorinda, rolling up her eyes 'till only the whites +were visible, "when I lives in a house de secrets ob dat house is locked +in my bussom—"</p> + +<p>"But ter feller domestics," put in artful Dolf.</p> + +<p>"Jis' 'mong us," said Vic.</p> + +<p>"I know, I feels dat, and so I speak," replied Clo. "I ain't gwine ter +say Miss Mellen is a favoright ob mine, 'cause she ain't—but she's my +missus. Her ways isn't my ways, dat's all I says, and I hain't +recustomed to bein' brung up so sharp roun' de corners as is her way ter +do."</p> + +<p>"Tain't ter be 'spected," said Dolf.</p> + +<p>"Mebby 'tis and mebby 'tisn't," returned Clorinda; "I only says I ain't +recustomed to it, dat's all."</p> + +<p>"But what do yer tinks happened ter her ter put 'em all in sich a +to-do?" questioned Victoria.</p> + +<p>"I ain't prepared ter say ezzactly," replied Clo, "but I tink she's +gwine crossways wid marster and dat lubly angel, Miss Elsie. Dar's a +syrup fur ye! She nebber gubs a pusson orders widout eben lookin' at +'em—she ain't so high and mighty dat de ground ain't good 'nuff for her +ter walk on! Not but what missus a mighty fine woman—she steps off like +a queen, and I tell yer when she's dressed der ain't many kin hold a +candle ter her, and as fur takin' de shine off, wal, I'd jis' like ter +see anybody do dat."</p> + +<p>"It's all true," said Dolf, "as true as preachin'!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dolf," said Clo, gravely, "don't take dem seriousnesses so +lightsome on yer lips."</p> + +<p>"I won't," said Dolf, humbly, "I begs ter 'polegise—yer see in gazing +'bout de world a gemman 'quires some parts ob speech as seems keerless, +but dey don't come from de heart."</p> + +<p>"I'se glad dey don't," observed Clorinda, "bery glad, Mr. Dolf."</p> + +<p>"But what do yer tink missus has done?" demanded Victoria.</p> + +<p>Such a straightforward question was rather a puzzler to Clorinda, so she +answered with a stately air:</p> + +<p>"Der's questions I couldn't answer eben ter my most intemancies—don't +press it, Victy."</p> + +<p>Victoria's big eyes began to roll wildly in their sockets; she was +astonished to find that Clo had for some time seen that things were +going wrong, when the fact had escaped her own observation, and, for the +first time in the course of their acquaintance, she felt a sort of +respect for her usual foe but temporary ally.</p> + +<p>"Does yer tink dey's quarr'ling?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"When I hears thunder," said Clo, sententiously, "I allers takes it +there's a storm brewin'."</p> + +<p>Vic looked more puzzled than ever, and Dolf was not much better off, +though he tried to appear full to the brim with wisdom and sagacity.</p> + +<p>"Yer 'members the night missus lost her bracelet, Mr. Dolf?" asked Clo.</p> + +<p>"I does bery well."</p> + +<p>"When missus bemeaned herself to shout out at me as if I'd been a +sarpint," cried Clo, viciously. "Wal, if ever I see thunder I seed it in +marster's face dat ar night!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Victoria, bundling up her work, "if you and Mr. Dolf has +got secrets to talk ober, I'd better go 'way."</p> + +<p>"Who's a destryin' the harmony now?" shouted Clo. "It's raal sinful, +Victory, to give way to temper like you does."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dat's all fine 'nuff. But I don't wish to stand in nobody's way. +I'd better take my work upstairs."</p> + +<p>"Set still, set still, Miss Victory," urged Dolf. "Der's no secret. We +shall have de uttermost pleasure in making you 'quainted wid de pint in +question."</p> + +<p>Clorinda did not look altogether pleased with his eagerness to explain; +she rather liked Victoria to suppose there was a secret between Dolf and +herself; it seemed like paying off old scores, and though in a friendly +mood, Clorinda was a woman still.</p> + +<p>"'Splain or not, jis' as yer please," said Vic, tossing her head, +viciously, "it's quite 'material to me."</p> + +<p>But Dolf gave a voluble account of what his master and mistress had said +and done the night the bracelet was lost, and ornamented the +conversation beautifully, calling on Clorinda to set him right if he +erred, and the points where Clo most loudly expressed her approval as +being the exact words spoken, were those Dolf embroidered most highly.</p> + +<p>"Why, dar goes marster now," exclaimed Victoria, suddenly. "He's gwine +out to walk."</p> + +<p>They all rushed to the window to look, as if there had been something +wonderful in the sight, and just then Sally rushed in with a cry:</p> + +<p>"The soup's bilin' over, Clo; come—quick!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVIII" id="CHAPTER_LVIII"></a>CHAPTER LVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE INTERCEPTED TELEGRAM.</h3> + + +<p>That afternoon confinement in the house became so irksome to Grantley +Mellen that he could support it no longer, so he put on his hat and +hurried out into the grounds.</p> + +<p>Upon one point his mind was fully made up. The clue to the mystery +appeared to be in his hands; he would follow it out to the end now—he +would know the worst. If this woman had wronged him he resolved to sweep +her out of his life, even as he had done that false one in years gone +by.</p> + +<p>That thought drove him nearly mad, it recalled that writing. Should it +prove the same! If this man had a second time thrust himself into his +life to blacken it with his treachery and hate! Terrible words died, +half uttered, on Mellen's lips, his face was fairly livid with passion, +a loathing and a hatred which only blood could wipe out.</p> + +<p>Below the house the lawn and gardens led away into a grove, and towards +its gloom Mellen mechanically directed his steps under the cold, gray +sky. A chill wind was blowing up from the water, but he did not observe +it; in the fever which consumed him the air seemed absolutely stifling, +and he hurried on, increasing its excess by rapid movements.</p> + +<p>He was in the grove, walking up and down, with no settled purpose, +striving only to escape those maddening thoughts which still clung to +him.</p> + +<p>The wind was shaking the few remaining leaves from the trees and blowing +them about in rustling dreariness, the frosts had already touched the +grass and ferns, and though the place on a bright day would still have +been lovely, it looked bare and melancholy enough under that frowning +sky.</p> + +<p>"It is like my life," muttered Mellen; "like my life, with an added +blackness coming up beyond."</p> + +<p>Then his mood changed; again that fierce passion swept over his face, +leaving it dangerous and terrible.</p> + +<p>"If that woman has deceived me," he cried aloud, "this time I will have +no mercy! She shall taste her degradation to the very dregs; there is no +depth of shame through which I will not drag her, though I ruin my own +soul in doing it! But it can't be! it can't be! It were death to believe +it! Oh, Elizabeth, Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>Every tender feeling of his nature went out in that last agonizing cry. +For the first time he realised all that this woman had been to him, how +completely she had woven herself with his life, and what a terrible +blank it would become if he were forced to tear her from it.</p> + +<p>He made an effort to check those black thoughts, to invent excuses; he +was almost inclined to rush into the house, beg for the truth and +promise pardon in advance. Then he called himself a weak fool for the +idea that any excuse was possible.</p> + +<p>"I will wait—I have the clue—it will all be made clear soon. I will +wait."</p> + +<p>He clenched his hands with a groan that was half anguish, half rage, and +hurried more swiftly into the depths of the woods.</p> + +<p>He came out upon a little eminence, from whence he could look down on +the paths and avenues leading towards the house, though the dwelling +itself was hidden by the thick growth of trees.</p> + +<p>Along the high road he saw his wife riding at full speed toward the +woods, through which she passed with weary slowness, walking her horse +homeward, and looking anxiously down upon his reeking sides, and +smoothing his neck with her hand, as if troubled by those signs of hard +riding.</p> + +<p>Where had the woman been? What deception was she practising now?</p> + +<p>Mellen could see his wife's face plainly—for she passed near him quite +unconsciously. It was pale and wild with the fear of a hunted animal.</p> + +<p>"Traitoress!" he muttered between his teeth, "she thinks to evade me."</p> + +<p>He watched the slow progress of Gipsy as she walked toward the house, +taking the lawn, evidently because her rider feared to give warning of +her expedition by the sound of hoofs on the beaten track. He saw +Elizabeth dismount unaided, and go wearily into the house.</p> + +<p>Where had she been?</p> + +<p>Over and over Mellen asked himself this question, as he sat minute after +minute, pondering over the most bitter thoughts that ever haunted a +man's brain.</p> + +<p>It might have been an hour after, when he saw a man coming up from the +direction of the village, walking forward with great rapid strides. +Instantly his suspicions fell upon this new object. He was always +keen-sighted enough, but just then the thought in his mind made his +vision still quicker and more clear.</p> + +<p>Without pausing for an instant's reflection he darted down the hill—as +he approached the figure it disappeared. On into the woods Mellen +followed the intruder, and before he could look around grasped his arm +with a clutch so firm that there was no shaking it off.</p> + +<p>"Rascal!" he cried, "what are you doing here? Answer me, or I'll shake +you to pieces!"</p> + +<p>The man struggled violently, but Mellen was like a giant in his passion, +and swung him to and fro as if he had been a child.</p> + +<p>"Let me alone!" cried the man. "I ain't a doing no harm!"</p> + +<p>"What are you prowling about my house for, then? Do you know that I am +master here? I shall take you indoors, and keep you till I can send for +a constable. Take care, no resistance; what is your business here?"</p> + +<p>"I wasn't prowling round," pleaded the man, gasping for breath in +Mellen's hard grasp; "I thought these woods was public property."</p> + +<p>"Then you shall be taught. You had some errand here—speak out, or by +the Lord I'll kill you!"</p> + +<p>"Don't—don't! You're choking me!" groaned the wretch.</p> + +<p>"Then speak! What are you doing here—whom do you want to see?"</p> + +<p>"Just let me go and I'll tell you," pleaded his prisoner. "I can't speak +while you're throttling me."</p> + +<p>Mellen loosened his grasp on the man's throat, but still held him fast. +His hold had been a fearful one—the man was actually breathless.</p> + +<p>"Will you speak now?" he demanded, with terrible menace in his voice.</p> + +<p>The man began to breathe more freely; but, though shaking with fear, he +answered sullenly:</p> + +<p>"I hain't got nothin' to tell; I was going to the house yonder, and took +a short cut through here."</p> + +<p>"What business have you at the house? Tell me the truth, for I will +know."</p> + +<p>The man could both see and feel that he was in horrible earnest; he +might easily have supposed himself in the power of an insane man—and +for the moment Mellen was little better.</p> + +<p>"How do I know that you have a right to ask?" questioned the man.</p> + +<p>"I am the master of that house. Now will you speak?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," faltered the man, "I'll tell you. It's a telegram that I was +carrying to the lady; nothing wrong in that I hope."</p> + +<p>"No harm, certainly; give the telegram to me. I will deliver it."</p> + +<p>The man gave up the telegram. The envelope which contained it was +sealed, but Mellen tore it open without a moment's hesitation. Even as +he unfolded the paper, his hand faltered—in the very height of his rage +he could not think of the woe its contents might bring, without a sharp +pang.</p> + +<p>He read it slowly, standing there motionless, unable, at first, to take +in the full extent of his crushing anguish. "<i>Have no fear. I will be at +the old spot, prompt to help you. All shall be prepared.</i>"</p> + +<p>This was the telegram. There was no signature—it needed none. Mellen +knew only too well who the writer was, knew it as thoroughly as he did +the woman for whom it was intended.</p> + +<p>For a full half hour Grantley Mellen was a madman. The fever and the +insanity passed at length; he lay upon the ground, staring up at the +cold sky, the telegram still clutched in one hand, the other dug deeply +into the earth, in a wild conflict of passion that shook him to the +soul. He raised himself and looked about; it seemed as if he had been +suffering in a fearful dream—he glanced down at the paper—that brought +conviction back.</p> + +<p>He sat there for a long time revolving vague plans in his mind, and +deciding upon the course he would pursue.</p> + +<p>"Meet craft with craft," he muttered; "their own evil weapons."</p> + +<p>He rose from the ground, arranged his dress, and walked towards the +house.</p> + +<p>"Not a sign, not a word which can betray," he said aloud. "I will meet +her with a duplicity equal to her own,—wait—a little longer—only a +little longer."</p> + +<p>He walked towards the house, and again Victoria called out to her +companions:</p> + +<p>"Here comes marster as fast as fast can be."</p> + +<p>But Clorinda's thoughts were now centred upon her dinner, and she had no +time even for gossip.</p> + +<p>"Get away from dat window and go 'bout your work," cried the dark +spinster, austerely; "what hev yer got to do wid de marster's outgoin's +or incomin's? Beat dese eggs into a foam rite off, for I'se in a hurry. +Mr. Dolf puts one back so."</p> + +<p>Victoria cast one more glance through the window, for the wild agony on +her master's face rather alarmed her. But Clorinda called out in a voice +so shrill that it was not to be disregarded, and she was constrained to +undertake the task assigned her without more delay.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIX" id="CHAPTER_LIX"></a>CHAPTER LIX.</h2> + +<h3>FORCED HOSPITALITY.</h3> + + +<p>While Mellen stood on the veranda in front of the house, Mr. Rhodes came +up the avenue. There was no hope of escape for him; he had not perceived +the visitor until it was too late to retreat, and a voice called out:</p> + +<p>"Oh, there you are, old fellow; I'm in luck after all. You see I walked +over to my farm on the back road," he explained, "intending to take the +half-past three train to New York, but I missed it. So I said to myself, +'I'll cut across the fields, down the hill, and stop at Mellen's, beg a +dinner, and get him to send me over in time for the five o'clock +train'—wasn't a bad idea, eh?"</p> + +<p>"A very good idea on the contrary," Mellen answered, with a desperate +attempt at hospitality, while the visitor wrung his hand again and burst +into shouts of laughter, as if some wonderfully good joke lay in the +affair. "And how is your good lady?" he asked. "And the pretty little +sister—quite well, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Tolerably so," Mellen answered; "complains of headache and that sort of +thing."</p> + +<p>He conducted his guest into the library, and meeting Dolf in the hall, +directed him to inform his mistress of the arrival.</p> + +<p>Mellen made an effort to be civil though the man was tiresome in the +extreme; perhaps it was better to endure his society than to meet his +wife that day without the restraint of a stranger's presence.</p> + +<p>Indeed, without some of those social restraints to which all men are +more or less slaves, it is doubtful if Mellen could have appeared so +perfectly calm. As it was, the fire that consumed him raged unseen. Dolf +carried his message upstairs, where it was received with a little shriek +from Elsie, and blank dismay on the part of Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I can't go down," she said; "Elsie, you must take my place at the +table. Say that I am ill, fainting, anything."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I'll do nothing of the sort," returned Elsie; "if you don't go +down I shall stay with you. I am nervous as I can be, and if you are not +at the table I shall break down completely."</p> + +<p>The girl was full of selfishness to the very last—not willing to yield +her comfort in the slightest particular, but Elizabeth only sighed as +she observed it, and said, quietly:</p> + +<p>"After all, it is just as well—change your dress, Elsie."</p> + +<p>These two women commenced the duties of a dinner toilet with heavy +hearts, scarcely heeding what they put on.</p> + +<p>But when the dinner hour approached, they entered the drawing-room +together and almost smiling, Elsie looking exquisitely pretty in her +dark blue silk, with those bright ringlets floating about her shoulders; +her volatile spirits were already rising at the idea of an escape from +that shadowy chamber where she had dragged through the day.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was calm and self-possessed as ever. To a casual observer she +looked pale, but her heavy black dress might account for that, and the +delicate contrast it gave to her complexion made amends for any lack of +bloom.</p> + +<p>Mellen sat watching her while she greeted Mr. Rhodes, and listened +patiently to his labored compliments.</p> + +<p>"Is she stone—ice?" he thought. "Is there no touch of nature about her +that she can be so calm?"</p> + +<p>If the man could have read her mind, he might have pitied her even in +the midst of his anger and fearful doubts. What she suffered in putting +that terrible restraint upon herself was almost beyond the power of +belief; but woman-like, having formed her resolution, not all the +tortures of the rack could have driven her from it.</p> + +<p>Elsie had seated herself on a low stool at her brother's feet; he sat +absently playing with her curls, and looking moodily into the fire, but +he had no words even for her, though she tempted him with rather +mournful smiles. But he had been so silent and sullen by times during +the past week, that there was not change enough in his manner to be at +all perceptible.</p> + +<p>Sometimes Elizabeth glanced over at the pair, and then some sharp pain +contracted her brows, but there was no other appearance of emotion; she +would control even that instantly, and bending her head once more, +listen patiently to her persecutor's verbiage.</p> + +<p>Dolf announced dinner, and the party passed into the dining-room, Mr. +Rhodes honoring the hostess with his arm. As Mellen and his sister +followed, Elizabeth heard Elsie whisper in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Grant, dear, you are not cross with me?"</p> + +<p>In the midst of Mr. Rhodes's uproarious laugh at one of his own jokes, +she caught Mellen's answer:</p> + +<p>"Never, darling, never! You are my one comfort—my only blessing."</p> + +<p>With her head more proudly erect, a faint crimson beginning to burn on +her cheeks, Elizabeth Mellen walked on and took her seat at the table, +appearing so completely engrossed in Mr. Rhodes's conversation that she +did not once meet her husband's eye.</p> + +<p>To all but the guest, that dinner seemed interminable, but Mr. Rhodes +was so busy with the delicacies Clorinda's skillful hands had prepared, +and so full of himself, that he was in a perfect glow of content.</p> + +<p>The lights danced before Elizabeth's eyes, every morsel she ate was +swallowed with a pang, the wine was like a bitter drug on her lips, yet +there she sat in patient endurance.</p> + +<p>Occasionally Mellen glanced towards her, and her composure sent such a +thrill of rage through his soul, that it was with difficulty he could +keep from springing up and overwhelming her with the discovery he had +made, on the spot.</p> + +<p>The dinner was over at last, but tedious as it had seemed to Elizabeth, +she would gladly have prolonged it: anything to lengthen the hours; to +keep afar off the stillness of the night, when she must undertake that +to which she had doomed herself.</p> + +<p>But she would not think of that; she dared not; madness lay so near the +dismal reflection that it must be swept from her mind.</p> + +<p>They dragged through the evening; Elizabeth played cribbage with Mr. +Rhodes, and Elsie gave snatches of desultory music at the piano; every +time her fresh young voice rang out in joyous song Elizabeth started, as +if an unseen dagger had struck her to the heart.</p> + +<p>"You will all come and pass a day with us before long, I hope," Mr. +Rhodes said, with exuberant hospitality, when the time came at last to +order the carriage for his departure.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth only answered with a wan smile. She could hardly stand. Mellen +accompanied his visitor through the hall, and the instant they +disappeared Elizabeth started for the door.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" asked Elsie.</p> + +<p>"To my room; I can't bear this."</p> + +<p>"I'll go—"</p> + +<p>"No, no, not yet; stay awhile, for heaven's sake let me rest alone one +moment." She staggered through the dining-room and was gone; when Mellen +entered the library again, Elsie sat alone by the fire, teasing the cat, +looking cheerfully pretty and childlike.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LX" id="CHAPTER_LX"></a>CHAPTER LX.</h2> + +<h3>WAITING FOR THE HOUR.</h3> + + +<p>The clock in Elizabeth's dressing-room had struck eleven, but there she +sat desolately looking into the fire, just as she had sunk into her +chair on first entering the chamber.</p> + +<p>She heard her husband and Elsie ascend the stairs a full hour before, +but Mr. Mellen went straight on towards his own apartments. He had not +entered hers since the day the bracelet was found; she knew well that he +would not intrude upon her then.</p> + +<p>For two long hours she had been alone with her dismal thoughts, no sound +broke the stillness, save the monotonous ticking of the clock or an +occasional sob and moan from the half spent wind without.</p> + +<p>There was too much anxiety and agony in her mind for any of the nervous +terrors which had haunted her during the day. Then, as she thought what +the coming of the night would bring her, the heart in her bosom +shuddered. Now it stood still and seemed hardening into iron. If some +spirit had appeared with an articulate warning, she could not have been +more convinced that exposure and ruin were approaching her with rapid +strides. She would do her best, but that, she knew in her innermost +soul, would lead to destruction. She looked back on the past weeks, and +tried to remember if her plans had failed through her own weakness.</p> + +<p>Before Mellen's return it had seemed possible to carry them out, to bury +the past utterly, and build a new palace of hope on its grave, but they +had all failed. It was not her fault, she had borne up as bravely as any +woman could have done under the circumstances, had been as circumspect +and guarded as it was possible to be, but from the moment of his +inopportune arrival, some untoward event had occurred to thwart every +project she had endeavered to carry out for her own salvation.</p> + +<p>"It is fate," she muttered, in a cold whisper; "it is fate! Oh, my God, +help me, help me, for I have yet a right to pray!"</p> + +<p>No, even the consolations of prayer were denied this most wretched +woman; the words seemed to freeze upon her lips; she could only moan in +that broken whisper:</p> + +<p>"My God, help me, help me!"</p> + +<p>As she sat there, the door opened and Elsie softly entered the +apartment. She had taken off her evening-dress, and put on a loose white +wrapper, and over that had thrown a crimson shawl, which made the pallor +that had come over her face still more apparent.</p> + +<p>There was no light in the chamber except that given by the fire.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth had extinguished the lamps; the gloom and the shadows befitted +her mournful thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Bessie, Bessie?" called Elsie, unable at first to distinguish any +object in the half light. "Are you there?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am," was the hoarse answer; "come in."</p> + +<p>"I was so afraid to be alone with Grant," continued Elsie; "I felt as if +I should scream every moment."</p> + +<p>"What did he say to you; what did my husband talk about?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing in particular; he said very little; he did not even ask +where you were. I told him you had gone to bed with a headache, but he +did not seem to hear. He sat and looked in the fire, as if he were +reading something in the red hot coals; after a long time he asked me if +I loved him, and kissed my forehead. That was all."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth struck her hands hard together, choked back the groan which +rose to her lips, and sat gazing into the fire, as if she too read +something terrible in the scarlet caverns which were breaking up and +forming in its midst.</p> + +<p>"I'm so cold," shivered Elsie; "there isn't half enough coal in the +grate."</p> + +<p>Cold! The chill had crept into Elizabeth's very soul which no power of +hers could warm, and close to her that weak creature crouched, moaning +out her petty complaints!</p> + +<p>Even then, up to the last, while the glittering hands of the clock were +seen in the firelight, creeping swiftly over the dial, and its solemn +tick measured off the awful minute on which Elizabeth had agreed with +her own soul to go forth on her terrible errand, the wretched woman was +compelled to pause in that dim chamber, worse than dead herself, to +comfort and soothe the creature who lay like a wounded fawn on the +hearth.</p> + +<p>"What time is it, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>She raised herself and looked at the clock.</p> + +<p>"Half-past eleven," answered Elizabeth, solemnly. "My hour has come!"</p> + +<p>"I thought it was later," groaned Elsie. "Will it never be morning?"</p> + +<p>"Soon enough," whispered Elizabeth, "soon enough."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if Grant has gone to bed; I asked him if he was sleepy, and +he—"</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he only gave a queer sort of laugh, and said, 'Sensible people +always are sleepy when it comes bedtime.'"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth had said truly her hour had come, but she could not go yet; +she must wait until all danger of discovery was over—stand there +breathless while her husband forgot her and her agony in peaceful sleep. +They were both silent for a time, then Elsie began to shiver again, like +some young bird lost from its nest in a storm.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if it would only come morning!"</p> + +<p>"Soon enough, soon enough," repeated Elizabeth, as before.</p> + +<p>"Do talk to me; I shall die if you don't!"</p> + +<p>"What can I say, child? I can only wait—wait."</p> + +<p>"Wait! What do you mean? Oh, I know—I know!"</p> + +<p>The girl broke off with a more violent shudder and buried her face in +her hands.</p> + +<p>"What made you remind me?" she cried. "I shall go crazy now. Bessie! +Bessie!"</p> + +<p>But this time, when the girl clung to her, Elizabeth removed her hands, +not impatiently, but with quiet firmness.</p> + +<p>"You must control yourself," she said. "I have upon me all that I can +bear now. Be still, Elsie!"</p> + +<p>"I will! I will!" she sobbed. "Oh, wouldn't it be better to be dead?"</p> + +<p>"Better! Yes, a thousand times; but it is not easy to die."</p> + +<p>Elsie checked her sobs again, and caught at the hope with which she had +sustained herself all day.</p> + +<p>"This is the last of it," she said; "this night once safely over, and +there is an end."</p> + +<p>"One way or the other," muttered Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"What did you say?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing—nothing."</p> + +<p>It was worse than useless, to agitate the girl's weakness afresh with +fears that lay so deep in her own mind. Whichever way the end came, +Elsie was safe. Was the creature thinking that as she shut her eyes and +leaned more closely against her sister?</p> + +<p>"Yes, it will be all safe then," she went on. "The money is paid; we +shall have the papers; there is nothing more to fear."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth did not answer; she allowed her to think that the danger from +that quarter was removed. It could do no good to fill her mind with +added fears.</p> + +<p>"There is the wind again!" cried Elsie. "Oh, if it would only stop!"</p> + +<p>The sound recalled all that lay in the coming hours, and she was +unnerved again.</p> + +<p>"You are not frightened, are you, Bessie?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I suppose not; there is nothing to fear."</p> + +<p>"To be alone with him and—and—Oh, I ought to go with you; I'll +try—I'll try."</p> + +<p>At that late hour some remorse woke in her mind for her unsisterly +selfishness, but Elizabeth said very kindly:</p> + +<p>"You will stay here; you could do no good."</p> + +<p>"But I shall go mad while you are gone."</p> + +<p>"You must get into bed again."</p> + +<p>"How long shall you be away?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell. Stop—don't talk about it. I shall go through with it +all; let me alone till then."</p> + +<p>Elsie writhed to and fro in hysterical weakness.</p> + +<p>"You must be quiet," Elizabeth said. "Suppose he should hear you?"</p> + +<p>"Grant? Oh, I'll be still—I'll be still as death."</p> + +<p>"What time is it?" Elsie asked again.</p> + +<p>"Almost twelve; the clock will strike in a moment."</p> + +<p>"How much longer shall you wait?" asked the girl in a whisper. "Did he +answer your telegram?"</p> + +<p>"I did not expect that he would, there was too much danger in it. But +hush, I must discover if he is asleep."</p> + +<p>"Grantley?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"What was that noise?" Elizabeth exclaimed suddenly.</p> + +<p>"I heard nothing," Elsie answered, lifting her head and allowing it to +fall again on her sister's knee.</p> + +<p>"It sounded like a step in the hall," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"It was only your fancy," returned Elsie. "This house is as still as the +grave."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth rose from her chair and walked to the window.</p> + +<p>"You are not going?" cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"No; I only want to look. Be still!"</p> + +<p>Elsie cowered down on the rug and muffled herself more closely in her +shawl, lying quite still, with a sort of comfort in the feeling of +warmth which began to creep over her.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth pushed back the heavy curtains and looked out into the night. +A stream of dim, silvery radiance shot into the room, and played like +rippling water over the floor.</p> + +<p>Elsie half started to her feet with a cry.</p> + +<p>"What is that? What is that?"</p> + +<p>"The moon is up," said Elizabeth, simply.</p> + +<p>Elsie laid her head down again, Elizabeth stood leaning her hands on the +window-sill, looking straight before her.</p> + +<p>The moonlight was peculiarly clear, and millions of stars shone forth +with the diamond radiance seen only in a frosty night. Every object was +visible. Hoar frost shone up whitely from the crisp grass of the lawn, +and long black shadows were cast downward by the trees, shaken like +drapery when the wind tossed the branches up and down.</p> + +<p>From where Elizabeth stood she could look out over the withered +flower-beds and into the thicket beyond.</p> + +<p>Suddenly her eye caught sight of a man standing under the cypress tree, +which rose up gloomy and dark, its branches waving slowly to and fro, +looking, to her excited fancy like spectral hands that beckoned her +forth to her doom.</p> + +<p>She uttered a faint sound and strained her eyes towards it with a chill +feeling of horror. Elsie was roused again by the noise, and asked, +quickly:</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, nothing."</p> + +<p>"What made you groan, then?"</p> + +<p>"I am looking out," returned Elizabeth, in a low voice, leaning more +heavily against the window for support, "he is there!"</p> + +<p>"Come away, come away!" cried Elsie, muffling her face more closely in +her shawl, as if to shut out some dreadful object. "Come back to the +fire, Elizabeth, do!"</p> + +<p>"Surely, if I can go out there to meet him," she said, "I have courage +enough to look at the old tree."</p> + +<p>Elsie only groaned anew. She sat upright and rested herself against the +chair her sister had left.</p> + +<p>"How does the night look, Bessie?" she asked, in a low, scared tone.</p> + +<p>"The moonlight is so ghostly," returned Elizabeth; "it looks frightened. +No wonder—no wonder!"</p> + +<p>Elsie trembled more violently, but it seemed as if some power stronger +than her own will forced her to continue these harassing questions.</p> + +<p>"And the cypress, Bessie, how does it look?"</p> + +<p>"Stern and dark—no wonder, sheltering him," cried Elizabeth. "It +beckons to me; the branches look like giant arms tempting me to ruin. I +must go—I must go!"</p> + +<p>Her voice was little more than a whisper, but it sounded painfully sharp +and distinct. Elsie buried her face in both hands, once more to shut out +the images it conjured up.</p> + +<p>"Come back!" she moaned; "Elizabeth, come back!"</p> + +<p>"I must go. It is time."</p> + +<p>"Wait—wait—just a moment! Don't go yet—don't leave me—I shall die +here alone."</p> + +<p>Elsie dragged herself along the floor to where Elizabeth stood, and +caught her dress in a convulsive grasp.</p> + +<p>"Wait a little—just a little?"</p> + +<p>The very weakness of this girl seemed to give Elizabeth a sort of insane +composure.</p> + +<p>"Let go my dress," she said; "I must be gone."</p> + +<p>"I can't stay here—I can't!"</p> + +<p>"Be still—you must, and shall!"</p> + +<p>She wrenched her garments from Elsie's hands, and the girl fell +helplessly on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Let me creep into bed first," she moaned; "I shall run mad if you leave +me here. Oh, I'll go—I ought to go! What an unnatural creature I am! +I'll go!"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk—don't think—it is too late," whispered Elizabeth. "If you +can pray, do it."</p> + +<p>"I can't—I daren't! Help me up, Elizabeth—help me up."</p> + +<p>But there was no response. Elizabeth was bending towards the window +again, looking straight at the cypress tree; but the dread which had +been in her face before was weak compared to the horror that convulsed +it now.</p> + +<p>"He is going there!" she cried, in an awful voice.</p> + +<p>Elsie caught hold of her and raised herself so as to look out of the +window.</p> + +<p>"Who—who? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"See—see!" continued Elizabeth. "Some one is creeping towards the +cypress. He has a spade in his hand. Merciful God, it is too late!"</p> + +<p>"Is it Grantley?" shrieked Elsie. "Is it Grantley?"</p> + +<p>"There he goes! I told you I heard steps! My God! my God!"</p> + +<p>She fell on her knees by the window, still staring out into the spectral +light. Elsie gave one glance, saw her brother walking towards the +cypress, and then sank back, unable to venture another look.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXI" id="CHAPTER_LXI"></a>CHAPTER LXI.</h2> + +<h3>THE MIDNIGHT SEARCH.</h3> + + +<p>Alone in his room, Grantley Mellen had sat for hours with only stern +thoughts for his companions, and they grew so black and fierce that the +most terrible crisis would have been less hard to endure than that +suspense.</p> + +<p>He waited silent, immovable, till the last sound in the house died away; +waited still for slumber to overtake every inmate of the dwelling, that +he might carry out the plan he had formed.</p> + +<p>He was going out to the cypress tree; he would discover if his wife's +agitation, when he proposed digging about it, was in any way connected +with the mystery which surrounded her. He believed that it was so, +though in what manner it was impossible to divine. Perhaps there were +letters hidden there—some condemning evidence against her which she had +found no opportunity since his return to destroy. Whatever it was, he +would discover it, drag it out, and with this fresh proof of her +treachery in his hands, overwhelm her with a knowledge of her guilt.</p> + +<p>He, too, sat watching the clock, counting the strokes as the hours +sounded, but to him the time appointed did not arrive quickly. It seemed +as if the hands scarcely moved; in his mad impatience he thought the +appointed instant never would approach.</p> + +<p>It was a terrible vigil that he kept; the strongest man could not for +many hours have endured that strain of suspense, while tortured by such +fiendish whispers as moaned in his ear.</p> + +<p>The time came at last; the moonlight streamed pale and uncertain through +the casement; no sound broke the stillness, even the wind had ceased its +moaning. He could go forth now without fear of discovery.</p> + +<p>He could go forth, but to what?</p> + +<p>His very inability to form an idea of the discoveries he might make, +increased the fever of his impatience. He could wait no longer—not a +moment—not a second.</p> + +<p>He opened the door and crept cautiously through the gallery, down stairs +into the lower hall, undid the fastenings of the outer door and passed +on to the veranda.</p> + +<p>The garden tools were some of them in a closet in the area; he went down +the steps, opened the door, took out a spade and hurried towards the +cypress tree.</p> + +<p>There he was, standing under the moaning branches, his head bare, +digging wildly and aimlessly about the roots, peering at every lump of +earth with his insane gaze, ready to believe that he had at last come +upon that nameless thing for which he sought.</p> + +<p>And while he dug furiously into the earth, Elizabeth Mellen knelt by the +window-seat watching him; and Elsie lay upon the floor, so utterly +prostrated that she could only cry out to Elizabeth at intervals in her +sharp, discordant voice:</p> + +<p>"Is he there yet—is he there?"</p> + +<p>"Still there," she answered.</p> + +<p>"What is he doing?"</p> + +<p>"Digging, digging! He is on the wrong side of the tree."</p> + +<p>Elsie gave a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"No, no," continued Elizabeth; "he stops to throw the earth back—he is +going farther round."</p> + +<p>"Has he found the place—has he?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet."</p> + +<p>Elsie could not even groan; her breath came in quick gasps; her hands +tore madly at the carpet, but Elizabeth leaned motionless against the +window-sill, watching always with that strained gaze.</p> + +<p>"Where is he now, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"He has not reached it—he is near! No! he is digging again—he has not +found the place."</p> + +<p>"If we could only stop him," cried Elsie, roused to new courage. "If I +opened my window and called out."</p> + +<p>"Too late, too late!"</p> + +<p>"But he will find it—he will find it!"</p> + +<p>"Then God help me, I can do no more!"</p> + +<p>Elsie sprang up with another shriek.</p> + +<p>"You'll tell—you'll tell! I know you will give way—and Grant will +murder you—murder us all."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth caught the frantic creature in her arms, and forced her back +on the couch.</p> + +<p>"Lie still," she said.</p> + +<p>"Let me go, I say—let me go! I want to die—I won't live after he finds +you out. I'll kill you, Elizabeth, if you don't let me go."</p> + +<p>But Elizabeth held her firmly in spite of her insane struggles, crying +out:</p> + +<p>"It is nothing to you—you have no cause to fear. You are mad, mad! I +tell you the trouble is mine; whatever comes falls on my head; be still, +Elsie."</p> + +<p>"You promise. Swear it—swear not to bring my name in."</p> + +<p>"I have sworn and I will keep my oath," returned Elizabeth. "Disgrace, +infamy, death—I will bear them all alone. What should I gain by +dragging you down with me?"</p> + +<p>She fell away from the girl as she spoke, but Elsie did not attempt to +rise; she lay still now, exhausted by her recent violence, and reassured +by Elizabeth's promise.</p> + +<p>Again the woman leaned against the window-sill and looked out towards +the tree. Mellen was at work still, more furiously than ever, throwing +up great shovelsful of earth and dashing them down with frantic haste.</p> + +<p>"Is he there yet?" called Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! How he works—dig—dig—dig!"</p> + +<p>She stopped suddenly: the silence raised wilder horror in Elsie's mind.</p> + +<p>"Has he found it?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet. He is standing still now, he is throwing the earth back."</p> + +<p>"What now—what now?" called Elsie, when Elizabeth paused.</p> + +<p>"He is looking about—he is puzzled. There is only that place left—he +will miss it. The shadows are blackest there."</p> + +<p>Another instant of intent watching, then a low cry.</p> + +<p>"He is there—he is there!"</p> + +<p>"Stop him!" shrieked Elsie. "Shout to him!"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth whispered hoarsely:</p> + +<p>"Too late! too late!"</p> + +<p>"Is he digging?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; wait—wait!"</p> + +<p>She clutched the window-sill until her nails bent and broke against the +woodwork.</p> + +<p>"First on one side, then the other," she whispered. "He doesn't touch +the right spot—I know it so well—night and day I have seen it——"</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>She never heeded the mad cry, pressed closer and closer to the +window-frame, staring out as if every energy of her nature was centred +in that gaze.</p> + +<p>"He has not found it! He stops again—he throws down the spade! He is +stamping on the ground. Oh! once more!"</p> + +<p>Then another pause, and at last Elizabeth cried in the same sharp +whisper:</p> + +<p>"He is throwing the earth back—he turns away!"</p> + +<p>"Saved! saved!" shrieked Elsie.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth watched her husband's movements still. He stood for some +moments in quiet, then walked about the tree; she could feel the baffled +rage that shook him.</p> + +<p>He turned away at last and disappeared around the corner of the house. +Then Elizabeth sprang to her feet.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Lie still—don't speak, on your life!"</p> + +<p>She ran to the door and locked it, then threw herself down by the fire.</p> + +<p>"He might come in and find us," she whispered.</p> + +<p>Elsie crept across the floor again, seeking protection at her side. +There they waited, hushing their breaths, listening for the echo of his +step on the stairs. It came at last, muffled and cautious, but terribly +distinct to their strained senses. He half paused at the room where they +were, passed on, the door of his chamber opened and shut.</p> + +<p>"He has gone in," said Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Saved! saved!" broke again from Elsie, but there was no answering echo +from the woman by her side.</p> + +<p>For a time they sat motionless, whether moments or hours neither of them +ever could have told.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXII" id="CHAPTER_LXII"></a>CHAPTER LXII.</h2> + +<h3>UNDER THE CEDAR.</h3> + + +<p>At last Elizabeth rose, moved noiselessly across the chamber, while +Elsie raised her head to look.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"You know," Elizabeth answered.</p> + +<p>"You won't—you can't! Oh, wait—wait!"</p> + +<p>"And to-morrow have the whole household look on while the work is more +thoroughly done!"</p> + +<p>"Is there no other way?"</p> + +<p>"None. This is the last hope; I shall try it."</p> + +<p>There was no elation in her voice at the danger she had escaped, no hope +rising up now that she might go through her task in safety, no dread +either of what she had to do, only stern determination, the chill of +utter despair, ready to struggle but not to hope. She wrapped a shawl +about her without the slightest appearance of haste, and stood still a +little longer, more like a marble statue endowed with the power of +motion than a breathing, living creature.</p> + +<p>"Are you going?" called Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I shall not be long—not long."</p> + +<p>But Elsie rushed after her and caught her in her arms.</p> + +<p>"Every moment is worth a whole life," cried Elizabeth. "Let me go!"</p> + +<p>She forced the girl to release her hold, and with one feeble wail Elsie +fell senseless to the floor.</p> + +<p>"Better so," muttered Elizabeth, "better so!"</p> + +<p>The excitement she was laboring under gave this woman new strength. She +raised the insensible girl, carried her through the vacant chamber, and +laid her on the bed in her own room. She drew the bedclothes over her +inanimate form and turned away.</p> + +<p>"Now for the end," she murmured, "the bitter, bitter end."</p> + +<p>She went back to her own room, closing the doors after her, then, +without further delay, passed down the private staircase which led to +the little entry off the library.</p> + +<p>Once on the stairs she paused to listen, but there was no sound, and she +hurried on noiseless as a spirit. One of the shutters was ajar, +admitting a few gleams of light, by which she could see to unbolt the +door.</p> + +<p>She was out in the air at last; the first step was taken in safety—in +her turn she flew towards the cypress tree. She was under its shadow, +the branches writhed and moaned like living things, the moon shot in and +out of the gathering clouds, and cast a flickering, uncertain light +about that was more terrible than the deepest gloom.</p> + +<p>As she stood in the depth of the shadows, a man came out from the thick +darkness that lay under a neighboring clump of white pines, and drew +close to her.</p> + +<p>"I have been here some time," he whispered. "Everything is ready out +yonder—rather rough work for a gentleman, but take it as a proof how +ready I am to help you, even after all the money is paid in. But do you +know that Mellen has been here?"</p> + +<p>"I saw him—I know it; we have no time!"</p> + +<p>"Fortunately, he will know why the earth is broken up, having done it +with his own hands," said the man, with a suppressed laugh, that made +Elizabeth shudder. "Better still, he has left the spade—threw it down +in angry disappointment. That is fortunate, for mine was partly disabled +out yonder: now show me the exact spot."</p> + +<p>She had no need to search, only too well she knew the place. Night and +day for weeks the dread spot had been with her, in every dream she had +watched men digging, digging—digging with frantic haste; and, as in her +dreams, all strength seemed to fail, and some unseen power to hold her +back, so now, in that frightful reality, her arms fell half paralyzed, +and she could not lift her hand to point out the spot.</p> + +<p>To and fro the branches swayed above her head, beating themselves about, +moaning like evil voices. The wind swept up chill and warningly.</p> + +<p>Such a terrible face it was that confronted the man—such a pale +terrified face, lighted up with those agonized eyes, that seemed to grow +large and wild in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>The man stood before her, leaning on his spade, waiting.</p> + +<p>"It is there just in that line of moonlight," she said at last, pointing +downward with her finger.</p> + +<p>The man lifted the spade with all his fierce might, and struck it deep +into the earth, which the cold nights had frozen, until it gave out a +sharp ringing sound.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth held her breath; what if that sound had reached the house!</p> + +<p>Another firm downward thrust of the spade was scarcely heard. The crust +was broken, the earth grew soft and yielding—the wretched woman +remembered how carefully it had been packed down over the spot. For +nights after, the hollow sound of the spade had rung in her ears, and +nothing could dull its echo.</p> + +<p>A horrible fear was coming over her, a supernatural, ghostly dread, that +made her flesh creep and the hair rise on her temples.</p> + +<p>Spadeful after spadeful of earth was thrown out, but still the bottom +was not reached. She had not thought it deep—so deep. If it should be +empty—if nothing was there!</p> + +<p>What if the place had been searched before, if the least possibility of +removing that terrible evidence was gone beyond her power!</p> + +<p>The idea was too maddening, and she shook off the nightmare-like +oppression which had been upon her, as the spade suddenly struck some +substance harder than the earth, and rang out with a dull, heavy sound.</p> + +<p>For one instant she started back. She was alone in the night, alone with +that man, who uttered an exclamation of delight that his task was so +near done. Elizabeth drew back. She dared not even peer into the cavity. +It was choked up with shadows, and their blackness seemed to warn her +off.</p> + +<p>The mighty strength that had carried this woman forward till now, left +her. The cold pierced her through and through; still she found strength +to speak, and implored the man to complete his work. He took up the +spade again, dropped it into the impalpable darkness of the hole and +pressed it down, leaning his whole weight upon it.</p> + +<p>She shivered violently now. A sharp pain ran through her chest, as if +she, too, had been putting forth some great physical energy. Shadows +from the disturbed cypress boughs were falling all about her, breaking +and forming again in a thousand fantastic movements. But one shadow, +dark, solid and still, fell across a gleam of moonlight at her feet, +freezing her to the heart. She looked slowly up and saw her husband.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXIII" id="CHAPTER_LXIII"></a>CHAPTER LXIII.</h2> + +<h3>FACE TO FACE.</h3> + + +<p>For several seconds the husband and wife remained looking at each other +in utter silence; the moaning of the cypress boughs sounded louder and +more weird; through the whirl of her senses Elizabeth heard it still.</p> + +<p>"Come forward," she heard her husband's voice say at length, in the +hard, icy tones of concentrated passion. "Come forward, woman, that I +may see your face."</p> + +<p>The words seemed to come from a great distance; looking over at him, it +seemed as if that shallow trench between them was a bottomless abyss +which no power could bridge over,—the gulf between them for ever and +ever.</p> + +<p>"Come forward, I say."</p> + +<p>She staggered slowly into the moonlight; the warning was fulfilled; +ruin, disgrace had come; yet there she stood speechless, motionless, +unable even to give utterance to a moan.</p> + +<p>The man who had been digging, flung down his spade with a smothered +oath.</p> + +<p>For a little time Mellen stood almost as still and helpless as herself. +Suddenly, in a voice that sounded scarcely human, he turned upon this +man.</p> + +<p>"Take up the spade, and finish your work!"</p> + +<p>With something between a laugh and an oath, North snatched the spade, +plunged it into the grave, and pressed all his force upon it. Slowly the +edge of a box appeared. That evil man seemed to triumph in his gloomy +work: placed one foot on the handle of the spade to hold it firmly, bent +down and dragged the box into the moonlight.</p> + +<p>Pulling the spade up from the crumbling earth, he raised it on high, and +was about to dash the box open. Elizabeth lifted her hands in mute +appeal.</p> + +<p>She hoped nothing from her husband's forbearance. The action was only an +instinct of her whirling senses, such as makes a drowning man clutch at +straws; but with it her limbs gave way, and she fell upon her knees by +the box, still lifting her white face to that stem, determined +countenance.</p> + +<p>"Do you think to oppose me even now?" he exclaimed. "I wonder I do not +kill you. Ask this man, this double dyed villain to dig deeper his pit, +which has concealed your infamy, and bury you there alive,—that would +be a mercy to us both."</p> + +<p>"If you would only kill me," she moaned, "only kill me."</p> + +<p>"Stand up," he cried again; "stand up, I say."</p> + +<p>But she stretched out her hands over the box; some insane idea of still +preserving it from his touch, rushed across her mind.</p> + +<p>"Open it," he said, turning fiercely on North; "I will look on this +dishonor with my own eyes."</p> + +<p>"Don't open it; don't open it! Let us pass away from your sight for +ever."</p> + +<p>Mellen caught her arm and pulled her roughly away.</p> + +<p>"You shall not touch the dead," she cried; "kill me but do not commit +sacrilege."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth struggled on to her knees, and wound her arms about him in a +convulsive grasp: he shook her off with loathing, as if a poisonous +reptile had brushed his garments.</p> + +<p>North stood with an evil light in his eyes, looking on Mellen, snatched +the spade from his grasp, and while a despairing cry died on Elizabeth's +lips, dashed it upon the cover; again and again, till the frail board +split, revealing a gleam of white underneath.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth was lying on the ground—not insensible; no such blessed +relief came to her—but incapable of a movement; watching her husband +always with those insane eyes.</p> + +<p>His passion had exhausted itself in this sacrilegious violence, and he +stood over the shattered box, struck with remorseful awe. But the wind +swept over it, lifting some folds of transparent muslin from a little +face that Elizabeth had seen night and day in her thoughts and her +dreams, since the dreadful night when that grave was dug under the +cypress tree.</p> + +<p>She saw the face; saw her husband looking down upon it; saw all the +shuddering horror in his eyes. Still she could not move.</p> + +<p>"This has been a murder!" he hissed through his clenched teeth. "I swear +that the guilty ones, even if my own name is dragged down to infamy with +them, shall be brought to judgment."</p> + +<p>"No, no," she moaned; "not murder; not that."</p> + +<p>He caught her arm again and lifted her up.</p> + +<p>"Tell the truth," he cried; "I will hear it!"</p> + +<p>She could only stare at him with an affrighted gaze.</p> + +<p>"I will bring the whole neighborhood to look," he went on; "I will drag +this secret guilt out in the face of day if you do not speak! I will +give you no time; no chance of escape; speak, or I will rouse the whole +house, and let them see you here with this vile man, at your guilty +work."</p> + +<p>"Wait," she shivered; "wait!"</p> + +<p>"Do you know what this is?" he cried. "The murder of a child! Do you +know that to-morrow may find you a criminal in the hands of +justice—you, my wife! You, in whose care I entrusted not only my honor +but the most innocent soul that ever lived. Speak then! Expect no mercy +from me; not to save my own honor; not to keep my own soul would I lift +one finger to help you! Think of it! Picture it to yourself!—The eager +crowd gathering about this spot; the hootings and execrations that will +follow you forth to prison! Think of the days and nights in your lonely +cell; remember the trial! the sentence! the horrible death! you shall +not escape! you shall not escape one of these things."</p> + +<p>"Grantley! Grantley!"</p> + +<p>"Not content with one crime, you have added murder; striving to hide +your guilt with a deeper sin!"</p> + +<p>"This child died," she moaned; "it was God's own mercy, not my crime!"</p> + +<p>"Speak then, and tell the whole truth. Do it. But have no thought that +even confession can save you; never hope for mercy from my weakness! You +can have no enemy who will prove so relentless as I will; if there was a +hope of your escape I would hunt you both down to utter disgrace—nay, +to death itself!"</p> + +<p>"It is only to die," she muttered; "only to die."</p> + +<p>"Will you speak; will you confess? Tell me how you murdered it?"</p> + +<p>"There was no murder."</p> + +<p>"But you buried it; you and this fiend who shared your guilt? Speak that +man's name; I will have it, and from your lips. But, oh, if you have +degraded my sister with this secret; if you have blighted her innocence +with a knowledge of your guilt——"</p> + +<p>"Stop," she broke in; "stop! do not speak of her."</p> + +<p>Even in that moment some recollections came upon her, and her face fell +forward, bowed down to her marble bosom.</p> + +<p>"Elsie knows nothing," she said; "for her sake spare me."</p> + +<p>"If you wish to escape having your shame dragged before the whole world, +tell me the truth."</p> + +<p>"For her sake, for Elsie's, have mercy! I don't expect it—but, +remember, disgrace to me reflects not only on you but her! Think of +that—don't blight her whole future in crushing me!"</p> + +<p>"I left her in your hands—she has been living in daily intercourse with +you—you have stained her lips with your kisses—degraded her by your +affection."</p> + +<p>"I have not hurt her," she cried; "I tell you she never received harm +from me."</p> + +<p>There was only one thought in her mind, to preserve Elsie from his +anger—the worst had come to her now. Her present agony was too great +for dread—the shame of the world—the most loathsome prison—nothing +could bring such pangs as this wrenching away of hope and happiness.</p> + +<p>She sat upright on the ground, folding her hands in her lap. Weaker +women would have fainted, perhaps gone mad, but when the first dizzy +whirl had left her senses, she could see and think clearly.</p> + +<p>"With this man you alone buried the child. Will you own it, or shall I +charge the servants as your accomplices—will you carry out your guilt +to the last, and let others suffer that you may escape?"</p> + +<p>"No, no! I do not struggle. See, I do not defend myself. Let it fall on +me! But no murder, do not charge me with murder. Oh, I am not so bad as +that—I could not harm one of God's creatures."</p> + +<p>"Is not your sin worse than murder? Why, the blackest criminal has white +hands compared to yours! You whom I loved and trusted—you have dragged +a man's soul through the depths of your sin."</p> + +<p>"I have not, I have not!" she broke forth.</p> + +<p>He pointed to the box—he turned his finger to the man who stood in the +shadows, shrouded with blackness, like the fiend he was. What could she +say—how could she deny with that evidence at her feet.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my God, have mercy!" she groaned.</p> + +<p>"Don't take his name on your lips—don't curse yourself more deeply by a +prayer!"</p> + +<p>She crouched lower on the ground, her wild eyes were raised to heaven, +but there was no help—no aid.</p> + +<p>"All the facts—I will hear them from your own lips—speak."</p> + +<p>She was silent.</p> + +<p>"I know—I have been on your track for days. It was not enough that you +destroyed my life, trampled on my honor, but you must choose for the +partner of your guilt the man who had most cruelly wronged me—the one +foe I had on earth."</p> + +<p>"No, no! I never saw that man—never!"</p> + +<p>"Peace, woman! I tell you that man standing yonder with a grin of Satan +on his lips, is William Ford."</p> + +<p>She did cry out then—this was a horror of which she had not dreamed.</p> + +<p>"I never knew it; I never knew it."</p> + +<p>"And you love this wretch? Through him you shall suffer!"</p> + +<p>"I hate him, loathe him!" she cried. "Oh, in this one thing believe +me—I never knew it was Ford. The name was changed to deceive me."</p> + +<p>"I would not believe a word from your lips though you brought an angel +to witness it."</p> + +<p>Then he looked down at the little coffin, and a fierce gust of insanity +swept over him.</p> + +<p>"I will send for some officer of justice."</p> + +<p>She caught his arm and held him firmly.</p> + +<p>"For Elsie's sake—don't overshadow her life with the shame you hurl on +me. Let me go away—you shall never hear of me again—I will never cross +your path! I do not ask for mercy, but for your sister's sake, for your +own honored name, let me go away and die."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXIV" id="CHAPTER_LXIV"></a>CHAPTER LXIV.</h2> + +<h3>BURIED OUT OF SIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>Lost and guilty as this woman was, there existed still one human virtue +in her soul—even in his rage Mellen could feel that she spoke the +truth—she was not asking mercy for herself—she was pleading for the +innocent girl whose future would be destroyed were it known how vile the +creature was with whom she had been the associate.</p> + +<p>"Where will you go—what will you do?"</p> + +<p>"Anything—anything! You shall never hear from me again."</p> + +<p>"You are going with this man!"</p> + +<p>"There is no life so horrible that I would not prefer it to his +presence," she said; "no death so shameful that it would not be heaven +compared to seeing his face again."</p> + +<p>There was a brief pause then; Mellen grasped her by the arm.</p> + +<p>She thought he was about to kill her. She sank on her knees and a broken +prayer rose to her lips. She would not have struggled; she would have +knelt there and received death patiently from his hands.</p> + +<p>"Do you think me lost and vile as yourself?" he cried, reading her +thoughts in this gesture. "I do not want your life—do with it what you +will! For my innocent sister's sake I will spare you—but go—go where I +never can hear your name—let me have no reason to know that you exist! +If you cross my path again, nothing shall keep me from exposing you to +the whole world."</p> + +<p>All at once, North came out from the shadows that had concealed his +face, and stood before the man he had so foully wronged.</p> + +<p>"Grantley Mellen," he said, "for your own sake, believe me. If this +woman will not speak, I am not coward enough to keep silent."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth stepped forward, her head raised, her eyes flashing.</p> + +<p>"But I charge you—North or Ford, I charge you, make no defence for me. +At your hand, neither he or I, will accept it. There has been no murder, +there must be none. If this most wronged man grants us the mercy of +silence, it is enough."</p> + +<p>"But I am not brute enough to——"</p> + +<p>"Peace," said Elizabeth; "if you would serve me, obey him."</p> + +<p>"Obey him," answered North, with a sneer. "I would do almost anything. +Yes, and I will do even that; but you are the only woman on earth for +whom I would so bend and creep to this man."</p> + +<p>These words stung Mellen like vipers, but he would not allow those two +criminals to know how his heart writhed.</p> + +<p>"It is well," he said; "there is more to be done. Go and finish your +work."</p> + +<p>North took up the spade.</p> + +<p>"Remember," he said. "It is for her sake."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth made an effort to speak.</p> + +<p>"Be still," said Mellen, "we need no more words."</p> + +<p>North began throwing the earth back into the trench, Elizabeth sat still +and watched him.</p> + +<p>It seemed to her that she did not suffer—there was nothing in her mind +save the blank feeling which one might experience sitting over the ruin +an earthquake had made, after burying home, love, everything the soul +clings to. North filled the chasm and smoothed the earth down over it +carefully. Then, without a pause, he straightened the lid of the +coffin—there was no haste, no recoiling—he drove back the nails that +had been loosened, into their place—then he raised the box in his arms, +saying, only:</p> + +<p>"Come!"</p> + +<p>Mellen walked forward, Elizabeth followed a little behind—she did not +ask a single question, but moved slowly down the avenue towards the +outer gates. They passed through, out into the high road, up the little +hill, Mellen walking sternly on, and the woman following, North marching +forward with long strides, bearing the coffin on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>They reached the graveyard; the fence was broken in one place; Mellen +wrenched off the picket and forced a passage. He passed through, and +Elizabeth mechanically kept in his footsteps. At the lower end of the +yard was a single grave, with the earth still fresh around it; not a +tuft of grass had sprung on the torn soil, but dead leaves had drifted +over it, and the frost crusted it drearily, turning its moisture to ice. +Elizabeth might have recognised this grave as one that had been given to +a fair woman who had perished in the late shipwreck, had she found any +room for thought out of her great misery. But she only saw a +dreary-looking grave, at which North paused. He set down the coffin and +again raised his spade. Elizabeth stood by, silently turning to stone, +as it were. She watched him dig a deep cavity, saw him lower the box +down into it, then he began to fill up the gap.</p> + +<p>"It is done, your sin is buried; we part, and forever," said Mellen.</p> + +<p>"We part here!" echoed Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I have no more to say," he went on; "if you can live, do so; but, +remember, death comes at last—death and the judgment. I think, had your +sin been other than it is, I could have promised you forgiveness in your +last hour. But the horror of your crime in choosing that man——"</p> + +<p>"I never knew it," she broke in. "Oh, believe that—do believe that! I +ask nothing more—I have no right even to ask so much—but if you should +one day hear that I am dead, believe that I have now told you the +truth."</p> + +<p>"You have the means of subsistence," he went on; "the stocks I settled +upon you will be sufficient for your support. If you ever see this +wretch again, it is because you are altogether bad."</p> + +<p>"Only say that when I am dead you will pardon me—only say that, +Grantley Mellen, for I have great need of one kind word."</p> + +<p>"You will be careful that your name never reaches my ear," he went on, +regardless of her appeal. "Hide yourself in some strange land, where no +tidings of you may ever come near my home. I warn you, for your own +sake."</p> + +<p>"Give me your forgiveness in my dying hour; only that, Grantley, for I +have loved you so!"</p> + +<p>"I will not promise it. This mockery is worse than your sin!" he +exclaimed. "If it were to keep your soul from eternal torture, I could +not speak a pardoning word."</p> + +<p>She fell forward upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"Only for my death-bed—your pardon for my death-bed?"</p> + +<p>"Never! Never!"</p> + +<p>His voice rang out clear and sharp, as steel striking steel. It was like +the sound of prison doors shutting out the last gleam of light and hope +from a condemned criminal.</p> + +<p>"Don't be found here," he said; "nor be heard of again. We are parting +now forever. Take the shelter of my roof for the rest of this miserable +night. I will not send you forth in darkness—go, but we meet no more!"</p> + +<p>He turned and walked away; she watched him threading his path among the +graves, and it seemed as if she must die when her eyes lost him.</p> + +<p>He had reached the palings, he was passing through. She raised herself, +her last expiring energy went out in one agonized appeal:</p> + +<p>"Your pardon—for my death-bed—Grantley—husband!"</p> + +<p>He never turned, never paused—perhaps he did not hear—but walked +steadily and firmly on.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth looked up at the cold sky; the moon was partially hidden, the +dawn was struggling up gray and chilled in the east, the wind moaned +faintly among the graves, and rustled her garments like the stirring of +a shroud; there she stood among the graves of her world, as utterly +helpless and lost as if eternity swept between her and the past, and +there she remained during some minutes that lengthened out like years, +with the wind moaning around her and dead leaves crackling under her +feet. She could see her old home through the naked trees, with the dull +smoke curling in clouds above the chimneys, and the great trees sweeping +their naked branches over it. Oh, how her heart yearned towards it, how +wistfully her eyes watched all those signs of her forfeited life through +the leafless grove and the drifting leaves!</p> + +<p>"Can I help you, can I do anything?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth lifted her dreary eyes. It was North. The desolation of that +poor woman smote him with remorse, his voice trembled with human pity.</p> + +<p>"The money—you shall have part of that."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth shook her head; she had no strength for resentment. All pride +was crushed within her.</p> + +<p>"Go," she said, "leave me here alone; I want nothing."</p> + +<p>"But I cannot leave you so—I will not."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth arose and stood upright among the graves.</p> + +<p>"I am going somewhere—this way, I think. One cannot rest here, you +know," she said, with a wan and most pathetic smile. "You and I have +been too much in company—the world is wide—oh, misery, misery, how +wide—but you can go that way and I the other. No one will ask for me."</p> + +<p>Was the woman dropping into piteous insanity?</p> + +<p>North thought so, and made another effort to arouse her, but she only +entreated him to go away, and at last he went; afraid that the daylight +would find him there.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXV" id="CHAPTER_LXV"></a>CHAPTER LXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE HUSBAND RELENTS.</h3> + + +<p>Grantley Mellen turned back to the miserable grandeur of his home. The +proud heart ached in his bosom. What if, from fear or weakness, +Elizabeth did not return to the house? What if she remained there among +the cold graves, or wandered off in terror of his wrath?</p> + +<p>The graveyard was full half a mile from the spot where this thought +struck him. He turned at once and went back, feeling how unmanly it was +to leave the miserable creature stricken with such anguish, alone with +that man. He remembered how her uncovered head had drooped under his +denunciations in the moonlight, that the cold wind had lifted the waves +of her hair and revealed the dead marble of a face in which all hope was +quenched. Notwithstanding his wrongs, notwithstanding the ache at his +heart, he would go back and take her home for that one night—only for +that one night.</p> + +<p>He walked rapidly towards the graveyard, more eager now to find +Elizabeth than he had been to separate from her only a brief time +before. He looked to the right and left in search of her, but the moon +was obscured now by thin gray clouds, and a fog drifting up from the +ocean was fast obliterating the crowd of golden stars that had been so +brilliant when he went forth.</p> + +<p>Mellen walked on, growing more and more anxious, till he came in sight +of the graveyard, then he paused under a clump of cedars; for he saw his +unhappy wife forcing her way, in desperate haste, through the broken +pickets of the fence, with her face turned homewards. The gray woollen +shawl was floating loosely around her, giving a weird ghostliness to her +appearance.</p> + +<p>Mellen turned and went back, sheltering himself under the cedar trees. +When he saw that she was safe, a revulsion came upon his feelings; a +sense of the wrong she had done him returned with bitter force, and when +she passed along the outskirts of the cedars, making her way down the +hill, he retreated deeper into the shadows, recoiling from contact with +her.</p> + +<p>"She will go home," he said, gloomily, "no one is more familiar with the +paths through the woods. Thank heaven she does not know that I am weak +enough to care for her safety! Let her reach the house first, we shall +be less likely to meet."</p> + +<p>With these thoughts in his mind he lingered in the cedars till Elizabeth +was out of sight. The wind was dying away in low sobs now, smothered +down by the fog, through which he could hear the moaning of the ocean +afar off.</p> + +<p>Mellen left the woods, and made the best of his way home, believing that +his wife had already found a shelter there.</p> + +<p>The house was dark and still as the grave when he entered it again. +Instinctively he trod with caution along the halls and crept stealthily +upstairs, for in the depths of his heart he was anxious to conceal +Elizabeth's movements that night from the servants, and, above all, from +Elsie. He paused and listened a moment in the square passage that led to +her rooms, hoping to hear some movement by which he could be certain +that she had reached home in safety. But there was no sound, and he +turned away sighing, for compassion and the tender pity which every +generous man feels for a fallen woman whom he has once loved, was +turning the bitterness of his rage into intense pain.</p> + +<p>Hearing nothing, and with vague uncertainty at his heart, the unhappy +man entered his own dark chamber, threw off his clothes and flung +himself into bed, wretched beyond any power of my pen to describe.</p> + +<p>But he could not sleep, could not even rest, the very effort at repose +drove him wild. He got up again, dressed himself and sat down by the +open window, looking out into the darkness. All at once he started and +leaned far out of the window. Was it fancy, or had some wailing voice +pronounced his name? Something gray and weird seemed floating from his +sight through the gathering fog. At first it had the form of a human +being, then it seemed as if a pair of wings unfurled and swallowed it +up. Was it his wife? Could that winglike envelopment be her gray woollen +shawl, tossed by the wind? Had her voice been engulfed in the far-off +moan of the ocean? In this dreary state the unhappy and most wronged man +remained all the rest of that gloomy night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXVI" id="CHAPTER_LXVI"></a>CHAPTER LXVI.</h2> + +<h3>GONE.</h3> + + +<p>The day began; the sun was up; once more the old house awoke to life and +activity.</p> + +<p>Sitting in his chamber, Grantley Mellen heard the familiar sounds below; +he knew that life must sweep on again, that he must rise once more and +go forth among his fellow-men, hiding his misery as best he might, +taking his place in the world and bearing the secret burden of his +dishonored life. He went to the window, swept back the curtains which he +had drawn over it, and looked at himself in the glass. If he had wished +to know how his corpse would look after the ravages of time and disease, +he could have learned it in that prolonged gaze.</p> + +<p>It was absolutely the face of a dead man; even the eyes looked +lifeless—there was only a heavy, stony expression, which had neither +spirit or humanity in it.</p> + +<p>It was late in the morning when Elsie awoke from the heavy slumber which +had succeeded her swoon. For a few moments she lay still, believing that +the events of the past night had been only a dream. Suddenly she raised +herself with a cry of anguish—she had caught sight of the shawl which +Elizabeth had wrapped about her—she knew that it was all real.</p> + +<p>She sprang out of bed, opened the door, ran through the empty chamber +and entered her sister's room:</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>There was no answer. She looked about—the fire had died down in the +grate, the room was empty and desolate as a grave.</p> + +<p>She hurried through into the sleeping apartment, calling still in a +voice which frightened herself:</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>The bed-chamber was empty too—the bed untouched.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" cried the wretched girl. "Gone! Where is she? What has become of +her? Elizabeth, Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>She shrieked frightfully in her anguish—cried out in such terrible +anxiety, that the sound reached the chamber where Grantley Mellen sat.</p> + +<p>He went out into the hall and approached the door of the dressing-room. +Elsie heard him—her first impulse was to flee but her limbs refused to +move.</p> + +<p>She heard him try the door—heard him call:</p> + +<p>"Elsie! Elsie!"</p> + +<p>She must meet him—there was no escape.</p> + +<p>Again the summons was repeated, more imperatively now.</p> + +<p>"Elsie, open the door—quick, I say!"</p> + +<p>She got to the door, she turned the key; her brother entered quickly, +and stood in Elizabeth's desolate room.</p> + +<p>"Where is Elizabeth?" she cried. "I can't find her—I want Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>Mellen felt a shiver of dread pass through his frame. He pushed the +chamber-door open and looked in, pale with anxiety. She was not +there—the bed was untouched, and gleamed upon him through the crimson +light that filled the room, like a crusted snowbank. There was none of +that luxurious confusion which usually marks the apartment of a sleeping +lady. The rich toilet service was in complete order. There was no +jewelry flung down with half sleepy indifference, no garments laying +ready for use on the chairs, or across the sofa. The silken window +curtains were drawn close. The carpet looked like moss in the deep +shadows of an autumnal forest.</p> + +<p>"Gone, gone! Oh, my God, what has become of her?" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Where—what has happened? Is she dead? Oh, I shall go mad—I shall go +mad now," cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>She fell into spasms, but still preserved her senses sufficiently not to +speak again—she dared not utter a word more, lest she should betray her +knowledge of Elizabeth's sorrow.</p> + +<p>Mellen carried her to the sofa and laid her down upon it, wrapped shawls +and eider down quilts over her, holding her hands, which trembled like +frightened birds, striving in every way to soothe her, as Elizabeth had +so often done in the time gone by for ever.</p> + +<p>Elsie lay back at length, quiet but utterly exhausted.</p> + +<p>"Where is Elizabeth?" she moaned. "What has happened?"</p> + +<p>"Never take that name on your lips again," he said; "let even her memory +be dead between us. That woman is no longer my wife—you will never see +her. She shall not suffer; I will deal gently with her; but to you, my +dearest sister, she is dead, forever and ever."</p> + +<p>"You have killed her!" shrieked Elsie. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>"She leaves this house of her free will, Elsie—the only condition I +have made is that she takes her name far out of our lives. Have you +known—have you suspected this woman, Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"No, no! I don't know anything but what is good of her—I don't believe +anything! She is good and kind—send for her! You shan't drive her +away—she shall come to me now! My dear Elizabeth—I love her! You shall +not do this—you are mad, mad! She is the best woman that ever lived! +Let me go to her—I will go!"</p> + +<p>She was writhing again in hysterical spasms, but Mellen forced her back +when she attempted to rise.</p> + +<p>"Be still, Elsie—try to understand me! I can't tell you the whole +story—but we are parted. Do not plead for her. Do not mention her +name."</p> + +<p>"But, Grantley, Grantley!"</p> + +<p>"No more, I say—not a word."</p> + +<p>"She is innocent," moaned the girl; "she is innocent."</p> + +<p>"I know what you suffer—think of all that I endure—let that give you +strength."</p> + +<p>"I tell you she is an angel—she has done no wrong!"</p> + +<p>"I had the confession which separates us from her own lips—I tell you I +would not have believed any other testimony. Don't struggle so, +Elsie—lie still."</p> + +<p>The girl fought with him like an insane creature—she had no self +control or reason—it was inability to speak which kept her from +shrieking out in Elizabeth's defence. She could only gasp for breath, +and when words did come, it was that broken cry:</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"</p> + +<p>"You must try to understand me, Elsie! You are all I have left in the +world—oh, Elsie, Elsie! She has gone forever, and I loved her so—I +loved her so. You and I must live on as best we can—it is only for you, +child, that I live at all."</p> + +<p>"Only bring her back—clear it all up—the truth—the truth at last! Oh, +Grantley, I——"</p> + +<p>Her words were so indistinct that he could not gather their meaning; she +was struggling more fiercely than ever, and it required all his strength +to hold her.</p> + +<p>"If you love me, Elsie, strive to be calm! Oh, think of my trouble, my +anguish—my sister, my sister!"</p> + +<p>"Only send for her—call her here!"</p> + +<p>"Be quiet and I will search, but she went off last night, I do not know +where!"</p> + +<p>Elsie gave one frightful cry and sank back in his arms insensible again. +Her swoon was so death-like that it seemed as if life had gone out for +ever.</p> + +<p>Just as Elizabeth had raised her and carried her into her own room, so +did Grantley Mellen carry her now, stricken by a fear so horrible that +his past agony paled under it. What if she were dead—if she should wake +a raving maniac, and all from the evil influence of that woman.</p> + +<p>He called no assistance; he watched over Elsie in that lonely chamber, +trying every remedy he could find, but for a long time his efforts were +unavailing; she lay there, white and cold, as if the snowy counterpane +had been her winding sheet.</p> + +<p>Just as he was calling her name in a last frenzied burst of grief, Elsie +opened her eyes. She was too feeble for speech, but she remembered +everything clearly, and made a vain effort to rise.</p> + +<p>"You must not talk, Elsie; don't stir—you will hurt yourself!"</p> + +<p>He searched on the toilet table, found a bottle of laudanum, and +administered as large a dose as he dared; he knew that the effects could +not be so dangerous as her present suffering.</p> + +<p>He sat down by the bed, folding his arms about her, calling her by every +endearing name that his tenderness and fear could suggest, striving to +soothe her into slumber.</p> + +<p>Elsie would lie quiet for a few moments, then begin to struggle and cry +out, till it seemed to Mellon that she would die before the opiate could +take effect.</p> + +<p>The potion worked at length; she lay back on the pillows white and +still—her eyes stared drearily about the chamber once more, and then +closed—she had fallen into a heavy sleep.</p> + +<p>For a long hour Grantley Mellen remained on his knees by her bedside, +where he had fallen.</p> + +<p>He rose at length. Victoria was knocking at the door, and warning her +young mistress that breakfast was on the table.</p> + +<p>Mellen went to the door and opened it, checked the girl's cry of +astonishment with a gesture, and said:</p> + +<p>"Miss Elsie is very ill—go downstairs at once, and let there be no +noise in the house."</p> + +<p>Vic crept away in frightened silence; Mellen followed her into the hall, +gave orders to one of the men servants to get a horse ready, went into +the library and wrote a dispatch to his physician in the city, and came +out again.</p> + +<p>By the time the man was starting off to the station, Clorinda and +several of the servants, to whom Victoria had communicated her tidings, +were assembled in the hall.</p> + +<p>In consultation they forgot their awe of the master, and asked a +thousand eager questions, which he answered with brief sternness.</p> + +<p>"Go back to your places, all of you," he said; "Miss Elsie is asleep, +and must not be disturbed till the doctor arrives."</p> + +<p>"Is missus wid her?" demanded Clo.</p> + +<p>He turned upon her with a frown which made her spring back as if she had +received an electric shock, and entirely checked any further desire to +question him where his wife was concerned.</p> + +<p>He turned towards the stairs again, but Dolf interposed with one of his +profound bows.</p> + +<p>"'Scuse me, sar, but de brekfus is on de table."</p> + +<p>Self-restraint must be kept up; whatever suspicions might arise when the +fact of Elizabeth's disappearance became known in the house, this proud +man would not expose himself to the curious eyes of his menials.</p> + +<p>He went into the breakfast-room, drank the coffee Dolf poured out with a +skillful hand, pretended to eat a few morsels, then pushed his chair +back and hurried up to Elsie's chamber—he could not trust himself yet +in the presence of his servants.</p> + +<p>Below stairs all sorts of stories were rife. Victoria peeped into +Elsie's room and came down with the information that "She lay dar +like a beautiful corpus!"</p> + +<p>Everybody groaned in concert, but she added new astonishment by saying:</p> + +<p>"And missus ain't nowhars about. She ain't in Miss Elsie's room, and she +ain't in her own, and her bed ain't been touched all night."</p> + +<p>Clorinda began to nod her turban with a sapient air.</p> + +<p>"What did I tell yer!" cried she. "Now what did I jist tell yer."</p> + +<p>"But whar can she be?" wondered Dolf. "What do yer s'pose has happened, +Miss Clorinda?"</p> + +<p>"'Nuff's happened," returned Clo, "and more'n 'nuff! I told yer de +tunderbust would break, an it has."</p> + +<p>They urged and entreated her to speak; but it was difficult to speak +when she literally knew nothing, so she contented herself with going +about her work with unusual energy, while the rest stood around and +watched her, deeming this an occasion when idleness was to be taken +quite as a matter of course.</p> + +<p>Clo nodded her head, muttered to herself, and made dreadful confusion +among her pots and pans, exciting her fellow-servants to a fearful pitch +by her air of mystery, but not a word would she speak beyond vague and +appalling hints.</p> + +<p>While the servants below stairs wore away the morning in vague +conversation and surmises, growing every instant wilder and more +improbable, Grantley Mellen sat in that darkened chamber watching his +sleeping sister.</p> + +<p>The physician arrived late in the evening; by that time Elsie was awake, +and he looked a little grave while giving his medicines and examining +into the case.</p> + +<p>"Keep her very quiet," he said to Mellen, who followed him into the +hall; "it is a severe nervous attack, but she can endure nothing more. +Don't let her get up—I'll come back to-morrow. Where is Mrs. Mellen? +she is so good a nurse I should like to give her my directions."</p> + +<p>"She—she is not here," Mellen answered.</p> + +<p>"In town, I suppose? You had better send for her, or give me her address +and I will call and tell her how much she is wanted the moment I reach +town. To-night I stay in the village."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, I won't trouble you," replied Mellen. "You will be here +to-morrow morning?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly! Don't be at all alarmed—Miss Elsie is subject to these +nervous attacks. So I shan't call on your wife?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, no;" Mellen answered, impatiently. "I must return to my +sister."</p> + +<p>He bowed the doctor downstairs and disappeared, leaving the son of +Esculapius to go on with some rather strange ideas in his head.</p> + +<p>He had another patient in the village, and so drove over there in the +carriage which had brought him from the station. As he was standing on +the hotel porch old Jarvis Benson came up, caught him by the button-hole +and began a long story, to which the physician listened with such +patience as he could find.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXVII" id="CHAPTER_LXVII"></a>CHAPTER LXVII.</h2> + +<h3>UTTER LONELINESS.</h3> + + +<p>When Elizabeth Mellen quitted the graveyard, she was for the moment +insane. Mellen had left her alone with the dead and the man she had so +hated. He had forsaken her there in that cold, desolate night, +regardless that she had once been his wife, scorning to remember her +even as a woman. This thought stung her proud soul through all its +anguish. She would not return home; not a single hour would she rest +under the roof which loomed up so gray and ghostly behind those weird +trees. But where could she go? in all the headlands that spread away +from the coast there was no shelter for her. Degraded, broken-hearted, +abandoned to her fate, like a wild animal, she stood alone among the +graves of those who had been happy enough to die.</p> + +<p>This terrible blow, long as it had been dreaded, came upon the poor +woman suddenly at last. At the bottom of her heart there had been all +the while a desperate hope of escape. But it was over now. The worst had +come, and that was almost annihilation. She looked up to the sky. The +stars were all out. The soft gray clouds which had floated over them +only a little while before were turning leaden and heavy, so heavy that +the ocean was one mass of blackness, as if the mighty deep had veiled +itself with mourning, while the throes of a coming tempest heaved its +inner depths.</p> + +<p>The man North had left her at last—she was utterly alone.</p> + +<p>Never in this world had a human being been cast forth to such utter +desolation. She looked down on the torn earth at her feet, and her poor +heart ached to lie down with that other woman who had found her rest so +early, and was at peace. She thought of her with strange envy, +remembering that the ocean had cast her forth when it moaned and heaved +as she could hear it now,—the grand, beneficent ocean, that could give +death to a poor soul pining for it as she did. She bent her head and +listened to the far-off voice which held her with a sort of fascination.</p> + +<p>"I will go," she said, "I will go. It calls me—with ten thousand voices +it calls me."</p> + +<p>She started from the tombstone against which she had leaned, and swiftly +treading a passage through the graves, forced her way out by the broken +pickets. That moment Mellen stood in the cedar grove and saw her pass. +Had he come forth all might have been well, but fierce pride rushed in +and checked the noble impulse that had brought him back so far. She +swept swiftly by him and was lost in the fog. Some strong impulse of +love broke up through the insane fascination which drove her toward the +ocean, and in spite of herself she drifted homewards. Once a break in +the clouds sent down wild gleams of light, throwing up black vistas of +gloom through every break in the woods, and revealing dense, gray masses +of vapor, frowning over the waters. Then came darkness again, and she +wandered on.</p> + +<p>Without knowing how, Elizabeth found herself on the lawn before her old +home. The odor of dead leaves and late autumn blossoms rose up from the +soil, and enveloped her with sickening remembrances. All at once the +woman recognised the place. That pile with its gables and towers had +been her home only a few short hours before. Why had she turned that +way? What mocking fiend had driven her back against her will? The +thought maddened her, but she could not move. The passionate love in her +heart anchored those weary feet. She flung up her arms towards a window +through which a light shone dimly—the window of his room, and an +agonising cry of farewell broke from her. It was his name that fled from +her lips like a burning arrow, and reached her husband in the gloomy +stillness of his chamber.</p> + +<p>The window opened. She tore her feet from the earth and fled. Her +husband, of all others, should not know that she was there, prowling +about the home from which he had driven her. That cry of agony coming +from her lips frightened back her pride.</p> + +<p>She darted away across the flower-beds, through thickets and over the +lawn, which lay moist and heavy under the fog. Her wet feet got +entangled among clusters of dead heliotrope and crysanthemums, still +blooming in defiance of storm and frost. The shawl blew loose from her +hands, which unconsciously huddled it close to her bosom, and was torn +by the thorny rosebushes. Fragments of her dress were left behind. She +plunged into a swampy hollow where clusters of tall catstail, sweet flag +and sedgy rushes grew around a little pond, swarming with trout and gold +fish. Her feet sank into the marsh till the water gurgled over her +gaiters. She stood a moment, looking out upon the black pool, tempted to +throw herself in; but some water-rat or frog, frightened by her +approach, made a great leap, and plunged into the black depths, giving +out a horrible idea of reptile life.</p> + +<p>Not there, not there; no one should find her after she was dead. The +ocean, the great heaving ocean had called her; why was she lingering by +that miserable pool of black water, full of living things? Again she +plunged forward, broke through the tangled sedges, and trampled down the +spicy peppermint, till she reached firm land again. Then on—on—on till +she stood under the beetling cliff which frowned over the shore tavern.</p> + +<p>It was the dark hour now which comes just before daylight. The gleam of +a candle shone through one of the tavern windows, and this faint idea of +warmth drew her that way. She crept up close to the building, and +through the little panes of glass saw Benson with his daughter and her +children at breakfast together.</p> + +<p>When the days grew short it had always been the old man's habit to eat +his breakfast by candlelight. It was a pleasant, homely picture that the +wretched woman looked upon. Her haggard eyes grew wild at the sight of +so much warmth, while her teeth chattered with cold, and terrible chills +shook her from head to foot. A noble wood fire blazed on the hearth, +filling the small white-washed room with its golden glow. The soft steam +from the tea-kettle curled up the chimney, broiled fish and hot Indian +cakes sent a savory odor through the ill-fitted sash.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth had eaten nothing for the past two days, and with the sight of +this comfortable breakfast, an aching desire for food seized on her. +Food and warmth; let her have them and she was ready to die. This animal +want drew her close to the window. A child at the table saw that white +face with its wild burning eyes, and pointed its finger, uttering +frightened shrieks.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth darted away, crying out to the storm, "They will not have me; +even his menials drive me forth."</p> + +<p>The beach was not far off, and from it rose a sound of lashing waves, +hoarse with the thunder of mustering storms. Afar off the moan of the +deep had sounded like an entreaty, but now it came full and strong, +commanding her to approach. She obeyed these ocean voices like a little +child; her powers of reasoning were gone; all consciousness of pain or +danger benumbed; everything else had rejected her, but the great ocean +was strong, boundless. With one heave of its mighty bosom it would sweep +her away forever.</p> + +<p>She walked steadily on to the beach, forcing her way to the sands; +through drifts of seaweed and slippery stones, on, on she walked, +slowly, but with horrible firmness, through great feathers of foam that +curled upon the sands; on and on through whirlwinds of spray, till a +great wave seized her in its black undertow and she was gone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXVIII" id="CHAPTER_LXVIII"></a>CHAPTER LXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>PLANS AND LETTERS.</h3> + + +<p>All that day Elsie remained in bed, sleeping a good deal, but so nervous +and shaken that she would not permit herself to be left alone for a +single instant. Her brother's presence seemed to fill her with fear, and +she shrank with a strange sort of timidity from every tender word or +soothing caress; still she was wretched if he left her bedside, and +there he watched the long day through.</p> + +<p>Evening came. Mellen was compelled to go through the pretence of another +meal; indeed he forced himself to eat, for he began to grow angry with +his own weakness.</p> + +<p>He had thought when the first struggle was over to feel only an icy, +implacable resentment against the woman who had wronged him; he was +ashamed of the tenderness in his own nature when he found that, stronger +than his rage, more powerful than the horror with which he regarded her +dishonor, was the love he had believed uprooted suddenly from his heart, +as a strong tree is torn up by tornados.</p> + +<p>Yes, he regretted her! It was not only that his life must be a desolate +blank, he pined for her presence. But for his pride he would have rushed +out in search of her, and taken her back to his heart, sweeping aside +all memory of her sin.</p> + +<p>He roused himself from what appeared to him such degrading weakness by +one thought—the partner in her guilt was his old enemy; a man too vile +for vengeance, even.</p> + +<p>That memory brought all the hardness back to his face, all the insane +passion to his soul, but it centered on the man now.</p> + +<p>That night, in the woman's very presence, he could not take the +vengeance that he meditated, but now he was prepared to force her from +the villain's grasp—on to repentance.</p> + +<p>Alone in his library, Grantley Mellen wrote several letters; it was +impossible to tell how that meeting would end, and he must make +preparations for the worst. When all was done he rose to go upstairs +again; a sudden resolution made him pause. He sat down at his desk once +more, and wrote these lines:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Elizabeth</span>—I said that even in your dying hour, I would never +forgive you: I retract. If my pardon can console your last moments, +remember that it is yours. I have made no alteration in my will; if +you can accept the benefits which may accrue to you by my death, +take them; but so surely as you ever attempt to approach the +innocent girl who has been so long endangered by your +companionship, my curse shall follow you, even from the grave to +which you will have consigned me."</p></div> + +<p>He put the note in an envelope, sealed it carefully, and addressed +it—"To Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>These were necessary precautions. The man who had twice wronged him +possessed the fierce courage of a bravo. If Elizabeth was found with +him, death might come to one of them—even if that followed, the woman +who had been his wife should never share the degrading future of a man +too vile for personal vengeance. In mercy to her he would separate them.</p> + +<p>He found Elsie sitting up in bed. She shrank away among the pillows when +he entered; he saw the movement, and it shook his heart with a new pang. +This artful woman had drawn the spell of her fascinations as closely +about that pure girl as she had enthralled him. Elsie shrank from the +brother who had deprived her of the love on which she had leaned. +Elizabeth had left him nothing but bitterness.</p> + +<p>"Are you feeling better?" he asked, sitting down by the bed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I never shall be any better," she murmured; "I shall die, and then, +perhaps, you will be sorry."</p> + +<p>Mellen could not be angry with her; it wounded and stung him to hear her +speak thus, but he answered, patiently:</p> + +<p>"When you are able to reflect, Elsie, you will see that I could not have +acted differently. Few men would have shown as much leniency as I have +done; regardless of the consequences to themselves, they would have made +that woman's conduct public, and ruined her utterly."</p> + +<p>"She wasn't bad," cried Elsie; "you are crazy to think so. She was the +best woman in the world."</p> + +<p>"Have you forgotten what I told you this morning—what I was forced to +tell you or submit to your hatred? From yon window you could look out on +the spot where she had buried——"</p> + +<p>"Be still!" interrupted Elsie, with a shriek. "I won't stay in the house +if you go on so—be still, I say!"</p> + +<p>It required all his efforts to soothe the excited girl. He longed to +question her, to know if she had left Elizabeth much alone during his +absence, to understand how she could have been so persistently deceived, +but she was in no state to endure such inquiries then.</p> + +<p>Elsie lay back among her pillows, refusing to be comforted:</p> + +<p>"If you want to cure me send for Bessie—my dear, dear Bessie! Search +for her—send the people out!"</p> + +<p>"Elsie, she has gone with that man; I cannot follow her there."</p> + +<p>"No, no; she is wandering about in the cold. Go, search for her!"</p> + +<p>"Anything but that, Elsie—ask anything else in the world."</p> + +<p>"I don't want anything else."</p> + +<p>"As soon as you are better we will go away from here," he continued; "to +Europe, if you like."</p> + +<p>"But how will she live?" persisted Elsie. "What will become of her? No +money—no friends. Oh, Bessie, Bessie!"</p> + +<p>"She has plenty to live on," he replied. "There are stocks enough +deposited in her name to give her a comfortable income."</p> + +<p>"But they are gone," cried Elsie. Then, remembering the danger of that +avowal, she stopped suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" he repeated. "How do you know? Oh, Elsie, do you know more than +you own—do—"</p> + +<p>"Stop, stop!" she screamed. "You have driven Bessie away and now you +want to kill me! I don't know about anything—you know I don't. Just the +other day Bessie spoke something about the stocks; I thought from what +she said that you had taken them back for some purpose."</p> + +<p>He was perfectly satisfied with her explanation, but the distress and +fright into which she had fallen nearly brought on another nervous +crisis. Great drops of perspiration stood on her forehead, and the +slender fingers he held worked nervously in his grasp.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk any more, dear child," he said. "Try to go to sleep again."</p> + +<p>"I can't sleep—I never shall rest again—never! I feel so wicked—I +hate myself!"</p> + +<p>"Child, what do you mean?"</p> + +<p>She must restrain herself, no danger must come near her. Even her sorrow +for Elizabeth, her stinging remorse, could not make her unselfish enough +to run any personal risk of his displeasure.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what I mean—nothing at all! But it drives me wild to +think of Bessie. Where can she be—where could she go? Suppose she has +killed herself! Oh, she may be drowned in the bay—drowned—drowned!"</p> + +<p>She went nearly mad with the ideas which her fancy conjured up, but it +was perfectly in keeping with her character that in the very extremity +of her suffering, no word for Elizabeth should be spoken that would +implicate herself. Mellen must not guess at her knowledge of his wife's +fault.</p> + +<p>"You will have her searched for," she cried; "promise me that, if you +don't want to kill me outright, promise me that."</p> + +<p>"It could do no good, Elsie, none whatever. She has chosen her own +destiny."</p> + +<p>"It might, it might! If she has no money what will become of her?"</p> + +<p>"I will inquire to-morrow," he replied. "I will write to my agent. If +she has disposed of the stocks I will see that she has means to live +upon; I promise you that."</p> + +<p>"Really, truly?"</p> + +<p>"Did I ever break my word, Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; but you are so hard and stern."</p> + +<p>"Never with you, darling—never with you."</p> + +<p>Elsie groaned aloud, but hastened to speak:</p> + +<p>"I am only in pain—don't mind it."</p> + +<p>"My poor little Elsie, my sister, my treasure!"</p> + +<p>"Do you love me so much, Grant?"</p> + +<p>"Better than ever; you are all I have now! Oh, Elsie, don't shut your +heart against me, I can't bear that. Try to believe that I have acted as +justly as a man could. To the whole world I can be stern and silent, but +let me tell you the truth. I loved that woman so, my heart is breaking +under this grief. Bear patiently with me, child."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you suffer, send for her back," cried Elsie. "Let her explain; +you gave her no time——"</p> + +<p>"Hush, hush! Have I not said all those things to myself?"</p> + +<p>This man's pride was so utterly crushed that he was revealing the inmost +secrets of his soul to this frail girl, scarcely caring to conceal from +her how keenly he suffered.</p> + +<p>"But try," pleaded Elsie; "only try."</p> + +<p>"It is impossible; later you will see that as plainly as I do. Don't you +see what a sin I should commit in taking a false, dishonored woman back +to my heart; what a wrong to my sister in exposing her to the society of +a creature so lost and fallen?"</p> + +<p>"She is good!" cried Elsie. "Bessie was an angel! Oh, I wish I was +dead—dead—dead! I can't bear this; it is too much—too much!"</p> + +<p>Elsie wrung her hands and sobbed piteously; she had wept until nature +exhausted itself, and that choked anguish was more painful to witness +than the most violent outburst of tears.</p> + +<p>"We loved her so," muttered Mellen; "she was twined round that girl's +heart as she enthralled mine; she has broken both."</p> + +<p>"What are you saying, Grant?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, dear; I only pitied you and myself for loving her so much."</p> + +<p>"I will always love her," cried Elsie; "you never shall change me; +nothing shall do that. She is innocent; I believe it; I would say so +before the whole world."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXIX" id="CHAPTER_LXIX"></a>CHAPTER LXIX.</h2> + +<h3>ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS.</h3> + + +<p>Mellen was seized with a sudden fear.</p> + +<p>"Elsie," he said, "if anything should happen to me; if I should die——"</p> + +<p>She caught his hands and began to tremble.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean? Die—die!"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, dear; don't be frightened. But life is uncertain; what I mean +is this—if you should outlive me promise never to seek that woman; +never to let her come near you."</p> + +<p>"I can't promise that; I can't be so wicked."</p> + +<p>"You must, Elsie."</p> + +<p>"I can't; I won't! No, no; I'll never be bad enough for that!"</p> + +<p>"If you refuse me this, Elsie, you will sink a gulf between us which can +never be filled up."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk so; remember how sick I am."</p> + +<p>"I do; I won't agitate you, but we must have an end of this subject. If +I should die—"</p> + +<p>"I won't hear you talk about dying," she broke in. "You frighten me; +you'll kill me."</p> + +<p>But he went on resolutely;</p> + +<p>"Promise never to see or hear from her."</p> + +<p>"Not that; it is too wicked—too horrible."</p> + +<p>"Elsie," he cried, in stern passion, "promise, or I will go out of this +room, and though we live together it shall be as strangers."</p> + +<p>He rose as if to fulfil his threat; she sprang up in bed; her cowardice, +her selfishness mastered every other feeling.</p> + +<p>"I promise. Come back, Grant, come back; oh, do!"</p> + +<p>He seated himself again, soothed and caressed her.</p> + +<p>"We will not talk any more," he said, kindly. "Henceforth let everything +connected with this subject be dead between us; that woman's name must +never be mentioned here; her very memory must be swept out of the +dwelling she has dishonored. You and I will bury the past, Elsie, and +place a heavy stone over the tomb; will you remember that, child?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; anything! Do what you please; I cannot struggle any longer; +it is not my fault."</p> + +<p>"Indeed no, darling! You are tender and forgiving as an angel! Oh, +Elsie, in all the world yours is the only true heart I have found."</p> + +<p>She lay there and allowed him to speak those words; she suffered +terribly in her shallow, cowardly way, but she could not force her soul +to be courageous even then. In time her volatile nature might turn +determinedly from the dark tragedy. She probably would convince herself +that she was powerless; that, since it could do no good to grieve over +Elizabeth and her mournful fate, it was better that she should dismiss +all recollection of it from her mind, drown her regrets, enjoy such +pleasures as presented themselves, and build up a new world between her +and the past.</p> + +<p>But as yet she could not do that; she was completely unnerved and +incapable of any resolution. She writhed there in pitiable pain and +caught at every straw for comfort.</p> + +<p>"You won't forget your promise, Grant?"</p> + +<p>"What, dear?"</p> + +<p>"To send money—that she may live, you know."</p> + +<p>"I will not forget, rest satisfied. I will attend to it this very day; +don't think about that any more."</p> + +<p>"How can I help thinking? You might as well tell me not to breathe; I +must think!"</p> + +<p>"The end has come; it can do no good to look back!"</p> + +<p>Almost the very words Elizabeth had so many times repeated during those +last terrible days; the recollection went like a dagger to Elsie's soul.</p> + +<p>It was a long time before she could be restored to anything like +composure; then Mellen forbade her to talk, fearing the consequences of +continued excitement.</p> + +<p>"You can sleep, now, darling; you will be better in the morning."</p> + +<p>"And you will take me away from here, Grant?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear; whenever you like."</p> + +<p>"I don't care about the place—the farther the better! I cannot stay in +this house—I should die here. But not to Europe—oh, you won't take me +to Europe?"</p> + +<p>He only thought the sudden terror in her voice rose from a fear of the +voyage or some similar weakness.</p> + +<p>"You shall choose, Elsie; just where you please. We will go to the West +Indies—as you say, the farther the better."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Grant, yes."</p> + +<p>"Now shut your eyes and go to sleep."</p> + +<p>"You won't leave me," she pleaded.</p> + +<p>"No; I shall stay near you all night."</p> + +<p>"It is so dreadful," she went on, glancing wildly about the room; "I +should go mad to wake up and find myself alone."</p> + +<p>"You shall not, dear; indeed you shall not."</p> + +<p>She grew quiet then; after a little time he heard Victoria in the hall, +and went out to speak with her.</p> + +<p>"You will lie down on the bed in the room next Miss Elsie's," he said, +"and be near her if she wants anything."</p> + +<p>He had not forgotten that he must be absent in the night, and was +careful to guard the cherished girl against every possible cause of +fright or agitation.</p> + +<p>He spent the evening in Elsie's sick chamber as he had passed the day. +Elsie did not sleep, but she was glad to lie quiet and keep her eyes +closed, shutting out the objects around her. Sometimes when her +reflections became too painful to bear, she would start up, catch his +hands and shriek his name wildly, but his voice always served to calm +her.</p> + +<p>Towards midnight she fell into a heavy slumber. More than an hour before +he heard Victoria enter the next room, and knew that he could leave +Elsie in safety.</p> + +<p>He bent over the bed, kissed her white forehead, and stole softly out of +the room.</p> + +<p>He went down into the library and sat there drearily, starting at the +least sound, almost with a belief that he should stand face to face once +more with his wife who might yet return on some possible pretence. The +hours passed, but there was no step from without, no sign of approach +anywhere about the house.</p> + +<p>He went to the window, pushed back the curtains and looked out—the +first thing he saw was the cypress tree waving its branches as they had +done the night before when their moans seemed inarticulate efforts to +speak.</p> + +<p>The moon was up now, streaming down with a broad, full glory, very +different from the spectral radiance of the previous night. How vividly +recollection of those fearful hours came back as he stood there! He +lived over every pang, felt every torture redoubled—started back as if +again looking on the dead object which had shut out all happiness from +him for ever.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he saw the figure of a man, that man, stealing across the lawn; +he did not wait to reflect, flung open the window and dashed out in +pursuit. He was too late—the intruder disappeared, and though he made a +long and diligent search his efforts were futile.</p> + +<p>He returned to the house, livid with the new rage which had come over +him.</p> + +<p>"I will find him," he muttered; "there is no spot so distant, no place +so secret, that my vigilance shall not hunt him down!"</p> + +<p>So the night passed, and when the dawn again struggled into the sky +Grantley Mellen returned to his sister's chamber, and sat down to watch +her deep, painful slumber once more.</p> + +<p>No sleep approached his eyelids—it seemed to him that he must not hope +to lose consciousness again—that never even for an instant would that +crushing sorrow and that mad craving for the lost woman leave him at +rest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXX" id="CHAPTER_LXX"></a>CHAPTER LXX.</h2> + +<h3>ALMOST A PROPOSAL.</h3> + + +<p>In the basement story of Piney Cove, the absence of Mrs. Mellen was a +continued source of curiosity. But for once, that part of the household +had little but conjecture to go upon; so after a time, curiosity died +out and the selfish element rose uppermost, especially with the mulatto, +Dolf, who had not yet found out the sum total of Clorinda's fortune.</p> + +<p>The night after Mrs. Mellen's disappearance, there had been an anxious +meeting in the neighborhood, at which Elder Spotts had held forth with +peculiar eloquence, and Clorinda had been wonderfully loud in her +responses, a state of things which filled Dolf with serious perplexity; +in fact, it had been a very anxious meeting to him. After their return +home, that young gentleman lingered in the basement, looking so +miserable that Clorinda asked the cause.</p> + +<p>"Yer knows," said Dolf, prolonging the situation as much as possible, in +the hope that some bright thought would strike him by which the +conversation might be led round to the subject uppermost in his worldly +mind; "yer knows very well."</p> + +<p>"Why, yer's making me out jis' a witch."</p> + +<p>"No, Miss Clorindy, no; don't say dem keerless tings—don't! I ain't a +makin' you nothin', only de most charmin' and de most cruel of yer +sect."</p> + +<p>If Clo did not blush it was only because nature had deprived her of the +dangerous privilege, but she fell into a state of sweet confusion that +was beautiful to behold.</p> + +<p>"Dar ye go agin," said she; "now quit a callin' me witches and sich, or +else say why?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't I see you dis berry even'?" said Dolf.</p> + +<p>"In course ye did; we was to Mrs. Hopkins's when de meeting was ober."</p> + +<p>"And wasn't Elder Spotts dar, too?"</p> + +<p>"In course he was; yer knows it well enough."</p> + +<p>"I knows it too well," said Dolf. "Dar's whar de coquettations comes in; +dat's jis' de subjec' I'm 'proachin' yer wid."</p> + +<p>"Me!" cried Clo, in delightful innocence. "Laws, I didn't know yer even +looked at me; I tought ye was fascinated wid dat Vic."</p> + +<p>"I'se neber too busy to reserve you, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf; +"wherever I may be, whatever my ockipation, I'se eyes fur you. And I +seed you; I seed de elder a bending over ye, a whisperin' in yer ear."</p> + +<p>"Oh, git out!" cried Clo. "He didn't do no sich."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, he did, Miss Clorindy; dese eyes seen it."</p> + +<p>"Wal, he was a axin' me if I was gwine to come to meetin' more reg'lar +dan I had ob late."</p> + +<p>"It took him a great while to ax," said Dolf, in a reproachful voice.</p> + +<p>Clo laughed a little chuckling laugh.</p> + +<p>"He's a bery pleasant man, de elder," said she; "bery pleasant."</p> + +<p>"Dey say he wants a wife," observed Dolf.</p> + +<p>"Do dey! Mebby he do; anyway he hain't told me dat."</p> + +<p>"But he will, Clorindy, he will!"</p> + +<p>"Tain't no ways likely; don' 'spec I shall knows much bout it!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, yer will," insisted Dolf.</p> + +<p>He was serious, and Clo began to grow dizzy at the thought of so many +conquests crowding upon her at once.</p> + +<p>"I jis' b'lieve he's a sarpint in disguise," said Dolf, with great +energy; "one ob de wust kind of old he ones."</p> + +<p>"Laws, Mr. Dolf, don't say sich things; he's a shinin' light in de +sanctumary, I'se certain."</p> + +<p>"It's a light I'd like to squinch," cried Dolf, "and if he pokes himself +into my moonshine I'll do it."</p> + +<p>Clo gave a shrill scream, and caught his arm, as if she feared that he +was intending to rush forth in search of the elder, and put his menace +into instant execution.</p> + +<p>"Don't kick up a muss wid him," she pleaded: "why should yer?"</p> + +<p>"It 'pends on yer, Miss Clorindy, yer know; de 'couragement yer've ben a +givin' him is 'nuff to drive yer admirers out o' der senses."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me, I neber heerd sich audacious nonsense!" said Clo.</p> + +<p>"It's true," answered Dolf, "an' yer knows it. But ye're received in dat +man, Miss Clorindy, yer is! He's got both eyes fixed on de glitterin' +dross. I've heerd him talk 'bout de fortin yer had, an' how it wud set a +pusson up, an' what good he might do wid it 'mong de heathen."</p> + +<p>Clo gave another scream, but this time it was a cry of indignation and +wrath.</p> + +<p>"Spend my money 'mong de heathen!" she cried. "I'd like to see him do +it! comes 'bout me I'll pull his old wool fur him, I will."</p> + +<p>Dolf smiled at the success of his falsehood, and made ready to clench +the nail after driving it in.</p> + +<p>"Dat's what he tinks anyhow. Why, Miss Clorindy, he was a tryin' ter +find out jist how much yer was wuth."</p> + +<p>"'Taint nobody's business but my own," cried Clo, angrily, "folks +needn't be a pumpin' me; 'taint no use."</p> + +<p>"Jis' what I've allers said," remarked Dolf, with great earnestness; +"sich secrets, says I, is Miss Clorindy's own."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dey be," said Clo, holding on to the sides of her stool as tightly +as if it had been the box which contained her treasures.</p> + +<p>"I've said sometimes," continued Dolf, "dat if de day shud eber come +when dat parathon ob her sex made up her mind ter gib her loved hand to +some true bussom, she'd probably whisper musical in his ear de secret +she has kept from all de wuld."</p> + +<p>Clo was divided between the tenderness awakened by these words and the +vigilance with which she always guarded the outposts leading to her +cherished secret.</p> + +<p>"Ain't dat sense, Miss Clorindy?" demanded Dolf, getting impatient.</p> + +<p>"I hain't said it warn't," she replied.</p> + +<p>"Dis wuld is full ob mercenary men," Dolf went on, "searchin' fur de +filty lucre; I'se glad I neber was one ob dem. I allers has 'spised de +dross; gib me lobe, I says, and peace wid de fair one ob my choice, and +I asks no more."</p> + +<p>Clo played with her apron string again, and looked modestly down.</p> + +<p>But Dolf did not know exactly what to say next without committing +himself more deeply than he desired; indeed, he had been led on now +considerably farther than he could wish, but that was unavoidable.</p> + +<p>"Not but what fortins is desirous," he said, "'cause in dis wuld people +must lib."</p> + +<p>Clo assented gently to that self-evident proposition.</p> + +<p>"Do yer know what I'se often tought, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf, starting +on a new tack.</p> + +<p>"'Spect I don't," said Clo.</p> + +<p>"I'se wished many a time, more lately'n I used ter, dat I could take +some fair cretur I lobed ter my heart, and dat 'tween us we had money +'nuff ter start a restauration or sometin' ob dat sort."</p> + +<p>Clo sniffed a little.</p> + +<p>"In dem places de wurk all comes on de woman," said she.</p> + +<p>Dolf was quite aware of that fact; it was the one thing which made him +contemplate the idea with favor.</p> + +<p>"Oh, not at all," he said, "de cookin's a trifle; tink ob de 'counts; my +head's good at figures."</p> + +<p>"Dey kind o' puzzles me," Clo confided to him softly.</p> + +<p>"Tain't 'spected in the fair sect," said Dolf; "dey nebber ort to +trouble 'emselves 'bout sich matters."</p> + +<p>Then Dolf sighed.</p> + +<p>"Yer wonders what's de matter," he said; "I was jis lamentin' dat I +hadn't been able to save as much as I could wish, so dat I could realise +sich a dream."</p> + +<p>"Laws," cried Clo, so agitated and confused she was about to speak the +words he so longed to hear; "how much wud it take? Does yer tink dat if +a woman had—"</p> + +<p>"I say Clo, where be yer?"</p> + +<p>The interruption was a cruel one to both the darkeys, though from +different reasons; the voice was Victoria's.</p> + +<p>"Clo!" she called again, in considerable wrath, "jis' you answer now."</p> + +<p>Clo sprang up in high indignation. Dolf mounted a couple of steps and +appeared to be diligently searching for something in a closet.</p> + +<p>Victoria opened the kitchen door, looked out and tossed her head angrily +when she saw the pair.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose I might a split my throat callin', and yer wouldn't a +answered," she cried.</p> + +<p>"I'se 'bout my business," said Clo, grimly, "jis' mind yours."</p> + +<p>"I s'pose Mr. Dolf am 'bout his business too," retorted Vic.</p> + +<p>Dolf turned around from the closet and asked sweetly, "Did you 'dress +me, Miss Vic?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't, and don't mean ter. But Miss Elsie's woke up, and wants +some jelly and a bird; where am dey, Clo?"</p> + +<p>"Look whar dey be and ye'll find 'em," replied Clo.</p> + +<p>"Ef they hain't gone down dat ol' preacher's throat it's lucky," cried +Vic, slamming the door after her, thus defeating poor Dolf in the very +moment of success.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXI" id="CHAPTER_LXXI"></a>CHAPTER LXXI.</h2> + +<h3>FUTILE PLEADINGS.</h3> + + +<p>Elsie was better that morning. When the physician arrived he pronounced +her much improved, and confessed to Mellen that he had at first feared +an attack upon the brain, but he believed now it was only the result of +a severe nervous paroxysm. This time he made no inquiries of Mellen +concerning his wife; the manner in which they had been received on the +previous day did not invite a renewal of the subject.</p> + +<p>Elsie was eager to get up, after her usual habit, the moment she began +to feel better; but the doctor ordered her to lie in bed, at least for +that day.</p> + +<p>"But I want to get up so badly," said she, when her brother returned to +the chamber; "I am so tired of lying here."</p> + +<p>"Just have patience for to-day; the doctor would not allow the least +exertion."</p> + +<p>"He's a cross old thing!" pouted Elsie, with a faint return to her old +manner, which made Mellen both sigh and smile.</p> + +<p>"You will soon be able to put him at defiance. But, indeed, you are so +weak now you could not attempt too much."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's nonsense! I don't believe anything about it. You shall stay +here with me; if I have to be kept prisoner I will hold you fast, too."</p> + +<p>"There is no fear of my attempting to leave the room," he replied.</p> + +<p>Elsie felt much improved. She sat up in bed, made her brother play at +various games of cards with her, talked and looked herself again.</p> + +<p>But into the conversation, in which Mellen did his best to hold a share, +there crept some chance mention of that name which those walls must no +longer hear. It fell from Elsie's lips thoughtlessly, and at once +dispelled her faint attempt at cheerfulness, throwing her into the gloom +which she had succeeded in shutting out for a little time.</p> + +<p>"Did you write that letter, Grant?" she asked, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I sent it down to the village, to go by the morning's mail."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Grant, thank you!"</p> + +<p>She attempted to console herself with thinking she had done something in +Elizabeth's behalf, but when her conscience compared it with all that +she ought to have done, her coward heart shrank back at the contrast.</p> + +<p>"I am tired of cards," she said, sweeping the bits of pasteboard off the +bed with one of her abrupt movements, which would have been rude in +another, but seemed graceful and childish in her. "Cards are stupid +things at the best!"</p> + +<p>Mellen patiently collected the scattered pack and laid it away, trying +to think of some other means of relieving her <i>ennui</i>.</p> + +<p>"Shall I read to you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I could listen," she said, tossing her head wearily +about. "I don't know—just try."</p> + +<p>There was a pile of new novels and magazines on the table in the centre +of the room, for Elsie always kept herself liberally supplied with these +sources of distraction, though it must be confessed that she generally +carried the recreation to an extreme, reading her romance to the +exclusion of more solid studies, just as she preferred nibbling +bon-bons, to eating substantial food.</p> + +<p>"There certainly is opportunity for a choice," Mellen said, glancing at +the pile. "What book will you choose?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, bring a magazine; read me some short story."</p> + +<p>Mellen seated himself, opened the periodical and commenced reading the +first tale he lighted upon. It was a story by a popular author, +beginning in a light, pleasant way, and promising the amusement his +listener needed. But as the little romance went on it deepened into a +pathetic tragedy. It was an account of a noble-born Sicilian woman who, +during the Revolution, endured, silently, every species of suffering, at +last death itself, rather than betray her husband to his enemies, yet +the husband had bitterly wronged her and half-broken her heart during +their married life.</p> + +<p>Elsie did not listen at first, but as the story went on her thoughts +became so painful that she tried to fasten her attention upon the +reading. When she began to take notice Mellen was just in the midst of +the account of this Sicilian woman's martyrdom in prison, bearing up +with such serene patience, faithful to her vow, firm in her +determination to save the man who had injured her.</p> + +<p>Elsie fairly snatched the volume from his hand.</p> + +<p>"Don't read it!" she exclaimed. "What made you choose such a doleful +thing; it makes my flesh creep."</p> + +<p>He saw the change which had come over her face, and reproached himself +for his carelessness in having chosen so sad a tale; but the truth was, +in his absorption, he had not the slightest idea of what he was reading, +his voice sounded in his own ears mechanical, and as if it belonged to +some other person.</p> + +<p>He went to the table to make a more fortunate selection.</p> + +<p>"Here is a volume of parodies," he said, "shall I try those?"</p> + +<p>"Anything; I don't care."</p> + +<p>He commenced a mischievous travestie of a poem, but though it was +wittily done, its lightness jarred so terribly on both reader and +listener that it was speedily thrown aside. For some time they remained +in gloomy silence, then Elsie began to moan and move restlessly about, +then Mellen tried to rouse himself and be cheerful again.</p> + +<p>The afternoon passed very much in the same way. At last Elsie declared +that she would sleep awhile.</p> + +<p>"Anything to wear away the time!" she said.</p> + +<p>Mellen wondered if he should ever find anything that would shorten the +hours to him, but he held his peace.</p> + +<p>"I have such an odd, horrible feeling," said Elsie; "just as if I were +waiting anxiously for something—every instant expecting it."</p> + +<p>"That is because you are nervous."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," she said, fretfully.</p> + +<p>He was waiting. Henceforth life would be but one long waiting just for +revenge, then to be free from the dull pressure of this existence.</p> + +<p>"How white you are!" Elsie said suddenly. "I don't believe you have +slept at all."</p> + +<p>It was true. For nights Mellen had not closed his eyes, but he felt no +approach towards drowsiness even now.</p> + +<p>"You will fall sick!" cried Elsie. "What shall I do then?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid; I am well and strong."</p> + +<p>He said the words with a loathing bitterness of his own ability to +endure.</p> + +<p>The more powerful his physical organization, the more years of +loneliness and pain would be left for him to bear. His mind flew on to +the future; he pictured the long, long course towards old age; the +dreary lapse of time which would bring only a cold exterior over his +sufferings, like a crust of lava hardening above the volcanic fires +beneath.</p> + +<p>"Don't sit so, looking at nothing," cried Elsie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear. There, do you think you can go to sleep?"</p> + +<p>"I won't try, unless you go to sleep too. Draw the sofa up by the bed +and lie down."</p> + +<p>He obeyed her command, willing to gratify her least caprice. She gave +him one of her pillows, threw a part of the counterpane over him, and +made him lie there, holding fast to his hand, afraid to be alone, even +in her dreams.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel sleepy, Grant?" she asked, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so; I am resting, at all events."</p> + +<p>"Don't you remember when I was sick once, years ago, I never would sleep +unless I held your hand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear."</p> + +<p>How far back the time looked—he had been a mere youth then—what a +fearful waste lay between that season and the present!</p> + +<p>Suddenly Elsie started up again.</p> + +<p>"You sent the letter, Grant?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; be content."</p> + +<p>She was so much afraid even to sleep, that it relieved her to turn her +last waking thoughts upon some little good she was doing Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Good-night, now," she said; "I can go to sleep. Kiss my hand, Grant. +You love me, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Always, darling, always; nothing can part you and me."</p> + +<p>She fell away into a tranquil slumber, and Mellen lay for a long time +watching her repose; it was a brief season of peace to her, for burning +thoughts had not followed her into her dreams.</p> + +<p>The extreme quiet, the sight of her placid face soothed him +imperceptibly. A dreary weakness began to make itself felt after that +long continued excitement. At length the lids drooped over his eyes, and +he slept almost as profoundly as Elsie herself. For a long time there +was no sound in the chamber; the brother and sister lay slumbering while +the day wore on and the twilight crept slowly around.</p> + +<p>When Elsie awoke it was to rouse him with the cry which had been so +often on her lips during the previous day—</p> + +<p>"Bessie, Bessie!"</p> + +<p>He started up, spoke to her, and his voice brought her back to the +reality.</p> + +<p>"I was so happy," she moaned; "I dreamed that Bessie and I were +gathering pond lilies—she was wreathing them about my head—then just +as I woke I saw a snake sting her—before that it was all bright. Oh, +dear, if I could only sleep forever!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXII" id="CHAPTER_LXXII"></a>CHAPTER LXXII.</h2> + +<h3>TOM FULLER RETURNS.</h3> + + +<p>The next day Elsie was still stronger and better. She consented to lie +in bed all the morning, making it a condition that she might get up and +be carried downstairs to pass the evening.</p> + +<p>"That is the dreariest time," she said; "it drags on so heavily."</p> + +<p>Mellen promised her, and she was childishly happy.</p> + +<p>"You shall have an early dinner, Grant, and then we'll take tea in the +evening, and eat toast and jam just as we did when I was a child."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that will be very comfortable."</p> + +<p>He had tried to say pleasant, but he could not speak the word. The day +was so warm and bright that a little after noon he took her out for a +short drive, then she lay down to rest again, resolved to be strong and +pass the evening below. The change was pleasant to her—she felt quite +elated, as she always was in health, at the idea of amusement.</p> + +<p>They got through the day rather quietly, and Elsie did not have a single +relapse of her nervous tremors.</p> + +<p>When she awoke from her afternoon nap it was growing dark. She cried out +quite joyfully when she saw Grantley sitting by the bed:</p> + +<p>"It is almost evening at last!"</p> + +<p>At that moment Victoria appeared at the door.</p> + +<p>"Come in," Mellen said; "what do you want?"</p> + +<p>Victoria entered on tip-toe, though she knew plainly enough that her +young mistress was awake, and whispered in the doleful semitone she +reserved for sick rooms:</p> + +<p>"If you please, Mister Fuller's just arrived, and he's a asking after +all of you in a breath."</p> + +<p>Elsie started up on her pillows, and the brother and sister looked at +each other in blank dismay when they thought of the blow that must be +inflicted upon the warm, honest heart of Elizabeth's cousin.</p> + +<p>"Go and say that we will be down," said Elsie, recovering her presence +of mind.</p> + +<p>Victoria departed, and Grantley cried out passionately:</p> + +<p>"How can I tell him? Poor Tom, he will nearly die."</p> + +<p>"You must not tell him yet," said Elsie, "not one word—just say Bessie +is absent."</p> + +<p>"Such prevarication is useless, Elsie, he must know the truth."</p> + +<p>Elsie began to cry.</p> + +<p>"There, you are contradicting me already. I won't go down—I shall be +sick again—my head swims now."</p> + +<p>"Don't distress yourself, dear, don't."</p> + +<p>"Then let me have my own way," she pleaded.</p> + +<p>"What do you wish? Anything to content you."</p> + +<p>"That's a good brother," said Elsie. "Go down and merely tell Tom I have +been very sick, and that Bessie has gone to New York—anywhere—not a +word more."</p> + +<p>"But he will wonder at her absence during your illness."</p> + +<p>"No, he never wonders; it doesn't make any difference."</p> + +<p>"I detest these white lies, Elsie."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, if you want to kill me with a scene, go and tell Tom," she +exclaimed, throwing herself back on her pillows; "I shall be worried to +death at last."</p> + +<p>Mellen was anxious to soothe her, and against his judgment submitted.</p> + +<p>"I'll go, darling; I'll go."</p> + +<p>"Good Grant; kind brother! Send Victoria to me; I will be all dressed +when you come back."</p> + +<p>Mellen went out and called the servant, then he passed downstairs, and +in the hall met Tom, who rushed towards him, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"The woman says Elsie is very sick; is she better; what is it?"</p> + +<p>"She is much better; don't be frightened; she will be downstairs in a +few minutes."</p> + +<p>"Thank God," muttered Tom, his face still white with fears that Victoria +had aroused.</p> + +<p>Mellen was too much preoccupied to notice his extreme agitation, or +speculate upon its cause if he had observed it.</p> + +<p>"I only got back this afternoon," said Tom, "and I hurried over here at +once. How is Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"She—she is not at home," faltered Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Not at home and Elsie sick?"</p> + +<p>"She was gone," said Mellen, "and I did not send for her."</p> + +<p>Tom was too much troubled about Elsie to reflect long upon anything +else, and directly Mellen broke from his eager questions, saying:</p> + +<p>"Go into the library, Tom; I'll bring Elsie down."</p> + +<p>He went upstairs, and knocked at his sister's door.</p> + +<p>"You may come in," Elsie called out; "I am ready."</p> + +<p>When he entered she was sitting up in an easy chair, wrapped in a pretty +dressing-gown of pink merino, braided and trimmed after her own fanciful +ideas, a white shawl thrown over her shoulders, the flossy hair shading +her face, and looking altogether quite another creature.</p> + +<p>For the first time since Elizabeth's departure, a feeling of relief +loosened the oppression on Mellen's heart.</p> + +<p>"You look so well again; God bless you, darling!"</p> + +<p>"Of course I'm pretty!" she cried childishly, pointing to herself in the +glass. "I shall make a nice little visitor."</p> + +<p>"You will always be one, my sunbeam," he said.</p> + +<p>She shivered a little at his words, but she would not permit herself to +think, determined to have her old carelessness, her old peace back, if +she could grasp it.</p> + +<p>"How is Tom?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Dreadfully anxious about you, poor fellow."</p> + +<p>"Did he ask for Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—yes."</p> + +<p>"But you said nothing?"</p> + +<p>"No, Elsie; he knows nothing."</p> + +<p>"That is right," she said; "I can tell him better than you. Be kind to +him, Grant."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear; he saved your life; Tom is very dear to me; poor fellow."</p> + +<p>"I am to be a visitor, remember," she said childishly; "You must not +forget that."</p> + +<p>"I will forget nothing that can give you pleasure, be certain of that," +he answered, kindly.</p> + +<p>"Now you shall lead me downstairs," she said.</p> + +<p>"You must not walk; I will carry you."</p> + +<p>"No, no; I am so heavy."</p> + +<p>But he took her in his arms and carried her downstairs, as he had so +often done in her childhood, while Victoria followed with cushions and +shawls to make her perfectly comfortable.</p> + +<p>"I am your baby again, Grant! Don't you remember how you used to carry +me about?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do; you are not much larger now."</p> + +<p>"You saucy thing! I would pull your hair only I am afraid you would let +me fall."</p> + +<p>He carried her into the library and laid her on the sofa. Tom sprang +forward with a cry of terror at the change his absence had made in her +appearance, but a gesture from Mellen warned him that he must control +his feelings lest his anxiety should agitate her.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad to see you, Tom, so very glad," she said, clasping her +delicate fingers about his hands, and so filling him with delight by her +look and words that he could not even remember to be anxious.</p> + +<p>"It has seemed an age to me since I went away," said Tom. "And you have +been sick, little princess, and Bessie gone! that is strange."</p> + +<p>"There, there," cried Elsie; "you must not talk about my appearance or +sickness or anything else! Just tell me how pretty I look, and do +nothing but amuse me."</p> + +<p>"You seem like an angel of light," cried Tom, looking wistfully at her +little hand, as if he longed to hide it away in his broad palm.</p> + +<p>The fire burned cheerfully in the grate, the chandeliers were lighted, +the tea-table spread, and everything done to make the room pleasant +which could suggest itself to Dolf and Victoria, in their anxiety to +please the young favorite.</p> + +<p>"It is so pleasant," she said, with a sigh of relief; "so pleasant."</p> + +<p>Then Victoria brought her a quantity of flowers Dolf had cut in the +greenhouse, and she strewed the fragrant blossoms over her dress and +wreathed them in her hair, making a beautiful picture of herself in her +rich wrappings and delicate loveliness.</p> + +<p>"Now we will have tea," she said, "bring all sorts of nice things, +Victy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, 'deed. I will, Miss! Clo she's ben a fixin' fur yer! Laws, it jis' +makes my heart jump to see you up agin."</p> + +<p>As the girl left the room Mellen said:</p> + +<p>"How she loves you! Everybody does love you, Elsie."</p> + +<p>"They must," she answered; "I should die if I were not petted. Oh, +Grant, it's so nice here; don't you like it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed; you make the old room bright again."</p> + +<p>Her spirits had risen, she was really quite like her old self, and that +without effort or pretence.</p> + +<p>Then the tea was brought in, and she insisted on at least tasting +everything on the table. Clo was well acquainted with her dainty ways, +and the varieties of preserves and jellies she had brought out from her +stores was marvellous.</p> + +<p>Elsie fed Tom with bits of toast, made him eat everything he did not +want, and beg for all that he did, and was so bright and peaceful that +Mellen himself grew quiet from her influence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>A FEAST AND A LOVE FEAST.</h3> + + +<p>While the evening was passing so pleasantly with Elsie, the principal +personages below stairs were holding a subdued revel in the +housekeeper's room.</p> + +<p>Miss Dinah had come up from the village, and her ebony suitor was +expected. With that and their delight at Miss Elsie's improvement, the +whole staff was in excellent spirits.</p> + +<p>"It's one ob dem 'casions," said Dolf, "when we ort ter do somethin' a +little out ob de common run—what do yer say, Miss Clorindy?"</p> + +<p>Clo smiled affably; certain explanations had passed between her and Dolf +on the previous day, which made her inclined to consider any proposal of +his with high favor.</p> + +<p>She summoned her unfortunate drudge Sally, and ordered her to set the +table at once.</p> + +<p>"And don't spend yer time a gaupin' at Miss Dinah's new dress," said +she, severely; "'taint manners, nohow."</p> + +<p>The truth was Sally had not observed the gown, but its bright crimson +had struck Clorinda's fancy, and being tempted to stare at it enviously +herself, she concluded the girl must be doing the same thing.</p> + +<p>"Jis' obsarve what Miss Clorindy tells yer," remarked Dolf, "and yer'll +be on the road ter 'provement; Sally, yer couldn't hab a more reficient +guide."</p> + +<p>Clo bridled and grew radiant; she cast a glance of triumph at Dinah, and +only regretted that Victoria had not yet come downstairs to hear these +benign words.</p> + +<p>"I 'spect Othello won't get here till late," said Dinah, beginning to +fear that the good things would all have disappeared before his arrival. +"Der's some meeting at de hotel, and he'll be kept dar—de gemmen tinks +nobody else can wait on em."</p> + +<p>"He desarves deir 'preciation," said Dolf, loftily, with the air of a +man so supremely great that he could well afford to allow ordinary +people to claim their little virtues unchallenged.</p> + +<p>"Wal," said Clo, "arter all it needs trabbel and the world to develop a +man proper."</p> + +<p>"Jis' so, Miss Clorindy; yer's allers rezact."</p> + +<p>He gave her a very tender glance, and Clo giggled in delightful +confusion.</p> + +<p>"But I tell you, Mr. Othello mustn't lose his share of 'freshment," +pursued Dolf, anxious to secure as many extra meals as possible. "Miss +Clo, will you permit me to make a proposition?"</p> + +<p>"I'll feel it an honor," said Clo.</p> + +<p>"Yer does me proud," returned Dolf with a profound bow, while Dinah sat +quite aghast at their stateliness and high breeding, and Sally began to +think Clo must speak Spanish as well as Dolf.</p> + +<p>"I moves we has our tea now," said Dolf; "it's a sort of delercate +compliment to Miss Elsie to eat when she does, and later in de ebenin' +arter Mr. Othello comes we might make a brile ob dat chicken in de +closet—marster don't eat nothin', and I'se afeared it'll be wasted."</p> + +<p>Clo was complaisance itself, and went to work while Dolf encouraged her +with his smiles.</p> + +<p>By the time Victoria came downstairs the table was spread sumptuously, +and in order to carry out Dolf's extraordinary idea of complimenting +Miss Elsie, there were sweetmeats and cakes, hot muffins, cold tongue, +and stores of eatables that brought the water into Dolf's crafty mouth.</p> + +<p>The meal began in greatest harmony, Miss Dinah was very affable, Vic +really was the best-natured creature in the world, and just now she was +perfectly happy from seeing her beloved young mistress better; Dolf was +so circumspect in his conduct that Clo was kept in the state of high +good humor befitting the glory of her new turban, and the first +brightness of the change which had come upon her prospects.</p> + +<p>The truth was, the day before, while she was peeling onions, Dolf grew +desperate, and was led on to that point beyond which there was no +turning back. Clo had grown tender and confidential—he learned the +amount of her fortune—five hundred hard dollars in the bank. After this +the happiness of that sable pair was supreme. For the moment she really +looked beautiful in his eyes, and with tears in their depths—the result +of affection, not of the onions he assured her—he implored her to make +him the happiest of men. He performed his part in the most grandiloquent +style, dropping on one knee as he had seen lovers do from the upper loft +of the Bowery Theatre, and holding her hands fast, one of which grasped +a knife and the other an onion.</p> + +<p>Before they were disturbed matters were completely settled, though Dolf +pleaded for the engagement being kept secret a little while.</p> + +<p>"I jis' want to see what dat ole parson'll say," he averred, though the +truth was, Dolf had been so indiscreet in his protestations to Victoria +that he was a little fearful of consequences if that high-spirited +damsel learned the news without a little preparation.</p> + +<p>"Nebber you mind de parson," said Clo; "laws, I wouldn't wipe my ole +shoes on him, 'sides it ed be something wuth while jis' to denounce our +connubiolity to de hull company dis ebening."</p> + +<p>But Dolf flattered and persuaded until she consented to comply with his +wishes.</p> + +<p>Victoria had been so much occupied above stairs that she found no +opportunity for observation, otherwise Dolf's manner and the mysterious +air of importance which Clo assumed, would have warned her that +something extraordinary had happened.</p> + +<p>Clo made Sally wait on her more than ever, boxed the girl's ears for her +own mistakes, tried on new turbans, surveyed herself in the glass, and +fluttered from room to room in the highest state of feminine triumph. +Dolf tried his best to be happy, but it required a vivid recollection of +the money lying in that bank to make him at all comfortable. He kept +repeating to himself:</p> + +<p>"Five hundred dollars! One—two—three—four—five!"</p> + +<p>Then he would remember Victoria's youth and golden beauty, his own +delicious freedom, and groan heavily. But he was sure to bring up his +spirits again by muttering, vigorously:</p> + +<p>"Five hundred dollars! One—two—three—four—five!"</p> + +<p>But it was a season of holiday delight to Clorinda. The highest +aspiration of her spinster soul was soon to be gratified—she would have +a husband! No long engagement for her; she made up her mind to that on +the moment. With that yellow bird once in the cage, she was not going to +lose time in closing the door—not she!</p> + +<p>She fed her intended to repletion with dainties, and it spoke marvels +for his digestion that after all the dinner he had eaten he could make +such havoc among the cake and preserves, still looking complacently +forward to the prospect of broiled chicken. Crisp crullers disappeared +like frostwork in his nimble jaws, he laid in a very unnecessary stock +of tongue considering his natural advantages that way, made a dismal +cavern of an immense fruitcake, and softened the effect with a whole +mould of apricot jelly.</p> + +<p>Dinah and Vic certainly kept him in countenance, but Clorinda rather +trifled with the sweets, drinking so much strong tea in her pleasurable +agitation, that to an observer given to ludicrous ideas, her jetty face +would have suggested the idea of an old fashioned black teapot, with her +pug nose for the chubby spout. Sally witnessed this dashing festival +from behind the door, scraped up the jelly left in the glasses, stole +bits of toast and muffins on their road to the table, and solaced her +appetite on various fragments, till at last, growing bold and getting +hungry, she crept to the pantry and purloined half a pumpkin pie. Until +it had disappeared, like a train down a tunnel, she never remembered +that Clo was sure to miss it in the morning, but reflected, in her +fright, that it was possible to shut the cat up in the closet at +bedtime, and so escape detection.</p> + +<p>After tea Dolf brought out a pack of cards—a pack which had +mysteriously disappeared from the library table some time before—and +inducted the ladies into the mysteries of sundry little games, winning +their pennies easily and cheating them without the slightest +compunction.</p> + +<p>That was a point beyond Clo, she could not lose her money even to Dolf, +and vowed from that time out she would only play for pins.</p> + +<p>"Gamblin's wicked," she said, virtuously.</p> + +<p>So they played for pins, and Dolf allowed her to be the gainer. When she +lost, Clo gave crooked ones in payment, and thus her high spirits were +preserved untarnished.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXIV" id="CHAPTER_LXXIV"></a>CHAPTER LXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>THAT MONEY IN THE BANK.</h3> + + +<p>At last Othello arrived and made the circle complete. A great, shiny +creature, uglier than a mortal easily can be, at whom Miss Dinah cast +admiring glances, and did the fascinating in a way which Clo copied on +the instant.</p> + +<p>Dolf reminded her of the chicken, and proposed making a bowl of flip +while she cooked the fowl, an idea which received unanimous approval.</p> + +<p>They were gathered about the supper-table, Dolf was carver, and managed +to secure an unfair portion of the delicate bits, proposing all sorts of +trifles to suit Othello's palate, and then devouring them before the +unfortunate creature could get more than a look at the dainties.</p> + +<p>Othello was giving an account of his labors during the evening, and from +his story it was quite evident that he had been the most important +personage in the assembly, and Dinah shone like a bronze Venus with the +triumph in his success.</p> + +<p>"Oh, laws!" said he, suddenly; "I quite forgot!"</p> + +<p>"What, what?" they asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, what Mr. Moseby said. 'Spec it don't consarn nobody here; only, as +Miss Clorindy's a lady of property, she naterally feels interested in +what happens to oder folks wid fortins."</p> + +<p>Clo bridled, and Dolf said majestically, feeling that he had already a +share in her wealth:</p> + +<p>"In course, in course; perceed, Mr. Othello."</p> + +<p>"Wal, yer see the gemmen was talkin' 'bout de banks—I didn't hear de +beginning, 'cause dat boy, Pete Hopkins, let de punch glasses fall, and +I was a fixin' him."</p> + +<p>"Did it break 'em?" cried Dinah, feeling an interest in the details not +shared by the others.</p> + +<p>"Only two. I gave him six cracks for each—the little limb!"</p> + +<p>"Wal, 'bout de bank," said Dolf, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dat's what I'm gwine to tell. Mr. Moseby, he said—you know +him—dat tall man——"</p> + +<p>"Laws, we know him well 'nuff," said Vic. "Go on if you're gwine to."</p> + +<p>Dinah looked reproachfully at her, and Othello continued:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Moseby—he said de Trader's Bank had blowed all to smash—clean +up."</p> + +<p>A scream from Clorinda brought them all to their feet.</p> + +<p>"Massy sakes," cried Vic; "what is it?"</p> + +<p>"Have yer got fits?" demanded Dinah.</p> + +<p>"Bring de peppermint," suggested Othello.</p> + +<p>"Miss Clorindy, dear Miss Clorindy, what am it?" cried Dolf, with a +sudden sinking at his heart.</p> + +<p>Clo would have had hysterics, but not being a fine lady, she gave two or +three yells, kicked the table, pulled her frizzed hair, and shouted, +amid her tears:</p> + +<p>"You Sally, git my bunnit—quick!"</p> + +<p>She rose, and they crowded about her.</p> + +<p>"Whar be you gwine? What's up?"</p> + +<p>"Git my bunnit!" she repeated. "Ise gwine to York, I is."</p> + +<p>"To York, this time o' night?" cried Vic.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I is—let me go."</p> + +<p>Dolf laid a hand on her arm.</p> + +<p>"Only 'splain, Clorindy, 'splain!"</p> + +<p>"Ise gwine to git at dem rascals. I want my money—I'll have it! Marster +shall git it. Oh de villin scampsesses! I want my money."</p> + +<p>Dolf dropped speechless in a chair, while the rest poured out floods of +questions, which Clorinda was in no state to answer.</p> + +<p>"Was yer money in dat bank?"</p> + +<p>"Ise gwine to York; get my bunnit!"</p> + +<p>They fairly shook her, the general curiosity was so great.</p> + +<p>"Why don't yer speak?" said Vic. "Was yer money in de bank?"</p> + +<p>"Yis; ebery red cent. Oh! oh! Five hundred dollars—and it's a—all +g—gone!" she sobbed. "I'll hev it! I'll hev it! Call marster! Git my +bunnit. Oh! oh!"</p> + +<p>They made her sit down, they explained to her that nothing could be done +until the next day, and finally she subsided into silent tears. All this +while Dolf sat without offering one word of consolation; now he said:</p> + +<p>"Mebby dar's some mistake, Othello."</p> + +<p>"No, dar ain't," persisted Othello. "Mr. Moseby's lost ten thousand +dollars; he'd orter know. De bank's gone to smash, clar nuff."</p> + +<p>Clo burst into a new paroxysm of distress, and Dolf, after a brief +struggle with his own disappointment, turned on her:</p> + +<p>"Yer needn't rouse de house wid yer hurlyburly," said he, savagely. +"Better 'member Miss Elsie's sick."</p> + +<p>Clo stared at him in tearless horror; a new fear struck her; was he +going to prove false?</p> + +<p>"Don't talk so," she said; "tink of yesterday, Dolf!"</p> + +<p>Dolf drew himself up, and looked first at her and then at the company +with an air of profound astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I tink her brain am turned," said he.</p> + +<p>"'Taint!" roared Clo. "Oh, Dolfy, yer said yer loved me; yer knows yer +did; dat yer didn't care for money; dat I was a Wenus in yer +eyes—oh—oh!"</p> + +<p>"Wal, I do declar!" cried Vic.</p> + +<p>Dolf flew into a great rage.</p> + +<p>"Miss Clorindy, yer sorrow makes yer forget yerself; yer've ben a +dreaming."</p> + +<p>Clo drew her apron from her eyes and looked at him; lightning was +gathering there which he would have done well to heed, but he did not.</p> + +<p>"Does yer mean that?" she demanded, sternly.</p> + +<p>"Sartin, I does."</p> + +<p>"Yer denies kneelin' at my feet an' sayin', "Wasn't de onions made yer +cry;" a pleadin' and a coaxin' till I 'sented to marry yer."</p> + +<p>"In course I does," repeated Dolf, doggedly.</p> + +<p>"Take care! Jis' tink!"</p> + +<p>"Miss Clo, dis ere ain't decorous; I'se 'stonished at yer!"</p> + +<p>With a bound like an unchained tigress Clo sprang at him. Dolf dodged, +ran behind the startled group, in and out among the chairs, through the +kitchen, back again, and Clo at his heels. She had caught up a broom; +once or twice she managed to hit him, and her sobs of rage mingled with +Dolf's cries of distress.</p> + +<p>"Take her off," he shrieked; "ketch a hold of her!"</p> + +<p>"I'll kill him," shouted Clo. "I'll break every bone in his 'fernal +body! Oh, yer varmint, yer cattle!"</p> + +<p>They laid hands on Clorinda at length, though it was a difficult +operation; and Dolf took refuge behind a great chair, peeping through +the slats at the back, with his eyes rolling and his teeth chattering +like some frightened monkey in a cage.</p> + +<p>The women were consoling and blaming Clo; Vic divided between conviction +and anger, and Othello, like a sensible man, siding neither way.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they were roused by a prolonged cry from the floor above, a cry +so shrill and unearthly that it froze the blood in their veins. In an +instant there followed a loud knocking at the outer door, and forgetful +of their own troubles, they crowded together like a flock of frightened +crows driven from a cornfield.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXV" id="CHAPTER_LXXV"></a>CHAPTER LXXV.</h2> + +<h3>UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS.</h3> + + +<p>The evening had passed very pleasantly to Elsie; Mellen had humored her +caprices at whatever cost to himself, and kept her thoughts as much +aloof as possible from the events of the past days.</p> + +<p>It was growing late, and he had several times reminded her that it was +time she went to rest. Tom Fuller had taken the first hint and retired.</p> + +<p>"Let me sit up a little longer," she pleaded; "I am not in the least +sleepy; it is so nice to get out of that dull chamber."</p> + +<p>"But I am afraid you will tire yourself so completely, that to-morrow +you cannot come down at all."</p> + +<p>"There is not the slightest danger of that; I am stronger than you +think. When this little dizziness in my head leaves me I shall be quite +well."</p> + +<p>They talked a few moments longer, then she began turning over the papers +on a stand near her sofa. Suddenly she took up a letter, and glancing at +the writing, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"This is from Mr. Hudson! You did not tell me that you had heard."</p> + +<p>"It came this afternoon while you were asleep."</p> + +<p>"What does he say? Does he know where she is? Will you send him money +for her?"</p> + +<p>"There is no necessity."</p> + +<p>"But she must have it; she can't live."</p> + +<p>"My dear, she has her money. He writes me that sometime since he sold +out the stocks by her orders. She was doubtless preparing to leave the +country with that man."</p> + +<p>Elsie fell back on the sofa overwhelmed by the new fear which came over +her. The money had been paid; but where was Elizabeth? What to do—how +to act! Before the whirl had left her brain there was a sound at the +door of the little passage already described.</p> + +<p>"What is that?" exclaimed Mellen. "Some one trying that door."</p> + +<p>"No, no," she cried. "Come back; it's nothing; I'm afraid; come back!"</p> + +<p>He gave no attention to her cry, but hurried towards the door, while she +was attempting to rise from the sofa; he had it open, Elsie heard a +muttered curse, an answering imprecation from another voice, looked out, +saw the outer door ajar and a man just entering the passage with whom +Mellen closed instantly in a fearful struggle.</p> + +<p>That one glance had been enough; she knew the man; then it was her +insane shriek rang through the house.</p> + +<p>Mellen forced Ford into the room, flung him against the wall, locked the +door, and exclaimed in a terrible voice:</p> + +<p>"At last! at last!"</p> + +<p>A bell rang at the front entrance, but no one in that room heeded it.</p> + +<p>Mellen sprang towards the man again, but he cried out savagely:</p> + +<p>"Keep off, if you value your life, keep off."</p> + +<p>"One of us dies here!" cried Mellen. "William Ford, one of us dies +here!"</p> + +<p>After that long shriek Elsie had fallen back helpless; she had not +fainted, but a sort of cateleptic rigor locked her limbs; there she lay +without voice or power of motion, listening to their words, which seemed +to come through blocks of ice.</p> + +<p>"I did not expect to meet you here," said Ford, calling up a sudden +audacity. "It's an honor I did not wish."</p> + +<p>"I know who you expected to see; but the woman is gone; you must seek +her elsewhere!"</p> + +<p>"Then you have driven her to destruction at last. I tell you, sir, we +are a pack of cowards hunting down an angel. You and I and that pretty +imp of satan. I came to tell you this: bad as I am, her goodness has +touched me with human feelings. If she is here and alive, justice shall +be done her, and for once the truth shall be spoken under this roof. +That woman has bribed me to shield another through her. Soul and body +she has been made a sacrifice. There is danger to me here. This bit of +goodness may bring ruin upon me, but I cannot leave the country forever, +and know that she is being ground to dust under your heel; while that +other flimsy coward crowds her from hearth and home. For once, Grantley +Mellen, you shall be forced to hear the truth and believe it."</p> + +<p>"The truth from you!" exclaimed Mellen, with unutterable scorn, "that or +anything else from so vile a source I reject—go, sir, we are not +alone!"</p> + +<p>Ford, or North, glanced towards the sofa; recognised Elsie lying there, +and turned again towards Mellen.</p> + +<p>"Twice you have broken up my life," cried Mellen, "but this time you +shall not escape! Here, in the home you have dishonored, you shall meet +your fate. Burglar, villain, how did you get here?"</p> + +<p>"By the way I have been in the habit of reaching these rooms. I hoped to +see your wife here, and tell her that at last I was resolved to knock my +chains from her soul. She never would have spoken; but nothing, even +though she had gone on her knees again, should have silenced me! If she +is not alive to benefit by the exculpation, I am resolved that her +memory, at least, shall be saved all reproach."</p> + +<p>"I believe," said Mellen, with cool scorn, "that it is expected that a +man should perjure himself in behalf of a woman whom he has dragged into +sin, but here, impudent falsehoods of this kind, count for nothing."</p> + +<p>"But you shall believe me! If that woman is lost, if she has gone mad, +for she was mad, when I left her in the graveyard, if she has wandered +off and perished, or worse still——"</p> + +<p>"Hold, hold!" cried Mellen, shuddering.</p> + +<p>"If she is lost or dead," continued North, without heeding the anguish +in this cry, "you have murdered the sweetest and noblest woman that ever +drew breath, and only that the worthless thing lying yonder, should +continue to be pampered and sit above her."</p> + +<p>Mellen started to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Silence!" he thundered. "Do not dare to take the name of that innocent +child into your lips."</p> + +<p>A keen, sarcastic laugh, preceded the answer North gave to this.</p> + +<p>"So that strikes home, does it? Your wife has probably died by her own +hand, but you do not feel it. When that paltry thing is mentioned, you +tear at the bit and begin to rave, as if she were the most worthy +creature on earth. Ah, ha! There you are wounded, my friend."</p> + +<p>Mellen remembered Elsie's presence.</p> + +<p>"Well," he cried, pointing to her, "that woman only had my heart; my +blood did not run in her veins; if you had struck me there the blow +would have been keener."</p> + +<p>The man laughed again; Elsie heard both words and laugh, as she lay in +that marble trance. Had she been laid out shrouded for burial she could +not have been more helpless.</p> + +<p>"So you drove your wife away; out of the house?" cried the man. "I +guessed as much."</p> + +<p>"She is gone for ever, but you shall not live to join her."</p> + +<p>"Before now she is dead! Listen to what you have done. I repeat it, your +wife was as innocent as an angel. She is dead, and I tell you so, +knowing how it will poison your life. If there was guilt or dishonor in +loving me it belonged to that pretty heap of deception on the sofa. Hear +that, and let your soul writhe under it, for your blood does run in her +veins. I came to tell you this. That great hearted creature forced the +truth back in my throat, the other night; but you shall hear it now. +There lies the mother of the child we buried, the other night!"</p> + +<p>"Liar! Traitor!" cried Mellen.</p> + +<p>Again came a violent ringing of the door-bell; steps in the hall; this +time the two men listened.</p> + +<p>"I am pursued," muttered Ford; "they've cornered me; it is your turn +now."</p> + +<p>"I will give you up if these are enemies," cried Mellen; "there is no +escape."</p> + +<p>He took one stride towards the door, but Ford called out:</p> + +<p>"You are giving up your sister's husband; remember the whole world shall +know it."</p> + +<p>There was bitter truth in the tone, but before Mellen could move or +speak, the door opened and two officers entered the room.</p> + +<p>"We have him safe," said one of the intruders as he passed Mellen. +"Caught at last, my fine fellow."</p> + +<p>Ford started back—thrust one hand under his vest, and drew it out +again—there was a flash—a stunning report—he staggered back against +the wall, shot through the chest.</p> + +<p>For a few instants there was wild confusion; the servants rushed in, the +wounded criminal was lifted up, but during all that time Elsie lay on +the sofa quite unnoticed, not insensible yet, but utterly helpless, so +blasted by the shock that mind and body seemed withering under it.</p> + +<p>Ford sat on the floor in gloomy silence. In spite of his resistance an +effort was made to staunch the blood which was trickling down his shirt +bosom, but he said in a low, quiet voice:</p> + +<p>"It is useless. I have cheated you at last—the first good act of my +life has killed me—I am a dying man. It was my last stake, and I have +lost it."</p> + +<p>A great change in his face proved the truth of his words; even the +officers, inured to scenes of suffering and pain, recoiled before his +stony hardihood.</p> + +<p>One of them spoke in explanation to Mellen.</p> + +<p>"We don't know what he wanted here; we have been on his track for days; +he committed a forgery, months ago, and was trying to get off to Europe +just as it was found out."</p> + +<p>"He's bound on a longer journey, that you cannot stop now," said Ford. +"Mellen, I have something to say to you—better send these men away +unless you want our little affairs discussed before them."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXVI" id="CHAPTER_LXXVI"></a>CHAPTER LXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE CONFESSION.</h3> + + +<p>After a few moments the men went out and left Mellen alone with the +suicide—in his excitement Mellen forgot Elsie's presence, and the +dreadful state she was in.</p> + +<p>"I am dying," said Ford; "I may live the night out—it don't matter! You +are glad to see my blood run—that's natural enough! Man, man, the +torment I go to isn't half as bad as that I shall leave behind for you."</p> + +<p>"Say quickly what you wish," exclaimed Mellen, forgetting even his +hatred in the dreadful picture his enemy made, his garments red with +blood, his face pale with the death agony, distorted with baffled rage +and hate. "I believe nothing you say—you cannot move me."</p> + +<p>"So be it," said the man. "These fellows have tied my hands—put yours +in my coat pocket—you'll find three letters, a paper and a roll of +money."</p> + +<p>Mellen obeyed, shuddering to feel the blood drops warm on his fingers as +he drew forth the package.</p> + +<p>"Read them," said Ford, briefly.</p> + +<p>Mellen opened one after another of the epistles and read—they were in +Elsie's writing—they proved the truth of the villain's assertions. The +smaller paper was a marriage certificate. The roll of bills—each note +for a thousand dollars—was the price of Elizabeth's bonds.</p> + +<p>Mellen staggered back with one heartbroken cry.</p> + +<p>"I have touched you," exclaimed the man! "There lies your precious +sister in a dead faint—here I am, dying, a criminal, but your +brother-in-law none the less—stoop down, I want to whisper something."</p> + +<p>Mellen bent his head, for his enemy was dying.</p> + +<p>"It is a fair certificate you see, but I was a married man all the +time."</p> + +<p>As Ford whispered these words a fiendish smile covered the lips on which +death was scattering ashes.</p> + +<p>Mellen started forward with a wild impulse to choke the ebbing life from +his lips, but they whispered hoarsely:</p> + +<p>"You can't fight a dying man—you'll only put me out of this cursed pain +if you choke me."</p> + +<p>Mellen stood transfixed.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you the story," continued Ford; "novels always have dying +confessions in them—hear mine. I tell you because it is too late to +remedy what you have done—your wife is gone—I'm glad of it. She was +ten thousand times too good for any of you. She's dead, I dare say; just +the woman to do it, without a word, and all for that little heap of +froth."</p> + +<p>Mellen could not speak; he felt about blindly for support, and sank into +a chair.</p> + +<p>"I always hated you," Ford went on, and the hatred of a life burned in +his voice and convulsed his face. "When we were boys together, I swore +to pay you off for getting that old man's money away from me, his +rightful heir. That was bad enough, but your insolent kindness, your +infernal, condescending generosity, was ten times worse. Mighty willing, +you were, to dole out money that was more mine than yours, and claim +gratitude for it. But I had a little revenge at the time, remember. I +took away the woman you loved—I cheated you out of money—that was +something, but not enough. I came back to this country just after you +sailed from Europe, and even before I ever saw the woman who became your +wife, or your sister, I had formed my plan—it succeeded. I met that +bunch of flimsy falsehood—I made her love me—made her mad for me—you +wince—I'm glad of it. But mind me, I would not have married her after +all, but that I thought she had inherited half her old uncle's property. +It would not have been worth while to saddle myself with a thing like +that. Then came your turn to laugh, if you had but known it. I was taken +in—sold. The creature had not a cent, and no hope of one if she +offended you.</p> + +<p>"It was a hateful position, especially as I did not care for the pretty +fool after the speculation failed, and what's better, she soon got over +caring for me, just as the other did, and wanted to be off her bargain. +I had given her a glimpse or two of my way of life. That did not +frighten her, but my poverty did. This little sister of yours has +luxurious tastes, and understands the value of wealth uncommonly well. +But she had told me just how far you had made your wife independent in +means. It was a pretty sum, and I saw a way of getting it.</p> + +<p>"Elsie had told me a great deal about your wife, and I made my own +observations, though she detested me from the first, some women will +take such fancies. I say nothing of certain wires that I had laid in the +basement region of your house.</p> + +<p>"The little goose yonder really believed that you had married that +glorious woman only as a companion for her—that you did not love her in +the least. I knew better; she was a woman to adore, worship for ever and +ever: and you are no fool in such matters, I know that of old our tastes +in that direction have always harmonized beautifully. Your wife adored +you; I can say this now that you have killed her, but that little witch +convinced her of the story she told me, and it was breaking her heart, +for that woman had a heart.</p> + +<p>"To save you from trouble and the creature that you worshipped even in +her presence from disgrace, I knew that she would give up everything, +even her life, which you have taken at last.</p> + +<p>"I told Elsie the truth, after I got a little tired of her, which was +early in the honeymoon; let her know frankly that I had a wife living in +Europe, though it was impossible for any one to prove it against my +will. The very day that I told her this I managed to convey some of her +letters to me—fond, silly things they were—into your wife's room. Then +I sent Elsie home to tell her own story.</p> + +<p>"The girl was mad, crazy as a March hare, went into hysterics, made an +insane effort to kill herself, took poison and heaven knows what else in +the presence of your wife. I knew she would, and set her loose for that +purpose. These tragedies were kept up till your wife, thinking your soul +bound up in the girl, and herself nothing in comparison, made a solemn +promise never to betray Elsie's secret, and to shield her from all harm +with her own life if needful. I heard this and knew that my money was +safe.</p> + +<p>"Your wife came to me, for I was not permitted to enter the house after +she found me out. There was a woman! I swear the only creature of the +sex that I ever respected. She was firm but grand in her generosity, +ready to sacrifice everything so long as it took Elsie out of my power. +I gave up more of the letters, reserving these three for use, unknown to +her. She raised all the money in her power at the time, but I kept the +certificate, resolved not to sell that without demanding the last cent +she possessed.</p> + +<p>"In telling my grand secret, I had been cautious to keep all possibility +of proof to myself. They knew that my first wife, your old lady love, +was living, but had no means of proving the fact, or even that I had +ever been married at all, otherwise my position might have been +dangerous; as it was, those two women were like flies in a spider's web.</p> + +<p>"Our child, your nephew, was born, and died, fortunately for us all. +They were obliged to trust me a little then. Your wife summoned me to +the house, for she was afraid to claim help from any other human +being—I went, and with my own hands buried it under a cypress tree in +your grounds. That heroic woman stood by and watched. She would not +trust me out of her sight, fearing that I might attempt to see Elsie, +whom she guarded like a mother bird when hawks are near. Noble soul. It +was all useless; I had no wish to see that faithless little imp, and as +for her, I dare say she was glad to get rid of me even at the bitter +cost she was paying. In fact I know she was, after that other noble +creature took up her burden.</p> + +<p>"Well, after this I got a little money from your wife now and then, +under threats of claiming my wife, which always brought her to +terms—remember I had told her she was not my legal wife, but held +proofs that she was—I could claim or reject her as I pleased.</p> + +<p>"But one day a new idea came into my head; I found out that you were +coming home just as the steamer which brought you was on the coast. That +your will had been made, leaving all you had to be equally divided +between your wife and sister. If you should never reach shore Elsie +would be worth claiming in earnest. But with that news came a letter +from my wife; against my commands she was following me to this country, +just when her presence was certain ruin."</p> + +<p>The man broke off in his narration here, evidently convulsed with more +than physical pain, specks of foam flew to his lips, great drops of +agony stood on his forehead.</p> + +<p>"Brandy; give me some brandy!" he cried out huskily. "Some brandy, I +say."</p> + +<p>Mellen poured some brandy into a glass and held it to his mouth. He +drank eagerly, and sank back to the floor again.</p> + +<p>"What's the use of talking about that? I would have saved her at the +last, and tried hard enough, but the storm was too much for me. After +all that, you baffled me and got on shore; the fiends must have guided +that pilot boat. I got frightened too. It was not a part of my programme +to go down with you."</p> + +<p>"Wretch!" said Mellen, struck with a sudden idea, "you were the person +who nearly lost me among the breakers."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Ford. "We both had a narrow chance, but the risk was +worth running—that is, if your will really was made—but when you once +touched shore all hope for me was over. I must leave America; I sent +word to your wife that I must have twenty-five thousand dollars or claim +my wife.</p> + +<p>"She was trying to get it; she gave me the bracelet as a bribe for +delay, one night when I came. Still of one thing I pledge you my soul, +it is pretty much all I have left now, your wife never dreamed that I +was your enemy, Ford. She knew I was a villain, and held the fate of +that pretty fool in my hands. Now you have the whole story. I came here +to-night because I had not heard from her; now I believe she's dead. I +thought I would see that girl there. Now, then, Grantley Mellen, are you +satisfied? You have driven your wife away, you could believe her guilty, +and pet that frivolous thing in her place!"</p> + +<p>"'When did I first see her?' when she was a flirty little school girl.</p> + +<p>"'When did I marry her?' what there was of it, remember—just after you +started for California, when the widow Harrington innocently brought me +a guest into this house against the wishes of its mistress, who had seen +me about the boarding-school, charming the canary birds with serenades. +Once or twice she caught me with my guitar playing the fool under her +own window. Of course she was not certain whether the homage was +intended for her or Elsie, but I think took it to herself and was +indignant, giving me in exchange for my music, such looks as a queen +might bestow on her slave. I rather liked her for it; that kind of +homage was not suited to her. The heap of thistle down yonder liked it. +She knew what it meant. The only deep thing about such creatures is +their craft. That girl is cunning as a fox. The pure, innocent thing, +for whom that splendid creature was sacrificed; if I were not dying, the +idea would make me laugh.</p> + +<p>"There, now are we even? You deprived me of a fortune I was brought up +to expect; I have managed to get some of it back. You loved a woman, and +I married her. You married another woman, the most glorious creature I +ever saw, and in a fit of jealous rage with me, turned her out upon the +world to die.</p> + +<p>"Tell me now, if my revenge has been complete?"</p> + +<p>Mellen ran to the door and opened it.</p> + +<p>"Come in," he cried to the officers. "Carry that man away! Take him to +the lodge; he shall not even die here."</p> + +<p>"As you will," cried Ford. "I will hold my tongue for that poor woman's +sake."</p> + +<p>He could not walk, so they carried him down to the lodge, and there, +while waiting for a doctor to come, he sat looking death in the face, +with the same desperate bravado that had marked his conduct all the +night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXVII" id="CHAPTER_LXXVII"></a>CHAPTER LXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>SEARCHING.</h3> + + +<p>Shriek after shriek from Elsie roused Mellen. She was raving in horrible +delirium, and when assistance arrived it proved that she had been seized +with brain fever, and there was scarcely a hope of her recovery.</p> + +<p>Standing there by her bed, this thought must have been a relief to +Mellen; but he did not forsake her, his pride was utterly crushed. He +longed to cast himself down by her side and die there.</p> + +<p>The next morning, when nurses and physicians arrived, Mellen left the +house. He was going out on an aimless search for his lost wife—the +woman who had given up her last hope for him and his.</p> + +<p>He learned at the lodge that the wounded prisoner had been carried to +the village by his own command; that he was alive still, but could not +last more than another day; that his name was North, and he was +well-known among the sporting gentry who came to the shore tavern. All +this was told him as news.</p> + +<p>Mellen hurried to the city and commenced his task. He sought for +Elizabeth in every place where there was a possibility of her having +taking refuge, but without avail. He used every means in his power to +make some discovery, but they were ineffectual.</p> + +<p>When night came he returned home, only to hear Elsie's mad shrieks and +laughter echoing through the desolate house, to pass the night with +those sounds ringing in his ears, and feel that terrible remorse tugging +at his heart.</p> + +<p>The next morning he started again on his errand. He was told in the +village that the man was dead. The story had gone abroad that he was a +daring burglar, and that the officers had surprised him breaking into +Mellen's house. He had found no strength to tell his story, so fear of +open disgrace perished with him.</p> + +<p>In the madness of his grief, Mellen had forgotten that Tom Fuller was +his guest. The young man's chamber was in another wing of the building, +and he heard nothing of the wild turmoil that distracted the family. Tom +was not a very early riser, and when he came down in the morning, +sauntering lazily into the breakfast-room, expecting to see Elsie there +in her pretty blue morning-dress and flossy curls, he found the room +empty, no table spread, and no human being to greet him.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is strange," said Tom; "but when Bessie is away things will +go to sixes and sevens, I dare be sworn. And Elsie isn't well, poor +darling! Hallo! there goes Mellen, riding like a trooper! What on earth +does all this mean? I am getting hungry, and lonesome, and——"</p> + +<p>Here Tom gave a jerk at the bell, and cast himself into an easy chair.</p> + +<p>Dolf presented his woe-begone face at the door.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Dolf? Isn't it breakfast-time? Where is your master +going—and—and—Well, Dolf, can't you tell me why Miss Elsie isn't +down?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Elsie, oh, sah, she am sick."</p> + +<p>"Sick, Dolf! You don't say that?" cried Tom, starting up, with his face +all in a chill of anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I mean just dat, and nothing else."</p> + +<p>"No, no; not very sick, Dolf," cried Tom, trembling through all his +great frame, "only a little nervous, a headache, or something of that +sort."</p> + +<p>"She's just ravin'—crazy—ask Vic if you don't believe me. The doctors +come in before daylight; I went after 'em myself. Robbers broke into de +house last night, sah, and frightened our sweet young lady a'most to +death."</p> + +<p>"Robbers, Dolf!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah. A gemman, too, as has been a visitor in dis dentical house. +Marster catched him in de act ob takin' out de silver, and de +gemman—robber, I mean—felt so 'shamed ob himself dat he up and banged +a bullet straight frough his own bussom, afore Miss Elsie, too!"</p> + +<p>"Poor thing; precious little darling," cried Tom; "Mellen's left her all +alone, and Elizabeth away; dear me! Dolf, Dolf, what was that?"</p> + +<p>"It's her a screaming."</p> + +<p>"What, Elsie, my Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah; dat am her."</p> + +<p>"Dolf, I say," cried Tom, in breathless anxiety, thrusting a ten dollar +gold piece into the negro's hand; "Dolf, would it be very much amiss, +you know, if I was to take off my boots and just steal up?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I doesn't 'zactly know; de fair sex am so captious 'bout us +gemmen; but Vic is up dar, and you can ask her, she knows all 'bout de +'prieties. Smart gal, dat Vic, I tell you; loves Miss Elsie, too, like +fifty."</p> + +<p>"Does she?" said Tom; "here's another gold piece, give it to her, with +my best regards, Dolf."</p> + +<p>Dolf pocketed the gold piece, and that was the last time it saw the +light for many a day. Tom took off his boots and crept upstairs in his +stocking feet, holding his breath as he went. Vic came out of the shaded +room, and the young man's grief softened her so much that she allowed +him to steal into Elsie's boudoir, where he sat all the morning +listening to the poor girl's muttered fancies, after bribing Vic with +gold pieces to leave the door open, that he might catch a glimpse now +and then of the beloved face, flushed and wild as it was.</p> + +<p>Generous, noble-hearted Tom Fuller; he had been really hungry when he +came from his own room, but all that was forgotten now, and there he sat +fasting till the shadows slanted eastward. Then he saw Mellen riding +towards the house at a slow, weary pace, which bespoke great depression.</p> + +<p>Tom arose and went downstairs, urged to meet his friend by the kindest +heart that ever beat in a human bosom.</p> + +<p>"She's better, I am quite sure; she slept two or three minutes; so don't +look so downhearted," he cried, seizing Mellen's hand as he dismounted. +"But where's Elizabeth? I thought you had gone after her."</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, my wife," answered Mellen, lifting his haggard eyes to Tom's +face. "She is gone—lost—dead. My friend, my friend, I have murdered +your cousin, murdered my own wife."</p> + +<p>"Murdered her; now I like that," said Fuller; "but where is she? not +gone off in a tiff. Bessie wasn't the girl to do that any way; but as +for murder, oh nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"Fuller, you are her only relative, and have a right to know. Come out +into the grounds, the air of the house would stifle me."</p> + +<p>They sat down together on a garden chair within sight of the old +cypress.</p> + +<p>"I have been a proud man, Fuller, sensitive beyond everything to the +honor of my family, but never knowingly have I allowed this feeling to +stand between my soul and justice. Your cousin has been terribly wronged +since she came under my roof. It is now too late for reparation, but to +you, her only relative, the truth must be known. I will not even ask you +to keep the facts secret. I have no right."</p> + +<p>"Look here, old fellow," said Tom, wringing Mellen's slender hand in +his; "if this is a lover's quarrel between you and Elizabeth, don't say +another word. Lord bless you! I can persuade her into anything, she +knows me of old. Besides, I am glad there is something that I can do to +make you both good-natured just now, for as like as not, I shall be +asking a tremendous favor of you before long, and this will pave the +way; tell me where your wife is, I'll take care of the rest."</p> + +<p>"Tom, I believe—I fear that she is dead."</p> + +<p>The solemnity with which this was spoken, appalled Tom.</p> + +<p>"Dead!" he repeated, and the ruddy color faded from his face. "Dead—you +can't mean it."</p> + +<p>"Listen patiently to me if you can," said Mellen, sadly. "This must be +told, but the effort is terrible."</p> + +<p>Tom folded his arms and bent his now grave face to listen. Then Mellen +told him all; the anguish, the deception, the anxiety which these pages +have recorded so imperfectly. There was but little exhibition of +excitement, Mellen told these things in a dull, dreary voice that +bespoke utter hopelessness. He was so lost in his own misery that the +signs of anguish in Tom's face never disturbed his narrative.</p> + +<p>When he had done Tom Fuller arose, and stood before him, white as death, +but with a noble look in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Mellon, give me your hand, for you and I are just the two most wretched +dogs in America at this minute. I loved her, Mellen, O God help me! I +love her as you did the other one. Great heavens, what can we do?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," answered Mellen; "I did not think another pang could be +added, and my soul recoils from this. Could she prove so base to you +also?"</p> + +<p>"Base; look here, Mellen, you don't take this in the true light. It was +all my fault. I forced myself upon her; I—I——"</p> + +<p>The poor fellow broke down, a convulsion of grief swept his face, and he +walked away.</p> + +<p>Directly he came back, holding out his hand.</p> + +<p>"Come, now let us search for Elizabeth," he said.</p> + +<p>"It is useless; I have searched."</p> + +<p>"But come with me—it was not in town you should have looked; Elizabeth +would not go there."</p> + +<p>Mellen arose and walked towards the bay. In passing a clump of +rosebushes Tom stopped to extricate a fragment of silk from the thorns.</p> + +<p>"What dress did she wear that night?" he inquired, examining the shred +in his hand.</p> + +<p>"I remember well, it was purple," answered Mellen, without lifting his +weary eyes from the ground.</p> + +<p>"Come this way, for she has been here," said Tom. "This path leads to +the fishpond."</p> + +<p>They walked on, Tom searching vigilantly all the thickets he passed, and +Mellen looking around him in terror lest the dead body of his wife +should appear and crush his last hope for ever.</p> + +<p>"She has been this way," said Tom, when they reached the pond. "See, +that tuft of cat-tails has been broken. No, no, don't be afraid to look; +see yonder where the bushes are swept down; she went away towards the +shore."</p> + +<p>Mellen groaned aloud. This was his most terrible fear. They walked on, +taking a path that curved round the bay, and leaving the shore tavern on +the right, went down to the beach. It was now sunset, and a golden glow +lay upon the waters till they broke along the beach like great waves of +pearls and opals drifting over the Sound together, and melting in the +sand. Near the two men was a winrow of black seaweed, on which great +drops of spray were quivering. Something in the appearance of this dark +mass arrested Tom's attention. He went up to the pile of weeds and +kicked them apart; a dark sodden substance, compact and heavy, lay +underneath. He took it in his hands, gave the weeds that clung to it a +shake, and held it up. Mellen came forward, his white lips parted, his +breath rising with pain. He reached forth his hand, but uttered no word.</p> + +<p>It was the ample shawl that Elizabeth had worn that night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN BENSON'S TAVERN.</h3> + + +<p>She was dead! That fiendish man had spoken the truth—Mellen believed it +now. Elizabeth was dead, and he had killed her—that noble, grand woman, +so resolute in her sacrifice, so determined to save that girl, to +preserve him from the hardest shock to his honor and pride, had offered +herself up to death, body and soul.</p> + +<p>Those few moments of conviction changed him more than many years would +have done. The pride and anger which had helped to aid him in his first +grief were gone now—he was the wronger—searching for the wife he had +driven forth to perish. And she was dead!</p> + +<p>No clue—no hope!</p> + +<p>He did not touch the shawl, but leaving Tom Fuller, went back and sat +down in Elsie's room, with the sick girl's delirious cries smiting his +ear, and terrible images rising before his eyes of Elizabeth—dying, +dead—drowned and dashed upon some lonely beach, with her cold, open +eyes staring blankly in his face.</p> + +<p>Tom dropped the shawl in a wet mass at his feet, and walked away without +attempting to detain or comfort the stricken husband. He too believed +Elizabeth dead, and had no heart to offer consolation. Indeed, the pang +of sorrow that this conviction brought took away his own strength.</p> + +<p>He walked on, over the wet sands of the beach, ready to cry out with the +anguish of this sudden bereavement, when the figure of old Caleb Benson +cast its long shadow on the shore.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, Mr. Fuller, and alone? I'm mighty pleased to find any one +from the Cove—most of all you."</p> + +<p>"Do you want me for anything particular?" asked Tom in a husky voice; +"if not I—I'm engaged just now."</p> + +<p>"Well, yes; I must tell you," said the old man. "I've bin to your house +twice—once in the night—I thought mebby I'd see the young gal."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Tom, in the impotence of his grief.</p> + +<p>"She made me promise not to tell—but whatever's wrong, you're her +cousin, and can't be hard on her—she's dreadful sick."</p> + +<p>Tom caught his arm.</p> + +<p>"My cousin—are you talking of my cousin, Mrs. Mellen?"</p> + +<p>"Why yes, sure enough, though she never will forgive me for telling +you."</p> + +<p>"But where is she? Where is she?" shouted Tom. "How did you find her? +Who got her out of the water? Great heavens, old man, can't you speak?"</p> + +<p>"Well, this is the way it was," answered the old man. "T'other night, or +morning, for it was nigh on to daylight, I was eating breakfast with the +young uns, when one on 'em got scared by a face at the winder looking in +on us as we eat. I jist got one sight of the face, and kinder seemed to +know it. So up I jumps, and on with my great coat, and out into the fog. +Something gray went on afore me, and I follered, for sometimes it looked +like a woman, and sometimes not. Down it went, making a bee-line for the +beach, and I arter it full split, for it travelled fast, I can tell you. +The night had been kinder rough, and the waves dashed up high, +considering that the storm wasn't nothing much to speak on. But the +woman, for I could see that it was a woman now, went right straight on, +as if she'd made up her mind to pitch head forred into the sea and drown +herself the first thing.</p> + +<p>"This riled me up, and I went on arter her like a tornado, now I tell +you. But jist as I was reaching out both hands to drag her back from a +wave that came roaring along, it broke, and the undertow sucked her in +right afore my face.</p> + +<p>"Now some folks might a pitched in arter her, but I knew better'n that. +We should both on us have gone to kingdom come and no mistake if I had. +Not a bit of it; I planted myself firm and waited. Sure enough the +second wave arter that came tearing along, tossing the poor cretur up +and down like a wisp of seaweed, and pitched her ashore right in my +tracks.</p> + +<p>"In course the next wave would have dragged her out to sea agin, but I +got hold of her shawl and tried to haul her back, but the tarnal thing +gave way, and I had just time to drop it and make a grab at her clothes, +when it came crashing over us agin. But I held on, and planted myself +firm, so it only dragged us both a foot or two and went roaring off. +Then I got a fair hold of the lady and dragged her up the beach out of +harm's way. But I really thought that she was dead; the daylight broke +while she lay on the sand, and then I saw who it was, and the sight of +her cold face drove me wild. I took her up in my arms and carried her +home. There was a good fire burning, and my darter is used to taking +care of sich cases. So she wrapped her in hot blankets, and worked over +her till the life came back."</p> + +<p>"And she's alive—doing well," cried Tom, "at your house; old Benson, +you're—a—a—trump. If I hadn't given away every gold piece I had in my +pocket, you should have a double handful—by Jove, you should! But never +mind, just come along, I must have one splendid hug, and then for the +Cove. No, no, that won't be fair after all," thought the generous +fellow, "Grant must have the first kiss, he must tell her——"</p> + +<p>The thought of what must be told her went through the poor fellow's +brain like an arrow of fire. But he dashed into the path which led to +Piney Cove, calling back to Benson, "Don't tell her anything!" and +strode away.</p> + +<p>Breathless, eager, forgetful of his own great sorrow, Tom cleared the +distance between the shore and Piney Cove with enormous strides. He +crossed the lawn almost at a run, leaped up the steps two at a time, and +found Mellen lying upon a sofa in the balcony, with his face to the +wall.</p> + +<p>"Get up, old fellow, get up and shake yourself," he cried, seizing upon +Mellen and turning him over as if he had been a Newfoundland dog in the +wrong place; "I've found her—by Jove, I have!—she's at old Benson's. +Isn't he a brick? She's well—no, she isn't quite that according to the +latest accounts, but by all that's sacred, your wife is alive!"</p> + +<p>Mellen started to his feet, bewildered, wild.</p> + +<p>"Tom Fuller, is this true?"</p> + +<p>"Do I look like a man who tells lies for fun?" said Tom, drawing himself +up.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen her—is my wife truly alive?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—no—no—I haven't seen her—was in too great a hurry for that. But +she's there at Benson's tavern, just as sure—as sure—as a gun."</p> + +<p>Mellen brushed past the kind fellow while he was hesitating for a +comparison. His saddle horse stood at the door—for he had been too +excited for any orders regarding it. He sprang upon its back and dashed +across the lawn, through the grove and out of sight, quickly as a fast +horse could clear the ground. He drew up in front of old Benson's house, +leaped off and rushed in.</p> + +<p>"Where is she?" he cried, to the frightened woman who met him. "My +wife—where is she?"</p> + +<p>A cry from the upper room answered his words; he dashed into the +apartment. There, on the humble bed, lay Elizabeth, pale and changed, +but alive!</p> + +<p>She was cowering back in deadly terror—putting out her hands in wild +appeal.</p> + +<p>"I'm going away," she moaned; "don't kill me! I can start now—I'll +go—I'll go!"</p> + +<p>He fell on his knees by the bed, he was telling the truth in wild, +broken words.</p> + +<p>"Only forgive me, Elizabeth; only forgive me; my wife, my darling, can +you forgive me? You would if my heart lay in your hands. Oh, Elizabeth, +speak to me!"</p> + +<p>She could not comprehend what he was saying at the moment; when she did +understand, her first thought was of the girl—his sister.</p> + +<p>"Elsie! Elsie!"</p> + +<p>"She is ill—dying perhaps. Oh, my wife! my wife! Try to speak—say that +you forgive me."</p> + +<p>She was too greatly agitated for words then, but she put out her hands +with a gesture he understood. He lifted her in his arms and folded her +close to his heart. She lay in their passionate clasp with a long sigh +of content.</p> + +<p>"God is very good," she whispered; "oh, my beloved, let us thank Him."</p> + +<p>There, in that lowly room, Grantley Mellen held his wife to his bosom +and the last fire of his old wrong impetuous nature, went out forever in +thankfulness and tears.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXIX" id="CHAPTER_LXXIX"></a>CHAPTER LXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>RECONCILIATIONS.</h3> + + +<p>Elizabeth Mellen was home again—home under her husband's roof, for ever +at home in his heart. She sat in her dressing-room. The autumnal +sunshine came through its windows, with a rich, golden warmth. A hickory +wood fire filled the room with additional cheerfulness, which was +scarcely needed, for that awful chill had left her heart for ever. A few +days of supreme happiness had given back the peach-like bloom to her +cheek and the splendor to her eyes. Full of contentment, all the +generous impulses of her character rose and swelled in her bosom, till +she longed to share her heaven with anything that was cast down or +unhappy.</p> + +<p>The door between her room and Elsie's boudoir was open, and through it +she could hear a soft, pleading voice amid a struggle of sobs and tears. +Prompted by tender sympathy, Elizabeth half-rose from her easy-chair, +but fell back again, murmuring:</p> + +<p>"No, no, she will best find her way to his heart alone. God help her to +be frank and truthful."</p> + +<p>Still she listened, and her beautiful face grew anxious, for the +sternness of her husband's voice, in answer to those feeble plaints, +gave little hopes of conciliation. Directly Mellen came through the +boudoir and sat down on a couch near his wife, shading his face with one +hand, not wishing her to see how much he was disturbed. Elizabeth arose, +bent over him, and softly removed the hand from his eyes.</p> + +<p>"For my sake, Grantley," she said, "for my sake."</p> + +<p>Generous tears filled her eyes, pleading tenderness spoke in her voice. +Her lips, tremulous with feeling, touched his forehead.</p> + +<p>"For my sake, Grantley."</p> + +<p>Mellen lifted his eyes to hers—a mist, such as springs from the unshed +tears of a strong man, softened them. She fell upon her knees by his +side, laid her head upon his bosom with soft murmurs of entreaty which +no living man could have resisted.</p> + +<p>Mellen folded her close, and touched his lips to her forehead with +tender reverence.</p> + +<p>"For your sake, my beloved; what is there that I would not do for your +sake?"</p> + +<p>"And this forgiveness is perfect," she questioned.</p> + +<p>"Her fault from this hour is forgotten, sweet wife."</p> + +<p>"It was terrible—more terrible than you dream of. When I tell you that +she had engaged herself secretly to Thomas Fuller, even your mercy may +be qualified."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth withdrew from her husband's arms and bowed her lovely face for +a moment in sad thoughtfulness. Then she looked up, smiling faintly.</p> + +<p>"Elsie is so thoughtless—she does not mean the wrong she does poor +Tom—still we must not be unmerciful, so once more let us forgive her +wholly—without reservation."</p> + +<p>A knock at the door disturbed them. It was Victoria, who came to +announce Mr. Fuller, who was close behind her.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth, I've come back. It was no use trying to stay in that +confounded city. To save my life I couldn't do it," he said, pushing by +the pretty mulatto and closing the door upon her. "Can I see her +now—only for once, you know?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth blushed crimson.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom, you don't know your——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do know."</p> + +<p>"And still wish to see her?"</p> + +<p>"Why not? of course I do; because one—infernal villain—excuse me, I +won't talk. Where is she?"</p> + +<p>Elizabeth, a little shocked and quite taken by surprise, glanced towards +the blue boudoir. In Tom strode and shut the door resolutely after him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXX" id="CHAPTER_LXXX"></a>CHAPTER LXXX.</h2> + +<h3>TOM ACCEPTS THE SITUATION.</h3> + + +<p>Lying upon a couch, over which that pale marble statue was bending with +its cold lilies in mocking purity, lay a pale little creature, covered +with a pink eider-down quilt, which but half concealed a morning dress +of faint azure; quantities of delicate Valenciennes lace fluttered, like +snowflakes, around her wrists and bosom, and formed the principal +material of a dainty little cap, under which her golden tresses were +gathered. She looked like a girl of twelve pretending womanhood.</p> + +<p>When Tom came in she uttered a sudden cry, flung up her hands and +dropped them in a loose clasp over her face, which flushed under them +like a rose.</p> + +<p>Tom walked straight to the couch, drew one of the fragile gilded chairs +close to it, and sat down.</p> + +<p>"Don't—don't—go away. It's cruel. I shall faint with shame," she +cried, trembling all over.</p> + +<p>"Not till you have answered me a few questions," said Tom, firmly. +"Questions that I have a right to ask and you must answer."</p> + +<p>Elsie drew the little hands slowly from her face and looked at him. The +blue eyes—grown larger from illness—opened wide, her lips parted. That +was not the lover she had trifled with and domineered over. She was +afraid of him and shrunk away close to the wall.</p> + +<p>"Elsie, one word," said Tom, pressing a hand firmly on each knee and +bending towards her.</p> + +<p>Her lips parted wider, and she watched him with the glance of a +frightened bird when a cat looks in at the door of its cage.</p> + +<p>"You have come to torment me," she faltered.</p> + +<p>"Torment you! I! It isn't in me to do that. Torment! I do not know what +it is."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you want of me then?"</p> + +<p>"What do I want, Elsie, dear? What do I want? Nothing but God's truth, +and that I will have!"</p> + +<p>Elsie's eyes grew larger, and the flush of shame left her face.</p> + +<p>"I can't—I can't tell you the truth, Tom Fuller, now. Elizabeth can say +enough to make you ready to kill me, but I would rather die than talk of +it."</p> + +<p>"I know all that Elizabeth can tell me," said Tom, resolutely.</p> + +<p>"What did you come for, then?"</p> + +<p>"To ask this one question: Did you love that man?"</p> + +<p>A shiver of disgust ran through her and broke out in her voice:</p> + +<p>"Love him! No! At first it seemed as if I did; but after I saw what he +was and how he lived, it was dreadful, I hated him so."</p> + +<p>"But how came you married to him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; I never could tell. It was when we went on that picnic. +He asked me to walk with him. It was good fun to set you all wondering, +and I went. He took me down the hill and towards the beach, close by the +tavern. We had been flirting for weeks then in New York and here, for he +always met me when I went out to walk or ride, or anything; but I never +thought of marrying him in earnest, upon my sacred word. Well, that day, +just as we came to the tavern, he said, 'Let us stop a moment and get +married; there is a clergyman in here.'</p> + +<p>"I didn't believe him, and said so. 'Come in and see for yourself,' was +his answer. I went in laughing. A gentleman sat in one of the rooms, and +Mr. North's mulatto servant, who was sauntering about the door when we +came up, followed us in. I don't know what possessed me. Perhaps for the +minute I loved him; it seemed to me that I must stand up when the +strange man rose. He only said a few words, and before I really believed +it was a true ceremony the man said I was Mr. North's wife, and wrote +out a paper, which I dropped, thinking that I should be really married +if I took it, but which Mr. North picked up, saying I did not know its +value."</p> + +<p>"The scoundrel! The infamous, double-dyed scoundrel!" cried Tom. "But +you didn't love him—you didn't love him?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Elsie, shaking her head. "I tried my best to get away from it +all, but it was of no use. Then he petted me so, and told me how +beautifully we would live somewhere in Europe, and I thought him so +rich. But it was my money he meant to use. He thought that half of +uncle's property was mine, and when I told him how it was, oh, I won't +tell you how rude he became. Just after he told me about that other +person."</p> + +<p>Elsie broke off here, and covered her face with both hands again. Tom +saw the scarlet glow where it shot up to her temples and bathed her +white throat, and gave his hands one hard grip in a wild desire to +strike something.</p> + +<p>"There comes a question," he said, hoarsely; "did you leave him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; that very hour."</p> + +<p>"And never saw him again?"</p> + +<p>"Never but once; and then I ordered him out of the house."</p> + +<p>"Because you hated him so?"</p> + +<p>Tom seized both her hands as he asked this question, and wrung them till +she could scarcely keep from crying out with pain.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how I did hate him!" she exclaimed, shuddering.</p> + +<p>"Elsie," said Tom, "look into my face, straight into my eyes."</p> + +<p>She obeyed him, with a look of piteous appeal.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever love me?"</p> + +<p>Her hands were locked together, she lifted them up with more of energy +than he had ever witnessed in her before.</p> + +<p>"Did you?" repeated Tom, and a glow came into his face.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>The word had scarcely left her lips when Tom flung the gilded chair back +and fell on his knees, gathering her up in his arms with a wild outburst +of feeling.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll be d—— hung and choked to death if anything on God's +beautiful earth keeps me from marrying you!"</p> + +<p>She clung to him, she lifted her quivering lips to his.</p> + +<p>"Say it again, just once, darling?" cried Tom, shaking back his tawny +locks with energy. "Is this love downright, honest, whole-hearted love?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!"</p> + +<p>"God bless you, darling! And when was it? about what time did it begin?"</p> + +<p>She answered him honestly, but with a faltering voice:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom, I'm afraid it wasn't till after you got so rich. Don't think +hard of it; I do love beautiful things so much—but indeed, indeed I +love you more."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm glad the old covey left me all his money. I don't care a +d—— red cent why you love me, only I must be sure that it's a fixed +fact. Now I'll go straight out and tell Bessie."</p> + +<p>Elsie turned cold.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom, she'll never consent to it."</p> + +<p>"Won't she! I'd just like to know why?"</p> + +<p>"And my brother, he is so cold, so unforgiving."</p> + +<p>"Is he? then I'll take you away to a warmer climate. But don't believe +it; he's proud as a race-horse, but you'll find him a trump in the end."</p> + +<p>"Don't go yet, Tom, I am afraid they will—"</p> + +<p>"No, they wont," cried Tom, and away he went into Elizabeth's +sitting-room, with tears sparkling in his eyes and a generous flush on +his face.</p> + +<p>"Mellen," he said, wringing Grantley's hand, "I want to be married +to-morrow, and carry her away."</p> + +<p>"Fuller, what is the meaning of this?" demanded Mellen, pained and +surprised, while Elizabeth stood up aghast at this sudden outburst.</p> + +<p>"It means just this, Mellen, I don't care a tin whistle for what has +gone before, and I feel strong enough to take care of anything that may +come after. Your sister loves me, and I love her, that's enough. I am +satisfied, and—there—that's enough. The whole thing is a family +secret, and who is going to be the wiser. I only hope they have dug the +fellow's grave deep enough, that's all."</p> + +<p>"But, Fuller, have you reflected?"</p> + +<p>"Reflected! I've done nothing else for a week, and this is just what it +has brought me to. So give us your hand."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth came up to Tom, put her arms around his neck, and burst into +tears.</p> + +<p>"That's the time o' day," shouted Tom. "Silence gives consent; now just +give us a good brotherly grip of the hand, Mellen, and it's all right."</p> + +<p>Tom folded one arm around his cousin, and held out the other a second +time. Mellen took it in his, wrung it warmly, and left the room.</p> + +<p>"Just go in and comfort her a little, Bessie, poor darling, she's afraid +you won't consent."</p> + +<p>"Generous, noble fellow," said Elizabeth, kissing him with warmth; "but +where will you go? what will you do? It is all so very sudden."</p> + +<p>"Do! what on earth can I do but love her like distraction? Go! any place +where she can find life and fun, plenty of shopping. Paris, isn't that a +nice sort of place for pretty things? I think we'll go to Paris first. +But, I forgot, Rhodes's daughter, the old maid, is waiting for you +downstairs. Victoria would have told you if I hadn't shut her out."</p> + +<p>Elizabeth went down, leaving Tom in the only spot he cared to occupy on +earth. She found Miss Jemima in a state of wild commotion, with her +riding-dress buttoned awry, and one of her gauntlets torn half off with +hard pulling.</p> + +<p>"Did you know it? had you any suspicion?" she demanded, confronting +Elizabeth like a grenadier; "I could think it of your sister, but +you—you—"</p> + +<p>"What is it? I know nothing," answered Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"They are married, absolutely married; my par and that painted lay +figure you introduced to him, that Mrs. Harrington."</p> + +<p>"What, your father married to her!" cried Elizabeth; "you surprise me."</p> + +<p>"It's a solemn truth, though a disgraceful truth, but she shall never +come into the house that shelters me. I'll burn it down first. Where's +your sister?"</p> + +<p>"She is ill in her room."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I dare say. But she's had a hand in this, and I'll pay her for it, +or my name isn't Jemima Rhodes. Tell her so, with my compliments. Good +morning!"</p> + +<p>With this abrupt adieu the spinster took herself off, tugging away at +her gauntlet, or what was left of it, and diversifying the movement with +a vicious crack of her whip now and then.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth smiled and went upstairs again. Thus the great events of the +day ended.</p> + +<p>In less than a week Tom Fuller was quietly married, and took his wife at +once on board a steamer bound for Europe. She had come forth from her +sick room greatly subdued and changed in many respects, but able, from +her peculiar character, to put a veil between her and the past, which +would have been impossible to a woman like Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>I am happy to state that Dolf's treachery met with its proper reward. +Clorinda succeeded in saving her money, and she married the parson, +leaving Dolf to his shame and remorse. Victoria gave him the cold +shoulder, and made herself so intimate with a new male Adonis, who came +to the house as domestic, that Dolf's days were full of misery and his +nights made restless with legions of nightmares.</p> + +<p>The house by the sea shore stands up in its old picturesque stateliness, +and within the sunshine never fails, and the summer of content is never +disturbed.</p> + +<p>Old Benson, a very short time after these events, became possessed of a +fine tract of land running back from the point where his house stood; +how he paid for it, and got a clear deed, no one could tell except +himself and Mr. Mellen. It is certain that both of these men knew how to +keep a secret, for to this day it is utterly unknown in the +neighborhood, that Elizabeth ever lay ill and suffering in that good +man's house. The servants speak of her visit to New York about that +time, and so this great family mystery ended.</p> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MRS_ANN_S_STEPHENS_WORKS" id="MRS_ANN_S_STEPHENS_WORKS"></a>MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>A NOBLE WOMAN.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>PALACES AND PRISONS.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4"><i>MARRIED IN HASTE.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6"><i>RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i8"><i>THE CURSE OF GOLD.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>WIVES AND WIDOWS; OR, THE BROKEN LIFE.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>THE REJECTED WIFE.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4"><i>THE GOLD BRICK.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6"><i>THE HEIRESS.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>FASHION AND FAMINE.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>THE OLD HOMESTEAD.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4"><i>SILENT STRUGGLES.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6"><i>MARY DERWENT.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>THE WIFE'S SECRET.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4"><i>MABEL'S MISTAKE.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6"><i>DOUBLY FALSE.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Noble Woman, by Ann S. 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Stephens + +Release Date: September 27, 2009 [EBook #30111] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NOBLE WOMAN *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + A NOBLE WOMAN. + + BY MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS. + +AUTHOR OF "PALACES AND PRISONS," "FASHION AND FAMINE," "MARRIED IN +HASTE," "MABEL'S MISTAKE," "DOUBLY FALSE," "WIVES AND WIDOWS," "MARY +DERWENT," "THE HEIRESS," "THE REJECTED WIFE," "THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS," +"THE OLD HOMESTEAD," "RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY," "THE CURSE OF GOLD," "THE +WIFE'S SECRET," "THE GOLD BRICK," "SILENT STRUGGLES," ETC. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by +T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. + + +"A Noble Woman," is the name of the new novel written by Mrs. Ann S. +Stephens. Its pages are replete with incidents of absorbing interest, +and her admirers will read it with avidity, and with a zest which would +indicate that the freshness and interest of each of her new novels are +still as potent as were her earliest productions. The leading characters +are carried through a series of exciting adventures, all of which are +narrated and drawn out with such ingenuity that the reader's attention +is kept on a tension of interest from the opening page to the close of +the volume. This is the great secret of Mrs. Stephens' success--her +readers cannot get out of her influence. She does not fatigue them with +the subtleties of metaphysics or philosophy. She gives you a thrilling +story, pure and simple, sensational if you please, and she leaves the +whole affair in the hands of her readers, feeling quite secure of a +favorable verdict on every new emanation from her pen. "A Noble Woman" +will prove to be the most popular novel that she has ever written. + +PHILADELPHIA: +T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS; +306 CHESTNUT STREET. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +I.--A PROPOSAL + +II.--TOM THE GROOMSMAN + +III.--A FRIGHT AND A RESCUE + +IV.--HIGH FESTIVAL AT PINEY COVE + +V.--A BALL IN THE BASEMENT + +VI.--THE WEDDING + +VII.--THE FIRST CLOUD + +VIII.--THE BRIDE'S WELCOME HOME + +IX.--COUSIN TOM VISITS PINEY COVE + +X.--SHADOWS OF A SEPARATION + +XI.--THE BALL + +XII.--TOM MAKES A DECLARATION + +XIII.--WHO COULD IT HAVE BEEN? + +XIV.--THE HUSBAND'S LAST CHARGE + +XV.--MRS. HARRINGTON'S FRIENDS + +XVI.--THE WIDOW'S FLIRTATION + +XVII.--STARTING FOR THE PIC-NIC + +XVIII.--FACE TO FACE + +XIX.--LETTERS + +XX.--AN INTERVIEW IN THE WOODS + +XXI.--FIRE AND WATER + +XXII.--AMONG THE BREAKERS + +XXIII.--DEAD AND GONE + +XXIV.--HOME IN A STORM + +XXV.--THE SUNSHINE OF THE HOUSE + +XXVI.--SUNSHINE AND STORMS + +XXVII.--COURTSHIP IN THE KITCHEN + +XXVIII.--THE DEAD SECRET + +XXIX.--TOM FULLER'S LETTER + +XXX.--THE WIDOW'S FASCINATIONS + +XXXI.--THE HEIR COMES HOME + +XXXII.--THE GAUNTLET BRACELETS + +XXXIII.--SEARCHING FOR THE BRACELET + +XXXIV.--BELOW STAIRS + +XXXV.--MRS. MELLEN AND HER COUSIN + +XXXVI.--LURED INTO DANGER + +XXXVII.--THE AFTER STRUGGLE + +XXXVIII.--A HALF UNDERSTANDING + +XXXIX.--TRIFLES LIGHT AS AIR + +XL.--TWO FACES IN THE GLASS + +XLI.--SECRECY IMPOSED ON TOM FULLER + +XLII.--THE RIDE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES + +XLIII.--KINDLY ANXIETIES + +XLIV.--ALMOST DEFIANCE + +XLV.--THE TIGER IN HIS DEN + +XLVI.--THE PAWNBROKER'S SHOP + +XLVII.--TEASING CONTINUALLY + +XLVIII.--THE PET MESSENGER + +XLIX.--ELSIE FINDS THE BRACELET + +L.--IN THE TEMPEST + +LI.--THE OLD CEDAR TREE + +LII.--WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE + +LIII.--CLORINDA'S GHOST STORY + +LIV.--THE SABLE FORTUNE HUNTER + +LV.--IN THE NET + +LVI.--THE SECRET TELEGRAM + +LVII.--KITCHEN GOSSIP + +LVIII.--THE INTERCEPTED TELEGRAM + +LIX.--FORCED HOSPITALITY + +LX.--WAITING FOR THE HOUR + +LXI.--THE MIDNIGHT SEARCH + +LXII.--UNDER THE CEDAR + +LXIII.--FACE TO FACE + +LXIV.--BURIED OUT OF SIGHT + +LXV.--THE HUSBAND RELENTS + +LXVI.--GONE + +LXVII.--UTTER LONELINESS + +LXVIII.--PLANS AND LETTERS + +LXIX.--ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS + +LXX.--ALMOST A PROPOSAL + +LXXI.--FUTILE PLEADINGS + +LXXII.--TOM FULLER RETURNS + +LXXIII.--A FEAST AND A LOVE FEAST + +LXXIV.--THAT MONEY IN THE BANK + +LXXV.--UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS + +LXXVI.--THE CONFESSION + +LXXVII.--SEARCHING + +LXXVIII.--IN BENSON'S TAVERN + +LXXIX.--RECONCILIATIONS + +LXXX.--TOM ACCEPTS THE SITUATION + + + + +A NOBLE WOMAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A PROPOSAL. + + +She was eighteen years old and would graduate in a few weeks, yet Elsie +looked like a child, lying there in that little white bed, with her +golden curls scattered on the pillow and the soft whiteness of her neck +and hands shaded by the delicate Valenciennes with which her night robe +was profusely decorated. A quantity of hot house flowers lay scattered +on the counterpane, where the girl had flung them, one by one, from a +bouquet she was still tearing to pieces. A frown was on her pretty +forehead, and her large violet eyes shone feverishly. It was seldom +anything half so lovely appeared in the confined sleeping rooms of that +highly fashionable boarding school. Indeed, since its foundation it is +doubtful if a creature half so beautiful as Elsie Mellen had ever slept +within its walls. + +Just as the girl had littered the whole bed with flowers, which she +broke and crushed as a child breaks the toys he is weary of, the door of +the room opened, and a young lady entered, with a plate of hot-house +grapes in her hand. She was older than the sick girl by two or three +years, and in all respects a grave and most womanly contrast. Calm, +gracious and dignified, she came forward with an air of protection and +sat down by the bed, holding out her grapes. + +"See what your brother has sent you." + +The girl started up and flung back the hair from her face. + +"From Piney Bend," she exclaimed, lifting one of the purple clusters in +her hand, and crowding two or three of the grapes into her mouth at +once, with the delicious greed of a naughty child. "Oh, how cool and +nice. Dear old Grant, I wonder when he is coming." + +"Sometime to-day, the messenger said," answered the young lady, and a +soft peach-like bloom swept over her face as she spoke. + +Elsie was looking at her friend; and a quick, mischievous light came +into her own face. + +"Bessie," she murmured, in a voice mellowed and muffled by the grapes in +her mouth. "Don't tell me anything--only I think--I think--oh! wouldn't +it be fun?--there, there, how you are blushing." + +"Blushing, how foolish! But I am glad to see you well enough even to +talk nonsense." + +"Nonsense! look here, Miss Prim: if you're not in love with my brother +Grantley Mellen, I never was in love with anybody in my life." + +"Elsie!" + +"There, there! I shan't believe a word you say--more than that, I +believe he's in love with you." + +No blushes burned that noble face now, for it grew white with a great +surprise, and for a moment Elizabeth Fuller's heart ceased to beat. + +Could this be true! These light, careless words from a young girl seemed +to shake the foundation of her life. Did she love the man, who for three +weeks had been a daily visitor in that sick room, whose voice had been +music to her, whose eyes had been so often lifted to hers in tender +gratitude. Could her heart have proved so cruelly rebellious? Then the +other impossible things the girl had hinted at. Elsie had not meant it +for cruelty, but still it was very cruel, to startle her with glimpses +of a heaven she never must enter. What was she but a poor orphan girl, +teaching in that school in order to pay for the tuition which had +refined and educated her into the noble woman she unconsciously was. Of +course Mr. Mellen was grateful for the care she had taken of his +beautiful sister, and that was all. Elsie was almost well now, and would +leave the school that term. After that there was little chance that she +would ever see Grantley Mellen again. + +"What on earth are you thinking about?" questioned Elsie, still busy +with her grapes. "Just tell me if we are to be sisters,--and I'm set on +it--you shall know all my secrets; it'll be so nice to have some one +that won't tell,--and I'll know yours. To begin, dear old Bessie: +_somebody_ sent me these flowers, and I hate 'em. It's my way. So many +at once, it stifles me. I wish he could see 'em now; wouldn't he just +long to box my ears--there, that's my first secret." + +"But who is the man, Elsie?" enquired Miss Fuller, really disturbed by +this first confidence; for the girl was her room-mate, and had been +placed particularly under her care. + +"Oh, that's my second secret--I'll tell you that when you're Grant's +wife. You haven't told me about your own adorer yet." + +"How could I? One does not talk of lovers till they come." + +"Oh Bessie Fuller; what a fraud you are! Just as if he hadn't been under +this very window again and again: just as if the flowers that get into +our room, no one can guess how, did not come from him. Why, half the +girls in school have seen him prowling round here like a great, +handsome, splendid tiger!" + +"What are you talking of, Elsie?" + +"No matter; I shan't tell Grant, he must think himself first and +foremost--what a lovely sister-in-law you will make." + +"Elsie, my dear girl----" + +"Don't interrupt me--don't say you wouldn't have him: that you like the +other fellow better, and all that. I tell you Grant is a prince, and you +shall be his princess. He's awful rich, too; our horrid old uncle left +him everything. I haven't got the value of a hair bracelet all my +own--that's another secret. The girls all think we share and share +alike, and I want them to keep up the idea; but you are different. Don't +you see it would be horrid hard for me if my brother should marry some +close, stingy thing, that might even grudge me a home at Piney Bend; but +with you--oh Bessie! Promise me that you will marry him." + +Here Elsie flung down the stem of her grapes, and reaching out her arms, +threw them lovingly around Elizabeth's neck. + +"Promise me, promise me!" + +"You foolish darling! Lie down and be quiet, or I shall think you +light-headed again." + +"But you shall, I declare you shall!--Hush! there is some one at the +door. Come in!" + +A servant opened the door and informed the young ladies that Mr. Mellen +was in the parlor. + +"Tell him to come up," said Elsie. + +The servant went out, and Elsie sat up among her pillows, twisting that +splendid mass of hair around her head. As she stooped forward, her eyes +fell on the litter of broken flowers, and she called out eagerly, + +"Oh Bessie, do sweep them up; throw them out of the window, under the +bed, anywhere, so that he does not know about them. There would be no +end to his questions, if he saw so much as a broken rose bud." + +Elizabeth swept up the scattered flowers with her hands and cast them +through the open window, scarcely heeding what the girl said about them, +in the agitation of the moment. As she turned from the open sash, +Grantley Mellen came into the room. He was indeed a grand and noble +looking man, with dignity in his manner, and character in his face; +evidently possessed of strong but subdued passions, and a power of +concentration that might engender prejudices difficult to overcome. That +he was upright and honorable, you saw at a glance. When he sat down by +that fair young creature, and took her hand in his, the tenderness in +his voice and eyes thrilled Elizabeth to the heart. Elsie it simply +gratified. + +"Why Bessie," she said, with threatening mischief in her eyes, "you +haven't spoken to Grant yet." + +"Because he was occupied with you," answered Elizabeth with grave +dignity, that kept down the rebellious spirit in Elsie's eyes. "Now I +will shake hands with Mr. Mellen and go down to my class." + +With a gentle, but not altogether unembarrassed greeting, the young lady +went out of the room, leaving the brother and sister together. + +Two days after this scene in Elsie's chamber, Elizabeth Fuller stood in +one of the parlors of the establishment with her hand locked in that of +Grantley Mellen; startled, trembling, almost terrified by the great +happiness that had fallen upon her. He had asked her tenderly, +earnestly, and with a thrill of passion in his voice, to become his +wife. + +The girl had not answered him: she literally could not speak; her large +gray eyes were lifted to his, wild with astonishment one moment, soft +with exquisite love light the next. + +"Will you not speak to me?" + +She attempted to answer him, but smiles rather than words parted her +lips; and tears, soft as dew, flooded the joy in her eyes. What did the +man want of words after that? + +They sat down together on the nearest couch, and scarcely knowing how, +she found her heart so close to his, that the two seemed beating +together in a wild, sweet tumult. The glow of his first kiss was on her +lips; he was telling her in earnest, broken words, how fondly, how +dearly he loved her. Nobly would she feel herself mated when she became +the mistress of his home. + +There was something besides smiles on those beautiful lips now. The +heart has its own language, and in that she had answered him. + +"Do I love you?" she said; "who could help it? Is there a woman on earth +who could refuse such happiness? I forget myself, forget everything, +even the poor pride that might have struggled a little against the +disparity between us which seems lost to me now. I did not think it +would be so sweet to accept everything and give nothing." + +"You certainly love me and no other living man!" he said in answer to +her sweet trustfulness. "Tell me that in words! tell me in looks! Make +me sure of it." + +"Love you! Indeed, indeed I do. Never in my life have I given a thought +of such feelings to any man. If you can find happiness in owning every +pulse of a human soul, it is yours." + +"I believe it and accept the happiness; now my wife--for in a few weeks +you must be that--let us go up to Elsie. She must be made happy also, +for the dear child loves you scarcely less than I do." + +A thought of something like shame shot through the joy of the moment, +with Elizabeth. Had Elsie suggested this? + +"Will she be pleased? Will she be surprised?" + +"I hope so, I think so!" was Mellen's frank answer; "for hereafter, my +sweet wife must be a guardian angel to the dear child, for she has been, +till now, the dearest creature to me on earth." + +"I, too, have loved her better than anything," said Elizabeth. + +"Have I not seen that? Yes, I am sure we shall make Elsie perfectly +happy. She has dreaded the loneliness of my home. Now it will be bright +as heaven for her and for me." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +TOM THE GROOMSMAN. + + +Music in the Central Park! Such music as made the flowering thicket, +covered with late May blossoms, thrill in the soft air and glow out more +richly from the sweet disturbance. It was a glorious afternoon, the +lawns were as green as an English meadow, and my observation of +beautiful things has no higher comparison. All the irregular hills, +ravines, and rocky projections were so broken up with trailing vines and +sweet masses of spring-flowers, that every corner and nook your eye +turned upon, was like a glimpse of paradise. + +This was the still life of the scene, but above and beyond was +congregrated that active, cheerful bustle which springs out of a great +multitude bent on enjoyment--cheerful, luxurious, refined, or otherwise, +as humanity is always found. Carriages dashed in and out of the crowd, +the inmates listening to the music or chatting together in subdued +voices: groups of smiling pedestrians wandered through the labyrinths of +blooming thickets, or sat tranquilly on rustic seats sheltered by such +forest trees as art had spared to nature. The whole scene was one of +brilliant confusion; but out of the constantly shifting groups, forms so +lovely that you longed to gaze on them forever, were now and then given +to the beholder; and equipages vied with each other that might have +graced the royal parks of London or Paris without fear of criticism. + +Just as the sun began to turn its silver gleams into gold, the music +ceased with a grand crash. The final melody was over, and the swarm of +carriages broke up, whirled off in different directions, and began to +course about the ring again, or drive through the various outlets +towards Harlem, Bloomingdale, or the city, which lay in the soft +gathering haze of the distance. + +Among the stylish equipages that disentangled themselves from the crowd +was a light barouche, cushioned with a rich shade of drab which had a +pink flush running through it, and drawn by a pair of jet-black horses. +The carriage was so perfect in its proportions and so exquisitely neat +in its appointments, that it would have been an object of general +admiration during the whole concert, had not its inmates carried off +public attention before it had time to settle on the vehicle. + +The eldest, a woman of thirty-two or three, elegantly dressed and +generally recognized, seemed to be the mistress, for it was her gloved +hand which gave the signal for moving, and the coachman always looked to +her for directions. + +A slight gesture indicated home, the moment she saw her equipage free +from the crowd, but the lovely young creature on the front seat uttered +a merry protest and gave a laughing counter-order, threatening the elder +lady with her half-closed parasol, till the point lace which covered it +fluttered like the fringed leaves of a great white-hearted poppy. + +"Only a short drive," she said; "you can't want to go into the house, +dear Mrs. Harrington, such a heavenly day as this." + +"But, my love, I have forty things to do!" + +"All the more reason why you should neglect every one of them, since it +is not possible for you to do them all," replied the young girl, with a +laugh and a pretty wilful air that few people could have resisted. +"Elizabeth, are you tired?" + +The young lady whom she addressed had been leaning back in her seat by +Mrs. Harrington, quite regardless of this laughing contention, looking +straight before her in a smiling, dreamy way, which proved that the +brightness of the scene and the spell of the music had wiled her into +some deep and pleasant train of thought. + +Her friend spoke twice before she heard, laughing gayly at her +abstraction, and Mrs. Harrington added-- + +"Do come out of dreamland, dear Miss Fuller; I am sure I cannot manage +this wilful little thing without your help." + +The young girl shook her parasol again in a pretty, threatening way as +she said-- + +"You are not tired, Elizabeth?" + +"Tired! Oh no; it is very pleasant," she replied, in a voice that was +low and musical with the sweetness of her broken reverie. + +"See, you are in the minority, Mrs. Harrington," cried Elsie Mellen. +"You had better submit with a good grace." + +"Oh, I knew Elizabeth dared not side against you; she spoils you worse +than anybody, even your brother." + +"But it's so nice to be spoiled," said Elsie, gayly; "and you must help +in it, or I shall do something dreadful to you just here before +everybody's eyes." + +She clenched her hand playfully, as if to carry her threat into instant +execution, and Mrs. Harrington cried out-- + +"I promise! I promise! James, take another turn." + +The man turned his horses with a broad sweep, taking the road around the +largest lake. Here the spoiled beauty ordered him to stop. She wanted to +look at the swans, "such great, white, lovely drifting snowballs as they +were." Mrs. Harrington made no objection, but leaned back with a +resigned smile on her lips. + +A person possessed of far more imagination than Elsie Mellen ever +dreamed of, might have stopped on the very road to paradise to gaze on +that pretty, Arcadian scene. + +The lake was one glow of silver, broken up in long, glittering swaths by +troops of swans that sailed over it with leisurely gracefulness, now +pausing to crop the short grass from the sloping banks, or ruffling +their short white plumage, and stretching their arched necks for +payments of fruit whenever they came near a group of children, or saw a +rustic from the country, who was sure to delight in seeing the birds +feed. + +The sunshine came slanting in from the west, cooling half the park with +shadows, and lighting the rest with gleams of purplish gold. The paths +around the margin of the lake, and all the sloping banks were alive with +gayly dressed people, and a single boat, over which a flock of gay +parasols hovered like tropical birds, mirrored itself in the water. + +"Now see what you have gained by obeying my orders," exclaimed Elsie, +casting her merry eyes over the scene. "I declare the swans look like a +fleet of fairy boats. How I would like to sail about on one! There, that +will do James, drive on." + +"Home?" inquired the man. + +Before his mistress could answer, Elsie broke in--"Yes, Mrs. Harrington, +since you are properly submissive, we will go home, if you wish." + +"Oh, I only proposed it because we have so much to do. I should enjoy a +longer drive. Indeed, now that you have suggested it, we will take at +least one turn." + +"That's a darling," cried Elsie; and, without further ceremony, she +ordered the coachman to take the Bloomingdale road, laughing out +something about dying for old sheep instead of lambs. "But I want to +stop at Maillard's," protested Mrs. Harrington, "and I then must see +about--" + +"Oh, never mind, we shall have time enough," exclaimed Elsie. "Drive +like the wind, James, the moment you get beyond these horrid policemen. +I wouldn't have anybody pass us for the world." + +The coachman obeyed, and directly those two black horses were dashing +along the road in splendid style, leaving care and prudence far behind +them. + +Elsie was in her element, wild as a bird and gay as the sunset. She +talked and laughed incessantly, saying all sorts of merry things in a +childish fashion, that kept Mrs. Harrington in explosions of laughter, +more natural than she often indulged in, while Elizabeth Fuller leaned +back in her seat, listening, absently sometimes, to their graceful +banter, glancing at the young girl with affectionate admiration of her +youthful loveliness, but oftener losing herself in the pleasant train of +thought which had absorbed her all the afternoon. + +Three persons more unlike in appearance than these ladies, it would have +been difficult to find; but a casual observer would probably have been +most attracted by the buoyant loveliness of Elsie Mellen. + +She was eighteen,--but seemed younger with her fair curls, her brilliant +bloom, and the childish rapidity with which smiles chased each other +across her face. She looked the very personification of happiness, with +a bewitching _naivete_ in every word or movement, that made her very +childishness more captivating than the wisdom of older and more sensible +women. + +Mrs. Harrington was a stylish, dashing widow, with a suspicion of rouge +on her somewhat faded cheeks, and an affectation of fashionable +listlessness which a look of real amiability somewhat belied. She was +one of those frivolous, good-natured women, who go through life without +ever being moved by an actual pleasure or pain, so engrossed by their +petty round of amusement, that if they originally possessed faculties +capable of development into something better, no warning of it ever +touches their souls. + +Really the most noble and imposing person present was Miss Fuller. The +contrast between her grave, sweet beauty and the frivolous loveliness of +the other two, was striking indeed. Sometimes her large gray eyes seemed +dull and cold under their long black lashes, and the dark hair was +banded smoothly away from a forehead that betokened intellectual +strength; the mouth was a little compressed, giving token of the +reticence and self-repose of her nature, and a classical correctness of +profile added to the quiet gravity of her countenance. + +But it was quite another face when deep feeling kindled the gray eyes +into sudden splendor, or some merry thought softened the mouth into a +smile--then she looked almost as girlish as Elsie herself. + +But grave or smiling, it was not a face easy to read, nor was her +character more facile of comprehension, even to those who knew her best +and loved her most. + +She looked very stately and queen-like, wrapped in her ample shawl and +leaning back in her seat with a quiet grace which Mrs. Harrington +attempted in vain to imitate. Indeed, the effort only made the ambitious +little woman appear more fussy and affected than ever. + +"Here comes Tom Fuller," cried Elsie, suddenly. "Was there ever such an +ungraceful rider! Just look at him, Bessie, and laugh, if he is your +cousin. I insist upon it!" + +"Oh, I think he's such a love!" cried Mrs. Harrington. "Deliciously +odd." + +"I'll tell him you said that," cried Elsie; "just to see him blush." + +"Oh, don't!" exclaimed the widow, clasping her hands as if she thought +Elsie was about to stop the carriage and inform him then and there. +"What would he think?" + +The young man at whom Elsie was laughing quite unrestrainedly, rode +rapidly towards them, and when he saw Elsie, his face glowed with a +mingled expression of pleasure and embarrassment that made her laugh +more recklessly than ever. + +He made a bow almost to the saddle, nearly lost his hat, and did not +recover his presence of mind until the carriage had dashed on, and he +was left far behind to grumble at his own stupidity. + +"It is too bad of you to laugh at him," said Elizabeth Fuller, a little +reproachfully. + +"Why, darling, he likes it," cried Elsie, "and it does him good." + +"I am sure his devotion to you is plain enough," said Mrs. Harrington, +with a sentimental shake of the head. "Hearts are too rare in this world +to be treated so carelessly." + +"Oh, don't!" exclaimed Elsie. "You'll be repeating poetry next! Tom is a +nice man, just a great awkward lump of goodness; but I must laugh at +him. Dear me, what a groomsman he will make! Bessie, I know he will step +on my dress." + +"I hope so," Elizabeth replied, good naturedly; "I shall consider you +served right." + +"Oh," cried Mrs. Harrington, roused by a fear she was fully capable of +appreciating, "it would be such a pity to have all that beautiful +Brussels point torn--do caution him, my dear." + +"No," said Elsie, with mock resignation, "Bessie insists upon having him +for groomsman, and I shall let him put his foot through my flounces with +perfect equanimity, by way of showing my affection for her. Talk of +giving your life for your friends, what is that in comparison to seeing +your flounces torn!" + +Her companions both laughed, but Elizabeth said seriously, "When you +know Tom better, you cannot help respecting him; he is my one relative, +and I love him dearly." + +"Of course," said Elsie, "and I mean to be his cousin, too; but it is my +cousinly privilege to laugh at him." + +"Perhaps he will not be content with a cousinly regard," said Mrs. +Harrington, mysteriously. + +Elizabeth glanced quickly at Elsie, with a little trouble in her face, +but the girl laughed, and replied-- + +"Oh yes, he will; Bessie is his ideal--he will never think of poor +little me." + +"Family affection is so sweet!" added Mrs. Harrington. Elsie made a +grimace, and hastened to change the conversation, for there was nothing +she dreaded so much as the widow's attempt at romance and sentiment. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A FRIGHT AND A RESCUE. + + +For some time the ladies rode on in silence. Then Elsie broke into a fit +of ecstasy over the horses. + +"They are so perfectly matched," she said. "Brother Grant needn't have +been doubtful about them; he sha'n't persuade you to change them, shall +he?" + +"They are beautiful creatures," Bessie observed, absently. + +"Naturally, Mr. Mellen was anxious that they should be entirely safe," +said Mrs. Harrington, theatrically, "for he has trusted his dearest +treasures--his sister and his betrothed wife--to me; and if there is +danger, it is for them as well as me." + +"What a pretty speech!" said Elsie. "I know you got it out of a novel!" + +Elsie had a gay scarf wound about her neck, and began complaining of the +warmth. + +"I would not take it off," Mrs. Harrington urged, "you will be certain +to get cold." + +"There is no danger," replied Elsie; "I shall smother, wrapped up in +this way." + +"But you must keep it on!" + +"Indeed, I won't; there!" + +They had a playful contention for an instant, then Elsie snatched the +scarf from her neck with a triumphant laugh, and held it up beyond Mrs. +Harrington's reach. + +A sudden rush of wind carried the light fabric out of her hand, and it +sailed away like a gorgeous streamer. Elsie gave a little cry, but it +was frozen on her lips. One of the horses had been restive from the +first. The scarf floated over his head, curved downward, and one end got +entangled with his bridle. The shy, spirited creature gave a wild bound, +communicated like terror to his companion, and away the frenzied pair +dashed, taking the coachman so completely by surprise, that he was +helpless as a child. It was one of those brief occurrences which pass +like lightning to lookers-on, but seem an eternity to the persons in +danger. Mrs. Harrington's shrieks rang out sharp and shrill; Elsie gave +one shuddering moan, and crouched down in the bottom of the carriage, +hiding her face in Elizabeth's dress. + +Elizabeth Fuller was deathly pale. She realized the full terror of their +situation. She uttered no shriek, but clasped her arms around Elsie, and +strove to speak a few reassuring words to Mrs. Harrington, which were +drowned by the woman's terrified shrieks. + +Elizabeth looked desperately down the road over which the horses were +rushing like wild desert steeds. The carriages in sight were turned +quickly on one side, and their inmates seemed uncertain how to assist +them. Any attempt to stop the frightened and infuriated animals +threatened certain death. + +Elizabeth saw this, and her heart died within her. They were now at the +top of a long hill, keeping the road, but hurled onward like lightning. +At the foot of the hill was a loaded cart, its driver vainly striving to +whip his team out of the way. The brave girl saw this new danger, and +fell back with a groan. She knew that the carriage would be whirled +against that ponderous load, and dashed to atoms. Effort was hopeless, +she could only stretch forth her arms, draw Elsie close, close to her +cold heart, and pray dumbly that she might in mercy be permitted to die +for _his_ sister. + +Still, in her anguish and terror, she looked out beyond the leaping +horses, as they thundered down the hill. The man had sprung from his +cart, and, with his whip in both hands, was lashing his overtasked +beasts in frantic terror. Beyond him came a person on horseback, riding +furiously. But they were close to the cart now. It was still more than +half across the road. Sick with dread, she closed her eyes, holding +Elsie close, and turning, as it were, to stone, with the shrieking young +coward in her arms. + +In another instant there was a shock which threw them all off their +seats; and when Elizabeth could realize anything, or recover from the +deafening effect of Mrs. Harrington's cries, she knew that the horses +had been stopped--the peril was over. + +The gentleman she had discovered through blinding clouds of dust, riding +swiftly towards the hill, had seen their danger, dismounted, and with +ready presence of mind, prepared to seize the horses the instant the +carriage struck against the cart. + +One wheel was forced partially off, but there was no other harm done. +Elsie and Mrs. Harrington had both flung themselves on Elizabeth, so +that she could neither see nor hear; but the widow discovering that she +was still alive, made a little moan, and began to shake out her flounces +when she saw the gentleman who had rescued them standing by the side of +the carriage. + +"You are safe, ladies," he said, opening the door; "you had better get +out and walk on to the hotel--it is only a few steps." + +"How can we ever thank you!" sobbed Mrs. Harrington. "You are our +preserver--we owe you our lives!" + +He smiled a little at her exaggerated manner, which would break out in +spite of her real terror, and helped her to alight from the carriage. + +"We are saved," moaned Elsie, lifting herself from Elizabeth's bosom. +"I'm not hurt--I'm not hurt!" + +She was lifted out of the carriage, and stood trembling by Mrs. +Harrington. For the first time, relieved of their weight, Elizabeth was +able to move and look up. + +The stranger was standing by the carriage with his arm extended to +assist her. She partially rose--then, and without the slightest warning, +beyond a deep, shuddering breath, sank back insensible. + +Elsie and Mrs. Harrington gave a simultaneous cry, but there was no +opportunity for the widow to go into hysterics, as she had intended, +since the stranger and the footman were fully occupied in lifting +Elizabeth from the broken carriage. Elsie was crying wildly, "Bessie! +Bessie!" and wringing her hands in real affright. + +"She has only fainted," said the stranger hurriedly; "we will carry her +on to the hotel." + +He raised the insensible girl in his arms, and carried her down towards +the inn, as if she had been a child; while her companions followed, +sobbing off their terror as they went. + +Once in the house, and the stranger out of the way, Mrs. Harrington +recovered her wits sufficiently to give Elizabeth assistance, and +restore her to consciousness. + +Elizabeth opened her eyes, gave one glance around, and closed them +again. + +"Are you hurt?" cried Elsie. + +She shook her head. + +"What made you faint so suddenly?" demanded Mrs. Harrington. "The danger +was over." + +Elizabeth made a strong effort at self-control, sat upright, and tried +to answer. + +"I can't tell--I--" + +"Do you know that gentleman?" asked Mrs. Harrington. + +"Why, how can she?" said Elsie. + +"Well, she fainted just as she looked at him." + +Elizabeth controlled herself, found strength to rise, saying in reply to +Mrs. Harrington's repeated inquiries-- + +"How should I know him?--what folly!" + +But she was trembling so violently, that they forced her to lie down +again. + +"Stay with her, Elsie," said the widow, "I will go and see how we are to +get home." + +She went out of the room, and in the hall encountered the gentleman just +as she had expected. + +She overwhelmed him with protestations of gratitude, to which he +listened with no great appearance of interest, though Mrs. Harrington +was too completely dazzled by his brilliant appearance and manner to +perceive the absent, preoccupied way in which he received her. + +"I don't know how we are to get home," she said. + +"Your coachman has engaged a carriage from the hotel-keeper," he +replied; "it will be ready in a few moments. Your own horses are not +hurt, luckily." + +"I don't know what Mr. Mellen will say!" she exclaimed. "He warned me +not to keep the horses." + +The stranger turned quickly toward her, with a sudden flush on his face. + +"May I know whom I have had the pleasure of assisting?" he asked. + +"I am Mrs. Harrington," she replied, "of ---- street. I am so--" + +"And your friends?" + +"Miss Mellen, the sister of Grantley Mellen; and the other lady is his +betrothed wife." + +"She! That--" + +"Yes, yes! Dear me, if any accident had occurred, how terrible it would +have been! They are to be married next week," continued the widow, +hurriedly. "Mr. Mellen is out of town, and will not be back till just +before his wedding. Oh, I shudder to think! Dear, dear sir, how can I +thank you!" + +The servant came up that moment to say that a carriage was ready to take +the ladies back to the city, and the gentleman escaped from her flood of +meaningless gratitude. + +Mrs. Harrington ran back to call her friends, and found Elizabeth quite +composed and strong again. + +"He's the most magnificent creature!" exclaimed the widow. "And you +don't know him, Elizabeth?" + +"Have I not said so? Come, Elsie." + +As she passed into the hall, Elizabeth hurried on, leaving Mrs. +Harrington to repeat her thanks, and Elsie to utter a few low, and +apparently thankful words, to which he listened with more interest than +he had done to all the widow's raptures. + +They were in the carriage: the door closed; the stranger gave his +parting bow, Elizabeth leaned further back in her seat, and they drove +on, leaving him standing in the road. + +"His name is North," said Mrs. Harrington. "Such an adventure! What will +Mr. Mellen say?" + +"We won't tell him yet," Elsie replied; "it would only frighten him. Be +sure and not mention it, dear Mrs. Harrington." + +"Oh, of course not,--just as you like. But what a handsome man that was! +North--North? Who can he be? I have never met him!" + +"Whoever he is, he has saved our lives," said Elsie. + +"Yes, yes! But, dear Miss Fuller, how oddly you acted!" + +"Do put up your veil, Bessie," added Elsie. + +Elizabeth obeyed, showing her face, pale and tremulous still. + +"I was very much frightened," she said; "I think my side was hurt a +little--that was why I fainted." + +She made no other answer to their wondering questions, and they drove +rapidly back to Mrs. Harrington's house. + +The stranger stood upon the porch of the hotel, looking after the +carriage so long as it was in sight, with a strange, inexplicable +expression upon his handsome face. + +After a time, he roused himself, mounted his horse, and rode slowly back +to the city. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HIGH FESTIVAL AT PINEY COVE. + + +On the shores of Long Island, where the ocean heaves in its wildest and +most crystalline surf, a small cove had broken itself into the slopes of +an irregular hill, after generations of beating storms and crumbling +earth, taking a crescent shape, and forming one of the most picturesque +bits of landscape to be found along the coast. The two points or +promontories that stretched their green arms to the ocean, were clothed +with thickly growing white pines, scattered with chestnuts, and a few +grand old oaks. The country sloped beautifully down to this bright sheet +of water, and swept around it in rocky points and broken groves, giving +glimpses of rich grass-land, more luxuriantly cultivated than is usual +to that portion of the island. As you looked on the scene from the +water, a house was visible on the hillside, and came in full view as the +shore was approached. It was a noble stone mansion, old as the hills, +people were used to say, and solid as their foundations. The house had +been a stately residence before the Revolution, and, without an +earthquake or a ton of powder, would remain such for a century to come. + +Whatever the body of the house had been in the good old times, when +ornament was little thought of, it was now rendered picturesque by lofty +towers, and additional wings with oriel windows and carved balconies in +one direction; while the other wing clasped in a conservatory, of which +nothing could be seen from the distance but wave upon wave of rolling +crystal emerald, tinted like the ocean by the wealth of green plants +they covered. + +This was the residence Grantley Mellen had inherited from a maternal +uncle just after his first struggle in life commenced. It was backed by +many a fruitful field and broad stretch of timber-land, which altogether +went under the title of Piney Cove. + +Grantley Mellen, since he became possessed of the estate, had completed +the work his uncle commenced when he built the two grand towers, and a +more picturesque building could not well be imagined, with its broad +lawn, its clumps of forest trees, and that magnificent ocean view, which +was broken only by the pine groves on the two points. + +This was by no means the only house visible from the cove. As you turned +the southern point, a village was seen down the coast; and about half +way between that and the pines was a wooden house, brown and +weather-beaten, standing unsheltered on the bleak shore. Back of this +house, shutting out all prospect but that of the ocean, was a tall +cliff, covered with ragged yellow pines and stunted cedars, from which +on stormy nights many a quivering flame had shot upward, luring ships to +their ruin. Still, with this grim protest against the name looming +behind it, the lonely old house was called "The Sailor's Safe Anchor," +and was known all along the coast as a fishing-lodge and small tavern. + +But once within the cove, you saw no sign of habitation save the mansion +house and its appurtenances. + +Grantley Mellen had been some weeks at the cove, renovating and +preparing the house for the reception of his bride; for it was +understood that he intended henceforth to make it his permanent +residence. But the wedding-day was near, and he had gone up to the city, +leaving the last preparations to the care of a singular class of +household servants, one of his uncle's philanthropic importations from +the South, where he had owned a plantation, and emancipated all its +slaves except a half dozen, that would only accept liberty on condition +that they might follow the old man to his northern home. + +Grantley had accepted this sable household with the general inheritance; +for, spoiled and pampered as family negroes are apt to be, they had +proved generally faithful and obedient. + +Though a very reverential and submissive person when her master was +present, Clorinda, who had appointed herself housekeeper of the +establishment, was apt to get on to a very high horse indeed when there +was no superior authority to hold her in check; and, on this particular +occasion, she was absolutely what she declared herself--"chief cook and +bottle-washer." + +This sable functionary was very busy two or three mornings before the +time set for her master's wedding, not only in the general preparations +for that event, but with a grand idea of her own, which she was +earnestly carrying into effect. If the house was going into the hands of +a new mistress, the colored persons of the establishment had resolved to +commemorate the event in advance with a grand entertainment. + +To this end, Clorinda, who appointed herself lady patroness in general, +had betaken herself to Mr. Mellen's library with Caleb Benson, the +high-shouldered, bald-headed occupant of "The Sailor's Safe Anchor," and +the person whose prerogative it had been to supply fresh fish to the +family at Piney Cove. Besides this, he performed a good deal of work in +the grounds, and made himself generally useful. + +This morning Benson had come up to the house at Miss Clorinda's special +request, in order to assist in the literary department of the coming +entertainment. Neither Clorinda nor any of her dark compeers could read +or write, but invitations must be sent out after the most approved +fashion; and Clorinda had a fancy that the neighborhood of so many books +would be a great help, so she led Caleb with august ceremony into the +spacious library, and laid a quantity of pink note-paper and yellow +envelopes, all covered and embossed with silver, on the table before +him. + +"Jes set down, Mr. Caleb, and write dem tings out special," she said, +rolling up a great leathern chair, and patting its glossy green cushions +enticingly. "Set down, Caleb, an' write, for I know yer kin." + +Caleb laid his cap on one chair, and his stout walking-stick across +another. Then he rubbed the hard palms of his hands fiercely together, +and sat down on the edge of Mr. Mellen's chair, that threatened to roll +from under him each moment. + +"Now, Miss Clo, what is it you want of me? I'm on hand for a'most +anything." + +"I knows you is, and ales wuz, Caleb; that's why I trusted yer wid de +delicatest part ob dis entertainment. 'Member its premptory to de +weddin'." + +"Preparatory, isn't that the correct word, Miss Clo?" + +"Well, take yer chice, if you ain't suited, Caleb Benson." + +"Wal, wal; don't git out to sea afore the tide's up, old woman." + +"Ole woman! Ole woman yerself, Caleb Benson!" retorted Clorinda. + +"Jes so!" answered the fisherman, seizing upon the largest steel pen to +be found, and grinding it on the bottom of a bronze inkstand. Clorinda +put both hands to her mouth, and would have cried out; but, remembering +how few teeth she had to be set on edge, thought better of it, and stood +in glum silence while Caleb made his preparations. + +That remarkable functionary had a piece of business before him which +threatened to task the resources of his genius to their full extent, but +he was not the man to shrink from the responsibility which his desire to +retain a high place in the powerful Clorinda's good-will had induced him +to accept. + +"Now, then," said Caleb, giving his chair another hitch, dipping his pen +afresh into the inkstand, and holding it suspended over the paper, with +a threatening drop slowly collecting on the nib. "Now we'll get under +weigh just as soon as you give the signal." + +"Tak car ob de ink!" shrieked Clorinda, pulling the paper from under his +hand in time to preserve it from the great blot of ink that descended on +the table-cover instead. "Dat's a purty splotch, now, ain't it; yer a +nice hand, Caleb Benson!" + +"Taint much, nobody'll ever notice it," said Caleb, wiping it off with +his coat-sleeve. "Don't raise a breeze about nothin', Clorindy." + +"Don't talk to me 'bout breezes," she retorted, in an irritated tone, +for Clorinda, I am sorry to say, had not even a fair portion of the +small stock of patience which usually falls to our sex. "I 'clar to +goodness dere ain't nothin' so stupid as a man. I jis hate de hull sect +like pison, I duz." + +"Oh, no you don't, Clorindy," he replied, "you hain't got so old yet but +what you can hold your own with the youngest of 'em when there's a fancy +mulatter chap round." + +"What doz yer mean by ole!" cried Clorinda. "I tells you what, Caleb +Benson, ef yer only undertuk this job to be a aggrawatin' and insultin' +me, you and I's done! I ain't gwine to stand sich trash, now I tells +yer! Is dis yer thanks fur all I'se done? Who got ye de run ob de house, +I'd like to know; who sot ye up for selling better fish than anybody in +de neighborhood; who nebber said nothin' when de soap-fat all +disappeared, and you said it had melted in de sun; who fixed up +mince-pies fur you; who--" + +There is no telling to what extent Clorinda might have carried her +revelations, but the old man interrupted her with all the excuses he +could think of at so short notice. + +"I was just funning, Clorindy; don't go off the handle. In course I want +to obleege you. Thar, thar! Now what do you want to have wrote? We ain't +going to quarrel--old friends like us." + +"Ain't we!" cried Clorinda, folding her arms. "Then jis you keep a civil +tongue, dat's all. Times is changed, and der's a new misses a comin'; +but you may all onderstand dat I rules de kitchen yet, and I'se gwine +to." + +"Sartin, sartin! Wal now, about these here billet ducks," said Caleb, +cunningly; "I must hurry up, you see, or I shan't get round afore +night." + +Clorinda forgot her injured feelings in excitement about the party, and +ordered him to commence work without farther delay. + +"Wal," said Caleb, spreading out the paper again, "I'll leave a blank +for the names, that'll save trouble. I reckon you want somethin' like +this--'Miss Clorindy and Miss Victory's compliments--'" + +"What's Vic got to do wid it, I'd like to know?" Clo burst in; "it's my +party, just 'member dat. It's enough to hev her company, widout her +settin' up for a hostage." + +"Any thing to suit," said Caleb, patiently. "Wal, then I'll say that +Miss Clorindy hopes to have the pleasure of Mr. so and so's company, and +wants to see you to a little tea drinkin' this evening." + +"Lord!" cried Clo. "If ye hain't got no more larnin' dan dat, I'd better +find somebody else! Do yer tink I got pink paper and silver-sprigged +'welopers to write sich trash on? Tea drinkin' indeed! Why dis here's to +be a rigler scrumptious, fash'nable 'tainment! I want yer to say, 'Miss +Clorindy consents her most excruciating compliments, and begs to state +that, owing to de 'picious ewent ob de master's weddin', she takes dis +opportunity to 'quest de 'stinguished company ob Mr. Otheller Jones for +dis evenin', to a reparatory 'tainment; and she would furder mention dat +dare will be plenty ob weddin'-cake, wid a ring in it, ice cream in +pinnacles, red and white, and a dance in de laundry to fiddles.' Dar, +dat's somethin' like." + +"Yes," said Caleb, quite breathless; "now tell it to me as I get ahead, +'cause it's a mighty long rigmarole." + +"Oh," added Clorinda, "den at the bottom you must put--' P. S.--Yaller +gloves and 'rocur pumps, if convenient.'" + +That last touch of elegance quite upset Caleb, and he began to think +that if Clorinda was black, and couldn't write her name, she really was +a wonderful woman. Clo was so softened by his applause that they got on +very harmoniously, and the invitations were written out in Clorinda's +peculiar phraseology and in Caleb's largest hand. As it was an affair of +importance, he put capitals at the beginning of nearly every word, +sometimes in the middle and altogether the writing made such a show, +that Clorinda was delighted. + +"Don't forget de P. S.," said she. + +"Yes," said Caleb, making a tremendous flourish. "P. S.--Yaller gloves +and 'rocur pumps, if convenient." + +Clo inspected the first note as carefully as if she could read, +expressed her approbation, and urged him on, till, with much labor, +Caleb completed the requisite number, put them safely in their gorgeous +envelopes, and directed them to the persons Clorinda mentioned. + +"Now, jis be as quick as you kin," she said; "I'se got to go back to see +to tings--can't trust dat Vic, no how! Wal, I guess Mr. Dolf'll see de +difference 'tween folks and folks." + +Benson knew that Dolf, Mr. Mellen's own man, was a special weakness of +Clorinda's, though it was only her reputation for accumulated wages +which induced that dashing yellow individual to treat her with any +attention. + +Caleb received his last instructions, and started on his mission, which +was successfully fulfilled. Then he took his way homeward after going +back to the house to acquaint Clorinda with the result, which was equal +to her expectations, and that was saying a great deal. + +As he approached the little tavern, he saw a gentleman standing on the +steps, with a colored servant guarding a pile of guns, fishing-rods, and +other tackle, with which idle men frequently came down from the city to +endure Caleb's humble fare for a while, and gratify their masculine +propensity for destruction. + +But this gentleman was a stranger to Caleb, and he looked at him +enviously, though with the approbation which his appearance would have +elicited from more refined judges. + +"I suppose you are Caleb Benson," the gentleman said, throwing away the +end of a cigar, as the old man mounted the steps. + +"Wal, they call me so, sometimes," replied Caleb; for the instincts of +his New England birthplace had not deserted him, and he never answered a +question in a straightforward manner, if he could help it. + +"Some friends of mine told me I could find very comfortable quarters +with you," pursued the stranger. "I have run down to see the place, and +take a day's duck shooting. I want to engage rooms, and leave my traps +here, so that I can come over whenever I feel like it." + +"I want to know,--mean to have a good long shute do you!" said Caleb. +"Wal, I guess I could fix you up, if you ain't too particular." + +"I am not at all particular what I pay," replied the gentleman; "I +suppose that is satisfactory." + +"I ain't going to say 'tain't," returned Caleb, his eyes beginning to +twinkle at the prospect of a liberal guest, who meant to come +frequently. + +"I reckon you'd like to see what I can do in the way of rooms, Mr., +Mr.----Wal, I don't think I quite ketched your name." + +"Mr. North," said the stranger, smiling at the man's shrewdness. + +He stood for a few moments talking with Caleb, and though the old fellow +was not easily pleased, he was quite fascinated by the stranger's +manner; and, having a very vague idea of princes, was almost inclined to +think that this splendid-looking creature might be one who had strayed +over from his native kingdom on a fishing excursion. + +"Now let me see the rooms," said Mr. North. "I suppose my man may as +well carry the traps up stairs now--the place is certain to suit me." + +Caleb looked at the stylish colored individual who was leaning, in a +graceful attitude, over the luggage, and a brilliant idea struck him. + +"I say you," he called, "I've got a ticket that'll just suit you, +Mr.----What's your name?" + +"If you are redressing me," replied the sable gentleman, majestically, +"my name is Mr. Julius Hannibal." + +"Want to know!" said Caleb. "Wal, here's an invite that was just meant +for a fine-looking chap like you." + +Caleb drew one of the notes from his pocket, and held it out. Hannibal +took it with considerable dignity, doubtful how to receive such +unceremonious compliments. + +"You are in luck, Ju," said his master. "What's it all about, Mr. +Benson?" + +"Why, Mr. Mellen--he's one of our rich men down here--is going to be +married this week, so his servants thought they'd have a blow-out +to-night, for fear they wouldn't get the chance after the new mistress +comes." + +"Go, by all means," said North, almost eagerly. "Make all the friends +you can, Ju, for we shall be here a good deal--go, certainly." + +Hannibal drew himself up, bowed to his master, and said to Caleb in a +stately way---- + +"I shall be most happy to mixture in the festive throng, but would most +'spectfully state to Miss Clorindy that morocur pumps is banished from +polite society, and only patting leathers is worn--but these is +trifles." + +North took the note from his servant's hand, and could not repress his +merriment as he read it; but Caleb received that as a compliment, and +looked so conscious, that it was easy to discover what share he had +taken in the matter. + +"Pinnacles of ice cream, and a dance in the landing," read Mr. North. +"Why choose the landing, Mr. Benson?" + +"Laundry, laundry! I guess it's blotted a leetle." + +"Oh yes--I see! Upon my word, quite magnificent! So Mr.--Mellen, did you +call him?--is to be married this week. Well, well, that fate overtakes +most of us, sooner or later. We will go up stairs now, if you please, +Mr. Benson." + +The old man led the way up to the room, which was kept in readiness for +visitors of importance, and which had been made quite comfortable by the +various articles of furniture that the different occupants had presented +to Caleb, on leaving his house. + +The bargain was not a difficult one, as Mr. North appeared quite willing +to pay Benson his own price, and the old fellow was only in doubt as to +the extent to which he might safely carry his extortion. + +When they went down stairs again, the steamboat had just come in to the +landing, and Dolf, Mr. Mellen's man, was making his way to the tavern, +having come to the island to see that the house was in readiness, and +dazzle the eyes of the females by the wonderful new clothes which had +fallen to his share of the wedding perquisites. + +"That's just the ticket," said Caleb; "Mellen's man'll take you over to +the place, Mr. Julius, and set you a goin'. I'm going there myself now, +but you'll have to fix your master up first, so you can come with Dolf." + +While Julius was going through the ceremonies of an introduction, Mr. +North called him away, and seemed to be giving him some very particular +directions. When he came back, Dolf, who was greatly rejoiced at this +acquisition, said, anxiously, + +"Won't he let you go?" + +"Of course," answered Hannibal, but a little uneasily. "It was only +about a fishing-rod I left behind." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A BALL IN THE BASEMENT. + + +The day wore on. Everything was in a state of preparation in the old +mansion-house. The last ovenful of cake had been placed by an open +window in the pantry, that its frosted surface might harden into beauty. +The ice-cream freezers, ready to yield up their precious contents, were +set away in a cool place, and Victoria, a pretty mulatto girl who had +come to the house an orphan child, was busy carving red and white roses +out of a little pile of turnips and delicately shaped blood-beets, +intended to ornament divers plates of cold turkey and chicken salad. +This pretty fancy work was carried on in the front basement or +housekeeper's room, while a bustle of preparation gave promise of great +things from the kitchen. Clorinda, the moving spirit of all this +commotion, rushed from basement to kitchen, and then to pantry and +store-room, in a state of exhilaration that set fresh currents of air in +circulation wherever she went. This was the great day of the faithful +servant's life, and she felt its importance in every cord of her heart. + +"Now," she called out, addressing Victoria with a pompous lift of the +head, "yer can come up stairs and help about thar. Them roseys ain't so +bad but that I've seen wuss; but there's 'nuff of 'em, so cum 'long o' +me, and shut up de draw'n'-room winder-blinds." + +Victoria ran up stairs, two steps at a leap, and, in a breath, was +shutting out the beautiful sunset, and quenching a thousand flashes of +arrowy rays that scattered gold over the plate-glass. + +"Now," said Clorinda, as the last shutter was closed, "yer can take the +spy-glass and see if any pusson is comin' up from the pint." + +Victoria was only too glad. She sprang across the tessellated pavement +of the hall, and seizing the glass, swept the shore with a slow movement +of her slender person from right to left. + +"Nary a pusson coming," she said, laying down the glass, with a +disappointed air. + +"Don't talk," snapped Clorinda, snatching up the glass and levelling it +fiercely at the ocean. "Jes like yer, now--can't see yer hand afore yer +face. There's a boat put inter the cove whilst yer was looken, and here +am Caleb Benson." + +"So thar am," cried Victoria, snatching the glass, "acomin' full split +across the medder. Now for it!" + +The lithe limbed mulatto gave a hop on to the portico, and another bound +to the soft grass of the lawn, whence she ran, like a deer, to meet our +sea-loving friend, with the high shoulders, who was crossing towards the +house at a far brisker pace than was usual to him. + +"Hav yer give the instergations?" cried Victoria, out of breath with +swift running. "Am the folks a coming to our party?" + +Caleb looked wonderfully grave, and attempted to shake his head; but Vic +saw, by the gleam in his eyes, that it was all pretence, and clapping +her hands like a little gypsy as she was, dashed into a break-down on +the grass, calling out, "Hi, dic-a-dory, I told yer so--I told yer so!" + +"Well, what am all dis muss 'bout?" exclaimed Clorinda, sailing out to +the lawn with a broad straw flat overshadowing her like an umbrella. +"Well, Caleb, I 'low ebbery ting am pernicious 'bout de party." + +Caleb, who was ah old fisherman, reared at Cape Cod, and not to be put +out of his way easily, occupied plenty of time before he answered. The +afternoon was warm, so he took the oil-cloth cap from his head, and +wiped its baldness vigorously with an old silk handkerchief. Then he +deposited the handkerchief in the crown of his cap, and settled himself +into his garments with a shake, sailor fashion. + +Clorinda's broad flat vibrated with its wearer's impatience, and +Victoria was stamping down the grass, and menacing the old man with her +fist during the whole of his slow performance. + +"Now," she said, "now." + +"Wal, the long and the short of it is, they're all a coming, especially +from Squir Rhodes. Miss Jemima wasn't willing at first, but the Squir +sot in and said his colored people hadn't much chance for fun anyhow, +and shouldn't be kept back from what come along in a nat'ral way." + +"Squir Rhodes was ales a pusson as I s'pected," said Clorinda. "Let's +see how many of 'em will count up." + +She made rather bungling work in counting her fingers, going over them +three or four times, and getting terribly puzzled in the end. + +In the midst of her confusion, Victoria gave a little cry of dismay, and +made a rush for the house, where she frantically tore off her apron and +tucked it under one of the hall mats. + +Clorinda, filled with indignation by this strange proceeding, turned in +search of the cause, and lo! there was Dolf, Mr. Mellen's own man, +crossing the lawn, with two other gentlemen of color, evidently from the +city. + +Clorinda snatched the broad straw flat from her head, and began to +arrange her Madras turban with both hands, thus unhappily exposing some +tufts of frosty gray that had managed to creep, year after year, into +her wool. After this rather abrupt toilet, she drew herself up with a +grand air, and marched forward to receive the strangers in a glorious +state of self-complacency. + +"Mr. Dolf, yer welcome as hot-house peaches--and these gemmen, may I +'quest an interdiction?" + +Dolf had just been informing his companions that the lady approaching +them was not to be sneezed at in any particular whatever, as she ruled +the roost of Piney Cove, and had, everybody said, laid up lots of rocks; +besides, as for cooking--well, he said nothing, it was not necessary; +they would see what Clorinda was in that line when the supper came on. +She had learned down South where people knew how to live. + +This speech prepared the strangers to receive their sable hostess with +great distinction, and when she launched a stupendous courtesy at them +in acknowledgment of their elaborate bows, the mutual admiration that +sprang up among the whole group then and there, was an oasis in the +desert of human nature. + +"Miss Clorinda--Mr. Sparks, of the Metropolitan Hotel; Mr. Hannibal, +private attendant of an upper-crust gentleman, who is going to stop at +the Sailor's Safe Anchor, fishing and shooting." + +Clorinda had just recovered herself from one courtesy, but she took the +wind in her garments and fluttered off into a couple more without loss +of time. + +"I 'low de neighborhood am obligated to any gemmen as brings sich +pussons inter de serciety ob Piney Cove. If yer hasn't had deceived an +invite from Mr. Benson, dat white pusson yer sees up yunder, remit me de +ferlicity." + +Clorinda took two buff envelopes from her bosom as she spoke, and gave +them to Mr. Sparks, of the Metropolitan, and Mr. Julius Hannibal, +private, with a smile that flitted across her face like smoke from a +furnace. + +"It speaks ob pumps and yeller gloves as bein' indispenserable, but dem +as comes promiscus as yer friends dus, Dolphus, can't be spected ter +imply." + +The gentlemen smiled in bland thankfulness, exhibiting a superb display +of ivory and second-hand white kids in the operation. + +"You didn't expect me," whispered Dolf, joining Clorinda when she turned +to conduct the party to the house, "but the hart will pant after clear +water. I couldn't stand it three days longer; so when the master told me +to come over and see that every thing was ready, I jumped at it. Hope +you're not offended at my bringing these fellows?" + +"'Fended!" exclaimed Clorinda, stepping upon the grass as if it had been +egg-shells, that she had resolved not to crush. "When was yer Clo ebber +fended wid yer, Dolphus?" + +"Poor fellows," said Dolf, looking back at his friends, "They see my +ferlicity and are ready to burst with envy." + +"Am dey?" exclaimed Clorinda, bridling--"poor souls; but no pusson can +be spected to cut up inter half a dozen, so dey am bound ter suffer." + +The whole group had reached the front portico by this time. Vic, who had +stolen behind the hall-door and stood watching their approach through +the crevice, came forth now, blushing till the golden bronze on her +cheeks burned red. Clorinda flamed up at the sight. + +"What hab yer done wid yer apron, chile? jes march right 'bout an' get +it ter once. Who ebber hearn bout a chile ob yer age widout apron?" + +Victoria's black eyes flashed like diamonds; she drew aside, leaning +against the wall, with the grace of a bronze-figure, half-frightened out +of her wits, but defiant still. What right had Clorinda to tell about +her apron, or drive her down stairs? She cast an imploring glance at +Dolf, but he looked resolutely away. + +"Come in, gemmen, out ob sight ob dis obstinit chile," cried Clorinda, +almost sweeping poor little Vic down with a flourish of her skirts. + +"No," interposed gentlemanly Dolf, who had a genius for keeping out of +storms. "The gentlemen were just saying, as we came up, how much they +would like a walk towards the woods. So with your permission, Miss +Clorinda, we will leave you to the feminine duties of the toilet; though +beauty when unadorned is most adorned." + +"'Cept when de gray hairs will peek out. Hi! hi! look dar!" + +These audacious words were uttered by Victoria, whose pouting wrath +could no longer be restrained. + +The two city gentlemen fell to examining their gloves with great +earnestness. Dolf made a hasty retreat through the door, calling on them +to follow him, and Clorinda left five handsomely defined finger-marks on +Victoria's hot cheek before she darted off to a looking-glass, and fell +into a great burst of tears over the state of her treacherous turban. + +"Now," said Vic, gathering herself up from the wall, and rubbing her +cheek, down which great hot tears were leaping with passionate +violence--"Now I'se gone and done it, sure; she won't let me--" + +"Vic! Vic!" + +It was the treacherous voice of Dolf, who came stealing in from the +portico. + +"Vic, don't be so audacious, you lovely spitfire; go this minute and +make up with her, or we've lost all chance of that new cotillion I was +learning you." + +"I can't! I won't!" burst forth the pretty, bronze fury, stamping down +the mat and her apron under it. "She's a--a--she's fat cattle, thar!" + +Dolf snatched the little sprite from the rug, and stopped her mouth +with--no, it wasn't with his _hand_. And I'd rather say no more about +it. + +Five minutes after, Victoria went demurely in search of Clorinda, found +her sitting before the glass in utter humiliation, and protested that +the whole thing was nonsense. That she hadn't seen a gray hair, and if +the turban was awry, it must have happened when Clorinda ran up stairs +in such hot haste. Victoria was sorry: oh, very, very sorry. Would Miss +Clo only overlook it this once, and begin to dress for the ball? + +Clorinda's heart swelled like a rising tide under Vic's hypocritical +condolence, but she could not be quite convinced about the turban; she +was a woman of resources, however, and felt that the evil was not +without its remedy. So she kindled an immense quantity of wax-lights, +crowded them before her looking-glass, and at once commenced the +mysteries of a full toilet. The result was so satisfactory when she took +a survey of her pink barege dress, covered with innumerable small +flounces, and the gorgeous white gauze scarf, glittering with silver, +which formed a turban, with long sweeping ends falling to the left +shoulder--that she melted at once towards the girl who had helped to +make her so resplendent. + +"Jes see what splendiferous idees that chile Miss Elsie hab, Vic," she +cried, shaking the flounces into place over her enormous crinoline. "Now +'serve she never wore dis sumptious dress more en once, but sent it down +here good as new; 'sides de turban, jes see it shine. Yes, Vic, I +forgives yer, so don't rub dem knuckles in yer eyes no more." + +Vic darted away, and in a marvellously short time came back glorious, +her hair braided in with scarlet ribbons, and a dress of several +gorgeous colors fluttering with every joyous movement of her slender +person. She was pluming herself before the glass when Clorinda started +up. + +"What am dat?" + +"Dat? why it am a carriage. Oh, golly, golly, they'm coming," cried Vic, +wild with delight; and away the two darkies went down the great +staircase and into the hall, where the honors of the house were extended +with astonishing elegance. + +Two or three wagons sat down their sable loads, and directly the sounds +of a brace of fiddles rang though the basement story, and the laundry +floor vibrated to the elastic tread of dancers, whose natural love of +music gave grace and spirit to every movement. The two fiddles poured +out triumphant strains of music, and in every particular Clorinda's ball +was a success. + +At last Clorinda disappeared from the laundry, and Dolf followed her +into the supper-room, where he fell into raptures over the gorgeousness +of the table. + +"Yes," said the housekeeper, modestly, "but how am we to get 'long +without wine; Marse Mellen carried off de keys, and without dat--" + +"Jes look here!" cried Dolf, holding up a key which had been resting in +his pocket; "catch me unprepared; I thought about the wine." + +Clorinda almost embraced Dolf in her delight, but in his haste to reach +the wine-cellar, he did not seem to observe the demonstration. + +When her lover came back with his arms full of long-necked bottles, +Clorinda's happiness was supreme, and directly after there was a rush of +feet and abrupt silence with the two fiddlers. The company had gone in +to supper. + +After the rush and bustle had subsided a little, Dolf placed himself at +the head of the table, with a corkscrew in one hand and a bottle in the +other. + +"Oh, my!" whispered Virginia, "I hope dar's lots of pop in it." + +A rushing explosion, and the rich gurgle of amber wine into the crowding +goblets satisfied her completely. + +Dolf lifted his glass and prepared himself for a speech. + +"Ladies of the fair sect and gentlemen--" + +That moment Mr. Julius Hannibal, who had allowed himself to be crowded +towards the door, stole out and went softly up stairs. With the stealthy +motion of a cat, he crept along the hall and opened the front door. + +A man came out from the shadows of the portico, and glided into the +hall. It was Mr. North, Hannibal's master. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WEDDING. + + +A crowd of carriages stood in front of the church--a throng of +richly-dressed persons filled it, with such life and bustle as sacred +walls never witness, save on the occasion of a grand wedding. Mrs. +Harrington had done her pleasant work famously. Not a fashionable person +among her own friends, or a distinguished one known to bridegroom or +bride, had been omitted. Thus the stately church was crowded. Snowy +feathers waved over gossamer bonnets; lace, glittering silks, and a +flash of jewels were seen on every hand, fluttering in the dim religious +light around smiling faces and gracefully bending figures. + +A buzz of whispered conversations rose from nave to gallery; for a large +portion of that brilliant throng had never seen the bride, and curiosity +was on the _qui vive_ regarding a person so utterly unknown to society, +who had carried off the greatest match of the season. + +In one of the front pews a friend of Mrs. Harrington was sitting with a +group of her own confidential acquaintances. Of course she knew all +about it, and could tell them why Mr. Mellen had chosen a wife so +utterly unknown to their set. + +Certainly Mrs. C. knew all about it--had the particulars from her sweet +friend, Mrs. Harrington, who was, they all knew, a sort of lady +patroness to the affair. Would she tell? Of course--why not? There was +no secret about it now, and it might be ten minutes before the bridal +party came in. + +"Well, this was it. Mr. Mellen was--" + +Oh they all knew about Mr. Mellen; he had been in business down town +before that worthy old gentleman his uncle died, and left him so +enormously rich that there was no guessing how many millions he was +worth. Did they know his sister? Of course: what a sweet pretty creature +she was! Strange that the old uncle forgot to make her an heiress,--cut +off a relative whom he had almost adopted, and left everything to +Mellen, who did not expect it. Sweet Elsie was quite overlooked, and had +nothing on earth but her beauty. But the bride, the bride, what about +her? + +"Well," said Mrs. C----, coming out of this storm of whispers smiling +and flushed, "there is no great mystery in the bride. Indeed, so far as +she was concerned, everything was rather common-place--such people had +been done up so often in romances that it was tiresome." + +"You don't mean to say that she was that eternal governess who is +continually travelling through magazines and marrying the rich young +gentleman of the house?" cried a voice, almost out loud. + +"No, no, nothing quite so bad as that," answered Mrs. C----, with a low +soothing "hush," and shaking her head till all the pink roses on her +bonnet fluttered again. "She came from somewhere in New England. The +father was thought to be a rich man. At any rate he gave her a splendid +education, and travelled with her in Europe nearly two years, when she +was quite a missish girl. He also educated her cousin, the young man who +is to be groomsman, and gave him a handsome setting out in life; but +when the father died there was nothing left--all his property mortgaged +or something--at any rate Elizabeth never got a cent, and her cousin +would have been poor as a church-mouse but for the money which had set +him up in a splendid business. He wanted to make that over to her at +once." + +"Generous fellow!" + +"You may well say that," continued Mrs. C----, hushing down the +enthusiasm of her friends with a wave of her whitely gloved hand. "She +would not take a cent of his money, but came here to the very school +where she had been educated, and hired out as a teacher; it is said--but +I do not vouch for it--that her bills at the school were left unpaid, +and she worked the debt out." + +"Is it possible!" + +"Dear me, how noble!" + +"But how did she get acquainted with Mr. Mellen?" cried a third voice; +"make haste, or they will be upon us before we know a word about it." + +"His sister, Miss Elsie Mellen, was a pupil in the school. Her love for +Miss Fuller was perfect infatuation. The brother worshiped her--sweet +creature, who could help it?--and so the acquaintance began in the +parlor of a boarding school, and ends--Hush, hush!" + +There was a slight commotion at the door, followed by the soft rustling +of silks and turning of heads. Then a gentleman of noble presence, calm +and self-possessed, as if he were quite unconscious of all the eyes bent +upon him, came slowly up the broad aisle with the object of all this +conversation leaning on his arm. + +Certainly the bride gave no evidence of her low estate in that rustling +white silk, which shone like crusted snow through a sheen of tulle; or +in the veil of Brussels lace that fell around her like a fabric of +cobwebs overrun with frostwork. You could detect intense emotion from +the shiver of the clematis spray, mingled with snowy roses, in her black +hair; but otherwise she seemed quiet and remarkably self-sustained. + +Following close upon this noble pair, came a tall, loose-jointed young +man, glowing with pride of the lovely creature on his arm; and, really, +any thing more beautiful, in a material sense, could not well be +imagined than that youthful bridesmaid. Like the stately girl who had +passed before her, she moved in a cloud of shimmering white, with just +enough of blue in the golden hair and on the bosom to match the violet +of her eyes. + +Once or twice Tom Fuller missed step as they were going up the aisle, +when Elsie would make a pause, look ruefully at her gossamer skirts, and +only seem relieved when her partner stumbled into place again. Then she +followed the bride, her cheeks one glow of roses and smiles dimpling her +fresh, young mouth, as if she were the Queen of May approaching her +throne. + +The bridal-pair knelt at the altar, and a solemn stillness fell upon +that brilliant multitude as the vows which were to unite that man and +woman for all time were uttered. Even Elsie looked on with shadowy +sadness in her eyes; as for Tom--the noble-hearted fellow made a fool of +himself of course, and was compelled to shake the tears surreptitiously +from his eyes, before he dared to look up from the long survey he had +been taking of his patent-leather boots. + +It is almost frightful to remember how few moments it takes to bind +immortal souls together in a union which may be for happiness, and, +alas, may be for such misery as eternal bondage alone can give. + +The feeling of awe befitting that sacred place had scarcely settled on +the gay assembly, when the altar was deserted, and Grantley Mellen led +his wife out of the church. Agitation had brought a faint glow of color +to her cheek, softened the mouth into its sweetest smile, and whenever +the clear gray eyes were lifted, one could see the timid, shrinking +happiness, which made their depths so misty and dark. + +Grantley Mellen was a proud, somewhat stern man, and at the church-door +he betrayed, in spite of himself, some annoyance at the _eclat_ which +Mrs. Harrington had given to the affair, in spite of his express wishes. +But whenever he looked at the lovely girl at his side, or felt the +clinging touch of her hand upon his arm, his face cleared and softened +into an expression of such tenderness as changed its entire character. + +Elsie followed close, dexterously keeping her dress from under Tom's +feet; indeed, she looked so lovely and fairy-like, that it made the +awkwardness and embarrassment of her great, honest-hearted companion +more apparent. + +Tom Fuller knew that he appeared dreadfully out of place playing a part +at this imposing ceremony, but he had never in all his life refused a +request that Elizabeth made, and during the last three months, the +mischievous sprite by his side had kept his blundering head in a state +of such constant bewilderment, and so stirred every chord in his great, +manly heart, that he would not have minded in the least stumbling over +red hot ploughshares for the pleasure of walking with her even the +length of a church aisle. + +The group had reached the porch and lingered there a moment, waiting for +the carriages to draw up. The shadows were all gone from Grantley +Mellen's face now; he bent his head and whispered a few words, that made +Elizabeth's cheek glow into new beauty. Suddenly her glance wandered +towards the crowd on her left--a sudden pallor swept the roses from her +cheek--her hand closed convulsively on Mellen's arm; but in an instant, +before even he had noticed her agitation, it had passed--she walked on +to the carriage graceful and queen-like as ever. + +Standing among the throng at which she had cast that one glance, stood +the man who had rescued her from danger only a few days before. He was +gazing eagerly into the faces of the newly made husband and wife, with +an expression upon his features which it was not easy to understand. But +after that quick look, Elizabeth never again turned her head, and the +stranger shrank back among the crowd and disappeared. + +The guests were gathered about the sumptuous table which Mrs. Harrington +had prepared, and the fair widow herself, in a dress which would have +been youthful even for Elsie, was in a state of flutter and excitement +which baffles description. + +She was gay and coquettish as a girl of sixteen; but there was enough of +real kindliness in her character to make those who knew her forgive +these girlish affectations and the little delusion under which she +labored--that certain specially-favored people, like herself, never did +get beyond eighteen, being so sensitive and fresh of soul, that age +never reached them. + +I doubt if there ever was a wedding reception that did not prove a +somewhat dull affair, and though this was as nearly an exception as +possible, Mellen seized the first opportunity to whisper Elizabeth that +it was time to prepare for their departure. + +"And so I shan't see you for a whole week," said Tom Fuller, ruefully, +as he accompanied Elsie out of the room, when she followed Elizabeth up +stairs to change her dress. "What shall I do with myself all that time?" + +"A whole week!" repeated she, laughing merrily; "it's quite dreadful to +contemplate--I only hope you won't die, and put poor Bessie into +mourning before the honeymoon is over." + +"Oh, you are laughing at me," said Tom, heaving a sigh that was a +perfect blast of grief. + +"How can you fancy that?" cried Elsie; "I thought I was showing great +sympathy." + +"You always do laugh at me," urged Tom, "and it's downright cruel! I +know I am awkward, and always do the wrong thing at the wrong moment, +but you needn't be so hard on a fellow." + +"There, there!" said Elsie, patting his arm as she might have smoothed a +great Newfoundland dog; "don't quarrel with me now! Next week you are +coming down to Piney Cove, and you shall see how nicely I will entertain +you." + +"Shall you be glad to see me--really glad?" pleaded Tom, red to the very +temples. + +"Oh, of course," cried Elsie, laughing; "you are a sort of cousin +now--it will be my duty, you know." + +Elsie danced away, leaving him to pull his white glove in a perplexed +sort of way, by no means certain that he was satisfied with being +considered a relation, and treated in this cavalier manner. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE FIRST CLOUD. + + +Mrs. Harrington had run up stairs for an instant, and stopped Mellen and +his bride on the landing for a few last words. + +"I hope you are satisfied, Grantley," she said; "I have done my best; I +do hope you are pleased." + +"My dear friend, everything has been perfect," he answered. + +"I can't thank you for all your kindness to me," Elizabeth said, holding +out her hand; "but believe me, I feel it deeply." + +"My dear, don't speak of it! Grantley and Elsie are like relatives to +me," cried Mrs. Harrington, "and I love you so much already! You looked +lovely--what a mercy we came off so well from our fright--" + +"There is no time for pretty speeches," broke in Elsie, giving her a +warning glance, and pulling Elizabeth towards their dressing-room; "go +back to your guests, Mary Harrington; what will they do without you. +Besides, you must cover our retreat. We don't want to be stared at when +we go out." + +But Mellen stood still after they had entered the chamber, and detained +Mrs. Harrington. + +"What fright?" he demanded; "what did you mean?" + +She was too thoroughly confused to remember her promise. + +"Oh, nothing, nothing!" she said; "I have sold the horses, so it doesn't +make any difference." + +"What do you mean?" he asked. "Have you had an accident?" + +"No, no; the gentleman saved us--such a splendid creature! But it was so +odd. The moment Elizabeth looked in his face she fainted dead +away--courageous as a lion till then--just like a novel, you know. But +she said she never saw him before; it was really quite interesting." + +Grantley Mellen turned suddenly pale; doubt and suspicion had been his +familiar demons for years, and it never required more than a word or +look to call them up. + +He controlled himself sufficiently to speak with calmness, and Mrs. +Harrington was not observant; but he did not permit her to return to her +guests until he had heard the whole story. + +"Don't mention it," she entreated; "I promised Elizabeth not to tell; +she thought you would be frightened, and perhaps displeased." + +Mrs. Harrington hurried down stairs, and Mellen passed on to the chamber +which had been appropriated for his use. But his face had not recovered +its serenity, and Master Dolf, who presided over his toilet, did not at +all approve of such gravity on a man's wedding-day--having drank quite +champagne enough in the kitchen to feel in as exuberant spirits as was +desirable, himself. + +The leave-takings were over; Tom Fuller had given his last tempestuous +sigh as Mellen drove off with his sister and his bride towards the home +where they were to begin their new life. + +The journey was not a tedious one; the swift train bore them for a +couple of hours along one of the Long Island railroads, to a way +station, where a carriage waited to carry them to the quiet old house in +which they were to spend the honeymoon. + +There was to be no journey, both Mellen and Elizabeth wished to go +quietly to the beautiful spot which was to be their future home, and +spend the first weeks of their happiness in complete seclusion. + +The drive was a charming one, and the brightness of the Spring day would +have chased even a deeper gloom from Mellen's mind than the shadow which +Mrs. Harrington's careless words had brought over it. + +From the eminence along which the road wound, they caught occasional +glimpses of the silvery beach and the long sparkling line of ocean +beyond; then a sudden descent would shut them out, and they drove +through beautiful groves with pleasant homesteads peeping through the +trees, and distant villages nestled like flocks of birds in the golden +distance. + +The apple-trees were in blossom, and the breeze was laden with their +delicious fragrance; the grass in the pastures wore its freshest green, +the young grain was sprouting in the fields, troops of robins and +thrushes darted about, filling the air with melody, and over all the +blue sky looked down, flecked with its white, fleecy clouds. The +sunlight played warm and beautiful over this lovely scene, and through +the early loveliness of the season, the married pair drove on towards +their new life. + +At a sudden curve in the road, they came out full upon the ocean, and +Elizabeth, unacquainted with the scene, uttered an exclamation of wonder +at its dazzling loveliness. + +Below them stretched a crescent-shaped bay, with a line of woodland +running far out into the sea; away to the right, at the extremity of the +bay, a little village peeped out; its picturesque dwellings were dotted +here and there, giving a home look to the whole scene. At the end of the +shady avenue into which they had turned, the tall roofs and stately +towers of the Piney Cove mansion were visible through the trees. + +"The dear old house!" cried Elsie, clapping her hands. "The dear old +house!" + +Grantley Mellen was watching his wife, and a pleased smile lighted his +face when he saw how thoroughly she appreciated the beauty of the place. +He did not speak, but clasped her hand gently in his, and held it, while +Elsie uttered her wild exclamations of delight. They drove up to the +entrance of the house. + +"Welcome home!" exclaimed Mellen, and his face glowed with tenderness as +he lifted his wife from the carriage and conducted her up the steps, +Elsie following, and the servants pressing forward with their +congratulations, headed by Clorinda: and for the first few moments, +Elizabeth was conscious of nothing but a pleasant confusion. + +From the hall where they stood, she could look out upon the ocean which +rolled and sparkled under the sunshine. She could even hear the waves +lapsing up to the grounds which sloped down to the water's edge in a +closely shaven lawn, broken by stately old trees and blossoming +flower-beds. The view so charmed her with its loveliness, that at first +she hardly heeded the magnificence of the different apartments through +which they led her. + +There were quaint, shadowy old rooms, full of odd nooks and corners, and +heavy with antique furniture, where one could idle away a morning so +pleasantly; and in the modern portion of the dwelling, a long suite of +drawing-rooms, with a library beyond, which had been fitted up with +every luxury that wealth and refined taste could devise. + +"Be happy," Grantley Mellen whispered, when his wife tried to find words +to express her delight. "Be happy--peace, rest and affection is all I +ask." + +He looked in her face, eager for the smiling surprise which he had +expected to find there. It was sadly grave. She too had her after +thought. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE BRIDE'S WELCOME HOME. + + +Elsie took Elizabeth up the broad flight of steps which led from the +hall, and conducted her to the suite of rooms that had been prepared for +her reception. "I had them arranged close to my little nest," she said, +"because I knew Grantley would never be content unless I was within +call. I hope you will like them, Elizabeth?" + +Elizabeth answered that they were beautiful, as indeed they were. But it +was a grand, lonely splendor that she looked upon, which almost chilled +her. The chamber was large and richly furnished. Every thing was massive +and costly. The carpet soft as a flower-bed and as brilliant in tints. +Wherever she turned, her eyes fell on exquisite carvings reflected by +limpid mirrors; curtains of richly tinted satin shut out a perfect view +of the ocean, and Elizabeth could not help remarking that the principal +windows faced northward, away from the bloom and glory of the grounds. +Even her dressing-room, which was in one of the octagon towers, looked +out on the only barren spot in view--a storm-beaten grove of cedars that +stood, ragged and bristling with dead limbs, on the beach. + +Spite of herself, Elizabeth was chilled. She loved the morning sunshine +like a worshiper, and felt as if all the grandeur which surrounded her +was shutting it out from her own portion of this new home. + +"Did Mr. Mellen arrange these rooms?" she asked in a faltering voice. +"Was it his taste?" + +"Dear me, not at all," answered Elsie. "He exhausted himself in fitting +up my snuggery. The rest was left to me. I had _carte blanche_, you +know, as to money; and it was splendid fun going about and ordering +things. Don't you remember how much I used to be away from school?" + +Elizabeth smiled, and made an effort to appear thankful and pleased. + +"See what close neighbors we are," said Elsie, lifting a curtain that +seemed to drape a window, but revealing a door which she pushed open. + +Elizabeth stepped forward, and in contrast with the rich gloom of her +own chamber, saw a suite of the brightest, sunniest rooms, that ever a +capricious beauty inhabited. + +The dressing-room which she entered, was hung with bright, cerulean +blue, overrun with what seemed to be a delicate pattern of point-lace. +The carpet was thick, soft, and almost as white as ermine, with a +tangled vine of golden water-lilies and broad, green leaves running over +it, as if the water they grew in had been crusted with snow, and the +blossoms, soft, fresh, and bright, frozen upon the surface. The couch, +easy-chair, and general furniture, were of polished satin-wood, +cushioned with delicate azure silk shot and starred with silver. A +luxurious number of silken cushions lay upon the couch, chairs, and even +on the floor; for two or three were heaped against the pedestal, on +which a basket of flowers stood, and upon them lay a guitar, with its +broad, pink ribbon hanging loose. Every table was loaded with some +exquisitely feminine object of use or beauty, till the very profusion +was oppressive, light and graceful as every thing was. + +Two of the windows were open, and their lace curtains held back, one by +a marble Hebe that mingled her cold stone flowers with the lace; the +other by a Bacchante, whose garland of snow-white grapes was seen dimly, +through the transparent folds it gathered away from the glass. + +Through these open windows came glimpses of the flower-garden, green +slopes on the lawn, and farther off the wind swept up perfumes from a +distant orchard, and sifted it almost imperceptibly through the delicate +network of the curtains. Back of this boudoir was a bed-chamber, and +beyond that a dressing-room. Elizabeth could see through the open door a +bed with hangings of blue and white, with all the objects of luxury +which could please the taste of a pampered and fanciful girl. + +"Grantley chose these rooms for me long ago, before he went to Europe," +said Elsie, looking around with quiet complacency. "He would not hear of +my giving them up; besides, I knew you would like something a little +darker and more stately," she said. "Are you pleased with the house, +Bessie?" + +"Very, very much. I did not expect any thing so magnificent," she +answered. "It overpowers me." + +"I had not seen it for years," said Elsie, "till I came down with Grant +to decide about the new furniture. Now you must be happy here. You ought +to be! Just contrast this place with that old barn of a school; it makes +one shudder to think of it! You must be happy, Bessie, for I hate +discontented people." + +"I trust so, dear; I believe so; we shall all be happy." + +"Oh, you can't help it," pursued Elsie; "Grant is always a darling! But +you must love and pet me, you know, just as he does." + +"You exacting little thing!" said Elizabeth, lightly. + +"Yes, but you must," she urged; "you never would have had all this but +for me." + +"No," murmured Elizabeth; "I should never have known Grantley but for +you." + +"I told him that day, you know, just what I had set my heart on," +pursued Elsie, shaking her curls about, and chattering in her careless, +graceful way. "I said I loved you like a sister, and I should die if I +was separated from you. That settled it." + +Elizabeth had seated herself in a low chair, with her back towards the +window; she looked up quickly as Elsie paused. + +"Settled it?" she repeated. + +"Yes, exactly!" + +Elsie flung herself on the carpet at her sister's feet, and caught one +of her hands, playing with the wedding ring so lately put on that +delicate finger, in her caressing fashion. + +"How do you mean?" asked Elizabeth, quietly, though there was a sudden +change in her face which might have struck Elsie could she have seen it. +"Settled it; how do you mean?" + +"Why he never had refused me anything in all his life," said Elsie; "it +was not likely he would begin so late! Nobody ever does refuse me +anything; now, remember that, Bess." + +"Yes, dear! So you told Grantley you were very fond of me--" + +"And that I wanted him to marry you--of course I did." + +It was only Elsie's childish nonsense; Elizabeth felt how foolish it was +to heed it, and yet she could not repress a desire to question further. + +"That was long after he came home, Elsie?" + +"Yes; but I had written him all sorts of things about you; and you +remember when he came to the school to visit me, how I made you go down +without telling you who was there." + +"Yes--I remember." + +"He praised you very highly, and I told him what a dear you were; and +how sad it was for you to have lost all your fortune and be obliged to +teach." + +The color slightly deepened on Elizabeth's cheek; was it possible that +in the beginning Grantley Mellen had been interested in her from a +feeling of pity and commiseration? + +Her engagement had been a brief one; during it, the days had passed in a +constant whirl of excitement and happiness, and she had found little +time to question or reflect: up to the last hour there had been no +shadow on her enjoyment--she had resolutely swept aside everything but +her deep happiness. + +But it was strange that in the very first flush of her married life this +conversation with Elsie should come up. She knew it was only the girl's +heedlessness and pretty egotism that made her talk in this really cruel +fashion, she was sure of that; still her nature was too proud and +self-reliant, for the idea that Mellen had been first attracted towards +her from sympathy at her lonely condition, to be at all pleasant. + +But Elsie was going on with her careless revelations, playing with the +rings which Mellen had put one after another on those delicate fingers +during their engagement, making each one precious with kisses and loving +words. + +"So, when I saw how sorry he was for you, I knew that I should have my +own way. I longed to see this dear old house open once more; it had been +given up to the servants ever since he hurried off to Europe; and I +wanted you for my companion always, you darling." + +"It was fortunate for your wishes that Grantley's heart inclined in the +direction you had marked out," said Elizabeth. + +"Oh," exclaimed Elsie with hasty recklessness, and her usual want of +thought, "Grant had no heart to give anybody; all his love was centred +on me; after the experience he had years ago, I don't suppose he could +ever love any woman again--he is just that odd sort of character." + +Elizabeth gave no sign of the blow which struck her this time cruelly on +the heart; she drew her hand away from Elsie, lest its sudden coldness +should rouse some suspicion of the truth in the girl's mind, and asked +in a singularly quiet voice-- + +"What experience, Elsie?" + +"Oh, I didn't mean to say that," she replied; "I am always letting +things out by mistake; Grant would be really angry with me; don't ever +mention it to him." + +"I will not; but what experience has he had that can prevent a husband's +giving his heart even to his own wife?" + +"Dear me, I oughtn't to tell you; but you'd surely find it out sometime; +only promise me not to open your lips." + +"I promise," replied Elizabeth, a cold, gray shadow settling over her +face, out of which all the bloom had faded. + +"He had a friend, a cousin you know, that our rich old uncle had partly +adopted, whom he was very, very fond of," pursued Elsie, "and he was +engaged to be married into the bargain. This man treated him +dreadfully--ran off with the girl Grant loved, and cheated him out of a +great deal of money--money that he could not afford to lose, for he was +not rich then. Grant was nearly mad. I was a little thing, but I +remember it perfectly. When his uncle died he sent me to school, and +started to Europe; he has been there all these four long years; but his +cousin was punished; his uncle gave everything to Grant." + +And of all this grief, this disappointment, he had never told her one +word. Elsie spoke the truth--he had married her that his sister might +have a companion, and his house a mistress. + +A prouder woman than Elizabeth Mellen never existed; but she sat +motionless and gave no sign, while her brief dream of happiness fell +crushed and broken at her feet under this revelation. + +"There," cried Elsie, "that's all, so don't ever think about the thing +again. What a fortunate creature you are! how happy we shall be, shan't +we, dear?" + +She attempted to throw her arms about Elizabeth in her demonstrative +way, but the woman rose quickly, and avoided the caresses which would +have stifled her. + +"It is time to dress," she said; "I am going to my room." + +She passed into her chamber with that dreary chill at heart, which, it +seemed to her, would never leave it again! How could she endure that +fearful pang of humiliation and self-abasement that wrung her soul, and +would grow stronger with every proof of kindness that her husband could +give? + +No love--no heart to give her under all his goodness and attention. She +kept repeating such words to herself--they would never cease to ring in +her ears--there could be no pleasure so entrancing that they would not +mar it by their whispers--no grief so deep that they would not torture +her with the recollection that she was powerless to comfort or aid the +man who had made her his wife. + +But she must bear it all in silence; hers was one of those deep, +reticent natures which could resolve on a painful thing and carry out +her determination to the very end. She would weary him with no sign of +affection. + +The playful exactions of a young wife, which are so pleasant to a loving +husband, must be carefully avoided. He must be allowed to endure her +without revolt--not finding her much in his way. + +That was the first thought upon which she settled, even while this +earliest whirl of pain and tremble made her head dizzy and her heart +sick. + +She heard Elsie's voice ringing out in a gay song: she went mechanically +on with her dressing, listening to that merry song in the midst of her +bewildering thoughts with a dreary feeling of desolation. + +If she could have sat down in the midst of her new life, and died +without further trouble or pain--that became her one thought! If that +man who was her husband, and his sister could enter the room and find +her dead, they might feel regret for a time, but very soon even her +memory would pass away from that old house, and out of their hearts, +where she had so shallow a resting-place, and in the grave she might +find quiet. + +Elsie came dancing in, and exclaimed-- + +"Oh, you are dressed! I hear Grant on the stairs. May I open the door?" + +Elizabeth was seemingly quiet, but the change in her manner would have +been apparent to any one less self-engrossed than Elsie. + +"Open it," she answered; "I am ready." + +Grantley Mellen entered the room, and led them both away down stairs; +but he felt the sudden tremor in his young wife's hand, the sort of +shrinking from his side, and his suspicious mind caught fire instantly. +He noted every change in her face, every sad inflexion in her voice, and +at once there came back to him the conversation he had held with Mrs. +Harrington. + +Could Elizabeth have known this man? Was there a secret in her past of +which he was ignorant? The bare idea made his head reel; though he might +banish it from his mind for a season, the slightest recurrence would +bring it back to torture him with inexplicable fear and dread. + +So their new life began with this shadow upon it--a shadow imperceptible +to all lookers on, but lying cold and dim on their hearts nevertheless, +slowly to gather substance day by day till it should become a chill, +heavy mist, through which their two souls could not distinguish each +other. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +COUSIN TOM VISITS PINEY COVE. + + +Grantley Mellen was still a young man, only thirty-three, though the +natural gravity of his character, increased by certain events in his +life, made him appear somewhat older. + +His father had died many years before, and as Elsie had told his bride, +an uncle had left him in the possession of a fine property, which had +increased in value, till he was now a very wealthy man. + +His mother died when Elsie was a girl of about fourteen, and on her +death-bed Grantley Mellen had promised to act the part of parent as well +as brother to the young girl. He had never once wavered in his trust, +and the love and tenderness he felt for her were beautiful and touching +to witness. + +He was never suspicious, never severe with her, though these were the +worst failings of his character. Elsie was to be treated as a child; be +petted, and indulged, and allowed to live in the sunshine, whatever else +might befall himself or others. + +Although her health was good, she had always been rather delicate in +appearance, and that made him more careful of her. He was haunted with +the fear that she was to fade under their family scourge, consumption, +though in reality she was one of those frail looking creatures who are +all nerves--nerves, too, elastic as tempered steel; and who always +outlive the people who have watched them so carefully. + +It was true Grantley Mellen had met with a humiliating disappointment in +his early youth, which had embittered all his after years, and increased +the natural jealousy of a reticent disposition almost to a monomania. +These were the facts of his history: + +He had a college friend of his own age, a cousin twice removed, whom +from boyhood he had loved with all the strength and passion which made +the undercurrent of his grave, reserved character. He had helped this +young man in every way--befriended him in college, been to him what few +brothers ever are. + +The time came when Mellen found the realization of those dreams which +fill every youthful soul: he loved, with all the fire and intensity of a +first passion. His cousin was made the confidant of this love; he shared +Mellen's every thought, and seemed heartily to sympathize with his +feelings. + +It is an old story, so I need not dwell upon it. Both friend and +betrothed wife proved false. There came a day when Grantley Mellen found +himself alone with a terrible misery, with no faith left, no trust in +humanity to give a ray of light in the darkness of his betrayal. + +The friend whom he had trusted eloped with his affianced bride, and +cheated him out of a large sum of money. With that sudden treachery and +bitter grief, Mellen's youth ended. + +He left Elsie at school and went away to Europe, wandering about for +years, and growing more saddened and misanthropic all the while. + +He returned at last. Elsie was eighteen then. She had a school-friend, +to whom she had been greatly attached; a girl older than herself, and so +different in every respect, that it was a wonder Elsie's volatile +character had been attracted to her, or that her liking had been +reciprocated. + +This was the state of events when Mellen returned from Europe. Elsie's +account of her friend interested him in the unfortunate girl. When he +made her acquaintance that sympathy deepened into a feeling which he had +never thought to have for any woman again,--he loved her, and she was +now his wife. + +It was a restless, craving affection, which threatened great trouble +both to himself and its object. He had no cause for jealousy, but his +suspicious mind was always on the alert--he was jealous even of her +friends, her favorite studies--he wanted every look and thought his own, +yet he was too proud to betray these feelings. + +Elizabeth's character was not one easy to understand, nor shall I enter +into its details here. The progress of my story must show her as she +really was, and leave you to judge for yourself concerning it, and the +effect it had upon her life. + +She was singularly reticent and reserved, but impetuous and warm-hearted +beyond any thing that the man who loved her dreamed of. He saw her gay, +brilliant, fond of society, yet apparently content with the quiet life +he was determined to lead. Still there was something wanting. He felt in +the depths of his heart that he was not master of her whole being. That +sometimes his very kisses seemed frozen on her lips, and she turned from +his protestations of love with sad smiles, that seemed mocking him. And +she, alas, the woman who believes herself unloved by her husband, is +always in danger--always unhappy. + +The first weeks of this strange honeymoon had passed, and Tom Fuller was +able to gratify the chief desire of his honest soul, and rush down to +the island to bewilder himself more hopelessly in the spell of Elsie's +fascinations, like a great foolish moth whirling about a dazzling light. + +She had never scrupled to laugh at him and his devotion, even to +Elizabeth herself; but just now she was not sorry to see him. The +stillness of the house and the seclusion of those slow love weeks, was +not at all in unison with her taste, and she was already regretting that +Mellen had not allowed her to accept Mrs. Harrington's invitation to +remain with her during the first period of that dreary honeymoon. + +Mellen and Elsie were standing on the porch when Fuller drove up to the +house, and dashed in upon them with such an outpouring of confusion and +delight that it might have softened the most obdurate heart. + +"I couldn't stop away another day," he cried, wringing Mellen's hand +till it ached for half an hour after. + +"We are very glad to see you," replied Mellen; "very glad." + +"I am much obliged, I'm sure," exclaimed Tom, "and you're just a trump, +that's the truth." + +"I suppose that's the reason you keep him so carefully in your hand," +interposed Elsie, laughing. + +Tom was instantly covered with confusion, and let Mellen's hand drop. He +knew there was a joke somewhere, but for the life of him he could not +see where it come in. + +"You are beginning to laugh at me before you have even said 'How do you +do?'" cried he, ruefully. + +"And am I not to laugh at you, if I please?" exclaimed Elsie. "Shake +hands, you cross-grained old thing, and don't begin to quarrel the +moment we meet." + +Tom blushed like a girl while he bent over the little hand she laid in +his, holding it carefully, and looking down on it with a sort of +delighted wonder, as if it had been some rare rose-tinted shell that his +fingers might break at the slightest touch. + +But Mellen was not looking at them; he stood there wondering if this man +could have been of any consequence in Elizabeth's past. Could she have +loved him, and been prevented from marrying him in some way? No, it was +impossible; he felt, he knew that it was so; but the idea would come +into his mind nevertheless. + +"When you have done examining my hand, Mr. Tom Fuller, please give it +back," said Elsie. "It don't amount to much, but, as the Scotchwoman +observed of her clergyman's head, 'it's some good to the owner.'" + +Tom dropped the little hand as if the pink fingers had burned his palm. + +"I'm always the awkwardest fellow alive!" cried he, dismally. "And how +is Bessie, dear girl?" + +Mellen roused himself. + +"I will call her," he said; "she is quite well, and will be delighted to +see you." + +He went into the house in search of his wife, and Elsie began to tease +her unfortunate victim, a pastime of which she never wearied. It seemed +to her the funniest thing in the world to make that great creature blush +and stammer, to lead him on to the perpetration of absurd things, to +laugh at him, to bewilder his honest head; for any pain he might suffer, +she considered it no more than she did the sorrows of a Fejee Islander, +or the chirp of her canary. + +"Have you come down here prepared to be agreeable?" she asked. +"Remember, I expect you to devote yourself completely to my service--to +wait on me like the most devoted of knights." + +"I'd stand on my head if you asked it," answered Tom, impetuously. + +"How deliciously odd you would look!" cried Elsie; "you shall try it +some day; I only hope it won't leave you with a brain fever, but then it +couldn't, Tom,--where is the capital for such a disease to come from?" + +"You may tease me as much as you like," said Tom, "if you'll only say +you are glad to see me." + +"Oh, you will be invaluable," replied Elsie; "I was getting bored with +watching other people's love-making. Can you row a boat and teach me to +play billiards, and be generally nice and useful?" + +"Just try me, that's all!" said Tom. + +"Don't be afraid. I shall put you to every possible use; you may be +quite certain that your position will not be a sinecure." + +"Then you'll make me the happiest fellow alive!" + +"You don't know what you are saying; you don't know what your words +mean," cried Elsie, with one of her bewildering glances. + +"Indeed I do! Oh, Miss Elsie, if you only could--" + +Elsie interrupted him, as her sister came out on the portico, followed +by Mellen. "There is Bessie!" + +Elizabeth was rejoiced to see honest Tom; he was the only relative she +possessed, and she loved him like a sister. She was thoroughly +acquainted with his character, and honored him for the sterling goodness +concealed by eccentricities of manner which made him so open to laughter +and misconception. + +"I'm so glad to see you!" cried Tom, shaking hands all round again, and +growing redder and redder, to Elsie's intense delight. "I've been like a +fish out of water since you all came away; I just begin to feel like +myself again. Bessie, old girl, are you glad to see me?" + +"We shall always be glad to see you, Tom," Elizabeth said, glancing at +her husband. + +"Indeed we shall," he said; "you will always find a room at your +service, and a sincere welcome." + +No, Elizabeth never could have cared for him--the idea was simply +absurd--he would never think of it again, never! + +"I can't tell you how much obliged I am," said Tom, twisting about as if +his joints were out of order, and he was trying to set them straight. + +"Your chamber is ready," said Elizabeth; "we expected you to-day." + +"He doesn't need to go up now," interposed Elsie; "that checked coat is +bewitching, and he is going to take me out to row. Come along, Don +Quixote--come this instant!" + +Elsie ran off, and he followed, obedient as a great Newfoundland dog. + +Elizabeth looked after them a little sadly, and smothered a sigh of +anxiety. She saw what Elsie was so heedlessly doing, and knew Tom well +enough to understand how acute his sufferings would be once roused from +his entrancing dream. + +So things went on during the whole time of his stay, and there was no +help for it. Elsie made him a perfect slave, and Tom no more thought of +disputing her wildest caprice, than if he had been some untutored fawn, +made captive to the spells of a Dryad. + +Elsie saw plainly enough that he loved her, but she regarded that part +of the affair very lightly. She was accustomed to being loved and +petted--it was her right. The idea that it could be cruel or +unprincipled to encourage this young fellow as she did, never entered +her mind. Indeed, if the misery she was bringing upon him had been +pointed out to her, she would only have laughed at it as a capital jest, +a source of infinite amusement. + +When Tom Fuller went back to town, Elsie was taken with a strong desire +to visit dear Mrs. Harrington. Tom was a sort of cousin, now, and would +make a capital escort. Besides, she was sure Grantley and Elizabeth +would be much happier alone. Perhaps Mellen thought so too. At any rate, +he made no objections, and Elsie went. + +The husband and wife were alone. The days were so pleasant--those long, +golden, June days!--they might have been so happy in the solitude of +that beautiful spot, but for the chasm which lay between the souls of +these married people, scarcely perceptible as yet, but widening every +hour! + +Elizabeth watched her husband incessantly. She tortured every evidence +of affection into a forced kindness, an attempt to hide his want of +love; he was trying to make all the atonement in his power, to give her +everything that could make life pleasant, except the place in his heart +which was her right. How her soul revolted against the thought! + +She was mortally hurt and grieved that he could have deceived her. If he +had only spoken the truth, only left her to decide whether she could be +content to accept an outer place in his regard, to make his home happy, +to guard and cherish his sister--if he had only left this decision in +her hands, the matter would have worn a different aspect. + +But that he should have been silent--that even now he should guard his +secret, practising this daily deception, and meaning to let it lie +between them all through life--was a never-ceasing thorn in her heart. + +Mellen, in turn, was watching her; watching her with that morbid +suspicion which made the groundwork of his character. Observant of the +change in her manner, and trying always to account for it, but only +making himself restless and anxious to no purpose. + +He had loved her, he did love her, and the only reason she was, as he +supposed, ignorant of the humiliating story of his past, was because he +had put it resolutely out of his mind; and it hurt his pride too much to +go over the detail of the deceit and treachery from which he had +suffered, even in his own thoughts. + +Elsie's absence was prolonged to a fortnight, and when she returned, +Mrs. Harrington and Tom Fuller came back with her. + +The girl was in more joyous spirits than ever; more bewitching and +beautiful, if possible; and Elizabeth could see plainly that Mellen's +love for her fell little short of absolute idolatry. + +She was not jealous. If Elsie had been her own sister, she could not +have become more attached to her than she had grown during their year of +companionship. But it was very hard to see of what love her husband was +capable, and to remember that no part of it could be won for her; that +between her soul and his, rose the image of that false woman, whose +treachery had steeled his heart against such love as she thirsted for. + +Tom Fuller was a more hopeless lunatic than ever; but Elsie had begun to +grow impatient of his devotion. She often treated him cruelly now. The +poor fellow bore it all with patience, and still clung to his beautiful +dream, unable to realize that it was a baseless delusion, which must +pass away with the summer that had warmed it to its prime. + +The weeks passed on with all-seeming pleasantness, and in many respects +they were pleasant to both husband and wife, though the secret thoughts +in the minds of both, kept them aloof from the perfect rest and +happiness to which they had looked forward during that brief courtship. + +But a sudden change and a great break were nearing their lives, and +unexpectedly enough they came. + +Mellen owned a large mining property in California, an immense fortune +in itself, and ever since his return from Europe, he had been much +occupied with a lawsuit that had sprung up concerning the title. He had +sent out his man of business, but the case did not go on satisfactorily, +and letters came which made his presence there appear absolutely +imperative. + +He could not take his wife and sister; the discomforts to which they +would be exposed, the dreadful fears where Elsie was concerned, from her +apparent delicacy, entirely prevented that idea. + +He informed them that he might be obliged to go; he had written other +letters by the steamer; the answer he might receive would decide. + +Elizabeth pleaded to go with him, but Elsie frankly owned that she could +not even think of a sea voyage without deathly horror. Mellen pointed +out to his wife the necessity there was that she should remain with +Elsie, and she submitted in silence. + +"He married me to take care of her," she thought; "I will do my duty--I +will stay. Perhaps this absence will change him: but no, I am mad to +hope it. Elsie says he never changes. That woman's memory must always +lie between his heart and mine." So she turned to her dull weary path of +duty, and gave no sign. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SHADOWS OF A SEPARATION. + + +October comes, and scarcely four months after his marriage, Mellen was +compelled to leave his wife and home, it might be for a year. Elizabeth +grew white and cold when this certainty was forced upon her, yet she +made no protestation, and uttered nothing like regret or complaint. +Grantley was chilled through and through the heart by this. He had been +so lonely, had longed for the warmth and happiness of love with such +intense yearnings, that her calm stillness wounded him terribly. Was she +of marble? Would nothing kindle affection in that proud heart? Had he +married a beautiful statue? + +No wonder Elizabeth was proudly cold. She did not believe in the +necessity of this journey. His indifference had grown into dislike, she +thought, and, yielding to inevitable repulsion, he was going away to +avoid her. + +But Elsie was loud in her expressions of grief. She had floods of tears +to give--protestations and caresses without end. Her sweet voice was +constantly reproaching Elizabeth for want of feeling. She was forever +hovering about her brother in atonement, as she said, for his wife's +coldness. But the roses on her cheek were always fresh, and her blue +eyes never lost a gleam of their brightness, while Elizabeth grew thin +and white beneath the withering ache of a famished heart. + +"Oh, the desert of these months! Oh, my God, my God, I shall perish +without him! Alone here--all alone with this child--what will become of +me! How shall I endure, how resist this wild clamor of the heart?" + +Elizabeth had flung herself upon the couch in her own room, her face was +buried in the purple cushion, and she strove to smother the words, which +sprang out of a terrible pain which had no business in that young heart. +As she lay, convulsed and sobbing, on the couch, the door opened, and +her husband came into the room. The thick carpet smothered his +footsteps, and he stood by the couch before she knew it--stood there a +moment, then fell upon his knees, and softly wound his arm around her. + +"Elizabeth, my wife." + +She started up with a cry; her face was wet with tears; her large grey +eyes wild with sorrow. He lifted her to his bosom, put back the thick +waves of hair that had fallen over her face, and kissed her forehead and +her lips with gentle violence. + +The pride went out from her heart as she felt these passionate kisses +rained on her face. She clung to him, trembling from the new joy that +possessed her. + +"Is it for me that you are weeping, sweet wife? are you sorry to part +with me?" + +"Oh, yes, yes! you are my life, my salvation." + +"Ah, how hard you make it for me to go!" + +"And you must? you must?" + +"It is inevitable; my duty to others demands it; but it shall not be for +long." + +The door of Elsie's boudoir was opened, the curtains held back, and the +smiling young creature looked in. Elizabeth saw her, struggled out of +her husband's arms, and sat with the wet eyelashes sweeping her cheek, +which was hot with blushes. + +"Oh, ho! one too many, am I?" she cried, entering without ceremony. +"Why, sister Bessie, I haven't seen you blush so since that day when +Mrs. Harrington would insist on it that you recognised a certain +person." + +Elizabeth was so confused by the sudden rush of joy sweeping through her +whole being, that she did not remark this speech; but her husband did, +and withdrew his arm gently from her support. She looked up, and saw +that he was changed within the minute. + +"I'm glad to find you looking so amiable," said Elsie, going up to the +glass, and threading her curls out into fluffy and beautiful confusion; +"for I've thought of something that would make this place delightful, +just as you are going away, Grant. Besides," she added, looking down and +coloring a little, "people will get such ideas into their heads, and say +such things. It is quite necessary to let them see how very happy you +and Bessie are together, or they never will believe that you are not +running away from her." + +"What!" demanded Mellen almost sternly,--"What are you saying, Elsie?" + +"Oh, it's dreadful; I've been crying about it half the night; but a +splendid ball, or something of that sort, will put everything on velvet. +Nothing like champagne and the _et ceteras_ to stop people's mouths." + +"A ball! Why, Elsie, what is your mind running on?" + +"The idea is dreadful, I know; and just as you are leaving us, when +every moment is precious as a grain of gold. But it's really necessary. +If you go off without seeing people, Grant, they will be sure to say +that you and Bessie have quarreled, and all sorts of horrid things about +her being melancholy, and you--well it's no use repeating these +speeches, but the ball we must have. Bessie shall entertain them like a +princess; as for poor little me, I'm good for nothing but dancing." + +She gave a waltzing step or two, and whirled herself before the mirror +again. + +"Well, who shall we invite?" she said, gazing at the pretty image that +smiled back her admiration. "I made out a list this morning in my room; +shall I bring it?" + +She ran into her room and came out again with a handful of engraved +cards, some of them already filled in. + +"I knew, of course, that the ball was to be, so had the cards struck +off. Tom Fuller brought them down. Just add what names you please, +Bessie, and we will leave the rest to Mrs. Harrington." + +"Why, Elsie!" began Mrs. Mellen. + +"Well, what is it?" + +"How can you think of--" + +"Oh, it's settled, so don't discuss it. What! looking cross? Why, Grant +dear, I--I--did not think you would be offended." + +"But I am, Elsie." + +She dropped into a chair, pressed both hands to her side, and shrunk +away into a grieved, feeble little thing, that had been crushed by a +single blow. + +"Why, Elsie!" + +Her eyes filled with tears, and she covered them with both hands. + +"I am not angry, child, only surprised." + +"But you will be--you will be very angry when I tell you that some of +the invitations are sent out. Oh, I wish I were dead!" + +Her lips quivered like those of a grieved and half-frightened child. Her +cheeks were wet, and their color had left them. + +"Oh, Grantley, Grantley, don't--don't look at me in that way. Dear +Bessie, tell him how sorry I am." + +Mellen was walking the floor in considerable agitation. He had hoped for +a little peace in his own home--a few days of tranquil confidence with +his wife. Now everything was broken in upon. There would be nothing but +confusion up to the very hour of his starting. + +Elsie watched him furtively, and with sidelong glances. She knew how +terrible his anger was when once aroused. + +"Oh, if my poor mother had lived." + +"Peace, Elsie! I will not have that sacred name dragged into an affair +like this. Have your way, but remember it is the last time that you must +venture on the prerogatives of my wife." + +Elsie left the room really frightened, and sobbing piteously, but the +moment she found herself in her boudoir a smile broke through her tears, +and she laughed out. + +"Well, I don't care, we shall have the ball. I wonder if Bessie put him +up to that. Hateful thing, he never scolded me so before. Her +prerogatives, indeed." + +As for Grantley Mellen, this untoward intrusion had broken up the happy +moment which might have given him an insight into all that his wife felt +and suffered. The interview which had promised such gentle confidence +only ended in mutual irritation. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE BALL. + + +The evening of the ball arrived; the house was crowded, and for the +scores it was impossible to accommodate, Mellen had made arrangements in +his usual lavish way, for a conveyance back and forth in a steamer +chartered for the occasion. + +The old house was a beautiful sight that evening. The long suite of +drawing-rooms were flung open, and in the far distance a noble +conservatory, half greenness, half crystal, terminated the view like +some South Sea island flooded with moonlight. + +It was not alone that these noble rooms were shaded with richly-tinted +draperies, and filled with costly furniture; any wealthy man's house may +offer those things; but Mellen had thrown his fine individual taste into +the adornments of his home. Antique and modern statues gleamed out of +the general luxuriousness. Pictures that made your breath come +unsteadily broke up the walls, and groups of bronze gave you surprises +at every turn. The works of art, sometimes arrayed in one long dreary +gallery, were here scattered in nooks and corners, completing each room +with their beauty. + +And all this was kindled up into one brilliant whole. There was no +crowding in those rooms. Each rare object had its peculiar light and +appropriate space. A master mind had arranged every thing. + +In these almost palatial saloons Elizabeth stood by her husband, +receiving their guests as they came in. + +Elsie was in brilliant spirits that night, and her buoyant gayety formed +a singular contrast with the quiet repose of Elizabeth. + +Tom Fuller followed the pretty elf about everywhere in spite of her +cruel rebuffs, for he was sadly in her way that night; and when she +refused to dance with him, peremptorily ordering him away to entertain +dowagers, or perform any similar heavy work, he would take the post she +assigned him, and watch her with fascinated eyes as she floated down the +dance or practised her wiles on every man who approached, just as she +had once thought it worth while to entrance him. + +On that evening Tom Fuller woke to a consciousness of the truth; he +understood the confusion and bewilderment which had been in his mind for +weeks past; he loved this bright young creature with the whole force of +his rugged nature, and began dimly to comprehend that she cared no more +for him or his sufferings than if his heart had been a football or +shuttlecock. + +He captured Elizabeth, and there, in the midst of the lights and gayety, +told her of his wrongs, with such energy that it required her constant +effort to prevent him from attracting general attention. + +"I love her," he burst out, "I do love her! She might run my heart +through with a rusty bayonet, if she would only care for me." + +The beginning was not at all coherent, but Elizabeth perfectly +understood what he meant. Several times during the past weeks she had +attempted to open his eyes to the truth; but he would neither see nor +hear, and had insisted upon rushing on to his fate like a great +blundering bluebottle into a spider's web. + +"Do you think there's any hope, Bessie, do you? I ain't handsome, and I +ain't disgustingly rich; but I'll give her all my heart! I'll work for +her, die for her; I'd lay my own soul down for her to walk over, only to +keep her little feet dry, upon my honor I would." + +Elizabeth drew him into a window recess, and tried to soothe his +agitation. + +"Poor old Tom!" she whispered; "poor dear old Tom!" + +"I know what that means," he said, choking desperately; "you don't think +there is any hope. You know there is not!" + +"I have tried to talk to you, Tom, but you wouldn't listen--" + +"Yes, I know, I know! It's my own fault--I'll--I'll turn up jolly in a +little while--it's only the f-first that's hard!" + +And Tom blew and whistled in his efforts to keep his composure, in a way +that was irresistibly ludicrous. In the midst of his distress the poor +fellow could not help being comical. Even in the suffering which was so +terribly real to him he made Elizabeth smile. + +"I'm a great fool!" he exclaimed. "Just pitch in and abuse me like +smoke, Bessie, I think it would do me good." + +"Only wait till to-morrow," she said, "I will talk with you then--we +shall be overheard now." + +"Oh, I can't help it if the whole world hears," he groaned; "I can't +wait! The way she's going on with those dashing young fellows drives me +mad! Why couldn't I have been a dashing fellow too, instead of such a +great live-oak hulk! I can't stir without stumbling over somebody, and +as for saying those dainty things that they are pouring into her ears, +and be hanged to 'em--I can't do it. No wonder she scorns me!" + +Tom dealt his unfortunate forehead a blow that made it scarlet for +several moments, and quieted him down somewhat. + +"What would you advise me to do, Bessie?" he asked. "You're so sensible +and so good--just give a fellow a hint." + +"Dear Tom, there is nothing for it but to wait--" + +"That's pretty advice!" he burst in. "You might as well tell a person in +a blaze of fire to wait! No, I shan't wait--I shan't, I say!" + +Tom ran his hands through his hair till it stood up, quivering as if he +had received an electric shock. + +"Oh, you needn't look so black at me, Bessie; I know just what a humbug +I am as well as you." + +"I wasn't looking black at you; I am very, very sorry, Tom." + +"Don't pity me; I shall break right down if you do." + +"I must go back, Tom," she said; "I can't stay here any longer." + +"I know it; of course you can't. I'll just wait a minute and +then----there, go! What a nuisance I am!" + +Elizabeth went back into the ball-room, where she saw Elsie whirling +through a waltz, looking as happy and unconscious as if she had not just +crushed a warm, loving human heart under her pretty foot. + +Mrs. Mellen stood a moment arrested; no one seemed to heed her. + +She saw Mrs. Harrington forcing Mellen to walk through a quadrille, and +felt certain that he was as restless as herself. + +"But it is for Elsie," she thought; "he will not mind so long as it is +for her. None of them will miss me." + +Tom Fuller stood in the bay window for some time trying to collect his +scattered faculties. Any thing like rational thought was quite out of +the question with him; he felt as if a great humming-top were spinning +about in his ears, and his heart was in a state of palpitation that +utterly defies description. + +Finally he passed through the drawing-rooms where people were busy over +their cards or their small-talk, and entered the ball-room from which he +had rushed in such frenzy. + +There was a pause in the music, and Elsie was standing surrounded by a +group of gentlemen, not even seeing Tom as he approached. He managed to +edge himself into the circle at last, and stood watching Elsie very much +like a sheep-dog that wanted dreadfully to worry something, but knew +that he would get himself into difficulty if he even ventured on a bark. + +But speak with her, he would; Tom had reached that point where his +feelings must find vent or explode, and scatter mischief all around. + +Finally a brilliant idea struck him, and he got near enough to whisper-- + +"Bessie wants to see you a moment." + +Elsie turned away impatiently. + +"Now, this moment," added Tom, growing very red at his own fib, but +following it up courageously. + +He knew very well that the dandies were quizzing him; he saw that Elsie +was provoked; but though he trembled in every joint, and his face had +heat enough in it to have kept a poor family comfortably warm from the +reflection, he resolutely held out his arm, and the young lady took it, +pouting and flinging back smiles to her forsaken admirers. + +"My sister wants me," she said, in explanation to her friends. +"Tiresome, isn't it? for there is no guessing when she will let me come +back." + +Tom led his captive away, but he was dreadfully frightened at the +success of his own manoeuvre. + +"Where is Bessie?" asked Elsie, impatiently, as they walked down the +ball-room. + +"This way," faltered Tom; "we shall find her in a moment." + +Elsie never deigned him another word; she was very angry, as she could +be with any thing or anybody that marred her selfish enjoyment, and Tom +walked on towards one of the parlors which he knew was empty, feeling +like a man about to charge a battery single handed, but determined to +persevere nevertheless. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +TOM MAKES A DECLARATION. + + +Tom led his captive into the parlor. Elsie looked about in +surprise--there was not a soul visible. + +"Are you crazy, Tom Fuller?" cried she; "Bessie is not here." + +"She shall be here in a minute," stammered Tom; "just wait, please." + +"Indeed I will do no such thing," returned Elsie, sharply, snatching her +hand from his arm. "Did she send you for me, Tom Fuller?" + +"No," cried Tom, with sudden energy, "I told a lie! I couldn't stand it +any longer; I must speak with you; waiting was impossible!" + +Elsie turned on him like a little kingbird darting on a hawk. + +"What do you mean by this unwarrantable liberty!" she exclaimed. "Have +you no idea of the common usages of society? Don't come near me again +to-night; don't speak to me." + +She was darting away, but Tom caught her hand. + +"Oh, wait, Elsie, wait!" + +"You ridiculous creature!" said Elsie, beginning to laugh in spite of +her vexation. "What on earth do you want?" + +"Laugh at me!" groaned Tom; "I deserve it--I expect it--but I can't live +this way any longer! You are driving me crazy. I love you, Elsie! Only +speak one kind word--just say you don't hate me." + +He was holding out his two hands, looking so exceedingly energetic in +his wretchedness, that Elsie burst into perfect shrieks of laughter. + +"You silly old goose!" she said; "don't you know you mustn't talk in +that way to me! You have no right, and it is very impertinent! There, go +along--I forgive you." + +Tom stared at her with his astonished eyes wide open. + +"You can laugh at me!" he exclaimed. "Why, all these weeks you have let +me go on loving you, and never hinted that it was so very disagreeable." + +"Now, Tom, don't be tiresome!" + +Tom groaned aloud. + +"Why I never saw such conduct!" cried Elsie, impatiently. "It's too bad +of you to behave so--you are spoiling my whole evening! You are just as +disagreeable as you can be. Oh, I hate you!" + +"Elsie! Elsie!" + +"Let go my hand; suppose anybody should come in! Oh, you old goose of a +Tom--let me go, I say." + +"Just one minute, Elsie--" + +"To-morrow--any time! Don't you know civilized beings never behave in +this way at a ball." + +"I don't know--I can't think! I only feel I love you, Elsie, and must +speak out. I will speak out." + +A few weeks earlier Elsie would only have been amused at all this from +general lack of amusement, but now it vexed and irritated her. Girl-like +she had not the slightest pity on his pain. He was keeping her sorely +against her wishes. + +"I am served right for treating you as a friend," she said; "I looked +upon you as a relation, and thought you understood it; now you are +trying to make me unhappy. Bessie will be angry, and tell Grant. Oh, you +ought to be ashamed." + +"I won't make you any trouble," shivered Tom; "I won't distress you! +There--I beg your pardon, Elsie, I am sorry! And you don't--you never +can, Elsie, Elsie--" + +"No, no, you silly old fellow, of course not! Now be good, and I'll +forget all about this folly. Let me go, Tom, I can't stay here any +longer--let me go." + +Tom still held her hand. + +"This is earnest!" he said. + +"Yes, yes! Tom, if you don't let me go I'll scream! You are absurd--why, +you ought to be put in a straight jacket." + +Tom dropped her hand, and stood like a man overpowered by some sudden +blow. + +Elsie saw only the comical side of the matter, and began to laugh again. + +"Don't laugh," he said, passionately; "for mercy's sake don't laugh!" + +There was a depth of suffering in his tone which forced itself to be +realized even by that selfish creature; but it only made her begin to +consider herself exceedingly ill-used, and to blame Tom for spoiling her +pleasure. + +"Now you want to blame me," she said, angrily, "and I haven't done a +thing to encourage you." + +"No, no; I don't blame you, Elsie," he said; "it's all my own fault--all +mine." + +"Yes, to be sure," cried Elsie. "Who could think you would be so +foolish. There, shake hands, Tom, for I'm in a hurry. You are not +angry?" + +"Angry--no," said Tom, drearily. + +"That's right! Good-by--you'll be wiser to-morrow." + +Elsie glided away, and Tom watched her go out of the room, and realized +that she was floating out of his life forever, that the dream of the +past was at an end, and he was left alone in the darkness. + +Poor old Tom! It was very hard, but no one could have resisted a smile +at his appearance! When Elsie left him, he dashed out of the room, and +hid himself in the most out of the way corner he could find. + +As he crossed the hall, he heard Elizabeth call-- + +"Tom, Tom!" + +He stopped, and she came towards him. One look at his face revealed the +whole truth. She did not speak, but took his hand in hers, with a mute +expression of sympathy which overpowered him. + +"Don't! don't!" he said. "Let me go, Bessie! I'm a fool--it's all over +now! There, don't mind me--I'll be better soon! I've got a chance to go +to Europe for awhile, in fact it's to Calcutta. I shall be all right +when I come back." + +"Oh, my poor old Tom! Elsie is a wicked girl to have trifled with you +so." + +"She didn't!" he exclaimed, indignantly. "Don't blame her. I won't have +it. There's nobody in fault but me. I deserve it all! I'm a blundering, +wrong-headed donkey, and she's lovely as--as--" + +Here Tom broke down, and going to a window looked resolutely out. + +"But you won't go away, Tom?" said Elizabeth following him. + +"Yes, I will. I shan't be gone but a few months. Don't try to keep me. +I'll be all right when we meet again." + +"Oh, Tom, Tom!" said Elizabeth. + +"Now, be still; that's a good girl; I don't want to be pitied. It's of +no consequence, not the slightest." + +He broke abruptly away, and disappeared, leaving Elizabeth full of +sympathy for his distress, and regret at the idea of losing her old +playmate--she had depended on him so much during her husband's absence. + +There had been a lull in the music, but it struck up again now, and the +saloons reverberated with a stirring waltz. Elizabeth stood a moment +listening to the crash of sound and the tread of light feet, but her +heart was full and her brow anxious. She went to the window and looked +out. It was a lovely night, but the eternal roll and sweep of the ocean +seemed to depress her with some terrible dread. In all that splendid +tumult she was alone. As she stood by the window her husband came down +the hall smiling upon the lady who hung upon his arm. He had not missed +her, would not miss her. There was no fear of that. She glided away with +this dreary thought in her mind. Mellen almost touched her as she turned +into a little room opening upon the conservatory, but she went on +unnoticed. + +Tom Fuller had retreated into the conservatory, and was sitting +disconsolately in an iron garden chair, sheltered by a small tree, +drooping with yellow fringe-like blossoms, when a lady entered from one +of the side doors, and passed out towards the gardens. + +Tom started up, and called out, "Bessie! Why, Bessie, is that you? What +on earth--" + +The lady made no response, but looked over her shoulder, and sprang +forward like a deer, causing a tumult among the plants as she rushed +through them. + +Tom stood motionless, lost in amazement; for over a ball dress which +seemed white--he could discover nothing more,--the lady was shrouded +head and person, in a blanket shawl, which he knew to be Elizabeth's, +from the broad crimson stripes that ran across it. + +After his first amazement Tom sat down again, heaving a deep sigh, and +retreated further behind the flowering branches, that no one might look +upon his unmanly sorrow. + +"Poor Bessie, poor thing," he muttered, "I suppose she feels just as I +do, like a fish out of water, in all these fine doings. I'd follow her, +and we'd take a melancholy walk together in the moonlight, if it was not +that Elsie might happen to get tired of dancing with those fellows, and +come in here to rest a minute, when I could hide away and look at her +through the plants." + +Tom had in reality startled the lady shrouded in that great travelling +shawl, for once out of doors she stood full half a minute listening with +bated breath, and one foot advanced, ready to spring away if any sound +reached her. Then she walked on with less desperate haste, bending her +course through the shrubberies towards a grove of trees that lay between +the open grounds and the shore. + +It was a balmy October evening, moonlight, but shadowed by hosts of +white scudding clouds. The wind blew up freshly from the water, +scattered storms of gorgeous leaves around her as she approached the +grove which was still heavy with foliage, perfectly splendid in the +sunlight, but now all shadows and blackness. On the edge of the grove, +just under a vast old oak, whose great limbs scarcely swayed in the +wind, the lady paused and uttered some name in a low, cautious voice. + +A spark of fire flashed down to the earth, as if some one had flung away +his cigar in haste, and instantly footsteps rustled in the dead leaves. +The branches of the oak bent low, and behind it was a thicket of young +trees. The lady did not feel safe, even in the darkness, but moved on to +meet the person who advanced in the deeper shadows, where even the edges +of her white dress, which fell below the shawl, were lost to the eye. + +As she stood panting in the shelter, a man's voice addressed her, and +his hand was laid upon her shoulder. + +"How you tremble!" + +The voice sounded, in that balmy October night, sweet and mellow as the +dropping of its over-ripe leaves. The female did indeed tremble +violently. + +"Look, look! I am followed," she whispered. + +The man stepped a pace forward, peered through the oak branches, and +stole cautiously to her side again. + +"It is Mellen!" + +She darted away, dragging her shawl from the grasp that man had fastened +upon it,--away under the old oak, and along the outskirts of the grove. +She paused a moment in breathless terror at the narrowest point of the +lawn, then darted across it, huddling the skirt of her ball dress up +with one hand, and sweeping the dead leaves in winrows after her with +the fringes of her shawl. She avoided the conservatory, for Tom was +still visible through its rolling waves of glass--and, turning to the +servants' entrance, ran up a flight of dark stairs into the shaded +lights of a chamber. She flung the heavy shawl breathlessly on a couch, +shook the snowy masses of her dress into decorous folds, and stole to +the window on tip-toe, where she stood, white and panting for breath, +watching the lawn and grove, with wild, eager eyes, as if she feared her +footsteps in the leaves might have been detected even in the darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +WHO COULD IT HAVE BEEN? + + +The evening passed drearily enough to Grantley Mellen. He was in no +spirits for society and the gay bustle; the lights, the music, the +constraint he was forced to put upon himself, and the cheerfulness he +was obliged to assume, only wearied him. + +A strange and unaccountable dread of his approaching journey possessed +him. It had grown stronger as the days passed on, and that night was +more powerful than ever. + +Sometimes he was almost ready to think it a presentiment; perhaps he was +never to return from that voyage; some unseen danger awaited him in that +distant land, and he should die there, far from the sound of every +voice, the touch of every hand that was dear to him. + +He was vexed with himself for indulging in this superstitious weakness; +but, in spite of all his efforts, the thought would recur again and +again, oppressing him with a dreary sense of desolation that made the +brilliant scene around absolutely repulsive. + +He left the lighted rooms at last, and passed through the hall on to the +piazza which overlooked the sea. + +It was a beautiful evening; the moonlight, escaping from under a bank of +clouds, lay silvery and broad upon the lawn, and broke a path of +diamonds across the rippling waters, lighting them up to wonderful +splendor. The air was balmy and soft as spring, the wind rippled +pleasantly among the trees, but there was no melody in its tones to his +ear; it seemed only a repetition of the mournful warning which had +haunted his thoughts. + +He walked on across the lawn, anxious to get beyond the sound of the +music and gayety which followed him from the house, for it jarred upon +his ears with deafening discordance. + +He entered a little thicket of bushes and young trees, in the midst of +which rose up a dark, funereal-looking cypress, that always waved its +branches tremulously, however still the air might be, and seemed to be +oppressed with a trouble which it could only utter in faint moaning +whispers. + +As he stood there, looking into the gloom, with a sense of relief at +finding some object more in unison with his dark thoughts, he saw a +figure glide away from the foot of the cypress, and disappear in the +shrubbery beyond. + +It was a woman wrapped in some dark garment--in movement and form like +his wife--could it be his wife wandering about the grounds at that hour? + +"Elizabeth!" he called; but there was no answer. + +He hurried forward among the trees, but there was no object visible, no +response to the summons he repeated several times. + +It might be some guest who had stolen out there for a few minutes' +quiet; yet that was not probable. Besides, the movements of the slender +form appeared familiar to him. In height and shape Elsie and Elizabeth +resembled each other; it was possibly one of them, but which? + +Elsie it could not be, she had a nervous dread of darkness and could not +be persuaded to stir off the piazza after nightfall. It must have been +Elizabeth, then; but what was she doing there! + +He started towards the house with some vague thought in his mind, to +which he could have given no expression. + +His wife was not in any of the rooms through which he passed, and he +hurried into the ball-room. The music had just struck up anew; he saw +Elsie whirling through a waltz; but Elizabeth was nowhere visible. + +He drew near enough to Elsie to whisper-- + +"Where is Bessie?" + +"I don't know," she answered. "I have been dancing all the while, and +have not seen her for some time." + +He turned away; but, just then, Mrs. Harrington captured him, and it was +several moments before he could escape from her tiresome loquacity. + +The moment he was at liberty Mellen hurried through the parlors and up +the stairs, opened the door of Elizabeth's dressing-room, and entered. +There she was, standing at the window, looking out. She turned quickly, +and in some confusion at his sudden entrance. + +"Is it you?" she asked. + +"Yes; I have been looking for you everywhere!" + +"I came up here for a moment's quiet," she answered. "I am very, very +tired; I wish it was all over, Grantley." + +"Have you been out?" he asked. + +It seemed to him that she hesitated a little, as she answered-- + +"Out? No; where--what do you mean?" + +"I thought I saw you in the grounds a little while ago." + +"I should not be likely to go out in this dress," she replied, glancing +down at the point lace flounces that floated over the snowy satin of her +train. "Come, we must go down stairs; our guests will think us careless +hosts." + +Mellen felt and looked dissatisfied, but could not well press the matter +farther. + +"Are you coming down?" she asked. + +"Yes; of course," he replied, coldly. "Don't wait for me." + +She walked away without another word. + +"She avoids me," he thought. "I see it more and more." + +The ball was over at last. Even Elsie was completely tired out, and glad +to nestle away under the azure curtains of her bed when the guests had +departed. + +With the next morning began preparations for Mellen's departure; and +during the bustle of the following week, no one found much time for +thought or reflection. + +Tom Fuller came down suddenly, and opened his heart to Elizabeth. He was +going to Europe; he did not ask to see Elsie; lacking the courage to +meet her again for the present--once more, perhaps, before he went away; +but not yet. + +Elizabeth did not reproach the girl for her share in the honest fellow's +unhappiness. She merely said-- + +"Tom is going to Europe on business; he sails next week." + +"Oh, the foolish old fellow," replied Elsie; "and he never could learn +to speak a French word correctly--what fun it would be to be with him in +France." + +"You will miss him," Mellen said, quietly. + +"Oh," replied his wife, with a forced smile, "I must make up my mind to +be lonely. I shall live through the coming dreary months as I best can." + +"It's horrid of you to go, Grant!" cried Elsie. + +"I know it, dear; but there is no use in fighting the unavoidable." + +"Mind you write to me as often as you do to Bessie," she said. "If she +gets one letter the most, I never will forgive either of you." + +As she said this, the girl ran up to her brother, and stood leaning +against his shoulder, with a playful caress, while he looked down at her +with such entire love and trust in his face, that Elizabeth crept +quietly away, and left them together. + +The few days left to Mellen passed in a tumult of preparation. Sad +doubts were at his heart, vague and so formless that he could not have +expressed them in words, but painful as proven realities. + +Elizabeth was greatly disturbed also; her fine color had almost entirely +disappeared. She trembled at the slightest shock, and her very lips +would turn white when she spoke of her husband's departure. She seemed +stricken with a mortal terror of his going, yet made no effort to detain +him. She, too, had presentiments of evil that shocked her whole system, +and made her brightest smile something mournful to look upon. + +But the husband and wife had little opportunity to observe or understand +the feelings that tortured them both. Elsie's cries, and tears, and +hysterical spasms, kept the whole household in commotion. She should +never see her brother again--never, never. Elizabeth might not be good +to her. Sisters-in-law and school-friends were different creatures; she +had found that out already. If she could only have died with her mother! + +These cries broke out vehemently on the night before Mellen's departure. +The spoiled child would not allow her brother to spend one moment from +her side. So all that night Elizabeth, pale, still, and bowed down by a +terrible heart-ache, watched with her husband by the azure couch which +Elsie preferred to her bed. It was a sad, mournful night to them both. + +At daylight, Elsie's egotism was exhausted, and she fell asleep. The +first sunshine came stealing up from its silvery play on the water, and +shimmering through the lace curtains, fell on the young girl as she +slept. There was trouble on that sweet face--genuine trouble; for Elsie +loved her brother dearly, and his departure agitated her more deeply +than he had ever known her moved before. + +How lovely she looked with the drops trembling on those long, golden +lashes, and staining the warm flush of her cheeks! One arm, from which +the muslin sleeve had fallen back, lay under her head, half-buried in a +tangle of curls; sobs broke at intervals through her parted lips, ending +in long, troubled sighs. + +Mellen was deeply touched. Elizabeth bent her head against the end of +the couch, and wept unheeded drops of anguish. The heart ached in her +bosom. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE HUSBAND'S LAST CHARGE. + + +Elizabeth Mellen shuddered visibly when the first sunbeam fell through +the curtains. Only a few moments were left to them. Sick and faint, she +lifted her head and turned her imploring eyes on her husband's +face--eyes so full of yearning agony, that his heart must have leaped +through all its doubts to meet hers, had not his glance been fixed upon +Elsie. The long, black lashes drooped over those gray eyes when she +found their appeal disregarded, and the young wife shrunk within +herself, shuddering at her own loneliness. + +A servant came to the room, and by a sign announced breakfast. It was +the last meal they might ever take together. This thought struck them +both, and brought their hands in contact with a thrilling clasp. He drew +her arm through his, and led her down stairs. She felt his heart beating +against her arm, looked up, and saw that he was regarding her with +glances of searching tenderness. Her eyes filled; her bosom heaved; and, +but for a wild struggle, she would have burst into a passion of tears +before the servant, who held the door open for them to pass into the +breakfast-room. + +How bright and cheerful it all looked--the crusted snow of the linen; +the delicately chased silver, and more delicate china; and this was +their last meal. She sat down and poured out his coffee. Her hand +trembled, but she tried to smile when he took the cup and praised its +aroma. She drank some herself, for the chill at her heart was spreading +to her face and hands. + +Little was said during the meal, and less was eaten. Elizabeth looked at +the clock as a convict gazes on the axe that is to slay him. She counted +the moments as they crept away, devouring the brief time yet given to +them, while he glanced at his watch, nervously every few minutes. + +Then the husband and wife went up stairs again. Elizabeth turned from +Elsie's door and went into her own dressing-room. With all her +magnanimity she could not give her husband up to his sister during the +last moments of his stay. He followed her into the room, but directly +lifted the curtain and went into Elsie's boudoir, where the young girl +lay profoundly sleeping. Elizabeth would not follow. Her heart was +swelling too painfully. She sat down, clasped both hands in her lap, and +waited like a statue. + +He had only crossed the boudoir, bent over Elsie, and pressed a cautious +but most loving kiss on her forehead. She did not move, but smiled +softly in her sleep, and he stole away, blessing her. + +Elizabeth's heart gave a sudden leap when he came into her room again +and sat down by her side. He felt how cold her hand was, and kissed it. + +"Elizabeth!" + +She turned, frightened by the tone of his voice. It was hoarse with +emotion. + +"Elizabeth, I have one charge to give before we part." + +She bent her head in sorrowful submission. + +"Elsie, my sister!" + +He did not notice the red flame that shot up to her cheek, or the +shrinking of her whole frame, but went on. + +"The child is so precious to me. The dearest human being I have on +earth--" He hesitated a moment, and added, "Except--except you, my +wife." + +She was grateful even for this. Was it that she was conscious of +deserving nothing more, or did the hungry yearning of her heart seize on +this sweet aliment with thankfulness after the famine of her recent +life? + +He saw the tears spring into her eyes, and drew her closer to his side. + +"Be careful of her for my sake, Elizabeth. She was given me in solemn +charge at my mother's death-bed. She has been the sweetest solace of my +barren life. Let no harm come near her--no evil thing taint the mind +which I leave in your hands pure as snow. Guard her, love her, and give +her back to me, gentle, guileless, and good, as she lies now, in the +sweetest and most innocent sleep I ever witnessed." + +"I will! I will!" answered Elizabeth, conquering a sharp spasm of pain +with the spirit of a martyr. "If human care, or human sacrifice can +insure her welfare, I will not be found wanting." + +Grantley bent down and kissed his wife gratefully. + +"Remember, Elizabeth, my happiness and honor are left in your keeping." + +Did he mean that honor and happiness both were bound up in Elsie, or had +he really thought of her rightful share in his life? + +This question flashed through the young wife's mind, but she would not +accept it in a bitter sense then. The parting hour was close at hand. +She trembled as each moment left them. + +"I will be kind to Elsie as you can desire; indeed I will," she said. +"You can trust me." + +"If I doubted that, harassing as the voyage is, I would take her with +me." + +"Oh, if you only could take us both! It terrifies me to be left alone, +surrounded with--" + +"That is out of the question now. But when I come back, we will try and +make this life of ours happier than it has been." + +She looked at him--her great, mournful eyes widening with pain. + +"Have you been very unhappy, then, Grantley," she faltered. + +"Unhappy! I did not say that; but hereafter our bliss must be more +perfect. We shall understand each other better." + +"Shall we--shall we ever? Oh, Grantley, without love what perfect +understanding can exist?" + +Her fine eyes were flooded with tears; every feature in her face +quivered with emotion. + +A clock on the mantel-piece chimed out the hour of his departure. On the +instant Dolf knocked at the door. + +Elizabeth started up, trembling like a wounded bird that struggles away +from a second shot. + +"So soon! so soon!" she cried, wringing her hands. "I had so much to +ask; everything to say, and now there is no time." + +Grantley took her in his arms, and kissed her very hurriedly, for the +servant was standing in sight. + +"God bless you, Elizabeth, I must go!" + +She flung her arms wildly around him. Her pale face was lifted to his in +mute appeal. Was it for pardon of some unknown offence, or the deep +craving of a true heart for love? + +Grantley put her away, and went hurriedly into Elsie's room. He came out +pale and troubled. Elizabeth stood by the door gasping her breath; he +wrung the hand she held forth to stop him, and was gone. She heard his +steps as they went down the walnut-staircase, and they fell upon her +like distinct blows. The great hall-door closed with a sharp noise that +made her start, and with a burst of bitter, bitter anguish, cry out. +Then came the sound of carriage-wheels grinding through gravel, and the +beat of hoofs that seemed trampling down the heart in her bosom. As +these sounds died off, she attempted to reach the window and look out, +but only fell upon the couch which stood near it, and fainted without a +moan. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MRS. HARRINGTON'S FRIENDS. + + +A day or two after Mellen's departure, Elizabeth, who was taking her +solitary promenade on the veranda, was surprised by a visit from Mrs. +Harrington, who came fluttering across the lawn between two gentlemen, +with whom she seemed carrying on a right and left flirtation. She came +up the steps with her flounces all in commotion, her face wreathed with +insipid smiles, and her hair done up in a marvellous combination of +puffs, curls and braids under a tiny bonnet, that hovered over them like +a butterfly just ready to take wing. + +"I knew that you would be moping yourself to death," she cried, floating +down upon Elizabeth with both hands extended; "so I gave up everything +and came in the first train. Now do acknowledge that I am the kindest +friend in the world." + +Elizabeth received her cordially, and with a great effort shook off the +gloomy thoughts that had oppressed her all the morning. Mrs. Harrington +did not heed this, she was always ready to welcome herself, and in haste +to secure her full share of the conversation, and before Elizabeth could +finish her rather halting attempts at a compliment she presented her +companions. + +Elizabeth had hardly glanced at the gentlemen till then, but now she +recognized the elder and more stately of the two as the person who had +probably saved her life on the Bloomingdale road. + +"I need not ask a welcome for this gentleman, I am sure," said Mrs. +Harrington, clasping both hands over Mr. North's arm, and leaning +coquettishly upon him. "He is our preserver, Mrs. Mellen,--our hero." + +North smiled, but rejected these compliments with an impatient lift of +the head. + +"Pray allow Mrs. Mellen to forget that this is not our first meeting," +he said; "so small a service is not worth mentioning." + +He looked steadily at Elizabeth as he spoke. She seemed to shrink from +his glance, but answered, + +"No, no; it was a service I can never forget--never hope to repay." + +"Now let me beg a welcome for my other friend," interposed Mrs. +Harrington. "Mr. Hawkins. I told him it was quite a charity to come with +me and rouse you up a little, besides, he is dying to see your lovely +sister-in-law." + +Mr. Hawkins, a very young Englishman, was leaning against a pillar of +the veranda in an attitude which displayed his very stylish dress to the +best possible advantage. He appeared mildly conscious that he had +performed a solemn duty in making a perambulating tailor's block of +himself, and ready to receive any amount of feminine admiration without +resistance. He came forward half a step and fell back again. + +"Such a charming place you have here--quite a paradise," he drawled, +caressing the head of his cane, which was constantly between his lips. +"I trust--aw--the other angel of this retreat is visible?" + +Elizabeth replied with a faint smile. She had borne a good many similar +afflictions from Mrs. Harrington's friends, but it was too much that +they should be forced upon her just then. + +"Where is Elsie?" cried the widow, with vivacious affection, shaking her +gay plumage like a canary bird in the sun. + +"In her own room," replied Elizabeth. "Pray walk in, and I will call +her." + +"Oh, never mind, I'll go!" said Mrs. Harrington. "Gentlemen, I leave you +with Mrs. Mellen; but no flirtation, remember that!" + +She fluttered, laughed a little, and shook her finger at the very young +man, who said "Aw!" while North seemed absorbed in the scenery. Then +away she flew, kissing her hand to them, and leaving Elizabeth to gather +up her weary thoughts and make an effort at entertaining these unwelcome +guests. + +Mrs. Harrington found Elsie yawning over a new novel, and quite prepared +to be enlivened by the prospect of company. + +"But I can't go down such a figure," she said; "just wait a minute. One +gets so careless in a house without gentlemen." + +"Poor dear! I am sure you are moped." + +"Oh, to death. It's dreadful!" sighed Elsie. "I feel things so acutely. +If I only had a little of Bessie's stoicism!" + +"Yes, it's all very well; but you are made up of feeling," said the +widow. "Change your dress, dear. Oh, you've made a conquest of a certain +gentleman." + +"What, that Hawkins! He's a fearful idiot!" cried Elsie. "But he'll do, +for want of a better." + +The sensitive young creature had quite forgotten her low spirits, but +dressed herself in the most becoming morning attire possible, and +floated down to greet the guests and quite bewilder them with her +loveliness. + +Hawkins had been mortally afraid of Mrs. Mellen, but with Elsie he could +talk, and Elizabeth sat quite stunned by the flood of frivolous nonsense +and the peals of senseless laughter which went on about her. As for Mr. +North, Elsie scarcely gave him a word after the first general +salutation. + +After awhile Elizabeth managed to escape, on the plea that household +duties required her presence, and stole up to her room for a little +quiet. All at once she heard Tom Fuller's voice in the hall; opened her +dressing-room door, and there he stood in his usual disordered state. + +"I've come to say good-bye," were his first words. + +"Then you are really going, Tom?" she said, sorrowfully, taking his hand +and leading him into the chamber. "Oh, how sorry I am." + +"Yes, I'm off to-morrow," he said, resolutely, running both hands +through his hair, and trying to keep his courage up. "A trip to Europe +is a splendid thing, Bess--I'm a lucky fellow to get it." + +"I shall be all alone," she said, mournfully; "and I had depended on you +so much." + +"Oh," cried Tom, "It's good of you to miss me--nobody else will! But +there, Bessie, don't you set me off! I wanted to bid you +good-bye--I--I--well, I'm a confounded fool, but I thought I'd like to +see her just once more." + +"And those tiresome people are here," said Elizabeth. + +"Who do you mean?" + +"Oh, Mrs. Harrington and two men she has brought to spend the day--one +of them is the person who checked our horses that day." + +"I thought I heard the widow's voice as I came through the hall," said +Tom. "Well, well, it's better so! You see I don't want to make a donkey +of myself." + +"Tom, you are the best creature in the world," cried Elizabeth. + +"Oh, Lord bless you, no," said Tom, rubbing his forehead in a +disconsolate way; "I ain't good; there's nothing like that about me. +'Pon my word, I'm quite shocked lately to see what an envious, +bad-hearted old wretch I'm getting to be." + +"We won't go downstairs yet," said Elizabeth; "sit down here and let's +have a comfortable talk, like old times, Tom." + +"Well, no, I guess not, thank you--it's very kind of you," returned he, +getting very red. "You see I can't stay but an hour--I must take the +next train, for I've lots of things to do." + +"Oh, I thought you would spend the night." + +"Now, don't ask me--I can't--it wouldn't be wise if I could," cried Tom, +giving his hair an unmerciful combing with his fingers. + +"No," she replied, regarding him with womanly pity; "perhaps not. And +you would like to go down stairs?" + +"I'm a fool to wish it," he answered; "those fine people will only laugh +at me, and I know when I see that magnifico and his popinjay friend +about Elsie I shall want to wring their conceited necks. But I'll +go--oh, it's no use telling lies! You understand just what a fool I +am--I came because I feel as if I must see her once more!" + +Tom was twisting his hat in both hands, his features worked in the +attempt he made to control his agitation; but Elizabeth loved him too +well for any notice of his odd manner--she was entirely absorbed in +sympathy for his trouble. + +"Oh, Tom, Tom!" she said, "I do hope absence--the change--will do you +good." + +"Yes," he broke in, with a strangled whistle that began as a groan; +"yes, of course, thank you--oh, no doubt! You see, there's no knowing +what good may come. But Lord bless you, Bess, if the old ship would only +sink and land me safe as many fathoms under salt water as was +convenient, it would be about the best thing that could happen to me." + +"Don't talk so, Tom; you can't think how it pains me." + +"Well, I won't--there, I'm all right now! Ti-rol-de-rol!" and Tom +actually tried to sing. "I say, Bessie, she never--she don't seem, you +know--?" + +"What, Tom?" + +"To be sorry I was going, you know?" + +"Elsie? She has been so engrossed with her brother's journey----" + +"Yes, of course," Tom broke in; "oh, it's not to be expected--nobody +that wasn't a flounder ever would have asked! Ri-tol-de-rol! I'm a +little hoarse this morning, but it's no matter--I only want to show I'm +not put about, you know--that is, not much." + +He moved uneasily about the chamber, upset light chairs and committed +disasters generally; but all the while looked resolute as possible, and +kept up his attempt at a song in a mournful quaver. + +"Well, I can't stay," he said; "I mustn't lose the train! Now, don't +feel uncomfortable, Bessie; Lord bless you, I shall soon be all +right--sea-sickness is good for my disease, you know," and Tom tried to +laugh, but it was a dismal failure compared with his former +light-heartedness. + +Elizabeth saw that he was restless to get once more into Elsie's +presence, painful as the interview must be to him, so she smoothed his +hair, straightened his necktie and accompanied him downstairs. + +"Oh, you dear, delightful Tom Fuller!" cried Mrs. Harrington, pleased to +see any man arrive, for Elsie had carried off both her victims into the +window-seat, and was making them dizzy with her smiles and brilliant +nonsense. + +"I--I'm delighted to see you," cried Tom, frantically, thrusting his hat +in her face, in a wild delusion that he was offering his hand, for he +was so upset by the sight of Elsie that he felt as if rapidly going up +in an unmanageable balloon. + +"I'll just say good-bye at the same time," pursued Tom; "for I'm rather +in a hurry, thank you." + +"Why, you're not going away directly!" cried the widow. "Oh, you must +stay and entertain me. Elsie has left me quite desolate." + +"Thank you; it's of no importance; I'm not quite on my sea legs yet," +gasped Tom, growing so dizzy that he was possessed of a mad idea he was +already on shipboard. + +"Why, you look quite white and ill," said the widow. + +"Yes; oh, not any, thank you," cried Tom, stepping on the widow's dress, +dancing off it and dealing Elizabeth a blow with his hat. + +Mrs. Mellen felt herself grow sick at heart; she glanced at Elsie; the +girl was laughing gaily, and chatting away with young Hawkins, +regardless of Tom's presence. North stood by, looking at her with his +deep, earnest eyes, as if searching her character in all its shallow +depths. Elizabeth felt bitterly indignant, and exclaimed-- + +"Elsie, my cousin has come to wish us good-bye, if you can spare him a +moment." + +"So you are really going?" called Elsie. "You oughtn't to run away so. +It's so unkind of you." + +Tom lifted his eyes mournfully to her face. + +"My lap is so full of flowers," cried Elsie, glancing down at a mass of +roses that glowed in the folds of her morning dress, "I can't possibly +get up; come and shake hands with me." + +It was well for Tom that Mrs. Harrington seized his arm, and afforded +him a few instants to regain his composure, while she asked all sorts of +questions about his journey and its object. + +"Mary Harrington," said Elsie. "Just let Mr. Fuller come here; you +mustn't assault peaceable men in that way." + +"La, dear, what odd things you do say! I was just talking with Mr. +Fuller about his journey." + +Elsie glanced at North and whispered to his companion, who laughed in a +very polite way. Tom knew it was at him, and grew more red and awkward. +Elizabeth recognised the silly insult, and darted a look of such +indignation towards the offender that the youth was quite subdued, +although it had no effect whatever on Elsie. + +She rose, dropping her flowers over the carpet, put her hand in Mr. +North's arm, left Hawkins to follow, and caress his cane in peace, and +moved towards the group. + +"Good-bye, Mr. Fuller," said she, touching his shoulder with the tips of +her fingers. "If you bring me a beautiful lava bracelet perhaps I'll +forgive you for going away,--and some pink coral,--don't forget." + +Tom was a sight to behold between confusion, distress, and his +superhuman efforts to be calm. + +"I'll bring you twenty," said he, recklessly. + +"Oh, that would be overpowering," laughed Elsie. "Good-bye. I'm sure +you'll look touching when you are seasick." + +"He! he!" giggled Hawkins, as well as he could for the cane. + +Tom turned on him like a tiger. + +"You'll ruin your digestion if you laugh so much over that tough meal," +said he, and for once Tom had the laugh on his side. + +"Good-bye, Miss Elsie," he continued, determined to get away while he +could still preserve a decent show of composure; "good-bye." + +"Good-bye, Tom Fuller, good-bye!" + +She flung some of the flowers she was holding, at him. Tom caught them +and hurried out of the room, pressing the fragrant blossoms against his +waistcoat, and smothering a mortal pang. + +Elizabeth followed him into the hall, but their parting was a brief one, +spoken amid bursts of laughter from within, and in a broken voice by the +warm hearted young fellow. + +"Good-bye, Bessie--God bless you." + +"You'll write to me, Tom? I shall miss you so." + +"Oh, don't; it ain't worth while! I'll write of course; good-bye." + +Tom dashed down the steps and fled along the avenue in mad haste, and +Elizabeth returned to her guests. + +It seemed to her that the day would never come to an end. Mrs. +Harrington and Elsie scarcely heeded her, but fluttered from room to +room with the two guests, doing the honors with great spirit, and urging +them to extend their visit some days. Elizabeth was offended at the +reckless offer of hospitality. + +Elsie saw this and whispered, "It wasn't my fault; don't blame me, dear! +Grant is gone, and he told you not to be cross with me." + +So Elizabeth controlled herself; perhaps the girl had done all this harm +unconsciously. She would believe so, at least; no cloud must come +between them. These almost strange men were invited, and must remain if +they so decided. + +As if she had not enough to bear already, Elizabeth's inflictions were +increased towards the dinner hour by the arrival of a Mr. Rhodes and his +daughter, who lived at an easy distance, and thought it a neighborly and +kind thing for them to drop in to dinner with Mrs. Mellen, and console +her in her loneliness. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE WIDOW'S FLIRTATION. + + +Mrs. Harrington plunged into her natural element at once; Mr. Rhodes was +a rich widower, vulgar and pompous as could well be imagined; but that +made no difference, the lady spread her flimsy net in that direction and +put on all her fascinations at once, leaving the younger men to their +fate. This was splendid sport to Elsie, for Miss Jemima, the daughter, a +gaunt, peaked-nosed female, had been Miss Jemima a good many more years +than she found agreeable, and when any woman ventured even to look at +her stout parent, she was up in arms at once and ready to do battle +against the threatened danger, resolved that one man at least should own +her undivided dominion, even if that man was her pompous old father. Mr. +Rhodes was at once captivated by the widow's flattery, and Elsie +mischievously increased Jemima's growing irritation by whispers full of +honied malice, that almost drove that single lady distracted. + +"Quite a flirtation, I declare," said she; "really, Miss Jemima, widows +are very dangerous, and she is so fascinating." + +"It's ridiculous for a woman to go on so," returned the spinster, +shaking her head in vehement agitation; "you may just tell her it's no +use, my pa isn't likely to be caught with chaff like that." + +"Oh, but Mrs. Harrington is considered irresistible." + +"Well, I can't see it for my part," retorted Jemima; "She's a tolerable +specimen of antique painting; but my pa isn't given to the fine arts." + +"Oh! Mrs. Harrington," called Elsie, "I wish you could induce Mr. Rhodes +to give us a picnic in his woods before the weather gets too cold--they +are delightful. I daren't ask him, but you might venture, I'm sure." + +Miss Jemima looked as if she had three minds to strangle the pretty +torment on the spot. + +"Excuse me, dear," said Mrs. Harrington, "I am sure I could have no +influence." + +"Oh, you painted humbug!" muttered Jemima. + +"I should be delighted--charmed!" exclaimed Mr. Rhodes. "Madam, it would +be a day never to be forgotten that honored my poor house with your +presence," he broke off, puffing till the brass buttons on his coat +shook like hailstones. + +"Oh, you are a dreadful flatterer, I see!" answered the widow, quite +aware of Jemima's rage, and delighted to increase it. + +"Madam," said the stout man, "on the honor of a gentleman, I never +flatter. Miss Elsie, defend me." + +"Not unless you promise to get up the picnic," said the little witch. +"Miss Jemima is anxious to have it----" + +"Me," broke in the acid damsel, unable to endure anything more, "I am +sure I never thought of such a thing, don't speak for me, if you +please." + +"But you will be delighted, you know you will." + +"Pa's got to go to Philadelphia," said Jemima, sharply. + +"But I could defer the trip, Mimy," said her parent, appealingly. + +"Business is business, you always say," retorted the damsel. + +Elsie gave a little scream. + +"Why, how odd," said she. "Mrs. Harrington goes to Philadelphia next +week you can escort her, Mr. Rhodes, she is a sad coward about +travelling alone." + +"I shall be delighted," said the widower, "delighted." + +Jemima fairly groaned; she made a strangling effort to turn her agony +into a cough, but it began as a groan; both Elsie and Mrs. Harrington +were convinced of that, and it delighted them beyond measure. + +"It would be very, very kind of Mr. Rhodes," said the widow, "but Elsie, +you are inconsiderate, to think of him taking so much trouble only for +us, and I a stranger." + +"It would be an honor and delight to me," insisted Rhodes. + +Jemima resolutely arose from her chair, and planted herself in a seat +directly in front of her parent--he could not avoid her eye then--the +wrath burning there made him hesitate and stammer. + +"Miss Jemima," said Elsie, "come and look at my geraniums; I think they +are finer even than yours." + +But nothing short of a torpedo exploding under her chair would have made +the heroic damsel quit her post, not for one instant would she leave her +parent exposed to the wiles of that abominable widow. + +"My dear, I am so tired," said she, "you must excuse me." + +"Perhaps you'd like to go and lie down," persisted Elsie. + +"You look fatigued," said Mrs. Harrington. + +"Do I, ma'am; you're kind, I'm sure," snapped the spinster, trying to +smile. "I never lie down in the daytime; I'm very comfortable where I +am, thank you." + +She might be very perfectly at ease herself, but she made her father +very uncomfortable, while Elsie and the widow never gave over teasing +for a single instant, till Elizabeth returned to the room. + +Luckily dinner was announced, and the asperity of Miss Jemima's feelings +softened a little by that, especially as she reflected that her father +would be obliged to lead Mrs. Mellen into the dining-room. But that +dreadful Elsie destroyed even that forlorn hope. + +"Bessie," said she, "we must ask Mr. Rhodes to play host and sit at the +foot of the table, so he shall lead Mrs. Harrington in." + +Even Elizabeth could not repress a smile at the little elf's malicious +craft, and there was nothing to be said. The wretched Jemima grew fairly +white with rage, but she was obliged to control herself, and the dinner +passed off in the most social, neighborly fashion. + +At a very early hour Miss Jemima insisted upon returning home, but Elsie +had a parting shaft ready for her. + +"I have persuaded Mrs. Harrington and these gentlemen to stay over +to-morrow," said she. "May I promise them that we'll all drive to your +house and take luncheon, Miss Jemima, by way of returning your visit." + +The spinster was compelled to express her gratification. She could do no +less, after having invited herself and her father to dinner at Piney +Cove, but her face was a perfect study while the pleasant words fell +from her compressed lips, like bullets from a mould. + +"We shall be in ecstasy," said Mr. Rhodes. + +"You will be in New York," retorted Jemima; "you have to go early in the +morning." + +"My dear, the day after will do as well." + +"Now, pa, you know you said----" + +"Oh, Miss Jemima," broke in Elsie, "I shall think you don't want us to +come!" + +"And I," said the widow, "shall be mortally offended if Mr. Rhodes runs +away the very first time I have the pleasure of visiting his house." + +"Of course, of course!" said the stout man. "My daughter, Mimy, is a +great business woman--girl, I mean--but on an occasion like this even +business must wait. Ladies, I go home to dream of the honor to-morrow +will bring." + +"Well, pa, if we're going at all, I think we'd better start," cried the +spinster; "we are keeping the horses in the cold." + +She made her farewells very brief and carried off her parent in triumph, +darting a last defiant look at the widow as she passed. + +The moment they were gone Elsie went into convulsions of laughter, and +clapping her pretty white hands like a child, cried out: + +"She'll poison you, Mary Harrington, I know she will." + +"My dear, I'll eat luncheon before I go." + +Even Elizabeth was forced to laugh at the absurd scene. Elsie mimicked +the spinster, and turned the affair in so many ridiculous ways that it +afforded general amusement for the rest of the evening. + +The whole party did drive over to Mr. Rhodes's house the next day, and +Miss Jemima was tormented out of her very senses; while Mr. Rhodes was +made to appear ridiculous as only a pompous old widower, with a keen +appetite for flattery, can be made look. + +The question of the picnic came up again, but Elizabeth settled that +matter by refusing to have any share in it. She was in no spirits for +such amusement, and had decided to refuse all invitations during Mr. +Mellen's absence. + +From that day Miss Jemima always felt a liking for Mrs. Mellen, who had +so quietly come to her rescue, and she was the only one of the party to +whom the claret would not have proved a fatal dose if the spinster's +sharp glances or secret wishes could have had their due effect. + +From some caprice Mrs. Harrington prolonged her stay at Piney Cove for +an entire week, and all this time she protested against either of the +gentlemen who had accompanied her there returning without her. Elsie, in +her careless, childish way, seconded the widow, so these two men dropped +into such easy relations with the family that it seemed difficult to +assign any period to their visit. Nothing could be quieter than Mr. +North's mode of life during his sojourn at the house. If he joined in +the light conversation so prevalent at all times, it was with a quiet +grace that modified it without offering rebuke. He seemed to give no +preference to the society of any one of the three ladies, but most +frequently attended Mrs. Harrington in her walks and rides. To Elsie he +was reserved, almost paternal, and in his society the young girl would +become grave, sometimes thoughtful, as if his presence depressed her +childish flow of spirits. + +If North ever had more than ordinary intercourse with his hostess no one +witnessed it, yet a close observer might have seen that he watched her +with a quiet vigilance that bespoke some deep interest in her movements. +Those who have seen this very man creep into the mansion house at night +and wander cautiously from room to room, as if to fix a plan of the +dwelling in his mind, will understand that his visit, which seemed so +purely accidental, had its object; but no one could have discovered, by +look or movement, what that object was. + +At last the party broke up and returned to the city. Elsie went with +them. At first Mrs. Mellen opposed her going, but the pretty creature +was resolute enough when her own wishes were concerned, and would listen +to no opposition. + +"I am not going to live in this stupid place, like a nun in a convent, +just because my brother desires to amuse himself in California," she +said, when Elizabeth would have dissuaded her from leaving home. "I tell +you, Grant would not wish it. I am not married and obliged to shut +myself up and play proper like you. It's downright cruel of you wanting +me to stay here. I'm half dead with grieving already. The house isn't +like home without Grant. At any rate, I'm going; you are not my mother!" + +She carried her point; Elizabeth had no absolute authority which could +enforce obedience on a creature at once so stubborn and so volatile. So +she made no further opposition, fearing that anything like violent +measures might prove distasteful to her husband. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +STARTING FOR THE PIC-NIC. + + +But one day now remained of Mrs. Harrington's unwelcome visit. The whole +party, except Elizabeth, were to start for New York in the morning, +where Mrs. Harrington had resolved to open a splendid succession of +receptions and parties in Elsie's behalf. + +This last day Elsie declared should be the crowning pleasure of Mrs. +Harrington's visit. They would ride down to the sea-side tavern on +horseback, have a chowder party on the precipice behind it, looking out +upon the ocean, and return home at dusk or by moonlight, as caprice +might determine. Mr. Rhodes and Miss Jemima were to be included, and +some of the colored servants were forwarded early in the morning to +superintend the arrangements. + +The dew was hanging thick and bright on the lawn when Mr. Rhodes and his +daughter rode up to the Piney Cove mansion. A group of horses were +gathered in front of the veranda, and a little crowd of ladies, in long +sweeping dresses, gauntlet gloves and pretty hats, stood chatting around +the door. + +Mr. Rhodes preferred to sit on his handsome bay horse, and wait for the +party to arrange itself, for it was rather inconvenient for him to mount +and dismount the high-stepping beast oftener than was absolutely +necessary. As for Jemima, she rode a long-limbed, slender-bodied horse, +and sat him in grim dignity, as the dames of old occupied their +high-backed chairs. Her beaver hat towered high, and the stiff tuft of +feathers that rose from it in front gave a dash of the military to her +usually defiant aspect, grimly imposing. + +She drew her horse up to the front steps, and sat viciously regarding +the city widow, as that lady shook out the folds of her riding-skirt, +pulled the gauntlets to a tighter fit on her shapely hands, and kept her +cornelian-headed riding-whip in a constant state of vibration, for the +benefit of that evidently too admiring widower on the great bay horse. + +The party mounted at last, and cantered in a gay cavalcade across the +lawn, leaving the mansion behind them almost in solitude. It was a +lovely day, bright with sunshine, and freshened by a cool breeze from +the ocean. Mrs. Mellen that day seemed among the most joyous of the +party. Whatever care had hitherto possessed her she evidently threw off; +her sweet voice rang out pleasantly, and her face grow beautiful in the +animation of the moment. + +For a while the party moved on at random; but when the road branched off +into a long tract of the woodland the equestrians naturally broke up +into pairs, and, either by chance or design, Mr. North joined Elizabeth, +who was riding a little in advance. It was almost the first time that he +had seemed to prefer her society during his whole visit, and this +movement naturally created a little observation. Elsie looked after the +splendid pair as they rode under the overhanging trees, with an +expression of subdued wonder in her blue eyes, which amounted almost to +dismay. Mrs. Harrington laughed with as much meaning as her small share +of intellect could concentrate on one idea, and said in a low voice to +Elsie: + +"Did I not tell you they had met before? She has been playing dutiful +like a martyr. See how she breaks out now. Look! look! she is turning +down a cross road; it is a mile farther round." + +"We will go on direct," said Elsie. "If my brother's wife chooses to +ride off alone with any man through the woods, let her. It was decided +that we should take the highway, and we will." + +Elsie spoke with decision, a cold light came into her blue eyes, and the +expression about her lips was almost stern; for a moment the girl was +transfigured before her friend. + +At the cross roads there was a little debate. Miss Jemima turned her +horse in the direction Elizabeth had taken. The generally obedient papa +was following this lead, when Mr. Hawkins was sent forward to arrest +him. + +"Straight ahead, that's the programme," he called out, taking the gold +head of his riding-whip from his mouth long enough to speak clearly, +"Miss Elsie told me to call you back." + +"And the--the other lady," stammered Rhodes, flushing red, to the +intense scorn of the spinster. + +"Oh, she's gone ahead." + +"Then I take this way," exclaimed Jemima, with emphasis; "come, pa." + +Mr. Rhodes had wheeled his horse half round, and was casting irresolute +looks towards the two ladies riding slowly along the shady road. + +"But, daughter, we cannot leave them to ride on alone." + +"This--this--person is with them, and they seem to count him as a man," +answered Jemima, with a gesture of intense scorn. + +Mrs. Harrington here was seen to draw up her horse in the shade of a +huge chestnut, and playfully beckon the widower with her whip. + +"Jemima, I must. It would be underbred," cried the desperate man, riding +away to the enemy. + +Jemima sat upon her horse, petrified with amazement. Her father looked +anxiously back when he reached the widow, with sad forebodings of the +tempest that would follow, but there the spinster sat at the cross roads +like an equestrian statue. + +"Come, come," said the widow, touching him playfully with her whip. +"Elsie is getting impatient. Now for a race." + +Her spirited horse dashed forward at a run. The ponderous steed of the +widower thundered after, making the forest reverberate with the heavy +fall of his hoofs. + +Mr. Hawkins fell into a dainty amble, and away the whole party swept +into the green shadows of the woods. + +Jemima looked right and she looked left. Should she ride on and leave +her pa in the hands of that designing creature? Perish the thought, +better anything than that! She touched her horse. It turned sharply, and +swept down the highway like a greyhound. She struck him on the flank, +then the tiny lash of her whip quivered about his ears till he dashed +on, flinging back dust and stones with his hoofs. + +The party was riding fast. Mr. Hawkins by Elsie, Mr. Rhodes close to the +widow--so close, that somehow her right hand, whip and all, had got +entangled with his. They were on a curve of the road, around which +Jemima came sweeping like a torrent. With a single bound her horse +rushed in between them, leaving the widow's gauntlet glove in the grasp +of that frightened man, and the cornelian-headed whip deep in the mud of +the highway. + +Not a word was spoken. The widower sank abjectly down in his saddle, and +with his apprehensive eyes turned sideways on the spinster, +surreptitiously thrust the stray glove into the depths of his pocket. +The widow, convulsed with mingled laughter and rage, gave no doubt of +genuine color now, for her face was crimson. Thus, like two prisoners +under military guard, they moved on, with Jemima riding in grim +vigilance between them. + +The spot chosen for the chowder-party commanded a splendid sea view and +a broad landscape in the background, of which the distant mansion of +Piney Cove was a principal object. It was an abrupt precipice, clothed, +except in the very front, with a rich growth of trees; splendid masses +of white pine and clumps of hemlock darkened with the deep green of +their foliage such forest trees as cast their leaves from autumn till +spring time. The broken precipice in front was tufted here and there +with clumps of barberry bushes and other wild shrubs, which might have +aided a daring adventurer to climb up it, had the temptation been +sufficient. + +Between this precipice and the shores of the ocean, stood the little +tavern we have before spoken of, from which the negroes of Piney Point +were now bringing up a huge iron pot wherein to cook the chowder, which +would be nothing if not culminated in the open air, over a fire of +sticks, and eaten beneath the hemlock trees. + +A bridle path led to the top of this precipice, winding along the back +slope of the hill, and by this route the highway party rode to the +summit, some fifteen minutes before Elizabeth and Mr. North joined them. +Whatever evil feelings had sprung up on the road, at least a majority of +the company resolved to enjoy themselves now. Jemima entered heart and +soul into the preparations, keeping a sharp eye on her father all the +time. He, poor man, scarcely required her vigilance, for when a chowder +was to be concocted, the stout man forgot all his gallant weaknesses, +and gave his whole being up to the important subject. + +Mrs. Harrington had no great talent for cookery, and feeling beaten and +awed by Jemima's dashing generalship, hovered around the outskirts of +the preparations, and flirting a little with Hawkins, from languid +habit, rather than any special regard for the young gentleman. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +FACE TO FACE. + + +During the bustle of these preparations, Elizabeth, Mr. North and Elsie +had dropped out of the party and wandered off, no doubt, into the shady +places of the woods; no one had observed how or where they went. Hawkins +had been with Elsie at first, but she had sent him down a ravine for +some tinted ash leaves, and when he came back to the stone on which she +had been sitting, it was vacant. Probably she had become tired of +waiting, and had gone in search of the forest leaves herself; as for +Mrs. Mellen and North, of course they were all right somewhere, and +would be on hand safe enough when the chowder was ready. + +While Mrs. Harrington and Hawkins were talking in this idle fashion, +they sat on a large ledge of rock that crowned the very brink of the +precipice; and chancing to look down, saw two persons near the foot +moving towards the tavern. One they recognised, even from that distance, +to be Mr. North, for his tall, grand figure was not to be mistaken. The +other was a lady; the dark riding-dress and floating plumes might belong +to any female of the party, there was no individuality in a dress like +that. The couple had evidently found some passage down the brow of the +precipice, for it would have been impossible to reach the spot where +they stood by any other route. + +"Well," said Mrs. Harrington, "if that isn't a sly proceeding; what on +earth does it mean? How Mrs. Mellen can drag her long skirts down that +hill, just to look at a common tavern, which she's seen a hundred times, +I cannot imagine." + +"Perhaps they are going down to the beach," said Hawkins, who had no +more malice in his composition than a swallow. + +"No, no! they are turning toward the house," said the widow, +considerably excited. "What can they want there?" + +"Oh, very likely they have gone in to rest. You know North lives there +when he comes on the island to fish or shoot." + +"What! Mr. North, he live there and never tell me! I thought he was a +perfect stranger on the island." + +"As to that," answered Hawkins, a little startled by her earnestness, +"he only comes down for a day now and then. It's nothing permanent, I +assure you." + +"There! there! they have gone in!" exclaimed the lady. "I wonder where +Elsie is; I must tell Elsie." + +"Why, what nonsense!" answered Hawkins, with some spirit; "can't Mrs. +Mellen step into a house to rest herself a moment without troubling her +friends so terribly?" + +"Just be quiet, Hawkins, you don't know what you are talking about," +answered the lady, keeping her gaze fastened on the tavern. "Turn an eye +on the house while I look at the time. It must be five minutes since +they went in. Dear, dear, what a world we live in!" + +Mrs. Harrington kept the little enamelled watch, sparkling with +diamonds, in her ungloved hand full ten minutes, only glancing from it +to the door of the tavern in her vigilance. At the end of that time Mr. +North and his companion came out of the house and disappeared in the +undergrowth which lay between that and the precipice. + +Mrs. Harrington watched some time for them to appear again, but her +curiosity was baffled, and her attention soon directed to other objects. +At last she was aroused by Elsie coming suddenly upon the ledge, +flushed, panting for breath and glowing with anger. She turned upon +Hawkins like a spiteful mockingbird. + +"A pretty escort you are, Mr. Hawkins, to leave a lady all alone in the +woods. I declare, Mrs. Harrington, he lost me in one of those dreadful +ravines, and I scrambled up the wrong bank and have been wandering +everywhere, climbing rocks and tiring myself to death. Only think of +dragging this long skirt over my arm and tearing my way through the +bushes. I heard the servants laugh and that guided me, or I might have +been roaming the woods now." + +"My poor dear," said the widow, full of compassion, "how heated and +wearied you look! Hawkins, can't you find something to fan her with?" + +Hawkins broke off a branch full of leaves and offered to fan her with +it. But she snatched it out of his hand and flung it over the precipice. + +"Where is Elizabeth? Go tell Elizabeth I wish to speak with her, if you +want to make up with me." + +"We have not seen Mrs. Mellen since you went away; nor Mr. North either. +They have finished that ride by strolling off together," said Mrs. +Harrington. + +Elsie started, and the warm color faded from her face. + +"What! Elizabeth; has she been roaming about? and--and----" + +"With Mr. North, Elsie." + +The tone in which this was conveyed said more than the words. At first +Elsie looked bewildered; then, as if her gentle spirit had received the +shock of a painful idea, she fell into troubled thought. + +"And you saw her go away," she said, in a low voice. "In what +direction?" + +"We did not know how or when she went, but certainly did see her and Mr. +North together." + +"Where?" + +"Down yonder, going into that low tavern." + +Elsie gazed into her friend's face, startled and astonished. + +"She would not go there. You must be mistaken, Mrs. Harrington. No +person could be recognised from this distance--it's all nonsense." + +"Ask her," said Mrs. Harrington, "for here she comes." + +Elizabeth came up from a hollow in the woods and joined the party. She +seemed completely worn out, and sat down on a fragment of rock, panting +for breath. She was very pale, as if some great exertion had left the +weariness of reaction upon her. She had evidently rested somewhere +before joining them. + +"Elizabeth, where have you been?" said Elsie, looking anxiously at her +sister-in-law. + +"Down in the woods." + +Elizabeth pointed to the forest that sloped back from the precipice. + +Before Elsie could resume her questions Mrs. Harrington broke in with a +faint sneer on her lips. + +"And where did you leave Mr. North?" she said, fixing a cunning, +sidelong glance on Elizabeth. + +"I have not seen Mr. North," answered Mrs. Mellen, with apparent +indifference, though the hot color mounted to her face, brought there +either by some inward consciousness or the perceptible sneer leveled at +her in the form of a question. + +"Not seen Mr. North," exclaimed the widow, "dear me what things optical +delusions are!" + +Elizabeth did not hear or heed this, for that instant Mr. North came up +to them very quietly and sat down near the widow. + +"Have you had a pleasant ramble?" he said, addressing Elsie. "I saw you +and Hawkins in the woods and had half a mind to join you." + +"But changed your mind, and went--may I ask where?" said Elsie, with a +shade of pallor on her face; for it seemed as if the man had surprised +her with bitter thoughts of his deception in her mind, and she could not +refrain from revealing something of distrust. + +"Oh, I took a ramble around the brow of the precipice," he answered, +carelessly, "and went into the tavern for a glass of water." + +"And the lady," said Elsie, looking steadily in his face. "What lady was +it in a riding-dress who bore you company? Mrs. Harrington saw one from +her perch here on the ledge." + +North cast a quick glance on Elizabeth, who did not speak, but sat +looking from him to her sister-in-law, as if stricken by some sudden +terror. + +"It was a mistake. No lady shared my rambles," said North. + +"But there was a lady," cried Mrs. Harrington, a good deal excited. "I +saw her with my own eyes. Mr. Hawkins remarked her too." + +North smiled and shook his head. + +"She had on a riding-habit and an upright plume like----" + +"Well, well," said North, gently, "it is useless going on with the +subject. I assure you that I went down the precipice alone and came up +alone." + +Mrs. Harrington looked at Elsie and smiled. + +"Of course he is in honor bound to say that," she whispered. + +Elsie seemed disturbed and answered quickly, "I, for one, believe that +he speaks the truth. It is folly to say that you saw any one in that +dress; besides, it was just as likely to be me as Elizabeth--our habits +are alike." + +"Poor generous dove!" whispered the widow, "you know better; but if you +are satisfied it's no business of mine, only if Mellen asks me about it +I must tell the truth." + +"Mary Harrington, you must have better proof than this before you dare +to make mischief between my brother and his wife," said Elsie, with a +force of expression that made the widow open her eyes wide. "Don't be +slanderous and wicked, for I won't bear that, especially against +Elizabeth." + +"Dear me, what a storm I have raised. Well, well, I did not see a lady, +that's enough. And there comes that wonderful colored person of yours, +to say that the feast is spread and the chowder perfect. Come, come, one +and all." + +The whole party had assembled on the ledge by this time. At Mrs. +Harrington's invitation, it moved off, and went laughing and chatting +towards a large flat rock, that gleamed out from among the surrounding +grass and mosses, like a crusted snow bank, so white and crisp was the +linen spread over it. Here a dainty repast presented itself, for the +smoking dish of chowder that stood in the centre gave its name to what +was, in fact, a sumptuous feast. Directly the noise of flying corks and +the gurgle of amber-hued wines, with bursts of laughter and flashes of +wit, frightened the birds from their haunt in the great maple-tree +overhead, and made its rich yellow leaves tremble again in the sunshine +that came quivering over the forest, and rippled up the broad ocean with +silvery outbursts. + +Whatever had gone before, all was hilarity and cordial good-humor now. +North, for one, came out resplendently; such graceful compliments, such +bright flashes of wit no one had ever heard from his lips till then. It +aroused the best talent of every one present. When the party broke up +and its members went to the covert where their horses had been fed, it +was joyously, like birds flying home to their nests. + +A ride through the golden coolness of a lovely sunset brought the party +back to Piney Cove, and all that had gone wrong during the day seemed +forgotten. + +The visitors were to start for New York early in the morning, and, as +all were somewhat fatigued, the house was closed somewhat earlier than +usual. + +Elsie had retired earlier than the rest, having some preparations to +make for her little journey. She busied herself awhile about her boudoir +and bed-room, selecting a few articles of jewelry and so on to be +packed, then sat down and read awhile; tired of that, she turned down +the lights in the alabaster lily cups, which one of the statues held, +sat down in the faint moonshine, with which she had thus flooded the +room, and fell into a train of restless thought; a pale gleam darted up +now and then from the lilies, and trembled through the floss-like curls +under which she had thrust her hand, revealing a face more earnest and +thoughtful than was usual to the gay young creature. Whether it was that +she had become anxious from the dart of suspicion that had been that day +cast at her brother's wife, or was disturbed by some other cause I +cannot say, but her eyes shone bright and clear in the pale radiance +that surrounded her; now and then she would start up and listen at +Elizabeth's door, as if about to enter and question her of the things +that evidently troubled her mind. At last she fell into quiet, and lying +on the couch, scarcely seemed to breathe. It was almost midnight then. +The house was still, and she could hear the distant waves beating +against the shore. She closed her eyes and listened dreamily, reluctant +to seek any other place of rest, yet changing the azure cushions of her +couch impatiently from time to time. + +At last, as she half rose for this purpose, a noise from the outer room, +which was a square passage or hall, in which were placed some bronze +statues and antique shields, arrested her attention. Resting on her +elbow, she held her breath and listened. + +The noise came again more distinctly. It seemed as if a door had been +opened with caution. Elsie arose, stole softly across the carpet, turned +the lock of her dressing-room door and entered the passage, carrying a +little night-lamp in her hand, which she had kindled among the alabaster +lilies. She had half crossed the hall, casting frightened looks around, +when a cry of dismay broke from her lips, for close by the door which +led to her sister-in-law's apartments she saw Elizabeth standing, pale +as death, but with her eyes burning like fire, turned upon a man who +stood leaning against one of the statues. It was Mr. North. + +The two women stood face to face, regarding each other in dead silence, +while North smiled upon them both. The lamp trembled in Elsie's hand, +her face became white as snow. Without uttering a word she turned, +entered her room and locked the door. + +The next day she left Piney Point with Mrs. Harrington. Mr. North left +also, but he went alone. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +LETTERS. + + +Months had passed since Grantley Mellen's departure for California; the +winter had gone, the summer faded, and though his absence had been +prolonged almost two years, there was little hope of his speedy return. + +The business upon which he had gone out was not yet settled, and however +great his anxiety to meet his family, he would not endanger his worldly +interests so vitally as he would have done by any neglect or reckless +inattention in that affair. + +Since the night of that unpleasant scene in the hall at Piney Cove, +Elsie Mellen had been at home so irregularly that all intimate relations +had died out between her and her sister-in-law. Some dark thought seemed +to possess the young girl, since the night of that strange adventure; +and, though the subject was never mentioned between her and Elizabeth, +Elsie's demeanor towards her brother's wife was one of cold, almost +hateful distrust, while Elizabeth grew more pensively sad each day, and +seemed to shrink from any explanation with painful sensitiveness. + +At last Elsie almost entirely absented herself from the house. The very +premises seemed to have become hateful to her. Without deigning to +consult Elizabeth, she had been visiting about among her former +schoolmates, making Mrs. Harrington's house her headquarters. This was +all the announcement of her movements that she chose to make to the +woman who had been left her guardian. + +How this fair, thoughtless girl lost all respect for her brother's wife +so completely that she refused to remain accountable to her for +anything, no one could tell, for she never mentioned the affair of that +night to her nearest friend. It evidently worked in her heart, but never +found utterance. + +So the winter wore away drearily enough at Piney Cove; for with all her +waywardness, Elsie had been like a sunbeam in the house; and Elizabeth +pined in her absence till the dark circles widened under her eyes, and +her voice always had a sound of pain in it. But with the most sorrowful, +time moves on, and even grief cannot retain one phase of mournfulness +for ever. + +The second spring began to scatter a little brightness about the old +house, and in this fresh outbloom of nature Elizabeth found some sources +of enjoyment. Since her virtual separation from Elsie she had received +no company, but lived in utter seclusion. Letters from her husband came +regularly, but her replies were studied, and written with restraint. She +never folded one of these missives without tears in her eyes, and when +his letters spoke of coming home, she would ponder over the writing with +a look of strange dread in her face. + +One lovely spring morning Elizabeth Mellen was alone in that quiet old +mansion. Elsie had not been home for months, and only brief notes +announcing some change of place, or anticipated movements, had warned +Elizabeth of her mode of existence. These notes were cold as ice, and +the young wife always shivered with dread when she opened them. + +It might have been a package of these letters that she had been +reviewing. She was alone in the library; quite alone, of course, but the +repose and silence about her brought no rest to her soul. Her whole +appearance was in strange contrast to the quiet of the scene; her face +so changed by the thoughts which kept her company, and forced themselves +upon her solitude, that it hardly seemed the same. + +She walked up and down the room in nervous haste, her head bent, her +eyes looking straight before her, full of wild bewilderment which +follows an effort at reflection when the mind is in a fever of unrest. +Sometimes she stopped before the table, on which lay a package of open +letters; she would glance at them with a shudder of horror, wringing her +hands passionately together at the time, and uttering low moans which +sounded scarcely human in their smothered intensity. + +Then she would glance towards the mantel, upon which lay a letter with +the seal still unbroken, though it had reached her early that morning. +It was from her husband, and she had not yet dared to read its contents! + +She had been thus for hours, walking to and fro, sometimes sweeping the +package on the table away, as if unable longer to endure it before her +eyes, only an instant after to recover it as if there were danger in +allowing it out of her sight. Then she would take up her husband's +letter and attempt to open it, but each time her courage failed, and she +would lay it down, while that sickening trouble at her heart sent a new +pallor across her face, and left her trembling and weak, like a person +just risen from a sick bed. + +It was growing late in the afternoon; the sunlight played in at the +windows, and cast a pleasant glow through the room; but the glad beams +only made her shiver, as if they had been human witnesses that might +betray her fear and misery. + +At last she took up the package, resolved to put it resolutely away +where she could no longer look at it; as she raised it a miniature fell +from among the papers, and struck the floor with a ringing sound. She +snatched it up quickly, crushed the whole into a drawer, locked it and +put the key in her bosom. + +Then, with a sudden struggle she started forward to the mantel, caught +up her husband's letter, and began to read. A sharp cry broke from her +lips; she dropped slowly to her knees, and went on reading in that +attitude, as if it were the only one in which she could venture to +glance at those kindly words: + +"Not coming quite yet," she gasped at length; "thank God, not yet--not +yet." + +She allowed the letter to drop from her hand, and for a few moments gave +herself completely up to the horrible agitation which consumed her. + +It would have been a piteous sight to the coldest or most injured heart +to have seen that beautiful woman crouched on the floor, in the +extremity of her anguish, writhing to and fro, and moaning in mortal +agony, which could find no relief in tears. + +She remained thus for a long time; at last some sudden thought appeared +to strike her, which brought with it an absolute necessity for +self-control and immediate action. + +She rose to her feet, muttering: + +"He will be here again soon; he must not find me like this!" + +She walked to the mirror, arranged her disordered dress and hair, and +stood gazing at her own features in a sort of wondering pity; they were +so death-like and contracted, with suffering that she felt almost as if +looking into the face of a stranger. + +At length she caught up a cloak which lay on the sofa, wrapped herself +in it and went out of the house. + +She took her way through the woods, walking rapidly, quite regardless +that the moisture from the damp earth was penetrating her thin shoes, +not feeling the keenness of the wind, which was growing chill with the +approach of evening. + +The expression of her face changed; she was deadly pale still, but a +look of resolution had settled over her features, and a naturally strong +will had begun to assert itself. + +Beyond the shrubbery that thick grove of evergreens extended to the very +shore, and into their shadow Elizabeth walked with a determined step. + +Evidently waiting for some one she paced up and down among the trees, +the dry leaves rustling under her tread and making her start, as if she +feared being surprised in that solitary spot by some curious wanderer. + +It was growing almost twilight, but still she kept up that dreary +promenade, struggling bravely with herself, and trying to restrain the +agonizing thoughts which threatened to overwhelm her forced composure. + +"He will not come," she muttered; "I must wait--wait--he will not come +to-day." + +She shuddered at the very sound of her own voice, but it seemed to have +disturbed some one else; for a step sounded on the grass, and a man came +out from the deeper recesses of the grove, and paused for a moment, +glancing on either side as if uncertain which path to pursue. + +It was Mr. North. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN INTERVIEW IN THE WOODS. + + +Elizabeth saw the man and yet neither moved or spoke, but remained +standing there in dumb silence, gazing at him with an expression in +which so many diverse emotions struggled, that it would have been +difficult to decide which feeling was paramount. + +The flutter of her cloak caught his attention, and he came hurriedly +forward with a smile on his lips, holding out his hand in an easy, +reckless fashion. + +"Ten thousand pardons," he exclaimed, "I fear that I have kept you +waiting--I shall never forgive myself." + +She put up her hand as if to check him, feeling, perhaps, some mockery +in these words which was not apparent in his voice. + +"We need not make excuses to each other," she said, in a cold, hard +tone, "neither you nor I came here for that." + +"Scarcely, I believe," and he laughed in a reckless way, which appeared +natural to him. + +Elizabeth Mellen shuddered in every limb at that repulsive sound; an +absolute spasm of pain contracted her features, she gave no other sign +of emotion, but clenched her hands hard together, forcing herself to be +calm. + +"I only received your letter this morning," he continued, watching her +every movement carefully, while standing there with his back against a +tree with apparent unconcern; "I should have been earlier, had it been +possible." + +She made an impatient gesture. + +"No more of that," she exclaimed, "enough!" + +He looked at her with the same careless smile that lighted up his +somewhat worn face into an expression of absolute youthfulness. He was +still a splendidly handsome man; a type of rare beauty which could not +have failed to attract general observation wherever he appeared. + +He was tall; the shoulders and limbs might have served as a model for a +sculptor; the neck was white almost as a woman's; the magnificent head +set with perfect grace upon it, and was carried with a haughty air that +was absolutely noble. He might have been thirty-eight, perhaps even +older than that, but he was one of those men concerning whose age even a +physiognomist would be puzzled to decide. + +The face was almost faultless in its contour; the mouth, shaded by a +long silken moustache, which relieved his paleness admirably, and lent +new splendor to his eyes, which possessed a strange magnetic power that +had worked ill in more than one unfortunate destiny. + +It was a face trained to concealment, and yet so carefully tutored that +at the first glance one only thought what an open, pleasant expression +it had. Even after long intercourse and a thorough knowledge of the +man's character, that face would have puzzled the most skillful +observer. + +Elizabeth Mellen was looking at him in a strange silence; whatever might +have been in the past there was no spell now in those glorious eyes +which could dazzle her soul into forgetfulness; shade after shade of +repressed emotion passed over her features as she gazed, leaving them at +last white and fixed as marble. + +"You are pale," he said, "so changed." + +She started as if he had struck her. + +"I did not come here to talk of my appearance," she said. + +"True," he replied, "very true; but I cannot help wondering. I think of +that day when I saved your life----" + +"If you had only let me die then!" she broke in passionately. "If God +had only mercifully deprived you of all strength!" + +"You were blooming and gay," he went on as if he had not heard her +words. "Yes, you are changed since then." + +"I will not hear these things," she cried; "I will not be made to look +back upon what we all were then." + +She closed her eyes in blind anguish; his words brought back with such +terrible force the time of that meeting--the day but one before her +marriage, when he had started up so fatally in her path, and never left +it till this terrible moment. + +"Then to change the subject," he said. "In our brief conversation the +other day we arrived at no conclusion whatever, nor was your letter any +more satisfactory; will you tell me exactly what you have decided upon?" + +A sudden flash of anger leaped into her eyes above all the suffering +that dilated them. + +"Now you are talking naturally," she said, "now you are your real self!" + +He bowed in graceful, almost insulting mockery. + +"It is your turn to pay compliments," he answered; "but I shall not +receive them so ungraciously as you did mine." + +She passed her hand across her throat as if something were choking her, +then she said in a hard, measured tone: + +"Have you considered the proposition I made you--will you go away from +this country, and remain away for ever?" + +He stood playing with his watchchain in an easy, careless way, as he +replied: + +"It is cruel to banish me--very cruel!" + +"Listen!" she exclaimed passionately; "I know more than you think--your +residence here is not safe!" + +He only bowed again. + +"It may be so, but I leave few traces in my path. If you do indeed know +anything which could affect me, I am very certain that in you I have a +friend who will be silent." + +He opened his vest slightly and drew forth from an inner pocket a small +paper, at the sight of which Elizabeth grew whiter than before. She made +a gesture as if she would have snatched it from him, but he thrust it +back in its hiding-place with a sarcastic smile. + +"Secret for secret," said he; "but never mind that. After all, you treat +me very badly. I wonder I am in the least inclined to be friends with +you." + +"Don't mock me!" she exclaimed. "Friends! There is no creature living +that I loathe as I do you! No matter what the danger may be, I will +speak the truth; tell you how utterly abhorrent you are to me, and brave +the result." + +"Yet once----" + +She interrupted him with an insane gesture; perhaps he knew her too well +for any attempt at trifling further with her just then, for his manner +changed, and he said: + +"You will take cold here; it is growing dark and the wind is very +chill." + +"It doesn't matter," she replied, recklessly. "Let us finish what there +is to say, then I will go." + +The wretched woman could stand upon her feet no longer, she was shaking +so with agitation and exhaustion that she was forced to sit down on a +fallen log. He seated himself by her side, regardless of her recoiling +gesture, and began to talk earnestly. + +For a full hour that strange interview went on, their voices rising at +times in sudden passion, then sinking to a low tone, as if the speakers +remembered that they spoke words which must not be overheard. + +At last Elizabeth arose from her seat, folded her cloak about her, and +said, quickly: + +"Be here to-morrow at the same hour." + +Without giving him time to answer, or making the least sign of farewell, +she darted rapidly through the darkening woods and disappeared in the +direction of the house. + +North rose, began whistling a careless air, and walked slowly back along +the path by which he had entered the grove. + +When Elizabeth came in sight of the house she saw a light in the library +window. + +"Elsie is back at last. God help us all!" she muttered. + +She moved near the low casement, looked in and saw the girl standing on +the hearth, and hurried towards the entrance. + +Elsie had returned home a full hour before, and had searched for +Elizabeth vainly about the house. She entered the library, and was +walking restlessly about the spacious room, slowly and sadly, as if +oppressed by this cold welcome home. + +Suddenly her eye caught sight of a paper lying under the table; it was +one of the letters which had fallen unnoticed by Elizabeth when she put +away the package. + +Elsie caught it up, glanced her eyes over it, uttered a faint cry, then +read it in a sort of horrified stupor. + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" broke from her lips. + +The discovery which she had made froze the very blood in her veins, and +left her incapable of thought or action. She sat shivering, as if struck +with a mortal chill, and at last crept close to the fire, clutching the +letter in her hands, but holding them out for warmth. Sometimes her +sister's name broke from her lips in a horrified whisper, and low words +died in her throat, the very sound of which made her shudder. + +At length the darkness and the solitude seemed to become insupportable +to her; she started forward and opened the door, with the intention of +fleeing from the room. It had suddenly become odious to her. She took +one step into the hall and met Elizabeth face to face. The woman saw the +letter which Elsie held in her hand, caught the recoiling gesture which +she instinctively made, then for an instant they both stood still, +staring at each other. + +Suddenly Elizabeth caught Elsie's hand, drew her back into the library, +and, once there, closed and locked the door. + +For more than an hour the pair were alone in that darkened apartment. +When at last they emerged from it they were both deadly white, and +exhausted as if by passionate weeping. Not a word was spoken between +them, but they turned away from each other like ghosts that had no +resting-place on earth. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +FIRE AND WATER. + + +When North left Mrs. Mellen in the woods he took a moment for +consideration, and then walked quickly towards the shore tavern. As he +turned a point which led from Piney Point to the bluff which overhung +it, his servant, the young mulatto, who had spent most of the season at +this retreat, came to meet him with a letter in his hand. + +"It had a foreign postmark," said the man; "so I started to meet you the +moment it came in, according to orders." + +"Right, boy, you are very right," cried North, tearing at the envelope +as a hawk rends its prey; "never let a scrap of writing from abroad rest +a moment out of my hands." + +The man read the letter--only a few lines--and his hands shook till the +paper rattled again. + +"Boy--boy, what day of the month is this?" he questioned, trying to fold +the letter, which he crushed instead. + +"The tenth, sir." + +North went into a mental calculation, then the cloud on his face broke +away and he almost shouted: + +"It is in time--it is in time! Any other letters?" + +"One for the Cove. Shall I slip it into the old man's parcel or would +you rather----" + +"Give it to me," said North, cutting the servant short, and snatching at +the letter, which was in Mr. Mellen's handwriting and bore the +California postmark. + +He was too eager for caution, and broke the seal recklessly. + +"He, too--he coming, too! By Jove, this is glorious sport! Made his will +before sailing, ha!--provident man!--one half to his dear wife, the +other to his darling sister, Elsie Mellen. A safe precaution, for ships +will get lost at sea." + +North crushed the two letters into his pocket, and walked with rapid +steps towards the tavern. But he only remained long enough to get a +telescope, with which he reappeared, and turned into a path leading to +the bluff. Once upon the ledge, high above the house, he levelled his +glass and took a hasty sweep of the ocean with it. Nothing was in sight +that seemed to interest him, so he turned the glass a little landward +and levelled it on the Piney Cove mansion, which made an imposing +feature in the landscape. From the eminence on which the mansion stood +the grounds sloped down to the water's edge in a closely-shaven lawn, +pleasantly broken up by flower-beds, and knots of old trees that looked +aged and mysterious enough to have watched that distant sweep of sea for +whole centuries. + +North seemed to be counting every clump of trees, and calculating the +value of each broad field that stretched back from the crescent-like +Cove. + +"It is a glorious old place, and we might live there like monarchs. If I +could only command the winds and waves for one week, now, we might defy +the rest. Half his property! Why, it is splendid; and the will safe." + +With these words he turned his glass again. On a clear morning there was +a glorious view from the bluff, showing the full extent of the curving +bay, with its long line of steep woodlands stretching along the coast +and the bright rush of waters beyond, till the eye was lost in the white +line of the distant ocean. + +Other mansions peeped out from among the trees, or stood boldly down on +the shore, and on the right hand a small village nestled in at the +furthermost extremity of the bay, forming a pleasant life picture. The +man cared nothing for these things, but turned his glass directly +oceanward, and searched the horizon with keen interest. + +A ship hove in sight, like a great white bird, beating up from its nest +in mid-ocean. The heart in that bad man's bosom made a great bound, and +the blasphemy of a thanksgiving sprang to his lips; but the joy was only +for a moment. Dropping his glass, he muttered: + +"Madman! to suppose, of all the ships on the ocean, it must be this one. +But if it should--if it should!" + +He sat down on a fragment of rock, rested his glass on the drooping +branch of a tree, and watched the ship as it swept through a bank of +luminous fog and took a more definite form. Hitherto it had seemed +floating between a curve of the sky and the blue line of water, but now +it came out clearly, and as North looked he saw a dark pile of +storm-clouds muster up behind it with slow, threatening danger. + +Hour after hour the man sat and watched that one object. The glass was a +powerful one, and seconded his keen vigilance. At length he was +rewarded, a burst of sunshine fell upon the vessel, the last that +illuminated the horizon that day, and he saw her name on the stern. The +telescope dropped from his hand, his face turned pale; the cry that +leaped to his lips perished there. The man was frightened by the +completion of his own wishes. Had some evil spirit performed a miracle +for him? + +All the time this man had been watching, a tempest blackly followed the +homeward-bound ship. The ocean began to dash and torment itself into a +fury of wrath. A high wind came roaring up from the bosom of the waters, +and over all gathered a world of lurid gloom, kindled fiercely red by +the sun when it went down, and slowly engulfed the ship, which was last +seen struggling fearfully in the wild upheaving of the elements. + +North seemed possessed of a demon that night. He left his telescope on +the earth, and went desperately to work, gathering up dry wood and +brush, which he stacked on the overhanging ledge, never pausing till a +great mound was created sufficiently large to keep a fire blazing all +night. By the time this was done the darkness became profound. Now arid +then he could see drifts of foam tossed upwards, like the fluttering +garments of a ghost fleeing from the storm. The little tavern at the +foot of the rock was lost in the overwhelming darkness. The lights from +the village seemed put out, and there was no vestige of Piney Cove +visible. No rain, as yet had fallen; and at this North rejoiced, for his +stock of wood was like tinder in its dryness, and the wind came fiercely +from the ocean, so fiercely that it threatened the death of any vessel +approaching the shore. + +With all these elements of terror surrounding him, North worked till the +perspiration dropped from his forehead like rain. That cliff had been +blackened before with wreckers' fires, but never had a man heaped wood +upon wood with so vivid a conviction of the crime he meditated, with +such earnest desire for death to follow his toil. + +When the evening had reached its darkest gloom, this man struck a match, +which he took from his pocket in a little case of enamelled gold--for +even in his crimes he was dainty--and thrust it among the yellow pine +splinters with which he had laid the foundation of his deathfire. The +blue light of the match flashed close to his face, revealing it white as +death, but smiling. + +Directly a column of flame shot upward, first in fine quivering flashes, +then in long, curling wreaths of fire, that the wind seized upon and +tore into hot, red tatters, laughing and wrangling among them with +fearful grotesqueness. + +North retreated from the blaze, and ran back into the woods, hiding +himself, for he feared to be seen from the tavern below. Now and then he +would start forth, toss a handful of fuel on the flames, and plunge back +into the darkness, where he listened greedily for some token to come out +of the storm and prove that his evil work was well done. + +It came at last--a gun boomed out from the tempest. The man started and +began to tremble. Still he listened. Another gun, with loud cries +cutting sharply through the storm, then dead silence, followed by a +tumult upon the shore, as if men were gathering in haste. + +North was not surprised at this. When a vessel struck in these days on +the Long Island shore, wreckers appeared in dozens, not eager for death, +for they would rather have avoided that, but keen for plunder. Now the +cries of these men made the storm terrible. Blue lights from the +stricken ship revealed her struggling fiercely among the breakers, which +were rending her like wild beasts. + +Then North trampled out his death fire and went down to the beach among +the crowd of wreckers that stood waiting, with horrid patience, for the +ship to go to pieces and give its treasures into their greedy keeping. + +"No boat could live among the breakers three minutes, I tell you," said +old Benson with gruff decision, when North, horrified by the terrible +shrieks that rang up from the sinking ship, was seized with an awful fit +of remorse, and cried out fiercely for help which no man could give. He +would have undone his work then had it been possible, for the last faint +light that went up from the wreck revealed a woman, with outstretched +arms and hair streaming back on the storm, pleading so wildly for help +that a fiend would have pitied her. It was this woman's life he had +sought, but with the sight of her his heart failed utterly. + +But an evil deed once written in the eternal book of God cannot be +recalled. While this man stood in dumb helplessness on the beach, the +ship sunk. Out of the whirlpool which it made, the wretched woman was +tossed back among the breakers, that seized upon her, fiercely hurled +her to and fro against the rocks, then gave her over to a great +inheaving wave, which left her shrouded in a drift of seaweed almost at +her murderer's feet. + +Daylight had broken on the wreck before it went down. Leaden and cold it +fell over the corpse of that poor woman as it was borne up to the +tavern, with the seaweed trailing from it and the wet garments clinging +to the limbs like cerements. Two rude seamen carried her away, for North +fled from the first sight of his work and plunged madly into the water, +where many a poor wretch was buffeting with the waves. He called on the +wreckers to help him, and dragged two or three exhausted creatures to +the beach, for he was ready to brave death in any shape rather than look +upon that cold form again. + +They carried the lifeless woman up to the tavern, and, careless of +ceremony, laid her on the bed in North's room. Here they left her, with +the salt sea-water dripping in a heavy rain from her garments, soaking +the bed and forming dreary rivulets along the uncarpeted floor. + +Deep in the morning North came up from the beach pale and staggering +from exhaustion. He went into his chamber and was about to cast himself +on the bed, when, lo! that face on the pillow met his gaze, ghastly and +cold. The heavy dropping of the water struck upon his ear like the fall +of leaden bullets. He stood paralyzed yet fascinated. A shudder colder +than spray from his garments shook his form from head to foot; and, +turning, he fled down the stairs again out upon the beach, and helped +the wreckers to haul in their plunder, till he fell utterly exhausted on +the sands. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +AMONG THE BREAKERS. + + +The storm had abated, but still the sea rose tempestuously, and broken +clouds filled the sky as with great whirlpools and drifts of smoke. A +good deal of rain had fallen, and this calmed the waters somewhat; but +the disturbed elements of the tempest made the most experienced seaman +look anxious when his face was turned oceanwards. An assistant pilot, +whose duty lay in that range of the shore, had been injured in helping +to save the crew of that ill-fated vessel. His comrades had carried him +up to the tavern, and laid him on a settee in the bar-room, where he +grew worse and worse, till it became dangerous to remove him to more +comfortable quarters. + +In this state North found the man on the second day after the wreck, +when he came up from the village, where he had sought accommodations +till the coroner's inquest should be over, and his room cleared of its +mournful incumbrance. + +Independent of his personal hurt, the boatman was suffering from intense +anxiety regarding the duties of his occupation. It had been his +employer's pride to be always first in the incoming course of the +California steamers, and now his little craft lay with its sails furled +in a cove below the house, waiting for a signal to put to sea. The man +had been very anxious to intercept the steamers of that month, because +it was thought that Mr. Mellen might possibly be on board, and he was +sure of a good round sum, in that case, for bringing this gentleman on +shore, while his superior, the pilot, took the steamer into port. + +North heard all these muttered regrets as he sat gloomily in the +bar-room, and they seemed to affect him more than so unimportant a +subject should have done. It was now drawing towards night, and the man +became terribly restless, for the pilot was expected every moment, and +from vague conjecture the poor fellow worked his mind up into a +certainty that Mellen would come, and the reward for bringing him on +shore be lost. + +"If there was only a man about that could take care of the craft," he +said, "I'd divide with him a fair half to take my place, but there +isn't, and ten chances to one the boss loses his chance with the +steamer, all because of this confounded foot of mine. I wish we'd let +the passengers drown; well, not quite so bad as that, but it's plaguey +hard on a fellow to give up his luck in this way." + +The bar-room happened to be empty just then, with the exception of North +and the injured man. North aroused himself and looked around. Seeing no +listeners near, he went up to the grumbler, and began to condole with +him. + +"Is there no one who can take your place?" he questioned. + +"Not a man. These fellows do well enough in fishing boats that can hug +the shore, but sometimes the boss runs his craft clear out to sea. +Besides, this weather is enough to frighten a fresh hand," was the +impatient answer. + +"What if I should make an offer to go." + +"You!" + +The man laughed in spite of his pain and annoyance. + +"You. I like that." + +"But I can handle a boat in pretty rough waters, let me tell you, my +man." + +"But you look too much of a gentleman. The boss would never trust you." + +"Oh, a suit of your clothes, which I see they have had sense enough to +dry, and a few things I have on hand will make that all right." + +"But, how much? how much?" inquired the man, anxiously. + +"Why, nothing; I shall go for the fun of it, or not at all." + +"That's the idea," answered the seaman, rubbing his hands--which still +trembled with weakness--in sudden delight, "a real gentleman and no +mistake, but bear a hand at once. It won't do for the commodore to find +you in this rig." + +"Aye, aye," answered North, sailor fashion, and in a voice that seemed +hoarse from years of sea service. + +The man started up on the settee, aroused to dangerous enthusiasm by +astonishment. + +"That's the time o' day," he cried in high glee. + +North snatched up the seaman's clothes, and retired with them into a +little room back of the bar. He had got over the first shock of +nervousness regarding the dead body lying upstairs, but still shrunk +from looking on it again with shuddering terror. The remembrance of his +crime did not prevent the contemplation of another equally atrocious, +but he did not care to look on that sight again. After a little he came +out from the room, so completely changed that the sick man stared wildly +at him, and called out, + +"Where away, messmate; are you one of the fellows we saved from the +wreck?" + +North laughed, settled himself in his loose clothes sailor fashion, and +walked with wide steps across the floor, as if it had been a +quarter-deck. A dawning conviction of the truth seized upon the man. He +fell back upon the settee, uttering broken ejaculations of delight +intermingled with groans. + +"That'll do. It's all right. He'll take you for one of the chaps we +saved from the wreck, and ask no questions," he panted out. + +"It's going to be a roughish night," said North. "I hope your Mr. Mellen +can swim, if we happen to get into any trouble." + +"No, no, don't depend on that, but he knows the coast, and is as brave +as a lion; still I shouldn't like him to be brought into danger, +remember that." + +"It's not at all likely that he'll be on board," answered North, +carelessly. + +"Hush up," cried the seaman, "don't you hear the commodore coming? +They've just told him about this confounded foot. Hear him swear." + +The pilot came in while his assistant was speaking. + +"What the thunder is all this about? just when I wanted you most, too, +and a rough night. They'll get ahead of us, and all through this +confounded wrecking business. Couldn't you keep out of it for once, you +rascal?" + +"Keep a stiff upper lip, commodore. It's all right," cried the man, +pointing to North; "here's a chap I have done a service to, who is +willing to take my night's work on himself, just out of gratitude. He's +a safe hand." + +"Let him bear away, then," cried the pilot, casting a glance at North, +which seemed to prove satisfactory; "come on, my man, we have no time to +lose." + +North followed the pilot in silence, only stopping by the sick man long +enough to whisper, "Don't mention this to a living soul!" + +The man promised, and kept his word. + +The pilot boat was soon unmoored and flying out to sea like a stormy +petrel. North performed his duty well, and received a word or two of +commendation from the superior, which proved the efficacy of his +disguise, for he had seen this person more than once at the shore +tavern. + +At last they came in sight of a large steamer laboring heavily with a +roughish sea and uncertain wind. She hailed them, and the little boat +bore down upon her. The steamer lay to, and the pilot mounted her side, +after giving some directions to his man. A crowd of persons met him as +he leaped over the bulwarks, and among them North searched with burning +eagerness for that one face. It appeared at last, looking down upon the +boat from over the bulwarks. The bad man's heart rose to his mouth; he +watched every movement on deck with keen interest. + +The pilot came to Mellen's side, and made a signal for the boat to wait. +Then some luggage was lowered and Grantley Mellen came down the side of +the steamer, and took his seat in the little craft, which flew away with +him towards the clouded shore. The wind increased as they sped along, +and though not so terrible as it had been when that other vessel was +wrecked, it gradually rose to a degree of violence that threatened the +little pilot boat with destruction. But the gale blew shoreward, and +urged the boat on till it fairly leaped over the hissing waves. + +A dismal twilight came on, and the storm was rapidly increasing to its +full power as they drew near the shore. The wind roared among the hills, +and lashed the waters into foam, the rain beat heavily and chill as +sleet, but Mr. Mellen sat cold and firm on his luggage, neither heeding +the disguised boatman's ejaculations or offering to aid him in his +difficult task. + +It was a position to test the courage of the strongest man, and many a +time it seemed that the wind and waves must conquer and swamp the light +craft completely; but no matter how rude or sudden the shock, Mr. Mellen +neither betrayed any anxiety, nor gave any more sympathy to the toiling +boatman, than if he had been a wooden machine. + +The disguised seaman now and then cast a furtive look at his passenger, +who seemed almost unconscious of the increasing gale. A heavy gust +sometimes seized his cloak and sent it sweeping out like the wings of a +great bird, but he only pulled it impatiently about him and sat quiet +again, looking out through the stern night. + +This perilous voyage was a long one, and its difficulties grew fearfully +as they neared the end. The wind seemed to come from every point at +once, and tossed the boat about till it fairly leaped in the water, as +if trying to escape from its combined enemies. + +Suddenly the rain almost ceased, the clouds parted, and the moon cast a +frightened glare over the scene. In the distance Mr. Mellen could see +his own dwelling, with the broad sweep of woods and waters in front; +then a sharp exclamation from his companion aroused him to the new +dangers that threatened him. + +The boat had been swept in near the shore, where a ring of sunken rocks +girdled the beach, breaking the waves into whirlpools, and sending the +white foam out into the storm. In this spot that good ship had gone +down, yet the boatman made no effort to veer his little craft from the +awful danger, but with a furious light in his eyes and a horrid smile on +his lips, bore down upon the breakers. True, it required almost +superhuman strength to turn the course of that light craft, for the +blast was dashing it forward like a battalion of fiends. + +They were close upon the breakers, when Mellen sprang up, pushed the +boatman back with a violence that sent him headlong into the bottom of +the boat, and seized the helm himself. Mr. Mellen struggled with all the +power desperation gives a man, but his efforts were futile as those of a +child. The boat spun round and round till they were fairly dizzy; +another fierce blast and they were blown directly into the breakers. + +Mellen's agonized cry was answered by a hoarse murmur from his +companion, which sounded like a malediction. Before either could think +or act, a more violent blast raging up from the sea, struck the skiff +and whirled it in among the rocks. + +Now Mellen's eyes kindled, and all the reserved force of his character +came out. He knew every inch of the coast for miles each way. Through +these boiling white breakers was a channel wide enough to carry them +over, and towards that he forced the little craft, which seemed +absolutely to leap through the breakers into the leaden current, where +she rested one moment, trembling from stem to stern like a great +crippled bird hunted to death by the elements. + +North saw that they were in possible safety. He had not anticipated a +storm so terrible as that, but had intended to swamp his boat in the +breakers and swim ashore, leaving Mellen, who could not swim, as he +supposed, to his fate. But now everything else was forgotten in a +cowardly thirst for life. No man could exist for a moment in that awful +riot of waters. He watched Mellen as he kept the boat steadily in the +current, with the keen anxiety of a man to whom death is the terror of +terrors. + +The little craft swept on, reeling and recoiling along the narrow path +into comparatively smooth waters. Mellen, still with one hand bearing +down the helm, seized the cable and flung it towards the disguised +boatman, who lifted his wild face for the orders he had not the power to +ask. + +"Be ready," cried Mellen, with the quick resolution which marked his +character, "jump out as she nears that rock--we are safe then." + +They both stood upright in the boat, swaying to and fro, but managing to +retain a firm position. + +Again the hope of safety seemed a delusive one; the skiff swooped away +from the rock, spun more giddily about, and threw both men upon their +knees. Another instant that seemed endless,--an instant which decided +the fate of both, as far as this world was concerned,--these men +trembled on the brink of eternity. If the skiff obeyed the counter blast +that was upon them and swept towards the breakers, they were lost; still +there was a hope, if it veered upon the rock which loomed out from the +shore. + +The moon gave light enough to enable them to watch the scene and see +their danger. Again the conflicting blasts struck them; the boat reeled, +righted itself and was dashing by the rock, upon which the two men +sprang by a simultaneous movement. A few more vigorous leaps and they +reached the shore, standing there for a moment in breathless awe. Then +they commenced hauling in the crippled boat, which the blast had seized +upon and was tearing out to sea. + +"Safe!" cried Mellen, in a tone of hearty thanksgiving. "I did think +that the brave little craft would go down, but thank God, we are on dry +land." + +"Safe and defeated!" muttered North, turning his face from the wind. +"The storm that helped me two days ago proves treacherous now." + +"Come!" shouted Mellen, lashing the cable to a stunted pine that grew in +a cleft of the rock, "come up to the house, we shall find a fire there +and a glass of brandy. The old man will send some of his people for the +luggage." + +North made no answer, but moved off towards the house, which he passed, +walking moodily towards the village. Mellen went up to the tavern. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +DEAD AND GONE. + + +Lights shone cheerfully through the uncurtained windows of the Sailor's +Safe Anchor, and the stranger could see the inmates of the dwelling +gathered about the tea-table, looking comfortable enough to make a +strong contrast to the chill and darkness without. + +"There is not the least change," he muttered, drawing his cloak more +closely about him; "I could almost think I had been gone only since +morning, instead of two years." + +He hurried on to the house, and hardly waiting for his imperative knock +to be answered, pushed open the door and entered the kitchen. The old +fisherman looked tranquilly up at the intruder, keeping his knife poised +in one hand, not easily ruffled in his serenity, while the younger +members of the family stared with all their might at the tall man, whose +garments were dripping wet, driven by the storm into their dwelling. + +"Good evenin', sir," said the old man; "it's a dark, wet night--wont you +sit down?" + +"I want a horse and a man," said Mellen, betraying by the haste in which +he spoke, and his impatient movements, that he was too hurried for much +attention to the old man's attempt at civility. "I want to go to the +other end of the bay--can you let me have a horse and some one to look +after my luggage?" + +"What, to-night?" demanded the old man. "Why you can't want to go round +the bay to-night." + +"I should not have come for a horse if I had not wished to get home," +said Mellen, impatiently. "Get one out at once, Benson; I am in great +haste." + +"'Taint a decent night to put a dog out o' doors," returned the +fisherman; "it's a good deal mor'n likely you'd get swamped in the +marsh, if I let the hoss go." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mellen. "I know this part of the country too well +for that. There is no more risk than in this room." + +The old man's obstinacy was roused, and he had a full share of that +unpleasant quality when he chose to call it into action. + +"Mebby you know more about it than I do," he grumbled; "but I've lived +here a goin' on thirty years, and ort to be acquainted with this coast, +and I say I ain't a going to risk my critters sich a night. If there +ain't no danger 'taint fit to send any horse out in a storm like this +anyhow." + +"I can't stand arguing here," Mellen began, but the old man +unceremoniously interrupted him. + +"Where do you want to go?" he asked. + +"Over to Piney Cove." + +"Mr. Mellen's place! Why it's good three miles, and he ain't to hum, nor +hasn't been, nigh on to two years." + +"Don't you know me, old friend?" exclaimed Mellen throwing back his +cloak. + +The old fisherman rose in astonishment, while his married daughter, who +kept his house and owned the flock of children, called out: + +"Why, pa, if it ain't Mr. Mellen!" + +"I thought I knowed your voice, but couldn't make out who it belonged +to; but Californy ain't so nigh as some other places," said the +fisherman. "So you've got back! Wal, wal! You've been gone a good +while." + +"So you can't wonder at my impatience when I find myself so near home," +said Mellen. + +"In course, in course," replied the old man. "But, dear me, you'll have +to wait till Jake comes in, and I expect he'll grumble awful at having +to start out agin." + +"I will pay him his own price----" + +"Oh, you allays was freehanded enough, I'll say that, Mr. Mellen. But +sit down by the stove; Jake'll come in a few minutes. Mebby you'd try a +cup of tea?" + +But Mr. Mellen refused the proffered hospitality, and though he walked +up to the fire, neither sat down or paid much attention to the questions +the old man hazarded. + +As Mellen stood there, though his restless movements betrayed great +impatience, there was little trace of it visible in his face, whose cold +pride seldom revealed the emotions which might be stirring at his heart. +He was dressed in his sea clothes, which hung about him in wet masses. +His face was bronzed by the exposure of a long sea voyage, but he was +still a man of imposing presence, and retained his old, proud manner so +thoroughly, that even the old man in his fever of curiosity, felt the +same hesitation at questioning him too far which had always awed the +villagers when Mr. Mellen formerly dwelt among them. + +"I s'pose you've seen a sight sence you went away," said the old man, as +he pushed his chair towards the fire. "All them gold mines; though I +don't s'pose you went to work at them. People will talk you know, and +they wondered at your going off in such a hurry----" + +"Do you think that man will be here soon?" interrupted Mr. Mellen. + +The fisherman felt ruffled and injured at having his gossiping +propensities cut short in that manner, but that instant a step sounded +on the stone porch without, and he said, grumblingly: + +"There he is. I 'spect there'll be a touse about getting him to go." + +But Mr. Mellon took the matter in his own hands when the man entered, +and the liberal offer he made speedily put Jake in excellent spirits for +the expedition. + +"My baggage must be disposed of first," said Mr. Mellen. "Some one must +get it from the pilot-boat." + +"Jake and I'll fetch it in here," returned the old man. + +"I will send for it in the morning," observed Mr. Mellen. + +While they went down to the shore and were bringing in the trunks Mr. +Mellen stood by the fire, quite regardless of the curiosity with which +the children regarded him, and unconscious of several modest attempts at +conversation made by the old man's daughter: + +"Your clothes are wringing wet; hadn't you better get some things of +father's and start dry?" + +"No," answered Mellen, glancing at the water-proof carpet-bag which he +had seized on leaving the boat, remembering that it contained important +papers. "I have some things in here, and they will find my macintosh in +the boat." + +He left the room while speaking, and, knowing the house well, went +upstairs, in order to change his wet garments. The young woman uttered a +little cry of dismay and ran a step or two after him, but turned back, +seized with terror of the dead body, about which she would gladly have +given warning. + +Mellen had taken a candle from the table when he left the kitchen, and +entered the little room upstairs with it flaring in his hand. It did not +illuminate the whole chamber, but a cold feeling of awe crept over the +man as he stepped over the threshold, and a shudder, which sprang from +neither cold nor wet, passed to his heart. + +With a trembling hand he set the light on a little pine table and looked +around. A bed stood in the further corner of the room, a great and +coldly white bed, on which a human form was lying in such awful +stillness as death alone knows. + +Breathless and obeying a terrible fascination, he went up to the bed and +drew down the coarse linen sheet. A beautiful face, chiselled from the +marble of death, lay before him, with a cold smile on the lips, and the +blue of the eyes, that had been like violets, tinging the white lids +that covered them. Masses of rich chestnut hair were gathered back from +the face; and over the bosom, struck cold in the bloom of life, two +white hands were folded in an attitude of solemn prayerfulness. + +As Mellen gazed on this cold vision his lips grew white with terrible +emotions, for he knew that face, notwithstanding all the changes that +years and an awful death had left upon it. Moment after moment crept by +and he did not move. At last, reaching forth his hand, he touched the +woman's hair, then a convulsion of grief swept over him, his eyes +filled, his lips quivered and he fell upon his knees crying out: + +"Oh, woman, woman, has he driven you to this?" + +The stillness, which was his only answer, crept to his heart. He arose, +covered the face of his false love, and quitted the room, leaving the +candle behind. He could not bear to think of her lying alone in that +grim darkness. + +"Oh, sir, I am so sorry. It was dreadful to let you go upstairs to dress +and find _that_," cried the woman, in a tumult of self-reproach. + +"When did it happen?" he questioned, in a hoarse voice. "When and how?" + +"Day before yesterday. It was washed ashore from the wreck." + +Mellen turned away and asked no more questions. Enough for him that the +woman he had once loved to idolatry, had passed out of his life forever +and ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +HOME IN A STORM. + + +The storm was still raging upon the ocean and sweeping its cold way +across the island; but Mellen was not a man to rest within sight of his +own dwelling, after a long absence, without an effort to reach it in +defiance of wind or weather. So, heedless of all protestations, he +mounted his horse and rode forward, with the wind howling around him and +the rain beating in his face. His temporary attendant grumbled a little +at the violence of the storm, while the darkness was so intense that +both the horses went stumbling on their way like blind creatures on an +unknown path. But Mellen scarcely heeded the danger or discomfort. His +eyes were fixed on the lights of his own home, which twinkled now and +then through the fog and rain, like stars striving to break through a +cloud. + +Their road ran along the coast, and they had the rushing winds and roar +of the ocean all the way. Before they reached the Piney Cove grounds the +blackness of the tempest began to break away overhead; the wind had +lulled a little, but the rain still beat, and at intervals the moon +would burst through the clouds and add to the ghostly effect of boiling +foam in the distance. + +They passed through the strip of woodland which extended down to the +water's edge, and at last reached the grounds connected with the +dwelling upon that side, and came out upon the broad lawn. + +"Home at last!" cried Mellen, as a warm glow of lights shone out from +his dwelling. "Ride on, my man; you shall sleep here to-night, and +return in the morning." + +In his exultation Mellen dashed forward, urging his horse across the +open space till he was considerably in advance of his attendant. The +moon shivered out again for an instant, and Mr. Mellen saw a woman +shrouded in a long cloak rushing towards the house. Some instinct, +rather than any real recognition of her person, made him cry out, as he +leaped from the horse and left him free: + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +The figure paused. There was a faint cry; at the same instant Mellen +heard a violent rustle in the shrubbery, with a sudden downpour of +raindrops, scarcely noticed, as he hurried towards the lady, but well +remembered afterwards. She was standing upright and still, as if that +unexpected voice had changed her to stone; her hair had broken loose and +was streaming wildly over her shoulders; one hand was lifted above her +eyes, as she strained her sight through the gloom. + +"Elizabeth!" he called again. + +"Who is it?" she cried, in a suppressed voice, that had all the +sharpness of an agonised shriek. "Who calls to me?" + +He reached her side as she spoke. + +"Don't you know me?" he exclaimed. "My wife! my wife! I have come back +at last!" + +There was one wild look--one heavy breath--he heard a low exclamation: + +"My God! oh, my God!" + +Before he could discover whether this was a cry of thanksgiving or not, +she fell forward and lay motionless at his feet. + +After that first second of stupefaction, Mr. Mellen checked the +wonderment of the man--who by this time had come up--and between them +they carried the senseless woman to the house. + +The servant who met them in the hall gave a cry of dismay at the sight +of her master thus suddenly entering the house with his wife lying like +a dead woman in his arms, and was ready to believe that the whole sight +was a ghostly illusion. + +"Bring some wine," called Mellen; "is there a fire? Are you deaf and +blind, girl?" + +"It is the masther!" exclaimed the frightened creature. "It's the +masther come back--oh, I thought I'd seed ghosts at last!" + +Her cries brought the whole household up from the basement; but +regardless of their wonder and alarm, Grantley Mellen carried his wife +away towards the library, and laid her upon a couch. + +It was some moments before Elizabeth Mellen opened her eyes, then she +glanced about with a vacant, startled look, as if unable to comprehend +what had happened. + +Her husband was standing in the shadow, gazing down at her with the +strange, moody look so unlike the active alarm which would have filled +the mind of most men, and she did not at first perceive his presence. + +"I thought I saw Grantley," she murmured. "I--I have gone mad at last." + +"Elizabeth!" + +She struggled up on the couch, and looked towards him with a wild +expression of the eyes, forced out by recent terror or sudden joy at +finding that she had not been deceived by some mental illusion. + +"Is it you, Grantley?" she exclaimed. "Is it really you?" + +"It is I," he said; "but it is a strange welcome home to a man when he +finds his wife wandering about in the storm, and sees her faint at the +sound of his voice." + +Elizabeth Mellen forced her physical strength back by a sheer exercise +of will. She sat upright--a singular expression passed over her face--an +inward struggle to appear like herself and act as was natural under the +circumstances. + +"I was so frightened," she gasped; "I did not expect you for a +fortnight--perhaps a month. When I heard your voice I can't tell what I +thought--a dread--a terror of something terrible--something +supernatural, I mean, came over me." + +"But what could have taken you out of doors on a night like this?" he +persisted. + +She did not hesitate; she hurried to answer, but it was like a person +repeating words studied for the occasion, and all the while her two +hands clutched hard at the arm of the sofa. + +"I don't know what drove me out, the storm made me wild. I thought of +the sea--you on it, perhaps--I don't know why I went." + +"You are wet," he said--"thoroughly drenched. You must change your +dress." + +She seemed to grasp at the opportunity to go away, and started up with +such eagerness that his suspicious eyes noticed it. + +"This is a singular meeting," he said, bitterly; "two years apart, and +not a word of welcome." + +She turned impulsively towards him, and threw her arms about his neck, +with a burst of passionate tears. + +"I do love you, Grantley," she cried; "I do love you! I am so glad to +see you; but this fright--it was so sudden--so----" + +Her voice died away in a sob, and she clung more closely to him, while +he kept his arm about her waist, pressed his lips on her forehead and +gave himself respite from the whirl of dark thoughts which had been in +his jealous mind. The joy of reunion and the pleasure of finding himself +at home after that long absence, broke through it all. + +He felt her shiver all over, and remembered the danger they both ran +standing there in their wet clothing. + +"You are cold--shivering--and I am keeping you in these wet things!" +cried Grantley, gathering her in his arms and mounting the stairs. "You +are drenched, my sweet child. It was wrong to go out in a storm like +this. Indeed, indeed it was, dear one." + +She made no answer, but was seized with a cold shivering fit in his +arms. He carried her into the little sitting-room, and, seating her in +an easy chair, took off her hood and cloak, speaking soft, tender words +as he removed the garments, and smoothed her hair with a caressing +movement of the hand. + +"You must change your dress, Elizabeth," he said. "Do it at once. I have +some dry clothes in my room, I suppose, which I shall put on." + +"Yes," she returned, hurriedly; "go--go at once. You are glad to get +home, are you not--glad to see me, Grantley?" + +There was a tone of almost piteous entreaty in her voice; she was so +disturbed by the shock of his sudden presence that her nerves could not +recover their firmness at once. + +Grantley Mellen held his wife to his heart and whispered fond and loving +words, such as he had breathed during their brief courtship before a +shadow clouded over the beauty of their lives. + +"There shall be no more clouds," he whispered, "no more trouble. Look +up, Elizabeth! Say that you love me--that you are glad as I am." + +"I do love you, my husband--with all my heart and soul I love you! I +_am_ glad--very, very glad." + +"And I love you, Bessie. I did not know how well until I went away. But +we shall never part any more--never more." + +Elizabeth was weeping drops as cold as the rain on her face. It was +unusual for her to allow any feeling of joy or pain to overcome her so +completely. + +"You are weak and nervous to-night, Bessie," he said, tenderly. "I was +wrong to come upon you so suddenly." + +"No, no!" she cried, vehemently. But even in her denial she shuddered, +remembering whom she had just left and how she had met her husband. + +Then she arose to go, but staggered in her walk and held herself up with +difficulty. He looked at her with such tender love in his eyes that she +held out her arms to him. He drew her close to his bosom: + +"Elizabeth, we will be happy now." + +"Yes, yes," she said, in the same hurried manner, "we will be happy +now--quite happy." + +She went out of the room as she said these words and entered her +chamber, locking the door carefully behind her, as if she feared that he +might intrude upon her. + +Half an hour after the newly-united husband and wife met at the +supper-table, and Grantley Mellen saw that Elizabeth had quite recovered +from the sudden shock of his arrival in that unexpected way. + +"I cannot realize it yet," she said, coming into the room and walking up +to the hearth where he stood; "I cannot believe you are actually here." + +She stole close to his side and folded his hand in hers. For an instant +there was a slight hesitation amounting almost to timidity, as if she +were doing something or assuming a place to which she had no right, but +it passed quickly. She was looking up into his face with a pleasant +smile, a little pale yet from her recent emotion, or else those two +years which had elapsed since their parting had robbed her of a portion +of her girlish bloom,--but self-possessed and full of happiness. + +Grantley Mellen looked at her more closely as she stood there in the +cheerful light. Two years had changed her, but that was natural; he was +altered too. + +"Do I look very different, Elizabeth?" he asked. + +She shook her head. + +"You are browned, you look a little older, perhaps; but you are not +really changed--you are Grantley still." + +"I cannot tell if you are altered," he said; "I must wait till I have +seen you a day or two. You seem paler--thinner." + +She shivered a little, but quickly regained her self-control and +cheerfulness. + +"You cannot judge how I look to-night," she said. "I am sorry Elsie is +gone." + +"When did she go away, Elizabeth?" + +"Only yesterday; she seemed to be getting low spirited, so I advised her +to visit Mrs. Harrington for a while." + +"I suppose she has not left you often--you two kept together?" he asked, +the old jealousy creeping through his voice. + +"Of course; she has visited a little," replied his wife, quietly, but +she turned away to the table as she spoke. + +A servant brought in the supper, and they sat down opposite to each +other at the board; but even during those first hours of reunion the +strange greeting which his return had met would linger in Grantley +Mellen's suspicious mind, and, in spite of Elizabeth's cheerful manner, +her color would come and go with tremulous fitfulness. Sometimes there +was a restless expression in her eyes, and she seemed with difficulty to +repress a nervous start at any sudden sound--she had not recovered +wholly, it appeared, from her surprise. + +"You will send for Elsie in the morning," he said. + +"Oh, yes. One of the men will go to town early." + +"Don't tell her I have come." + +Elizabeth hesitated. + +"She would be so startled if I did not," she said. "I really think her +happiness will be greater if she expects to meet you." + +"As you please," he returned, a little coldly. "I believe you are right. +Surprises generally are failures." + +"Where is Dolf?" Elizabeth asked. + +"I sent him on with the steamer to deliver some letters I had brought +for various people; he will be up in the morning. He is just the same +remarkable darkey as ever. His language is even grander, I think." + +When they were sitting over the fire again, Mr. Mellen said: + +"Now, tell me everything that has happened; your letters were all so +vague." + +"I had nothing of importance to write, you know," she answered; "we were +very quiet here." + +"Has Elsie changed much?" he asked. + +"Not at all; gay and thoughtless as ever." + +There seemed a suppressed bitterness in her voice. Perhaps that gayety +and frivolity had sometimes jarred upon the deeper chords in her own +nature. + +"Little darling!" he said, fondly, "I feel more attached to her than +ever since I went away--she seems more like my daughter than my sister." + +"And she loves you very dearly, you may be sure of that." + +"Oh, yes; nothing could ever come between Elsie and me! I have thought +of the promise I made our dying mother; I have kept it, +Elizabeth--wherever else I have erred, I have kept that vow." + +"Yes," she said; "yes." + +But the tone grew a little absent, her eyes wandered about the room as +if she were perplexed anew by some thought far away from the subject of +their conversation. + +"You have been happy and content here, Elizabeth?" + +"Not happy," she answered, "I forced myself to be patient; but the time +seemed very long." + +"Then you do love me?" he cried, suddenly. + +She looked at him reproachfully, with some pain stirring under that +reproach. + +"Can you ask me such questions now?" + +"No, no; you do love me. I believe it. But you know what a morbid, +suspicious character mine is." + +"I had hoped--" + +She did not finish her sentence, but sat twisting the links of her +chatelaine about her fingers, and looking almost timidly away from his +face. + +"Go on," he said, "what did you hope?" + +"That this long absence might have--that--I hardly know how to say it +without offending you." + +"You hoped I had learned to accept life more like a reasonable being, +isn't that it? I think I have, Bessie; we will be happy now, very happy; +you and Elsie and I." + +He took her hand and held it in his own; was it true that it trembled, +or only his fancy that made him think so? + +"We shall be happy, Elizabeth?" he repeated, this time making the words +an inquiry. + +"I hope so--oh, I do hope so!" she exclaimed with sudden passion; "I +want to be happy, oh, my husband! I want to be happy." + +She threw her arms about his neck, and her head dropped on his shoulder; +but the face which he could not see wore a strained, frightened look, as +if she saw some dark shadow rise between her and its fulfilment. + +Mellen strained her to his heart, and showered kisses down upon her cold +face,--kisses, so warm from the heart, that her cheeks kindled into +scarlet under them, and she began to weep those gentle tears that drop +from a loving heart like dew from a flower. + +"Our lives shall go on quietly and pleasantly now," he continued, giving +himself to the full happiness of this reunion; "we will have one long +summer, Bessie, and warm our hearts in it." + +"I have been in the cold so long," she murmured. + +"But that is over--over for ever! We will be trustful Bessie: we will be +patient and loving always; can't we promise each other this, my wife?" +he said, drawing her closer to his bosom. + +"I can, Grantley; I do!" + +"And I promise, Elizabeth, I will never be suspicious or harsh again. +You and I could be so happy now." + +"You will love me and trust me!" she cried, almost hysterically. + +"Always, Bessie, always!" + +Again he clasped her in his arms, pressing kisses upon her forehead, and +murmuring words which, from a husband's lips are sweeter and holier than +the romance of courtship could ever be, even in the first glow of its +loveliest mystery. + +Elizabeth nestled closer to his heart, and a feeling of rest and +serenity stole over her so inexpressibly soothing and sweet, that she +almost longed to float away for ever from the care and dimness of this +world upon the sacred hush of that hour. + +There was a sound without which startled them both, making Mellen turn +hastily, and sending the sickly pallor anew across Elizabeth's face. + +"Only the wind," he said, "blowing one of the shutters to with a crash." + +"That is all, it----" + +She did not finish; her eyes were fixed upon the window; she made one +movement; tried to control herself; looked in the other direction before +her husband could observe the eagerness with which her eyes had been +strained out into the night; but all her attempts at self-control were +in vain; she gave one heavy sigh, and sank lower and perfectly helpless +in his arms. + +For the second time that evening Elizabeth Mellen had swooned completely +away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE SUNSHINE OF THE HOUSE. + + +The day was so bright and beautiful that the preceding storm seemed only +to have added freshness to both the earth and sky. + +The hills rose up majestic in their richest verdure, the lovely bay was +at rest in the sunshine, and the long white line of distant water shone +out tranquilly, as if no treacherous wind would ever again lash it into +fury. + +Grantley Mellen stood with his wife on the broad stone portico, looking +towards the ocean. They had been wandering over the house and grounds +that the master might see what changes had taken place in his absence, +talking pleasantly and gaily, though even in the midst of his happiness +the old restless suspicion would intrude. Grantley Mellen could not +understand the strange agitation of his wife at his return. It troubled +him even in his newborn joy. She was quite herself this morning; so +lovely in her delicate mauve morning dress, with the soft lace relieving +her neck and wrists. Her dark hair was banded smoothly back from the +grave, earnest face, and fell behind in heavy braids, rich and glossy as +the plumage of a raven. Her mouth was tremulous with gladness and her +whole face kindled into smiles and blushes under her husband's gaze. She +was so calm that it seemed folly to vex his heart with vague fancies, +instead of yielding to the full, rich joy of the occasion. + +But she was changed: his jealous eyes took note of that. She was paler, +thinner; there was a single line between the dark brows that had +gathered there during his absence; an added gravity about the mouth, a +slight compression of the lips, as if they had grown accustomed to +keeping secrets back. + +Then with one of those quick transitions of feeling peculiar to a mind +like his, he reproached himself for that change. Why search for other +reasons when he remembered many things which had preceded their parting; +the last restless year of their married life, disturbed by jealousy and +suspicion; the long months of loneliness which she had spent during his +absence. There was answer enough for all the questions with which he had +vexed himself all the morning. + +"Of course Elsie will come home in the afternoon boat," he said. + +"Oh, yes; I don't think it is in yet--I have not heard the whistle," +replied Elizabeth. "Our people will send her across the bay in a +sail-boat, no doubt. It is shameful of them to leave the shore road in +the state it is; we must either go to the village by water, or take that +long out-of-the-way back road." + +"There is a sail-boat now," exclaimed Mellen, pointing across the bay. + +Elizabeth looked and saw the tiny streamers shining like silver +traceries in the sun. + +"It must be Elsie," she said, bringing a glass from the hall, which Mr. +Mellen took eagerly from her hand. + +"Yes," he said. "I can see a woman in the boat--it is Elsie." + +His face was all aglow with brotherly love; a sweet expectation kept him +restless. He walked up and down the porch talking of his sister, asking +a thousand trivial questions, and complaining of the slowness of the +little boat. + +Elizabeth stood leaning against one of the pillars, her eyes shaded with +her hand, looking over the bright waters. The tranquillity and bloom +faded out of her countenance, while her husband talked so eagerly of his +desire to see the child--as he called her. Sometimes her face grew +almost hard and stern, as if she could not endure that even this beloved +sister should come between her heart and his in the first hours of their +reunion. + +The little sail-boat flew swiftly on before the wind--drawing nearer and +nearer each instant--they could distinctly see the young girl half lying +back in the stern, allowing her hand to fall in the water with an +indolent enjoyment of the scene. + +She saw them at last, fluttered her handkerchief in the air by way of a +signal, and after that they could see how full of eager impatience she +was. Every instant her handkerchief fluttered out, and when the wind +took that, she unwound an azure scarf from her neck and flung it on the +breeze. + +When the boat neared the landing, Mr. Mellen ran across the lawn and +received his sister in his arms as she sprang on shore. + +Standing on the portico where he had left her, Elizabeth regarded the +pair; she heard Elsie's eager exclamation of joy--her husband's deep +voice--then the two blended in confused and eager conversation. An +absolute spasm of pain contracted the wife's features; her eyes dilated, +and a moan broke from her lips. + +"He loves her so! he loves her so! He will believe anything she says," +muttered Elizabeth in a tone which trembled with passionate emotions. + +The sound of her own voice seemed to recall her recollection and the +necessity of concealing these turbulent feelings. With that power of +self-control which she was striving so hard to strengthen, in order to +bear her life with calmness, she forced her features into repose, and +stood quietly waiting for them to come up. There was nothing in her +appearance now to betray agitation; her pallor seemed only the +reflection of her mauve draperies, and her lips forced themselves into a +smile. + +"There is Bessie," cried Elsie, coming up the lawn, clinging to her +brother's arm with both hands, and shaking her long curls in the +sunshine, till the sight of her loveliness and grace might have softened +for the time even that heart filled with fear of her sisterly influence, +and jealous of the love which she received with such caressing warmth. + +"Oh, Bessie!" she cried, as they reached the steps, "I am so happy! When +I got the news this morning I felt as if I must fly here directly. Oh, +you darling brother, to come back at all; but you deserve to be punished +for staying away so long!" + +She raised herself on tip-toe to kiss him anew, allowed her bonnet to +fall off, and her curls to trail in bright confusion over her shoulders; +then she flew towards Elizabeth and showered a greeting of warm kisses +on her face. + +"Never mind that dark subject," she whispered; "we'll be happy now in +spite of everything." + +Again that singular look passed over Elizabeth Mellen's face; she +listened and endured rather than returned the young girl's caress, but +Mr. Mellen was watching his sister and did not observe it. + +"And isn't he brown?" cried Elsie, rushing over to her brother again; +"he looks like an Indian, don't he, Bess? Oh, you bad, bad boy, to stay +so long." + +Thus Elsie laughed and talked incessantly, begun a dozen sentences +without finishing one of them, and was so demonstrative in her +expressions of affection to both, so lovely in her youth and brilliant +happiness, that it was no wonder her brother regarded her with that +proud look; it seemed almost impossible that Elizabeth herself could +help being won into happiness by her caressing ways. + +"You'll never go away again--shall he, Bess? But isn't it luncheon-time? +I could eat no breakfast for joy, but I do think I am hungry now." + +Mr. Mellen laughed, and Elsie went on again. + +"Oh, Grantley, I saw Dolf on the steamboat; he is coming over with your +luggage. The ridiculous creature has more airs than ever. I wish you had +forced him to come ashore in the pilot-boat, it would have been such +fun, when he got among the breakers; but, oh dear! how frightened I was, +hearing how near you were to getting in. It makes, me feel pale now!" + +Here Elsie gathered up her bonnet and shawl, tossed her curls back, +kissed her brother again, and ran, off, saying: + +"I must go upstairs and brush my hair. Do come, Bessie; I never can do +it myself." + +"I must go and see what the servants are doing," Elizabeth said. + +"Nonsense! Come with me." + +Elsie caught her sister-in-law about the waist, waltzed away towards the +stairs and forced her to ascend, while Mr. Mellen stood looking after +them with a pleasant smile on his lips. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +SUNSHINE AND STORMS. + + +When they reached Elsie's room the girl drew Elizabeth in and closed the +door. Mrs. Mellen sank wearily into a seat, as if glad to escape from +the restraint she had been putting upon herself all that day. + +"Your note frightened me so!" cried Elsie. "It was wicked of you to +write like that." + +"He came upon me so suddenly," gasped Elizabeth. "I was out in the +grounds in the rain--I had gone to--" + +"And Grantley came upon you there?" interrupted Elsie. "What did you +do? what did you do?" + +"I fainted in the end." + +"Good heavens!" + +"Oh, you would have been worse in my place," returned Elizabeth. "It was +so sudden; how could I tell what he had seen?" + +"But you are yourself now. You will not give way again?" + +"I must not," said Elizabeth drearily. "I must bear up now." + +"Don't talk in that dreadful voice," shivered Elsie; "it sounds as if +you were dying. I thought you had more courage. Don't be afraid of me; +if he held a bowl of poison to my lips I wouldn't tell." + +"Oh, Elsie, what would death be compared to the agony of discovery?" + +"Do stop!" pleaded Elsie, pressing both rosy little palms to her ears, +with a piteous, shrinking movement. "We mustn't talk. I won't talk, I +tell you! I can put everything out of my head if you will only let me; +but if you look and talk like that I shall give way. Why can't you try +and forget it? I will. Be sure of that!" + +Elizabeth rose from her seat; a wan, hopeless look came over her face. + +"You are right; let us be silent. But, oh, if I only could forget--but I +can't, Elsie--I can't! The thought is with me day and night. The +dread--the fear!" + +"Be still!" shrieked Elsie, breaking into a passion of which no one +would have believed her capable, and stamping her foot upon the carpet. +"You'll drive me mad. I shall go into spasms, and then who knows what +may happen! I won't promise not to speak if you drive me crazy." + +All the youthful brilliancy was frightened out of her face, her lips +turned blue, her whole frame shook so violently that Elizabeth saw +absolute danger unless the girl were soothed back to calmness. + +"I won't torment you any more, Elsie," she said. "I'll bear it +alone--I'll bear it alone." + +"One can always forget if one is determined," said Elsie; "but you +won't--you will brood over things----" + +"I shall be more myself, now," interrupted Elizabeth. "It was from +seeing Grantley so unexpectedly, just when I was waiting for----" + +"Be still!" interrupted Elsie, sharply. "I won't hear that--I won't hear +anything; you shall not force unpleasant things upon me." + +The sister and the sister-in-law stood opposite each other, oppressed by +the same secret, but bearing it so differently. Elsie's share seemed to +be only a burdensome knowledge of some mystery; no evil seemed to +threaten her in its discovery, but deep sympathy appeared to have broken +through her careless nature, moulding it into something grand. She was +the first to recover from the cold, shivering distress which had come +over both; the volatile, impressible creature could not dwell long +enough upon one subject, however painful it might be, to produce the +effect which even slight trouble had upon a character like Elizabeth's. + +"You look like a ghost," she cried, in sudden irritation. "It is cruel, +Bessie, to frighten me in this way. You know what a weak, nervous little +thing I am. It is wicked of you!" + +Elizabeth turned slowly towards the door. + +"Be at peace, if you can," she said; "I will trouble you no more." + +"Now you are angry!" cried Elsie. + +"No, dear, not angry." + +"Kiss me, then, and make up," said Elsie, with a return of childish +playfulness. "I'll help you all I can, but you mustn't put too much on +me; you know I'm not strong, like you." + +Elizabeth trembled under the touch of those fresh young lips, but she +answered, patiently: + +"I will bear up alone; don't think about it." + +"Oh, I shouldn't," cried Elsie, frankly, "only you make me." + +Elizabeth looked at her in astonishment. + +"You needn't stare so," said Elsie, in an injured tone; "I know I am not +a deep, strong character, like you. But let me rest--let me enjoy my +little mite of sunshine!" + +"I will not overshadow it," Elizabeth answered, "be certain of that. +But, oh, Elsie, it's so dreadful to bear this constant fear! If Grantley +should find out anything--he is so suspicious----" + +"There you go again!" broke in Elsie. "I vow I wont live in the house +with you if you act in this way! Just as one is getting a little +comfortable you begin all this again. I can't stand it; and I won't." + +Elizabeth did not reply. She looked at Elsie again with a mingled +expression of astonishment and fear; but a strange sort of pity softened +the glance. + +"There shall be no more of it, Elsie," she said, after a long silence, +during which Elsie had shivered herself quiet once more. "I ought to +have borne this trouble alone from the first." + +"That's a nice darling!" cried Elsie. "Nothing will happen, I am sure of +it. Just hope for the best; look at everything as settled and over with. +Things don't keep coming up to one as they do in a novel." + +Elizabeth said no more, she stood leaning against the window frame and +watched Elsie as she arranged her ringlets before the glass, and called +back the brilliant smiles which softened her face into something so +youthful and pretty. Then they heard a voice from below, which made them +both start. + +"It's Grantley," said Elsie. "It sounds so odd to hear his voice! Open +the door, Bessie; I am ready." + +She ran to the head of the stairs, while Elizabeth followed slowly. + +"Are you calling, Grant?" demanded Elsie, looking down at him as he +stood at the foot of the stairs. + +"Calling! I should think so! Are you both going to stay up there for +ever? Dinner is ready." + +"And so are we," cried Elsie, "and coming, Mr. Impatience." + +Downstairs she tripped, humming a tune and making a little spring into +her brother's arms when she reached the lower step. + +She was such a dainty little thing, so light and graceful in all her +movements, with such childish ways, such power of persuasion and +coquetry, so light-hearted and frivolous, that it was quite impossible +not to love her and treat her as if she were some blithe fairy, that +would be frightened out of sight by a harsh word or look. + +She was just one of those creatures whom everybody fondles and pets, who +have sacrifices made for them which they are never capable of +appreciating. The loves and fears and hates of these flimsy creatures +are shallow and transient, though capable of leading them to great +lengths during their first fever; creatures whom we miss as we do +sunshine and flowers, or any other pretty thing; for they seem born to +feed upon the froth and honey-dew of life, and from that very fact take +with them, even towards middle age, a fund of light-heartedness and +joyous spirits, which is, in some sort, a return for the demands they +make upon others. + +It seemed hard that a creature like this should have her youth burdened +with any secret; it was scarcely wonderful that she grew impatient and +spoke harshly to Elizabeth when she insisted upon forcing trouble on her +mind, which left to itself she was able, out of the very shallowness of +her nature, to throw aside so completely. + +Wrong and cruel it seemed in Elizabeth to burden her thus--she should +have kept Elsie aloof from all domestic mysteries, whatever they might +be, and have borne her sorrow, her fears, perhaps her remorse, alone. It +was not easy to tell from her face or her words all that lay back of her +half-uttered despair. But she should have endured in silence things to +be held as far away from Elsie's joyousness and Elsie's youth as the +deep undercurrent of her character was apart from the bird-like +blitheness which made the girl so pleasant. Thus the world would have +judged had they seen these women standing there together. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +COURTSHIP IN THE KITCHEN. + + +While they were still seated at the luncheon-table the door opened, and +Dolf came in with a flourish of bows to report his return to the master. + +"So, there you are, Dolf," said Mr. Mellen, carelessly. "Did you lose +half the letters I gave you to deliver?" + +Dolf drew himself up with a great deal of dignity. + +"Master knows I'se trusty as Solomon's seal," he said. "De'pistles is +safe in de honorable hands for which dey was originally intended." + +"I'm glad they went off at the right moment," said Elsie, laughing. + +Dolf rather missed her play upon his mispronunciation of the word, but +he gave another magnificent flourish. + +"Jes so, Miss Elsie; you've 'spressed it beautiful." + +"How do you do, Dolf?" asked Mrs. Mellen, kindly, rousing herself from +the abstraction into which she had fallen while Elsie and her brother +had been chatting together. "Are you glad to get back?" + +"I'se ebery reason to be satisfactory with my health, and am much +'bliged by de 'quiry," replied 'Dolf, with a bow so profound that it +seemed by a miracle he recovered his balance, "I'se bery glad to see de +ole place again, Miss Mellen, and de faces of yerself and young Miss +Elsie is like de sunshine to me." + +"Bless me, Dolf," cried Elsie, "that's poetry." + +Dolf gave a deprecatory wave of the hand, as if the poetry had been +unavoidable, and a smile which insinuated that he was capable of still +higher flights of fancy, as he said: + +"Mebbe, mebbe, Miss Elsie--I didn't reserve partic'lar--dese tings takes +a pusson onawares mostly." + +"Now, Dolf," said his master, "try and put my things in some sort of +order before the day is over." + +"Yes, marster; ebery ting dat's wanting shall be toppermost." + +Elsie laughed unrestrainedly, but Dolf only took that as a compliment, +and was immensely satisfied with the impression he had produced. + +"Don't get up another flirtation with the cook," she said; "she is old +enough to be your mother, so old that she's growing rich with hoarding, +Dolf." + +Dolf bowed himself out of the room with much ceremony, and took his way +straight towards the lower regions. His brain had always formed numerous +projects on the strength of Clorinda's wealth, and he felt it incumbent +upon him to have an interview as soon as possible with this elderly +heiress. + +He came upon her in the kitchen hall; she was walking upright as a +ramrod with a large tin dish-pan in her hands, and looking forbidding as +if she had been the eldest daughter of Erebus. + +"Dat's de time o' day," thought Dolf; "she is parsimmony just now and no +mistake, but here goes for de power of 'suasion." + +He made her a bow which flattered the sable spinster into a broad smile, +and almost made her drop the dish-pan, in the flutter of her delight. + +"Dolf, Dolf, am dat you?" she exclaimed, growing a shade darker. + +"Permit me," said Dolf, gracefully, taking the pan from her hand; "it's +my expressive delight to serve de fair, and I'se most happy, through dis +instrumentation, to renew your honorable acquaintance." + +He followed this up with another tremendous bow; Clorinda thought it +quite time that she should make a show of high breeding likewise. She +gave her body a bend and a duck, but unfortunately, Dolf was bowing at +the same moment, and their heads met with a loud concussion. + +A wild giggle from the kitchen door completed Dolf's confusion. He +looked that way, and there stood Victoria, the chambermaid, now a spruce +mulatto of eighteen, enjoying Clorinda's discomfiture. + +"De fault was mine," cried Dolf, in his gallantry; "all mine, so dat +imperent yaller gal need'n larf herself quite to death." + +"Imperent yaller gal? am no more yaller den yer is," answered Vic. + +"Any how yer needn't stand dar a grinning like a monkey, Vic," exclaimed +Clorinda, in wrath. + +"Accidents will recur," said Dolf. "But, laws, Miss Victory, is dat you? +I had de pleasure of yer 'quaintance afore me and marster started on our +trabels." + +"I've been alone here eber since," explained Victoria, not proof against +his fascinations. "I'm sure yer haint altered a bit, Mr. Dolf." + +"I guess if yer don't go upstairs miss'll know why," cried Clorinda, +sharply. "Jes give me dat pan, Mr. Dolf; I kint wait all day for you to +empty it." + +Dolf was recalled to wisdom at once--he could not afford to make a +misstep on the very day of his return. He emptied the pan, followed +Clorinda into the kitchen, making a sign of farewell to Vic which the +old maid did not observe. Once in Clorinda's own dominion, the darkey so +improved the impression already produced that he was soon discussing a +delicate luncheon with great relish, and so disturbing Clorinda's +equanimity by his compliments, that she greatly endangered the pie-crust +she was industriously rolling out on one end of the table where he sat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE DEAD SECRET. + + +The morning after Elsie's return Grantley Mellen mounted his horse, and +rode off towards the shore tavern, a sad and heavy-hearted man. The +woman whom he had loved so devotedly with the first passion of his +youth, lay in that little chamber waiting for burial. Where destined +when she met her fate, or how much she suffered, he could only guess. +But there she was, after years of separation, thrown upon his charity +even for a grave, with no one to mourn her death, no one to care how or +where she was buried. He had not mentioned her to his wife or sister, an +aching memory at heart forbade that, but underneath the joy of his +return home lay this dead secret, haunting him with funereal shadows. + +The woman was in her coffin when he entered the little chamber, which +was now so desolately clean; for he had given orders regarding her +interment before leaving the house that stormy night, and they had been +well obeyed. A veil of delicate gauze covered the face, softening it +into singular loveliness. Mellen did not lift this veil, which +neutralised the coldness of death so beautifully, but his breast heaved +with a farewell sigh, while tears blinded his last look, which carried +deep and eternal forgiveness with it. + +A noise in the next room disturbed him. He turned hastily, and went down +stairs, shrinking from observation. + +Scarcely had Mellen disappeared when the door which connected the death +chamber with a small inner room was pushed open, and a pale, wild face +looked in. It was that of North; after a quick survey of the room, he +darted towards the door leading to the stairs and shot the bolt. Then he +went up to the coffin, flung back the gauze from that marble face, and +looked down upon it. Those black eyes burned too hotly for tears, but +the raven beard trembled about his mouth, his hand was clenched, the +burning consciousness of a great crime was upon him, and he felt it in +every nerve and pulse of his system. If North had ever loved this woman, +all the force of that passion came back upon his soul now in an agony of +remorse. As he gazed, his hand released its iron grip, his strong limbs +shook like reeds, and flinging himself down by the coffin he cursed +himself, his crime, and that living woman for whose sake it had been +committed. + +They were coming upstairs. He heard the heavy blundering footsteps of +two men, and knew what they were after. Creeping softly to the door he +drew the bolt back with intense caution, and stealing into the little +chamber, fell upon the floor and held his breath, listening. + +He heard the coffin-lid closed; the slow turning of the screws; a sudden +jar, and then the footsteps again, broken and disturbed by the mournful +burden those two men carried. Then all was still for a moment, and up +through the passage, vibrating like electricity through that evil soul, +came the sound of a clear, solemn voice, reading the burial service. + +Still he listened, with his head lifted from the floor, and supporting +himself by one arm like a worn-out gladiator. A sort of terror had +seized upon him with the sweet low sound of that voice. Great drops +gathered upon his forehead and grew cold there. He was like an evil +spirit looking through the gates of Paradise. Then came another pause, +followed by the slow roll of wheels and the tramp of horses. North +leaped to his feet, and threw up the window. A hearse was moving heavily +down the street, and close behind it rode Grantley Mellen, alone. + +Near the Piney Cove mansion was an ancient burying-ground, with the +graves of many generations crowded around a little stone church, which +rose up in solemn stillness among a grove of cypress trees and wild +cedars. In one of the sunniest corners of the ground a grave was dug, +and a pile of blossoming turf was laid ready to cover that hapless woman +in her place of rest. While the men performed their sad work, Mellen +stood by, with his head bared reverentially, and the heart in his bosom +standing still. When he turned away it was with a deep, solemn sigh of +relief. The bitterness and the pain of his first love was buried +forever. Henceforth Elizabeth would have no rival, even in his memory. + +Mellen went home a calmer and a better man, after laying his lost one +down in her grave. Hitherto her memory had been an aching bitterness, +but with death came forgiveness, and out of that his spirit arose +chastened, gentle and tending towards a healthy cheerfulness. + +Elizabeth was too deeply observant not to remark the softened +seriousness of her husband's manner when he came home that day, but +every look of tenderness that he gave her was a pang, and smote her +worse than reproaches. Could the wife who deceived her husband find joy +in the confidence which was but a mockery of her deceit. Many times +during those few days Elizabeth wished that her husband would be harsh +and cruel again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +TOM FULLER'S LETTER. + + +As they were sitting at dinner the next day, Mellen inquired about +Fuller. + +"I have quite forgotten to ask you about Tom," he said; "he was in +France when you last wrote to me." + +"He has not come yet," Elizabeth replied; "the house in which he was +employed, concluded to keep him at Bordeaux for a time; in his last +letter he wrote that he might be gone another year." + +"Poor old Tom," Elsie said, laughingly. + +Elizabeth's brows contracted a little; she had never been able entirely +to forget the suffering this girl had caused the young man. Whenever she +heard her mention his name in that trifling way, it jarred upon her +feelings and irritated her greatly. + +"Bessie doesn't like any one to laugh at Tom," said Mellen, noticing the +expression of her face. + +"I confess I do not," she replied; "he is such a noble fellow at the +bottom, with an honest, kindly heart, and it seems to me that no one +really acquainted with Tom can help respecting him, in spite of his +eccentricities." + +"But you need not be so heroic, Bessie," returned Elsie; "Tom always +allowed me to laugh at him as much as I pleased; you know I don't mean +to be ill-natured." + +"No one would ever suspect you of that, Birdie," added Mellen, with a +fond glance. + +Elizabeth said nothing more, and the conversation "We shall have the +house crowded with visitors, I suppose," Elsie said; "Mary Harrington +told me she should only give us one day for family affection--" + +"I hope she won't come to stay any time just yet," said Elizabeth. + +"I hope so, too," added Mellen; "I should like a little enjoyment of my +home, if possible, for a week or two at least." + +"But people will come," said Elsie; "you must expect it. They look for +all sorts of invitations, and you must give them or mortally offend +everybody." + +Perhaps the idea of the gayety that would ensue was not unpleasant to +Elsie, in spite of her joy at Mellen's return; it was quite natural at +her age, and to her character, which drooped in solitude like a flower +deprived of the sun. + +"Oh," said Mellen, "we will give them as many dinners and parties as +they like, provided they won't domicile themselves with us, Elizabeth." + +"Yes; I don't mind that so much." + +"Shall you take a house in town, Grant?" asked Elsie. + +"Do you particularly wish it?" + +"Oh, it would be pleasant, of course." + +"Just as you and Elizabeth choose," he said. + +"For my part I would rather stay here," exclaimed Elizabeth. + +"And so would I," said Mellen. + +Elsie looked a little disappointed, but she concealed the feeling with +her usual quickness. + +"I have not told you what Doctor Peters said," she continued. + +"What?" her brother asked, anxious at once. + +"He thinks the sea air too strong for me in the winter; but, I dare say, +it is only his fancy; I would not have either you or Elizabeth disturbed +on my account." + +"My dear child," cried Mellen, "that settles the matter at once; we will +certainly go away from here before the cold weather comes; any where you +like; Bessie will gladly give up Piney Cove, I'm sure." + +"Certainly," answered the wife, quietly. + +Elsie looked triumphant; she was always elated at having her own way, +whether the thing was of importance or not. + +"We need not think about it now," she said, demurely; "it will be warm +and pleasant for several weeks yet." + +"But you must be careful," returned Mellen, "dear child; I cannot reach +home safely only to see your health give way." + +"Oh, nonsense, Grant, don't begin to fidget! I am ever so well; make him +believe it, Bessie." + +"I think so," Bessie replied; "you are stronger than you look." + +"Elsie requires great care," said Mellen, decidedly. + +Elsie did not look displeased; she liked being considered weak and +delicate; it made her more petted and at liberty to indulge her +numberless caprices in the most interesting manner. + +The family had that evening entirely to themselves, and it passed off +very pleasantly. Elizabeth and Elsie joined in the old songs Mellen +loved, and they all talked and laughed gaily, forgetful of the clouds +that lowered above that house. + +The next morning when the family met in the breakfast-room the post had +arrived, and Dolf presented Elsie and Elizabeth with several letters; +only the journals were left for Mellen, and he said, laughingly: + +"The division is not just--Bessie having two letters; you might give me +one." + +"I'm too selfish," she answered. + +"Mine is from Mary Harrington," observed Elsie. "Bess, you shall not +read yours till you have given us our coffee. I'll just see what the +widow says." + +Elizabeth poured out the coffee while Elsie opened her note. + +"She is coming to-day," she exclaimed; "I told you so. She sends all +sorts of messages to you, Grant; calls you a god-like, wonderful +creature, and is dying to see you." + +"Oh, of course," said Mellen. + +"She asks after Mr. Rhodes, Bessie--poor old fellow--she has quite +turned his head." + +"What is that?" asked Mellen. + +So Elsie explained how the widow delighted in worrying Miss Jemima, had +made desperate love to the stout man on every occasion; and in laughing +at her quaint speeches Elizabeth quite forgot her own epistles. + +"Why, where are your letters?" asked Elsie. + +"I forgot them," returned Elizabeth, drawing them from under her plate, +and adding as she glanced at the superscription of the upper one, "it is +only from the dressmaker." + +Elsie snatched the other, and cried out: + +"Why, this is from Tom Fuller; oh, see what it says." + +"From Tom? oh, I am so glad; I have been expecting a letter for a week +past." + +Elizabeth took the letter, and her face lighted up joyously as she broke +the seal and began to read. + +"Well," said Elsie, impatiently, "what does he say? read it out." + +Elizabeth uttered an exclamation of delight. + +"Oh, you provoking creature," cried Elsie, "do tell us what it is?" + +"Tom must have found a diamond mine," said Mellen. + +"He has," returned Elizabeth. + +"Bless me," said Elsie, "will he go about covered with diamonds?" + +"His old uncle has left him a fortune," explained Elizabeth. + +Elsie fairly screamed, and clapped her little hands with graceful fury. + +"Who would have thought it! Only fancy Tom Fuller rich! Why he'll be +robbed every day of his life." + +"How much is it?" asked Mellen. "I am very glad. Tom is a good fellow +and deserves it." + +He had entirely got over any suspicion that Elizabeth might ever have +cared for her cousin, and was prepared to rejoice in Tom's good fortune. + +"How much--how much?" broke in Elsie. + +"Thirty thousand a year," replied Elizabeth; "Tom is in a state of +bewilderment that makes his letter sadly incoherent; he never expected a +penny; his uncle changed his will at the last moment." + +"But wasn't he your uncle, too?" asked Elsie. + +"No; he was aunt Fuller's brother." + +"Oh, do let me see the letter," said Elsie. + +Elizabeth gave it to her, but between excitement and his usual odd +penmanship Tom's epistle was quite a puzzle to unpractised eyes, and +Elsie went into shrieks over it. + +"He promised to bring me a bracelet," said she, "diamonds it shall be +now. If he brings anything less I'll send him straight back." + +"But when is he coming?" Mellen asked. + +"I can't make out," said Elsie; "here is something at the end about I +shall burn--no return--at the--the--can that be Millennium?" + +"Scarcely, I should think," said Mellen, laughingly. + +"Try and make it out, Bess," said Elsie, giving her the letter. + +Elizabeth took it, examined the lines to which she pointed, and after a +moment's study read it correctly. + +"I shall return by the Hammonia." + +"Why that's due now," said Elsie. + +Elizabeth glanced at the date. + +"The letter has been delayed," she said; "he may be here already." + +"Oh, it will be beautiful to see him," said Elsie; "why, he will give +all he is worth to the person that asks first. Won't it be fun!" + +"You shall not tease him, Elsie, as you formerly did," said Elizabeth; +"I will not have it." + +"But I will," said Elsie. "Thirty thousand a year! Good gracious, it +will seem as if he had fallen from the moon. Of course I'll tease him +half to death." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE WIDOW'S FASCINATIONS. + + +About midday Mrs. Harrington arrived with a little party of friends; she +would not allow Mellen to escape her till she had overwhelmed him with +compliments and congratulations, all of which he received with becoming +resignation. When they went upstairs she said to Elsie: + +"I haven't seen anything of that mysterious creature, North, in an age; +what can have become of him?" + +"Horrid creature," cried Elsie, "don't mention his name! Now, Mary +Harrington, don't forget for once in your life! If Grant knew that we +had even one visit from a stranger he would be furious; if you let it +out neither Elizabeth or I will ever speak to you again." + +"My dear, I won't open my lips." + +"Mind you don't, that's all; if you do, I'll be even with you, as sure +as my name is Elsie." + +"You need not be so ferocious." + +"Oh, I hate to be scolded, and Grant would be dreadfully angry! I +promised Bessie I would warn you, so be sure and remember." + +"I'll swear it if you like." + +"Bless me, don't be tragic! The matter is of no consequence to me, only +Bess makes such a point of it; besides that, I dread to see Grant +angry." + +"He never could be angry with you," said Mrs. Harrington. + +"Well, it would be just as bad if he scolded her." + +"How good you are!" cried the widow. "You are just the dearest thing in +the world." + +"Of course I am; but there's no use in standing here to say pretty +things to each other, for there is no one to hear." + +"Oh, you odd creature!" laughed Mrs. Harrington. "But, really, that man +was the strangest, fascinating person--" + +"There you go!" interrupted Elsie angrily. + +"My dear, there is no one in the room but ourselves." + +"I don't care if there is not; I don't want to hear that man's name." + +"I can't see why you dislike him so," pursued the widow. "It always +seemed to me that he and Elizabeth treated each other oddly--" + +Elsie interrupted her, quite pale with anger. + +"Mary Harrington," said she, "if you and I are to remain friends, stop +this instant. I won't hear another word, nor must the subject come up +again." + +Mrs. Harrington was quite subdued by her friend's vehemence, and dropped +the matter without another allusion to the forbidden subject. + +When they went downstairs after the rest of the party were assembled, +Mellen began laughing at the widow about the conquest she had made of +Mr. Rhodes. + +"Isn't it delicious?" she cried. "I just want you to see us together--it +is better than a play." + +"And Jemima's spite is something to witness," added Elsie. "I know she +will poison you yet, Mary Harrington." + +"I am on the watch constantly," replied the widow. "I don't even engage +a strange servant now for fear it should be one of the old maid's secret +emissaries." + +"You are as badly off as the Duke of Buckingham," said Mellen, laughing +at Mrs. Harrington's pretended distress. + +"It is dreadful, I assure you," she said, shaking her plumage of lace +and gauze; "but it is very amusing, nevertheless." + +"Of course, if you can annoy somebody," answered Mellen; "that is the +very acme of female happiness." + +"Oh, you barbarous creature!" cried the widow. "Ain't you ashamed to +utter such atrocious sentiments! Mrs. Mellen, your husband has come back +a perfect savage." + +Everybody laughed--it never occurred to the widow it could be at her own +airs and affectations, which were a very clumsy imitation of Elsie's +childish grace; she was too thoroughly satisfied with her own powers of +fascination to suppose it possible, even for an instant, that she could +become a subject of amusement. + +"After all, it is tiresome to inspire a _grande passion_," said she, +with a theatrical drawl. + +"No woman ought to be better able to decide," cried Elsie; "you have +made enough in all conscience." + +"Oh, dear, no!" said the widow. + +"Don't deny it," said Elsie, who never scrupled to make sport of her +most intimate friends, and with all her fondness for Mrs. Harrington was +always leading her on to do and say the most absurd things. + +Elsie was in the most extravagant spirits, and had been ever since her +brother's return. She flitted about the house like a beautiful elf, and +Elizabeth could see that Mellen watched her every movement, his face +kindling with affection and each look a caress. + +"He has not changed," she thought, sadly; "all his tender words to me +came only from the first pleasure of finding himself at home." + +Then she began to shudder, as she often did now when the icy chill of +some stern thought crept over her. + +"Better so," she muttered; "what should I do with love and +affection--what right have I to expect them from him or any one on +earth. Is not my whole life a lie." + +But she banished these reflections quickly, determined to have at least +a few days of perfect freedom from anxieties, a little season of peace +and rest, in which her tired soul might restore its strength, like a +seabird reposing on the sunlit bosom of some inland lake after the +exhaustion of a long and perilous flight amid storms and tempests. + +Mellen, too, had laid by the suspicions which the strange circumstances +connected with his return had caused, and appeared, as he could always, +when so disposed, the most charming host possible. + +Elizabeth sunned her heart in the smile which lighted up his face +whenever their eyes met, and kept the dark shadows resolutely aloof from +her mind. She was determined to be happy in spite of fate. + +"Peace and rest!" she murmured. "I need them so much. I will have them +at any cost." + +The day passed as such days usually do, when all parties are amused; and +though the conversation might not have been such as altogether suited +the intellectual tastes of Mellen and his wife, they were too well-bred +for any expression of distaste, and Elsie made even nonsense charming by +her brilliant sallies and buoyant spirits. + +The widow had not forgotten her old ambition to fascinate Mellen, and +her efforts were highly amusing to the lookers-on. She was in doubt +whether he preferred the queenly manner and repose of Elizabeth or the +arch grace and exuberant gayety of his sister, and attempted airs which +she considered a happy medium between the two, and a most fortunate +result followed. Her efforts to support the double character delighted +Elsie immensely, who, with the usual good-nature of intimate friends, +made as much sport of her before her very face as she dared to venture +on in Mellen's presence. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE HEIR COMES HOME. + + +They were all assembled in the library before dinner, tired with +laughing and roaming about, tired of rowing over the sunny waters, and +glad to rest a little before the important business of dining should +commence. + +Suddenly there was a bustle in the hall, followed by a loud good-natured +voice that made Elizabeth start to her feet. + +"It's my cousin Tom," she cried. "Grantley, Tom Fuller has come." + +She rushed into the hall, and sure enough, there stood her cousin; +sunburned, a little thin from sea-sickness, but the same droll old Tom +as ever. + +He caught Elizabeth in his arms and uttered his first incoherent +expressions of delight when Mellen came up, and Tom commenced shaking +his two hands with immense energy, as if they had been pump handles, and +nothing but the greatest exertion on his part could save the ship. + +"I'm so glad to see you!" he cried. "I'm so glad to get back. I declare +I can't say a word." + +"And I'm glad; very, very glad," replied Elizabeth. + +"And we congratulate you heartily on your new fortune," said the widow, +joining in and extending both hands. + +"Oh, don't speak of it," cried Tom; "it's no end of a bother to me +already. God bless you, I don't know what to do with it! How--how is +your sister?" he stammered, addressing Mellen with desperate energy; for +Elsie's name came up from his heart with a jerk. + +"She is quite well," Mellen answered, "and will be charmed to see you; +we were expecting you." + +"That's nice of you. So you've only just got back! Well, it's good to +get home, isn't it? that is, if I had any home--but it's dreary for a +solitary chap like me, now isn't it?" + +"This house will always seem like home to you, I hope," said Mellen, +kindly. + +"Always," added Elizabeth; "don't forget that, Tom." + +"You're too good to me," cried the soft-hearted fellow; "you always +were!" + +"Of course they were," said a laughing voice, that made Tom start, and +appeared to take every particle of strength out of his limbs. + +Elsie suddenly appeared before Tom in her brilliant evening dress and +cloud-like loveliness, reducing him to a pitiable state at once. + +"Don't you intend to speak to me?" pursued Elsie. + +"Of--of course!" said Tom. "I'm so glad to see you--will you shake +hands--will you--be--be glad to see me?" + +"There is my hand," replied Elsie; "the pleasure depends on how +agreeable you make yourself. I suppose you have come back with such fine +foreign manners that you will hardly deign to notice us poor plain +untravelled people." + +"Oh, you don't think that!" said Tom. "You are laughing at me just as +usual." + +"Did you bring me my bracelet?" demanded Elsie. + +"Indeed I did; I'd have brought all Paris if I had thought it would +please you." + +Elizabeth now plainly thought poor Tom had returned no wiser than when +he went away; but Mellen, man-like, never perceived the state in which +Elsie's fascinations had thrown the honest fellow, and would not have +thought seriously of the matter if he had. + +"Of course you speak French like a native--Iroquois, I mean," pursued +the pitiless Elsie. + +"Just about," replied Tom, as ready as ever to laugh at his own +blunders. + +"So you did not forget the bracelet?" urged Elsie. + +"Indeed I did not; it's in my carpet-bag." + +"Then I will be good natured to you all the evening," said she, "and +won't tease you the least mite." + +Tom was quite in ecstasies at the prospect; but Mellen said: + +"She can't keep her promise, no matter how hard she tries--don't trust +her, Fuller." + +Elsie made a gesture of playful menace and carried Tom off into the +drawing-room, quite regardless of the fact that Elizabeth had, as yet, +found hardly an opportunity of speaking to him. + +Mrs. Harrington was excessively cordial to the new comer; as a poor man +she had always liked Tom for his extreme good-nature and willingness to +wait on her caprices to any extent; but now that he made his appearance +in the character of a semi-millionaire, it was perfectly natural that +she should look upon him in a totally different light, being of the +world, worldly. + +Tom's awkwardness would only be a pleasant eccentricity now; his +unfortunate taste in dress must pass readily as the carelessness of +wealth, and all his good qualities, which had been quite overshadowed +during his days of poverty, would now be brought to the foreground with +glowing tints. + +Not that Tom ever thought of this result to his heirship, he was too +unsuspicious even for a thought of the kind. When people bestowed more +interest on him than before, he would only wonder at their kindness and +think what a pleasant world this was after all, and what scores of +good-natured people there were in it, despite of the grumblers and +misanthropes. + +Elsie kept her word; she did not tease Tom in the least, but +deliberately bewildered him with her arts and coquetry--which set +Elizabeth to wondering what her motive could be--but perhaps she had +none at all, and was only obeying the whim of the moment. + +Tom produced the gold humming-bird for Elsie's hair, and a lovely little +ornament it was, with the gorget in its throat composed of emeralds and +rubies, and the long, slender bill and delicate wings formed of the most +beautiful enamel. + +Elsie perched it among her curls and was happy as a child with her new +toy. Nobody in the world was ever so much delighted with novel +ornaments, and few persons ever allowed the gloss to wear off them so +quickly. In all probability she would rave over Tom's gift for a week, +and by that time, if she did not lose it, would break the wings, by way +of amusement, or tear the bill off to make the point of a stiletto, or +ruin it in some other way, just to gratify her caprice, and an odd love +of destruction which was in her very nature. + +Tom Fuller spent the first happy evening he had known for months at +Piney Cove, and he was so deliciously good-natured and noisy in his +pleasure, that he could have supplied any lack of merriment on the part +of the other guests if it had been necessary. But it was not. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE GAUNTLET BRACELETS. + + +No man with any wisdom whatever thinks of returning from a journey +without gladdening all the feminine hearts in his sphere with goodly +presents. Mellen had by no means forgotten his duty in this respect. He +had brought all sorts of curious Chinese ornaments, wonderful pagodas +for glove boxes, scented sandal wood repositories for laces, exquisitely +carved ivory boxes, and such costly trifles, which kept Elsie in perfect +shrieks of delight during the first glow of possession. He had also +brought stores of valuable ornaments which had once belonged to wealthy +Mexican families, their value increased by the quaint, old time setting, +and the romance connected with them; and Elsie consumed hours in +adorning herself with them, laughing at her own fantastic appearance, +and dancing about like a regular Queen Mab. + +Among these presents were a pair of very valuable bracelets, made after +a fashion prevalent in Spain two hundred years ago--you may see such +things even now preserved among the old Castilian grandees, to be kept +through all changes of time and fortune, aired on festive occasions +only, and at last, if parted with at all, left in a fit of devotion +before some Catholic shrine, as a bribe for some Heavenly privilege. + +When Louis XIV. was a youth and in love with Marie Mencini, he once +offended her mortally by bestowing a similar bracelet upon a young +stranger at the court. I dare wager it required a whole set of jewels to +put the haughty Marie in good humor and satisfy her Italian cupidity. + +These bracelets Mellen brought with him, and gave one to his wife, the +other to Elsie. They were made of a gauntlet-shaped piece of gold, +widening at the back of the wrist, and covered with delicate chasing; +the gold was so fine and pure that they were supple as a bit of kid. A +double row of pearls and emeralds ran about the edge, and the clasps +were of large diamonds, arranged in the shape of a shield. + +The jewels were exceeding valuable, though to anybody possessing the +least fancy, that made their least charm; they were ornaments that had +undoubtedly owned a history, and one might have woven a thousand +romances concerning the lives of those who had once worn them--that is, +one who is not ashamed of being a dreamer in this rushing, practical +age. + +These were the last gifts Mellen displayed, and they certainly made a +very splendid climax to the costly exhibition. + +As I said, the first fortnight passed off delightfully, then the +visitors departed, and there were a few days of quiet. The Mellens +renewed the gayeties then by giving a dinner-party to several families +in the neighborhood to whom they owed civility. + +"They are stupid people to be sure," Elsie observed, "but then it's a +little change from our own special dullness, and we have been alone for +three days." + +"You are such a foolish child!" returned Mellen. + +"Oh, that's all very well," laughed Elsie; "but I don't wish to make a +female Robinson Crusoe of myself, I do assure you. Bessie, old Mrs. +Thompson will wear that wonderful new head-dress, and her son will ask +me to sing and be so scarlet and fluttered when I look at him. Yes, yes, +there is some fun to be got out of a dinner-party." + +She mimicked the expected guests in turn, and did it so cleverly that +her companions were both obliged to laugh, so everybody prepared for the +infliction of a country dinner in the best possible spirits. It was +rather stupid to be sure, but Elsie so lighted up the room with her +radiance, and Elizabeth was so pleasant a hostess in her stately beauty, +that everything passed off tolerably, and even the most common-place of +the party brightened up a little under the influence of their hosts. + +The ladies had risen from the table, giving the gentlemen an opportunity +to enjoy their cigars in comfort, and were passing through the hall +towards the drawing-room. + +The moon shone broad and full through the windows of the hall, and +somebody remarked on the beauty of the night. Elsie darted away and +flung open the hall door. + +"You will get cold; don't stand there," said Elizabeth. + +Elsie danced out upon the portico in playful defiance of her sister, and +the other ladies went after her, expostulating with true feminine +eagerness. + +As Elsie ran away to the other end of the veranda something fell upon +the stones with a ringing noise, followed by a little shriek which she +uttered in starting back. + +"What is the matter?" called out several voices, but before they reached +her Elsie stooped, picked something up and ran towards them. + +"I dropped my brooch," she said; "come in. Elizabeth was right. I am +chilled through and through." + +She drove them playfully before her, and they all entered the parlors +laughing gayly--all but Elizabeth. It was a trifling thing to disturb +any one, and her nerves must have been in a strange state from constant +watchfulness when this little event could move her so greatly. She +leaned against the door-frame quite cold and chill. As Elsie passed her +the girl slipped something in her hand, unperceived by the others. + +Elizabeth stood motionless until they had all gone, then she started +forward with something like desperation, and moved towards the hanging +lamp. She opened her hand and looked down at a slip of paper carefully +folded about a broken bit of iron, as if to give it weight enough to be +thrown with sure aim. She shut her hand quickly as if the sight of the +harmless paper filled her with loathing, conquered the convulsion which +shook her from head to foot, unfolded the note and read the brief lines +it contained. + +Then she tore the paper into fragments and thrust them down into the +hall fire, watching till even the ashes were gone, fearful that a trace +should be left. + +"I must!" she muttered, "I must go--I must not wait!" She looked +eagerly about; the gay laughter of the men rang up from the dining-room; +she could distinguish her husband's voice; through the closed doors of +the parlors came the sound of the piano and a bird-like song, gleeful +and joyous, with which Elsie was amusing the ladies. + +Elizabeth flung her arms aloft with sudden passion. + +"Laughing, singing, all enjoying themselves!" she moaned, "and I here +with this horrible suffering! I must go--I must go!" + +Elizabeth took up a shawl which lay on a chair, opened the outer door +softly, hurried down the steps and disappeared among the trees. + +Mr. Mellen did not give his male guests a very lengthy opportunity to +enjoy their claret and cigars; he had no interest in their talk about +the political affairs of the country, a recent bankruptcy, the price of +corn, or any of the topics which came up, and some time before it might +have been expected, he rose, anxious to counteract the dullness by the +presence of his wife and sister, both of whom he had regarded all the +evening with new tenderness and admiration, as they sat like a couple of +rare birds among all those fussy, ill-dressed women. Elsie was still at +the piano when the gentlemen entered. Mr. Mellen looked about for +Elizabeth, but she was not there. + +"She has not come in yet," said old Mrs. Thompson, in answer to his +inquiry. + +Elsie heard the words--she had ears keen as a little beast of prey. + +"One of the servants stopped her," she called out; "servants always are +stopping her--mine will be better regulated. Come here, Grantley, and +help me in this old song you like so much." + +"In a moment, dear," he replied. + +Mellen left the room, fearing that Elizabeth might be drawn away by a +headache. He had never felt so tenderly solicitous about her. These last +weeks of sunshine had made his proud nature kindly genial. He was +anxious to atone for all his old suspicions and little neglects of her +comfort. + +He was crossing the hall, when the outer door opened, and Elizabeth +entered. She did not observe him, and he saw her in all her unrestrained +emotion. She was deadly white, and rushed in as if seeking escape from +some danger. + +"Elizabeth!" he called out. + +She started as if he had struck her, but she was accustomed now to +controlling herself, and after that first trembling fit, threw off her +shawl and forced her face into composure. + +"Where have you been?" he inquired. + +"Only on the veranda," she said, a little too hurriedly; "I was so tired +and my head ached--I wanted air." + +He looked at her, dissatisfied and suspicious. + +"You might have caught your death," he said; "I wonder at you." + +"It was foolish," she returned, trying to laugh, "but the dinner was so +tedious. Come into the drawing-room." + +She made an effort to speak playfully, as Elsie might have done, but it +was a failure. + +"Your shoes are damp," he exclaimed suddenly; "you have been on the +grass--pray what could take you there?" + +"I--I just ran down the steps--I won't do so again." + +Elsie heard their voices--she always heard everything--and opened the +door. + +"Come in here, you naughty people," she cried, laughing and speaking +lightly, though there was a gleam in her eyes. "Oh! Mrs. Thompson, +husbands and wives who have been separated are worse than lovers." + +She forced them to enter, talking in her excited way, and making +everybody laugh so much that neither the frown on Mellen's brow nor his +wife's paleness were observed. + +"You have been out," she found an opportunity to whisper to Elizabeth; +"you must be mad!" + +"I shall be!" groaned the woman; "I shall be!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +SEARCHING FOR THE BRACELET. + + +The very sight of her sister's carelessness and gayety, made Elizabeth +feel how necessary it was to be composed; her husband was watching her +still. Some one asked her to play; she took her seat at the piano and +played one of her most brilliant pieces--to sing, and her rich contralto +voice rang out with new passion and power. I tell you even women can +only marvel at the power many of the sex preserve over themselves when +playing for a great stake, and the least betrayal of look or movement +might be full of danger. + +The evening passed off without further incident, and the guests went +away delighted with their reception, thinking what agreeable people the +Mellens were, and how happy they must be in their beautiful home. + +"Oh--oh--oh!" cried Elsie, flinging up her arms with a yawn that +distorted her pretty mouth out of all proportion. "Thank heaven, they +are gone! I am sure another half hour would have killed me." + +"You deceitful little thing!" said her brother, who had nearly recovered +his cheerfulness. "I heard you tell poor young Thompson that you had +never enjoyed yourself so thoroughly." + +"Of course I did; what else could I say." + +Mr. Mellen laughed and went out of the room. + +Elsie was standing by the fire, she was always complaining of cold, and +Elizabeth walked towards her as the door closed. + +"Don't!" whispered Elsie, "you are going to talk--don't!" + +Elizabeth dropped into a seat with a wearied look, such as a person +wears after hours of self-restraint. + +"It's of no use to talk," said Elsie, with an impatient gesture. "You +ought not to have gone out----" + +"I know; but I dared not wait. Oh, Elsie! such a scene----" + +"Be still!" exclaimed Elsie, with the old passion which seemed so +foreign to her nature. "I can't hear--I won't! Grantley saw you!" + +"Yes; he was in the hall when I entered," she replied, with the same +dreary despair in her voice. "I know, I feel that something will happen +at last." + +"There must not--there shall not!" broke in Elsie. + +"Such madness--such greedy selfishness----" + +"Don't tell me," shivered Elsie; "please don't!" + +Elizabeth dropped her hands into her lap with a gesture full of +weariness and desolation; as they fell apart she lifted them up to +Elsie, with a look of helpless distress. + +"What is it?" cried Elsie. "Don't frighten me!" + +"My bracelet!" moaned Elizabeth. "My bracelet!" + +"You have lost it?" + +"Gone, I tell you! He would have money--I was nearly mad--I pulled it +off to pacify him." + +"Which bracelet--not the new one?" + +"Yes; the one Grantley brought me. Oh, what shall I do?" + +"He won't notice it," said Elsie; "you can wear mine." + +"He will notice it," returned Elizabeth. "It may be sold--he may find +it." + +"You can say that you lost it." + +"But your brother is so suspicious." + +"You ought to have had your wits about you," said Elsie, fretfully. + +"It is easy for you to talk!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "If you had been in +my place, listening to those threats----" + +"Stop, stop!" Elsie almost shrieked, hiding her face in her hands. "I am +going into spasms--I shall choke!" + +"But a crisis is near!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "You don't know all that a +bad, desperate creature is capable of, to accomplish his ends." + +"I can't do anything," moaned Elsie. "What am I in all this? You +promised to leave me in peace." + +"So I will, Elsie--I will. God knows I am ready to bear my burthen +alone; but sometimes I must speak." + +"It does no good," said Elsie, beginning to cry. "I'd rather be dead +than live in this way!" + +"Be a woman, with some feeling for a sister woman!" cried Elizabeth, +aroused into severity. + +"It's all very well for you to talk, you are a great strong thing; I +don't mean that you are big, but your nerves are like iron and I am so +weak. Grantley says he believes the least thing would kill me; he knows +how frail my health is." + +Passionate indignation lighted up Elizabeth's face for an instant, but +it softened into pity, like that with which she might have regarded a +pet animal whimpering under a hurt. + +"Be good to me," said Elsie. "I can't help you. I don't mean to be +selfish, but I must have my sunshine. I don't dare even to talk about it +at all. If Grant ever should find out anything, even my talking to you +about it would enrage him so!" + +"And what would become of me?" demanded Elizabeth. "Do you never think +of what would happen to me?" + +"Oh, but he won't find out anything," urged Elsie, changing her tone at +once. "Just let things rest. The wretch will be quiet for a time." + +"No, no; I tell you money must be raised." + +"More money?" + +"I promised it; there was no other way. But heaven knows where I shall +get it." + +"Well, tell Grant about some family or hospital----" + +"Lies!" interrupted Elizabeth; "always lies! Sinking deeper into the pit +every day. I tell you this constant deceit makes me hate myself!" + +"Now you are going off again! Oh, my head!" + +"Hush, I say! You are safe, at any rate!" + +"Whatever comes, I shall not be dragged into it?" pleaded Elsie. + +"No, no; have I not promised?" returned Elizabeth, in her anguish and +her bitterness, hardly noticing the girl's selfish fears. + +Elsie threw both arms about her neck and kissed her. + +"You are so good!" she said. "Oh, I wish I wasn't such a weak little +thing! Don't despise me, Bessie, because I can't do anything to help +you." + +"I don't--I don't. Your arm hurts me!" Elizabeth pushed the girl's +caressing arm away, struggling hard to be calm. + +"If I had never known----" + +But Elizabeth checked the selfish wail. + +"It is too late now to think of that. I tell you I shall not trouble you +any more." + +"When the paper fell on the stones," said Elsie, "I was so frightened." + +Elizabeth gasped for breath at the very thought. + +"But I managed cleverly. I am very weak and nervous, but I have my wits +about me sometimes." + +Elizabeth was shivering from head to foot, whether with remorse at the +knowledge of evil which this young girl had gained through her, or some +hidden fear, no one could tell. + +"I must go to town," she said; "but what excuse can I make?" + +"Oh, anything! Tell Grant we want to make purchases. I'll do it. But why +must you go?" + +"The money, I tell you the money! I have those stocks; if I could sell +them. I might tell Mr. Hinchley I was in debt and feared to have my +husband know it. Another lie--another lie!" + +"Oh," groaned Elsie, "the lying is the least part of it! if that could +do you any good!" + +"You don't know the worst. If you had to face him! Oh, Elsie, the shame, +the remorse!" + +Elizabeth wrung her hands again with the same passionate fury she had +displayed after reading the note. Then Elsie began to grow hysterical +and cry out: + +"You must stop! you must stop!" + +Elizabeth made an effort to control her own suffering and soothe the +girl's nervous paroxysm, to which Elsie gave way with wilful +abandonment, half because she felt it, and half to escape a scene. + +By the time they were both quieted Mr. Mellen returned to the room, and +by one of those evil chances that often happen he began speaking of the +very subject that had aroused their fears. + +"Those bracelets are the admiration of everybody," he said. + +Elizabeth glanced at Elsie. Her first impulse was to hide her hands, but +she checked that and forced herself to utter some sort of answer to his +remark. + +Elsie gave another long yawn. + +"I am going to bed," she exclaimed; "I advise you both to do the same." + +"I wish I understood the meaning of the device. Let me see your +bracelet, Bessie," he continued, without heeding his sister and bent on +his own train of thought. "Just let me look----" + +Elsie thrust out her arm. + +"Look at mine," she said. + +"No, no; Bessie's has a different design. I want to see that. Show me +yours, Elizabeth." + +Elizabeth did not stir. Whiter she could not grow, but a hopeless +despair settled over her face, pitiful to witness. + +"Can't you show me your bracelet?" demanded her husband, with natural +impatience. + +"I haven't it," she faltered. + +"Why, I saw it on your arm at dinner!" + +"Oh, don't bother, Grant," interposed Elsie; "talking about devices, +when one is half asleep." + +"Elizabeth, where is your bracelet?" demanded her husband, imperiously. + +The exigency of the case gave her courage. + +"I have lost it," she said, her voice sounding fairly indifferent from +the effort she made at composure. + +"Lost it!" he repeated. "How? Where?" + +"While I was out----" + +"She was just beginning to tell me when you came in," interrupted Elsie. +"We are both frightened to death, so don't scold." + +"Such unpardonable carelessness," continued Mr. Mellen. "At least, +Elizabeth, you need not appear so indifferent." + +"I am sorry, very sorry," she answered coldly. + +"Oh, if I had lost mine, I should be wretched," cried Elsie, kissing +hers. "You dear old bracelet!" + +Elizabeth shot one terrible look at her, but was silent. + +"I am glad that you at least prize my gift," said Mr. Mellen. "I suppose +you have not taken the trouble to search, Elizabeth?" + +"I have had no time----" + +"The moon is down," said Elsie. + +"There are lanterns, I suppose." + +He rang and ordered a servant to bring a lantern, went out and searched +for the missing ornament, while Elsie cowered over the hall fire and +Elizabeth stood, cold and white, in the way. + +Clorinda came out of her domain while Mr. Mellen and Dolf were searching +the hall. + +"Lost something marster?" she demanded, with the coolness peculiar to +her race. + +"Missis has lost her bracelet," interposed Dolf. + +"Laws!" cried Clorinda, not perceiving her mistress on the veranda. "I +neber seed nobody lose tings so; 'taint a month since she lost a di'mond +ring, and all she said, when her maid missed it, was, 'It can't be +helped.'" + +This was an aside to Dolf, but Mr. Mellen heard the words plainly, so +did Elizabeth. + +"I'll bet yer don't find it," pursued Clorinda. "I heerd steps early in +de evenin'; I knows I did, though missis called me a foolish cullud +pusson once when I told her of hearing 'em. Dar's thieves about, now; +member I tells yer!" + +"Clorinda," called Elizabeth, "go into the house. The next time you +venture any remark on me you will leave my service." + +Clorinda sallied back as if she had been shot, and darted into her own +dominions, less favorably disposed than ever towards the mistress for +reproving her before Dolf. + +Mr. Mellen dismissed the man, walked into the veranda and confronted his +wife. He was pale as death, in the moonlight. His agitation made +Elizabeth more sternly cold; she knew that look, she had borne it in his +suspicious, jealous moments in the old time. + +"Did you lose that bracelet, Elizabeth?" he asked. + +"Did I not say so?" she retorted. + +"I can't understand it," he went on; "these sudden frights and tremors, +these mysterious losses----" + +"The old suspicions," she broke in, goaded into defiance by the actual +danger. "You promised me to have done with all those things, Grantley." + +"Admit at least----" + +"I will admit nothing. I will not talk to you when you speak in that +tone. I am sorry the bracelet is gone, but I am not a child to be +threatened." + +Elsie heard it all, and when the dialogue reached that point she crept +quietly upstairs, determined that at least she would be beyond even the +sound of their difficulty. + +For a few moments they retorted bitterly upon each other. Formerly it +had been Elizabeth's resolution to bear in silence, but it is hard to be +patient when one has a fatal wrong to conceal. + +It was very unsatisfactory, but there the matter ended. + +The next morning Mr. Mellen made another thorough search for the +bracelet. Still no signs of it was discovered, but he did find traces of +footsteps in the grass, which proved the truth of Clorinda's suspicions. + +"It's over, at all events," said Elsie, as she met Elizabeth on the +stairs. + +"Over!" repeated the half-distracted woman, desperately; "who can tell +how or when it may come up again?" + +Elsie kissed her and flew away, leaving Elizabeth to seek safety in the +solitude of her chamber, while she went in search of her brother, not +with the object of benefiting Elizabeth, but anxious to impress upon his +mind that she at least did nothing to distress or vex him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +BELOW STAIRS. + + +While matters were moving on thus excitedly above stairs there was an +unusual commotion in the lower regions, effected by the machinations and +deceptions of that arch-flirt, Dolf. He had succeeded in accomplishing +what no sable gallant had ever done before; he had softened Clorinda's +obdurate heart, and made her think it possible that at some future time +she might be persuaded to place her fair self, and what she prized more, +her money, in Dolf's keeping. + +But the worst of it was, Dolf's susceptible fancy led him strongly in +another direction, even while his discretion warned him to follow up the +success he had achieved with the culinary nymph. Victoria was a stylish, +handsome young mulatto, and Clorinda was, undoubtedly, pure African to +the very root of her genealogical tree. African from the soul of her +broad foot to the end, I cannot say point, of her flat nose. Indeed, it +is quite possible that Dolf's yellow skin went for something in her +admiration; but unfortunately Dolf preferred the cafe-au-lait complexion +also, and had a masculine weakness in favor of youth and good looks. + +Poor Clorinda certainly did present a rather dry and withered aspect; +her hands bore rough evidence of the toil with which she had earned the +money her sable lover coveted, and their clasp was very unsatisfactory +to a man whose flirtations had hitherto been with ladies' maids. She was +sadly destitute of the airs and graces with which Victoria fascinated +the grand sex so freely upon all occasions; Clo's curly tresses held +quantities of whiteness, and she could only hide it under gorgeous +bandannas, which were now wofully out of fashion among the colored +aristocrats, and gaze enviously at Victoria's long curls, feeling her +fingers quiver to give them a pull when that damsel fluttered them too +jauntily in her eyes. + +There had always been trouble enough between the two, but after Dolf's +arrival the kitchen department grew very hot and uncomfortable, and even +the wary Dolf himself, skilled as he was in Lotharian practices, +frequently had great difficulty in steering clear of both Scylla and +Charybdis. + +Clorinda was much given to devotional exercises, and went to meeting on +every possible occasion; while Victoria, with the flightiness of her +years, laughed at Clo's psalm-singing, and interrupted her prayers in +the most fervid part by polka steps and profane redowas. In order to +propitiate Clorinda, Dolf had accompanied her to meeting much oftener +than his inclinations prompted, expressing the utmost desire to be +remembered in her prayers, all the while denouncing himself as a +miserable sinner not worth saving. + +But good women with a weakness for helping masculine sinners are alike +in one thing, no matter what their color may be--wickedness has a +strange attraction for them. It was the peril in which she considered +Dolf, that made Clo so lenient towards him; it would be such a triumph +to win him from his wicked ways, and lead him up to a height where he +would be secure from the craft of the evil one, and what was more +important, beyond the wiles of that yellow girl Victoria, who was +regarded by her fellow-servants as a direct emissary of the prince of +darkness. + +Clo labored faithfully with 'Dolf, though it must be confessed she +allowed her religious instructions to be diversified with a little more +love-making than would have been quite sanctioned by her class leader, +and for the first time in her life became extravagant in the matter of +dress, wearing the most gorgeous bandannas every day, and even adopting +an immense crinoline, which she managed so badly that it was constantly +bringing her into grotesque difficulties, to Victoria's intense delight. + +Of course these females, like their betters, never quarreled openly +about Dolf, but they found endless subjects of dispute to improve upon, +and sometimes that adroit fellow got into serious difficulty with both +by attempting to mediate between them. + +On occasions the sable rivals would hide their bitterness under smiles +and good nature, and appear almost affectionate after the influence of a +sudden truce; but Dolf learned to dread those seasons of deceitful calm, +for they were the sure precursors of an unusually fierce tempest, which, +blowing in opposite directions, it was impossible for him to escape. + +These three restless persons went out one evening to pay a visit to some +sable friends in the neighborhood, where the colored gentry often met +and had choice little entertainments; where the eatables came from +perhaps it would not have been wise for their employers to inquire. + +Old Mrs. Hopkins and her fascinating daughter, Miss Dinah, were the +possessors of this abode, and Clo and Victoria had for some time been +promising Dolf a visit there. That night seemed a favorable occasion for +the expedition, as a store of fruit pies, blanc mange and chicken salad, +had that day been moulded by Clo's own expert hands, and half a jelly +cake set aside in the closet ready for the basket which took so many +mysterious journeys in Mrs. Hopkins' direction. + +"I nebber sends back pieces to de table," said Clo; "it's wulgar." + +"In course it is," returned Dolf; "I'se sure nothing would orritate +master more." + +Vic attempted no deceptions on her conscience; she liked jelly cake, and +did not trouble herself about the manner in which it was obtained; since +her earliest remembrance stolen delicacies had never given her a +moment's indigestion, or the least approach to moral nightmare. + +They went over to visit Mrs. Hopkins and Miss Dinah, and the evening was +made a festive one, with Clo's pies, the hard cider which Mrs. Hopkins +provided, and other delicacies which composed a sumptuous entertainment. + +But as ill-luck would have it, two or three other friends strayed in, +and among them was a young woman as much given to coquetry as Dolf +himself; and before a great while Dolf's love of flirtation got the +better of his prudence, and plentiful doses of the hard cider rendered +him reckless. In spite of the indignation which both Clo and Victoria +displayed, he was exerting all his fascinations on the newcomer, while +her neglected beau sat looking like a modern Othello, with every glance +expressive of bowie-knives at least. + +When the damsel went out with Miss Dinah, for an extra bench from the +wash-house, Dolf accompanied them, and directly the company were +startled by a direful commingling of laughter and doleful shrieks. + +Clo flew to the door and opened it; Victoria peeped over her shoulder; +there was that perfidious Dolf encircling the stranger damsel with his +right arm, and making bold efforts to lay hold of the wash-bench with +his left. + +Dolf looked up and saw Clo; he was not so much under the excitement of +the cider that he could not understand the risk he ran. + +"Dare is pretty conducts!" exclaimed Clo. + +"I shud tink so," chimed in Victoria. "If you please, Miss Clorinda, I +tink I will locomote home; I ain't accustomed to sich goings on myself; +dey isn't de fashion in de Piney Cove basement." + +Clorinda got her bonnet and tied it on her head with an indignant jerk. + +The outraged damsels would hear no persuasions, and Dolf was forced to +accompany them back, and a very uncomfortable time he had of it. + +First they abused the impudent young pusson they had left behind, and +nearly annihilated Dolf when he attempted a word in the young woman's +favor. + +"I 'clar," cried Clo at last; "Mr. Dolf, yer go 'long as crooked as a +rail fence; what am de matter, are yer jest done gone and no 'count +nigger any how?" + +Dolf only gave a racy chuckle. + +"I guess goin' into the wash-room turned his head," said Vic. + +"De siety I'se enjoyin' at dis minit," said deceitful Dolf, "is enough +to turn de head of any gemman." + +"Oh, we know all 'bout dat," said Vic. + +"In course you does," returned Dolf, forgetting Clorinda, and trying to +seize Vic's hand, but so uncertain were his movements that she readily +escaped him. + +Clorinda saw it all; it was fuel to the flame which consumed her. + +"Miss Victory," said she, "yer needn't push me into de brook." + +"Who's a pushin' of yer?" retorted Victoria, with equal acidity. + +"Yer was, yer own self." + +"I didn't--so dar! Guess somethin' ails yer head too, de way yer go +on--pushin' indeed." + +"I scorns yer insinivations," said Clorinda, "and despises yer +actuations!" + +"Jis' don't go pitchin' into me and callin' me names," retorted Vic; +"'cause I won't stand it." + +"Ladies, ladies!" interposed Dolf. "Don't resturb de harmonium of our +walk by any onpleasant words." + +"I ain't a sayin' nothin'," said Vic. + +"Yer've said more'n I," returned Clo, "and I ain't gwine to be pushed +inter de ditch by nobody--thar!" + +Clorinda was naturally more irritated than Vic, because Dolf had made no +effort to seize upon her hand, which trembled to give him a pardoning +clasp. + +"Nobody wants ter push yer," said Vic. + +"I don' know 'bout dat," said Clo, solemnly; "I b'lieve if I was +murdered in my bed I shud know whar ter look for de murderer." + +"Sich subjects, Miss Clorinda, is not fit for yer lubly lips," said +Dolf; "don' gib dem houseroom, I begs." + +"Mr. Dolf," returned Clorinda, with a severity that pierced like a +warning through the elation of Lothario's brain; "don' try none ob dem +flightinesses wid me; I ain't one ob dat sort." + +"What sort?" asked Victoria. + +"Neber yer mind," said Clo, with majesty; "neber yer mind, miss; +children don' comprehensianise sich like." + +"I onderstands Miss Clorinda, and I venerates her sentimens," observed +Dolf; "but when a gemman finds hisself in sich siety as dis, de language +of compliments flows as naturally ter his lips as--as--cider from a junk +bottle." + +This well-rounded period softened both the damsels a little; Dolf got +Clo on his right arm and Vic on his left; the support was not unwelcome +to himself just then; and he managed to keep them both in tolerable +humor until they nearly reached the house. + +Whether Dolf stumbled, or Victoria gave a sly, vicious push, it was +difficult to tell in the darkness, but Clorinda went suddenly down full +length in the path. + +Victoria gave a laugh of derision, and this gratification of her +malicious feelings in the misfortune of her rival, put her in high +good-humor. + +Dolf hastened to help Clorinda up, but his movements were a little +uncertain, and the first thing he did was to set his foot through the +crown of her bonnet, which had fallen back from her head. + +"I'se killed," shrieked Clo. + +"Do scream low, like a 'spectable ole woman!" cried the unsympathising +Vic; "yer'll hab de whole house out." + +"I don't keer," moaned Clorinda: "I don't keer." + +"Why don' yer get up?" demanded Victoria. + +"I'll 'sist yer, I'll 'sist yer," said Dolf, making another sidelong +movement. + +Clorinda endeavored to help herself, but the effort was a failure, and +there she lay covered with confusion, for she could not think of giving +the real cause of her continued prostration. The truth was she had +knocked one high heel from a pair of Mrs. Harrington's French boots, +which that lady was not likely to miss before morning; and had sprained +her ankle in the process, a very unpleasant situation for a modest and +churchgoing darkey to find herself in, late at night, and her lover +looking on. + +"Be yer gwine to lay dar all night!" asked Vic. + +"I kin't get up, I tell yer," said Clo. + +"Is yer bones broke?" + +"Smashed. One of 'em am smashed," answered Clo, ruefully. + +"No, no; Miss Clory, not as bad as dat," said Dolf; "don't petrificate +us wid sich a idee. Jis let me sist yer now." + +"No, no," cried Clorinda; "wait a minit--my foot--my foot!" + +"Hev yer hurt it?" demanded Vic; "let me zamine." + +"It's my ankle; can't yer understand?" + +"No, I kin't onderstand nothin' 'bout it, only yer makin' a outrageous +ole fool o' yerself, and freezin' us to death. Mr. Dolf, 'spozen we go +in." + +"Yer wouldn't desart a sister in distress," said Dolf, dancing about the +prostrate form, unable to comprehend why Clo would not permit him to +assist her; while she huddled herself in a heap, in true spinster fear +of showing her ankles or exposing the borrowed boot. + +"Now, Clo," cried Victoria, "jis git up; I won't stand dis fooling no +longer." + +"Help me," said Clo; "do help me." + +"Hain't Mr. Dolf ben a tryin' dese ten minits!" + +"No, no! Bend down here, Vic. Mr. Dolf, if yer's a gemman I ax yer to +shut yer eyes." + +"My duty is to sarve de fair," said Dolf, turning his back and peeping +over his shoulder, very curious to know what could be the difficulty. + +Clo whispered in Victoria's ear with agonised sharpness, + +"Dem boots am so high, an' my ankle is guv out, jes ondo de buttons!" + +A stone might have sympathised with her maidenly distress, but that +wicked Victoria burst into absolute shrieks of laughter. + +"Oh, oh, oh! yer ole fool!" she cried, between her shouts of merriment. +"Yer too ole for new fashions--telled yer so!" + +Clorinda's outraged modesty was forgotten in the fury which Victoria's +lack of sympathy caused. + +"Jis let me git up!" cried she. "I'll fix yer; I'll frizzle dem long +beaucatchers like a door mat, an' stamp on 'em." + +"What am it?" demanded Dolf. + +As well as she could speak for laughing, Victoria began "She's just +choked up her foot in Miss Harrington's high pinercled boots!" + +"Hush up!" interrupted Clo. "I'll pisen yer if yer don't shut yer +impudent mouth." + +"Ki! ki! ki! oh, laws, I shall die! Ole folks hadn't orter try to be +young uns. I've telled yer so, Clo, fifty times," shrieked the yellow +maiden; "'tain't no wonder yer snickered, Dolf; borrered feathers! he, +he! Vic!" + +Clorinda sprang to her feet with a yell of triumph and rage, and limping +toward Victoria, caught that yellow maiden by her much-prized tresses, +and for a few moments the battle between the rivals raged furiously. + +Clo quite forgot her religion in the excitement, and her language might +have shocked the elders had they heard it, while Victoria struggled +bravely to save her tresses from extermination. + +"De hall door's a openin'," cried Dolf, struck with a brilliant thought; +"I believe it's marster comin' out." + +The battle ceased. Dolf ran towards the house and the combatants after +him; Clorinda limping like a returned soldier, but Dolf never stopped +till he was safe in his own dormitory, not caring to trust himself in +the presence of either of the infuriated damsels. + +Indeed, the next morning it required the special interference of Mrs. +Mellen herself to settle the matter, and several days passed before +perfect harmony was restored in the lower regions at Piney Cove. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +MRS. MELLEN AND HER COUSIN. + + +The next afternoon Tom Fuller came down to the island again. + +Elizabeth and Elsie were quite alone, for Mellen had driven over to the +village on some matter of business; but the sisters were not taking +advantage of their solitude to indulge in one of those long, cozy, +confidential chats which had been their habit in former years. + +Elsie was in the upper part of the house amusing herself after her own +fashion, and Elizabeth sat in the little morning-room which had become +her favorite apartment of late. + +It was a small room in the old part of the house, somewhat sombre in its +character, but on a bright day relieved by a beautiful view of the sea +which was afforded from the French windows, the only modern feature +which Mellen had added to it. + +On a dark morning the apartment was gloomy enough; the ceilings were +low, crossed with heavy carved beams that made their want of height +still more apparent; the upper portion of the walls were hung with dark +crimson cloth, met half way down by a wainscoating of unpolished oak, +dark and stained with age. + +The furniture had been in the house since the Revolution; the massive +chairs, each one of which was a weight to lift, had been covered with a +fabric to match the hangings. The whole room had a quaint aspect, and +was filled with a store of relics and curiosities which would have +delighted a lover of the antique. + +Elsie detested the apartment and never would occupy it, but when alone +Elizabeth sought it from choice; the darker and drearier the day the +more pertinaciously she clung to the old room, where the shadows lay +heavy and grim, and every sound was echoed with preternatural sharpness. + +But this day was bright and beautiful as summer itself. The apartment +looked cheerful and picturesque, and Elizabeth made a pretty picture, +seated by one of the open windows, with her light dress forming an +agreeable contrast to the sombre draperies about her. + +She had a work-basket on the little spider-legged table by her side and +a mass of embroidery on her lap, but the needle had fallen from her +hold, her hands lay idly upon her knee, and she was looking out over the +bright waters with a dreamy, wistful gaze, which had become habitual +with her whenever the necessity for self-restraint was removed and she +was free to suffer, unobserved. + +Tom entered the room in his usual haste, and found her sitting in this +dreamy attitude; she started at the sound of his tread, and with the +caution she was daily acquiring changed her listless position, and threw +the mask of a smile over her face, which it was so dangerous to lift +even for an instant. + +"Here I am," cried Tom; "back again, like a bad penny. I hope you are +not beginning to hate the sight of my ugly face." + +He rushed towards her, upset the spider-legged table that was always +ready to topple over on the least provocation, made a hopeless labyrinth +of her embroidery silks, gave her a kiss of greeting, and hurried on +with numberless questions, just as if he were in the greatest possible +haste, and it was a necessity of life and death that he should throw off +everything that happened to be on his mind before he dashed away. + +"And you are not tired of seeing me, Bessie, you are sure of that?" he +repeated. + +"You are a silly fellow to ask such questions," she replied; "you know +how glad I am to have you come." + +"You're a darling old girl," cried Tom, "and there's no more to be said +about it." + +"Then, if you have finished, please pick up my unfortunate table. See +what a state these poor silks are in." + +"I'm always in mischief," said Tom, contritely, restoring the table to +its equilibrium with great difficulty; "I'm more out of place in a +lady's parlor than an owl in a canary bird's cage." + +"Your mistakes are better than other men's elegancies," said Elizabeth, +heartily. + +It rested her to be in Tom's society; with him she was not forced +constantly to play a part, and he had been a great resource to her ever +since his return. + +Many times she said to herself: + +"He would love me, whatever came--I can always depend on him." + +She was thinking something of the kind, just then, while she began +assorting her silks; and Tom stood meekly by, longing to repair the +mischief he had occasioned, but perfectly certain that he should only do +a good deal more harm if he attempted it. + +Besides that, something else was in his mind--there always was before he +had been five minutes in the house if Elsie did not make her appearance. + +He shuffled about, answered Elizabeth's questions haltingly, and at last +burst out: + +"Where is the little fairy--has she gone out, too?" + +"Elsie, do you mean?" + +"Who else, of course? Where is she?" + +"Up in her room, I fancy," replied Elizabeth. + +"I don't see how you can bear her out of your sight for an instant," +cried Tom; "I'm sure I couldn't if I lived in the house with her." + +"Nonsense, Tom!" + +"There is no nonsense about it; it's just the truth." + +Several times Elizabeth had attempted to point out to him the folly of +going on in his old insane fashion, but either he would not listen or +something interrupted their conversation. Now she determined to take +advantage of the present opportunity and speak seriously with him. + +"I have brought her a paper of Maillard's sweet things," said Tom; +"might I call or send for her?" + +He darted towards the door as he spoke, but Elizabeth stopped him. + +"Wait a moment, Tom," she said; "come back here." + +"Yes, of course; I'll be back in a flash--I'll just send her these +traps," and he pulled a couple of tempting packages from his pocket, +nattily tied with pink ribbons and got up generally in the exquisite +taste which distinguishes everything from our Frenchman's establishment. + +"No," urged Elizabeth, "come here first; I have something to say to you, +Tom--Elsie can eat her bon-bons after." + +Tom came back, rather unwillingly though, and stood leaning against the +window like a criminal. + +"Sit down," said Elizabeth. + +"No, no! I like to stand! Well, what is it, Bessie?" + +"Tom," she said, seriously, "I am afraid you have forgotten the +experience which cost you so much pain and drove you off to Europe; I +fear you are making other and deeper trouble for yourself." + +"Oh, no, Bessie--it's of no consequence any way," returned Tom, turning +fifty different shades of red at once, "What a pretty green that silk +is." + +"It is bright blue, but no matter! So you wont listen to me, Tom?" +continued Elizabeth. + +"My dear girl, did I ever refuse to listen in all my life!" cried Tom. +"But you see, you're a little mistaken, Bessie; I'm not such a goney as +I used to be." + +"That has nothing to do with the matter." + +"Oh, yes, it has; I mean, I don't allow myself to be such a dunce, even +in my own thoughts. I never even think about--about--you know what I +mean." + +Tom broke down and made a somewhat lame conclusion. + +"Oh, Tom, Tom!" Elizabeth said. + +"Well, there!" cried he, with sudden energy; "there is no use in +standing here and telling you fibs! I do love her--I must love her--I +always shall love her--hang me if I shan't!" + +He was in a state of great agitation now, and trembled all over as if he +had been addressing Elsie herself. + +Elizabeth sighed wearily. + +"I thought so," she said; "I feared so." + +"You mean the dear girl will never care for me. How could any one expect +her to--I couldn't--'tisn't in reason." + +"Then, Tom, she certainly ought not to treat you as she does and lead +you on." + +"She doesn't lead me on." + +"But her manner does not forbid your attentions, and you are too worthy, +dear cousin, for anything but honest dealing." + +"It's my fault--all my fault." + +Elizabeth shook her head. + +"You have the best heart and the worst head in the world," said she. + +"You musn't blame her," continued Tom; "I can't stand that! Pitch into +me as often and as hard as you like, you never can say enough, but don't +blame her." + +"Let us leave her share in the matter, then, out of the question," +continued Elizabeth. "If you believe what you say, is it wise to run +into danger as you do?" + +"There's no help for it, Bessie; I should die if I could not see her +dear little face! Oh, you can't think what I suffered while I was +gone--I didn't talk about it--I don't even want to think of it; but, +Bessie, dear, sometimes I used to think I should go out of my senses." + +He was speaking seriously now; his face was absolutely pale with +emotion, and his eyes--the one fine feature of his face--were misty with +a remembrance of old pain. + +"Poor Tom," murmured Elizabeth, in her pitying way, always full of +sympathy for the trouble of others, whatever her own might be; "poor, +dear Tom, I know how hard it is." + +"No; you can't know, Bessie; you can't have the least idea! You don't +know what it is to have something to hide--to go about with a secret +gnawing at your heart--never able to open your lips--suffering night and +day--" + +He stopped suddenly and looked at his cousin with wonder; she was +leaning back in her chair, her face was pale as death, and her lips +parted in a dreary sigh. + +Tom drew close to her chair and bent over her, with a look of anxious +surprise on his disturbed features. + +"Are you sick, Bessie?" he asked. + +"No, no," she answered, controlling herself. + +His words brought up her own secret burden so vividly before her that +for an instant she had been dreadfully shaken. + +"You look so pale; I'm afraid you are going to be ill." + +"Indeed, I am not," she answered. + +Tom knelt down by her on both knees, played with her embroidery silks, +and finally said: + +"Bessie, since we're talking plainly, may I say something?" + +"Yes, Tom." + +"Somehow, since I came back from Europe, you don't seem so happy as you +used--maybe it's only one of my blunders--but I have thought you looked +troubled--like a person that was always expecting something dreadful to +happen." + +She forced a smile upon her lips and then compelled them to answer him: + +"Oh, you foolish Tom!" + +"Then it is not so!" he urged. "You are not unhappy?" + +"How could I be unhappy--is not my life pleasant, prosperous beyond +anything I could ever have hoped for?" + +"It seems so; that made me think it must be just one of my silly +fancies." + +"Nothing more, Tom." + +"Mellen's the most splendid fellow in the world," pursued he; "and you +couldn't well be sad with that little darling about you." + +Elizabeth took up her silks again. + +"Dismiss all such thoughts from your mind, Tom." + +"I shall be only too glad. But tell me once more that I am an +over-anxious busybody, minding everybody's concerns but my own. You see, +Bessie, I love you like a sister, and will stand by you, by Jupiter, +always. But these stupid ideas of mine, there's no foundation for them?" + +"How could there be?" + +"That's what I say to myself always," cried Tom. "Well, dear, I won't +think such nonsense again." + +"Do not, I beg; and never mention it to anybody." + +"There's no danger of that," said Tom. "But you know, if you should get +unhappy or in trouble, there is always one old chap you could lean on." + +"I believe that, Tom; I do indeed." + +"And you would come to me, Bessie?" + +"If you could help me, yes. But trouble must come to all, Tom; and, +generally, we must each bear our burdens alone." + +"How sad your voice sounds, Bessie." + +She made an effort to speak playfully: + +"You are getting all sorts of ridiculous fancies in your head; don't be +so foolish." + +Tom was relieved by her manner, and began to laugh at his own ridiculous +mistakes, rising from his knees and brushing the dust away with his +handkerchief. + +"My head is a poor old trap," he said. "Well, well, I am glad you are +happy--very glad." + +"And I want you to be happy, Tom." + +"I am, upon my word, I am! I don't allow myself to think any more or to +look forward, but just live on, glad to be in the sunshine. 'Tisn't a +bad world, after all, Bess; things usually come right in the end." + +If she could only believe it--if she could but accept his cheerful +philosophy and his unwavering trust; but, alas! the sleepless dread at +her heart prevented that. + +"And about my stupid self, Bessie," added Tom. + +"Yes, about your dear, good self," answered Elizabeth, glad to remove +the subject from any connection with her secret dread. + +"And my useless bits of affairs," pursued Tom; "just let things rest as +they are, it's the best way." + +"I don't wish to do anything to annoy you," she replied; "and you know +very well I am the last person in the world to interfere----" + +"Oh, don't talk like that, or I shall think you are offended." + +"Not in the least, Tom; I only meant to say that it was my regard for +your happiness that made me speak." + +"I know--I feel that, Bessie; but just let things go on! Perhaps I am +asleep and dreaming, but the slumber is pleasant, so don't wake me; it's +cruel kindness, dear." + +Elizabeth said nothing more; it was useless to pursue the subject; where +Tom was concerned she saw plainly that it could do no good, his heart +was fixed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +LURED INTO DANGER. + + +Just as Elizabeth was thinking over this conversation, and giving +another little sigh for Tom and what she feared for him, a blithe young +voice rang in the hall, carolling like a bird. + +"There she is!" exclaimed Tom. + +His face lighted up, his whole frame seemed to expand with delight. +Elizabeth watched him. She knew better than ever that his heartstrings +were twined about that young creature, that his very soul had gone out +in worship at her feet. + +"And where are you hidden, Lady Bess?" sang Elsie, gayly. + +Tom rushed to the door and flung it open, upsetting the table again, and +this time leaving Elizabeth to pick it up herself. + +"Here she is, my fairy princess!" he called, standing in the doorway and +looking up at her as she paused on the stairs. + +"In that dismal den and guarded by a dragon," cried Elsie, peeping at +him through the banisters, mischievously. "Pray where did you come from, +C[oe]ur de Lion?" + +"If you knew what I had brought for my lady-bird, you would be on your +prettiest behavior and give me your best welcome," said Tom. + +"It's bon-bons!" cried Elsie with a shriek of delight. "The ogre means +pralines and caramels and marons glaces!" + +"Come down and see," said Tom, mysteriously. + +Elsie danced downstairs and entered the room where her sister sat. + +"Ugh, the ugly place!" said she. "It makes me shiver!" + +"Better come into the den than lose the sweets," said Tom, opening the +papers and pretending to eat greedily. + +"He won't leave a drop!" cried Elsie, darting upon him. + +Tom prolonged the playful struggle artfully enough; and when a truce was +concluded it was only on condition that he should feed her with the +sugarplums, and as he did not satisfy her greediness fast enough, there +was a great deal of sport and laughter between the pair. + +Elizabeth sat in the window and watched them, sighing sometimes and +regarding Elsie with a strange pain in her eyes, as if annoyed and +troubled that the happy creature could not leave her the full affection +of this one heart. + +"I want to go out on the water," said Elsie. "Will you take me, you ugly +giant?" + +"Won't I!" said Tom. "I'd take you to the moon if you liked." + +"But I don't wish to try the moon, thank you; a nice long row will +satisfy me. Come along, Bessie!" + +"Not to-day," answered Elizabeth coldly. + +"You're a hateful, poky thing!" cried Elsie. "Well, I shall go, the sun +is lovely." + +"I'll run down to the shore and get the boat ready," said Tom, +ecstatically. + +He darted away, and Elsie stood for a few moments crushing the candies +between her white teeth and looking at Elizabeth, half frightened, half +defiant. + +"You are very busy," said she. + +"One can't be idle," replied Elizabeth. + +"Oh, can't one? It just suits me, thank you." + +"Elsie," said her sister, suddenly, "I want to say something." + +"If it is anything unpleasant, I won't hear. I won't hear. I want to be +happy. Let me alone!" + +"It is about yourself; don't be alarmed." + +"Well, say it; but you are going to scold or something else dreadful, I +know by your voice." + +"Don't be such a baby," said Elizabeth, impatiently. + +"There! I knew you were cross! How can I help being a baby? I like it, +and I will be one." + +"Do you think you are acting honestly with Tom?" said Elizabeth. + +"I'm not acting at all," replied Elsie fretfully. "I can't help his +coming here constantly. You wouldn't have me rude to your own cousin?" + +"You know what I mean. He loves you, in spite of your conduct before he +went abroad----" + +"I can't help it," Elsie broke in again. "If people will fall in love +with me it's their own fault; I don't ask them." + +"But you can help encouraging him and leading him on to greater pain." + +Elsie pouted. + +"How do you know I shall?" + +"You would not marry him," exclaimed Elizabeth, suddenly. +"You--you--you----" + +"You don't know anything about it. Let Tom and me alone. I think you are +growing a cross old thing." + +"Oh, Elsie, do be serious for one moment." + +"Let me alone!" she repeated. "You are always spoiling my sunshine. I +believe you hate me!" + +"Don't talk so wildly, Elsie. But you cannot blame me for being anxious +about Tom's happiness." + +"And, pray, should I make him wretched if I married him?" she exclaimed +defiantly. + +"You won't do that. You----" + +"I'll do what I please; and don't you meddle with me, just remember +that!" + +The voice was sharp and unlike Elsie's usual tone, but she quickly +resumed her childish manner, and added: + +"I'll be good--don't scold. There, I'm going now--good-bye!" + +She danced out of the room and through the house, and Elizabeth heard +her voice on the lawn, calling to Tom, to know if the boat was ready. + +Elizabeth kept her seat, looking absently across the water. Presently +she saw the little skiff shoot out from the shore, under the impetus of +Tom's muscular arms, while Elsie leaned back in the stern, wrapped in a +pale blue shawl, and reminding Elizabeth of the old German legend of the +Lurlei. + +She sat there a long time, with her former mournful thoughts all +trooping back, like ravens to a desolated nest. The gloom upon her +spirits waxed deeper, and the chill that had begun during the past days +to creep about her heart tightened and grew cold, as if it were changing +to an icy band, which would freeze her pulses in its tightening clasp. +She looked out through the sunshine, watching the light boat till it +became a mere speck in the distance, and finally disappeared among the +windings of the long curve of land which stretched out into the ocean. + +Thinking, thinking, always the same dreary round, till she grew so weary +with the ceaseless anxiety, the constant necessity for plots and plans, +the need of reflection, even, in slightest act, and, worse than all, the +sleepless fear of discovery which hovered over her, asleep or awake, +that it seemed sometimes that she could no longer uphold the burden, but +must allow it to fall and crush her. + +The afternoon was passing, but the little boat had not yet appeared in +sight again. There was no danger that Tom would think of fatigue while +he could sit looking in the face of his syren, listening to her low, +sweet songs; nor was there the slightest possibility of her ever +remembering that the strongest muscles must at last feel a little need +of relaxation. Just as long as it pleased her to float over the sunlit +waters, carolling her pretty melodies or talking gay nonsense to Tom, +and blinding him utterly with the wicked lightning of her eyes, she +would think of nothing else. + +At last Mr. Mellen's step sounded in the hall. Elizabeth heard it, and +immediately gathered up her embroidery silks, making a great pretence of +being busy, lest he should enter suddenly, and pierce her with one of +his dark, suspicious glances, which made her heart actually stand still +with apprehension. + +He came on towards the room, looked in at the door and saw his wife +sitting there apparently quiet, comfortable, and wholly occupied with +her pretty task. + +She glanced up and nodded a welcome. + +"So you have come back," she said; "I have been wishing for you." + +He smiled, came forward and stood by her, saying: + +"I thought you had given up any such weakness. You seem very busy." + +"This tiresome embroidery has been lying about so long that I am working +on it for very shame," she replied. + +"Elsie began it and was delighted with it for three days, but she has +not touched it since." + +"Very like the little fairy," he said, with a smile any reference to the +young girl always brought to his lips. + +Elizabeth did not wish to talk, it was important that she should hide +the real feelings that oppressed her even under an appearance of +playfulness. She looked up and smiled: + +"If you were good-natured you would sit down here and read to me. There +is Bulwer's new book." + +"I will, with pleasure; but where is Elsie?" + +"Oh, Tom Fuller came, and she made him take her out for a row; so I have +been alone in my den, as she calls it." + +"The child can't bear the least approach to a shadow," he said; "she +must have her sunshine undisturbed." + +He drew an easy chair near the window where Elizabeth sat, took up the +novel she had asked him to read, and began the splendid story. + +He read beautifully, and Elizabeth was glad to forget her unquiet +reflections in the melody of his voice and the rare interest of the +tale. Mellen himself was in a mood to be comfortable and at rest. + +The brightness of the sunset was flooding the waters before either of +them looked up again. Then Mellen said: + +"Those careless creatures ought to come back; it grows chilly on the +water as evening comes on, and the least thing gives Elsie cold." + +Elizabeth shaded her eyes with her hand and looked over the bay. + +"They are coming," she said; "I can see them." + +Mellen looked in the direction to which she pointed, and saw the boat +rounding a point of land and making swiftly up the bay. + +"Tom is as strong as a young Hercules," he said, watching the little +skiff as it fairly flew through the water under the impulse of that +powerful arm, and aided by the inward rush of the tide. + +They remained watching it till it approached near enough for them to +distinguish Elsie's white wrappings. Suddenly Mellen said: + +"She is rocking the boat dreadfully! She is standing up--The girl is +crazy to run such risks!" + +Elizabeth looked and saw Elsie erect in the skiff, her shawl floating +around her, rocking the boat to and fro with reckless force, while she +could see by Tom's gestures that he was vainly expostulating with her +upon her imprudence. + +Mellen went into the hall and out on the veranda, with some vague idea +of trying to attract the imprudent girl's attention by signals; but the +skiff was far off, and Elsie too much occupied to observe them. + +Elizabeth threw down her work and followed him, standing by his side in +silent apprehension. + +"She is mad!" exclaimed Mellen, "absolutely mad!" + +Elsie's gay laugh rang over the waters, and they could see Tom +expostulating with more animated gestures. + +"She will fall overboard, as sure as fate!" cried Mellen. "Oh! Elsie, +Elsie!" + +But the exclamation could not reach the reckless creature; probably she +would have paid no attention had she heard it. + +"Oh, see how it rocks!" cried Elizabeth with a shiver. + +"She is frightened at her own recklessness," said Mellen, "but will not +stop, because it disturbs Tom." + +"Perhaps there is less danger than we think," began Elizabeth, but a cry +from her husband checked the words. + +She looked--the boat had tipped till the edge was even with the water; +suddenly Elsie tottered, lost her balance--there was a smothered shriek +from the distance--then she disappeared under the crested waves. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE AFTER STRUGGLE. + + +Mellen sprang down the steps and rushed across the lawn, with some mad +idea of trying to rescue his sister; and, following as well as her +trembling limbs would permit, Elizabeth saw Tom throw off his coat and +plunge into the water. + +"He will save her!" she cried; "he will save her!" + +Mellen only answered by a groan; he was looking wildly about for a boat, +but there was none in sight; thus powerless to aid his darling--he could +only stand and watch the struggles of another to rescue her from that +death peril. They saw an object rise above the waves--saw Tom swim +towards it--seize it--he had caught the girl in his arms. The couple on +the lawn could neither move nor cry out; but stood in breathless +expectation, and watched him support his burthen with one arm, while +with the other he swam towards the skiff, which the tide was bearing in +towards the shore. It was a long pull; they could see that he began to +falter after his exertions in rowing; a deathly fear crept over both +those hearts, but they did not speak--scarcely breathed. + +Suddenly an outgoing wave washed the helpless girl from Tom's grasp; she +was sinking again. Strong man as he was, Grantley Mellen's courage gave +way; then covering his face with his hands he sallied back, resting +against a tree, afraid to look again. White and cold, Elizabeth watched +the boat drift one way, and saw Tom snatch at the girl's dress and get +her again in the grasp of his strong arm. + +"He has caught her!" she gasped. "He has almost reached the boat. +Grantley! Grantley! she is safe!" + +Mellen looked up. Tom had just put his hand on the side of the skiff, +and was lifting Elsie in. It was evidently the last effort of his mighty +strength, for he floated for some distance, holding on to the boat +before he had power to attempt more. The husband and wife watched him +while he got into the boat himself, lifted Elsie's head on his knee, and +allowed the tide almost entirely to wash them towards the beach. + +As they approached the bank Elsie began to recover consciousness. As Tom +took her in his arms and sprang with a staggering bound on shore, she +opened her eyes and saw her brother and Elizabeth. + +"I'm safe," she said, faintly, "quite safe. Don't be afraid." + +It was not a moment for many words. With an exclamation of thankfulness, +Mellen snatched Elsie from Tom's arms and carried her into the house. In +a few moments their united exertions brought the reckless girl +completely to herself. She looked up and saw the anxious faces bent over +her. + +"Don't scold," she cried, "Tom saved me, Grant, Tom saved me!" + +Mellen grasped Fuller's hands. + +"I can't thank you, I can't," he said. "God bless you, my friend." + +Tom was shaking from head to foot, his drenched garments dripping like a +river god's, but he answered as soon as his chattering teeth would +permit: + +"Don't say a word. I'd have drowned myself, if I hadn't saved her." + +Elizabeth insisted upon Elsie's being carried upstairs to her room, and +sent Tom off to change his dress; luckily, in his frequent visits, he +had always forgotten some portion of his baggage, so dry clothes were +found in his room. + +Before Mellen had recovered from the shock sufficiently to be at all +composed, Elsie was dressed and lying on the sofa in her own room, quite +restored, with the exception of her unusual pallor. She had been wrapped +in a rose-colored morning robe, trimmed with swansdown, and lay in +delicate relief on the blue couch of her boudoir. Mellen was bending +over her and holding her hands, as if he feared to let her free for an +instant; while Elizabeth stood near, finding time, now that her labors +were over, to watch her husband and wonder if danger to her would have +brought a pang like this to his heart. + +"I am quite well now," said Elsie, "and I didn't feel much frightened." + +"Oh, child!" said her brother, "promise me never to run such risks +again." + +"But you mustn't scold," she pleaded; "think of the danger I was in! Oh! +it was horrible to feel the water closing over my head--to go +down--down!" + +"Don't think of it," cried Elizabeth, making a sudden effort to change +the conversation, from a fear that dwelling upon the danger which she +had incurred might bring on one of Elsie's nervous attacks. + +"No," added Mellen; "it is all over now, quite over--don't think of it +any more." + +"You look pale, Grant." + +"No wonder, no wonder!" + +The girl gave him one of her wilful smiles. + +"Perhaps I tried the experiment to see how much you loved me?" + +Mellen lifted her in his arms and rested her head upon his shoulder, +while many emotions struggled across his face. + +"Child!" he said, in a tremulous voice, "you knew before--you have +always known. My mother's treasure--my pride--my blessing!" + +There Elizabeth stood, forgotten, disregarded--so it seemed to her; but +she made no sign which could betray the bitter anguish at her heart. + +There came a knock at the door. + +"That's Tom Fuller," said Elsie; "tell him to come in, Bessie." + +Mellen started up and opened the door himself. There stood Tom, clad in +dry garments, but still greatly agitated. + +"How is she?" he asked. "Is she better?" + +"You have saved her life!" exclaimed Mellen, grasping his two hands; +"you have saved her life!" + +"But is she better?" he repeated, quite too anxious for any thought of +the credit due himself, and too unselfish to desire it even if he had +remembered. + +"Come in and see," called Elsie, in a tender voice from her sofa. + +Tom brushed by Mellen, and down he went on his knees by the couch, +exclaiming: + +"She looks all right now. Oh, thank God!" + +Mellen had been too profoundly disturbed himself for conjecture +regarding this passionate outburst; to him it seemed natural that every +one should be agitated, and Elsie soon brought them back to safer +common-places by her gayety, which not even the peril from which she had +been so recently rescued could entirely subdue. + +"I declare, Tom," said she, "you are useful in a household located near +the water, as a Newfoundland dog." + +"Oh, I can't laugh," cried Tom. + +"But you must!" said the wilful creature. "You will not put on long +faces because I am saved, I suppose?" + +"Elsie," said her brother, "you ought to sleep awhile; Tom and I will go +out." + +"No, no," she persisted, "I am not in the least sleepy--you must not go +away--I shall only get nervous if you leave me alone; I shall be quite +well by dinner-time. Tom Fuller, don't go!" + +They did not oppose her; every one there knew that it was of no use, for +in the end they would surely yield to her caprices. + +"I haven't thanked you yet, Tom," she said. + +"I don't know what there is to thank me for." + +"Indeed!" said Elsie; "so you don't think my life of enough importance +to have the saving of it a matter of consequence?" + +"You know that wasn't what I meant," said Tom, rubbing his damp hair +with one hand. + +"You are too bad," said Mellen, laughing, "too bad, Elsie." + +"Indeed, I shall tease him more than ever," replied Elsie; "he will grow +conceited if I don't. Tell him how much you like me to tease you, old +Tom." + +"Well," said he, a little ruefully, "you have always done it, and I +suppose you always will--I shouldn't think it was you if you stopped +now." + +Even Elizabeth laughed, and Elsie said: + +"There, there, old Tom, don't get sentimental. Perhaps I'll be +good-natured for three days by way of reward for pulling me out of the +water." + +"I'd like to save your life every day in the week at that rate," cried +Tom in ecstasy. + +"No, no!" added Mellen; "I think one such exploit is quite enough." + +Elsie seized Tom's hand, and said with real feeling: + +"Tom, I do thank you--I can't tell you how much." + +"Don't, don't!" he pleaded. "If you say another word I'll run off and +never show my face again." + +Elsie began to laugh once more, and the lingering trace of seriousness +died quite out of her face. + +"Tom is good at a catastrophe," said she, "but he can't carry on the +blank verse proper to the after situation." + +"Blank enough it would be," rejoined Tom, and then he was so much +astonished to find that he had made a sort of joke, that the idea +covered him with fresh confusion. + +Elsie's disaster passed off without dangerous consequences to the +reckless girl, and she had half forgotten the occurrence long before +Mellen recovered composure enough to thank, with sufficient fervor, the +noble-hearted man who had saved her life. + +From that day Tom Fuller took a place in Mellen's esteem which he had +never held before; his gratitude was unbounded, and as he learned to +know and appreciate the young man, he found a thousand noble qualities +to admire under that rugged exterior. And as Elsie softened into gentler +earnestness, and drew closer to him day by day, Tom became so completely +engrossed in his happy love-dream that he had not a single thought +beyond it. In her loneliness and her anxieties which separated her so +completely from those three hearts, Elizabeth Mellen watched, sighed +sometimes, whispering to herself: + +"She has taken even Tom from me. I have nothing +left--husband--relative--all, all abandon me for her." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +A HALF UNDERSTANDING. + + +Elsie was twenty now, but looking younger from her fragile form and the +extreme delicacy of her complexion. The reader knows how winsome and +playful her manners were; how she was loved and cherished by her +brother, and it seemed hard that a creature like her, so innocent and +winsome, should have even a knowledge of the secret which oppressed +Elizabeth. It seemed to prove more depth of character than one would +have expected, that she was in any way able or willing to help her +sister-in-law to bear her secret burthen, let that burthen be what it +might. + +The vague thoughts which had troubled Grantley Mellen on the night of +his arrival, had died out. On calm reflection he could understand that +it was quite in keeping with the restrained intensity of Elizabeth's +nature, that the very violence of the storm should have forced her into +it. That the sudden sound of his voice and step should have brought on +the nervous weakness to which she so seldom gave way, was equally +natural after so much excitement. + +Then Elsie came back so blithe and blooming, brought so much sunshine +into the house, and drew them both so much into her amusements, that the +first days of Mellen's return were pleasant indeed. + +The weather had been delightful; they enjoyed rides and drives, +moonlight excursions upon the water; there had been visits to receive +and return among neighbors and friends; people had heard of Mellen's +return, and came uninvited from New York, bringing all that festal +bustle and change which puts holidays every now and then into the +ordinary routine of our lives. + +The first days passed and still the sky was unclouded. Grantley Mellen +began to think that he was at last to be happy, and grew cheerful with +the thought. So for a time love cast out all fear in the husband's +heart. + +There had been no further return of that inexplicable nervousness in +Elizabeth; the strained, anxious look almost entirely left her face; she +was even more lively than was customary with her. It was not that the +fear and dread had left her mind, but she was on her guard, and there +was a reticence and strength in her character which even those who knew +her best did not fully understand. A stern, settled purpose would keep +her through her course, whatever might lie behind. + +During those happy days there had been no more confidences between her +and Elsie; indeed it seemed almost as if Elizabeth avoided the girl--not +in a way to be noticed even by Mellen's quick eyes--if it was so, Elsie +on her side did not attempt to break through these little restraints +that had fallen around them. It was natural that she should be glad to +escape from the gloom which surrounded Elizabeth, and in this respect +the fickleness of her character was fortunate; from her lack of +concentrativeness, the girl was able to throw off any trouble the moment +its actual danger was removed from her path. + +Thus the first days had passed, allowing them to settle down into +tolerable quiet, but not too much of it, for Elsie could not endure +that. Society was her element; trifle and champagne seemed her natural +nourishment, and she drooped so quickly if compelled to seclusion, that, +with his usual weakness where she was concerned, Mellen relinquished his +own desires to gratify her caprices. + +You may think this not in keeping with his character and habits, but +reflect a little and you will see that it was perfectly natural. The +promise which he had made to his mother was always in his mind; he never +forgot his fears for Elsie's health; she was more like a daughter than a +sister to him, and her very childishness was a great charm to a man of +his grave nature. The very servants delighted in waiting on her, though +her requirements were numerous; but they did it all willingly, and put a +great deal more heart into her service than they ever exhibited in +obeying Elizabeth's moderate and reasonable requests. They mistook Mrs. +Mellen's quiet manners for pride, and held her in slight favor in +consequence; so dazzled by Elsie's manner, that when she gave them a +cast-off garment or a worthless ornament, it seemed a much greater boon +than the real kindness Elizabeth invariably displayed when they were in +sickness or trouble. + +Elizabeth humored her sister-in-law with the rest, but there was a +soreness at her heart all the while; for sometimes when she saw this +young creature clinging about her husband, her face wore the strange +expression it had done while she watched their meeting after his return. + +The domestic life at Piney Cove was nearly happiness at this time. But +for Elizabeth's hidden anxieties, Mellen's return would have made that +old house almost like heaven. As it was, this haunted woman would +sometimes forget her causes of dread, and break out into gleams of +loving cheerfulness in spite of them. + +After the night on which the bracelet was lost, the sunshine which had +brightened the little household at Piney Cove was dimmed by a thousand +intangible shadows. In spite of all his efforts, Grantley Mellen's +suspicions were aroused and kept on the alert, searching for proofs that +could only bring unhappiness when found. + +You would not have said that he was suffering from jealousy; there was +nothing upon which his mind settled itself that gave rise to that +feeling, but he fretted absolutely because he had no power to discover +every thought of Elizabeth's soul during his absence. Then as he +reflected upon the mystery connected with his arrival, came up afresh +the disappearance of the bracelet, and he lost himself in a maze of +irritating conjecture, of which his fine judgment often grew ashamed. + +Elizabeth wore her old proud look for several days after the night of +the dinner-party. Grantley felt that the ice of the past was freezing +between them once more, and the idea caused him acute pain. + +He sat watching her one day as she bent over her needlework, talking a +little at intervals, listening occasionally to passages from his book; +oftener sitting there with her fingers moving hurriedly, as if she were +pressed for time, but her anxious face proving how far from this +occupation her thoughts had wandered. + +More than once Mellen saw the dark brows contract as if under actual +distress, and as he ceased to speak, and seemed wholly absorbed in his +book, he could see that her reverie became more absorbing and painful. + +"Elizabeth!" he said suddenly. + +His wife started. In her preoccupation she had forgotten that he was in +the room--forgotten that she was not alone with those dark reflections +which cast their shadow over her face. + +"Did you speak, Grantley?" + +"Yes; how you started!" + +"Did I start?" she asked, trying to laugh. "I don't know how it is that +I grow so nervous." + +"You never were so afflicted formerly." + +"No; I don't remember," she replied quickly. "But you know I had a good +deal of care and responsibility during your absence; it may be that +which has shaken me a little." + +"Do you believe it?" he asked, in a constrained voice. + +She shot one glance of indignant pride at him; for an instant she looked +inclined to leave the room, as had frequently been her habit during the +first months of their marriage, when he irritated her beyond endurance. + +But if Elizabeth had the inclination she controlled it. After a moment's +silence she laid down her work and approached the sofa where he was +lying. + +"Don't be severe with me, Grantley," she said, with a degree of humility +unknown to the past; "my head aches drearily--I don't think I am well." + +His feelings changed as he looked at her; she was not well; he could see +the traces of pain in the languid eyes and the contracted forehead, but +whether the suffering was mental or physical even a physiognomist could +not have told. + +He reached out his hand and drew her towards him; she sat down on the +sofa and leaned her head against his shoulder with a little sigh of +weariness. + +"I can rest here," she whispered; "it is my place, isn't it, Grantley?" + +There was tender, almost childish pleading in her voice; he lifted her +face, looked into her eyes and saw tears there. + +"What is it, Bessie?" he asked. "Have I hurt you?" + +The recollection of all the doubts and suspicious thoughts which had +been in his mind came back, and forgetful of his idea that some recent +anxiety made the change in her manner, he reproached himself with having +brought a cloud between them by his own actions. + +"Have I pained you in anything, Bessie?" he repeated. + +"I feared the old trouble was coming back," she whispered. + +"No, no; it must not, it shall not, Bessie! I am to blame--but if you +knew what this wretched disposition makes me suffer! Every heart I +trusted in my early life deceived me. I have only you left now--you and +Elsie." + +Perhaps it was natural that she should feel a little wifely jealousy at +having his sister forced in, even to their closest confidence; her face +was overclouded for an instant, but she subdued the feeling and said, +kindly: + +"I know what you have suffered, dear; I can understand the effect it has +had upon your character--but you may trust me--indeed you may." + +"I know that, dear wife; I believe that!" + +He drew her closer to him; for a few moments she sat with her hand among +the short, dark curls of his hair, then she said, abruptly: + +"Grantley?" + +"What is it, dear?" + +"I want to ask you something." + +"It can't be anything very terrible; you need not hesitate so." + +"Only because it sounds foolish!" + +"Nothing ever can seem foolish from your lips," he said, softly; and she +blushed like a girl at his praise. + +"That woman you--you loved once," she said; "was she dearer to you than +I am?" + +Grantley Mellen's face darkened. + +"Let me blot out all thought of that time," he exclaimed, passionately; +"I would like to burn out of my soul every trace of those years in which +she had a part. I loved her with the passion of youth--no, Bessie, it +was not a feeling so deep and holy as my love for you, and it is over +for ever." + +His face softened, and his voice trembled with a more gentle emotion, +for he thought of that lone grave on the hillside, which he had so +lately seen closed over his first love. + +"Then you do love me?" whispered his wife; "you do love me?" + +"What a question, darling!" + +"Yes, I know it is silly." + +"Bessie," he exclaimed, after a moment's thought; "I cannot help the +feeling--you seem changed." + +"I--changed, Grantley?" + +"It may be my fault; but I feel as if there was a something which kept +us apart--a mystery which I cannot penetrate--a gulf which no effort of +mine can bridge." + +She was a little agitated at first, but that passed. + +"What mystery could there be?" she asked. "I don't understand you, +Grantley." + +"I hardly know what I mean myself. Is it my fault, Elizabeth? Are you +angry still at what I said the night you lost your bracelet?" + +She did not stir; she kept the hand he held even from quivering, but the +face he could not see grew white and contracted under a sterner pain. + +"Were you angry, Bessie?" he repeated. + +"Not angry," she said, in a low voice, hesitating somewhat. "I was hurt +and indignant--you ought to trust me, my husband." + +"I do, dearest, I do trust you! Why should I not? There is no secret +between us, Bessie--no mystery--nothing which keeps our hearts asunder!" + +She was silent--she was struggling for power to speak, knowing that +every second of hesitation told against her in a way which volumes of +protestation could never counteract. + +"There is no such cloud between us?" he said again. + +"No, Grantley, no!" + +She spoke almost sharply. + +"Don't be angry with me, Elizabeth." + +"I am not, indeed I am not!" + +She was speaking firmly now--her voice was a little hard, like that of a +person making an effort to appear natural. + +"I am not angry, but I ask you to reason--to reflect. What secret could +I have--what mystery?" + +"None, wife, none; I know that!" + +"And yet you cannot be at rest?" + +"I am--I will be." + +For a few moments they sat together in silence, then Mellen said: + +"Even in your past, Bessie, you have no secret!" + +"None," she answered, and her voice was perfectly open and sincere now. +"There is not in all my girlhood the least thing that I could wish to +conceal from you; it passed quietly, it was growing very dreary and cold +when you came with your love and carried me away to a brighter life." + +"It is so sweet to hear this, Bessie!" he whispered, as his face grew +gentle with the tenderness which warmed his heart. "We have been +separated so much, had so little time to realize our happiness, that +neither of us have quite learned to receive it quietly--don't you think +it is so, dear child?" + +"It may be," she exclaimed, and her voice deepened with sudden +intensity. "Only trust me, my husband; trust and love me always. I will +deserve it. Only trust me!" + +"Always, Bessie, always! My darling, I have only you in the whole +world--all my hopes, my love, centre upon you--I am like a miser with +one treasure which he fears to lose." + +"Only a treasure to you," she said, playfully; "you would be astonished +to see what a common-place pebble it is to other people." + +"That is not so; you know it, Bessie." + +"Never mind how it may be; if I am precious in your eyes it is all I +ask." + +So they talked each other into serenity for the time. Their married life +had been so broken up that it was natural that much of the enthusiasm of +lovers should remain--even in their old difficulties there had been none +of the common-place quarrels which degrade love, and wear it out much +more quickly than a trouble which strikes deeper ever does. + +"Since I came back," Grantley said, "I have sometimes thought it might +be a little feeling towards Elsie which made you so strange." + +"What feeling but kindness could I have?" she asked. + +"True; it would not be like you, Bessie. You love her, don't you? It was +through her we knew each other--remember that!" + +"I do, and very pleasantly; but I have no need to think of that to be +kind and gentle with her--when have you seen me otherwise?" + +"Never; I can honestly say never!" + +"Has Elsie complained?" + +"No, dear, and never had such a thought, I am certain." + +"When I married you, Grantley, your sister became mine--I could not be +more anxious for her, more willing to guard and cherish her, if she had +been a legacy from my own dead mother, than I am now." + +"I am certain of that, and I love and honor you for it. But in your +place I should perhaps be annoyed even to have a sister share affection +with me." + +"It is not like your love for me?" + +"No, no; no love could be like that! But Elsie is such a child, such a +happy, innocent creature, and I never look at her without remembering my +dying mother's last words. If any harm came to her, Bessie, I think I +could not even venture to meet that lost mother in heaven." + +"No harm will come to her, Grantley--none shall!" + +"I think she is one of those creatures born to be happy; I trust she may +never have a great trial in all her life. I don't believe she could +endure it; she would fade like a flower." + +"It is impossible to tell how any one would receive suffering," +Elizabeth replied; "sometimes those very fragile natures are best able +to bear up, and find an elasticity which prevents sorrow taking deep +root." + +"It may be so; but I could not bear to have any pain come near her--It +would strike my own heart." + +"Could any one be more light-hearted and careless than she is?" + +"Oh, she is happy as a bird--only let us keep her so." + +Even into the utmost sacredness of their affection, that sister's image +must be brought--it did cause Elizabeth pain in spite of all her +denials--Mellen might have discovered that if he had seen her face. But +the feeling passed swiftly, the face cleared, and while it brightened +under his loving words the strength of a great resolution settled down +upon it. + +They sat in that old fashioned room talking for a long time. It was the +happiest, most peaceful day they had spent since Mellen's return. + +After a time, Mellen proposed that they should go out to ride, for the +afternoon was sunny and delightful. + +"A long gallop over the hills will do you good," he said; "it is a shame +to spend such weather in the house." + +While he ordered the horses, Elizabeth went up to her dressing-room to +put on her habit. + +She dressed herself without assistance, and with a feverish haste which +brought the color to her face and light to her eyes. + +"I will be happy," she muttered; "I will not think. There is no looking +back now; it is too late; only let me keep the past shut close and go on +toward the future." + +As she stood before the glass, gazing absently at the reflection of her +own face and repeating those thoughts aloud, her husband's voice called +her from the hall below. + +"Bessie, come down--the horses are at the door." + +She broke away from her reverie and hurried downstairs, where he met her +with a fond smile and a new pride in her unusual beauty. + +"The very thought of the fresh air has done you good," he said. + +"It is not that, Grantley--not that." + +He looked at her tenderly, understanding all that her words meant. + +"Because we are happy?" he whispered. + +"With your love and confidence to bless my life I have all the happiness +I can ask," she said, earnestly. + +He led her down the steps, seated her upon her horse, and they rode away +down the hill, and dashed out upon the pleasant road. + +"We will go over the hills," Grantley said; "the air is so delightful +there, and one has such a magnificent view of the ocean." + +"I believe you would be wretched away from the boisterous old sea," said +Elizabeth, laughing. + +"I do love it; when I was a boy my one desire was to be a sailor. Some +time, Bessie, we will have a yacht and go cruising about to our heart's +content; after Elsie is married though, for she suffers so dreadfully +from fright and illness." + +"It would be very pleasant, Grantley." + +"Would it not? Just you and I alone; it would be like having a little +world all to ourselves. _Allons_, Bessie; here is a nice level place for +a gallop; wake Gipsy up." + +They rode on swiftly, growing so light-hearted and joyous that they were +laughing and talking like a pair of happy children, seeming quite out of +reach of all the shadows which had darkened their hearts during the past +days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +TRIFLES LIGHT AS AIR. + + +While Mellen and Elizabeth rode off through the golden afternoon, Elsie +and Tom Fuller came in from a stroll about the grounds. They had seen +the husband and wife galloping down the avenue, and as they entered the +hall, Elsie said: + +"They have left us to amuse ourselves the best way we can; what shall we +do, Tom Fuller?" + +"I'm ready for anything." + +"We might go out rowing." + +"Oh, Elsie!" + +"Only Grant would be angry, and you have grown afraid of the water." + +"No wonder, where you are concerned," cried Tom. "I can't think of that +dreadful day without a shudder." + +"I don't allow myself to think of it at all," said Elsie. + +She led the way into the library and sat down in a low chair, throwing +off her garden-hat, and beginning to arrange the wild flowers which she +held in her hands around the crown. + +"What color is this, Tom?" she asked, holding up a delicate purple +blossom that drooped its head, as if faint with its own perfume. + +Tom's ignorance of color was a never-failing source of amusement to her. +He looked at the flower very seriously; then after reflection said, in +the tone of a man who was certain of being perfectly correct for once: + +"That's blue, of course; I am not quite blind, whatever you may think." + +Elsie screamed with delight. + +"Oh, you delicious old goose! I suppose you call this one pink?" + +"Yes," said Tom, confident that he must be right this time; "I suppose +the most prejudiced person would have to call that pink." + +"It's the most delicate lavender," cried Elsie, in fresh shrieks of +ecstasy at Tom's blindness. "Oh, I never saw such a stupid in all my +life." + +Tom rubbed his forehead for an instant, then Elsie's laughter proved so +contagious that he burst into merriment as hearty as her own. + +"I don't suppose," said Tom, "there's such an idiot on the face of the +earth as I am." + +"I really don't suppose there is," replied Elsie, candidly. + +"It is absolutely beyond belief," said Tom. + +"It is," answered Elsie. + +"And I shall never be any better," cried Tom. + +"I have told you so a thousand times," rejoined Elsie, humming a tune, +inclined to perfect truthfulness for once. + +Tom's face lengthened for an instant, he gave his hair another +unmerciful combing with his fingers. + +"And you think there's not the least help for it?" + +"Not the very least in the world, Tom, not a gleam of hope! But don't +feel bad about it; I am tired of brilliant men; everybody is something +wonderful now-a-days; it's really fatiguing." + +"Do you think so?" demanded he; "do you really?" + +"Upon my honor." + +"Then I'm glad I am a donkey," said Tom, energetically. + +"And so am I," returned Elsie. "There, see, isn't that a lovely wreath?" + +She held up the hat for Tom to scent the delicious fragrance of the +garland twisted around it. + +"You take the color quite out of them, holding them near your cheeks," +said Tom, with a glance of admiration. + +"I declare you are getting complimentary! You shall have a wild rosebud +for your button-hole in payment; kneel down here, while I put it in." + +Tom dropped on his knees while Elsie leisurely selected the flower. She +was talking all the while, and Tom on his part would have been glad to +prolong the situation indefinitely, for the pleasure of having her +little face so close to his, and her hands flirting the blossoms about +his lips was entrancing. + +"No," pursued she, "I am tired of brilliant men; they always make my +head ache with their grand talk. You know I'm a childish little thing, +Tom, and learned discussions don't suit me." + +"You're a fairy, a witch, an enchanted princess!" cried Tom. + +"Exactly," replied Elsie. "Perhaps a verbena would look better than a +rosebud, Tom." + +Tom cared very little what she put in his button-hole; a thistle, thorns +and all, would have been precious to him if her hands had touched it, +and he would have torn his fingers against the prickles with an +exquisite sense of enjoyment. + +"No, the rose is the prettiest," said Elsie, and she threw the verbena +away, and began her task again. + +"Are you tired; do you want to get up, Tom?" + +"You know I'd rather be here than in heaven!" he exclaimed. + +Elsie gave him one of her bewildering glances. + +"You don't mean that," said she; "you know you don't!" + +"I do, I do! Oh, Elsie!" + +"Keep still, keep still. You jump about so that I can't fasten the rose; +there, I've lost the pin; no, here it is." + +She was so busy with her work now that her face bent quite close to his, +her fair curls touched his cheeks, her breath stirred the hair on his +temples; the intoxication of the moment carried Tom beyond all power of +self-restraint. + +He snatched Elsie's two hands and cried out: + +"I must speak; I shall die if I don't! I haven't said a word since I +came back; I know it's useless; but I love you, Elsie, I do love you." + +She struggled faintly for an instant, then allowed him to keep her +hands, and looked down into his face through her drooping lashes with an +expression that made Tom's head fairly reel. + +"Don't be angry with me," he pleaded; "don't drive me away! I'll never +open my lips; just let me speak now! You can't think how much I love +you, Elsie. I'd cut myself into inch pieces if it would do you any good. +I'd die for you." + +"I would rather you lived," whispered Elsie. + +Tom caught the words; a mad hope sprang up in his honest heart; he knew +that it was folly, but he could not subdue it then. + +"If you could only learn to love me," he went on, hurriedly; "I'd be a +slave to you, Elsie! I am rich now; I could give you everything your +heart desired; if you could only care for me; such lots of candies and +pretty things." + +"You saved my life, Tom," she returned, in that same thrilling whisper +which shook the very heart in his bosom. + +"Oh, don't bring that up as a claim," he said; "what was I born for +except to be useful to you? But I love you so; if you could only make up +your mind to endure my ugliness and my awkward ways, and--and----" + +"You are a great big fellow and I like that, and don't think you ugly," +said Elsie; "and I don't care if you are awkward. I am sick of men that +walk about like ballet-dancers." + +"You only say that out of good-nature," said Tom; "you are afraid of +hurting my feelings." + +"Don't I always say what I think?" rejoined she. + +"But you don't care for me--you couldn't love me!" + +"You have told me so three times already," said Elsie. + +But all the while there was something in her face and voice which made +him persevere. He had never thought to speak of his love to her again. +This was the last, last time; but he would open his whole heart now, she +should see the exact truth. + +In his great excitement, Tom forgot all bashfulness; he did not halt in +his speech, but poured out his story in strong, manly words, that must +have awakened at least a feeling of respect in any woman's bosom. + +"I tried to cure myself," continued Tom. "I thought absence--entire +change--might make a difference in my feelings. But when the two years +ended I came back, only to find my love grown deeper from the lapse of +time, with every feeling more firmly centred there. You speak kindly to +me sometimes. You pity me--at least you pity me! But you couldn't love +me, of course; that is impossible! Let me get up--I mustn't talk any +more--let me go!" + +But Elsie's hand still rested upon his shoulder,--she did not stir. + +"You could not love me," repeated Tom; "never, never: you have told me +so ever so many times." + +"I was silly and wicked," she whispered; "I am wiser now." + +Her words lifted Tom into the seventh heaven. He cried out: + +"Don't trifle with me, Elsie--not just now--I couldn't stand it!" + +"I am not trifling with you, Tom." + +"You don't mean that you care for me?" + +His voice was broken and low. He waited for her to push him away, to +break the spell rudely, but her hand never moved from his shoulder. It +seemed to rest there with a caressing pressure, as a bird settles on a +fondling hand, and still the fair curls swept his cheek. + +"Elsie! Elsie!" he cried, half-wild with struggling emotions. + +"Dear Tom," she murmured again. + +"Oh, are you in earnest?" he almost sobbed. "Could you take me, Elsie? +Let me be your slave--ready to tend you--to care for you--only living +for your happiness!" + +Elsie shook her head archly: + +"You would grow tired of petting me." + +"Never, never! You know it!" + +"I should be a dreadful little tyrant--it is in my nature; you would +never have a will of your own." + +"I wouldn't want it; I wouldn't ask it!" + +"I should flirt and drive you wild." + +"I would never try to stop you." + +"I should tease you incessantly." + +"You'd only make me the happier." + +"I should tell you all sorts of fibs." + +"There would be no necessity, for I would not dispute your wishes." + +"You would grow tired of that." + +"Only try me." + +"You couldn't love me always, and pet me, and never get out of patience, +and think I was perfect." + +"I could--I should--I always shall! Oh, Elsie, Elsie, I love you so--I +love you so!" + +"Get up, Tom; you are a foolish old goosey!" + +Tom started to his feet; those playful words were a cruel waking. He +stood before her painfully white, and there was a suppressed sob in his +voice as he cried, in passionate reproach: + +"Oh, Elsie! Elsie!" + +She gave a wicked laugh at his distress. + +"So you really were in earnest?" she demanded. + +"You know that I was," he said. "You are cruel--cruel!" + +"Ah, now you are angry--now you begin to hate me!" + +"Never, Elsie! If you tore my heart and stamped on it, I could not hate +you." + +"But you are angry; and you said you could be patient." + +"I could, if you cared for me only the least bit!" + +"Oh, you selfish monster! There, Tom, kneel down again; you have shaken +my flower out of your coat." + +"No," said Tom, passionately; "I can't play now! This is dreadful +earnest to me, Elsie, however great sport it may be to you." + +"Then you refuse my gift?" + +"I can't trifle now--don't ask it." + +"And you mean to rush off and leave me?" + +"I had better." + +"Very well. If you refuse me my one little wish!" + +"I'll stay if you want me to," cried Tom. "I'll do anything you bid me. +But do be serious for a minute, Elsie. Just answer me one question." + +"Only one? Will that satisfy you?" + +"To set the matter at rest," pursued he. "I'll never trouble you again. +I won't open my lips----" + +"Then how shall I know what you want to ask?" she interrupted. + +Tom fairly groaned. + +"I do believe you are a witch, Elsie; one of those snow women in the old +German stories." + +"Lurlei--Lurlei!" she sang, flourishing the blossoms about his head. + +Tom dashed off the flowers in a blind despair. The scene was growing too +much for him to bear. + +"Yes," he said, drearily, "I'll go--I'll go! I shan't trouble you again. +I hope the day may never come when you will be sorry, Elsie." + +He was so pale and trembled so violently, that she was absolutely +terrified. + +"Tom, don't look so!" she exclaimed. "I only wanted to tease you. I +wouldn't have you leave me for the world; I should be wretched!" + +"Now you are kind again! I will stay. I won't tire you with telling you +of my love--" + +"But I want to hear," interrupted Elsie. + +"Oh, little child, it could do you no good! I suffer, Elsie, I suffer!" + +"Tom, you're a goose--what you call a goney!" + +"I know it, dear!" + +"And you are just as blind as a bat." + +"I suppose I am," he replied, dejectedly. + +"And you're too stupid to live," cried Elsie, going into a great +excitement. "Don't you know a woman can say one thing and mean another?" + +"Yes," said Tom, with more energy, "I do know that. I know it too well." + +"Great Mr. Wisdom!" said she mockingly. "Then can't you +understand--don't you see?" + +He looked at her in bewildered surprise. She was smiling tenderly in his +face. + +"Elsie!" he cried. + +She let her hands fall in his. + +"I don't want you to go," she whispered, "never--never!" + +"You love me--you will marry me?" + +She did not speak, but she made no resistance when Tom caught her to his +heart and rained kisses on her face, utterly bewildered and unable to +comprehend anything except that happiness had descended upon his long +night at length. + +But Elsie raised herself, pushed him off and said, with a dash of her +old wickedness: + +"I'll tease you to death, Tom!" + +"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed. "Oh, say it once--say 'I love you!'" + +"I do love you, Tom--there!" + +In an instant she flashed up again, while he was covering her hands with +kisses, crying: + +"My little Elsie! My own at last!" + +"No more sentiment," said she. "Let's be reasonable, Tom; the +catastrophe has reached a climax." + +But it was a long time before Tom Fuller could regain composure enough +to talk at all coherently, or in what Elsie termed a sensible manner. + +"It's so sudden," he said. "And to have so much happiness just when I +thought the last rope was going out of my hand! Why, I feel like the +fellow who clung all night to the side of a precipice, expecting every +moment to be dashed down a thousand feet, and when daylight came found +he had hung within a foot of the ground all the while!" + +"The comparison is apt and delicious," said Elsie, laughing. + +"And you love me! Only say it again, Elsie--just once!" + +"I won't!" said she. "But I'll box your ears if you don't stop behaving +like a crazy man." + +Tom caught Elsie up in his arms and ran twice with her across the floor, +paying no more attention to her cries and struggles than if she had been +a baby. + +"That's for punishment!" said Tom. + +"Let me down! Please let me down!" pleaded Elsie. "I know you'll drop +me! Oh, you hurt me, Tom!" + +Tom placed her on the sofa and seated himself by her side. But she +started away and ran upstairs, sending back a laugh of defiance. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +TWO FACES IN THE GLASS. + + +When Elsie entered her boudoir, flushed with laughter and breathless +with running, she threw herself on the azure couch, and gathering her +ringlets in a mass between her hand and the warm cheek under which it +was thrust, fell into a deeper train of thought than was usual to her. + +"It's done, and I don't care. He loves me, and I must be loved. He's +rich, generous, devoted, worships me and always will, that's one +comfort. There'll be no one to halve his devotion or his money with me, +no one to look glum if I want to be a little bit extravagant. Grant +never refused me anything in his life, but I'm always afraid to ask half +that I want. But with Tom everything will be my own. He won't ask a +question. Such laces as I will have! As for cashmere shawls and silks, +he shall get them for me by the dozens. Elizabeth won't say that such +things are out of place then. I shall be a married woman, free of her +and this old house too, free of everything, but--but----" + +Elsie started up, breaking this selfish train of thought with the +action. + +"I wish she'd stop talking to me; I don't want to hear about it. Why +won't she bear her trouble alone, if she will make trouble about what +isn't to be helped? I'll have no more confidences with her, that's +certain. It is like breaking one's heart up in little pieces. I don't +want to keep secrets, but forget them; and I will, too, in spite of her. +She shan't make me eternally miserable with her pining and remorse." + +Elsie paused before a mirror as these thoughts rose in her mind and half +broke from her lips. She was threading out her curls and trying the +effect as they floated, like golden thistledown, over the roses of her +cheek. All at once she started, and a look of pale horror stole to her +face; the hand which had been wandering among her hair dropped to her +side, turning cold and white as marble; the lips which had been just +parted with an admiring smile of her own beauty, lost every trace of +color. She still gazed intently into the glass, but not at herself. +Beyond her pretty image, reflected from the distance, sat a man with a +pen in his hand, as if just arrested in the act of writing. Rich shadows +of crimson drapery lay around him, and a gleam of pure light from a +half-closed upper blind fell across his head, lighting it up grandly. + +It was a magnificent picture that Elsie gazed upon, far beyond her own +image in the glass. But she only saw the man, without regard to his +surroundings, and the very heart in her bosom turned sick with loathing +or with fear. + +It was North, looking at her through the open door, with a sneering +smile on his lip--North in the very chamber of her brother's wife, +quietly seated there as if he had been master of the house. For a full +minute Elsie stood, forming a double picture in the glass with that +bold, bad man, then her color came hotly back, and she turned upon him, +brave with indignation. + +"You here!" she said, advancing into the room till its crimson haze +overwhelmed her. "You here, and in this chamber! Get up at once and +begone. If my brother finds you under his roof he will shoot you on the +spot." + +"Never fear, pretty one," said North, with an evil gleam on his face. +"Two can play at a game of that sort. If he made the first assault +nothing would give me more pleasure. Self-defence is justifiable in law, +and his will is made." + +Elsie was trembling from head to foot, but she leaned one hand heavily +on the table that he might not see her agitation. + +"Man, man, you would not--you dare not meet my brother. You that have +wronged him so!" + +"Excuse me," said North, biting the feather of his pen and looking down +on a sheet of note-paper on which he had been about to write; "I do not +see this wrong so clearly. If a woman's heart will wander off in any +forbidden direction, am I to blame because it flutters into my bosom? +And if other hearts follow after----" + +"Stop!" cried Elsie, stamping her little foot passionately on the +carpet. "How dare you speak of a fraud so black, of treason so +detestable! I am his sister, sir, and have something of his courage, +frivolous as people think me. Persecute her or provoke me too far and I +will tell him all." + +"Indeed you would not," answered North, quietly. + +"What should prevent me?" + +"She will. You dare not break a solemn promise to her." + +"I dare!" she almost shrieked, clenching her little hand in a paroxysm +of rage. "I will, if ever you come here again." + +"No; I think not. Women are weak creatures, but they generally find +strength to keep secrets that bring ruin in the telling. You cannot be +over anxious to see this proud brother of yours commit murder on----" + +"On a villain--a household traitor--a--a----" + +Elsie stopped for want of breath. + +"Be quiet," said North, rising sternly and towering over her. "I have no +dealings with you. One might as well reason with a handful of silkweed +thrown upon the wind." + +"But I will have something to say--everything to say. You have pursued +her, plundered her, tortured her long enough. More than once she has +been on the brink of discovery by your persistence in prowling over the +grounds and from her attempts to conceal your rapacious extortions. All +this must end." + +"With all my heart; let the lady accede to my terms and I disappear." + +"What are those terms?" + +"I will write them, and your own fair hands shall give her the note." + +Elsie did not answer, but her white lips closed firmly, and her blue +eyes glittered like steel in the glow of a hot fire, as he dipped his +pen deliberately in the bronze inkstand and began to write. + +"There," he said, folding the note and presenting it to her with a +princely air, as if her courage had impressed him with respect; "place +this in her hands and she will know how to carry it out." + +Elsie took the note and hid it away in the folds of her dress. + +"Do not fail," he said, before taking his hat from the table. + +"I will not," answered Elsie. "But these cruel visits must cease now and +for ever. I will give the note only on this condition." + +"Her answer will decide that. Now, good-bye." + +He reached forth his hand, smiling pleasantly upon her; but she clenched +hers, as if tempted to strike him for the insolent offer, and turned +away biting her pale lips. + +The hand, rejected with such disdain, fell towards the hat which North +placed lightly on his head, casting one glance in the opposite mirror as +he did so. Then, with the elastic step of a man retiring from a +festival, he left the chamber, while Elsie looked after him with +wondering eyes and parted lips, astonished by an audacity which was +absolutely sublime. + +The young creature stood with bated breath till his light footsteps died +away in the nearest passage. She listened anxiously, but heard no door +close or further movement of any kind. His exit was noiseless as his +entrance had been. + +When Elsie was left alone she sat down in the dim light of Elizabeth's +room, pushed the hair back from her forehead and pressed both palms on +her temples, where pain was throbbing like a pulse. She moaned and cried +out under the sudden anguish, for resistance to suffering of any kind +was killing to this young creature, and the reaction which followed that +passionate outburst of feeling left her helpless as a child. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +SECRECY IMPOSED ON TOM FULLER. + + +During fifteen or twenty minutes Elsie sat pressing both hands to her +head, while her eyes filled with tears, and her lips quivered like those +of an infant grieved by some hurt it cannot understand. A voice from the +outer passage aroused her. It was that of Tom Fuller, who had worked +himself into a state of intense excitement from fear that his rough +tenderness had mortally offended its object. + +"Miss Mellen--Elsie, do come down and speak to a fellow. I'm sorry as +can be that I made such a donkey of myself and frightened you away. Just +give one peep out of the door, darling, to say that you will forgive me +by-and-bye, and I never will kiss you again so long--that is if it's +very disagreeable." + +The door of Elsie's chamber opened and a face all flushed with tears, +through which a smile was breaking, looked out on the repentant Tom. + +"Oh, Elsie, darling, I didn't mean it, and you've been crying all this +time. If somebody would take me out and lynch me I'd be obliged to +'em--upon my soul, I would." + +"Never mind, Tom. I'm not angry--only such a fright, with crying," said +Elsie, reaching her hand through the opening, which he forthwith covered +with penitent kisses. "It's only a headache." + +"A headache! dear me, what a brute I am. But wait a minute. I'll send +right to the city for a dozen bottles of bay rum, or schnapps, or +something of that sort." + +"No, no," answered Elsie, laughing herself into semi-hysterics, "I shall +be better in a minute." + +"And come downstairs--will you come downstairs?" + +"Yes, yes; wait a minute while I get the tangle out of my hair." + +Tom retreated to the staircase and waited with his eyes fastened on +Elsie's door like those of a good-natured watchdog. As for the girl +herself, she bathed her face in cold water, chilling the pain away, +straightened out her curls, twisted all her hair in a great knot back of +the head, and came out softly, like a dear little forgiving nun, filled +with compassion for other people's sins. + +Tom followed her into the little morning-room where his confession had +been made, and sat down on the sofa to which she retreated with great +caution, as if she were afraid. + +"Won't Bessie and Mellen be astonished," he insinuated; "I do wonder how +they will look, when we tell 'em how it is." + +"You won't have an opportunity of judging just at present," replied +Elsie. + +"Why won't I?" + +"Because I don't choose you to say one word about the matter to any +human being until I give you permission." + +"Now, what is that for?" asked Tom, somewhat discomfited. + +"Just because I prefer it," answered the young lady. + +"But I want the whole world to know how happy I am," said he. + +"Tom Fuller," cried Elsie, menacingly; "are you going to begin already +to dispute and annoy me, after what I've just suffered, too?" + +"Lord bless you, no! I am as sorry as can be." + +"Then do exactly as I tell you," continued she, "and promise me not to +mention what has happened till I give you leave." + +"It's a little hard," said Tom, "not to be able to show how happy a +fellow--why, I shall tell in spite of myself." + +"If you don't promise, I'll take back every word I've said--" + +"I will! I will!" he interrupted, terrified at the bare threat. "Don't +be angry, pet; I'll do just as you say." + +"That's a nice old Tom; now you are good and I love you." + +"But you, won't keep it long, Elsie?" + +"No, no; but just at present I choose; I told you what a terrible tyrant +I should be." + +"I like it," said Tom, with the thorough enjoyment of her mastery, which +only an immense creature like him can feel in a pretty woman's graceful +tyranny. + +"So much the better for you," said Elsie. + +"Oh, little girl, we will be as happy as the day is long!" cried he. + +"And you'll never contradict me?" + +"Never!" + +"And I shall have my own way more and more every day?" + +"Well," said Tom, thoughtfully; "I don't see how you could easily; but +you may try." + +Elsie laughed; his oddity amused her. + +"You are a perfect ogre of a lover," cried she. "What a head of hair!" + +"It never will keep in order," said Tom, pressing down the shaggy locks +with both hands. + +"Let them alone," said Elsie; "you look more like a lion that way; I +like it." + +She was gracious and playful as a kitten, but Tom's happiness was +disturbed all too quickly by the entrance of Victoria, crying: + +"Missis horse runned off wid her; but she y'arnt hurt; she's a comin' in +de carriage." + +Out of the room Tom and Elsie went, anxious to learn the full meaning of +her words. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THE RIDE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. + + +The husband and wife galloped joyously on for miles and miles in the +soft light of that delicious afternoon; with every step the gloom and +the shadows seemed to lift themselves from each heart, till they were +cordial and gay almost as Elsie herself. + +These few happy hours, soon to be dimly overclouded, were so bright and +sweet, that even in the midst of after trouble, their memory would come +up like fragments of exquisite melody, haunting those two people. + +Whatever the secret was which oppressed Elizabeth, its recollection was +put aside for the time, and Mellen gave himself up to the pleasure of +the hour with all the intensity of a nature which enjoys and suffers so +sharply, that even trifles can make for it a keener excitement than +great happiness or acute suffering bring to more placid characters. + +"You are not tired, Bessie?" + +"Tired, no! I could ride on forever!" + +"See how the waters shine in the sun; they seem so full of joyous, +buoyant life, that it gives one strength to watch them." + +Elizabeth could fully share in his enthusiasm, and she allowed her +poetical fancy full play, indulging in beautiful comparisons and earnest +talk, which unveiled a phase of her nature seldom revealed except to +those who knew her well. + +"I never heard a woman talk as you can," said Mellen, admiringly; "we +shall have you writing books, or coming out as a genius yet." + +Elizabeth laughed gaily. + +"You need not be afraid; I know you would not like it." + +"Indeed I should not; it springs from my selfishness I know, but I like +to keep your real self entirely for my own life." + +The afternoon was wearing away when they turned homewards, but still +retained its brightness and beauty, as their hearts kept the new glow +which warmed them. + +They galloped down the long hills and through the level groves till they +were nearly home. + +The sunlight faded--a strong breeze swept up from the ocean, and a +sudden cloud obscured the sun; one of those abrupt changes so common in +autumn fell upon the sea, robbing the day of its loveliness, and making +it so cold and leaden that it was more than dreary from contrast with +the glorious morning. + +They were near the gates which led into their own domain, when a man +came running swiftly towards them, and as he passed looked up in +Elizabeth's face. + +Whether her horse was frightened by the stranger rushing so abruptly +past him, or whether she gave some nervous jerk to the reins, was not +apparent; but a sharp cry rang from her lips, the horse made a +simultaneous spring, and though a good rider, Elizabeth was unseated and +thrown from her saddle. Mellen sprang from his horse and bent over his +wife. + +"I am not hurt," she said faintly, "not hurt." + +The old woman who lived in a little house at the entrance of the grounds +which they had transformed into a lodge, came out at that moment, and +being a Yankee woman of energy and resources, caught Elizabeth's horse, +and was ready to lend a helping hand wherever it might be required. + +While this woman led the two horses within the gates and fastened them, +Mellen raised his wife and carried her into the lodge. She was deathly +pale and trembling violently, though in reply to his anxious inquiries, +she repeated the same answer: + +"I am not hurt--not at all hurt." + +She drank a glass of water, lay down for a few moments on a +cane-bottomed settee, which the room boasted as its principal elegance, +then insisted upon rising. + +Mellen sent the woman on to the house, with orders for the people to +send down the carriage, as he would not have permitted Elizabeth to +walk, even if her strength had seemed more equal to the exertion than it +really was. + +"Did that man frighten the horse?" he asked, when she appeared composed +enough to speak. "The whole thing was over before I knew it--even before +I saw him clearly he was gone--you cried out--the horse started--" + +"No!" she answered with feverish earnestness, "the horse started +first--I should not have shrieked but for that--why should I?" + +"The scoundrel must have frightened the horse; did you recognise him?" + +"He was running fast, you know, and darted into the woods so suddenly." + +"I should like to have lain hands on him!" + +"He meant no harm. Gipsy has grown shy of late. Don't think about the +matter--there is no mischief done." + +"But there might have been great danger; I cannot bear even now to think +of it." + +Elizabeth closed her eyes wearily; her recent elation of spirits was +quite gone. She looked so pale and ill that Mellen could not feel +satisfied that she had suffered no injury. + +"You are sure that the fall has not hurt you, Bessie?" + +"Quite sure," she answered, in the same changed voice; "don't trouble +yourself about me. I was only frightened." + +Mellen could not understand her manner, but he said nothing more. She +lay back on the settee, and closed her eyes while he stood there +regarding and wondering whether she lay thus from weakness or to escape +further conversation. + +At last the woman returned and announced that the carriage would be down +immediately. + +"That are man frightened the horse," she said; "I was a looking out of +the window--it's my belief he's a hanging about the place for no good." + +"Have you ever seen him before?" asked Mellen. + +"Why, I think it's the chap you was a talking with one day, Mrs. +Mellen," said the woman. + +"I thought you did not know him?" observed Mellen, turning quickly +towards his wife. + +She sat upright, gave him one of her quick, indignant glances, and +answered coldly: + +"I simply said he ran by me so fast I could not tell whether I knew him +or not." + +"Wal, it was the same fellow," pursued Mrs. Green; "I'm sure of that." + +"Do you remember?" questioned Mellen. + +"I do not," replied Elizabeth haughtily. + +Mellen colored and bit his lip, but he saw the woman looking curiously +at them and said no more. + +"I wish, Mrs. Green," he said, "you would take great care to close the +gates at night; we are near enough the city for dangerous characters to +stray down here." + +"Law, sar, we're just as careful as can be. There ain't a night we don't +shut and lock the gates. I hope we ain't a coming to no blame; I'm a +lone woman and Jem's a cripple. It would be hard on us." + +Mellen tried to stop her flood of protestations and appeals, but she +insisted upon telling the whole story of every misery she had endured +during her life, before she would pause in her plea of sorrow for an +instant. By that time the carriage fortunately arrived and they were +able to escape the sound of her tongue. + +The husband and wife drove somewhat silently home. Mellen was very +anxious about Elizabeth, who had recovered her usual serenity of temper, +and could do her best to reassure him, though the color would not come +back to her face, nor the startled look die out of her eyes. + +When they reached the house, Elsie was standing on the steps, and ran +down to the carriage full of alarm, having just learned that Elizabeth +had met with some accident, while Tom came forward more anxious still. + +"Are you hurt? are you hurt?" demanded Elsie. + +Elizabeth assured her that she was not in the least injured, tried to +laugh at Mellen's solicitude, but looked very nervous still. + +"You are sure you are not hurt?" urged Tom. + +"Perfectly sure." + +"Maybe I'd better run after a doctor though?" + +"Nonsense, Tom," she said, a little impatiently, "when I tell you I am +not hurt in the least." + +Tom and Elsie cried out together to know how the accident had happened, +but Mellen gave a very brief explanation, while Elizabeth entered the +hall and sat down in a chair to rest. + +Tom ran to bring her a glass of wine which she did not want, and they +all worried her with their solicitude, till it required great patience +to restrain herself from breaking away from them rudely and rushing into +the solitude she so much needed. + +"If I had hold of the creature that scared the horse, I'd mill him," +cried Tom, irately. + +"I don't suppose he was to blame," said Elsie. + +"Of course not," added Elizabeth; "of course not." + +Mellen made no remark; he was watching Elizabeth, who still looked pale +and oppressed. + +"Do you feel better?" he asked. + +"Much, I assure you; don't be frightened about me." + +"Bessie is such a heroine!" cried Elsie. + +Elizabeth gave one of the irritated looks with which she had sometimes +regarded Elsie of late, but made no remark. + +"She's a trump!" said Tom; "that's all there is about it." + +Elsie laughed. + +"I shall go up to my room and lie down," Elizabeth said; "an hour's rest +will restore me completely." + +Mellen assisted her upstairs and Elsie accompanied them, quite ready to +accept Elizabeth's assurance that she was not injured, and doing her +best to make them both laugh. + +"Accidents seem the order of the day," she said; "it's lucky for us, +Bessie, that we always have some one near to help us." + +"Yes," was the weary reply. + +"Do you think you could go to sleep now?" Mellen asked. + +"Perhaps so," she said; "I will try, at all events." + +"The best thing for you," said Elsie. "I'll sit with you a little while, +and be still as a mouse." + +Elsie was never sorry to escape from sickness or unpleasant occurrences +of any kind, and could be of no more use in trouble than a canary-bird +or a hot-house blossom. But just now she had an object in remaining. + +The moment Mellen had withdrawn, she took North's letter from its +hiding-place, and thrust it into Elizabeth's hand. + +"Thank heaven I've got rid of it at last," she exclaimed, shaking the +flounces of her dress as if the note had left some contamination behind. + +"How did you get it?" faltered Elizabeth, looking at the folded paper +with strained eyes, as if it had been an asp which she held by the neck. + +"Oh, Elizabeth, he was in this very room." + +"Here! here! Great heavens! why will no one shoot this man?" exclaimed +the tortured woman. + +"I thought of it, upon my word I did," said Elsie. "But, then, I don't +know how to fire off a pistol!" + +"How madly we are talking!" said Elizabeth, pressing one hand to her +throbbing forehead. + +Elsie pressed her own soft palm upon the strained hand, striving to +soothe the evident pain. But Elizabeth shrunk away from the half caress, +and said, in a low, husky voice: + +"Leave me, Elsie, leave me; I will deal with this alone." + +The young girl went away with a sense of relief. Then Elizabeth started +up in bed, tore open the hateful note, and read it through. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +KINDLY ANXIETIES. + + +Elsie went in search of Tom; who was walking up and down the veranda, +looking anxious still, but his face cleared when he saw Elsie, like a +granite rock lighted up by a sudden flood of sunshine. + +"How is she?" he asked. + +"Oh, a great deal better; she is going to sleep; that is, if Grant will +be sensible enough to leave her alone; you men are dreadfully stupid +creatures." + +"Yes, dear," replied Tom, meekly. + +"Well!" said Elsie; "you might show a little spirit at least." + +"I thought I was to agree with you!" + +"There is nothing I hate so much; if you don't contradict me, I shall +die certainly." + +"Then, since you want the truth, I must say I think you are a little +hard on men in general." + +"And you in particular, perhaps?" + +"Sometimes you are." + +"Indeed!" said she, tossing her curls. "Very well, Mr. Fuller, if you +have such dreadful opinions as that, you had better have nothing more to +do with me; I'll go away." + +"Oh, don't; I didn't mean it," cried Tom, in a fright. + +Elsie laughed at his penitence and teased him more unmercifully than +ever, but Tom could bear it now with undisturbed equanimity. She had +given him happiness, lifted his soul into such a flood of light as he +had never thought to reach in this world, and his state of rapturous +content utterly defied description. + +They walked up and down the long colonnade, jesting and merry, Tom +unable to think or talk of anything long except his new bliss, saying +all sorts of absurd things in spite of Elsie's expostulations. + +"I shall go in at once, if you don't behave more sensibly," she said, +snatching her hand from him, as he tried to kiss it. "What would Grant +think if he happened to come down." + +"Oh, dear," sighed Tom; "how long before you will let me tell him; this +having to steal one's happiness is dreadful." + +"Oh, you selfish, insatiable monster! not an hour ago you promised to be +perfectly content if I would only say I might care for you sometimes, +and there now you go!" + +"I am a selfish wretch," said Tom, struck with remorse. + +"And selfishness is such a dreadful failing," rejoined Elsie. + +"It is, I know it." + +"In a man." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, a little astonished at the close of her sentence. + +"Yes," continued Elsie; "It's a woman's privilege." + +"It seems to me," said Tom, eagerly, "that women claim a great many +privileges, and very odd ones, sometimes." + +"Isn't it our privilege!" demanded Elsie, belligerently. "Do you mean to +deny that we haven't a right to be just as selfish and whimsical as we +please, and that it's your duty to submit?" + +"If you'll let me kiss your hand I'll acknowledge anything you desire," +said artful Tom. + +"Then I won't, and if you value your peace in the slightest degree, I +should advise you to behave more decorously." + +Elsie drew herself up, and looked as prim as a little Quakeress, who had +never indulged a worldly thought in all her days. + +"I wish you would come into the music-room and sing to me," said Tom, +struck with a bright idea. + +"Nonsense, you don't care about music?" + +"Indeed I do; your voice is like an angel's." + +"You couldn't tell whether I was singing something from Trovatore or +Yankee Doodle?" replied Elsie. + +Tom rubbed his forehead again, fairly bewildered; but whether he knew +anything about music as a science or not, he listened to Elsie's singing +with his heart, and very sweet music it was. + +"You shall teach me," he said. + +"A hopeless task, Tom! And you really have some voice if you only had +any ear." + +"Oh," said Tom, putting up his hands, as if taking her words literally. + +"Oh," said Elsie, with a shriek, "they prove your race beyond a doubt; +don't fear." + +Tom laughed, good-natured as ever. + +"But come in," he urged; "you will get cold, with nothing on your head." + +"You are not to become a Molly," said Elsie. + +"I won't," replied Tom, "nor a Betty, nor any other atrocity; only just +come in, like a duck." + +Elsie allowed herself to be persuaded for once, and they went into the +house, seating themselves at the piano in the solitary music-room, +enjoying the hour after their own fashion, with no apparent perception +of the shadows which lay upon the hearts of the husband and wife in that +darkened home. + +Some time after Elsie had gone, Mellen returned to his wife's chamber. +She lay with one hand partially over her face, but was watching him all +the while; there was an eager expression in her eyes, as if she longed +to have him go away, but was afraid to express the wish. + +"Do you feel sleepy, Bessie?" he asked. + +"I think so," she replied; "don't let me keep you shut up here any +longer--go down and play chess with Elsie." + +"You will come down after you are rested?" + +"Oh, certainly; I will be down to tea." + +He kissed her and turned to leave the room. + +"What are you going to do?" she asked, huskily. + +"I have some letters to write; I shall go to the library in order to do +it in peace--Elsie is certain not to come there." + +"Good-bye," said Elizabeth, speaking with hysterical sharpness, which +jarred a little on Mellen's quick ear. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +ALMOST DEFIANCE. + + +He was gone and the door closed; Elizabeth raised herself on her elbow +and remained listening till the sound of his steps died upon the stairs, +then she threw aside the shawls he had flung over her, and sprang to her +feet. + +"Not a day's rest," she exclaimed, "not an hour's--not one! I must go +out and answer the demands of this villain. If Grantley should meet +me--I don't care--I must have it out! I shall go mad in the end--I shall +go mad!" + +She wrung her hands in a sort of fury, and paced up and down the room +with quick, impatient steps. + +"I might go now," she said at length; "he is in the library--it is +growing dark, too." + +She stopped before one of the windows and looked out; the afternoon was +darkening under the mustering clouds and a heavy mist that had swept up +from the ocean. + +"Coming nearer and nearer," muttered Elizabeth, pointing to the waving +columns of fog as if she were addressing some unseen person; "just so +the danger and the darkness gather closer and closer about my life!" + +She turned away, urged forward by the courage with which a brave person +is impelled to meet a difficulty at once, threw a shawl about her and +left the room. + +She ran through the hall to a back staircase seldom used, and which led +into a passage from whence she could pass at once into the thickest part +of the shrubbery. + +At the foot of the stairs she paused an instant, listened then with a +quick, choking sigh, opened the door and hurried away. + +Seated in his library, Mellen found it impossible to fulfil his task of +letter writing. He could not account for the feelings which crept over +him. The quiet content of the afternoon was all gone; and in its place +came, not only anxiety about his wife, but a host of wild suspicions so +vague and absurd, that he was angry with the folly which forced him to +insult his reason by dwelling upon them. + +The confinement of the house became absolutely hateful to him. He opened +one of the French windows, stepped out upon the veranda and walked up +and down in the gathering gloom, looking across the waters where the fog +shifted to and fro, like ghostly shadows sent up to veil the ever +restless ocean. + +At last Mellen passed down the steps and entered the grounds; he was +some distance from the house when he heard a sound like a person moaning +aloud in distress. + +He looked about--the mist and the coming night made it impossible to +distinguish objects with any distinctness--but he saw the garments of a +woman fluttering among the trees. + +He darted forward; with what impulse he could hardly have told; but the +woman had disappeared, whether warned by his hasty movement or urged +forward by some other motive, he could not tell. + +The thought in his mind was-- + +"That is my wife, Elizabeth." + +Then the folly of this suspicion struck him; not an hour before he had +left his wife almost asleep in her room, how was it possible that she +could be there, wandering about like a demented creature in the misty +twilight? + +"I will go up to her room," he thought; "I will cure myself of these +absurd fancies." + +He entered the house and ran upstairs quickly, opened the door of his +wife's room and looked in. She was standing before the fire--at the +noise of the opening door she thrust something into her bosom--a paper +it looked like to Mellen--then she turned and stood silently regarding +him. + +"You are up," he said. + +"Yes," she replied, a little coldly. "Did you want anything?" + +"Only to see if you slept--if you were coming down soon." + +"I shall be down directly." + +He hesitated an instant, then he said: + +"Were you not in the grounds just now?" + +Elizabeth did not answer; she had let her hair down and was beginning to +arrange it, shading her pale face with the floating tresses. + +"Were you?" he inquired again. + +"What did you ask?" she demanded. + +He repeated the question. + +"It does not seem quite probable," she said, walking away towards the +mirror. + +"I thought that I saw you there only a few minutes since," he said. + +Elizabeth was busy lighting a candle; after she had succeeded, she +replied: + +"If you had seen me in the grounds would it have been so very singular." + +"No; only as I left you lying down----" + +She interrupted him with an impatient gesture. + +"I am tired of this," she said passionately. "What is it you wish to +know--what do you suspect?" + +"Nothing, Elizabeth; I only thought it was foolish if not dangerous to +go out on such a night." + +He was ashamed of himself now, but she did not offer to help him in his +dilemma. She stood silent and still, as if waiting for him to leave the +room. + +"We will wait tea for you," he said. + +"Very well." + +As he passed near the sofa his foot got entangled in a shawl which lay +on the floor; he picked it up--it was heavy with damp. + +"I was given to understand that you had not been out," he exclaimed, +holding it towards her. + +For an instant Elizabeth looked confused, then she snatched the shawl +from his hand, crying angrily: + +"Well, sir, I was out--now are you satisfied?" + +"Always deception," he said, "even in trifles." + +"Of course," she exclaimed, in the same passionate tone, "you make it +necessary. I went out because these nervous attacks make me feel as if I +were choking--you are so suspicious, you see something to suspect in the +most trivial action." + +"So you----" + +"Told you a lie," she added, when he hesitated; "well, let it go at +that. Are you through with this examination--have you any more questions +to ask?" + +"That tone--that look, Elizabeth; you are not like yourself!" + +"No wonder--blame yourself for it. I cannot and will not endure this +system of _espionage_--I will have my liberty--that you may understand!" + +Mellen's passionate temper flamed up in his face, but he controlled it +resolutely and did not speak. + +"Be good enough to say all you wish and have done with the subject," she +continued in the same irritating tone, utterly unlike her old method of +parleying or enduring his evil words. + +"I have nothing to ask," he said; "you are nervous and excited--we won't +quarrel to-night." + +He went out of the room, Elizabeth fell upon her knees by the couch, and +groaned aloud. + +"Oh! I am no longer myself! What wonder! what wonder!" + +She drew a letter from her bosom and began to read it, moaning and +crying as she read; then she threw it in the fire, stood watching till +the last fragments were consumed, then sinking into a chair, buried her +face in her hands. She remained a long time in that despondent attitude, +her whole frame shaking at intervals with nervous tremors, and her +breath struggling upwards in shuddering gasps. + +There was a knock at the door at length. + +"Who is there?" she called sharply; "what do you want?" + +"Miss Elsie wished to know if you were coming to tea," said a servant. +"There is a gentleman come to see Mr. Mellen from the city, ma'am." + +Elizabeth started up and went on dressing; as was usual with her after +one of those strange excitements, a sudden fever crimsoned her cheeks +and brightened her eyes. + +She went downstairs and received her guest with affable grace, which +contrasted painfully with her late excitement, and before the evening +was over, seemed to have forgotten the hasty words she had spoken to +Mellen, and was like her old self again. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE TIGER IN HIS DEN. + + +IT was a small room, in one of those mysterious hotels in the narrow +streets near the Battery, which appear to be usually appropriated to +foreigners, and about which dark-whiskered, sallow-faced individuals may +be seen lingering at all hours of the day, their very faded, seedy +appearance calling up images of duns, scant dinners, and a whole train +of petty evils. + +The chamber was small, but not uncomfortably furnished, though the +articles had originally been of the tawdry fashion which such places +affect, and had probably not been new by several stages when first +established there. + +The remains of a fire smouldered in the little grate, but the ashes were +strewn over the hearth. The torn and frayed carpet was littered with +loose cards, and the whole apartment was in hopeless confusion which +added greatly to its original discomfort. + +In the centre of the room was a small table covered with empty champagne +bottles and glasses, standing in half dried puddles of wine, with a +bronze receiver overflowing with cigar ashes all huddled untidily +together, and giving repulsive evidence of a long night of dissipation. + +The low bedstead had its moth-eaten, miserable attempt at a canopy swept +back and heaped carelessly on the dirty counterpane by a man in a +restless slumber, just as he had thrown himself down, ready dressed, +long after daylight peered in through the broken shutters. + +His appearance was in keeping with the room; a soiled dressing-gown, +that had once been very elegant, was wrapt carelessly about him; his +black hair streamed over the pillow, and gave an almost ghastly effect +to his face, as he lay in that troubled dream, already pale and worn +from many sleepless nights. + +It was a handsome face, but one from which a physiognomist would have +shrunk, had he seen it in its hard truthfulness, without a gleam of the +fascination which it was capable of expressing in guarded moments and +under more fortunate circumstances. + +The sleeper was on the sunny side of mid-age, but his countenance was +one of those which carries no idea of youth with it, even in early +boyhood it was so marked by craft and recklessness that nothing of the +_abandon_ of fresh feeling ever left an imprint there. + +It was nearly noon, but he had not stirred or opened his eyes; once or +twice the dilapidated chambermaid, who performed a slatternly duty in +that part of the building, opened the door and peeped in, but her +entrance had not served to arouse him, and she knew better than to +venture upon any further attempt. + +Suddenly he woke from a troubled dream and looked about him. + +"I dreamed they were railing me up in a coffin," he muttered; "pah, how +plainly I heard them driving in the nails!" + +He turned upon his pillow with a shuddering oath, but that instant there +came a knock at the door, this time quick and impatient--it was the +first summons which had caused him that unquiet vision. + +"Come in," he called out; "the door isn't locked." + +The man raised himself indolently on the bed and looked towards the +door--it opened slowly and a woman entered the room. + +Her face was concealed under a heavy veil, but the man seemed to +recognize her at once, for he started up and gave a muttered execration +as he caught sight of his untidy appearance in the little mirror. + +Then he hurried towards his visitor, who had closed the door and stood +leaning against it. + +"You have come," he exclaimed; "so kind of you--excuse the disorder +here--I did not know it was so late." + +He held out his hand with a smile, but she turned away with a gesture of +abhorrence which had no effect upon him save that it deepened the smile +to an ugly sneer. + +She threw back the long veil and displayed her face--the visitor was +Elizabeth Mellen. + +"Pray be seated," he went on, placing a chair near the hearth; "this +room looks dreadful, but I was up late and overslept myself--had I +dreamed you would favor me with so early a visit, I should have been +prepared." + +She glanced at the table, which bore evidence of the manner in which the +night had been passed, and said abruptly, pointing towards the cards +scattered on the carpet: + +"Did those things keep you wakeful?" + +He smiled complacently. + +"Nothing ever escapes your eye, dear lady. Well, I won't deny the +fact--we were playing cards a little. I was not absolutely fortunate," +he answered, with another disagreeable smile; "but you know the old +proverb--'Lucky in love, unlucky at cards,' so I never expect much from +the mischievous paste-boards." + +Her face flushed painfully to the very waves of her hair, then grew +whiter than before; she sank to a seat from positive inability to stand. + +"I have brought you no money," she said, abruptly, looking in his face +with sudden defiance. + +His brows contracted in an ugly frown, though his lips still retained +its smile--he looked dangerous. + +"That is bad, very," he said; "I wonder you should have come all the way +here to bring these unpleasant tidings!" + +Elizabeth did not answer; she had drawn towards the hearth and was +pushing the ashes back with the point of her shoe, gazing drearily into +the dying embers. + +"You received my letter?" he asked. + +"Yes--don't send in that way again, or let yourself be seen. You +frightened me so that I fell from my horse." + +"How sad! I should never have forgiven myself had any harm resulted from +it," he said, so gravely, that one could not tell whether he was in +earnest or mocking her. "You were not hurt--nothing unpleasant occurred! +I despaired of seeing you in the grounds after that, and so went away." + +She started up in sudden passion, goaded by his attempt at sympathy +beyond the power of prudence or self-control. + +"I wish I had been hurt," she exclaimed. "I could have borne being +maimed for life had I seen the brute's hoofs trampling you down as I +fell." + +He seated himself opposite her and looked earnestly in her face. These +bitter words did not seem to excite his anger--he was smiling still, and +his face wore a look of admiration which appeared to excite her still +more desperately. + +"You are so beautiful in one of these moods," he said; "don't restrain +yourself. What a Medea you would make!" + +She looked at him with a glance which had the menace of a hunted animal +brought suddenly to bay, and ready from very despair to defend +itself--in moments like that many a desperate woman has stained her soul +with crime--but her companion betrayed no uneasiness. + +"You don't like me to say complimentary things to you," he said; "it is +unkind to deprive me even of that pleasure." + +"I have no time to waste," she said, controlling herself by a strong +effort, and speaking in a cold, measured tone. "I came to tell you that +you must wait--I can't give you the money to-day--if you were successful +with those cards you can afford to be patient." + +"My dear friend," returned he, "you know how anxious I am--how I desire +to put the ocean between me and this accursed country." + +"You will not go when you get the money," she said; "you will drink, +gamble--leave yourself without a penny." + +"So harsh always in your judgments," he returned, deprecatingly. + +"I have no hope of escaping you," she went on; "but I have one +consolation--you are ruining me, and that will be your own destruction! +My husband suspects me--watches me--the day he discovers a shadow of the +truth, there is an end to these extortions." + +"Don't speak so angrily--my dear lady! I hardly think your husband would +refuse to listen to reason--your proud men will do a great deal to +procure silence where a lady is concerned." + +"You know that he would not be silent! With his home once broken up, his +peace destroyed, he would be utterly careless of the world's +knowledge--his wrongs and his revenge would lead him to desperate +measures." + +"Is it possible? What an unpleasant character! Well, well, we must take +pains that he is not enlightened--that is the way--you see how very +simple it is." + +"I warn you, this is the last money I shall give you for years," she +said; "it is only from having these stocks in my hands that I am able to +do it now." + +"My dear friend, you forget; your husband may give you more stocks," he +returned, with a laugh which made her shrink with abhorence. + +"Mr. Forbes has promised me the money this week--that will be in time +for the steamer." + +"How coldly you betray anxiety to have me gone!" he said; "it is really +cruel." + +"I have no idea that you will go," she returned; "you will spend the +money--you will demand more--my husband will discover it. But at least I +shall have the satisfaction of knowing that there is no place secret +enough, no land distant enough to guard your life safely after that." + +He only received her passionate words with a shrug of the shoulders and +a deprecating wave of the hand. + +"But it is so sad to go into exile alone," he said; "if I could take +with me----" + +"Oh! you are such a base, miserable coward!" she broke in. "Such a +pitiful, dastardly wretch! Don't frown at me--I have never been afraid +of you--I am not now! I tell you the hour of retribution will come!" + +His face never changed, he made her a gracious bow and said pleasantly: + +"You are inclined to do the prophetess this morning--but don't be such a +fearful Cassandra, I beg." + +She rose from her chair and folded her shawl about her. + +"I need stay here no longer," she said, "I have told you what I came to +say." + +"Don't be so cruel as to run away so soon," he pleaded; "give my poor +room the glory of your presence a little longer. You see to what I was +driven before I could force myself to trouble you again. These are not +proper apartments for a gentleman; you will admit I had an excuse. The +whole thing is miserably humiliating." + +"I shall be here on Monday," said Elizabeth, ignoring his excuses. "I +shall have the money ready for you, but I will not bring it--those +letters must be first placed in my hands." + +"Ah! you are going to drive a hard bargain, I see." + +"You have evaded so often, cheated me so often; I have given you +thousands of dollars--this is the last--take it--enough to make you +comfortable for years if you are careful; but the letters come into my +possession first, and that paper too." + +"You really mean to have your freedom, do you?" he asked, jestingly; "to +sweep me out of your life for ever; that is hard." + +"Don't think to cheat me; neither your forged writing or any pretence +will answer here. I tell you I am desperate now--you can't force me down +a step farther." + +"You are a magnificent woman!" he exclaimed; "a wonderful woman! I don't +believe the country could boast another such." + +She turned away. + +"Now you are angry. But let it pass." + +"Remember what I have said," retorted Elizabeth. "I tell you I am +desperate now! At least I shall have placed it out of your power to +injure any one but myself. I have reached that point when I will have +freedom from your persecutions or drag the ruin down on my own head +while crushing you." + +She was in terrible earnest--he was a sufficient judge of character to +see that. It was in her nature to grow so utterly desperate that, +whatever her secret might prove, she would find the courage to give it +up to her husband and madly urge on the crisis of her fate in all its +blackness and horror, rather than endure the slavery and suspense in +which she had lived. + +"There will be no need of all this," he said. "Place in my hands the sum +you have promised, and I will at once put it out of my own power to harm +you or yours. After all," he continued, with another sneering laugh, "I +am selling my claim much too cheaply; twenty-five thousand dollars is a +pitiful little sum, considering what I give up." + +"You can get no more--you cannot frighten me! If you betrayed everything +you would ruin your hopes of a single penny. I tell you my husband would +perish rather than buy your silence. I know him--he might shoot you down +like a dog, but would never pay gold to bind your vicious tongue." + +"Dear friend, I infinitely prefer transacting this little business with +you," he said, laughing again. "We shall not quarrel; for your sake I +will content myself with the twenty-five thousand dollars, but I warn +you I cannot wait after Monday." + +"I tell you it will be ready on that day." + +"The letters and that troublesome little document shall be placed in +your hands--I promise on----" + +She interrupted him contemptuously: "There is nothing you could swear by +that would make the oath worth hearing." + +The man bowed, as if she had paid him a compliment. He was so utterly +hardened that even her burning scorn could not affect him. + +"Don't write to me, don't send to me," she said; "it will only be +dangerous--more so for you than for me--remember that." + +"I can trust you; I have the utmost faith in your word." + +She gathered her shawl about her and moved towards the door. + +"Are you going already?" + +"That bracelet!" she said, with a sudden thought. "You parted with it of +course--could you get it back?" + +He shrugged his shoulders. + +"I received your note concerning it; we will see--very doubtful I fear. +But when I am once gone--even if your husband does discover it--there +will be no trouble." + +She turned her back on him. He started forward to open the door for her, +his hand touched hers on the knob, she started as if a scorpion had +stung her, but he only cast a smile in her face and allowed her to pass +out. + +"A wonderful woman!" he said to himself, after she had disappeared. +"What a pity she hates me so; the only woman in the world worth having +at your feet." + +He went to the table, searched among the bottles till he found one that +still contained brandy, poured the contents into a glass and drank with +feverish eagerness. + +"That'll put a little life in me," he muttered. "Well, there is nothing +for it but to wait. I must keep myself very quiet. I think I'll have +some breakfast--at any rate I can afford to leave this den." + +He pulled out a pocket-book with a laugh, glanced at the contents and +put it away. + +"Luck enough for a parlor and bed-room in the best uptown hotel for a +week or so," he muttered; "pah! how I loathe this hole!" + +North threw off his dressing-gown, bathed his face in cold water, +arranged his dress a little, and went down stairs in search of his +morning meal. + +Elizabeth Mellen hurried through the narrow street in which the hotel +stood, as if trying to walk herself into calmness. Once she murmured: + +"Five days more--five! If I can live through them and keep the tempest +back I may be safe. If I can! Such a dread at my heart--worse as the +time shortens--oh heavens, if discovery should come now when the haven +is so near!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +THE PAWNBROKER'S SHOP. + + +Weeks had glided along. It was now late autumn; the gorgeous leaves lay +strewn along the ground, and the wind sighed up from the ocean chill and +bleak, scattering thoughts of decay with each gust. With that gathering +desolation, the coldness and the shadows had crept deeper and deeper +into Grantley Mellen's life. + +He had accompanied Elizabeth to the city, one of these chilly autumn +days, and put her in a carriage at the ferry, that she might attend to +the purchases and calls which was her ostensible errand to town, while +he went about the business on hand, with an arrangement that they were +to meet in time for the afternoon boat. + +Elsie had chosen to pass the day at home; indeed, the light-hearted girl +and Elizabeth were never together now when it could possibly be avoided. +Elsie seemed determined to keep aloof from the mystery of the unhappy +woman's life, lest its gloominess should cast some shadow over the +brightness of her own path. + +While Elizabeth was absent on her mysterious visit, Mellen occupied +himself with a matter which would have added another trouble to the +anxiety of that bitter day, had she dreamed of it. From the first he had +determined that the disappearance of that gauntlet bracelet should be in +some way explained, if it lay in human power to discover the mystery. +What his precise motive was he could hardly have told. The trinket might +have been picked up by some vagabond who had wandered into the grounds; +if so there was little hope of ever gaining any tidings concerning it, +but Mellen could not satisfy himself that such was the case; he believed +the jewel would yet be found. + +There was some mystery in Elizabeth's life--of that irksome suspicion he +could not divest himself. Twenty times each day he went over in his mind +every event that had occurred since his return, from the moment when he +came upon her wandering so wildly about on that stormy night. + +Twenty times each day he convinced himself that there was nothing in the +whole catalogue to awaken the slightest doubt in any mind not given up +to self-torture and jealousy like his; yet, argue as he would, bring +conviction as closely home to his soul as he might, doubts rose up again +and haunted him like ghosts that had no power to speak, but pointed +always towards trouble and blackness which lay in the past. + +If the bracelet had been given to a needy person for any reason, it +would undoubtedly find its way to the hands of some pawnbroker--that was +his thought. He reproached himself for indulging it--he called himself +unworthy the love of any woman while he could harbor such suspicions, +but they would not pass out of his mind--the treachery which had wrecked +his youth had sown the seeds of suspicion too deeply in his soul to be +easily eradicated. + +Then he compounded with his conscience, and decided that he was right in +taking every step possible to solve these doubts, if only to prove the +innocence of his wife. He kept repeating to himself that this was the +reason which urged him on. + +"I want to be convinced," he thought again and again, "of my own +injustice--it is right that I should endure this self-abasement as a +punishment for doubting a woman who is beyond suspicion." + +Solacing his self-reproaches a little by such arguments and reflections, +he had gone to work in earnest to make such discoveries as would drive +these harassing doubts away forever. + +Among other efforts, he had confided to a leading pawnbroker the details +of the affair, and it was in him that his hopes principally lay. If the +bracelet was not brought to this man's establishment he had means of +discovering if it was carried elsewhere. + +That day Mr. Hollywell had news for him; a bracelet similar to the one +he had described, was in the possession of an old Chatham street Jew, +and they went together in search of this man. + +The old Israelite was dreadfully afraid of getting himself into +difficulty, but Mr. Hollywell satisfied his fears in regard to that, and +assured him that the gentleman would reward him liberally for any +disclosures that he might make regarding this particular bracelet. + +Then it came out that the bracelet had been disposed of for a +considerable sum--it was a sale rather than a deposit. The man who +brought it there had more than once come to the shop on similar errands; +and always pledged valuable ornaments or sold them recklessly for +whatever would satisfy the needs of the moment. + +Mr. Mellen grew more interested when he described the man's appearance; +the keen eyes of the money-lender and the sharp sight of the old Jew, +accustomed to reading countenances, saw a singular expression of +uncertainty rested upon his face, which took a slow, deadly paleness as +the identity of this man seemed to strike him. + +He walked several times up and down the little den where the aged +Israelite kept watch, like a bloated spider ready to pounce upon any +unwary fly that might venture into his mesh, and at last returned to the +place where the two men were standing. + +"Have you any of that man's writing?" he asked. "Just a scrap--I don't +ask to see his name--only a few words in his writing." + +The old Jew looked doubtful. + +"Sometimes he has write me, my good sare, but not often, he ish very +careful--very careful." + +"And have you nothing by you?" + +The old Jew turned to a great desk that filled up one end of the dark +room, unlocked a variety of doors and drawers, turned over piles of +dirty notes, and at last selected a scrap of paper from among them. + +"This is his writin'," he said, in a guttural whisper. "I'm taking great +trouble, great trouble," he whined; "de good gentleman ought to remember +that." + +"You shall be well rewarded," said Mr. Mellen impatiently, snatching the +paper from his hand. + +He glanced at the writing--the paleness of his face grew death-like--he +stood like a statue, with his eyes rivetted upon the page, while the two +men regarded him in silence. + +The writing was peculiar. It had an individuality so marked and so +increased by practice, that any person who had seen a page of the +delicate characters, could have sworn to the writing among whole +volumes. + +Mr. Mellen looked up--the astonishment in his companions' faces brought +him to himself. + +"That is what I wanted," he said. + +"I hopes it ish all right," urged the Jew. "The good gentleman is +satisfied!" + +"Perfectly, perfectly! Now I want the bracelet! How much did you receive +on it?" + +The old Jew's face changed at once. + +"And I won't get my reward?" he faltered. "You will sheat a poor man's +out of his earnings." + +"Who talks of cheating you," said Mr. Hollywell. + +"I am ready to pay you," pursued Mr. Mellen; "I would rather give double +the price of the bracelet than not get it." + +Mr. Hollywell made a sign of caution; such words would increase the old +rascal's cupidity to a height money could hardly satisfy, but they were +interrupted by a groan from the Jew. + +"And it ish gone!" cried he; "and so leetle paid--so leetle paid. The +good gentleman would have given more." + +"Gone!" repeated Mr. Mellen. + +"Why didn't you say so?" asked Mr. Hollywell angrily. "It was only +yesterday you told me it was safe in your possession." + +"Yes, yes, I knows, and so I had." + +"Where is it, then?" + +"The man came for it--he has brought his ticket, paid his money and took +the bracelet; I was out--my boy let him have it! Oh, my reward--my +reward!" + +"Shut your foolish old mouth!" exclaimed Mr. Hollywell. + +The old Jew sank into a chair, still groaning and lamenting, while the +money-lender turned to Mr. Mellen. + +"What will you do now, sir?" he asked. + +"Nothing." + +He looked despondent now, though the fierce anger that had blazed in his +face at the first sight of the writing lighted it up still. + +"I am perfectly satisfied," he continued. "I am much obliged to you for +your trouble." + +"I am very sorry," Mr. Hollywell began, but Mellen checked him. + +"It is just as well--don't be troubled." + +He took out his pocket-book, laid down a bank note whose value made the +old Jew's eyes sparkle with avidity, and hurried out of the dark little +shop. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +TEASING CONTINUALLY. + + +All the next day the house at Piney Cove was in confusion with guests +coming and going. This husband and wife were not once left alone. + +Mrs. Harrington had come up to spend the day, and go out with them in +the evening, and Tom Fuller was at his post as usual, though he appeared +with a very blank face indeed. + +"You look more like Don Quixote than ever," was Elsie's salutation, as +he entered the room, where she sat with Elizabeth and their guests. + +"How do you do, Mr. Fuller?" cried the widow. "I wonder you have any +patience at all with that little witch; she teases you constantly; I am +sure you must be amiability itself." + +"She won't have the chance for some time to come, more's the pity," +returned Tom, disconsolately. + +"And why not, pray?" demanded Elsie. + +"Because I've got to go to Pittsburg, and flounder about in coal mines, +and the Lord knows what." + +"Have you business there?" asked Elizabeth. + +"Yes, to be sure! Bless me, I was better off when I had no property. I +could do as I pleased then, and didn't have to go about breaking my neck +in pits, and bothering over all sorts of business that I understand no +more than the man in the moon--taking care of my interests as they call +it." + +"Poor, unfortunate victim!" mocked Elsie. + +"The penalty of riches," sighed Mrs. Harrington. "But think of the good +they bring to yourself and all about you, Mr. Fuller." + +"Yes, I know," returned he; "I'm an ungrateful wretch; it's in my +nature; I need to have my head punched twenty times a day, there's no +doubt of that." + +They all laughed at his energy; even Elizabeth tried to come out of her +anxious thoughts, and confine her wandering fancies to the conversation. + +"When are you going, Tom?" she asked. + +"Oh, to-morrow." + +"He speaks as if it were the Day of Judgment," said Elsie. + +"And I may be gone a whole week or more," pursued he. + +"A small eternity," cried Elsie. "Dear me, dear me, how we all pity +you." + +"I don't believe you care a straw," said Tom, dismally; "you won't miss +me." + +"He wants to be flattered," cried Elsie. + +"I am sure you will be missed, dear Mr. Fuller," said the widow; "you +wrong your friends by a suspicion so cruel." + +"I hope so, I'm sure," returned Tom, glancing at Elsie; but she was in +one of her mischievous moods, and would not give him a gleam of +consolation. + +"Don't spoil him, Mary Harrington," said she; "the creature's vanity is +becoming inordinate; isn't it, Bessie?" + +"You can ill-treat him sufficiently without my assistance," said Mrs. +Mellen, smiling; "I shall not help you, certainly." + +"That is right, Bess," cried Tom; "stand by a fellow a little; she +hasn't a spark of pity." + +"Take care, sir!" said Elsie, lifting her embroidery scissors. "Don't +try to win my natural allies over to your side by underhand +persuasions." + +"I am sure you don't need allies or assistance of any sort to be more +than a match for a dozen men," said Tom. + +"Another of my womanly prerogatives," replied Elsie. + +"Well," said Tom, "there seems to be no end to them." + +Everybody laughed at his tone, and Tom sat down near Elsie, tumbling her +work, and making signs to her to go out of the room, that he might +secure a few moments alone with her, but the little witch pretended not +to understand his signals in the least, and went on demurely with her +work. + +"You ruin my work!" cried she, snatching her embroidery from his touch. +"What on earth are you making such faces for?" + +Tom laughed in a distressed way, red with confusion. + +"Dazzled by your presence, Elsie," cried the widow, seeing that Tom had +not presence of mind enough for the compliment. + +Elizabeth began to get restless again; it was perfectly impossible for +her to keep quiet any length of time that day, and she made some excuse +for leaving them. + +"Let me go with you," said Mrs. Harrington; "I know you are going to +order luncheon, and I should so like to get a peep at your kitchen; it +is a perfect Flemish picture." + +"Particularly the crowd of dusky faces," said Elsie. "Mary Harrington, +you're a humbug." + +"I am sure she is quite right," said Tom, anxious to insure her +departure; "I was in the kitchen one day and it looked as picturesque as +Niagara." + +Elsie perfectly understood the motive which led him to speak, and +hastened to rejoin: + +"If you think it so stupendous you had better accompany them, and get +another peep." + +"No," said Tom; "I might disturb the colored persons; I'll stay where I +am." + +"Bless me," cried Elsie; "what consideration! You will be bursting into +unpremeditated poetry about the dark future, before we know it." + +"Oh, Elsie," said Mrs. Harrington, "what a provoking creature you are." + +She followed Elizabeth out of the room, and Tom was alone at last with +his idol. + +"Are you sorry I am going?" he asked. + +"Do I look so?" she asked. + +"No, you don't." + +"Well, looks can't tell fibs," said she, provokingly. + +"Oh, Elsie, be good to me now; just think; I shall be gone a whole +week!" + +"It's a calamity I dare not contemplate," replied she. "Now, whatever +you do, don't break your neck in those horrid coal mines, or come back +smelling of brimstone like a theatrical fiend." + +"I believe you would jest during an earthquake." + +"If it would stop the thing shaking I might," she answered. "There, +there, don't be cross, Tom." + +Elsie threw down her work, and with one of her quick changes of manner +brought her lover back to serenity. + +"If you would only let me do one thing before I go," he said, getting +courage enough from her kindness to propose an idea that had been in his +mind ever since he arrived. + +"What is it, _Monsieur Exigeant_?" + +"Just let me tell Grant of our--our--" + +"Our what, stammerer?" + +"Of the happiness you have promised me," said Tom, changing the original +word from fear of vexing her. + +"You were going to say engagement; don't deny it." + +"And aren't we engaged?" he pleaded. + +"Not a bit of it, Mr. Tom Fuller; I am just as free as air; please to +remember that." + +"Oh, Elsie!" + +"And Elsie oh!" cried she. "But it's true! You said all sorts of foolish +things about love, and I let you talk, but what right have you to say we +are engaged?" + +Tom instantly became so nervous that he could not sit still. + +"Oh, Elsie, Elsie, how can you?" he pleaded. + +"Now, aren't you deliciously miserable," said Elsie; "that is the way I +like to see you; it's your duty, sir." + +"I wouldn't think you so cruel at such a time." + +"Oh, wouldn't you? And pray what right have you to think at all; no man +has a right; that's another female privilege." + +"You are worse than the Women's Rights people," said he. + +"Now you are calling me names," cried Elsie, indignantly. "I won't stay +with you another moment." + +She half rose, but Tom caught her dress. + +"Oh, don't go, don't!" + +"Go on your knees then, and beg my pardon," said Elsie. + +"No," said Tom, "I'll do no such thing." + +"Ah, do now, just to please, you know." + +Down went Tom in dumb obedience. After enjoying his distress and +penitence for a few moments, Elsie suddenly threw both her arms about +his neck, and whispered: + +"I am very sorry you are going. I do love you dearly, Tom!" + +He strained her to his heart with a burst of grateful delight. + +"And may I tell Grant?" he pleaded. + +"Not yet," she said; "wait till you come back; not a word till then." + +"But as soon as I come?" + +"Yes; if you are good. But not a look till I say the word." + +She tried to escape from him, but he would not let her go until he had +extorted one other pledge. + +"You must write to me," he said. + +"Now, Tom, I hate to write letters! I never write even to Grant, when I +can possibly help it." + +"But just a few words--" + +"If you will behave yourself properly, perhaps yes." + +"Every day?" + +"Oh, worse and worse! Tom, get up. I hear Mary Harrington's voice; she's +the most inveterate gossip." + +"Promise then!" + +"Yes--yes--anything; oh, get away!" + +She struggled from him, and Tom had just time to resume his seat and +look as decorously grave as perfect happiness could permit, when the +door opened, and Mrs. Harrington entered, with her usual flutter. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +THE PET MESSENGER. + + +"Elsie, Elsie!" the widow cried out, "Mr. Rhodes and the fascinating +Jemima are driving up the avenue; the old maid is rushing on destruction +again without the slightest warning." + +"It's delightful!" said Elsie. "I shall tell her how rich Tom Fuller is, +and that he wants a wife." + +"Don't set the old dragon at me," said Tom. + +"Yes, I will! Mary, you must flirt desperately with the dear old man; +between her desire to watch you and be agreeable to Tom, the spinster +will be driven to the verge of distraction." + +"I'll go and find Elizabeth," said the widow, "and appear after the old +maid gets nicely settled." + +Mrs. Harrington darted away, and just made her escape as Dolf opened the +hall-door to admit the guests. + +The father and daughter were ushered into the room where Elsie and Tom +sat, looking demure and harmless as two kittens. + +"Here we are again, you see," said the stout man; "no one can resist +your fascinations, Miss Elsie." + +"Pa would stop," said Miss Jemima, "though I told him it was a shame to +come so often." + +The truth was, the spinster's appetite had warned her that it was quite +luncheon time, and recollecting the bounteous repasts always spread at +Piney Cove, she had graciously assented to her parent's proposal that +they should call. + +"I am delighted to see you," said Elsie, shaking hands as if they were +her dearest friends; "my brother and sister will be down in a moment; +you must stay to luncheon, of course." + +"No, oh, no," said Miss Jemima, glancing at Tom through her scant +eyelashes. "We couldn't think of it!" + +"But you must, you shall!" said Elsie. "Let me present Mr. Fuller." + +The spinster curtseyed and looked grimly propitious. Tom was nearly out +of his wits; while Mr. Rhodes talked to him he saw Elsie whisper to Miss +Jemima, and felt perfectly certain that she had given the threatened +information about his being a rich bachelor in search of a wife. + +"And when did you see your charming friend, Mrs. Harrington, last?" +asked Mr. Rhodes. + +"The oddest thing!" said Elsie. "Why, she is here now; hadn't you a +suspicion of it, Mr. Rhodes?" + +Miss Jemima's face changed so suddenly, that Tom made a great effort to +keep from laughing outright. + +"Oh, Mr. Rhodes," continued Elsie; "I am afraid the attractions of this +house are only borrowed ones." + +The good man was thrown into a state of blushing and pleasant confusion, +but the spinster brought him through it without mercy. + +"If there's company we won't stay, pa," said she. + +But Elsie would not permit her to go; she whispered again about Tom, and +between her desire to stop long enough to fascinate him and her fear of +exposing her father to the wiles of the artful widow, Jemima was in +terrible perplexity. + +In the midst of it Elizabeth entered, and welcomed her neighbors; Mellen +followed; and after a few moments the widow swooped down on the +unfortunate Mr. Rhodes in spite of the dragon, as a well-practised hawk +pounces on a plump chicken. + +"Ah, Mr. Rhodes, this is such a surprise," she cried, fluttering up to +him with a simper on her face, which of late years had done the duty of +a blush. + +"I dare say a great surprise," snapped in Jemima, siding up to her +father. + +This was exquisite sport for Elsie and Mrs. Harrington; Tom would have +enjoyed it more if the spinster had not beset him as much as her divided +attention would permit, and Elizabeth and Mellen bore the infliction as +people must endure all things that come to an issue in their own house, +smiling and polite, however much they may wish for a release. + +While they were at luncheon, Elizabeth's dog ran into the room with a +paper in its mouth. It was the most intelligent little creature in the +world, educated to fetch and carry in a surprising manner. + +This pretty creature, which seemed almost human in her intelligence, ran +towards her mistress, but another, a new pet of Elsie's, a frolicsome, +wicked animal that had quite worried poor Fanny's life out ever since +her intrusion in the house, followed it. + +Piccolomini sprang at the paper in Fan's mouth, and a contention ensued +between them which attracted general attention. + +"Fanny's got a paper," cried Elsie, pointing towards her pets. + +"It may be a letter," said Mellen; "Dolf often sends them in by her; +call off Pick, Elsie; she'll tear it." + +But Pick would not be called off, and Fanny refused to relinquish her +hold; between them the paper was rapidly destroyed, Fanny howling +dismally all the time, and making sagacious efforts to fulfil her errand +in her usual trusty manner. + +Mellen went towards them; as he did so Fanny sprang towards Elizabeth; +she stooped, caught sight of the paper, and grew pale. Fairly pushing +Mellen aside, she snatched the paper from the animal's mouth. + +"It's only an old bill, I must have dropped it," she said, thrusting it +hurriedly in her pocket. + +Mellen saw how pale his wife had become; he noticed her alarm; he +remembered, too, seeing Fanny running about the shrubbery just before he +came in. + +It was another phase of the mystery, he was certain of that; the little +creature was carrying a note to his wife. He seated himself at the table +again, and appeared to forget the circumstance, but Elizabeth hardly +looked like herself during the entire meal. + +It was late before the visitors departed; after that Tom Fuller was +compelled to take his leave,--a heartrending performance as far as he +was concerned; so the day drew to a close, leaving both the husband and +wife more preoccupied and anxious than the dreary morning had found +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +ELSIE FINDS THE BRACELET. + + +There was a dinner engagement the next day. When Elizabeth came down to +the library in full dress, her husband sat moodily over the fire. He +looked up as she entered, and gazed upon her with mournful admiration, +for her beauty that day was something wonderful; unabated excitement had +fired her eyes with a strange lustre, and lent a rich scarlet to cheeks, +from which protracted suspense had of late drained all the color. Her +dress, of rose colored silk, was misty with delicate lace that shaded +her neck and arms like gossamer on white lilies. Star-like jewels +flashed in the rich blackness of her hair and shone through the soft +lace. The calm loveliness of former days was nothing to the splendor of +her beauty now a feverish restlessness was upon her,--a glow of pain +conquered by courage. + +Mellen arose from his seat as his wife came in with the graceful rush of +a cloud across the sky. He watched her approach gloomily. It seemed to +him that her first impulse was to flee when she saw him sitting there, +but if so the desire was quickly controlled, and she came up to the +hearth, standing so near him that the folds of her dress brushed his +arm. + +"You are ready too," she said. "But it is impossible to say how long we +shall have to wait for Elsie and Mrs. Harrington!" + +He made no answer; she began clasping and unclasping her bracelets, but +was watching him all the while from under her downcast lashes. + +"Are you ill, Grantley?" she asked at length. + +"Oh! no; quite well." + +"You are so silent, and you sat there in such a dreary way, I feared +something was the matter." + +He made an effort to rouse himself and shake off the oppression--the +heavy, heavy weight which had lain on his soul all day. + +"I am only stupid," he replied, with an attempt at playfulness. "I have +been forced to talk so incessantly to those people, that I have no ideas +left." + +"I am sure conversation with people in general doesn't consume one's +ideas," she said, with a lightness which appeared forced like his own. + +"How long does Mrs. Harrington stay?" he asked. + +"Only till to-morrow. You don't like her, I fancy?" + +"There is too much of her in every way," he said, peevishly; "she +dresses too much, talks too much--she tires one." + +"That is very cruel and ungrateful; the lady confided to me only a +little while ago that she had a profound admiration for you, and was +dying to get up a flirtation, if I did not mind." + +"Don't repeat such nonsense," he said, almost rudely, "you know how I +hate it. I think either the married man or woman who flirts, deserves to +be as severely punished as if he or she had committed an actual crime." + +"I am afraid you would condemn the greater part of our acquaintance," +she said. "After all, with most women it arises only from +thoughtlessness." + +"Thoughtlessness!" he repeated satirically. "I can only say that the +woman who endangers her husband's peace from want of thought, is more +culpable than a person who does wrong knowingly, urged on by +recklessness or passion." + +"I have never thought about it," said Elizabeth vaguely; "it may be so." + +She was playing with her bracelets again; the action reminded him of the +lost trinket. He did not speak, but a restrained burst of passion broke +over his face, which might have changed a plan she was revolving in her +mind, had she seen or understood it. + +It was too late! + +That moment Elsie came dancing into the room, her thin evening dress +floating around her like a summer cloud, her fair hair wreathed with +flowers, and everything about her so pure and ethereal, that it seemed +almost as if she must breathe some more joyous air than the +pain-freighted atmosphere which weighed so heavily on others. She was +holding her hands behind her, and ran towards them in her childish way, +exclaiming: + +"I have found something! Who'll give a reward? Won't you both be +glad--guess what it is!" + +Mellen's face had brightened a little at her entrance, but as she spoke +a sudden thought shook his soul like a tempest. + +"What is it?" Elizabeth asked. + +"Oh, guess, guess!" + +"But I never can guess," she replied, seeming to enter into the spirit +of the thing. + +"You try, Grant. Come, do credit to your Yankee descent!" + +He rose suddenly and stood looking full in his wife's face, fixing her +glance with a quick thrill of terror, which the least thing unusual in +his manner caused her now. + +Elsie began to dance up and down before the hearth, exclaiming: + +"Oh! you provoking things--you stupid owls! Now do guess--oh! Grant, +just try. Tell me what I have found." + +Mellen's eyes had not moved from his wife's face. + +"Have you found Elizabeth's bracelet?" he asked in a tone which made the +unhappy woman shiver from head to foot, and startled Elsie out of her +playfulness. + +"Why, how did you think of that?" demanded Elsie; "did she tell you? +Have you----" + +She stopped short, the words frozen on her lips by the look which +Grantley Mellen still fixed upon his wife. Without changing that steady +gaze, he extended his hand towards Elsie. + +"Give me the bracelet!" he said, in the cold, hard tone which, with him, +was the sure forerunner of a tempest of passion. + +Elsie hesitated; she had grown nearly as pale as Elizabeth herself, but +she looked like a frightened child. Elizabeth did not speak or move, but +though her face was absolutely death-like, her eyes met her husband's +with unflinching firmness. + +"Give me the bracelet!" repeated Mellen. + +"Here it is!" exclaimed Elsie, nervously, putting the bracelet in his +hand. "What is the matter with you, Grant? I am sure there is nothing to +make a fuss about. I found the bracelet among a lot of rubbish in one of +Bessie's drawers--I suppose she forgot it was there." + +Grantley Mellen turned furiously towards her. + +"Are you learning to cheat and lie also?" he said. + +Elsie burst into a passionate flood of tears. + +"You are just as cruel and bad as you can be!" she moaned. "You ought to +be ashamed to talk so to me! I haven't done anything; I thought you +would be so pleased at my having found the bracelet, and here you behave +in this way. You needn't blame me, Grant--I don't know what it all +means! I am sure your dear mamma never thought you would speak to me +like that! I wish I was dead and buried by her--then you'd be sorry----" + +"I am not angry with you, child," interrupted Mellen, softened at once +by this childish appeal. "Go away and find Mrs. Harrington, Elsie. The +falsehood and the treachery are not yours--thank God! at least my own +blood has not turned traitor to me!" + +Elizabeth sank slowly in a chair; Elsie stole one frightened look +towards her, then the woman in her confusion and dizziness saw her float +out of the room, and she was alone with her husband. He held the +bracelet up before her eyes, his hand shaking so that the jewels flashed +balefully in the light. + +"Your plan was carried out too late; you should have had it found +before!" he said, and his last effort at self-control was swept away. + +She must speak--must try to stem the tide, and keep back a little longer +the exposure and ruin which for days back some mysterious warning had +told her was surely approaching. + +"I don't know what you mean," she faltered. + +"I mean that the bracelet was found where you put it!" interrupted +Mellen. + +"Why should I have hidden it? What reason--" + +"Stop!" he broke in. "Not another word--not a single falsehood more! You +brought this bracelet back with you from the city--don't speak--I went +to the pawnbroker's--it had just been taken away." + +In the whirl of that unhappy woman's senses the words seemed to come +from afar off; the lights were dancing before her eyes; the flashing +gems blinded her with their rays, but she still controlled herself. She +must make one last effort--she must discover how much of the truth he +knew--there might be some loophole for escape--some effort by which she +could avert a little longer the coming earthquake. + +"Why don't you speak?" he cried. "Say anything--another lie if you +will--anything rather than this black truth! That man; you know him! +Speak, I say!" + +"What man?" she faltered. + +"That traitor--that wretch! He had the bracelet; he got it from you! +Explain, I say--woman, I will have an explanation." + +"I never gave the bracelet away," she said, desperately. "I have no +explanation to make. I will not open my lips while you stand over me in +that threatening way." + +"Will you defy me to the last?" he exclaimed. + +"You can only kill me," she moaned; "do it and let me have peace!" + +He flung the bracelet down upon the table. + +"I have loved you, and I know that you are false!" + +"What do you suspect?" she demanded. "What do you know?" + +The momentary weakness of passion passed; the husband stood up again +cold and stern. + +"I know," he said, "that this bracelet was in the hands of a bad, wicked +man; only yesterday he took it from the pawnbroker's, and now I find it +in your possession." + +There was a hope; only in another deception; but she must save herself; +while there was a thread to grasp at, she could not allow herself to be +swept down the gathering storm. + +"And is there no possibility that I may be innocent in all this?" she +exclaimed. "If I receive an anonymous letter, telling me I can find my +bracelet by paying a certain reward, is it not natural that I should go? +Knowing your strange disposition, is it not equally natural that I +should keep the whole thing a secret, and strive to make every one +believe that the bracelet had been mislaid." + +"Is this true?" he cried. "Can you prove to me that you speak the +truth?" + +She was not looking at him; the apathy of despair which came over her +seemed like sullen obstinacy. + +"I can prove nothing," she said; "if it were possible I would not make +the effort. Do what you like; believe what you please; I will defend +myself no more." + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +IN THE TEMPEST. + + +Mellen turned away, and walked up and down the room in silence. There +was a fearful struggle in his mind; the love he still felt for his wife +was contending against horrible doubts, and almost threatening his +reason. + +He could not decide what to think or how to act! For the moment at least +he was glad to grasp at any pretext which might prove a settlement to +the question, whatever his thoughts and belief might be on after +reflection. + +He looked again at Elizabeth; her stony calmness irritated him almost to +a frenzy. He was too much excited to perceive that her very quiet was +the apathy of despair; it seemed to him that she was only testing her +power over him to its full extent. If her story was true, she would die +rather than humble her pride by protestations or proof; if it was false! +There was deceit somewhere, he felt that; but even in his madness he +could not believe that Elizabeth had been guilty of anything that +affected his honor; that was a black thought which had not reached him +yet. + +"Are you determined to drive me mad?" he exclaimed. + +She lifted both hands with a strange gesture of misery and humiliation, +which he could not have understood. + +"What have I done?" she cried. "What have I said?" + +"Nothing! There you sit like a stone, and will not speak." + +"It is useless to say anything," she returned; "quite useless." + +"And you expect me to leave this matter here; to endure this mystery +patiently?" + +"I expect nothing--nothing!" + +The same dreary, desperate wail pervaded her voice, but it was not +strange that he mistook her coldness for obstinacy or indifference; the +very intensity of agony she was enduring made her appear heartless. + +"You won't explain--you won't--" + +She drooped her head wearily. + +"I have no explanation to make; there is the bracelet." + +He caught up the bracelet, snatched her arm so rudely, and fastened the +bracelet on it with such reckless haste, that she uttered a cry of pain. + +"You hurt me," she exclaimed; "this is cruel, unmanly." + +"Wear it," he cried; "wear it, and when you look at it remember that you +have dug a gulf between my heart and yours! Wear it, and remember how +you have perjured yourself; how your whole conduct since my return has +been a lie, and if you have any shame or power of repentance left, the +gems will burn into your very soul when you look at them." + +Elizabeth fell back in her chair cold and white. He rushed out of the +room. She was not conscious of any thought; her brain was too dizzy; but +sat there clasping her forehead between her hands, and seeming to feel +the whole world reel into darkness before her gaze. + +"Has he gone; where is he?" + +It was Elsie's voice; she had stolen into the room to learn how the +matter had ended. + +"Can't you speak, Bessie; what did he say?" + +Elizabeth dropped the hands from her face, and rose from her seat. + +"No matter what he said; the end is coming. I told you it would; the end +is coming!" + +"Don't look so!" cried Elsie, "you frighten me." + +"Frighten!" she repeated with intense bitterness. "You haven't soul +enough in your bosom to be frightened." + +"Oh, you cruel, wicked creature!" sobbed Elsie. "Oh, oh! I'll kill +myself if you talk so to me; I'll go to Grant; I'll--" + +"Hush!" interrupted Elizabeth. "There--I will say no more! I don't blame +you--remember that! Whatever comes, I won't blame you for this new +danger." + +"Oh, you good, unselfish darling!" cried Elsie, drying her tears at +once. + +She made a step forward as if to throw her arms about her sister, but +Elizabeth retreated. + +"Don't touch me," she said, faintly; "don't touch me!" + +"Should I poison you?" cried Elsie, angrily. "One would think I was some +dreadful reptile." + +"No, no; don't be angry! I need all my strength! Let me alone, Elsie; +don't speak to me." + +"The carriage is at the door," said Elsie, "and Mrs. Harrington is +waiting; for mercy's sake don't let her think anything is wrong. I am +going to find Grant; wait here." + +She ran out of the room, and Elizabeth stood thinking over her words. + +Very soon perhaps the whole world would know that she was a lost, ruined +woman, without a home, a friend, or even a name. + +Could she bear up; could she find strength to go on to the end and not +die till then? + +The hardness and desperation died out of her face; she fell to her +knees, and a prayer for help rose to her lips; low and faint, but +intense with agony. + +She heard steps in the hall; they were coming for her. She sprang to her +feet, moved towards the door and opened it; her husband, Elsie and their +guest were there. She answered Mrs. Harrington's careless words; passed +on with them through the hall, and took her misery out into the world as +we all do so often, hidden carefully in the depths of a tortured soul. + +At dinner that day Elizabeth met two or three superior people from the +city, men and women of note, whose presence at the board was like meteor +flashes--kindling everything with brilliancy; but among the most +cheerful and most witty this wretched woman shone forth preeminent. +Every word she spoke carried electric fire with it. Her cheeks were +scarlet; her eyes radiant. The lips that had been so pale in her +husband's presence a few hours before, glowed like ripe cherries with +the sunshine upon them. In her desperation she was inspired, and kindled +every mind around her with enthusiasm. + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +THE OLD CEDAR TREE. + + +Immediately after breakfast the next morning, Mrs. Harrington returned +to the city, perhaps glad to escape from the unnatural mental atmosphere +of the house, certainly much to the relief of all the inmates of the +dwelling. + +Grantley Mellen drove his guest down to the railway train. The moment +they departed Elizabeth and Elsie, as if by a common impulse, started in +a different direction, apparently anxious not to be left alone with each +other. + +Elsie was passing through the hall when her brother drove up to the +door. She stopped him after he got out of the carriage for a few +moments' trifling conversation, then allowed him to pass on towards the +library. + +As the girl fluttered back towards the veranda, she saw old Jarvis +Benson approaching the house, and hurried out. + +"Oh, Jarvis, I wanted to see you." + +Jarvis took the pipe out of his mouth, regarded her complacently, and +answered: + +"Then thar's a pair on you, Miss Mellen." + +"I want to have a pair of very light oars made to the little boat, so +that I can learn to row it," pursued Elsie. + +"That's easy done," said Jarvis. "I guess I've got a pair that'll +answer. Only don't dround yourself." + +"I'll take care of that," she replied, laughing. "But who else wants +you, Jarvis?" + +"Your brother told me to come up, and--oh, there he is." + +Mr. Mellen had heard voices, and came through the hall out on the +veranda. + +"Good morning, Jarvis!" he said, in his quiet way. + +"Good morning, sir! You don't look very well, I think," observed the +keen-sighted old man. + +Elsie glanced at her brother; he was very pale, and his heavy eyes told +of a long, sleepless night. + +Mr. Mellen frowned slightly; it displeased him to have his personal +appearance commented upon, and wounded his pride to know that he had not +sufficient strength to keep back every outward sign of the anxiety and +trouble he was enduring. + +"Be you well, now?" continued the pertinacious old man, who had a habit +of asking questions and expressing his opinions with the utmost freedom +to people of every degree. + +"Perfectly well," replied Mr. Mellen. "You have come up about that tree, +have you?" + +"Wal, yes," said Jarvis. "I hadn't much to do this morning, so I thought +I'd just come round and find out what's the matter. You hain't found no +gardener yet?" + +"No; I have sent to town for one. You have sufficient knowledge to keep +the greenhouse in order until one is found." + +"Just as you say, sir; I'll do my best." + +The gardener at Piney Cove had seen fit to leave the place a few days +before without the slightest warning, with the true, reckless +independence of the Hibernian race. When a dilemma of this kind arose, +the people of the neighborhood were in the habit of sending for old +Benson, who seemed, in some mysterious way, to have acquired a +smattering of knowledge about everything that could make him generally +useful. + +Elsie did not feel particularly interested in the subject of +conversation, and was moving off in search of other amusement, when she +heard old Jarvis say: + +"It's the big cypress yonder, in the thicket, ain't it?" + +She stopped short in the hall, and stood leaning against the door with +her back towards them. + +"Yes," Mr. Mellen answered. "I am afraid it is dying. I want you to dig +about the roots and see if you can find out where the trouble lies." + +"Loosening the earth a bit'll maybe do a world of good," said Jarvis; +"I've seen it 'liven a tree right up." + +"We will try, at all events," observed Mr. Mellen. "First you may take +those plants under the library window into the greenhouse; it is too +late for them to be left out." + +He walked to the side of the house to point out the flowers he wished to +have removed. Elsie darted through the hall and up the stairs in +breathless haste. + +She paused at the door of her sister's room and tried the knob, but the +bolt was drawn. + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" she called out in a frightened whisper, utterly +incapable of speaking aloud. "Open the door--for heaven's sake, open the +door!" + +There was terror in her voice which communicated itself to the woman +sitting so apathetically in her chamber. She rose and opened the door, +whispering, in a voice full of alarm: + +"What is it? What is it?" + +Elsie pushed her back into the room, shut and locked the door, and +staggered to a couch. + +"The cypress tree!" she gasped. "They are going there." + +"Who?" cried Elizabeth. "What do you mean?" + +"I can't speak--oh, I am choking!" gasped Elsie. + +Elizabeth seized her arm, and fairly shook her with frenzied impatience. + +"Speak!" she exclaimed. "Speak, I say!" + +"Grant has sent old Jarvis to dig about the roots," returned Elsie, in a +shrill whisper. + +Elizabeth Mellen sank slowly upon her knees, her limbs giving way +suddenly, as if she had been struck with paralysis. She caught at +Elsie's dress, the girl raised herself, and there they remained for +several moments, staring in each others' faces, with a white, sickening +terror, which could find no relief in words. + +After a time Elizabeth shook herself free from Elsie's grasp and rose; +the power to think and act was coming back to her. + +"You heard them say this?" she asked. + +"Yes, yes!" cried Elsie. "Grant sent for old Jarvis to come up and dig +round the tree; he thinks it is dying." + +Elizabeth threw up her arms in silence, more expressive of agony than a +shriek. + +"It has come at last!" broke from her white lips. "It has come at last!" + +Elsie cowered down upon the sofa and buried her head in the cushions, +shaking with hysterical tremors from head to foot, and uttering +repressed sobs. + +"Exposure--ruin--disgrace!" moaned Elizabeth, as if repeating words that +some secret voice whispered in her ear. "It has come at last! It has +come at last!" + +"I shall die!" shrieked Elsie. "I shall go mad!" + +She beat the couch wildly with her clenched hands and gave way to a +violent nervous spasm, but this time Elizabeth made no effort to soothe +her; she stood there, cold and white, repeating at intervals, in that +dismal whisper: + +"It has come at last! It has come at last!" + +"Do something," sobbed Elsie. "Don't stand there as if you were turning +to stone. Think of some way to stop them." + +"What can I do?" returned Elizabeth. "I tell you it has come! I knew it, +I have been expecting it!" + +Elsie gave another shriek, sprang off the sofa, threw herself at her +sister's feet, clutching her dress with both hands, and cried out: + +"Do something--anything! I shall go crazy--my brain is burning! I won't +live--I tell you I won't live if you don't stop this." + +Elizabeth shook off her grasp, not angrily, not impatiently even, but +with a sudden change of expression, as if Elsie's despair had brought +back some half-forgotten resolution, and given her wild strength once +more. + +"You will not suffer," she said, drearily. "You are safe." + +"But you--what will become of you?" groaned the girl. + +"Let go my dress--get up, Elsie! See, I am calm. I tell you, no harm +will come to you--get up." + +Elsie staggered to her feet, and sat down on the sofa with a burst of +tears. + +"I'd rather kill myself than see you tormented so!" she cried. "I have +the poison yet--I've always kept it. If they don't stop, Elizabeth, they +shall find us dead and cold----" + +"Stop!" said Elizabeth. "I won't hear such wicked words! The danger is +mine, the ruin and disgrace are mine--all mine; but I do not talk of +killing myself." + +"You are so brave," moaned Elsie, "and I am such a poor, weak thing. Oh, +oh! This will kill me either way, I know it will!" + +"I know what will happen to me," said Elizabeth, in a voice of unnatural +calmness. "Do you know what this day will bring? Before two hours are +gone I shall be driven out of this house, a lost, ruined woman." + +"No, no! Grant will forgive you--he loves you so!" + +"Does a man ever forgive a wrong like that?" + +"But you will say you don't know--I will." + +"Are you a baby? Don't you know there will be an exposure--we shall all +be questioned--forced to give evidence." + +"We will say anything--anything!" cried Elsie. + +"We cannot satisfy Grantley Mellen. I tell you, Elsie, this is the last +interview we shall ever hold under this roof." + +Elsie threw herself down in renewed anguish, shrieking and sobbing so +violently that nothing could be done or thought of till she had been +restored to composure by the strong remedies Elizabeth administered. + +"Promise not to tell that I ever knew of it," she pleaded. "Swear! I'll +kill myself if you don't!" + +"I have promised," returned Elizabeth, in a hollow voice. "I will bear +whatever comes--ruin, death--and bear it alone, you shall not be dragged +in." + +These words, so solemnly spoken, appeared to give the girl new life and +energy. + +"Go downstairs," she said; "stop them. You can stop them yet." + +"How--what can I say?" + +"Tell Grant that the gardener said the tree must be left till +spring--bribe old Jarvis to say so--oh, anything, anything; only try, +Elizabeth. Save yourself if possible." + +The woman walked to the window and looked out. + +"They are going," she said. + +"Go down!" shrieked Elsie. "Go down, I say!" + +Elizabeth took a few steps towards the door--caught sight of her face in +the mirror, and stopped appalled at the haggard image reflected there. + +"Look at me," she said; "my face tells the whole story." + +"There is some rouge in that drawer," said Elsie. "Mrs. Harrington left +it. I'll put it on your cheeks." + +Elsie could think, now that Elizabeth showed herself ready to bear her +danger alone. She got out the rouge, rubbed it on her sister's cheeks, +and smoothed her hair. + +"Now you look like yourself--nobody would notice. Go quick--stop +them--stop them!" + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE. + + +Elizabeth dared not pause an instant for reflection; she opened the +door, walked downstairs, through the library, and joined her husband on +the lawn. + +He turned at her approach. She felt a mad sort of courage nerve her--she +could speak now. + +"What, planning against the great cypress?" she asked, and even in that +moment of supreme agony and fear she was conscious of vague wonder at +the composure of her voice. + +"It seems to be dying," replied Mellen; "I am going to have the earth +dug away from about the roots." + +"I am afraid you will only kill it," returned Elizabeth; "it is so late +in the season." + +"I did not know that you were a gardener," he said, coldly. + +He looked at her standing there with that unnatural brightness on her +cheeks, that wild glitter in her eyes, and it seemed to him that she had +only come out in her beauty and unconcern, to mock him after the long +night of wild trouble which he had spent. + +"I know that is what Jones said," she went on. "He thought in the spring +something could be done, but not now." + +He was turning away--that action deprived her of all self-control--she +caught his arm, crying: + +"Don't touch that tree--don't go near it." + +He stopped and looked at her in blank amazement; she saw the danger in +which her impetuosity had placed her--dropped his arm and tried to +appear composed again. + +"What is the matter with you?" he asked. "The tree is not a human being +that I am going to assassinate." + +She forced herself to laugh; even then the woman's self-mastery was +something astounding. + +"I was a little theatrical," she said; "but I can't bear to have the old +tree touched." + +"Why, marm, it'll die if it ain't," put in Jarvis, who considered that +he had been silent quite long enough. + +"You don't know anything about the matter!" cried Elizabeth, sharply. + +The old man drew himself up, and looked so indignant that she felt sure +he would oppose her now with might and main. + +"I mean," she added, "you don't know how I feel about it, I want the +poor thing left alone." + +The old man relinquished his erect attitude and looked somewhat +mollified. + +"If it's yer whim, marm, that's another thing, but I thought I'd lived +too long in this neighborhood for anybody to accuse me of not knowing a +thing when I pretended to, especially about trees." + +"Oh, no, no," interrupted she; "I always knew that you were a universal +genius, a better gardener than half the professed ones." + +"Wal, I don't know about that," said Jarvis, his face beaming all over +with satisfaction, for the old man was peculiarly susceptible to +flattery. + +"Then you won't touch the tree?" cried Elizabeth, turning again towards +her husband. + +Mr. Mellen had been watching her while she talked; he was growing more +and more angry now, thinking that she only wished to interfere +unwarrantably with his plans. + +"You will leave the tree till spring?" she continued. + +"I shall have the earth loosened," he answered, "I don't choose to +sacrifice the tree to a mere caprice." + +"It is not a caprice," she exclaimed, forgetting herself once more. "I +ask you not to touch it--I beg you not to touch it!" + +"Might I ask the reason of your extraordinary conduct?" he began; then +remembering old Benson's presence, checked himself quickly. + +"I think it the best thing for the tree," he added. + +"But Jones did not think so, and he ought to know." + +"I fancy he said that to avoid the work." + +"No, no! In the spring you can do it--not now--not now." + +"By spring it will be too late; the earth must be dug away now." + +She clasped her hands under her shawl, resolved to make one effort +more--a respite must be found--for a day, at least. + +She looked out toward the tree--the lower part of it was hidden, where +they stood, by a thicket of shrubs and bushes, but the stately top +towered up dark and solemn, waving in the morning breeze and seeming to +whisper an omen of dread to her half maddened senses. + +"Not to-day," she exclaimed; "at least do not touch it to-day." + +His suspicious mind, so wildly on the alert since the strange events of +the past week, was now fully aroused by the singular earnestness and +trouble of her manner. + +There was another secret! It was no desire to contradict him which +actuated her--there was something at the bottom which he could not +understand--a new phase of the mystery with which he had felt himself +surrounded from the first moment of his arrival, and which had gathered +and darkened so rapidly during the past week. + +"Leave the tree at least to-day," pleaded Elizabeth. + +"I can't send for Jarvis and put him off without a reason," he said; "he +has plenty of work on his hands." + +"It can't make no difference, Miss Mellen," the old man joined in; +"'tain't no use to put it off--anyhow I couldn't come again till the +last of the week." + +"Let it go till then," she said, eagerly; and new life stole over her +face at the bare hope of obtaining that delay. + +"This is sheer folly," said her husband. "Go in--go in. You will catch +cold--the grass is damp. Come, Jarvis, get your spade." + +"It won't hurt the tree a spec, Miss Mellen," said he; "don't feel +oneasy about it--I'll be as tender of it as if it was a baby." + +He moved away as he spoke, and left the husband and wife together. +Elizabeth was pale even through her artificial bloom--no matter what he +thought, she must obtain some delay. + +"Grantley," she cried, "don't touch the tree--I ask it as a favor--you +will not refuse--let it stand as it is." + +He gave one look at her face and turned his head away to hide the +expression of anger and doubt which crept over his own. + +"Can you give any reason?" + +"No, no! It is one of my fancies--only gratify it--let the tree alone +for a day or two at least." + +Fierce passion shook Mellen like a sudden tempest. His first impulse was +to drag her into the house and force from her lips the secret and the +mystery which surrounded her, but he controlled the impulse and +answered: + +"As you please. I will leave it for the present." + +With this curt concession Mellen walked away, and Elizabeth went back +into the house. She paused to rest a few moments in the library; her +limbs were shaking so violently that they refused to support her. She +was roused by the sound of her husband's voice in conversation with old +Benson--he might come in and find her there. + +She started up like a wounded animal that concentrates its dying +strength in one wild effort for escape--hurried from the room and up the +stairs into her own chamber. + +Elsie was still lying on the sofa; she sprang up as Elizabeth entered. + +"Will he leave it?" she cried. "Will he leave it?" + +"Yes, he has promised." + +Elizabeth sank in a chair, so broken down by agony that it might have +softened the heart of her deadliest enemy could he have seen her then. + +"Saved again!" cried Elsie. "Don't despair, Bessie--it will all end +right." + +"Saved!" repeated Elizabeth. "Have you thought what must be done before +I can breathe again?" + +Elsie gave a cry and hid her face. + +"Be still!" said Elizabeth. "I will do it--be still!" + +"Don't let me know--don't tell me--I should die of fright!" + +"Think of me, then," she returned. "In the night--alone with +that----what can I do?" + +Elsie interrupted her with another cry and her old appealing wail. + +"You are killing me! You are killing me!" + +"Be still," repeated Elizabeth, in the same awful voice. "Be still!" + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +CLORINDA'S GHOST STORY. + + +Mellen set old Benson about some other duties and went into the library. +While he stood at one of the windows, looking gloomily out on the autumn +landscape, he heard the voices of 'Dolf and his spinster inamorata in +the area below. + +"What's marster gwine to have done to de tree?" Clo asked. + +"He's afeared it's deceasin'," replied Dolf, pompously, "and he wishes +to perwent." + +"Don't come none o' yer furrin lingo over me," said Clorinda, angrily. +"Can't yer say what he's gwine to do, widout any of dem dern outlandish +Spanish 'spressions." + +"'Twarn't Spanish, lubly one," said 'Dolf, greatly delighted at the +effect his grandiloquent language had produced. "Sometimes I do 'dulge +in far away tongues jist from habit; its' trabeling so much, you know." + +"Don't know nothin' about it, and don't want to," interrupted Clorinda. +"Ef yer can't answer a civil question as it outer be, yer needn't stay +round dis part of de house." + +"Don't be ravagerous," returned Dolf. "Any question ob yours it is my +delight to answer, only propose it." + +"I does, plainly enough. What's marster gwine to have done to dat ar ole +tree?" + +"Hab de airth dug up," said Dolf, deeming it wiser to use a more simple +phraseology; "he's 'feared it's dying." + +Mellen was about to order them away from that part of the house--the +veriest trifle irritated him now--when Clorinda's next words made him +pause. + +"I wish he'd hev it dug up by the roots," she said; "I do 'lieve dat ar +tree is haunted." + +"Haunted!" screamed Dolf, who possessed a large share of the +superstition of his race. "Now what does yer mean, Miss Clorindy?" + +"Jes' what I ses," replied she sharply; "I ain't one ob de kind dat +tittervates up my words till dey haint got no sense left." + +"But I never heerd of a haunted tree," said Dolf, gaining new courage as +he remembered that it was broad daylight. "Haunted houses I've heerd on +in plenty; but a tree----" + +"Oh, mebby yer don't know eberything yet!" said Clo, viciously. + +Clo had been rather short with her lover of late, having interrupted +several private flirtations of Victoria, with the faithless one. + +"Do tell me what yer mean, Clorindy," pleaded Dolf, his eyes fairly +started out of his head with curiosity. + +"Oh, mebby you'd better go to Vic," she retorted, "she's a heap cuter +dan what I be. I ain't coffee-colored, I'se only a nigger." + +"Now, Miss Clorindy!" cried Dolf, understanding that this was an +occasion when flattery and soft words were absolutely necessary. "You +know I'se ales in for de genuine article." + +"Don't know nothin' ob de sort," said Clo. "I kint flirty and flighty +about like some folks; but, anyhow, I ain't fool enough to put all my +wages on my back. I guess marster cud tell what I've got in de bank." + +That allusion to her golden charms drove the youthful graces of Victoria +quite out of Dolf's head. He grew more tender and submissive at once. + +"Yer's de pearl ob de creation!" he cried enthusiastically. + +Mellen stamped his foot passionately, furious with their nonsense, +upbraiding himself that he could listen to the conversation of his own +servants, yet unable to move away without hearing the revelation which +Clorinda evidently had to make. + +After a little more persuasive eloquence which began to restore +Clorinda's good-humor, Dolf said: + +"But do tell me what yer means 'bout de tree?" + +"No," said Clorinda, mysteriously; "it's one ob dem tings as is best not +talked 'bout. I don't run and tell all I sees and hears." + +"Jis' confide in my buzzom," said Dolf, tenderly. + +"Men is so duberous, 'specially dem as brags 'bout der mean white blood, +which comes out coppery any how," said Clorinda. + +"Yer knows I'se de most faithful and constance ob my sect," cried Dolf. +"Yer may speak freely to me." + +"I 'spose yer'd say de same to Vic." + +"Neber, Miss Clorindy! What, dat silly, giggling girl--don't tink it!" + +His persuasions met with their reward at last; he pleaded again: + +"Jis' tell me what yer means 'bout de tree bein' haunted?" + +She yielded to his flattery and her feminine desire to tell all that she +had seen or imagined about the old cedar. + +"Mebby 'twas two months 'fore you came back," she said, in the tone of a +person trying to be exact in her recollection of events. + +"What was?" cried Dolf, impatiently, "de hauntin'?" + +"Ef I'm gwine to tell you my story I'll do it in my own way," said +Clorinda, majestically. + +"In course, in course," returned Dolf. "I begs pardon for de 'ruption. +Jis' go on, sweetest Miss Clo'." + +"I tells yer dar's been somethin' agoing on in dis house," pursued +Clorinda. "Dat ar bracelet losing was all of a piece wid what went +afore. Missus was awful mad at me for saying so, but I don't care. She's +queer--stuck up like. There's Miss Elsie, sweet allers as a young +kitten!" + +"Yes, yes," Dolf said, ready to agree with anything in order to get at +the heart of Clorinda's mystery. + +"Afore ever dat ring was lost I seed a man in de house in de dead ob de +night--a man and a woman!" + +"Good gracious!" cried Dolf. + +"I'd had de toothache, and ben down to de kitchen fire a smokin' +pennyryal, and awful sick it made me. I was gwine up de back stairs, +when I heard steps in de hall. I looked in and I seed a man and woman +plain. I had de candle in my hand. I screeched right out, and shut my +eyes, and let de candle fall. When I opened 'em again missus had come +out of her room, wid a shawl over her and a lamp in her hand. + +"'What yer doin' dar?' says she. + +"I up and telled her 'bout de man and woman, and she larfed in my face. + +"'Whar be dey?' says she. 'Dar's nobody here but us.' + +"'Twarn't no use to say nothin', she flew off into one o' her tantrums, +and scolded me like all possessed. I don't like her, anyhow, and dat's +all 'bout it!" + +"But is dat all?" questioned Dolf, in a disappointed tone. + +"No, it ain't all; jis' wait and don't go off de handle afore you knows +which end you've got hold on." + +"But de tree, Clorindy," said Dolf; "tell me 'bout de tree." + +"I'se comin' to dat," replied Clo, growing eager again. "I'd ben down to +see Dinah Jameson, at de cross roads; it was real late; we'd had a +prayer meetin' and I kinder forgot myself in de refreshin' season----" + +"Yes," said Dolf, fearing she would go off in a long digression and lose +sight of the all-important topic, "dey is refreshin'; as preserves is to +de taste so is meetin's to de spirit--soothin', yer know." + +"Jis' so," said Clorinda. + +"Wal, yer was comin' home," suggested Dolf. + +"Yes; two or tree on 'em came with me to de gate and dar dey left me. I +heeled it up de avenue jis' as hard as I could, but when I got near de +house I thort, suppose missus should see me, she's a pokin up at all +hours, she'd scold me like smoke. I jis' cut out ob de road to take de +path trough de thicket, and came in sight ob de ole cypress tree." + +Clorinda broke off abruptly to recover her breath and to allow her +narrative to have its full effect upon her listener. + +"Go on; oh, do go on!" cried Dolf. + +Could the pair have seen the face leaning over the balcony, straining to +catch every word, they might almost have thought that one of the ghosts +they so dreaded had started up before them. + +"I came in sight ob de cypress tree," recommenced Clo, working up her +story to a climax with great art. + +"Yes, yes," said Dolf again. "In sight ob de tree----" + +"I seed somethin' all in white a couchin' down dar, a throwin' up its +arms and moaning like. I jis' give one yell and danced away. When I got +to de house, what do you tink? dar was missus. Whar she come from I +don't know, and she give me goose again for screaming; but la! she was +white as a dead woman all de while." + +"What could it all a ben?" + +"I don't know more'n you. The next morning she sent for me, and she +telled me she'd hev to send me away ef I didn't quit dat habit of bein' +up so late and skeerin' de gals wid stories 'bout ghosts; so I jis' held +my tongue." + +"And had you ebber seed anytink more?" + +"Laws, I wouldn't go near dat tree after dark for all de money on Long +Island! I tells you dar's sometin' queer somewhar." + +"So dar is," assented Dolf, in a perplexed manner, "dar is, sure." + +"Don't yer say nothin', 'cause I'd get my walkin' papers ef yer did. But +ef you're so mighty wise, jis' tell me what yer makes ob all dis +mysteriousness?" + +"Clorindy," said Dolf, in a solemn voice, "ghostesses is a subject +'taint proper to talk on, and the queernesses ob our marsters and +misseses is not tropics for us." + +"A body must wonder, I s'pose, black or white," said Clo, angrily. + +"But dat's all you've seen?" + +"Dat's all, and it's 'nuff and more too." + +Grantley Mellen stepped back into the library and closed the window. He +had need to be alone. Every day, every hour, the mystery which had +intruded into his home deepened and took more appalling shapes. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +THE SABLE FORTUNE HUNTER. + + +The pair of sable retainers went on with their conversation, totally +unconscious of a listener, and when the interest connected with that +subject had culminated, diverged to themes more intimately connected +with their own affairs. + +One of the chief desires of Dolf's soul was to find out exactly how much +money Clorinda had in the bank, but he had never been able, with all his +arts, to bring her to that degree of confidence necessary to make him a +partner in that dearest secret of her life. + +The other servants and her friends in the neighborhood gave very +contradictory accounts concerning the amount, and Victoria openly avowed +her belief that-- + +"De whole ting was just gammon--didn't b'lieve she had no money no +whar--she know'd she was so old dat it was her only chance of ketchin' a +beau, so she tried it on; dat was 'bout all it 'mounted to." + +But Dolf was too wise to be influenced by Victoria's sneers, and had +lately convinced himself that the sum was larger than he at first +supposed. In that case Dolf felt the extreme folly of allowing a fancy +for Victoria to stand in the way of his interest. Already he had +incurred Clorinda's serious displeasure; it had required a vast amount +of eloquence to reconcile matters after his indiscretion with the +strange young woman at old Mother Hopkin's, besides, his flirtations +with Victoria were a constant bone of contention between them. + +Dolf felt certain that if he only came directly to the point and made +Clorinda a bona fide offer of his hand with his heart in it, she would +forgive him; but it required a good deal of resolution to make up his +mind to that step. + +Clorinda was not prepossessing in her appearance,--that her most partial +friends would have been forced to admit; probably in her youth she might +have had her attractions, but now that years, avarice, and a not very +patient temper had worn their furrows in her face, it really required +all the glitter of her reported wealth to make her endurable in Dolf's +mercenary eyes. + +Then her color and her frizzed locks, at which Victoria sneered so +openly--that was a tender point with Dolf; he had the general contempt +for the jetty hue which one is certain to find among those of the bronze +complexion. + +Dolf stood there looking at Clorinda and revolving all those things in +his mind, while she washed her vegetables and made herself busy as +possible at the kitchen dressers. + +"Dis life is full of mysteriousness, Miss Clorindy," he said in a +meditative tone. + +Clorinda snipped off the tops from the carrots she was preparing for her +soup, and assented. + +"Dar ain't much wuth livin' for," she said gloomily. + +Dolf was frightened at once; when Clo got into one of her desponding +humors she became very religious without delay; and he trembled with +fear that she would condemn him to Methodist hymns and a prayer-meeting +that very night. + +"Don't say dat, Miss Clorindy, now don't!" he exclaimed pathetically. +"You's de light ob too many eyes for sich renumerations--you lights der +hearts as de sun does de sky at noonday." + +Clorinda relented; with all her firmness and numerous other grim +virtues, she was a thorough woman at heart, and never could withstand +flattery adroitly administered. + +"Go 'long wid yer poety nonsense," said she, giving a coquettish toss to +her head that made her gorgeous bandanna flutter as if suddenly +electrified. "Go 'way wid sich, I say." + +"Don't call it nonsense, sweet Miss Clorindy," urged Dolf; "when a +gemman disposes de tenderest feelins' ob his bussom at yer feet, don't +jist at 'em." + +To be called by such endearing epithets in two consecutive sentences, +softened Clorinda greatly; this time something uncommon must be +coming--Dolf certainly was in earnest. + +"I don't see nothin' at my feet," said she, with a little giggle. + +"Yes, yer does, Miss Clorindy," pleaded Dolf; "yes, yer does--now don't +deny it." + +"La!" said Clorinda, in a delightful flurry, "you men is so confusin'." + +"I don't mean ter be confusin', Miss Clorindy," said Dolf; "it's far +from my wishes--leastways wid you." + +There was a tender emphasis on the concluding pronoun which quite upset +Clorinda. She allowed the carrots to fall back in the pan of water, and +seated herself on a stool near by--if anything serious was coming she +would receive it with dignity befitting the occasion. + +Artful Dolf, profound in his knowledge of the sex, read her thoughts +without the slightest difficulty, and chuckled inwardly at the idea that +any female heart could resist his fascinations. Still he was in a +condition of great perplexity; he had no intention of committing himself +until he had learned the exact price Clorinda could pay for the +sacrifice he was prepared to make of his youth and good looks. On the +other hand, he was sorely puzzled how to obtain the desired information +without laying his heart at her feet. All his craft in that direction +had signally failed; in that respect Clorinda was astute enough to be +fully his match. + +But he must say something; Dolf could not afford to lose time in +misunderstandings, particularly as he had lately discovered that the +sable parson whose meetings she attended, was becoming seriously devoted +in his attentions. + +"Ah! Miss Clorindy," he said, "de sect is all resemblous in one +particular." + +"What do yer mean?" inquired Clo, and her voice softened in response to +the tenderness in his. + +"In yer cruelty," said Dolf, "yer cruelty, Miss Clorindy." + +"Laws, nobody ebber sed I was cruel," returned the matter-of-fact Clo. +"I wrings de necks ob de chickens and skin de eels alive, 'cause it's a +cook's lookout, but I hasn't got a speck ob cruelty in me." + +Dolf shook his head, then dropped it on one side with an air which he +had found very effective in former flirtations. + +"In course yer'll deny it--it's de way ob de sect, but de fact is dar." + +"I don't know what yer mean," said Clorinda, beginning to resume a +little of her usual rigidity; "if yer ain't a talkin' Spanish now, it's +jist as bad." + +"I alludes to de coquettations in which yer all indulge." + +"I don't," said Clo; "I leaves all sich foolishnesses to silly things +like dat Vic--I hasn't no patience wid 'em." + +"Oh! Miss Clorindy, Miss Clorindy!" + +"Dat's my name, fast 'nuff; yer needn't go shouting it out dat ways." + +"When I'se seed wid my own eyes," said Dolf. + +"What has yer seen? Jis' 'ticlarise--I hate beatin' round de bush." + +Clo really believed that Dolf was getting jealous; the bare idea filled +her with a delicious thrill--triumphs of that sort were sufficiently +rare in her experience to be exceedingly precious. + +"But I don't know what yer mean," she went on, "no more'n de man in de +moon." + +"Dar it is!" said Dolf. "Why, I b'lieves dat ar's de only reason de sect +looks at de moon, cause dar's a man in it." + +"Oh, he's too far off," returned Clo, with a prolonged chuckle at her +own wit; "too high up for much use." + +"Bery good," said Dolf, "bery good indeed! Yer's in fine spirits to-day, +Miss Clorindy." + +Here Dolf sighed dolefully. + +He certainly was in earnest this time--Clo felt assured of that. She +forgot the half-washed vegetables, the unseasoned soup, and tried to +pose herself with becoming dignity. + +"I don't see why," she said, in sweet confusion. "But any how yer didn't +prove nothin' 'bout my bein' coquettious." + +"Dar it is!" cried Dolf. "It all goes togeder." + +"Oh, laws," cried Clo, "as ef dat ar would set you a sighin'; I knows a +heap better'n dat, Mister Dolf." + +"Yer don't do me justice, Clorindy," said Dolf, seriously, putting on an +injured look; "yer neber has done me justice." + +"Why, what have I done now?" demanded Clo, beginning to play with her +apron string. + +"Clo! I say, ole Clo!" + +Victoria, who was getting impatient with her confined position behind +the laundry door, where she had done jealous duty as a listener, now +dashed in upon the lovers, and broke up the conversation just as it +reached a most interesting point. + +"I say, ole Clo, them perserves are a bilen over; you can smell 'em +here." + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +IN THE NET. + + +The day was wearing slowly on; a day more terrible in its moral darkness +and suspense than perhaps had ever before descended upon that old house. + +Mr. Mellen was engaged with a succession of visitors on business, with +whom he remained shut up in the library; Elsie took refuge at first in +her own chamber, but either nervousness or a desire to talk drove her +again to Elizabeth's room. Their dressing-rooms were separated by +Elizabeth's chamber, so Elsie flung the door open and ran into her +sister's room, exclaiming: + +"You must let me stay; I can't be alone." + +Elizabeth only replied by a gesture; she was walking slowly up and down +the floor as she had been during all the morning; it was entirely out of +her power to accept one instant of physical rest. She left the door open +and extended her promenade through the second chamber into Elsie's, and +then back, pacing to and fro till she looked absolutely exhausted, but +never once pausing for repose. + +They were undisturbed, except when one of the servants knocked at the +door for orders, and at each request for admittance Elsie would give a +nervous little cry. + +"Tell them not to come any more," said she, lifting both hands in +nervous appeal. + +"They must have their orders," Elizabeth replied; "come what may, +everything must go on as usual to the last moment." + +Elsie shivered down among her cushions and was silent. She had pulled +the sofa close to the hearth, gathered a pile of French novels about +her, and sat there trying her best to be comfortable in her feeble way. + +"If you would only sit down," she exclaimed, at length. + +"I cannot," replied Elizabeth; and resumed her dreary walk. + +Then there came more interruptions; Victoria wished to know if they +would have luncheon. + +"Marster's got in de library wid dem men--'spect missus don't want to go +down." + +"What is she talking about?" questioned Elsie from her sofa. + +"Luncheon," said Elizabeth; "will you have it up here?" + +"As if one could eat--" + +A warning gesture from Elizabeth checked her. + +"You may bring the luncheon up here," Elizabeth said to the girl. + +Victoria went out and closed the door. + +"I believe they would come if we were dying, to know if we would take +time to eat," cried Elsie. + +"Everything must go on as usual," was Elizabeth's answer. + +"How can you stand there and talk so calmly to them!" cried Elsie. "It's +enough to drive one frantic." + +"It is too late now to be anything but quiet--entirely too late." + +Elsie began some shuddering complaints, but Elizabeth did not wait to +hear them; she had resumed her promenade, walking with the same +restless, eager haste, her eyes seeming to look afar off and unable to +fix themselves upon any object in the rooms. + +"There is another knock," cried Elsie. "Oh, they'll drive me frantic!" + +"Come in," Elizabeth said, sharply. + +It was Victoria with the luncheon tray, and it seemed as if she never +would have done arranging it to her satisfaction. + +"I brung yer some apricot jelly, Miss Elsie," she said; "I knowed you +had one of yer headaches." + +But Elsie only moaned and turned upon her cushions. + +"Dar's only cold chicken and dat patter," said Vic; "I took de ducks in +fur marster." + +"There is quite enough," said Elizabeth; "you needn't wait." + +"Yes, miss," returned Vic. "I hain't had no time yet to sweep de room +Miss Harrington had--Clo, she's ugly as Cain, ter day." + +"It makes no difference," said Elizabeth, while Elsie threw down her +book in feverish impatience. + +"Yes, miss, but tain't pleasant," returned Vic, with her most elegant +curtsey. "I likes to do my work reg'lar and in time, missus knows dat; +but when Clo gets into one o' her tantrums she sets ebryting +topsy-turvey, 'specially when dat yaller nig', Dolf, come down feering +wid de work." + +"Then keep out of the kitchen," cried Elsie; "don't quarrel." + +"Laws, Miss Elsie," said Victoria, with all the injured resignation of +suffering innocence; "I neber quarr'ls wid nobody, but I defy an angel +to git along wid Clo! She's jest de most aggravatin' piece dat eber wore +shoe leather! She's so mad 'cause she's gettin' ole dat she hates a +young girl wuss nor pison, she does." + +Vic was now fairly started on the subject of her wrongs, and hurried on +before Elsie could stop her, with all the energy of a belated steam +engine. Elizabeth had walked into the other room, and Victoria took that +opportunity to pour out her sorrows with the utmost freedom to Elsie. + +"Miss Elsie, sometimes I tinks I can't stand it. I wouldn't nohow, if +twarn't fur my affection fur you--you and miss," Victoria hastened to +add diplomatically, fearful that her mistress might be within hearing +and that the omission would be turned to her disadvantage. "Clo, she +gits agravatiner ebery day, and sence Dolf come back she's wurs'n a bear +wid a sore head." + +"Oh, you make mine ache," cried Elsie. + +"Laws, miss, I wouldn't for the worl'." + +"Then go along, and let me sleep, if I can." + +"Sartin, miss; but let me do somethin' for yer head," said Victoria, out +of the goodness of her heart. + +"No, no; I only want to be let alone." + +"If yer'd only let me bathe it wid cologny," persisted Vic. + +"I don't want it bathed," fretted Elsie. + +"Laws, miss, it does a heap o' good! Pennyryal tea's good--" + +"Oh, do go away!" groaned Elsie. + +"In course I will, miss; but I'd like to do something fur ye--yer looks +right sick." + +"Then just go away, and don't come up again for the next two hours." + +"Yes, miss, I'll jest--" + +"Go out!" shrieked Elsie. + +"I'se only fixin' yer cushins," said Vic. "Dear me, Miss Elsie, yer +allers says I'm right smart handy when yer has dem headaches." + +"Oh, I can't bear anybody to-day." + +"Dear me, ain't it a pity! Now, miss, I knows what 'ud be good for +yer--" + +"Elizabeth," groaned Elsie, "do come and send this dreadful creature +away!" + +This time Victoria deemed it prudent to make a hasty retreat, for she +stood in a good deal of awe of her mistress. She went out, reiterating +her desire to be useful, and really very full of sympathy, for she was a +kindhearted creature enough, except where her enemy, Clorinda, was in +the question. + +"They'll kill me, I know they will!" moaned Elsie. + +Elizabeth did not pay the slightest attention to her complaints, and she +relapsed into silence. Finally, her eye was caught by the luncheon +temptingly laid out. There lay a mould of delicious apricot jelly in a +dish of cut crystal, shining like a great oval-shaped wedge of amber; +the cold chicken was arranged in the daintiest of slices, and there was +custard-cake, Elsie's special favorite. + +She made an effort to fancy herself disgusted at the bare sight of food, +and turned away her head, but it was only to encounter the fragrant odor +from the little silver teapot, which Victoria had set upon the hearth. + +"Could you eat anything, Elizabeth?" she said, dejectedly. + +"No, no; I am not hungry." + +"But you never touched a morsel of breakfast, and you ate nothing all +yesterday." + +"I can't eat now--indeed I can't," was Elizabeth's reply. + +"Oh, nor I!" moaned Elsie. "I feel as if a single mouthful would choke +me." + +She glanced again at the tray, and began to moan and weep. + +"Oh, dear me! This day never will be over! Oh, I wish I were dead, I do +truly! Do say something, Bessie; don't act so." + +But Elizabeth only continued her incessant march up and down the floor, +and Elsie was forced to quiet herself. + +She rose from the sofa at last, stood by the window a few moments, but +some magnetism drew her near the luncheon-tray again. She took up a +spoon and tasted the apricot jelly. + +"I want things to look as if we had eaten something," she said, giving +Elizabeth a wistful glance from under her wet eyelashes. + +"You had better try and eat," said her sister. + +"One ought, I suppose," observed Elsie. "I think I will drink a cup of +tea--won't you have some?" + +Elizabeth shook her head, and with renewed sighs Elsie poured herself +out a cup of tea and sat down at the table. + +"Oh, this wretched day! I'd rather be dead and buried! Oh, oh!" + +In an absurd, stealthy way, she thrust her spoon into the apricot jelly +again, and stifled her moans for a second with the translucent compound. + +"I wish I could eat; but I can't!" + +She put a fragment of chicken on her plate, made a strong effort and +actually succeeded in eating it, while Elizabeth was walking through the +other rooms. + +"I've tried," she said, when her sister appeared in the doorway again, +"but I can't, it chokes me." + +She drank her tea greedily. + +"I am so thirsty; I believe I've got a fever." + +But Elizabeth was gone again, and Elsie stood staring at the pate--a +magnificent affair, she knew it was--one of Maillard's best, full of +truffles and all sorts of delicious things. She felt something in her +throat, which might have been hunger or it might have been weakness; she +chose to think it the latter. + +"I feel so weak," she said, when Elizabeth returned on her round; "such +a sinking here," and she put her hand in the region where her heart +might be supposed to beat. + +"You had better lie down," her sister said, absently. + +That was not the advice Elsie wanted or expected, and she cried out, +spasmodically: + +"How can I keep still! Oh, I wish I had some drops, or something to +take!" + +She moaned so loudly that it disturbed Elizabeth, who became impatient. + +"Drink your tea," she said, "and eat something; you cannot go without +food." + +"Well, I'll try," said Elsie, resignedly. "I wish you'd sit down and +have a cup; perhaps I could eat then." + +"Not now," replied Elizabeth. + +The very sight of food was loathsome to her. She had hardly touched a +morsel for two days. + +After a good deal more hesitation, Elsie attacked the pate, and the +jelly, and the pickles, and the custard-cake, and some crisp little +wafers, and, finally, made an excellent meal; all the while declaring +that she could not eat, that every mouthful choked her, that she +believed she was dying. To all these complaints Elizabeth paid no more +attention than she did to the meal that sensitive young creature was +making. + +Elsie went back to her sofa, feeling somewhat comforted, and prepared to +take a brighter view of things. It appeared possible now for her to live +an hour or two longer--a little while before she had declared that her +death might be expected any moment. + +"Do come and sit down, Bessie," she said, as Elizabeth entered, for +about the hundredth time. "I'll give you the sofa; you must be tired +out." + +"No; I am not tired." + +"But I am sure you have been for three hours march--march--march! Do sit +down." + +Elizabeth only turned away in silence, but Elsie felt so much relieved +after her creature comforts, that she could not forbear attempting to +inspire her sister with a little of the hope which had begun to spring +up in her own narrow heart. + +"Oh, Bessie," she cried, "I feel as if this would get over somehow, I do +indeed." + +"But how? may I ask how?" + +"Oh, I can't tell; but there'll be some way, there always is; nothing +ever does happen, you know." + +Elizabeth did not reply. She was thinking of the books she had read, in +which women's ruin and disgrace were depicted with such thrilling force, +of the accounts in almost every daily journal of families broken up, +their holiest secrets made a public jest; of terrible discoveries +shaking a whole community with the commotion, and dragging all concerned +before the eyes of the whole world in scorn and humiliation. Yet Elsie +could say: + +"Nothing ever does happen!" + +She was thinking that perhaps in a few hours her beautiful home might be +agitated by a discovery, mysterious and full of shame as any of the +occurrences in the novels she was recalling; only a few hours and she +might be driven forth to a fate terrible as that of the unhappy women +whose names she had shuddered even to hear mentioned. + +Not for one instant did she delude herself. She knew that the crisis was +at hand, the fearful crisis which she had seen approaching for weeks. +This time there would be no loophole of escape--this last respite was +all that would be granted her; and even now that she had gained that +much, there seemed every hour less probability of her being able to turn +it to advantage. + +Then the task before her, the thing she had to do, a work at which the +stoutest man's heart might have quailed, alone in the dead of night, +with the fear of discovery constantly upon her, and the horror of an +awful task frenzying her mind! + +She clenched her hands frantically as the scene presented itself, in all +its danger, to her excited fancy. She saw the night still and dark, +herself stealing like a criminal from the house; she saw the old cypress +rising up weird and solemn, she heard the low shiver of its branches as +they swayed to and fro; she saw the earth laid bare, saw---- + +The picture became too terrible, she could endure no longer, and with a +shuddering moan sank upon her knees in the centre of the room: + +"God help me! God help me!" + +Elsie sprang off the couch and ran towards her with a succession of +strangled shrieks. + +"What is the matter? What ails you? You frighten me so. Are you +sick--did you see something? Is he going that way?" + +But the woman neither saw nor heard; her eyes were fixed upon vacancy, +an appalling look lay on her haggard face, which might well have +startled stronger nerves than those of the girl by her side. + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" shrieked Elsie, in genuine terror which there +was no mistaking. + +"I must do it," muttered the woman; "I must do it!" + +"Oh, Bessie, dear Bessie! Get up! Don't look so! Oh, for heaven's sake! +Bessie, Bessie!" + +Elsie threw herself upon the floor beside her sister, crying and +shrieking, clinging to her, and hiding her face in her dress. Her +agitation and wild terror recalled Elizabeth to her senses. She +disengaged herself from Elsie's arms and staggered to her feet. + +"It's over now," she said, feebly, with the weariness of a person +exhausted by some violent exertion; "I am better--better now." + +"Oh, you frightened me so." + +"I will not frighten you again. Don't cry; I am strong now." + +"What was the matter? Did you see anything?" + +"No, no. I was only thinking; it all came up so real before me--so +horrible." + +"But it may be made safe yet," urged Elsie. "If you can escape this +time--only this once." + +She did not connect herself with the trouble which might befall her +sister. Even in that moment of anguish, her craft and her selfishness +made her remember to keep present in Elizabeth's mind the promise she +had made. + +"Only this once," she repeated. + +"It is too late," returned Elizabeth. "I knew the day would come--it is +here!" + +"But he can't discover anything, Bessie, when everybody is abed." + +"Have you thought what I must do?" she broke in. "The horror of +appealing to that man is almost worse to bear than exposure and ruin." + +Elsie wrung her hands. + +"Don't give way now. You have borne up so long; don't give way when a +little courage may save everything." + +"I shall not give way; I shall go through with it. But, Elsie, it will +all be useless; the end has come, deception cannot prosper forever." + +"No, it hasn't! I'm sure it hasn't! Think how many secrets are kept for +ever. It needs so little now to make all secure; only don't give way, +Bessie--don't give way." + +"Be quiet, child; I shall not fail!" + +Elizabeth walked away and left the girl crouching upon the floor, went +to the glass and looked at herself. The rouge Elsie had rubbed on her +cheeks burned there yet, making the deathly pallor of her face still +more ghastly; her eyes gleamed out of the black shadows that circled +them so full of agony and fear that she turned away with a shudder. Her +hair had fallen loose, and streamed wildly about her shoulders. She +bound it up again, arranged her dress and recommenced her restless walk. + +"Get up, Elsie," she said; "some one may come in." + +Elsie took refuge on her sofa, and sobbed herself into a sound slumber, +while Elizabeth, in her haggard anxiety, moved up and down, wounded by +cruel reflections which wrung her soul and left it dumb, with a passive +submission, born rather of desperation than endurance. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +THE SECRET TELEGRAM. + + +Elizabeth at last paused, and in her bitter anguish stood for minutes +regarding Elsie as she lay asleep upon the sofa. She approached and bent +over her. The girl had brushed her long fair curls back from her face, +and they fell over the cushions in rich luxuriance, a feverish color was +on her cheeks, lighting up her loveliness, and her whole appearance was +so pretty, so singularly childlike, as she lay there, that it seemed +impossible, even then, that she could have anything in common with the +trouble that oppressed Elizabeth. + +Elizabeth stood for a long time regarding her, and many changes passed +over her face as she did so, but they all settled into a look of +determination, and she turned away. Whatever was to be borne she would +endure alone; she would keep her promise to the very letter. If ruin and +disgrace came they should fall on her alone. Why attempt to involve that +fair young creature in it? + +She went to a cabinet in the corner of the room, opened a little drawer +and took out a package of letters. They were those her husband had +written to her during his long absence. + +She drew an easy-chair near to the sofa and sat down, with her face +turned towards Elsie, opened one or two of the epistles and read +passages from them. One of the pages ran thus: + +"Whatever may happen, no matter how long my absence may be protracted, I +know that you will take care of Elsie. If the worst should happen--if +death should surprise me in this far-off land, I know that you will +fulfil for me the promise I made my dying mother, and be a parent to +that desolate girl. + +"Forgive me if I pain you by writing so sadly. I do not believe that any +misfortune will happen to me; something tells me that I shall reach home +in safety, and find love and happiness once more awaiting me there. + +"But the charge I have in Elsie's future is always present to my mind. I +never can forget the words that my dying mother spoke; they are with me +night and day, and have been since the hour when they died on her pallid +lips. + +"It rejoices my heart to think how different from most girls our little +Elsie is. If any harm were to reach her I think I should go mad; +disgrace to one whose blood was kindred to that in my veins would kill +me. You may think this pride a weakness, but it is too deeply rooted in +my nature ever to be eradicated. When I look about the world and see +girls disgracing themselves by improper marriages, elopements, often +social crimes, which must blight their lives and those of all connected +with them, I think what I should do under such circumstances. + +"Elizabeth, I could not endure it. You are my wife; I love you more +deeply than you know of; but I tell you that I could better bear sorrow +which came to me through my wife, than the weakness or dishonor of one +who claimed my name by right of birth. It is an inherited pride, which +has, I know, come down from father to son, and will go with me through +life. + +"But Elsie is safe--in your hands quite safe. I rest upon that thought. +I remember her loveliness, her innocence, her sweet childish ways, and I +am at peace again, knowing that you will care for her." + + * * * * * + +This was the letter Grantley Mellen had written during his long exile, +and his wife sat reading it in the presence of that sleeping girl. + +After a time Elizabeth folded up the letters, kissed them passionately, +and laid them away. + +"Perhaps it is the last time," she murmured. "The last time! I must not +think of it. Oh, my God, how will this day pass?" + +She began walking up and down the rooms again, treading softly that she +might not disturb Elsie's slumber. This time her movements had some +purpose. She went into her dressing-room, took her riding dress from a +wardrobe and hastened to put it on. She grew cold, and her poor hands +shivered as she drew on her gauntlet gloves, and tied the veil over her +hat. In passing through the next room, the unhappy woman lingered a +moment to look on that sleeping girl, and her soul filled itself with +the cruel desolation of this thought. + +"He will not feel it so very much when it is only me on whom disgrace +falls," she thought, with mournful satisfaction. "For her at least I +shall have done my best. I have struggled so hard to keep the fair +creature he loves from harm. When I am swept from his path, like a black +cloud that had no silver lining for him, he will be happy with her. I +ought to be comforted by this. Yet, oh, my God! my God! this thought +alone makes the worst of my misery. They will be so happy, and without +me!" + +In passing down stairs Elizabeth met Dolf, moving dejectedly up from the +basement story where Vic had so maliciously disturbed his love making. +He stood aside to make room for his mistress, who addressed him in her +usual calm fashion. + +"Go to the stables," she said, "and order my groom to bring Gipsy round; +he need not trouble himself to attend me. I shall ride alone." + +Dolf hurried down the hall, and his mistress went into her little +sitting-room, opened her desk and wrote some words on a slip of paper +which she folded and thrust under the gauntlet of her glove. Then she +stood by the window watching till her horse was brought round. + +He came at last, a light graceful animal, so full of life, that he +fairly danced upon the gravel, and flung the sunshine from his arched +neck with the grace of a wild gazelle. He whinnied a little, and put out +his head for a tribute of sugar, which Bessie always gave him before she +mounted the saddle. But she had nothing of the kind for him now; +scarcely touching the groom's hand with her foot, she sprang upon his +back and rode slowly away, turning him upon the turf which was like +velvet, and gave back no sound. Thus, with an appearance of indolent +leisure, she passed out of sight. + +There was nothing remarkable in this. Elizabeth had been in the habit of +riding around the estate, without escort, during the two years in which +her husband had been absent, so the groom went back to his work and +thought no more of the matter. + +Elizabeth rode forward, without any appearance of excitement, until a +grove of trees concealed her from the house; then she put her horse upon +the road, and ran him at the top of his speed to the edge of the +village. + +Once among houses she rode on leisurely again, and stopped at the post +office to enquire for letters,--getting down from her horse, an unusual +thing with her. There was a telegraph station connected with the post +office, and while the man was searching his mail, she took the slip of +paper from her glove, and laid it with some money before the operator. + +The telegram was directed to that hotel near the Battery, which has +already been described. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +KITCHEN GOSSIP. + + +The day was passing--that long, terrible day--in which the moments +seemed to lengthen themselves into hours, while with every one the gloom +about the old house deepened and pressed more heavily down. + +Grantley Mellen was in his library still, it had been a busy day with +him; it appeared as if every creature within reach who could invent a +plea of business had chosen that time to trouble him with it. + +He was alone at last, and that was well; he was literally incapable of +enduring any farther self-restraint. + +He rang the bell and gave strict orders to Dolf: + +"Let no one else in to-day; I have letters to write; I will not see +another human being." + +Dolf bowed himself out, and took his way to the lower regions, to +communicate to Clo and Victoria the commands his master had given. Those +three servants kept themselves aloof from the few others employed for +tasks which they considered too menial for the dignity of their +position, and these gaping youths and girls were strictly forbidden to +enter the apartment in which Clo had installed herself. + +They were perfectly well aware, those three sable dignitaries, that +something was wrong in the house; servants always do know when anything +out of the common routine happens, and no pretence can blind their +watchful eyes. + +"Marster says he won't see nobody more," said Dolf, as he entered the +room where Clo was rolling out her pie-crust, and Victoria busily +occupied in watching her. + +"I wonder what's come over 'em all," said Vic. "Der's missus was a +walkin' up an' down like a crazy woman--" + +"She didn't eat no breakfast," interrupted Dolf, "an' she never teched a +thing yesterday; now she's just done gone out a riden' all alone." + +"An' Miss Elsie stretched out on de sofa, lookin' as if she'd cried her +pretty eyes out," went on Victoria. "Says she's got a headache--go +'long; tell dat to blind folks! It's my 'pinion der's more heart-ache +under dem looks dan anythin' else." + +"Dat's jis' what I tink," assented Dolf. + +Clorinda, from her station at the pastryboard, gave a sniff of doubtful +meaning, tossed her head till her frizzed locks shook, brought her +rolling-pin down on the board with great energy, and remained silent for +the express purpose of being questioned. + +"What does yer tink 'bout it, Miss Clorindy?" asked Dolf. + +Vic looked a little spiteful at hearing this appeal to Clo, but she was +so anxious for anybody's opinion, that for once she forgot to quarrel. + +"I tinks what I tink," said Clo, with another toss of her head and an +extra flourish of the rolling-pin. + +"Oh!" said Dolf, quite discomfited. + +"Jis' so," said Clorinda. + +"Any pusson could have guessed dat ar," put in Victoria, in an irritated +way; "yer needn't make sich a mysteriousness." + +"I shall make a mysteriousness or shall luff it alone, jis' as I tink +best," retorted Clo, "so yer needn't go a meddlin' wid my dumplin', Miss +Vic, 'cause yer'll git yer fingers burnt if yer does." + +"Don't wanter meddle wid nothin' that recerns you," cried Vic, jumping +at the prospect of a quarrel, since there was nothing to be gained by +amicable words. + +"Jis' give me any of yer sarse," said Clo, "and I'll mark yer face smash +wid dis ere dough, now I tells ye?" + +"Don't lay a finger on me, cause I won't stand it," shrieked Vic; "yer a +cross ole, ole--dat's what's de matter." + +"Go 'long 'bout yer business," shouted Clo, shaking her rolling-pin in a +threatening rage. "Dis ere's de housekeeper's room, an' yer hain't no +business here." + +"Much business as you has, I guess; yer ain't housekeeper as I knows on; +yer only potwasher anyhow." + +"Missus telled me to use dis room for makin' pies and cakes in till she +got anoder housekeeper, an' I'se gwine ter." + +"I don't keer if she did, dat don't make yer housekeeper any more'n +stolen feathers makes a jackdaw an eagle." + +"Now, ladies, ladies!" pleaded Dolf, fearful of the extent to which the +tempest might reach if not checked in time. "Don't let us conflusticate +dese little seasons of union by savagerousnesses; don't, I beg." + +"Den her leave me alone," sniffled Vic. + +"Larn dat gal ter keep a civil tongue in her yaller head if yer want +peace an' composion," said Clo. + +"Dat ar's religion wid a vengeance," cried Vic; "a callin' names is +pretty piety, ain't it! I'll jis' see what Elder Brown says ter dat ar +de bery next time I sees him." + +"Oh, yes!" said Clo, contemptuous; "yer allers glad ob a 'casion ter +gabble! How's a pusson gwine ter hab religion when dey's persecuted by +sich a born debil; wurs 'en dem in de scripture as was worrying de +swine." + +"Laws!" said Vic, with a vicious sneer, "was yer roun wid dat drove +'bout dat time." + +"I'll drove yer," cried Clo. + +But Dolf interposed again, and luckily Clo's nostrils detected the odor +of burning pie-crust, and she rushed into the kitchen to see if the girl +had allowed her pastry to burn. + +Dolf took that opportunity to soothe the angry Victoria, and succeeded +admirably. + +"Now, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf, when she had relieved her feelings by +abusing Sally for her carelessness about the pies, and was once more +tranquilly occupied with her work; "now, Miss Clorindy, jis' glorify us +wid yer 'pinion 'bout de 'fairs ob dis dwellin' which we has all noticed +is more mysteriouser dan is pleasant." + +"I ain't gwine ter talk, jis' ter be snapped up like a beetle by a +Shanghai," said Clo; "shan't do it, nohow." + +Dolf winked at Victoria, and the artful maiden condescended to mollify +her fellow servant. + +"Now don't be cross, Clo," said she, "it's bad enough ter hab +conflictions above stairs widout us a mussin'." + +"Dem's my sentiments," cried Dolf, "and I knows fair Miss Clorinda +'grees wid dem--she coincidates, if yer'll 'scuse the leetle bit ob +dictionery." + +Victoria made a grimace behind Clo's back, but said, graciously: + +"I'se gwine ter gib yer dat ar blue handkercher Miss Elsie gub me, Clo," +she said, "so now let's make up and be comfoble." + +"I don't want ter fight," replied Clo, "'taint my way--only I knows my +persition and I 'spects ter be treated 'cording." + +The handkerchief was something Clo had coveted for a long time, and the +gift quite restored her good-humor. + +"Dat's as it orter be," said 'Dolf. "Peace and harmony once more +prewails, and we's here like--like--de Happy Family as used ter be at +Barnum's Museum," he added, finding a comparison at length, and quite +unconscious of its singular appropriateness. + +"I'se gwine to mend dis tablecloth," said Vic, "and I'll set here to do +it--when I go upstairs I'll git yer the hankercher, Clo." + +"Oh! laws," said Clo, "yer want it yerself--don't be a givin' away yer +truck." + +"I'd ruther yer had it," observed Vic, "blue's allers becoming to yer, +ain't it, Mr. Dolf?" + +She made another grimace, unseen by Clorinda, which nearly sent Dolf +into fits, but he restrained his merriment, and answered with the +gravity of a judge: + +"Miss Clorindy overcomes whatever she puts on, but since yer wishes my +honest 'pinion, I must say I tink blue's about de proper touch fur her." + +Clo grew radiant with delight, but she worked away resolutely, only +observing: + +"Victy, dar's a leetle cranberry tart I jis' tuk out ob de oben--it's on +de kitchen table--I 'spect we might as well eat it, cause 'taint big +enough to go on de table." + +"I'll fotch it," cried Dolf; "to sarve de fair is my priv'lege." + +He darted into the kitchen, bore off the tart from before Sally's +envious eyes, and closed the door so that she could not be regaled even +with a scent of the delicacy. + +"I've jis' done gone now," said Clo, "so I'll rest a leetle afore I +'gins dinner. I'll jis' taste de tart to see ef it's good--it kinder +eases my mind like." + +"In course it does," said Dolf, and he cut the tart into four pieces, +having an idea that the last slice would revert to him in the end. + +They ate the pie and talked amicably over it, while in the end Dolf +received the extra piece by earnestly pressing it on his companions, who +in turn insisted upon his eating it himself. + +"Mebby Sally'd like a taste," he said, virtuously. + +"Sally, 'deed no!" cried Clo. "It's nuff fur her ter see such tings +widout eatin' 'em--a lazy, good-fur-notin' piece." + +"Den ter 'blige yer I'll dispose of it," said Dolf, and he did so in +just three mouthfuls. + +"If yer wants my 'pinion 'bout what's gwine on," said Clo, suddenly, as +she rose to pile up the dishes she had been using preparatory to making +poor Sally wash them in the kitchen; "it's jis' dis yer! Dis trouble's +all missus!" + +"Missus!" repeated Vic. + +"Now what does yer mean?" cried Dolf. + +Clo nodded her head several times with gravity and precision. + +"Yes, missis," she repeated, with the firmness of a person who meant +what she said, and was fully prepared to defend her opinion. + +"What's come over her?" asked Vic. + +"Dat's jis' it," returned Clo; "now you've hit it prezact--yer might +talk a week, Victy, and not come inter de pint agin." + +Victoria looked at Dolf, and he looked at her, but, however convincing +her own words might have seemed to Clorinda, there was nothing to throw +any light upon their minds. + +"Yer's repeatin' wid yer usual knowledge," said Dolf, softly, "but can't +yer sperficate a leetle more clear." + +"Mr. Dolf," said Clorinda, rolling up her eyes 'till only the whites +were visible, "when I lives in a house de secrets ob dat house is locked +in my bussom--" + +"But ter feller domestics," put in artful Dolf. + +"Jis' 'mong us," said Vic. + +"I know, I feels dat, and so I speak," replied Clo. "I ain't gwine ter +say Miss Mellen is a favoright ob mine, 'cause she ain't--but she's my +missus. Her ways isn't my ways, dat's all I says, and I hain't +recustomed to bein' brung up so sharp roun' de corners as is her way ter +do." + +"Tain't ter be 'spected," said Dolf. + +"Mebby 'tis and mebby 'tisn't," returned Clorinda; "I only says I ain't +recustomed to it, dat's all." + +"But what do yer tinks happened ter her ter put 'em all in sich a +to-do?" questioned Victoria. + +"I ain't prepared ter say ezzactly," replied Clo, "but I tink she's +gwine crossways wid marster and dat lubly angel, Miss Elsie. Dar's a +syrup fur ye! She nebber gubs a pusson orders widout eben lookin' at +'em--she ain't so high and mighty dat de ground ain't good 'nuff for her +ter walk on! Not but what missus a mighty fine woman--she steps off like +a queen, and I tell yer when she's dressed der ain't many kin hold a +candle ter her, and as fur takin' de shine off, wal, I'd jis' like ter +see anybody do dat." + +"It's all true," said Dolf, "as true as preachin'!" + +"Mr. Dolf," said Clo, gravely, "don't take dem seriousnesses so +lightsome on yer lips." + +"I won't," said Dolf, humbly, "I begs ter 'polegise--yer see in gazing +'bout de world a gemman 'quires some parts ob speech as seems keerless, +but dey don't come from de heart." + +"I'se glad dey don't," observed Clorinda, "bery glad, Mr. Dolf." + +"But what do yer tink missus has done?" demanded Victoria. + +Such a straightforward question was rather a puzzler to Clorinda, so she +answered with a stately air: + +"Der's questions I couldn't answer eben ter my most intemancies--don't +press it, Victy." + +Victoria's big eyes began to roll wildly in their sockets; she was +astonished to find that Clo had for some time seen that things were +going wrong, when the fact had escaped her own observation, and, for the +first time in the course of their acquaintance, she felt a sort of +respect for her usual foe but temporary ally. + +"Does yer tink dey's quarr'ling?" she asked. + +"When I hears thunder," said Clo, sententiously, "I allers takes it +there's a storm brewin'." + +Vic looked more puzzled than ever, and Dolf was not much better off, +though he tried to appear full to the brim with wisdom and sagacity. + +"Yer 'members the night missus lost her bracelet, Mr. Dolf?" asked Clo. + +"I does bery well." + +"When missus bemeaned herself to shout out at me as if I'd been a +sarpint," cried Clo, viciously. "Wal, if ever I see thunder I seed it in +marster's face dat ar night!" + +"Oh!" exclaimed Victoria, bundling up her work, "if you and Mr. Dolf has +got secrets to talk ober, I'd better go 'way." + +"Who's a destryin' the harmony now?" shouted Clo. "It's raal sinful, +Victory, to give way to temper like you does." + +"Oh, dat's all fine 'nuff. But I don't wish to stand in nobody's way. +I'd better take my work upstairs." + +"Set still, set still, Miss Victory," urged Dolf. "Der's no secret. We +shall have de uttermost pleasure in making you 'quainted wid de pint in +question." + +Clorinda did not look altogether pleased with his eagerness to explain; +she rather liked Victoria to suppose there was a secret between Dolf and +herself; it seemed like paying off old scores, and though in a friendly +mood, Clorinda was a woman still. + +"'Splain or not, jis' as yer please," said Vic, tossing her head, +viciously, "it's quite 'material to me." + +But Dolf gave a voluble account of what his master and mistress had said +and done the night the bracelet was lost, and ornamented the +conversation beautifully, calling on Clorinda to set him right if he +erred, and the points where Clo most loudly expressed her approval as +being the exact words spoken, were those Dolf embroidered most highly. + +"Why, dar goes marster now," exclaimed Victoria, suddenly. "He's gwine +out to walk." + +They all rushed to the window to look, as if there had been something +wonderful in the sight, and just then Sally rushed in with a cry: + +"The soup's bilin' over, Clo; come--quick!" + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +THE INTERCEPTED TELEGRAM. + + +That afternoon confinement in the house became so irksome to Grantley +Mellen that he could support it no longer, so he put on his hat and +hurried out into the grounds. + +Upon one point his mind was fully made up. The clue to the mystery +appeared to be in his hands; he would follow it out to the end now--he +would know the worst. If this woman had wronged him he resolved to sweep +her out of his life, even as he had done that false one in years gone +by. + +That thought drove him nearly mad, it recalled that writing. Should it +prove the same! If this man had a second time thrust himself into his +life to blacken it with his treachery and hate! Terrible words died, +half uttered, on Mellen's lips, his face was fairly livid with passion, +a loathing and a hatred which only blood could wipe out. + +Below the house the lawn and gardens led away into a grove, and towards +its gloom Mellen mechanically directed his steps under the cold, gray +sky. A chill wind was blowing up from the water, but he did not observe +it; in the fever which consumed him the air seemed absolutely stifling, +and he hurried on, increasing its excess by rapid movements. + +He was in the grove, walking up and down, with no settled purpose, +striving only to escape those maddening thoughts which still clung to +him. + +The wind was shaking the few remaining leaves from the trees and blowing +them about in rustling dreariness, the frosts had already touched the +grass and ferns, and though the place on a bright day would still have +been lovely, it looked bare and melancholy enough under that frowning +sky. + +"It is like my life," muttered Mellen; "like my life, with an added +blackness coming up beyond." + +Then his mood changed; again that fierce passion swept over his face, +leaving it dangerous and terrible. + +"If that woman has deceived me," he cried aloud, "this time I will have +no mercy! She shall taste her degradation to the very dregs; there is no +depth of shame through which I will not drag her, though I ruin my own +soul in doing it! But it can't be! it can't be! It were death to believe +it! Oh, Elizabeth, Elizabeth!" + +Every tender feeling of his nature went out in that last agonizing cry. +For the first time he realised all that this woman had been to him, how +completely she had woven herself with his life, and what a terrible +blank it would become if he were forced to tear her from it. + +He made an effort to check those black thoughts, to invent excuses; he +was almost inclined to rush into the house, beg for the truth and +promise pardon in advance. Then he called himself a weak fool for the +idea that any excuse was possible. + +"I will wait--I have the clue--it will all be made clear soon. I will +wait." + +He clenched his hands with a groan that was half anguish, half rage, and +hurried more swiftly into the depths of the woods. + +He came out upon a little eminence, from whence he could look down on +the paths and avenues leading towards the house, though the dwelling +itself was hidden by the thick growth of trees. + +Along the high road he saw his wife riding at full speed toward the +woods, through which she passed with weary slowness, walking her horse +homeward, and looking anxiously down upon his reeking sides, and +smoothing his neck with her hand, as if troubled by those signs of hard +riding. + +Where had the woman been? What deception was she practising now? + +Mellen could see his wife's face plainly--for she passed near him quite +unconsciously. It was pale and wild with the fear of a hunted animal. + +"Traitoress!" he muttered between his teeth, "she thinks to evade me." + +He watched the slow progress of Gipsy as she walked toward the house, +taking the lawn, evidently because her rider feared to give warning of +her expedition by the sound of hoofs on the beaten track. He saw +Elizabeth dismount unaided, and go wearily into the house. + +Where had she been? + +Over and over Mellen asked himself this question, as he sat minute after +minute, pondering over the most bitter thoughts that ever haunted a +man's brain. + +It might have been an hour after, when he saw a man coming up from the +direction of the village, walking forward with great rapid strides. +Instantly his suspicions fell upon this new object. He was always +keen-sighted enough, but just then the thought in his mind made his +vision still quicker and more clear. + +Without pausing for an instant's reflection he darted down the hill--as +he approached the figure it disappeared. On into the woods Mellen +followed the intruder, and before he could look around grasped his arm +with a clutch so firm that there was no shaking it off. + +"Rascal!" he cried, "what are you doing here? Answer me, or I'll shake +you to pieces!" + +The man struggled violently, but Mellen was like a giant in his passion, +and swung him to and fro as if he had been a child. + +"Let me alone!" cried the man. "I ain't a doing no harm!" + +"What are you prowling about my house for, then? Do you know that I am +master here? I shall take you indoors, and keep you till I can send for +a constable. Take care, no resistance; what is your business here?" + +"I wasn't prowling round," pleaded the man, gasping for breath in +Mellen's hard grasp; "I thought these woods was public property." + +"Then you shall be taught. You had some errand here--speak out, or by +the Lord I'll kill you!" + +"Don't--don't! You're choking me!" groaned the wretch. + +"Then speak! What are you doing here--whom do you want to see?" + +"Just let me go and I'll tell you," pleaded his prisoner. "I can't speak +while you're throttling me." + +Mellen loosened his grasp on the man's throat, but still held him fast. +His hold had been a fearful one--the man was actually breathless. + +"Will you speak now?" he demanded, with terrible menace in his voice. + +The man began to breathe more freely; but, though shaking with fear, he +answered sullenly: + +"I hain't got nothin' to tell; I was going to the house yonder, and took +a short cut through here." + +"What business have you at the house? Tell me the truth, for I will +know." + +The man could both see and feel that he was in horrible earnest; he +might easily have supposed himself in the power of an insane man--and +for the moment Mellen was little better. + +"How do I know that you have a right to ask?" questioned the man. + +"I am the master of that house. Now will you speak?" + +"Yes," faltered the man, "I'll tell you. It's a telegram that I was +carrying to the lady; nothing wrong in that I hope." + +"No harm, certainly; give the telegram to me. I will deliver it." + +The man gave up the telegram. The envelope which contained it was +sealed, but Mellen tore it open without a moment's hesitation. Even as +he unfolded the paper, his hand faltered--in the very height of his rage +he could not think of the woe its contents might bring, without a sharp +pang. + +He read it slowly, standing there motionless, unable, at first, to take +in the full extent of his crushing anguish. "_Have no fear. I will be at +the old spot, prompt to help you. All shall be prepared._" + +This was the telegram. There was no signature--it needed none. Mellen +knew only too well who the writer was, knew it as thoroughly as he did +the woman for whom it was intended. + +For a full half hour Grantley Mellen was a madman. The fever and the +insanity passed at length; he lay upon the ground, staring up at the +cold sky, the telegram still clutched in one hand, the other dug deeply +into the earth, in a wild conflict of passion that shook him to the +soul. He raised himself and looked about; it seemed as if he had been +suffering in a fearful dream--he glanced down at the paper--that brought +conviction back. + +He sat there for a long time revolving vague plans in his mind, and +deciding upon the course he would pursue. + +"Meet craft with craft," he muttered; "their own evil weapons." + +He rose from the ground, arranged his dress, and walked towards the +house. + +"Not a sign, not a word which can betray," he said aloud. "I will meet +her with a duplicity equal to her own,--wait--a little longer--only a +little longer." + +He walked towards the house, and again Victoria called out to her +companions: + +"Here comes marster as fast as fast can be." + +But Clorinda's thoughts were now centred upon her dinner, and she had no +time even for gossip. + +"Get away from dat window and go 'bout your work," cried the dark +spinster, austerely; "what hev yer got to do wid de marster's outgoin's +or incomin's? Beat dese eggs into a foam rite off, for I'se in a hurry. +Mr. Dolf puts one back so." + +Victoria cast one more glance through the window, for the wild agony on +her master's face rather alarmed her. But Clorinda called out in a voice +so shrill that it was not to be disregarded, and she was constrained to +undertake the task assigned her without more delay. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +FORCED HOSPITALITY. + + +While Mellen stood on the veranda in front of the house, Mr. Rhodes came +up the avenue. There was no hope of escape for him; he had not perceived +the visitor until it was too late to retreat, and a voice called out: + +"Oh, there you are, old fellow; I'm in luck after all. You see I walked +over to my farm on the back road," he explained, "intending to take the +half-past three train to New York, but I missed it. So I said to myself, +'I'll cut across the fields, down the hill, and stop at Mellen's, beg a +dinner, and get him to send me over in time for the five o'clock +train'--wasn't a bad idea, eh?" + +"A very good idea on the contrary," Mellen answered, with a desperate +attempt at hospitality, while the visitor wrung his hand again and burst +into shouts of laughter, as if some wonderfully good joke lay in the +affair. "And how is your good lady?" he asked. "And the pretty little +sister--quite well, eh?" + +"Tolerably so," Mellen answered; "complains of headache and that sort of +thing." + +He conducted his guest into the library, and meeting Dolf in the hall, +directed him to inform his mistress of the arrival. + +Mellen made an effort to be civil though the man was tiresome in the +extreme; perhaps it was better to endure his society than to meet his +wife that day without the restraint of a stranger's presence. + +Indeed, without some of those social restraints to which all men are +more or less slaves, it is doubtful if Mellen could have appeared so +perfectly calm. As it was, the fire that consumed him raged unseen. Dolf +carried his message upstairs, where it was received with a little shriek +from Elsie, and blank dismay on the part of Elizabeth. + +"I can't go down," she said; "Elsie, you must take my place at the +table. Say that I am ill, fainting, anything." + +"Indeed, I'll do nothing of the sort," returned Elsie; "if you don't go +down I shall stay with you. I am nervous as I can be, and if you are not +at the table I shall break down completely." + +The girl was full of selfishness to the very last--not willing to yield +her comfort in the slightest particular, but Elizabeth only sighed as +she observed it, and said, quietly: + +"After all, it is just as well--change your dress, Elsie." + +These two women commenced the duties of a dinner toilet with heavy +hearts, scarcely heeding what they put on. + +But when the dinner hour approached, they entered the drawing-room +together and almost smiling, Elsie looking exquisitely pretty in her +dark blue silk, with those bright ringlets floating about her shoulders; +her volatile spirits were already rising at the idea of an escape from +that shadowy chamber where she had dragged through the day. + +Elizabeth was calm and self-possessed as ever. To a casual observer she +looked pale, but her heavy black dress might account for that, and the +delicate contrast it gave to her complexion made amends for any lack of +bloom. + +Mellen sat watching her while she greeted Mr. Rhodes, and listened +patiently to his labored compliments. + +"Is she stone--ice?" he thought. "Is there no touch of nature about her +that she can be so calm?" + +If the man could have read her mind, he might have pitied her even in +the midst of his anger and fearful doubts. What she suffered in putting +that terrible restraint upon herself was almost beyond the power of +belief; but woman-like, having formed her resolution, not all the +tortures of the rack could have driven her from it. + +Elsie had seated herself on a low stool at her brother's feet; he sat +absently playing with her curls, and looking moodily into the fire, but +he had no words even for her, though she tempted him with rather +mournful smiles. But he had been so silent and sullen by times during +the past week, that there was not change enough in his manner to be at +all perceptible. + +Sometimes Elizabeth glanced over at the pair, and then some sharp pain +contracted her brows, but there was no other appearance of emotion; she +would control even that instantly, and bending her head once more, +listen patiently to her persecutor's verbiage. + +Dolf announced dinner, and the party passed into the dining-room, Mr. +Rhodes honoring the hostess with his arm. As Mellen and his sister +followed, Elizabeth heard Elsie whisper in a low voice: + +"Grant, dear, you are not cross with me?" + +In the midst of Mr. Rhodes's uproarious laugh at one of his own jokes, +she caught Mellen's answer: + +"Never, darling, never! You are my one comfort--my only blessing." + +With her head more proudly erect, a faint crimson beginning to burn on +her cheeks, Elizabeth Mellen walked on and took her seat at the table, +appearing so completely engrossed in Mr. Rhodes's conversation that she +did not once meet her husband's eye. + +To all but the guest, that dinner seemed interminable, but Mr. Rhodes +was so busy with the delicacies Clorinda's skillful hands had prepared, +and so full of himself, that he was in a perfect glow of content. + +The lights danced before Elizabeth's eyes, every morsel she ate was +swallowed with a pang, the wine was like a bitter drug on her lips, yet +there she sat in patient endurance. + +Occasionally Mellen glanced towards her, and her composure sent such a +thrill of rage through his soul, that it was with difficulty he could +keep from springing up and overwhelming her with the discovery he had +made, on the spot. + +The dinner was over at last, but tedious as it had seemed to Elizabeth, +she would gladly have prolonged it: anything to lengthen the hours; to +keep afar off the stillness of the night, when she must undertake that +to which she had doomed herself. + +But she would not think of that; she dared not; madness lay so near the +dismal reflection that it must be swept from her mind. + +They dragged through the evening; Elizabeth played cribbage with Mr. +Rhodes, and Elsie gave snatches of desultory music at the piano; every +time her fresh young voice rang out in joyous song Elizabeth started, as +if an unseen dagger had struck her to the heart. + +"You will all come and pass a day with us before long, I hope," Mr. +Rhodes said, with exuberant hospitality, when the time came at last to +order the carriage for his departure. + +Elizabeth only answered with a wan smile. She could hardly stand. Mellen +accompanied his visitor through the hall, and the instant they +disappeared Elizabeth started for the door. + +"Where are you going?" asked Elsie. + +"To my room; I can't bear this." + +"I'll go--" + +"No, no, not yet; stay awhile, for heaven's sake let me rest alone one +moment." She staggered through the dining-room and was gone; when Mellen +entered the library again, Elsie sat alone by the fire, teasing the cat, +looking cheerfully pretty and childlike. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +WAITING FOR THE HOUR. + + +The clock in Elizabeth's dressing-room had struck eleven, but there she +sat desolately looking into the fire, just as she had sunk into her +chair on first entering the chamber. + +She heard her husband and Elsie ascend the stairs a full hour before, +but Mr. Mellen went straight on towards his own apartments. He had not +entered hers since the day the bracelet was found; she knew well that he +would not intrude upon her then. + +For two long hours she had been alone with her dismal thoughts, no sound +broke the stillness, save the monotonous ticking of the clock or an +occasional sob and moan from the half spent wind without. + +There was too much anxiety and agony in her mind for any of the nervous +terrors which had haunted her during the day. Then, as she thought what +the coming of the night would bring her, the heart in her bosom +shuddered. Now it stood still and seemed hardening into iron. If some +spirit had appeared with an articulate warning, she could not have been +more convinced that exposure and ruin were approaching her with rapid +strides. She would do her best, but that, she knew in her innermost +soul, would lead to destruction. She looked back on the past weeks, and +tried to remember if her plans had failed through her own weakness. + +Before Mellen's return it had seemed possible to carry them out, to bury +the past utterly, and build a new palace of hope on its grave, but they +had all failed. It was not her fault, she had borne up as bravely as any +woman could have done under the circumstances, had been as circumspect +and guarded as it was possible to be, but from the moment of his +inopportune arrival, some untoward event had occurred to thwart every +project she had endeavered to carry out for her own salvation. + +"It is fate," she muttered, in a cold whisper; "it is fate! Oh, my God, +help me, help me, for I have yet a right to pray!" + +No, even the consolations of prayer were denied this most wretched +woman; the words seemed to freeze upon her lips; she could only moan in +that broken whisper: + +"My God, help me, help me!" + +As she sat there, the door opened and Elsie softly entered the +apartment. She had taken off her evening-dress, and put on a loose white +wrapper, and over that had thrown a crimson shawl, which made the pallor +that had come over her face still more apparent. + +There was no light in the chamber except that given by the fire. + +Elizabeth had extinguished the lamps; the gloom and the shadows befitted +her mournful thoughts. + +"Bessie, Bessie?" called Elsie, unable at first to distinguish any +object in the half light. "Are you there?" + +"Here I am," was the hoarse answer; "come in." + +"I was so afraid to be alone with Grant," continued Elsie; "I felt as if +I should scream every moment." + +"What did he say to you; what did my husband talk about?" + +"Oh, nothing in particular; he said very little; he did not even ask +where you were. I told him you had gone to bed with a headache, but he +did not seem to hear. He sat and looked in the fire, as if he were +reading something in the red hot coals; after a long time he asked me if +I loved him, and kissed my forehead. That was all." + +Elizabeth struck her hands hard together, choked back the groan which +rose to her lips, and sat gazing into the fire, as if she too read +something terrible in the scarlet caverns which were breaking up and +forming in its midst. + +"I'm so cold," shivered Elsie; "there isn't half enough coal in the +grate." + +Cold! The chill had crept into Elizabeth's very soul which no power of +hers could warm, and close to her that weak creature crouched, moaning +out her petty complaints! + +Even then, up to the last, while the glittering hands of the clock were +seen in the firelight, creeping swiftly over the dial, and its solemn +tick measured off the awful minute on which Elizabeth had agreed with +her own soul to go forth on her terrible errand, the wretched woman was +compelled to pause in that dim chamber, worse than dead herself, to +comfort and soothe the creature who lay like a wounded fawn on the +hearth. + +"What time is it, Bessie?" + +She raised herself and looked at the clock. + +"Half-past eleven," answered Elizabeth, solemnly. "My hour has come!" + +"I thought it was later," groaned Elsie. "Will it never be morning?" + +"Soon enough," whispered Elizabeth, "soon enough." + +"I wonder if Grant has gone to bed; I asked him if he was sleepy, and +he--" + +"Well?" + +"Oh, he only gave a queer sort of laugh, and said, 'Sensible people +always are sleepy when it comes bedtime.'" + +Elizabeth had said truly her hour had come, but she could not go yet; +she must wait until all danger of discovery was over--stand there +breathless while her husband forgot her and her agony in peaceful sleep. +They were both silent for a time, then Elsie began to shiver again, like +some young bird lost from its nest in a storm. + +"Oh, if it would only come morning!" + +"Soon enough, soon enough," repeated Elizabeth, as before. + +"Do talk to me; I shall die if you don't!" + +"What can I say, child? I can only wait--wait." + +"Wait! What do you mean? Oh, I know--I know!" + +The girl broke off with a more violent shudder and buried her face in +her hands. + +"What made you remind me?" she cried. "I shall go crazy now. Bessie! +Bessie!" + +But this time, when the girl clung to her, Elizabeth removed her hands, +not impatiently, but with quiet firmness. + +"You must control yourself," she said. "I have upon me all that I can +bear now. Be still, Elsie!" + +"I will! I will!" she sobbed. "Oh, wouldn't it be better to be dead?" + +"Better! Yes, a thousand times; but it is not easy to die." + +Elsie checked her sobs again, and caught at the hope with which she had +sustained herself all day. + +"This is the last of it," she said; "this night once safely over, and +there is an end." + +"One way or the other," muttered Elizabeth. + +"What did you say?" + +"Nothing--nothing." + +It was worse than useless, to agitate the girl's weakness afresh with +fears that lay so deep in her own mind. Whichever way the end came, +Elsie was safe. Was the creature thinking that as she shut her eyes and +leaned more closely against her sister? + +"Yes, it will be all safe then," she went on. "The money is paid; we +shall have the papers; there is nothing more to fear." + +Elizabeth did not answer; she allowed her to think that the danger from +that quarter was removed. It could do no good to fill her mind with +added fears. + +"There is the wind again!" cried Elsie. "Oh, if it would only stop!" + +The sound recalled all that lay in the coming hours, and she was +unnerved again. + +"You are not frightened, are you, Bessie?" she asked. + +"I suppose not; there is nothing to fear." + +"To be alone with him and--and--Oh, I ought to go with you; I'll +try--I'll try." + +At that late hour some remorse woke in her mind for her unsisterly +selfishness, but Elizabeth said very kindly: + +"You will stay here; you could do no good." + +"But I shall go mad while you are gone." + +"You must get into bed again." + +"How long shall you be away?" + +"I can't tell. Stop--don't talk about it. I shall go through with it +all; let me alone till then." + +Elsie writhed to and fro in hysterical weakness. + +"You must be quiet," Elizabeth said. "Suppose he should hear you?" + +"Grant? Oh, I'll be still--I'll be still as death." + +"What time is it?" Elsie asked again. + +"Almost twelve; the clock will strike in a moment." + +"How much longer shall you wait?" asked the girl in a whisper. "Did he +answer your telegram?" + +"I did not expect that he would, there was too much danger in it. But +hush, I must discover if he is asleep." + +"Grantley?" + +"Yes." + +"What was that noise?" Elizabeth exclaimed suddenly. + +"I heard nothing," Elsie answered, lifting her head and allowing it to +fall again on her sister's knee. + +"It sounded like a step in the hall," said Elizabeth. + +"It was only your fancy," returned Elsie. "This house is as still as the +grave." + +Elizabeth rose from her chair and walked to the window. + +"You are not going?" cried Elsie. + +"No; I only want to look. Be still!" + +Elsie cowered down on the rug and muffled herself more closely in her +shawl, lying quite still, with a sort of comfort in the feeling of +warmth which began to creep over her. + +Elizabeth pushed back the heavy curtains and looked out into the night. +A stream of dim, silvery radiance shot into the room, and played like +rippling water over the floor. + +Elsie half started to her feet with a cry. + +"What is that? What is that?" + +"The moon is up," said Elizabeth, simply. + +Elsie laid her head down again, Elizabeth stood leaning her hands on the +window-sill, looking straight before her. + +The moonlight was peculiarly clear, and millions of stars shone forth +with the diamond radiance seen only in a frosty night. Every object was +visible. Hoar frost shone up whitely from the crisp grass of the lawn, +and long black shadows were cast downward by the trees, shaken like +drapery when the wind tossed the branches up and down. + +From where Elizabeth stood she could look out over the withered +flower-beds and into the thicket beyond. + +Suddenly her eye caught sight of a man standing under the cypress tree, +which rose up gloomy and dark, its branches waving slowly to and fro, +looking, to her excited fancy like spectral hands that beckoned her +forth to her doom. + +She uttered a faint sound and strained her eyes towards it with a chill +feeling of horror. Elsie was roused again by the noise, and asked, +quickly: + +"What is the matter?" + +"Nothing, nothing." + +"What made you groan, then?" + +"I am looking out," returned Elizabeth, in a low voice, leaning more +heavily against the window for support, "he is there!" + +"Come away, come away!" cried Elsie, muffling her face more closely in +her shawl, as if to shut out some dreadful object. "Come back to the +fire, Elizabeth, do!" + +"Surely, if I can go out there to meet him," she said, "I have courage +enough to look at the old tree." + +Elsie only groaned anew. She sat upright and rested herself against the +chair her sister had left. + +"How does the night look, Bessie?" she asked, in a low, scared tone. + +"The moonlight is so ghostly," returned Elizabeth; "it looks frightened. +No wonder--no wonder!" + +Elsie trembled more violently, but it seemed as if some power stronger +than her own will forced her to continue these harassing questions. + +"And the cypress, Bessie, how does it look?" + +"Stern and dark--no wonder, sheltering him," cried Elizabeth. "It +beckons to me; the branches look like giant arms tempting me to ruin. I +must go--I must go!" + +Her voice was little more than a whisper, but it sounded painfully sharp +and distinct. Elsie buried her face in both hands, once more to shut out +the images it conjured up. + +"Come back!" she moaned; "Elizabeth, come back!" + +"I must go. It is time." + +"Wait--wait--just a moment! Don't go yet--don't leave me--I shall die +here alone." + +Elsie dragged herself along the floor to where Elizabeth stood, and +caught her dress in a convulsive grasp. + +"Wait a little--just a little?" + +The very weakness of this girl seemed to give Elizabeth a sort of insane +composure. + +"Let go my dress," she said; "I must be gone." + +"I can't stay here--I can't!" + +"Be still--you must, and shall!" + +She wrenched her garments from Elsie's hands, and the girl fell +helplessly on the floor. + +"Let me creep into bed first," she moaned; "I shall run mad if you leave +me here. Oh, I'll go--I ought to go! What an unnatural creature I am! +I'll go!" + +"Don't talk--don't think--it is too late," whispered Elizabeth. "If you +can pray, do it." + +"I can't--I daren't! Help me up, Elizabeth--help me up." + +But there was no response. Elizabeth was bending towards the window +again, looking straight at the cypress tree; but the dread which had +been in her face before was weak compared to the horror that convulsed +it now. + +"He is going there!" she cried, in an awful voice. + +Elsie caught hold of her and raised herself so as to look out of the +window. + +"Who--who? What do you mean?" + +"See--see!" continued Elizabeth. "Some one is creeping towards the +cypress. He has a spade in his hand. Merciful God, it is too late!" + +"Is it Grantley?" shrieked Elsie. "Is it Grantley?" + +"There he goes! I told you I heard steps! My God! my God!" + +She fell on her knees by the window, still staring out into the spectral +light. Elsie gave one glance, saw her brother walking towards the +cypress, and then sank back, unable to venture another look. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +THE MIDNIGHT SEARCH. + + +Alone in his room, Grantley Mellen had sat for hours with only stern +thoughts for his companions, and they grew so black and fierce that the +most terrible crisis would have been less hard to endure than that +suspense. + +He waited silent, immovable, till the last sound in the house died away; +waited still for slumber to overtake every inmate of the dwelling, that +he might carry out the plan he had formed. + +He was going out to the cypress tree; he would discover if his wife's +agitation, when he proposed digging about it, was in any way connected +with the mystery which surrounded her. He believed that it was so, +though in what manner it was impossible to divine. Perhaps there were +letters hidden there--some condemning evidence against her which she had +found no opportunity since his return to destroy. Whatever it was, he +would discover it, drag it out, and with this fresh proof of her +treachery in his hands, overwhelm her with a knowledge of her guilt. + +He, too, sat watching the clock, counting the strokes as the hours +sounded, but to him the time appointed did not arrive quickly. It seemed +as if the hands scarcely moved; in his mad impatience he thought the +appointed instant never would approach. + +It was a terrible vigil that he kept; the strongest man could not for +many hours have endured that strain of suspense, while tortured by such +fiendish whispers as moaned in his ear. + +The time came at last; the moonlight streamed pale and uncertain through +the casement; no sound broke the stillness, even the wind had ceased its +moaning. He could go forth now without fear of discovery. + +He could go forth, but to what? + +His very inability to form an idea of the discoveries he might make, +increased the fever of his impatience. He could wait no longer--not a +moment--not a second. + +He opened the door and crept cautiously through the gallery, down stairs +into the lower hall, undid the fastenings of the outer door and passed +on to the veranda. + +The garden tools were some of them in a closet in the area; he went down +the steps, opened the door, took out a spade and hurried towards the +cypress tree. + +There he was, standing under the moaning branches, his head bare, +digging wildly and aimlessly about the roots, peering at every lump of +earth with his insane gaze, ready to believe that he had at last come +upon that nameless thing for which he sought. + +And while he dug furiously into the earth, Elizabeth Mellen knelt by the +window-seat watching him; and Elsie lay upon the floor, so utterly +prostrated that she could only cry out to Elizabeth at intervals in her +sharp, discordant voice: + +"Is he there yet--is he there?" + +"Still there," she answered. + +"What is he doing?" + +"Digging, digging! He is on the wrong side of the tree." + +Elsie gave a sigh of relief. + +"No, no," continued Elizabeth; "he stops to throw the earth back--he is +going farther round." + +"Has he found the place--has he?" + +"Not yet." + +Elsie could not even groan; her breath came in quick gasps; her hands +tore madly at the carpet, but Elizabeth leaned motionless against the +window-sill, watching always with that strained gaze. + +"Where is he now, Bessie?" + +"He has not reached it--he is near! No! he is digging again--he has not +found the place." + +"If we could only stop him," cried Elsie, roused to new courage. "If I +opened my window and called out." + +"Too late, too late!" + +"But he will find it--he will find it!" + +"Then God help me, I can do no more!" + +Elsie sprang up with another shriek. + +"You'll tell--you'll tell! I know you will give way--and Grant will +murder you--murder us all." + +Elizabeth caught the frantic creature in her arms, and forced her back +on the couch. + +"Lie still," she said. + +"Let me go, I say--let me go! I want to die--I won't live after he finds +you out. I'll kill you, Elizabeth, if you don't let me go." + +But Elizabeth held her firmly in spite of her insane struggles, crying +out: + +"It is nothing to you--you have no cause to fear. You are mad, mad! I +tell you the trouble is mine; whatever comes falls on my head; be still, +Elsie." + +"You promise. Swear it--swear not to bring my name in." + +"I have sworn and I will keep my oath," returned Elizabeth. "Disgrace, +infamy, death--I will bear them all alone. What should I gain by +dragging you down with me?" + +She fell away from the girl as she spoke, but Elsie did not attempt to +rise; she lay still now, exhausted by her recent violence, and reassured +by Elizabeth's promise. + +Again the woman leaned against the window-sill and looked out towards +the tree. Mellen was at work still, more furiously than ever, throwing +up great shovelsful of earth and dashing them down with frantic haste. + +"Is he there yet?" called Elsie. + +"Yes, yes! How he works--dig--dig--dig!" + +She stopped suddenly: the silence raised wilder horror in Elsie's mind. + +"Has he found it?" + +"Not yet. He is standing still now, he is throwing the earth back." + +"What now--what now?" called Elsie, when Elizabeth paused. + +"He is looking about--he is puzzled. There is only that place left--he +will miss it. The shadows are blackest there." + +Another instant of intent watching, then a low cry. + +"He is there--he is there!" + +"Stop him!" shrieked Elsie. "Shout to him!" + +Elizabeth whispered hoarsely: + +"Too late! too late!" + +"Is he digging?" + +"Yes; wait--wait!" + +She clutched the window-sill until her nails bent and broke against the +woodwork. + +"First on one side, then the other," she whispered. "He doesn't touch +the right spot--I know it so well--night and day I have seen it----" + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +She never heeded the mad cry, pressed closer and closer to the +window-frame, staring out as if every energy of her nature was centred +in that gaze. + +"He has not found it! He stops again--he throws down the spade! He is +stamping on the ground. Oh! once more!" + +Then another pause, and at last Elizabeth cried in the same sharp +whisper: + +"He is throwing the earth back--he turns away!" + +"Saved! saved!" shrieked Elsie. + +Elizabeth watched her husband's movements still. He stood for some +moments in quiet, then walked about the tree; she could feel the baffled +rage that shook him. + +He turned away at last and disappeared around the corner of the house. +Then Elizabeth sprang to her feet. + +"Where are you going?" cried Elsie. + +"Lie still--don't speak, on your life!" + +She ran to the door and locked it, then threw herself down by the fire. + +"He might come in and find us," she whispered. + +Elsie crept across the floor again, seeking protection at her side. +There they waited, hushing their breaths, listening for the echo of his +step on the stairs. It came at last, muffled and cautious, but terribly +distinct to their strained senses. He half paused at the room where they +were, passed on, the door of his chamber opened and shut. + +"He has gone in," said Elizabeth. + +"Saved! saved!" broke again from Elsie, but there was no answering echo +from the woman by her side. + +For a time they sat motionless, whether moments or hours neither of them +ever could have told. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +UNDER THE CEDAR. + + +At last Elizabeth rose, moved noiselessly across the chamber, while +Elsie raised her head to look. + +"What are you going to do?" she asked. + +"You know," Elizabeth answered. + +"You won't--you can't! Oh, wait--wait!" + +"And to-morrow have the whole household look on while the work is more +thoroughly done!" + +"Is there no other way?" + +"None. This is the last hope; I shall try it." + +There was no elation in her voice at the danger she had escaped, no hope +rising up now that she might go through her task in safety, no dread +either of what she had to do, only stern determination, the chill of +utter despair, ready to struggle but not to hope. She wrapped a shawl +about her without the slightest appearance of haste, and stood still a +little longer, more like a marble statue endowed with the power of +motion than a breathing, living creature. + +"Are you going?" called Elsie. + +"Yes; I shall not be long--not long." + +But Elsie rushed after her and caught her in her arms. + +"Every moment is worth a whole life," cried Elizabeth. "Let me go!" + +She forced the girl to release her hold, and with one feeble wail Elsie +fell senseless to the floor. + +"Better so," muttered Elizabeth, "better so!" + +The excitement she was laboring under gave this woman new strength. She +raised the insensible girl, carried her through the vacant chamber, and +laid her on the bed in her own room. She drew the bedclothes over her +inanimate form and turned away. + +"Now for the end," she murmured, "the bitter, bitter end." + +She went back to her own room, closing the doors after her, then, +without further delay, passed down the private staircase which led to +the little entry off the library. + +Once on the stairs she paused to listen, but there was no sound, and she +hurried on noiseless as a spirit. One of the shutters was ajar, +admitting a few gleams of light, by which she could see to unbolt the +door. + +She was out in the air at last; the first step was taken in safety--in +her turn she flew towards the cypress tree. She was under its shadow, +the branches writhed and moaned like living things, the moon shot in and +out of the gathering clouds, and cast a flickering, uncertain light +about that was more terrible than the deepest gloom. + +As she stood in the depth of the shadows, a man came out from the thick +darkness that lay under a neighboring clump of white pines, and drew +close to her. + +"I have been here some time," he whispered. "Everything is ready out +yonder--rather rough work for a gentleman, but take it as a proof how +ready I am to help you, even after all the money is paid in. But do you +know that Mellen has been here?" + +"I saw him--I know it; we have no time!" + +"Fortunately, he will know why the earth is broken up, having done it +with his own hands," said the man, with a suppressed laugh, that made +Elizabeth shudder. "Better still, he has left the spade--threw it down +in angry disappointment. That is fortunate, for mine was partly disabled +out yonder: now show me the exact spot." + +She had no need to search, only too well she knew the place. Night and +day for weeks the dread spot had been with her, in every dream she had +watched men digging, digging--digging with frantic haste; and, as in her +dreams, all strength seemed to fail, and some unseen power to hold her +back, so now, in that frightful reality, her arms fell half paralyzed, +and she could not lift her hand to point out the spot. + +To and fro the branches swayed above her head, beating themselves about, +moaning like evil voices. The wind swept up chill and warningly. + +Such a terrible face it was that confronted the man--such a pale +terrified face, lighted up with those agonized eyes, that seemed to grow +large and wild in the moonlight. + +The man stood before her, leaning on his spade, waiting. + +"It is there just in that line of moonlight," she said at last, pointing +downward with her finger. + +The man lifted the spade with all his fierce might, and struck it deep +into the earth, which the cold nights had frozen, until it gave out a +sharp ringing sound. + +Elizabeth held her breath; what if that sound had reached the house! + +Another firm downward thrust of the spade was scarcely heard. The crust +was broken, the earth grew soft and yielding--the wretched woman +remembered how carefully it had been packed down over the spot. For +nights after, the hollow sound of the spade had rung in her ears, and +nothing could dull its echo. + +A horrible fear was coming over her, a supernatural, ghostly dread, that +made her flesh creep and the hair rise on her temples. + +Spadeful after spadeful of earth was thrown out, but still the bottom +was not reached. She had not thought it deep--so deep. If it should be +empty--if nothing was there! + +What if the place had been searched before, if the least possibility of +removing that terrible evidence was gone beyond her power! + +The idea was too maddening, and she shook off the nightmare-like +oppression which had been upon her, as the spade suddenly struck some +substance harder than the earth, and rang out with a dull, heavy sound. + +For one instant she started back. She was alone in the night, alone with +that man, who uttered an exclamation of delight that his task was so +near done. Elizabeth drew back. She dared not even peer into the cavity. +It was choked up with shadows, and their blackness seemed to warn her +off. + +The mighty strength that had carried this woman forward till now, left +her. The cold pierced her through and through; still she found strength +to speak, and implored the man to complete his work. He took up the +spade again, dropped it into the impalpable darkness of the hole and +pressed it down, leaning his whole weight upon it. + +She shivered violently now. A sharp pain ran through her chest, as if +she, too, had been putting forth some great physical energy. Shadows +from the disturbed cypress boughs were falling all about her, breaking +and forming again in a thousand fantastic movements. But one shadow, +dark, solid and still, fell across a gleam of moonlight at her feet, +freezing her to the heart. She looked slowly up and saw her husband. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +FACE TO FACE. + + +For several seconds the husband and wife remained looking at each other +in utter silence; the moaning of the cypress boughs sounded louder and +more weird; through the whirl of her senses Elizabeth heard it still. + +"Come forward," she heard her husband's voice say at length, in the +hard, icy tones of concentrated passion. "Come forward, woman, that I +may see your face." + +The words seemed to come from a great distance; looking over at him, it +seemed as if that shallow trench between them was a bottomless abyss +which no power could bridge over,--the gulf between them for ever and +ever. + +"Come forward, I say." + +She staggered slowly into the moonlight; the warning was fulfilled; +ruin, disgrace had come; yet there she stood speechless, motionless, +unable even to give utterance to a moan. + +The man who had been digging, flung down his spade with a smothered +oath. + +For a little time Mellen stood almost as still and helpless as herself. +Suddenly, in a voice that sounded scarcely human, he turned upon this +man. + +"Take up the spade, and finish your work!" + +With something between a laugh and an oath, North snatched the spade, +plunged it into the grave, and pressed all his force upon it. Slowly the +edge of a box appeared. That evil man seemed to triumph in his gloomy +work: placed one foot on the handle of the spade to hold it firmly, bent +down and dragged the box into the moonlight. + +Pulling the spade up from the crumbling earth, he raised it on high, and +was about to dash the box open. Elizabeth lifted her hands in mute +appeal. + +She hoped nothing from her husband's forbearance. The action was only an +instinct of her whirling senses, such as makes a drowning man clutch at +straws; but with it her limbs gave way, and she fell upon her knees by +the box, still lifting her white face to that stem, determined +countenance. + +"Do you think to oppose me even now?" he exclaimed. "I wonder I do not +kill you. Ask this man, this double dyed villain to dig deeper his pit, +which has concealed your infamy, and bury you there alive,--that would +be a mercy to us both." + +"If you would only kill me," she moaned, "only kill me." + +"Stand up," he cried again; "stand up, I say." + +But she stretched out her hands over the box; some insane idea of still +preserving it from his touch, rushed across her mind. + +"Open it," he said, turning fiercely on North; "I will look on this +dishonor with my own eyes." + +"Don't open it; don't open it! Let us pass away from your sight for +ever." + +Mellen caught her arm and pulled her roughly away. + +"You shall not touch the dead," she cried; "kill me but do not commit +sacrilege." + +Elizabeth struggled on to her knees, and wound her arms about him in a +convulsive grasp: he shook her off with loathing, as if a poisonous +reptile had brushed his garments. + +North stood with an evil light in his eyes, looking on Mellen, snatched +the spade from his grasp, and while a despairing cry died on Elizabeth's +lips, dashed it upon the cover; again and again, till the frail board +split, revealing a gleam of white underneath. + +Elizabeth was lying on the ground--not insensible; no such blessed +relief came to her--but incapable of a movement; watching her husband +always with those insane eyes. + +His passion had exhausted itself in this sacrilegious violence, and he +stood over the shattered box, struck with remorseful awe. But the wind +swept over it, lifting some folds of transparent muslin from a little +face that Elizabeth had seen night and day in her thoughts and her +dreams, since the dreadful night when that grave was dug under the +cypress tree. + +She saw the face; saw her husband looking down upon it; saw all the +shuddering horror in his eyes. Still she could not move. + +"This has been a murder!" he hissed through his clenched teeth. "I swear +that the guilty ones, even if my own name is dragged down to infamy with +them, shall be brought to judgment." + +"No, no," she moaned; "not murder; not that." + +He caught her arm again and lifted her up. + +"Tell the truth," he cried; "I will hear it!" + +She could only stare at him with an affrighted gaze. + +"I will bring the whole neighborhood to look," he went on; "I will drag +this secret guilt out in the face of day if you do not speak! I will +give you no time; no chance of escape; speak, or I will rouse the whole +house, and let them see you here with this vile man, at your guilty +work." + +"Wait," she shivered; "wait!" + +"Do you know what this is?" he cried. "The murder of a child! Do you +know that to-morrow may find you a criminal in the hands of +justice--you, my wife! You, in whose care I entrusted not only my honor +but the most innocent soul that ever lived. Speak then! Expect no mercy +from me; not to save my own honor; not to keep my own soul would I lift +one finger to help you! Think of it! Picture it to yourself!--The eager +crowd gathering about this spot; the hootings and execrations that will +follow you forth to prison! Think of the days and nights in your lonely +cell; remember the trial! the sentence! the horrible death! you shall +not escape! you shall not escape one of these things." + +"Grantley! Grantley!" + +"Not content with one crime, you have added murder; striving to hide +your guilt with a deeper sin!" + +"This child died," she moaned; "it was God's own mercy, not my crime!" + +"Speak then, and tell the whole truth. Do it. But have no thought that +even confession can save you; never hope for mercy from my weakness! You +can have no enemy who will prove so relentless as I will; if there was a +hope of your escape I would hunt you both down to utter disgrace--nay, +to death itself!" + +"It is only to die," she muttered; "only to die." + +"Will you speak; will you confess? Tell me how you murdered it?" + +"There was no murder." + +"But you buried it; you and this fiend who shared your guilt? Speak that +man's name; I will have it, and from your lips. But, oh, if you have +degraded my sister with this secret; if you have blighted her innocence +with a knowledge of your guilt----" + +"Stop," she broke in; "stop! do not speak of her." + +Even in that moment some recollections came upon her, and her face fell +forward, bowed down to her marble bosom. + +"Elsie knows nothing," she said; "for her sake spare me." + +"If you wish to escape having your shame dragged before the whole world, +tell me the truth." + +"For her sake, for Elsie's, have mercy! I don't expect it--but, +remember, disgrace to me reflects not only on you but her! Think of +that--don't blight her whole future in crushing me!" + +"I left her in your hands--she has been living in daily intercourse with +you--you have stained her lips with your kisses--degraded her by your +affection." + +"I have not hurt her," she cried; "I tell you she never received harm +from me." + +There was only one thought in her mind, to preserve Elsie from his +anger--the worst had come to her now. Her present agony was too great +for dread--the shame of the world--the most loathsome prison--nothing +could bring such pangs as this wrenching away of hope and happiness. + +She sat upright on the ground, folding her hands in her lap. Weaker +women would have fainted, perhaps gone mad, but when the first dizzy +whirl had left her senses, she could see and think clearly. + +"With this man you alone buried the child. Will you own it, or shall I +charge the servants as your accomplices--will you carry out your guilt +to the last, and let others suffer that you may escape?" + +"No, no! I do not struggle. See, I do not defend myself. Let it fall on +me! But no murder, do not charge me with murder. Oh, I am not so bad as +that--I could not harm one of God's creatures." + +"Is not your sin worse than murder? Why, the blackest criminal has white +hands compared to yours! You whom I loved and trusted--you have dragged +a man's soul through the depths of your sin." + +"I have not, I have not!" she broke forth. + +He pointed to the box--he turned his finger to the man who stood in the +shadows, shrouded with blackness, like the fiend he was. What could she +say--how could she deny with that evidence at her feet. + +"Oh, my God, have mercy!" she groaned. + +"Don't take his name on your lips--don't curse yourself more deeply by a +prayer!" + +She crouched lower on the ground, her wild eyes were raised to heaven, +but there was no help--no aid. + +"All the facts--I will hear them from your own lips--speak." + +She was silent. + +"I know--I have been on your track for days. It was not enough that you +destroyed my life, trampled on my honor, but you must choose for the +partner of your guilt the man who had most cruelly wronged me--the one +foe I had on earth." + +"No, no! I never saw that man--never!" + +"Peace, woman! I tell you that man standing yonder with a grin of Satan +on his lips, is William Ford." + +She did cry out then--this was a horror of which she had not dreamed. + +"I never knew it; I never knew it." + +"And you love this wretch? Through him you shall suffer!" + +"I hate him, loathe him!" she cried. "Oh, in this one thing believe +me--I never knew it was Ford. The name was changed to deceive me." + +"I would not believe a word from your lips though you brought an angel +to witness it." + +Then he looked down at the little coffin, and a fierce gust of insanity +swept over him. + +"I will send for some officer of justice." + +She caught his arm and held him firmly. + +"For Elsie's sake--don't overshadow her life with the shame you hurl on +me. Let me go away--you shall never hear of me again--I will never cross +your path! I do not ask for mercy, but for your sister's sake, for your +own honored name, let me go away and die." + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +BURIED OUT OF SIGHT. + + +Lost and guilty as this woman was, there existed still one human virtue +in her soul--even in his rage Mellen could feel that she spoke the +truth--she was not asking mercy for herself--she was pleading for the +innocent girl whose future would be destroyed were it known how vile the +creature was with whom she had been the associate. + +"Where will you go--what will you do?" + +"Anything--anything! You shall never hear from me again." + +"You are going with this man!" + +"There is no life so horrible that I would not prefer it to his +presence," she said; "no death so shameful that it would not be heaven +compared to seeing his face again." + +There was a brief pause then; Mellen grasped her by the arm. + +She thought he was about to kill her. She sank on her knees and a broken +prayer rose to her lips. She would not have struggled; she would have +knelt there and received death patiently from his hands. + +"Do you think me lost and vile as yourself?" he cried, reading her +thoughts in this gesture. "I do not want your life--do with it what you +will! For my innocent sister's sake I will spare you--but go--go where I +never can hear your name--let me have no reason to know that you exist! +If you cross my path again, nothing shall keep me from exposing you to +the whole world." + +All at once, North came out from the shadows that had concealed his +face, and stood before the man he had so foully wronged. + +"Grantley Mellen," he said, "for your own sake, believe me. If this +woman will not speak, I am not coward enough to keep silent." + +Elizabeth stepped forward, her head raised, her eyes flashing. + +"But I charge you--North or Ford, I charge you, make no defence for me. +At your hand, neither he or I, will accept it. There has been no murder, +there must be none. If this most wronged man grants us the mercy of +silence, it is enough." + +"But I am not brute enough to----" + +"Peace," said Elizabeth; "if you would serve me, obey him." + +"Obey him," answered North, with a sneer. "I would do almost anything. +Yes, and I will do even that; but you are the only woman on earth for +whom I would so bend and creep to this man." + +These words stung Mellen like vipers, but he would not allow those two +criminals to know how his heart writhed. + +"It is well," he said; "there is more to be done. Go and finish your +work." + +North took up the spade. + +"Remember," he said. "It is for her sake." + +Elizabeth made an effort to speak. + +"Be still," said Mellen, "we need no more words." + +North began throwing the earth back into the trench, Elizabeth sat still +and watched him. + +It seemed to her that she did not suffer--there was nothing in her mind +save the blank feeling which one might experience sitting over the ruin +an earthquake had made, after burying home, love, everything the soul +clings to. North filled the chasm and smoothed the earth down over it +carefully. Then, without a pause, he straightened the lid of the +coffin--there was no haste, no recoiling--he drove back the nails that +had been loosened, into their place--then he raised the box in his arms, +saying, only: + +"Come!" + +Mellen walked forward, Elizabeth followed a little behind--she did not +ask a single question, but moved slowly down the avenue towards the +outer gates. They passed through, out into the high road, up the little +hill, Mellen walking sternly on, and the woman following, North marching +forward with long strides, bearing the coffin on his shoulder. + +They reached the graveyard; the fence was broken in one place; Mellen +wrenched off the picket and forced a passage. He passed through, and +Elizabeth mechanically kept in his footsteps. At the lower end of the +yard was a single grave, with the earth still fresh around it; not a +tuft of grass had sprung on the torn soil, but dead leaves had drifted +over it, and the frost crusted it drearily, turning its moisture to ice. +Elizabeth might have recognised this grave as one that had been given to +a fair woman who had perished in the late shipwreck, had she found any +room for thought out of her great misery. But she only saw a +dreary-looking grave, at which North paused. He set down the coffin and +again raised his spade. Elizabeth stood by, silently turning to stone, +as it were. She watched him dig a deep cavity, saw him lower the box +down into it, then he began to fill up the gap. + +"It is done, your sin is buried; we part, and forever," said Mellen. + +"We part here!" echoed Elizabeth. + +"I have no more to say," he went on; "if you can live, do so; but, +remember, death comes at last--death and the judgment. I think, had your +sin been other than it is, I could have promised you forgiveness in your +last hour. But the horror of your crime in choosing that man----" + +"I never knew it," she broke in. "Oh, believe that--do believe that! I +ask nothing more--I have no right even to ask so much--but if you should +one day hear that I am dead, believe that I have now told you the +truth." + +"You have the means of subsistence," he went on; "the stocks I settled +upon you will be sufficient for your support. If you ever see this +wretch again, it is because you are altogether bad." + +"Only say that when I am dead you will pardon me--only say that, +Grantley Mellen, for I have great need of one kind word." + +"You will be careful that your name never reaches my ear," he went on, +regardless of her appeal. "Hide yourself in some strange land, where no +tidings of you may ever come near my home. I warn you, for your own +sake." + +"Give me your forgiveness in my dying hour; only that, Grantley, for I +have loved you so!" + +"I will not promise it. This mockery is worse than your sin!" he +exclaimed. "If it were to keep your soul from eternal torture, I could +not speak a pardoning word." + +She fell forward upon the ground. + +"Only for my death-bed--your pardon for my death-bed?" + +"Never! Never!" + +His voice rang out clear and sharp, as steel striking steel. It was like +the sound of prison doors shutting out the last gleam of light and hope +from a condemned criminal. + +"Don't be found here," he said; "nor be heard of again. We are parting +now forever. Take the shelter of my roof for the rest of this miserable +night. I will not send you forth in darkness--go, but we meet no more!" + +He turned and walked away; she watched him threading his path among the +graves, and it seemed as if she must die when her eyes lost him. + +He had reached the palings, he was passing through. She raised herself, +her last expiring energy went out in one agonized appeal: + +"Your pardon--for my death-bed--Grantley--husband!" + +He never turned, never paused--perhaps he did not hear--but walked +steadily and firmly on. + +Elizabeth looked up at the cold sky; the moon was partially hidden, the +dawn was struggling up gray and chilled in the east, the wind moaned +faintly among the graves, and rustled her garments like the stirring of +a shroud; there she stood among the graves of her world, as utterly +helpless and lost as if eternity swept between her and the past, and +there she remained during some minutes that lengthened out like years, +with the wind moaning around her and dead leaves crackling under her +feet. She could see her old home through the naked trees, with the dull +smoke curling in clouds above the chimneys, and the great trees sweeping +their naked branches over it. Oh, how her heart yearned towards it, how +wistfully her eyes watched all those signs of her forfeited life through +the leafless grove and the drifting leaves! + +"Can I help you, can I do anything?" + +Elizabeth lifted her dreary eyes. It was North. The desolation of that +poor woman smote him with remorse, his voice trembled with human pity. + +"The money--you shall have part of that." + +Elizabeth shook her head; she had no strength for resentment. All pride +was crushed within her. + +"Go," she said, "leave me here alone; I want nothing." + +"But I cannot leave you so--I will not." + +Elizabeth arose and stood upright among the graves. + +"I am going somewhere--this way, I think. One cannot rest here, you +know," she said, with a wan and most pathetic smile. "You and I have +been too much in company--the world is wide--oh, misery, misery, how +wide--but you can go that way and I the other. No one will ask for me." + +Was the woman dropping into piteous insanity? + +North thought so, and made another effort to arouse her, but she only +entreated him to go away, and at last he went; afraid that the daylight +would find him there. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +THE HUSBAND RELENTS. + + +Grantley Mellen turned back to the miserable grandeur of his home. The +proud heart ached in his bosom. What if, from fear or weakness, +Elizabeth did not return to the house? What if she remained there among +the cold graves, or wandered off in terror of his wrath? + +The graveyard was full half a mile from the spot where this thought +struck him. He turned at once and went back, feeling how unmanly it was +to leave the miserable creature stricken with such anguish, alone with +that man. He remembered how her uncovered head had drooped under his +denunciations in the moonlight, that the cold wind had lifted the waves +of her hair and revealed the dead marble of a face in which all hope was +quenched. Notwithstanding his wrongs, notwithstanding the ache at his +heart, he would go back and take her home for that one night--only for +that one night. + +He walked rapidly towards the graveyard, more eager now to find +Elizabeth than he had been to separate from her only a brief time +before. He looked to the right and left in search of her, but the moon +was obscured now by thin gray clouds, and a fog drifting up from the +ocean was fast obliterating the crowd of golden stars that had been so +brilliant when he went forth. + +Mellen walked on, growing more and more anxious, till he came in sight +of the graveyard, then he paused under a clump of cedars; for he saw his +unhappy wife forcing her way, in desperate haste, through the broken +pickets of the fence, with her face turned homewards. The gray woollen +shawl was floating loosely around her, giving a weird ghostliness to her +appearance. + +Mellen turned and went back, sheltering himself under the cedar trees. +When he saw that she was safe, a revulsion came upon his feelings; a +sense of the wrong she had done him returned with bitter force, and when +she passed along the outskirts of the cedars, making her way down the +hill, he retreated deeper into the shadows, recoiling from contact with +her. + +"She will go home," he said, gloomily, "no one is more familiar with the +paths through the woods. Thank heaven she does not know that I am weak +enough to care for her safety! Let her reach the house first, we shall +be less likely to meet." + +With these thoughts in his mind he lingered in the cedars till Elizabeth +was out of sight. The wind was dying away in low sobs now, smothered +down by the fog, through which he could hear the moaning of the ocean +afar off. + +Mellen left the woods, and made the best of his way home, believing that +his wife had already found a shelter there. + +The house was dark and still as the grave when he entered it again. +Instinctively he trod with caution along the halls and crept stealthily +upstairs, for in the depths of his heart he was anxious to conceal +Elizabeth's movements that night from the servants, and, above all, from +Elsie. He paused and listened a moment in the square passage that led to +her rooms, hoping to hear some movement by which he could be certain +that she had reached home in safety. But there was no sound, and he +turned away sighing, for compassion and the tender pity which every +generous man feels for a fallen woman whom he has once loved, was +turning the bitterness of his rage into intense pain. + +Hearing nothing, and with vague uncertainty at his heart, the unhappy +man entered his own dark chamber, threw off his clothes and flung +himself into bed, wretched beyond any power of my pen to describe. + +But he could not sleep, could not even rest, the very effort at repose +drove him wild. He got up again, dressed himself and sat down by the +open window, looking out into the darkness. All at once he started and +leaned far out of the window. Was it fancy, or had some wailing voice +pronounced his name? Something gray and weird seemed floating from his +sight through the gathering fog. At first it had the form of a human +being, then it seemed as if a pair of wings unfurled and swallowed it +up. Was it his wife? Could that winglike envelopment be her gray woollen +shawl, tossed by the wind? Had her voice been engulfed in the far-off +moan of the ocean? In this dreary state the unhappy and most wronged man +remained all the rest of that gloomy night. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +GONE. + + +The day began; the sun was up; once more the old house awoke to life and +activity. + +Sitting in his chamber, Grantley Mellen heard the familiar sounds below; +he knew that life must sweep on again, that he must rise once more and +go forth among his fellow-men, hiding his misery as best he might, +taking his place in the world and bearing the secret burden of his +dishonored life. He went to the window, swept back the curtains which he +had drawn over it, and looked at himself in the glass. If he had wished +to know how his corpse would look after the ravages of time and disease, +he could have learned it in that prolonged gaze. + +It was absolutely the face of a dead man; even the eyes looked +lifeless--there was only a heavy, stony expression, which had neither +spirit or humanity in it. + +It was late in the morning when Elsie awoke from the heavy slumber which +had succeeded her swoon. For a few moments she lay still, believing that +the events of the past night had been only a dream. Suddenly she raised +herself with a cry of anguish--she had caught sight of the shawl which +Elizabeth had wrapped about her--she knew that it was all real. + +She sprang out of bed, opened the door, ran through the empty chamber +and entered her sister's room: + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +There was no answer. She looked about--the fire had died down in the +grate, the room was empty and desolate as a grave. + +She hurried through into the sleeping apartment, calling still in a +voice which frightened herself: + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +The bed-chamber was empty too--the bed untouched. + +"Gone!" cried the wretched girl. "Gone! Where is she? What has become of +her? Elizabeth, Elizabeth!" + +She shrieked frightfully in her anguish--cried out in such terrible +anxiety, that the sound reached the chamber where Grantley Mellen sat. + +He went out into the hall and approached the door of the dressing-room. +Elsie heard him--her first impulse was to flee but her limbs refused to +move. + +She heard him try the door--heard him call: + +"Elsie! Elsie!" + +She must meet him--there was no escape. + +Again the summons was repeated, more imperatively now. + +"Elsie, open the door--quick, I say!" + +She got to the door, she turned the key; her brother entered quickly, +and stood in Elizabeth's desolate room. + +"Where is Elizabeth?" she cried. "I can't find her--I want Elizabeth." + +Mellen felt a shiver of dread pass through his frame. He pushed the +chamber-door open and looked in, pale with anxiety. She was not +there--the bed was untouched, and gleamed upon him through the crimson +light that filled the room, like a crusted snowbank. There was none of +that luxurious confusion which usually marks the apartment of a sleeping +lady. The rich toilet service was in complete order. There was no +jewelry flung down with half sleepy indifference, no garments laying +ready for use on the chairs, or across the sofa. The silken window +curtains were drawn close. The carpet looked like moss in the deep +shadows of an autumnal forest. + +"Gone, gone! Oh, my God, what has become of her?" he exclaimed. + +"Where--what has happened? Is she dead? Oh, I shall go mad--I shall go +mad now," cried Elsie. + +She fell into spasms, but still preserved her senses sufficiently not to +speak again--she dared not utter a word more, lest she should betray her +knowledge of Elizabeth's sorrow. + +Mellen carried her to the sofa and laid her down upon it, wrapped shawls +and eider down quilts over her, holding her hands, which trembled like +frightened birds, striving in every way to soothe her, as Elizabeth had +so often done in the time gone by for ever. + +Elsie lay back at length, quiet but utterly exhausted. + +"Where is Elizabeth?" she moaned. "What has happened?" + +"Never take that name on your lips again," he said; "let even her memory +be dead between us. That woman is no longer my wife--you will never see +her. She shall not suffer; I will deal gently with her; but to you, my +dearest sister, she is dead, forever and ever." + +"You have killed her!" shrieked Elsie. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +"She leaves this house of her free will, Elsie--the only condition I +have made is that she takes her name far out of our lives. Have you +known--have you suspected this woman, Elsie?" + +"No, no! I don't know anything but what is good of her--I don't believe +anything! She is good and kind--send for her! You shan't drive her +away--she shall come to me now! My dear Elizabeth--I love her! You shall +not do this--you are mad, mad! She is the best woman that ever lived! +Let me go to her--I will go!" + +She was writhing again in hysterical spasms, but Mellen forced her back +when she attempted to rise. + +"Be still, Elsie--try to understand me! I can't tell you the whole +story--but we are parted. Do not plead for her. Do not mention her +name." + +"But, Grantley, Grantley!" + +"No more, I say--not a word." + +"She is innocent," moaned the girl; "she is innocent." + +"I know what you suffer--think of all that I endure--let that give you +strength." + +"I tell you she is an angel--she has done no wrong!" + +"I had the confession which separates us from her own lips--I tell you I +would not have believed any other testimony. Don't struggle so, +Elsie--lie still." + +The girl fought with him like an insane creature--she had no self +control or reason--it was inability to speak which kept her from +shrieking out in Elizabeth's defence. She could only gasp for breath, +and when words did come, it was that broken cry: + +"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" + +"You must try to understand me, Elsie! You are all I have left in the +world--oh, Elsie, Elsie! She has gone forever, and I loved her so--I +loved her so. You and I must live on as best we can--it is only for you, +child, that I live at all." + +"Only bring her back--clear it all up--the truth--the truth at last! Oh, +Grantley, I----" + +Her words were so indistinct that he could not gather their meaning; she +was struggling more fiercely than ever, and it required all his strength +to hold her. + +"If you love me, Elsie, strive to be calm! Oh, think of my trouble, my +anguish--my sister, my sister!" + +"Only send for her--call her here!" + +"Be quiet and I will search, but she went off last night, I do not know +where!" + +Elsie gave one frightful cry and sank back in his arms insensible again. +Her swoon was so death-like that it seemed as if life had gone out for +ever. + +Just as Elizabeth had raised her and carried her into her own room, so +did Grantley Mellen carry her now, stricken by a fear so horrible that +his past agony paled under it. What if she were dead--if she should wake +a raving maniac, and all from the evil influence of that woman. + +He called no assistance; he watched over Elsie in that lonely chamber, +trying every remedy he could find, but for a long time his efforts were +unavailing; she lay there, white and cold, as if the snowy counterpane +had been her winding sheet. + +Just as he was calling her name in a last frenzied burst of grief, Elsie +opened her eyes. She was too feeble for speech, but she remembered +everything clearly, and made a vain effort to rise. + +"You must not talk, Elsie; don't stir--you will hurt yourself!" + +He searched on the toilet table, found a bottle of laudanum, and +administered as large a dose as he dared; he knew that the effects could +not be so dangerous as her present suffering. + +He sat down by the bed, folding his arms about her, calling her by every +endearing name that his tenderness and fear could suggest, striving to +soothe her into slumber. + +Elsie would lie quiet for a few moments, then begin to struggle and cry +out, till it seemed to Mellon that she would die before the opiate could +take effect. + +The potion worked at length; she lay back on the pillows white and +still--her eyes stared drearily about the chamber once more, and then +closed--she had fallen into a heavy sleep. + +For a long hour Grantley Mellen remained on his knees by her bedside, +where he had fallen. + +He rose at length. Victoria was knocking at the door, and warning her +young mistress that breakfast was on the table. + +Mellen went to the door and opened it, checked the girl's cry of +astonishment with a gesture, and said: + +"Miss Elsie is very ill--go downstairs at once, and let there be no +noise in the house." + +Vic crept away in frightened silence; Mellen followed her into the hall, +gave orders to one of the men servants to get a horse ready, went into +the library and wrote a dispatch to his physician in the city, and came +out again. + +By the time the man was starting off to the station, Clorinda and +several of the servants, to whom Victoria had communicated her tidings, +were assembled in the hall. + +In consultation they forgot their awe of the master, and asked a +thousand eager questions, which he answered with brief sternness. + +"Go back to your places, all of you," he said; "Miss Elsie is asleep, +and must not be disturbed till the doctor arrives." + +"Is missus wid her?" demanded Clo. + +He turned upon her with a frown which made her spring back as if she had +received an electric shock, and entirely checked any further desire to +question him where his wife was concerned. + +He turned towards the stairs again, but Dolf interposed with one of his +profound bows. + +"'Scuse me, sar, but de brekfus is on de table." + +Self-restraint must be kept up; whatever suspicions might arise when the +fact of Elizabeth's disappearance became known in the house, this proud +man would not expose himself to the curious eyes of his menials. + +He went into the breakfast-room, drank the coffee Dolf poured out with a +skillful hand, pretended to eat a few morsels, then pushed his chair +back and hurried up to Elsie's chamber--he could not trust himself yet +in the presence of his servants. + +Below stairs all sorts of stories were rife. Victoria peeped into +Elsie's room and came down with the information that "She lay dar +like a beautiful corpus!" + +Everybody groaned in concert, but she added new astonishment by saying: + +"And missus ain't nowhars about. She ain't in Miss Elsie's room, and she +ain't in her own, and her bed ain't been touched all night." + +Clorinda began to nod her turban with a sapient air. + +"What did I tell yer!" cried she. "Now what did I jist tell yer." + +"But whar can she be?" wondered Dolf. "What do yer s'pose has happened, +Miss Clorinda?" + +"'Nuff's happened," returned Clo, "and more'n 'nuff! I told yer de +tunderbust would break, an it has." + +They urged and entreated her to speak; but it was difficult to speak +when she literally knew nothing, so she contented herself with going +about her work with unusual energy, while the rest stood around and +watched her, deeming this an occasion when idleness was to be taken +quite as a matter of course. + +Clo nodded her head, muttered to herself, and made dreadful confusion +among her pots and pans, exciting her fellow-servants to a fearful pitch +by her air of mystery, but not a word would she speak beyond vague and +appalling hints. + +While the servants below stairs wore away the morning in vague +conversation and surmises, growing every instant wilder and more +improbable, Grantley Mellen sat in that darkened chamber watching his +sleeping sister. + +The physician arrived late in the evening; by that time Elsie was awake, +and he looked a little grave while giving his medicines and examining +into the case. + +"Keep her very quiet," he said to Mellen, who followed him into the +hall; "it is a severe nervous attack, but she can endure nothing more. +Don't let her get up--I'll come back to-morrow. Where is Mrs. Mellen? +she is so good a nurse I should like to give her my directions." + +"She--she is not here," Mellen answered. + +"In town, I suppose? You had better send for her, or give me her address +and I will call and tell her how much she is wanted the moment I reach +town. To-night I stay in the village." + +"Thank you, I won't trouble you," replied Mellen. "You will be here +to-morrow morning?" + +"Oh, certainly! Don't be at all alarmed--Miss Elsie is subject to these +nervous attacks. So I shan't call on your wife?" + +"No, sir, no;" Mellen answered, impatiently. "I must return to my +sister." + +He bowed the doctor downstairs and disappeared, leaving the son of +Esculapius to go on with some rather strange ideas in his head. + +He had another patient in the village, and so drove over there in the +carriage which had brought him from the station. As he was standing on +the hotel porch old Jarvis Benson came up, caught him by the button-hole +and began a long story, to which the physician listened with such +patience as he could find. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +UTTER LONELINESS. + + +When Elizabeth Mellen quitted the graveyard, she was for the moment +insane. Mellen had left her alone with the dead and the man she had so +hated. He had forsaken her there in that cold, desolate night, +regardless that she had once been his wife, scorning to remember her +even as a woman. This thought stung her proud soul through all its +anguish. She would not return home; not a single hour would she rest +under the roof which loomed up so gray and ghostly behind those weird +trees. But where could she go? in all the headlands that spread away +from the coast there was no shelter for her. Degraded, broken-hearted, +abandoned to her fate, like a wild animal, she stood alone among the +graves of those who had been happy enough to die. + +This terrible blow, long as it had been dreaded, came upon the poor +woman suddenly at last. At the bottom of her heart there had been all +the while a desperate hope of escape. But it was over now. The worst had +come, and that was almost annihilation. She looked up to the sky. The +stars were all out. The soft gray clouds which had floated over them +only a little while before were turning leaden and heavy, so heavy that +the ocean was one mass of blackness, as if the mighty deep had veiled +itself with mourning, while the throes of a coming tempest heaved its +inner depths. + +The man North had left her at last--she was utterly alone. + +Never in this world had a human being been cast forth to such utter +desolation. She looked down on the torn earth at her feet, and her poor +heart ached to lie down with that other woman who had found her rest so +early, and was at peace. She thought of her with strange envy, +remembering that the ocean had cast her forth when it moaned and heaved +as she could hear it now,--the grand, beneficent ocean, that could give +death to a poor soul pining for it as she did. She bent her head and +listened to the far-off voice which held her with a sort of fascination. + +"I will go," she said, "I will go. It calls me--with ten thousand voices +it calls me." + +She started from the tombstone against which she had leaned, and swiftly +treading a passage through the graves, forced her way out by the broken +pickets. That moment Mellen stood in the cedar grove and saw her pass. +Had he come forth all might have been well, but fierce pride rushed in +and checked the noble impulse that had brought him back so far. She +swept swiftly by him and was lost in the fog. Some strong impulse of +love broke up through the insane fascination which drove her toward the +ocean, and in spite of herself she drifted homewards. Once a break in +the clouds sent down wild gleams of light, throwing up black vistas of +gloom through every break in the woods, and revealing dense, gray masses +of vapor, frowning over the waters. Then came darkness again, and she +wandered on. + +Without knowing how, Elizabeth found herself on the lawn before her old +home. The odor of dead leaves and late autumn blossoms rose up from the +soil, and enveloped her with sickening remembrances. All at once the +woman recognised the place. That pile with its gables and towers had +been her home only a few short hours before. Why had she turned that +way? What mocking fiend had driven her back against her will? The +thought maddened her, but she could not move. The passionate love in her +heart anchored those weary feet. She flung up her arms towards a window +through which a light shone dimly--the window of his room, and an +agonising cry of farewell broke from her. It was his name that fled from +her lips like a burning arrow, and reached her husband in the gloomy +stillness of his chamber. + +The window opened. She tore her feet from the earth and fled. Her +husband, of all others, should not know that she was there, prowling +about the home from which he had driven her. That cry of agony coming +from her lips frightened back her pride. + +She darted away across the flower-beds, through thickets and over the +lawn, which lay moist and heavy under the fog. Her wet feet got +entangled among clusters of dead heliotrope and crysanthemums, still +blooming in defiance of storm and frost. The shawl blew loose from her +hands, which unconsciously huddled it close to her bosom, and was torn +by the thorny rosebushes. Fragments of her dress were left behind. She +plunged into a swampy hollow where clusters of tall catstail, sweet flag +and sedgy rushes grew around a little pond, swarming with trout and gold +fish. Her feet sank into the marsh till the water gurgled over her +gaiters. She stood a moment, looking out upon the black pool, tempted to +throw herself in; but some water-rat or frog, frightened by her +approach, made a great leap, and plunged into the black depths, giving +out a horrible idea of reptile life. + +Not there, not there; no one should find her after she was dead. The +ocean, the great heaving ocean had called her; why was she lingering by +that miserable pool of black water, full of living things? Again she +plunged forward, broke through the tangled sedges, and trampled down the +spicy peppermint, till she reached firm land again. Then on--on--on till +she stood under the beetling cliff which frowned over the shore tavern. + +It was the dark hour now which comes just before daylight. The gleam of +a candle shone through one of the tavern windows, and this faint idea of +warmth drew her that way. She crept up close to the building, and +through the little panes of glass saw Benson with his daughter and her +children at breakfast together. + +When the days grew short it had always been the old man's habit to eat +his breakfast by candlelight. It was a pleasant, homely picture that the +wretched woman looked upon. Her haggard eyes grew wild at the sight of +so much warmth, while her teeth chattered with cold, and terrible chills +shook her from head to foot. A noble wood fire blazed on the hearth, +filling the small white-washed room with its golden glow. The soft steam +from the tea-kettle curled up the chimney, broiled fish and hot Indian +cakes sent a savory odor through the ill-fitted sash. + +Elizabeth had eaten nothing for the past two days, and with the sight of +this comfortable breakfast, an aching desire for food seized on her. +Food and warmth; let her have them and she was ready to die. This animal +want drew her close to the window. A child at the table saw that white +face with its wild burning eyes, and pointed its finger, uttering +frightened shrieks. + +Elizabeth darted away, crying out to the storm, "They will not have me; +even his menials drive me forth." + +The beach was not far off, and from it rose a sound of lashing waves, +hoarse with the thunder of mustering storms. Afar off the moan of the +deep had sounded like an entreaty, but now it came full and strong, +commanding her to approach. She obeyed these ocean voices like a little +child; her powers of reasoning were gone; all consciousness of pain or +danger benumbed; everything else had rejected her, but the great ocean +was strong, boundless. With one heave of its mighty bosom it would sweep +her away forever. + +She walked steadily on to the beach, forcing her way to the sands; +through drifts of seaweed and slippery stones, on, on she walked, +slowly, but with horrible firmness, through great feathers of foam that +curled upon the sands; on and on through whirlwinds of spray, till a +great wave seized her in its black undertow and she was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +PLANS AND LETTERS. + + +All that day Elsie remained in bed, sleeping a good deal, but so nervous +and shaken that she would not permit herself to be left alone for a +single instant. Her brother's presence seemed to fill her with fear, and +she shrank with a strange sort of timidity from every tender word or +soothing caress; still she was wretched if he left her bedside, and +there he watched the long day through. + +Evening came. Mellen was compelled to go through the pretence of another +meal; indeed he forced himself to eat, for he began to grow angry with +his own weakness. + +He had thought when the first struggle was over to feel only an icy, +implacable resentment against the woman who had wronged him; he was +ashamed of the tenderness in his own nature when he found that, stronger +than his rage, more powerful than the horror with which he regarded her +dishonor, was the love he had believed uprooted suddenly from his heart, +as a strong tree is torn up by tornados. + +Yes, he regretted her! It was not only that his life must be a desolate +blank, he pined for her presence. But for his pride he would have rushed +out in search of her, and taken her back to his heart, sweeping aside +all memory of her sin. + +He roused himself from what appeared to him such degrading weakness by +one thought--the partner in her guilt was his old enemy; a man too vile +for vengeance, even. + +That memory brought all the hardness back to his face, all the insane +passion to his soul, but it centered on the man now. + +That night, in the woman's very presence, he could not take the +vengeance that he meditated, but now he was prepared to force her from +the villain's grasp--on to repentance. + +Alone in his library, Grantley Mellen wrote several letters; it was +impossible to tell how that meeting would end, and he must make +preparations for the worst. When all was done he rose to go upstairs +again; a sudden resolution made him pause. He sat down at his desk once +more, and wrote these lines: + + "ELIZABETH--I said that even in your dying hour, I would never + forgive you: I retract. If my pardon can console your last moments, + remember that it is yours. I have made no alteration in my will; if + you can accept the benefits which may accrue to you by my death, + take them; but so surely as you ever attempt to approach the + innocent girl who has been so long endangered by your + companionship, my curse shall follow you, even from the grave to + which you will have consigned me." + +He put the note in an envelope, sealed it carefully, and addressed +it--"To Elizabeth." + +These were necessary precautions. The man who had twice wronged him +possessed the fierce courage of a bravo. If Elizabeth was found with +him, death might come to one of them--even if that followed, the woman +who had been his wife should never share the degrading future of a man +too vile for personal vengeance. In mercy to her he would separate them. + +He found Elsie sitting up in bed. She shrank away among the pillows when +he entered; he saw the movement, and it shook his heart with a new pang. +This artful woman had drawn the spell of her fascinations as closely +about that pure girl as she had enthralled him. Elsie shrank from the +brother who had deprived her of the love on which she had leaned. +Elizabeth had left him nothing but bitterness. + +"Are you feeling better?" he asked, sitting down by the bed. + +"Oh, I never shall be any better," she murmured; "I shall die, and then, +perhaps, you will be sorry." + +Mellen could not be angry with her; it wounded and stung him to hear her +speak thus, but he answered, patiently: + +"When you are able to reflect, Elsie, you will see that I could not have +acted differently. Few men would have shown as much leniency as I have +done; regardless of the consequences to themselves, they would have made +that woman's conduct public, and ruined her utterly." + +"She wasn't bad," cried Elsie; "you are crazy to think so. She was the +best woman in the world." + +"Have you forgotten what I told you this morning--what I was forced to +tell you or submit to your hatred? From yon window you could look out on +the spot where she had buried----" + +"Be still!" interrupted Elsie, with a shriek. "I won't stay in the house +if you go on so--be still, I say!" + +It required all his efforts to soothe the excited girl. He longed to +question her, to know if she had left Elizabeth much alone during his +absence, to understand how she could have been so persistently deceived, +but she was in no state to endure such inquiries then. + +Elsie lay back among her pillows, refusing to be comforted: + +"If you want to cure me send for Bessie--my dear, dear Bessie! Search +for her--send the people out!" + +"Elsie, she has gone with that man; I cannot follow her there." + +"No, no; she is wandering about in the cold. Go, search for her!" + +"Anything but that, Elsie--ask anything else in the world." + +"I don't want anything else." + +"As soon as you are better we will go away from here," he continued; "to +Europe, if you like." + +"But how will she live?" persisted Elsie. "What will become of her? No +money--no friends. Oh, Bessie, Bessie!" + +"She has plenty to live on," he replied. "There are stocks enough +deposited in her name to give her a comfortable income." + +"But they are gone," cried Elsie. Then, remembering the danger of that +avowal, she stopped suddenly. + +"Gone!" he repeated. "How do you know? Oh, Elsie, do you know more than +you own--do--" + +"Stop, stop!" she screamed. "You have driven Bessie away and now you +want to kill me! I don't know about anything--you know I don't. Just the +other day Bessie spoke something about the stocks; I thought from what +she said that you had taken them back for some purpose." + +He was perfectly satisfied with her explanation, but the distress and +fright into which she had fallen nearly brought on another nervous +crisis. Great drops of perspiration stood on her forehead, and the +slender fingers he held worked nervously in his grasp. + +"Don't talk any more, dear child," he said. "Try to go to sleep again." + +"I can't sleep--I never shall rest again--never! I feel so wicked--I +hate myself!" + +"Child, what do you mean?" + +She must restrain herself, no danger must come near her. Even her sorrow +for Elizabeth, her stinging remorse, could not make her unselfish enough +to run any personal risk of his displeasure. + +"I don't know what I mean--nothing at all! But it drives me wild to +think of Bessie. Where can she be--where could she go? Suppose she has +killed herself! Oh, she may be drowned in the bay--drowned--drowned!" + +She went nearly mad with the ideas which her fancy conjured up, but it +was perfectly in keeping with her character that in the very extremity +of her suffering, no word for Elizabeth should be spoken that would +implicate herself. Mellen must not guess at her knowledge of his wife's +fault. + +"You will have her searched for," she cried; "promise me that, if you +don't want to kill me outright, promise me that." + +"It could do no good, Elsie, none whatever. She has chosen her own +destiny." + +"It might, it might! If she has no money what will become of her?" + +"I will inquire to-morrow," he replied. "I will write to my agent. If +she has disposed of the stocks I will see that she has means to live +upon; I promise you that." + +"Really, truly?" + +"Did I ever break my word, Elsie?" + +"No, no; but you are so hard and stern." + +"Never with you, darling--never with you." + +Elsie groaned aloud, but hastened to speak: + +"I am only in pain--don't mind it." + +"My poor little Elsie, my sister, my treasure!" + +"Do you love me so much, Grant?" + +"Better than ever; you are all I have now! Oh, Elsie, don't shut your +heart against me, I can't bear that. Try to believe that I have acted as +justly as a man could. To the whole world I can be stern and silent, but +let me tell you the truth. I loved that woman so, my heart is breaking +under this grief. Bear patiently with me, child." + +"Oh, if you suffer, send for her back," cried Elsie. "Let her explain; +you gave her no time----" + +"Hush, hush! Have I not said all those things to myself?" + +This man's pride was so utterly crushed that he was revealing the inmost +secrets of his soul to this frail girl, scarcely caring to conceal from +her how keenly he suffered. + +"But try," pleaded Elsie; "only try." + +"It is impossible; later you will see that as plainly as I do. Don't you +see what a sin I should commit in taking a false, dishonored woman back +to my heart; what a wrong to my sister in exposing her to the society of +a creature so lost and fallen?" + +"She is good!" cried Elsie. "Bessie was an angel! Oh, I wish I was +dead--dead--dead! I can't bear this; it is too much--too much!" + +Elsie wrung her hands and sobbed piteously; she had wept until nature +exhausted itself, and that choked anguish was more painful to witness +than the most violent outburst of tears. + +"We loved her so," muttered Mellen; "she was twined round that girl's +heart as she enthralled mine; she has broken both." + +"What are you saying, Grant?" + +"Nothing, dear; I only pitied you and myself for loving her so much." + +"I will always love her," cried Elsie; "you never shall change me; +nothing shall do that. She is innocent; I believe it; I would say so +before the whole world." + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + +ELSIE PROMISES TO BE FAITHLESS. + + +Mellen was seized with a sudden fear. + +"Elsie," he said, "if anything should happen to me; if I should die----" + +She caught his hands and began to tremble. + +"What do you mean? Die--die!" + +"Nothing, dear; don't be frightened. But life is uncertain; what I mean +is this--if you should outlive me promise never to seek that woman; +never to let her come near you." + +"I can't promise that; I can't be so wicked." + +"You must, Elsie." + +"I can't; I won't! No, no; I'll never be bad enough for that!" + +"If you refuse me this, Elsie, you will sink a gulf between us which can +never be filled up." + +"Don't talk so; remember how sick I am." + +"I do; I won't agitate you, but we must have an end of this subject. If +I should die--" + +"I won't hear you talk about dying," she broke in. "You frighten me; +you'll kill me." + +But he went on resolutely; + +"Promise never to see or hear from her." + +"Not that; it is too wicked--too horrible." + +"Elsie," he cried, in stern passion, "promise, or I will go out of this +room, and though we live together it shall be as strangers." + +He rose as if to fulfil his threat; she sprang up in bed; her cowardice, +her selfishness mastered every other feeling. + +"I promise. Come back, Grant, come back; oh, do!" + +He seated himself again, soothed and caressed her. + +"We will not talk any more," he said, kindly. "Henceforth let everything +connected with this subject be dead between us; that woman's name must +never be mentioned here; her very memory must be swept out of the +dwelling she has dishonored. You and I will bury the past, Elsie, and +place a heavy stone over the tomb; will you remember that, child?" + +"Yes, yes; anything! Do what you please; I cannot struggle any longer; +it is not my fault." + +"Indeed no, darling! You are tender and forgiving as an angel! Oh, +Elsie, in all the world yours is the only true heart I have found." + +She lay there and allowed him to speak those words; she suffered +terribly in her shallow, cowardly way, but she could not force her soul +to be courageous even then. In time her volatile nature might turn +determinedly from the dark tragedy. She probably would convince herself +that she was powerless; that, since it could do no good to grieve over +Elizabeth and her mournful fate, it was better that she should dismiss +all recollection of it from her mind, drown her regrets, enjoy such +pleasures as presented themselves, and build up a new world between her +and the past. + +But as yet she could not do that; she was completely unnerved and +incapable of any resolution. She writhed there in pitiable pain and +caught at every straw for comfort. + +"You won't forget your promise, Grant?" + +"What, dear?" + +"To send money--that she may live, you know." + +"I will not forget, rest satisfied. I will attend to it this very day; +don't think about that any more." + +"How can I help thinking? You might as well tell me not to breathe; I +must think!" + +"The end has come; it can do no good to look back!" + +Almost the very words Elizabeth had so many times repeated during those +last terrible days; the recollection went like a dagger to Elsie's soul. + +It was a long time before she could be restored to anything like +composure; then Mellen forbade her to talk, fearing the consequences of +continued excitement. + +"You can sleep, now, darling; you will be better in the morning." + +"And you will take me away from here, Grant?" + +"Yes, dear; whenever you like." + +"I don't care about the place--the farther the better! I cannot stay in +this house--I should die here. But not to Europe--oh, you won't take me +to Europe?" + +He only thought the sudden terror in her voice rose from a fear of the +voyage or some similar weakness. + +"You shall choose, Elsie; just where you please. We will go to the West +Indies--as you say, the farther the better." + +"Yes, Grant, yes." + +"Now shut your eyes and go to sleep." + +"You won't leave me," she pleaded. + +"No; I shall stay near you all night." + +"It is so dreadful," she went on, glancing wildly about the room; "I +should go mad to wake up and find myself alone." + +"You shall not, dear; indeed you shall not." + +She grew quiet then; after a little time he heard Victoria in the hall, +and went out to speak with her. + +"You will lie down on the bed in the room next Miss Elsie's," he said, +"and be near her if she wants anything." + +He had not forgotten that he must be absent in the night, and was +careful to guard the cherished girl against every possible cause of +fright or agitation. + +He spent the evening in Elsie's sick chamber as he had passed the day. +Elsie did not sleep, but she was glad to lie quiet and keep her eyes +closed, shutting out the objects around her. Sometimes when her +reflections became too painful to bear, she would start up, catch his +hands and shriek his name wildly, but his voice always served to calm +her. + +Towards midnight she fell into a heavy slumber. More than an hour before +he heard Victoria enter the next room, and knew that he could leave +Elsie in safety. + +He bent over the bed, kissed her white forehead, and stole softly out of +the room. + +He went down into the library and sat there drearily, starting at the +least sound, almost with a belief that he should stand face to face once +more with his wife who might yet return on some possible pretence. The +hours passed, but there was no step from without, no sign of approach +anywhere about the house. + +He went to the window, pushed back the curtains and looked out--the +first thing he saw was the cypress tree waving its branches as they had +done the night before when their moans seemed inarticulate efforts to +speak. + +The moon was up now, streaming down with a broad, full glory, very +different from the spectral radiance of the previous night. How vividly +recollection of those fearful hours came back as he stood there! He +lived over every pang, felt every torture redoubled--started back as if +again looking on the dead object which had shut out all happiness from +him for ever. + +Suddenly he saw the figure of a man, that man, stealing across the lawn; +he did not wait to reflect, flung open the window and dashed out in +pursuit. He was too late--the intruder disappeared, and though he made a +long and diligent search his efforts were futile. + +He returned to the house, livid with the new rage which had come over +him. + +"I will find him," he muttered; "there is no spot so distant, no place +so secret, that my vigilance shall not hunt him down!" + +So the night passed, and when the dawn again struggled into the sky +Grantley Mellen returned to his sister's chamber, and sat down to watch +her deep, painful slumber once more. + +No sleep approached his eyelids--it seemed to him that he must not hope +to lose consciousness again--that never even for an instant would that +crushing sorrow and that mad craving for the lost woman leave him at +rest. + + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + +ALMOST A PROPOSAL. + + +In the basement story of Piney Cove, the absence of Mrs. Mellen was a +continued source of curiosity. But for once, that part of the household +had little but conjecture to go upon; so after a time, curiosity died +out and the selfish element rose uppermost, especially with the mulatto, +Dolf, who had not yet found out the sum total of Clorinda's fortune. + +The night after Mrs. Mellen's disappearance, there had been an anxious +meeting in the neighborhood, at which Elder Spotts had held forth with +peculiar eloquence, and Clorinda had been wonderfully loud in her +responses, a state of things which filled Dolf with serious perplexity; +in fact, it had been a very anxious meeting to him. After their return +home, that young gentleman lingered in the basement, looking so +miserable that Clorinda asked the cause. + +"Yer knows," said Dolf, prolonging the situation as much as possible, in +the hope that some bright thought would strike him by which the +conversation might be led round to the subject uppermost in his worldly +mind; "yer knows very well." + +"Why, yer's making me out jis' a witch." + +"No, Miss Clorindy, no; don't say dem keerless tings--don't! I ain't a +makin' you nothin', only de most charmin' and de most cruel of yer +sect." + +If Clo did not blush it was only because nature had deprived her of the +dangerous privilege, but she fell into a state of sweet confusion that +was beautiful to behold. + +"Dar ye go agin," said she; "now quit a callin' me witches and sich, or +else say why?" + +"Didn't I see you dis berry even'?" said Dolf. + +"In course ye did; we was to Mrs. Hopkins's when de meeting was ober." + +"And wasn't Elder Spotts dar, too?" + +"In course he was; yer knows it well enough." + +"I knows it too well," said Dolf. "Dar's whar de coquettations comes in; +dat's jis' de subjec' I'm 'proachin' yer wid." + +"Me!" cried Clo, in delightful innocence. "Laws, I didn't know yer even +looked at me; I tought ye was fascinated wid dat Vic." + +"I'se neber too busy to reserve you, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf; +"wherever I may be, whatever my ockipation, I'se eyes fur you. And I +seed you; I seed de elder a bending over ye, a whisperin' in yer ear." + +"Oh, git out!" cried Clo. "He didn't do no sich." + +"Oh, yes, he did, Miss Clorindy; dese eyes seen it." + +"Wal, he was a axin' me if I was gwine to come to meetin' more reg'lar +dan I had ob late." + +"It took him a great while to ax," said Dolf, in a reproachful voice. + +Clo laughed a little chuckling laugh. + +"He's a bery pleasant man, de elder," said she; "bery pleasant." + +"Dey say he wants a wife," observed Dolf. + +"Do dey! Mebby he do; anyway he hain't told me dat." + +"But he will, Clorindy, he will!" + +"Tain't no ways likely; don' 'spec I shall knows much bout it!" + +"Oh, yes, yer will," insisted Dolf. + +He was serious, and Clo began to grow dizzy at the thought of so many +conquests crowding upon her at once. + +"I jis' b'lieve he's a sarpint in disguise," said Dolf, with great +energy; "one ob de wust kind of old he ones." + +"Laws, Mr. Dolf, don't say sich things; he's a shinin' light in de +sanctumary, I'se certain." + +"It's a light I'd like to squinch," cried Dolf, "and if he pokes himself +into my moonshine I'll do it." + +Clo gave a shrill scream, and caught his arm, as if she feared that he +was intending to rush forth in search of the elder, and put his menace +into instant execution. + +"Don't kick up a muss wid him," she pleaded: "why should yer?" + +"It 'pends on yer, Miss Clorindy, yer know; de 'couragement yer've ben a +givin' him is 'nuff to drive yer admirers out o' der senses." + +"Oh, dear me, I neber heerd sich audacious nonsense!" said Clo. + +"It's true," answered Dolf, "an' yer knows it. But ye're received in dat +man, Miss Clorindy, yer is! He's got both eyes fixed on de glitterin' +dross. I've heerd him talk 'bout de fortin yer had, an' how it wud set a +pusson up, an' what good he might do wid it 'mong de heathen." + +Clo gave another scream, but this time it was a cry of indignation and +wrath. + +"Spend my money 'mong de heathen!" she cried. "I'd like to see him do +it! comes 'bout me I'll pull his old wool fur him, I will." + +Dolf smiled at the success of his falsehood, and made ready to clench +the nail after driving it in. + +"Dat's what he tinks anyhow. Why, Miss Clorindy, he was a tryin' ter +find out jist how much yer was wuth." + +"'Taint nobody's business but my own," cried Clo, angrily, "folks +needn't be a pumpin' me; 'taint no use." + +"Jis' what I've allers said," remarked Dolf, with great earnestness; +"sich secrets, says I, is Miss Clorindy's own." + +"Yes, dey be," said Clo, holding on to the sides of her stool as tightly +as if it had been the box which contained her treasures. + +"I've said sometimes," continued Dolf, "dat if de day shud eber come +when dat parathon ob her sex made up her mind ter gib her loved hand to +some true bussom, she'd probably whisper musical in his ear de secret +she has kept from all de wuld." + +Clo was divided between the tenderness awakened by these words and the +vigilance with which she always guarded the outposts leading to her +cherished secret. + +"Ain't dat sense, Miss Clorindy?" demanded Dolf, getting impatient. + +"I hain't said it warn't," she replied. + +"Dis wuld is full ob mercenary men," Dolf went on, "searchin' fur de +filty lucre; I'se glad I neber was one ob dem. I allers has 'spised de +dross; gib me lobe, I says, and peace wid de fair one ob my choice, and +I asks no more." + +Clo played with her apron string again, and looked modestly down. + +But Dolf did not know exactly what to say next without committing +himself more deeply than he desired; indeed, he had been led on now +considerably farther than he could wish, but that was unavoidable. + +"Not but what fortins is desirous," he said, "'cause in dis wuld people +must lib." + +Clo assented gently to that self-evident proposition. + +"Do yer know what I'se often tought, Miss Clorindy," said Dolf, starting +on a new tack. + +"'Spect I don't," said Clo. + +"I'se wished many a time, more lately'n I used ter, dat I could take +some fair cretur I lobed ter my heart, and dat 'tween us we had money +'nuff ter start a restauration or sometin' ob dat sort." + +Clo sniffed a little. + +"In dem places de wurk all comes on de woman," said she. + +Dolf was quite aware of that fact; it was the one thing which made him +contemplate the idea with favor. + +"Oh, not at all," he said, "de cookin's a trifle; tink ob de 'counts; my +head's good at figures." + +"Dey kind o' puzzles me," Clo confided to him softly. + +"Tain't 'spected in the fair sect," said Dolf; "dey nebber ort to +trouble 'emselves 'bout sich matters." + +Then Dolf sighed. + +"Yer wonders what's de matter," he said; "I was jis lamentin' dat I +hadn't been able to save as much as I could wish, so dat I could realise +sich a dream." + +"Laws," cried Clo, so agitated and confused she was about to speak the +words he so longed to hear; "how much wud it take? Does yer tink dat if +a woman had--" + +"I say Clo, where be yer?" + +The interruption was a cruel one to both the darkeys, though from +different reasons; the voice was Victoria's. + +"Clo!" she called again, in considerable wrath, "jis' you answer now." + +Clo sprang up in high indignation. Dolf mounted a couple of steps and +appeared to be diligently searching for something in a closet. + +Victoria opened the kitchen door, looked out and tossed her head angrily +when she saw the pair. + +"I s'pose I might a split my throat callin', and yer wouldn't a +answered," she cried. + +"I'se 'bout my business," said Clo, grimly, "jis' mind yours." + +"I s'pose Mr. Dolf am 'bout his business too," retorted Vic. + +Dolf turned around from the closet and asked sweetly, "Did you 'dress +me, Miss Vic?" + +"No, I didn't, and don't mean ter. But Miss Elsie's woke up, and wants +some jelly and a bird; where am dey, Clo?" + +"Look whar dey be and ye'll find 'em," replied Clo. + +"Ef they hain't gone down dat ol' preacher's throat it's lucky," cried +Vic, slamming the door after her, thus defeating poor Dolf in the very +moment of success. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXI. + +FUTILE PLEADINGS. + + +Elsie was better that morning. When the physician arrived he pronounced +her much improved, and confessed to Mellen that he had at first feared +an attack upon the brain, but he believed now it was only the result of +a severe nervous paroxysm. This time he made no inquiries of Mellen +concerning his wife; the manner in which they had been received on the +previous day did not invite a renewal of the subject. + +Elsie was eager to get up, after her usual habit, the moment she began +to feel better; but the doctor ordered her to lie in bed, at least for +that day. + +"But I want to get up so badly," said she, when her brother returned to +the chamber; "I am so tired of lying here." + +"Just have patience for to-day; the doctor would not allow the least +exertion." + +"He's a cross old thing!" pouted Elsie, with a faint return to her old +manner, which made Mellen both sigh and smile. + +"You will soon be able to put him at defiance. But, indeed, you are so +weak now you could not attempt too much." + +"Oh, that's nonsense! I don't believe anything about it. You shall stay +here with me; if I have to be kept prisoner I will hold you fast, too." + +"There is no fear of my attempting to leave the room," he replied. + +Elsie felt much improved. She sat up in bed, made her brother play at +various games of cards with her, talked and looked herself again. + +But into the conversation, in which Mellen did his best to hold a share, +there crept some chance mention of that name which those walls must no +longer hear. It fell from Elsie's lips thoughtlessly, and at once +dispelled her faint attempt at cheerfulness, throwing her into the gloom +which she had succeeded in shutting out for a little time. + +"Did you write that letter, Grant?" she asked, quickly. + +"Yes; I sent it down to the village, to go by the morning's mail." + +"Thank you, Grant, thank you!" + +She attempted to console herself with thinking she had done something in +Elizabeth's behalf, but when her conscience compared it with all that +she ought to have done, her coward heart shrank back at the contrast. + +"I am tired of cards," she said, sweeping the bits of pasteboard off the +bed with one of her abrupt movements, which would have been rude in +another, but seemed graceful and childish in her. "Cards are stupid +things at the best!" + +Mellen patiently collected the scattered pack and laid it away, trying +to think of some other means of relieving her _ennui_. + +"Shall I read to you?" he asked. + +"I don't believe I could listen," she said, tossing her head wearily +about. "I don't know--just try." + +There was a pile of new novels and magazines on the table in the centre +of the room, for Elsie always kept herself liberally supplied with these +sources of distraction, though it must be confessed that she generally +carried the recreation to an extreme, reading her romance to the +exclusion of more solid studies, just as she preferred nibbling +bon-bons, to eating substantial food. + +"There certainly is opportunity for a choice," Mellen said, glancing at +the pile. "What book will you choose?" + +"Oh, bring a magazine; read me some short story." + +Mellen seated himself, opened the periodical and commenced reading the +first tale he lighted upon. It was a story by a popular author, +beginning in a light, pleasant way, and promising the amusement his +listener needed. But as the little romance went on it deepened into a +pathetic tragedy. It was an account of a noble-born Sicilian woman who, +during the Revolution, endured, silently, every species of suffering, at +last death itself, rather than betray her husband to his enemies, yet +the husband had bitterly wronged her and half-broken her heart during +their married life. + +Elsie did not listen at first, but as the story went on her thoughts +became so painful that she tried to fasten her attention upon the +reading. When she began to take notice Mellen was just in the midst of +the account of this Sicilian woman's martyrdom in prison, bearing up +with such serene patience, faithful to her vow, firm in her +determination to save the man who had injured her. + +Elsie fairly snatched the volume from his hand. + +"Don't read it!" she exclaimed. "What made you choose such a doleful +thing; it makes my flesh creep." + +He saw the change which had come over her face, and reproached himself +for his carelessness in having chosen so sad a tale; but the truth was, +in his absorption, he had not the slightest idea of what he was reading, +his voice sounded in his own ears mechanical, and as if it belonged to +some other person. + +He went to the table to make a more fortunate selection. + +"Here is a volume of parodies," he said, "shall I try those?" + +"Anything; I don't care." + +He commenced a mischievous travestie of a poem, but though it was +wittily done, its lightness jarred so terribly on both reader and +listener that it was speedily thrown aside. For some time they remained +in gloomy silence, then Elsie began to moan and move restlessly about, +then Mellen tried to rouse himself and be cheerful again. + +The afternoon passed very much in the same way. At last Elsie declared +that she would sleep awhile. + +"Anything to wear away the time!" she said. + +Mellen wondered if he should ever find anything that would shorten the +hours to him, but he held his peace. + +"I have such an odd, horrible feeling," said Elsie; "just as if I were +waiting anxiously for something--every instant expecting it." + +"That is because you are nervous." + +"Perhaps so," she said, fretfully. + +He was waiting. Henceforth life would be but one long waiting just for +revenge, then to be free from the dull pressure of this existence. + +"How white you are!" Elsie said suddenly. "I don't believe you have +slept at all." + +It was true. For nights Mellen had not closed his eyes, but he felt no +approach towards drowsiness even now. + +"You will fall sick!" cried Elsie. "What shall I do then?" + +"Don't be afraid; I am well and strong." + +He said the words with a loathing bitterness of his own ability to +endure. + +The more powerful his physical organization, the more years of +loneliness and pain would be left for him to bear. His mind flew on to +the future; he pictured the long, long course towards old age; the +dreary lapse of time which would bring only a cold exterior over his +sufferings, like a crust of lava hardening above the volcanic fires +beneath. + +"Don't sit so, looking at nothing," cried Elsie. + +"Yes, dear. There, do you think you can go to sleep?" + +"I won't try, unless you go to sleep too. Draw the sofa up by the bed +and lie down." + +He obeyed her command, willing to gratify her least caprice. She gave +him one of her pillows, threw a part of the counterpane over him, and +made him lie there, holding fast to his hand, afraid to be alone, even +in her dreams. + +"Do you feel sleepy, Grant?" she asked, after a pause. + +"Perhaps so; I am resting, at all events." + +"Don't you remember when I was sick once, years ago, I never would sleep +unless I held your hand?" + +"Yes, dear." + +How far back the time looked--he had been a mere youth then--what a +fearful waste lay between that season and the present! + +Suddenly Elsie started up again. + +"You sent the letter, Grant?" + +"Yes, yes; be content." + +She was so much afraid even to sleep, that it relieved her to turn her +last waking thoughts upon some little good she was doing Elizabeth. + +"Good-night, now," she said; "I can go to sleep. Kiss my hand, Grant. +You love me, don't you?" + +"Always, darling, always; nothing can part you and me." + +She fell away into a tranquil slumber, and Mellen lay for a long time +watching her repose; it was a brief season of peace to her, for burning +thoughts had not followed her into her dreams. + +The extreme quiet, the sight of her placid face soothed him +imperceptibly. A dreary weakness began to make itself felt after that +long continued excitement. At length the lids drooped over his eyes, and +he slept almost as profoundly as Elsie herself. For a long time there +was no sound in the chamber; the brother and sister lay slumbering while +the day wore on and the twilight crept slowly around. + +When Elsie awoke it was to rouse him with the cry which had been so +often on her lips during the previous day-- + +"Bessie, Bessie!" + +He started up, spoke to her, and his voice brought her back to the +reality. + +"I was so happy," she moaned; "I dreamed that Bessie and I were +gathering pond lilies--she was wreathing them about my head--then just +as I woke I saw a snake sting her--before that it was all bright. Oh, +dear, if I could only sleep forever!" + + + + +CHAPTER LXXII. + +TOM FULLER RETURNS. + + +The next day Elsie was still stronger and better. She consented to lie +in bed all the morning, making it a condition that she might get up and +be carried downstairs to pass the evening. + +"That is the dreariest time," she said; "it drags on so heavily." + +Mellen promised her, and she was childishly happy. + +"You shall have an early dinner, Grant, and then we'll take tea in the +evening, and eat toast and jam just as we did when I was a child." + +"Yes, that will be very comfortable." + +He had tried to say pleasant, but he could not speak the word. The day +was so warm and bright that a little after noon he took her out for a +short drive, then she lay down to rest again, resolved to be strong and +pass the evening below. The change was pleasant to her--she felt quite +elated, as she always was in health, at the idea of amusement. + +They got through the day rather quietly, and Elsie did not have a single +relapse of her nervous tremors. + +When she awoke from her afternoon nap it was growing dark. She cried out +quite joyfully when she saw Grantley sitting by the bed: + +"It is almost evening at last!" + +At that moment Victoria appeared at the door. + +"Come in," Mellen said; "what do you want?" + +Victoria entered on tip-toe, though she knew plainly enough that her +young mistress was awake, and whispered in the doleful semitone she +reserved for sick rooms: + +"If you please, Mister Fuller's just arrived, and he's a asking after +all of you in a breath." + +Elsie started up on her pillows, and the brother and sister looked at +each other in blank dismay when they thought of the blow that must be +inflicted upon the warm, honest heart of Elizabeth's cousin. + +"Go and say that we will be down," said Elsie, recovering her presence +of mind. + +Victoria departed, and Grantley cried out passionately: + +"How can I tell him? Poor Tom, he will nearly die." + +"You must not tell him yet," said Elsie, "not one word--just say Bessie +is absent." + +"Such prevarication is useless, Elsie, he must know the truth." + +Elsie began to cry. + +"There, you are contradicting me already. I won't go down--I shall be +sick again--my head swims now." + +"Don't distress yourself, dear, don't." + +"Then let me have my own way," she pleaded. + +"What do you wish? Anything to content you." + +"That's a good brother," said Elsie. "Go down and merely tell Tom I have +been very sick, and that Bessie has gone to New York--anywhere--not a +word more." + +"But he will wonder at her absence during your illness." + +"No, he never wonders; it doesn't make any difference." + +"I detest these white lies, Elsie." + +"Oh, well, if you want to kill me with a scene, go and tell Tom," she +exclaimed, throwing herself back on her pillows; "I shall be worried to +death at last." + +Mellen was anxious to soothe her, and against his judgment submitted. + +"I'll go, darling; I'll go." + +"Good Grant; kind brother! Send Victoria to me; I will be all dressed +when you come back." + +Mellen went out and called the servant, then he passed downstairs, and +in the hall met Tom, who rushed towards him, exclaiming: + +"The woman says Elsie is very sick; is she better; what is it?" + +"She is much better; don't be frightened; she will be downstairs in a +few minutes." + +"Thank God," muttered Tom, his face still white with fears that Victoria +had aroused. + +Mellen was too much preoccupied to notice his extreme agitation, or +speculate upon its cause if he had observed it. + +"I only got back this afternoon," said Tom, "and I hurried over here at +once. How is Bessie?" + +"She--she is not at home," faltered Mellen. + +"Not at home and Elsie sick?" + +"She was gone," said Mellen, "and I did not send for her." + +Tom was too much troubled about Elsie to reflect long upon anything +else, and directly Mellen broke from his eager questions, saying: + +"Go into the library, Tom; I'll bring Elsie down." + +He went upstairs, and knocked at his sister's door. + +"You may come in," Elsie called out; "I am ready." + +When he entered she was sitting up in an easy chair, wrapped in a pretty +dressing-gown of pink merino, braided and trimmed after her own fanciful +ideas, a white shawl thrown over her shoulders, the flossy hair shading +her face, and looking altogether quite another creature. + +For the first time since Elizabeth's departure, a feeling of relief +loosened the oppression on Mellen's heart. + +"You look so well again; God bless you, darling!" + +"Of course I'm pretty!" she cried childishly, pointing to herself in the +glass. "I shall make a nice little visitor." + +"You will always be one, my sunbeam," he said. + +She shivered a little at his words, but she would not permit herself to +think, determined to have her old carelessness, her old peace back, if +she could grasp it. + +"How is Tom?" she asked. + +"Dreadfully anxious about you, poor fellow." + +"Did he ask for Bessie?" + +"Yes--yes." + +"But you said nothing?" + +"No, Elsie; he knows nothing." + +"That is right," she said; "I can tell him better than you. Be kind to +him, Grant." + +"Yes, dear; he saved your life; Tom is very dear to me; poor fellow." + +"I am to be a visitor, remember," she said childishly; "You must not +forget that." + +"I will forget nothing that can give you pleasure, be certain of that," +he answered, kindly. + +"Now you shall lead me downstairs," she said. + +"You must not walk; I will carry you." + +"No, no; I am so heavy." + +But he took her in his arms and carried her downstairs, as he had so +often done in her childhood, while Victoria followed with cushions and +shawls to make her perfectly comfortable. + +"I am your baby again, Grant! Don't you remember how you used to carry +me about?" + +"Indeed I do; you are not much larger now." + +"You saucy thing! I would pull your hair only I am afraid you would let +me fall." + +He carried her into the library and laid her on the sofa. Tom sprang +forward with a cry of terror at the change his absence had made in her +appearance, but a gesture from Mellen warned him that he must control +his feelings lest his anxiety should agitate her. + +"I am so glad to see you, Tom, so very glad," she said, clasping her +delicate fingers about his hands, and so filling him with delight by her +look and words that he could not even remember to be anxious. + +"It has seemed an age to me since I went away," said Tom. "And you have +been sick, little princess, and Bessie gone! that is strange." + +"There, there," cried Elsie; "you must not talk about my appearance or +sickness or anything else! Just tell me how pretty I look, and do +nothing but amuse me." + +"You seem like an angel of light," cried Tom, looking wistfully at her +little hand, as if he longed to hide it away in his broad palm. + +The fire burned cheerfully in the grate, the chandeliers were lighted, +the tea-table spread, and everything done to make the room pleasant +which could suggest itself to Dolf and Victoria, in their anxiety to +please the young favorite. + +"It is so pleasant," she said, with a sigh of relief; "so pleasant." + +Then Victoria brought her a quantity of flowers Dolf had cut in the +greenhouse, and she strewed the fragrant blossoms over her dress and +wreathed them in her hair, making a beautiful picture of herself in her +rich wrappings and delicate loveliness. + +"Now we will have tea," she said, "bring all sorts of nice things, +Victy." + +"Yes, 'deed. I will, Miss! Clo she's ben a fixin' fur yer! Laws, it jis' +makes my heart jump to see you up agin." + +As the girl left the room Mellen said: + +"How she loves you! Everybody does love you, Elsie." + +"They must," she answered; "I should die if I were not petted. Oh, +Grant, it's so nice here; don't you like it?" + +"Yes, indeed; you make the old room bright again." + +Her spirits had risen, she was really quite like her old self, and that +without effort or pretence. + +Then the tea was brought in, and she insisted on at least tasting +everything on the table. Clo was well acquainted with her dainty ways, +and the varieties of preserves and jellies she had brought out from her +stores was marvellous. + +Elsie fed Tom with bits of toast, made him eat everything he did not +want, and beg for all that he did, and was so bright and peaceful that +Mellen himself grew quiet from her influence. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII. + +A FEAST AND A LOVE FEAST. + + +While the evening was passing so pleasantly with Elsie, the principal +personages below stairs were holding a subdued revel in the +housekeeper's room. + +Miss Dinah had come up from the village, and her ebony suitor was +expected. With that and their delight at Miss Elsie's improvement, the +whole staff was in excellent spirits. + +"It's one ob dem 'casions," said Dolf, "when we ort ter do somethin' a +little out ob de common run--what do yer say, Miss Clorindy?" + +Clo smiled affably; certain explanations had passed between her and Dolf +on the previous day, which made her inclined to consider any proposal of +his with high favor. + +She summoned her unfortunate drudge Sally, and ordered her to set the +table at once. + +"And don't spend yer time a gaupin' at Miss Dinah's new dress," said +she, severely; "'taint manners, nohow." + +The truth was Sally had not observed the gown, but its bright crimson +had struck Clorinda's fancy, and being tempted to stare at it enviously +herself, she concluded the girl must be doing the same thing. + +"Jis' obsarve what Miss Clorindy tells yer," remarked Dolf, "and yer'll +be on the road ter 'provement; Sally, yer couldn't hab a more reficient +guide." + +Clo bridled and grew radiant; she cast a glance of triumph at Dinah, and +only regretted that Victoria had not yet come downstairs to hear these +benign words. + +"I 'spect Othello won't get here till late," said Dinah, beginning to +fear that the good things would all have disappeared before his arrival. +"Der's some meeting at de hotel, and he'll be kept dar--de gemmen tinks +nobody else can wait on em." + +"He desarves deir 'preciation," said Dolf, loftily, with the air of a +man so supremely great that he could well afford to allow ordinary +people to claim their little virtues unchallenged. + +"Wal," said Clo, "arter all it needs trabbel and the world to develop a +man proper." + +"Jis' so, Miss Clorindy; yer's allers rezact." + +He gave her a very tender glance, and Clo giggled in delightful +confusion. + +"But I tell you, Mr. Othello mustn't lose his share of 'freshment," +pursued Dolf, anxious to secure as many extra meals as possible. "Miss +Clo, will you permit me to make a proposition?" + +"I'll feel it an honor," said Clo. + +"Yer does me proud," returned Dolf with a profound bow, while Dinah sat +quite aghast at their stateliness and high breeding, and Sally began to +think Clo must speak Spanish as well as Dolf. + +"I moves we has our tea now," said Dolf; "it's a sort of delercate +compliment to Miss Elsie to eat when she does, and later in de ebenin' +arter Mr. Othello comes we might make a brile ob dat chicken in de +closet--marster don't eat nothin', and I'se afeared it'll be wasted." + +Clo was complaisance itself, and went to work while Dolf encouraged her +with his smiles. + +By the time Victoria came downstairs the table was spread sumptuously, +and in order to carry out Dolf's extraordinary idea of complimenting +Miss Elsie, there were sweetmeats and cakes, hot muffins, cold tongue, +and stores of eatables that brought the water into Dolf's crafty mouth. + +The meal began in greatest harmony, Miss Dinah was very affable, Vic +really was the best-natured creature in the world, and just now she was +perfectly happy from seeing her beloved young mistress better; Dolf was +so circumspect in his conduct that Clo was kept in the state of high +good humor befitting the glory of her new turban, and the first +brightness of the change which had come upon her prospects. + +The truth was, the day before, while she was peeling onions, Dolf grew +desperate, and was led on to that point beyond which there was no +turning back. Clo had grown tender and confidential--he learned the +amount of her fortune--five hundred hard dollars in the bank. After this +the happiness of that sable pair was supreme. For the moment she really +looked beautiful in his eyes, and with tears in their depths--the result +of affection, not of the onions he assured her--he implored her to make +him the happiest of men. He performed his part in the most grandiloquent +style, dropping on one knee as he had seen lovers do from the upper loft +of the Bowery Theatre, and holding her hands fast, one of which grasped +a knife and the other an onion. + +Before they were disturbed matters were completely settled, though Dolf +pleaded for the engagement being kept secret a little while. + +"I jis' want to see what dat ole parson'll say," he averred, though the +truth was, Dolf had been so indiscreet in his protestations to Victoria +that he was a little fearful of consequences if that high-spirited +damsel learned the news without a little preparation. + +"Nebber you mind de parson," said Clo; "laws, I wouldn't wipe my ole +shoes on him, 'sides it ed be something wuth while jis' to denounce our +connubiolity to de hull company dis ebening." + +But Dolf flattered and persuaded until she consented to comply with his +wishes. + +Victoria had been so much occupied above stairs that she found no +opportunity for observation, otherwise Dolf's manner and the mysterious +air of importance which Clo assumed, would have warned her that +something extraordinary had happened. + +Clo made Sally wait on her more than ever, boxed the girl's ears for her +own mistakes, tried on new turbans, surveyed herself in the glass, and +fluttered from room to room in the highest state of feminine triumph. +Dolf tried his best to be happy, but it required a vivid recollection of +the money lying in that bank to make him at all comfortable. He kept +repeating to himself: + +"Five hundred dollars! One--two--three--four--five!" + +Then he would remember Victoria's youth and golden beauty, his own +delicious freedom, and groan heavily. But he was sure to bring up his +spirits again by muttering, vigorously: + +"Five hundred dollars! One--two--three--four--five!" + +But it was a season of holiday delight to Clorinda. The highest +aspiration of her spinster soul was soon to be gratified--she would have +a husband! No long engagement for her; she made up her mind to that on +the moment. With that yellow bird once in the cage, she was not going to +lose time in closing the door--not she! + +She fed her intended to repletion with dainties, and it spoke marvels +for his digestion that after all the dinner he had eaten he could make +such havoc among the cake and preserves, still looking complacently +forward to the prospect of broiled chicken. Crisp crullers disappeared +like frostwork in his nimble jaws, he laid in a very unnecessary stock +of tongue considering his natural advantages that way, made a dismal +cavern of an immense fruitcake, and softened the effect with a whole +mould of apricot jelly. + +Dinah and Vic certainly kept him in countenance, but Clorinda rather +trifled with the sweets, drinking so much strong tea in her pleasurable +agitation, that to an observer given to ludicrous ideas, her jetty face +would have suggested the idea of an old fashioned black teapot, with her +pug nose for the chubby spout. Sally witnessed this dashing festival +from behind the door, scraped up the jelly left in the glasses, stole +bits of toast and muffins on their road to the table, and solaced her +appetite on various fragments, till at last, growing bold and getting +hungry, she crept to the pantry and purloined half a pumpkin pie. Until +it had disappeared, like a train down a tunnel, she never remembered +that Clo was sure to miss it in the morning, but reflected, in her +fright, that it was possible to shut the cat up in the closet at +bedtime, and so escape detection. + +After tea Dolf brought out a pack of cards--a pack which had +mysteriously disappeared from the library table some time before--and +inducted the ladies into the mysteries of sundry little games, winning +their pennies easily and cheating them without the slightest +compunction. + +That was a point beyond Clo, she could not lose her money even to Dolf, +and vowed from that time out she would only play for pins. + +"Gamblin's wicked," she said, virtuously. + +So they played for pins, and Dolf allowed her to be the gainer. When she +lost, Clo gave crooked ones in payment, and thus her high spirits were +preserved untarnished. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV. + +THAT MONEY IN THE BANK. + + +At last Othello arrived and made the circle complete. A great, shiny +creature, uglier than a mortal easily can be, at whom Miss Dinah cast +admiring glances, and did the fascinating in a way which Clo copied on +the instant. + +Dolf reminded her of the chicken, and proposed making a bowl of flip +while she cooked the fowl, an idea which received unanimous approval. + +They were gathered about the supper-table, Dolf was carver, and managed +to secure an unfair portion of the delicate bits, proposing all sorts of +trifles to suit Othello's palate, and then devouring them before the +unfortunate creature could get more than a look at the dainties. + +Othello was giving an account of his labors during the evening, and from +his story it was quite evident that he had been the most important +personage in the assembly, and Dinah shone like a bronze Venus with the +triumph in his success. + +"Oh, laws!" said he, suddenly; "I quite forgot!" + +"What, what?" they asked. + +"Why, what Mr. Moseby said. 'Spec it don't consarn nobody here; only, as +Miss Clorindy's a lady of property, she naterally feels interested in +what happens to oder folks wid fortins." + +Clo bridled, and Dolf said majestically, feeling that he had already a +share in her wealth: + +"In course, in course; perceed, Mr. Othello." + +"Wal, yer see the gemmen was talkin' 'bout de banks--I didn't hear de +beginning, 'cause dat boy, Pete Hopkins, let de punch glasses fall, and +I was a fixin' him." + +"Did it break 'em?" cried Dinah, feeling an interest in the details not +shared by the others. + +"Only two. I gave him six cracks for each--the little limb!" + +"Wal, 'bout de bank," said Dolf, impatiently. + +"Yes, dat's what I'm gwine to tell. Mr. Moseby, he said--you know +him--dat tall man----" + +"Laws, we know him well 'nuff," said Vic. "Go on if you're gwine to." + +Dinah looked reproachfully at her, and Othello continued: + +"Mr. Moseby--he said de Trader's Bank had blowed all to smash--clean +up." + +A scream from Clorinda brought them all to their feet. + +"Massy sakes," cried Vic; "what is it?" + +"Have yer got fits?" demanded Dinah. + +"Bring de peppermint," suggested Othello. + +"Miss Clorindy, dear Miss Clorindy, what am it?" cried Dolf, with a +sudden sinking at his heart. + +Clo would have had hysterics, but not being a fine lady, she gave two or +three yells, kicked the table, pulled her frizzed hair, and shouted, +amid her tears: + +"You Sally, git my bunnit--quick!" + +She rose, and they crowded about her. + +"Whar be you gwine? What's up?" + +"Git my bunnit!" she repeated. "Ise gwine to York, I is." + +"To York, this time o' night?" cried Vic. + +"Yes, I is--let me go." + +Dolf laid a hand on her arm. + +"Only 'splain, Clorindy, 'splain!" + +"Ise gwine to git at dem rascals. I want my money--I'll have it! Marster +shall git it. Oh de villin scampsesses! I want my money." + +Dolf dropped speechless in a chair, while the rest poured out floods of +questions, which Clorinda was in no state to answer. + +"Was yer money in dat bank?" + +"Ise gwine to York; get my bunnit!" + +They fairly shook her, the general curiosity was so great. + +"Why don't yer speak?" said Vic. "Was yer money in de bank?" + +"Yis; ebery red cent. Oh! oh! Five hundred dollars--and it's a--all +g--gone!" she sobbed. "I'll hev it! I'll hev it! Call marster! Git my +bunnit. Oh! oh!" + +They made her sit down, they explained to her that nothing could be done +until the next day, and finally she subsided into silent tears. All this +while Dolf sat without offering one word of consolation; now he said: + +"Mebby dar's some mistake, Othello." + +"No, dar ain't," persisted Othello. "Mr. Moseby's lost ten thousand +dollars; he'd orter know. De bank's gone to smash, clar nuff." + +Clo burst into a new paroxysm of distress, and Dolf, after a brief +struggle with his own disappointment, turned on her: + +"Yer needn't rouse de house wid yer hurlyburly," said he, savagely. +"Better 'member Miss Elsie's sick." + +Clo stared at him in tearless horror; a new fear struck her; was he +going to prove false? + +"Don't talk so," she said; "tink of yesterday, Dolf!" + +Dolf drew himself up, and looked first at her and then at the company +with an air of profound astonishment. + +"I tink her brain am turned," said he. + +"'Taint!" roared Clo. "Oh, Dolfy, yer said yer loved me; yer knows yer +did; dat yer didn't care for money; dat I was a Wenus in yer +eyes--oh--oh!" + +"Wal, I do declar!" cried Vic. + +Dolf flew into a great rage. + +"Miss Clorindy, yer sorrow makes yer forget yerself; yer've ben a +dreaming." + +Clo drew her apron from her eyes and looked at him; lightning was +gathering there which he would have done well to heed, but he did not. + +"Does yer mean that?" she demanded, sternly. + +"Sartin, I does." + +"Yer denies kneelin' at my feet an' sayin', "Wasn't de onions made yer +cry;" a pleadin' and a coaxin' till I 'sented to marry yer." + +"In course I does," repeated Dolf, doggedly. + +"Take care! Jis' tink!" + +"Miss Clo, dis ere ain't decorous; I'se 'stonished at yer!" + +With a bound like an unchained tigress Clo sprang at him. Dolf dodged, +ran behind the startled group, in and out among the chairs, through the +kitchen, back again, and Clo at his heels. She had caught up a broom; +once or twice she managed to hit him, and her sobs of rage mingled with +Dolf's cries of distress. + +"Take her off," he shrieked; "ketch a hold of her!" + +"I'll kill him," shouted Clo. "I'll break every bone in his 'fernal +body! Oh, yer varmint, yer cattle!" + +They laid hands on Clorinda at length, though it was a difficult +operation; and Dolf took refuge behind a great chair, peeping through +the slats at the back, with his eyes rolling and his teeth chattering +like some frightened monkey in a cage. + +The women were consoling and blaming Clo; Vic divided between conviction +and anger, and Othello, like a sensible man, siding neither way. + +Suddenly they were roused by a prolonged cry from the floor above, a cry +so shrill and unearthly that it froze the blood in their veins. In an +instant there followed a loud knocking at the outer door, and forgetful +of their own troubles, they crowded together like a flock of frightened +crows driven from a cornfield. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXV. + +UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS. + + +The evening had passed very pleasantly to Elsie; Mellen had humored her +caprices at whatever cost to himself, and kept her thoughts as much +aloof as possible from the events of the past days. + +It was growing late, and he had several times reminded her that it was +time she went to rest. Tom Fuller had taken the first hint and retired. + +"Let me sit up a little longer," she pleaded; "I am not in the least +sleepy; it is so nice to get out of that dull chamber." + +"But I am afraid you will tire yourself so completely, that to-morrow +you cannot come down at all." + +"There is not the slightest danger of that; I am stronger than you +think. When this little dizziness in my head leaves me I shall be quite +well." + +They talked a few moments longer, then she began turning over the papers +on a stand near her sofa. Suddenly she took up a letter, and glancing at +the writing, exclaimed: + +"This is from Mr. Hudson! You did not tell me that you had heard." + +"It came this afternoon while you were asleep." + +"What does he say? Does he know where she is? Will you send him money +for her?" + +"There is no necessity." + +"But she must have it; she can't live." + +"My dear, she has her money. He writes me that sometime since he sold +out the stocks by her orders. She was doubtless preparing to leave the +country with that man." + +Elsie fell back on the sofa overwhelmed by the new fear which came over +her. The money had been paid; but where was Elizabeth? What to do--how +to act! Before the whirl had left her brain there was a sound at the +door of the little passage already described. + +"What is that?" exclaimed Mellen. "Some one trying that door." + +"No, no," she cried. "Come back; it's nothing; I'm afraid; come back!" + +He gave no attention to her cry, but hurried towards the door, while she +was attempting to rise from the sofa; he had it open, Elsie heard a +muttered curse, an answering imprecation from another voice, looked out, +saw the outer door ajar and a man just entering the passage with whom +Mellen closed instantly in a fearful struggle. + +That one glance had been enough; she knew the man; then it was her +insane shriek rang through the house. + +Mellen forced Ford into the room, flung him against the wall, locked the +door, and exclaimed in a terrible voice: + +"At last! at last!" + +A bell rang at the front entrance, but no one in that room heeded it. + +Mellen sprang towards the man again, but he cried out savagely: + +"Keep off, if you value your life, keep off." + +"One of us dies here!" cried Mellen. "William Ford, one of us dies +here!" + +After that long shriek Elsie had fallen back helpless; she had not +fainted, but a sort of cateleptic rigor locked her limbs; there she lay +without voice or power of motion, listening to their words, which seemed +to come through blocks of ice. + +"I did not expect to meet you here," said Ford, calling up a sudden +audacity. "It's an honor I did not wish." + +"I know who you expected to see; but the woman is gone; you must seek +her elsewhere!" + +"Then you have driven her to destruction at last. I tell you, sir, we +are a pack of cowards hunting down an angel. You and I and that pretty +imp of satan. I came to tell you this: bad as I am, her goodness has +touched me with human feelings. If she is here and alive, justice shall +be done her, and for once the truth shall be spoken under this roof. +That woman has bribed me to shield another through her. Soul and body +she has been made a sacrifice. There is danger to me here. This bit of +goodness may bring ruin upon me, but I cannot leave the country forever, +and know that she is being ground to dust under your heel; while that +other flimsy coward crowds her from hearth and home. For once, Grantley +Mellen, you shall be forced to hear the truth and believe it." + +"The truth from you!" exclaimed Mellen, with unutterable scorn, "that or +anything else from so vile a source I reject--go, sir, we are not +alone!" + +Ford, or North, glanced towards the sofa; recognised Elsie lying there, +and turned again towards Mellen. + +"Twice you have broken up my life," cried Mellen, "but this time you +shall not escape! Here, in the home you have dishonored, you shall meet +your fate. Burglar, villain, how did you get here?" + +"By the way I have been in the habit of reaching these rooms. I hoped to +see your wife here, and tell her that at last I was resolved to knock my +chains from her soul. She never would have spoken; but nothing, even +though she had gone on her knees again, should have silenced me! If she +is not alive to benefit by the exculpation, I am resolved that her +memory, at least, shall be saved all reproach." + +"I believe," said Mellen, with cool scorn, "that it is expected that a +man should perjure himself in behalf of a woman whom he has dragged into +sin, but here, impudent falsehoods of this kind, count for nothing." + +"But you shall believe me! If that woman is lost, if she has gone mad, +for she was mad, when I left her in the graveyard, if she has wandered +off and perished, or worse still----" + +"Hold, hold!" cried Mellen, shuddering. + +"If she is lost or dead," continued North, without heeding the anguish +in this cry, "you have murdered the sweetest and noblest woman that ever +drew breath, and only that the worthless thing lying yonder, should +continue to be pampered and sit above her." + +Mellen started to his feet. + +"Silence!" he thundered. "Do not dare to take the name of that innocent +child into your lips." + +A keen, sarcastic laugh, preceded the answer North gave to this. + +"So that strikes home, does it? Your wife has probably died by her own +hand, but you do not feel it. When that paltry thing is mentioned, you +tear at the bit and begin to rave, as if she were the most worthy +creature on earth. Ah, ha! There you are wounded, my friend." + +Mellen remembered Elsie's presence. + +"Well," he cried, pointing to her, "that woman only had my heart; my +blood did not run in her veins; if you had struck me there the blow +would have been keener." + +The man laughed again; Elsie heard both words and laugh, as she lay in +that marble trance. Had she been laid out shrouded for burial she could +not have been more helpless. + +"So you drove your wife away; out of the house?" cried the man. "I +guessed as much." + +"She is gone for ever, but you shall not live to join her." + +"Before now she is dead! Listen to what you have done. I repeat it, your +wife was as innocent as an angel. She is dead, and I tell you so, +knowing how it will poison your life. If there was guilt or dishonor in +loving me it belonged to that pretty heap of deception on the sofa. Hear +that, and let your soul writhe under it, for your blood does run in her +veins. I came to tell you this. That great hearted creature forced the +truth back in my throat, the other night; but you shall hear it now. +There lies the mother of the child we buried, the other night!" + +"Liar! Traitor!" cried Mellen. + +Again came a violent ringing of the door-bell; steps in the hall; this +time the two men listened. + +"I am pursued," muttered Ford; "they've cornered me; it is your turn +now." + +"I will give you up if these are enemies," cried Mellen; "there is no +escape." + +He took one stride towards the door, but Ford called out: + +"You are giving up your sister's husband; remember the whole world shall +know it." + +There was bitter truth in the tone, but before Mellen could move or +speak, the door opened and two officers entered the room. + +"We have him safe," said one of the intruders as he passed Mellen. +"Caught at last, my fine fellow." + +Ford started back--thrust one hand under his vest, and drew it out +again--there was a flash--a stunning report--he staggered back against +the wall, shot through the chest. + +For a few instants there was wild confusion; the servants rushed in, the +wounded criminal was lifted up, but during all that time Elsie lay on +the sofa quite unnoticed, not insensible yet, but utterly helpless, so +blasted by the shock that mind and body seemed withering under it. + +Ford sat on the floor in gloomy silence. In spite of his resistance an +effort was made to staunch the blood which was trickling down his shirt +bosom, but he said in a low, quiet voice: + +"It is useless. I have cheated you at last--the first good act of my +life has killed me--I am a dying man. It was my last stake, and I have +lost it." + +A great change in his face proved the truth of his words; even the +officers, inured to scenes of suffering and pain, recoiled before his +stony hardihood. + +One of them spoke in explanation to Mellen. + +"We don't know what he wanted here; we have been on his track for days; +he committed a forgery, months ago, and was trying to get off to Europe +just as it was found out." + +"He's bound on a longer journey, that you cannot stop now," said Ford. +"Mellen, I have something to say to you--better send these men away +unless you want our little affairs discussed before them." + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI. + +THE CONFESSION. + + +After a few moments the men went out and left Mellen alone with the +suicide--in his excitement Mellen forgot Elsie's presence, and the +dreadful state she was in. + +"I am dying," said Ford; "I may live the night out--it don't matter! You +are glad to see my blood run--that's natural enough! Man, man, the +torment I go to isn't half as bad as that I shall leave behind for you." + +"Say quickly what you wish," exclaimed Mellen, forgetting even his +hatred in the dreadful picture his enemy made, his garments red with +blood, his face pale with the death agony, distorted with baffled rage +and hate. "I believe nothing you say--you cannot move me." + +"So be it," said the man. "These fellows have tied my hands--put yours +in my coat pocket--you'll find three letters, a paper and a roll of +money." + +Mellen obeyed, shuddering to feel the blood drops warm on his fingers as +he drew forth the package. + +"Read them," said Ford, briefly. + +Mellen opened one after another of the epistles and read--they were in +Elsie's writing--they proved the truth of the villain's assertions. The +smaller paper was a marriage certificate. The roll of bills--each note +for a thousand dollars--was the price of Elizabeth's bonds. + +Mellen staggered back with one heartbroken cry. + +"I have touched you," exclaimed the man! "There lies your precious +sister in a dead faint--here I am, dying, a criminal, but your +brother-in-law none the less--stoop down, I want to whisper something." + +Mellen bent his head, for his enemy was dying. + +"It is a fair certificate you see, but I was a married man all the +time." + +As Ford whispered these words a fiendish smile covered the lips on which +death was scattering ashes. + +Mellen started forward with a wild impulse to choke the ebbing life from +his lips, but they whispered hoarsely: + +"You can't fight a dying man--you'll only put me out of this cursed pain +if you choke me." + +Mellen stood transfixed. + +"I'll tell you the story," continued Ford; "novels always have dying +confessions in them--hear mine. I tell you because it is too late to +remedy what you have done--your wife is gone--I'm glad of it. She was +ten thousand times too good for any of you. She's dead, I dare say; just +the woman to do it, without a word, and all for that little heap of +froth." + +Mellen could not speak; he felt about blindly for support, and sank into +a chair. + +"I always hated you," Ford went on, and the hatred of a life burned in +his voice and convulsed his face. "When we were boys together, I swore +to pay you off for getting that old man's money away from me, his +rightful heir. That was bad enough, but your insolent kindness, your +infernal, condescending generosity, was ten times worse. Mighty willing, +you were, to dole out money that was more mine than yours, and claim +gratitude for it. But I had a little revenge at the time, remember. I +took away the woman you loved--I cheated you out of money--that was +something, but not enough. I came back to this country just after you +sailed from Europe, and even before I ever saw the woman who became your +wife, or your sister, I had formed my plan--it succeeded. I met that +bunch of flimsy falsehood--I made her love me--made her mad for me--you +wince--I'm glad of it. But mind me, I would not have married her after +all, but that I thought she had inherited half her old uncle's property. +It would not have been worth while to saddle myself with a thing like +that. Then came your turn to laugh, if you had but known it. I was taken +in--sold. The creature had not a cent, and no hope of one if she +offended you. + +"It was a hateful position, especially as I did not care for the pretty +fool after the speculation failed, and what's better, she soon got over +caring for me, just as the other did, and wanted to be off her bargain. +I had given her a glimpse or two of my way of life. That did not +frighten her, but my poverty did. This little sister of yours has +luxurious tastes, and understands the value of wealth uncommonly well. +But she had told me just how far you had made your wife independent in +means. It was a pretty sum, and I saw a way of getting it. + +"Elsie had told me a great deal about your wife, and I made my own +observations, though she detested me from the first, some women will +take such fancies. I say nothing of certain wires that I had laid in the +basement region of your house. + +"The little goose yonder really believed that you had married that +glorious woman only as a companion for her--that you did not love her in +the least. I knew better; she was a woman to adore, worship for ever and +ever: and you are no fool in such matters, I know that of old our tastes +in that direction have always harmonized beautifully. Your wife adored +you; I can say this now that you have killed her, but that little witch +convinced her of the story she told me, and it was breaking her heart, +for that woman had a heart. + +"To save you from trouble and the creature that you worshipped even in +her presence from disgrace, I knew that she would give up everything, +even her life, which you have taken at last. + +"I told Elsie the truth, after I got a little tired of her, which was +early in the honeymoon; let her know frankly that I had a wife living in +Europe, though it was impossible for any one to prove it against my +will. The very day that I told her this I managed to convey some of her +letters to me--fond, silly things they were--into your wife's room. Then +I sent Elsie home to tell her own story. + +"The girl was mad, crazy as a March hare, went into hysterics, made an +insane effort to kill herself, took poison and heaven knows what else in +the presence of your wife. I knew she would, and set her loose for that +purpose. These tragedies were kept up till your wife, thinking your soul +bound up in the girl, and herself nothing in comparison, made a solemn +promise never to betray Elsie's secret, and to shield her from all harm +with her own life if needful. I heard this and knew that my money was +safe. + +"Your wife came to me, for I was not permitted to enter the house after +she found me out. There was a woman! I swear the only creature of the +sex that I ever respected. She was firm but grand in her generosity, +ready to sacrifice everything so long as it took Elsie out of my power. +I gave up more of the letters, reserving these three for use, unknown to +her. She raised all the money in her power at the time, but I kept the +certificate, resolved not to sell that without demanding the last cent +she possessed. + +"In telling my grand secret, I had been cautious to keep all possibility +of proof to myself. They knew that my first wife, your old lady love, +was living, but had no means of proving the fact, or even that I had +ever been married at all, otherwise my position might have been +dangerous; as it was, those two women were like flies in a spider's web. + +"Our child, your nephew, was born, and died, fortunately for us all. +They were obliged to trust me a little then. Your wife summoned me to +the house, for she was afraid to claim help from any other human +being--I went, and with my own hands buried it under a cypress tree in +your grounds. That heroic woman stood by and watched. She would not +trust me out of her sight, fearing that I might attempt to see Elsie, +whom she guarded like a mother bird when hawks are near. Noble soul. It +was all useless; I had no wish to see that faithless little imp, and as +for her, I dare say she was glad to get rid of me even at the bitter +cost she was paying. In fact I know she was, after that other noble +creature took up her burden. + +"Well, after this I got a little money from your wife now and then, +under threats of claiming my wife, which always brought her to +terms--remember I had told her she was not my legal wife, but held +proofs that she was--I could claim or reject her as I pleased. + +"But one day a new idea came into my head; I found out that you were +coming home just as the steamer which brought you was on the coast. That +your will had been made, leaving all you had to be equally divided +between your wife and sister. If you should never reach shore Elsie +would be worth claiming in earnest. But with that news came a letter +from my wife; against my commands she was following me to this country, +just when her presence was certain ruin." + +The man broke off in his narration here, evidently convulsed with more +than physical pain, specks of foam flew to his lips, great drops of +agony stood on his forehead. + +"Brandy; give me some brandy!" he cried out huskily. "Some brandy, I +say." + +Mellen poured some brandy into a glass and held it to his mouth. He +drank eagerly, and sank back to the floor again. + +"What's the use of talking about that? I would have saved her at the +last, and tried hard enough, but the storm was too much for me. After +all that, you baffled me and got on shore; the fiends must have guided +that pilot boat. I got frightened too. It was not a part of my programme +to go down with you." + +"Wretch!" said Mellen, struck with a sudden idea, "you were the person +who nearly lost me among the breakers." + +"Yes," answered Ford. "We both had a narrow chance, but the risk was +worth running--that is, if your will really was made--but when you once +touched shore all hope for me was over. I must leave America; I sent +word to your wife that I must have twenty-five thousand dollars or claim +my wife. + +"She was trying to get it; she gave me the bracelet as a bribe for +delay, one night when I came. Still of one thing I pledge you my soul, +it is pretty much all I have left now, your wife never dreamed that I +was your enemy, Ford. She knew I was a villain, and held the fate of +that pretty fool in my hands. Now you have the whole story. I came here +to-night because I had not heard from her; now I believe she's dead. I +thought I would see that girl there. Now, then, Grantley Mellen, are you +satisfied? You have driven your wife away, you could believe her guilty, +and pet that frivolous thing in her place!" + +"'When did I first see her?' when she was a flirty little school girl. + +"'When did I marry her?' what there was of it, remember--just after you +started for California, when the widow Harrington innocently brought me +a guest into this house against the wishes of its mistress, who had seen +me about the boarding-school, charming the canary birds with serenades. +Once or twice she caught me with my guitar playing the fool under her +own window. Of course she was not certain whether the homage was +intended for her or Elsie, but I think took it to herself and was +indignant, giving me in exchange for my music, such looks as a queen +might bestow on her slave. I rather liked her for it; that kind of +homage was not suited to her. The heap of thistle down yonder liked it. +She knew what it meant. The only deep thing about such creatures is +their craft. That girl is cunning as a fox. The pure, innocent thing, +for whom that splendid creature was sacrificed; if I were not dying, the +idea would make me laugh. + +"There, now are we even? You deprived me of a fortune I was brought up +to expect; I have managed to get some of it back. You loved a woman, and +I married her. You married another woman, the most glorious creature I +ever saw, and in a fit of jealous rage with me, turned her out upon the +world to die. + +"Tell me now, if my revenge has been complete?" + +Mellen ran to the door and opened it. + +"Come in," he cried to the officers. "Carry that man away! Take him to +the lodge; he shall not even die here." + +"As you will," cried Ford. "I will hold my tongue for that poor woman's +sake." + +He could not walk, so they carried him down to the lodge, and there, +while waiting for a doctor to come, he sat looking death in the face, +with the same desperate bravado that had marked his conduct all the +night. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII. + +SEARCHING. + + +Shriek after shriek from Elsie roused Mellen. She was raving in horrible +delirium, and when assistance arrived it proved that she had been seized +with brain fever, and there was scarcely a hope of her recovery. + +Standing there by her bed, this thought must have been a relief to +Mellen; but he did not forsake her, his pride was utterly crushed. He +longed to cast himself down by her side and die there. + +The next morning, when nurses and physicians arrived, Mellen left the +house. He was going out on an aimless search for his lost wife--the +woman who had given up her last hope for him and his. + +He learned at the lodge that the wounded prisoner had been carried to +the village by his own command; that he was alive still, but could not +last more than another day; that his name was North, and he was +well-known among the sporting gentry who came to the shore tavern. All +this was told him as news. + +Mellen hurried to the city and commenced his task. He sought for +Elizabeth in every place where there was a possibility of her having +taking refuge, but without avail. He used every means in his power to +make some discovery, but they were ineffectual. + +When night came he returned home, only to hear Elsie's mad shrieks and +laughter echoing through the desolate house, to pass the night with +those sounds ringing in his ears, and feel that terrible remorse tugging +at his heart. + +The next morning he started again on his errand. He was told in the +village that the man was dead. The story had gone abroad that he was a +daring burglar, and that the officers had surprised him breaking into +Mellen's house. He had found no strength to tell his story, so fear of +open disgrace perished with him. + +In the madness of his grief, Mellen had forgotten that Tom Fuller was +his guest. The young man's chamber was in another wing of the building, +and he heard nothing of the wild turmoil that distracted the family. Tom +was not a very early riser, and when he came down in the morning, +sauntering lazily into the breakfast-room, expecting to see Elsie there +in her pretty blue morning-dress and flossy curls, he found the room +empty, no table spread, and no human being to greet him. + +"Well, this is strange," said Tom; "but when Bessie is away things will +go to sixes and sevens, I dare be sworn. And Elsie isn't well, poor +darling! Hallo! there goes Mellen, riding like a trooper! What on earth +does all this mean? I am getting hungry, and lonesome, and----" + +Here Tom gave a jerk at the bell, and cast himself into an easy chair. + +Dolf presented his woe-begone face at the door. + +"What's the matter, Dolf? Isn't it breakfast-time? Where is your master +going--and--and--Well, Dolf, can't you tell me why Miss Elsie isn't +down?" + +"Miss Elsie, oh, sah, she am sick." + +"Sick, Dolf! You don't say that?" cried Tom, starting up, with his face +all in a chill of anxiety. + +"Yes, I mean just dat, and nothing else." + +"No, no; not very sick, Dolf," cried Tom, trembling through all his +great frame, "only a little nervous, a headache, or something of that +sort." + +"She's just ravin'--crazy--ask Vic if you don't believe me. The doctors +come in before daylight; I went after 'em myself. Robbers broke into de +house last night, sah, and frightened our sweet young lady a'most to +death." + +"Robbers, Dolf!" + +"Yes, sah. A gemman, too, as has been a visitor in dis dentical house. +Marster catched him in de act ob takin' out de silver, and de +gemman--robber, I mean--felt so 'shamed ob himself dat he up and banged +a bullet straight frough his own bussom, afore Miss Elsie, too!" + +"Poor thing; precious little darling," cried Tom; "Mellen's left her all +alone, and Elizabeth away; dear me! Dolf, Dolf, what was that?" + +"It's her a screaming." + +"What, Elsie, my Elsie?" + +"Yes, sah; dat am her." + +"Dolf, I say," cried Tom, in breathless anxiety, thrusting a ten dollar +gold piece into the negro's hand; "Dolf, would it be very much amiss, +you know, if I was to take off my boots and just steal up?" + +"Well, I doesn't 'zactly know; de fair sex am so captious 'bout us +gemmen; but Vic is up dar, and you can ask her, she knows all 'bout de +'prieties. Smart gal, dat Vic, I tell you; loves Miss Elsie, too, like +fifty." + +"Does she?" said Tom; "here's another gold piece, give it to her, with +my best regards, Dolf." + +Dolf pocketed the gold piece, and that was the last time it saw the +light for many a day. Tom took off his boots and crept upstairs in his +stocking feet, holding his breath as he went. Vic came out of the shaded +room, and the young man's grief softened her so much that she allowed +him to steal into Elsie's boudoir, where he sat all the morning +listening to the poor girl's muttered fancies, after bribing Vic with +gold pieces to leave the door open, that he might catch a glimpse now +and then of the beloved face, flushed and wild as it was. + +Generous, noble-hearted Tom Fuller; he had been really hungry when he +came from his own room, but all that was forgotten now, and there he sat +fasting till the shadows slanted eastward. Then he saw Mellen riding +towards the house at a slow, weary pace, which bespoke great depression. + +Tom arose and went downstairs, urged to meet his friend by the kindest +heart that ever beat in a human bosom. + +"She's better, I am quite sure; she slept two or three minutes; so don't +look so downhearted," he cried, seizing Mellen's hand as he dismounted. +"But where's Elizabeth? I thought you had gone after her." + +"Elizabeth, my wife," answered Mellen, lifting his haggard eyes to Tom's +face. "She is gone--lost--dead. My friend, my friend, I have murdered +your cousin, murdered my own wife." + +"Murdered her; now I like that," said Fuller; "but where is she? not +gone off in a tiff. Bessie wasn't the girl to do that any way; but as +for murder, oh nonsense!" + +"Fuller, you are her only relative, and have a right to know. Come out +into the grounds, the air of the house would stifle me." + +They sat down together on a garden chair within sight of the old +cypress. + +"I have been a proud man, Fuller, sensitive beyond everything to the +honor of my family, but never knowingly have I allowed this feeling to +stand between my soul and justice. Your cousin has been terribly wronged +since she came under my roof. It is now too late for reparation, but to +you, her only relative, the truth must be known. I will not even ask you +to keep the facts secret. I have no right." + +"Look here, old fellow," said Tom, wringing Mellen's slender hand in +his; "if this is a lover's quarrel between you and Elizabeth, don't say +another word. Lord bless you! I can persuade her into anything, she +knows me of old. Besides, I am glad there is something that I can do to +make you both good-natured just now, for as like as not, I shall be +asking a tremendous favor of you before long, and this will pave the +way; tell me where your wife is, I'll take care of the rest." + +"Tom, I believe--I fear that she is dead." + +The solemnity with which this was spoken, appalled Tom. + +"Dead!" he repeated, and the ruddy color faded from his face. "Dead--you +can't mean it." + +"Listen patiently to me if you can," said Mellen, sadly. "This must be +told, but the effort is terrible." + +Tom folded his arms and bent his now grave face to listen. Then Mellen +told him all; the anguish, the deception, the anxiety which these pages +have recorded so imperfectly. There was but little exhibition of +excitement, Mellen told these things in a dull, dreary voice that +bespoke utter hopelessness. He was so lost in his own misery that the +signs of anguish in Tom's face never disturbed his narrative. + +When he had done Tom Fuller arose, and stood before him, white as death, +but with a noble look in his eyes. + +"Mellon, give me your hand, for you and I are just the two most wretched +dogs in America at this minute. I loved her, Mellen, O God help me! I +love her as you did the other one. Great heavens, what can we do?" + +"Nothing," answered Mellen; "I did not think another pang could be +added, and my soul recoils from this. Could she prove so base to you +also?" + +"Base; look here, Mellen, you don't take this in the true light. It was +all my fault. I forced myself upon her; I--I----" + +The poor fellow broke down, a convulsion of grief swept his face, and he +walked away. + +Directly he came back, holding out his hand. + +"Come, now let us search for Elizabeth," he said. + +"It is useless; I have searched." + +"But come with me--it was not in town you should have looked; Elizabeth +would not go there." + +Mellen arose and walked towards the bay. In passing a clump of +rosebushes Tom stopped to extricate a fragment of silk from the thorns. + +"What dress did she wear that night?" he inquired, examining the shred +in his hand. + +"I remember well, it was purple," answered Mellen, without lifting his +weary eyes from the ground. + +"Come this way, for she has been here," said Tom. "This path leads to +the fishpond." + +They walked on, Tom searching vigilantly all the thickets he passed, and +Mellen looking around him in terror lest the dead body of his wife +should appear and crush his last hope for ever. + +"She has been this way," said Tom, when they reached the pond. "See, +that tuft of cat-tails has been broken. No, no, don't be afraid to look; +see yonder where the bushes are swept down; she went away towards the +shore." + +Mellen groaned aloud. This was his most terrible fear. They walked on, +taking a path that curved round the bay, and leaving the shore tavern on +the right, went down to the beach. It was now sunset, and a golden glow +lay upon the waters till they broke along the beach like great waves of +pearls and opals drifting over the Sound together, and melting in the +sand. Near the two men was a winrow of black seaweed, on which great +drops of spray were quivering. Something in the appearance of this dark +mass arrested Tom's attention. He went up to the pile of weeds and +kicked them apart; a dark sodden substance, compact and heavy, lay +underneath. He took it in his hands, gave the weeds that clung to it a +shake, and held it up. Mellen came forward, his white lips parted, his +breath rising with pain. He reached forth his hand, but uttered no word. + +It was the ample shawl that Elizabeth had worn that night. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII. + +IN BENSON'S TAVERN. + + +She was dead! That fiendish man had spoken the truth--Mellen believed it +now. Elizabeth was dead, and he had killed her--that noble, grand woman, +so resolute in her sacrifice, so determined to save that girl, to +preserve him from the hardest shock to his honor and pride, had offered +herself up to death, body and soul. + +Those few moments of conviction changed him more than many years would +have done. The pride and anger which had helped to aid him in his first +grief were gone now--he was the wronger--searching for the wife he had +driven forth to perish. And she was dead! + +No clue--no hope! + +He did not touch the shawl, but leaving Tom Fuller, went back and sat +down in Elsie's room, with the sick girl's delirious cries smiting his +ear, and terrible images rising before his eyes of Elizabeth--dying, +dead--drowned and dashed upon some lonely beach, with her cold, open +eyes staring blankly in his face. + +Tom dropped the shawl in a wet mass at his feet, and walked away without +attempting to detain or comfort the stricken husband. He too believed +Elizabeth dead, and had no heart to offer consolation. Indeed, the pang +of sorrow that this conviction brought took away his own strength. + +He walked on, over the wet sands of the beach, ready to cry out with the +anguish of this sudden bereavement, when the figure of old Caleb Benson +cast its long shadow on the shore. + +"Is that you, Mr. Fuller, and alone? I'm mighty pleased to find any one +from the Cove--most of all you." + +"Do you want me for anything particular?" asked Tom in a husky voice; +"if not I--I'm engaged just now." + +"Well, yes; I must tell you," said the old man. "I've bin to your house +twice--once in the night--I thought mebby I'd see the young gal." + +"What is it?" asked Tom, in the impotence of his grief. + +"She made me promise not to tell--but whatever's wrong, you're her +cousin, and can't be hard on her--she's dreadful sick." + +Tom caught his arm. + +"My cousin--are you talking of my cousin, Mrs. Mellen?" + +"Why yes, sure enough, though she never will forgive me for telling +you." + +"But where is she? Where is she?" shouted Tom. "How did you find her? +Who got her out of the water? Great heavens, old man, can't you speak?" + +"Well, this is the way it was," answered the old man. "T'other night, or +morning, for it was nigh on to daylight, I was eating breakfast with the +young uns, when one on 'em got scared by a face at the winder looking in +on us as we eat. I jist got one sight of the face, and kinder seemed to +know it. So up I jumps, and on with my great coat, and out into the fog. +Something gray went on afore me, and I follered, for sometimes it looked +like a woman, and sometimes not. Down it went, making a bee-line for the +beach, and I arter it full split, for it travelled fast, I can tell you. +The night had been kinder rough, and the waves dashed up high, +considering that the storm wasn't nothing much to speak on. But the +woman, for I could see that it was a woman now, went right straight on, +as if she'd made up her mind to pitch head forred into the sea and drown +herself the first thing. + +"This riled me up, and I went on arter her like a tornado, now I tell +you. But jist as I was reaching out both hands to drag her back from a +wave that came roaring along, it broke, and the undertow sucked her in +right afore my face. + +"Now some folks might a pitched in arter her, but I knew better'n that. +We should both on us have gone to kingdom come and no mistake if I had. +Not a bit of it; I planted myself firm and waited. Sure enough the +second wave arter that came tearing along, tossing the poor cretur up +and down like a wisp of seaweed, and pitched her ashore right in my +tracks. + +"In course the next wave would have dragged her out to sea agin, but I +got hold of her shawl and tried to haul her back, but the tarnal thing +gave way, and I had just time to drop it and make a grab at her clothes, +when it came crashing over us agin. But I held on, and planted myself +firm, so it only dragged us both a foot or two and went roaring off. +Then I got a fair hold of the lady and dragged her up the beach out of +harm's way. But I really thought that she was dead; the daylight broke +while she lay on the sand, and then I saw who it was, and the sight of +her cold face drove me wild. I took her up in my arms and carried her +home. There was a good fire burning, and my darter is used to taking +care of sich cases. So she wrapped her in hot blankets, and worked over +her till the life came back." + +"And she's alive--doing well," cried Tom, "at your house; old Benson, +you're--a--a--trump. If I hadn't given away every gold piece I had in my +pocket, you should have a double handful--by Jove, you should! But never +mind, just come along, I must have one splendid hug, and then for the +Cove. No, no, that won't be fair after all," thought the generous +fellow, "Grant must have the first kiss, he must tell her----" + +The thought of what must be told her went through the poor fellow's +brain like an arrow of fire. But he dashed into the path which led to +Piney Cove, calling back to Benson, "Don't tell her anything!" and +strode away. + +Breathless, eager, forgetful of his own great sorrow, Tom cleared the +distance between the shore and Piney Cove with enormous strides. He +crossed the lawn almost at a run, leaped up the steps two at a time, and +found Mellen lying upon a sofa in the balcony, with his face to the +wall. + +"Get up, old fellow, get up and shake yourself," he cried, seizing upon +Mellen and turning him over as if he had been a Newfoundland dog in the +wrong place; "I've found her--by Jove, I have!--she's at old Benson's. +Isn't he a brick? She's well--no, she isn't quite that according to the +latest accounts, but by all that's sacred, your wife is alive!" + +Mellen started to his feet, bewildered, wild. + +"Tom Fuller, is this true?" + +"Do I look like a man who tells lies for fun?" said Tom, drawing himself +up. + +"Have you seen her--is my wife truly alive?" + +"Yes--no--no--I haven't seen her--was in too great a hurry for that. But +she's there at Benson's tavern, just as sure--as sure--as a gun." + +Mellen brushed past the kind fellow while he was hesitating for a +comparison. His saddle horse stood at the door--for he had been too +excited for any orders regarding it. He sprang upon its back and dashed +across the lawn, through the grove and out of sight, quickly as a fast +horse could clear the ground. He drew up in front of old Benson's house, +leaped off and rushed in. + +"Where is she?" he cried, to the frightened woman who met him. "My +wife--where is she?" + +A cry from the upper room answered his words; he dashed into the +apartment. There, on the humble bed, lay Elizabeth, pale and changed, +but alive! + +She was cowering back in deadly terror--putting out her hands in wild +appeal. + +"I'm going away," she moaned; "don't kill me! I can start now--I'll +go--I'll go!" + +He fell on his knees by the bed, he was telling the truth in wild, +broken words. + +"Only forgive me, Elizabeth; only forgive me; my wife, my darling, can +you forgive me? You would if my heart lay in your hands. Oh, Elizabeth, +speak to me!" + +She could not comprehend what he was saying at the moment; when she did +understand, her first thought was of the girl--his sister. + +"Elsie! Elsie!" + +"She is ill--dying perhaps. Oh, my wife! my wife! Try to speak--say that +you forgive me." + +She was too greatly agitated for words then, but she put out her hands +with a gesture he understood. He lifted her in his arms and folded her +close to his heart. She lay in their passionate clasp with a long sigh +of content. + +"God is very good," she whispered; "oh, my beloved, let us thank Him." + +There, in that lowly room, Grantley Mellen held his wife to his bosom +and the last fire of his old wrong impetuous nature, went out forever in +thankfulness and tears. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX. + +RECONCILIATIONS. + + +Elizabeth Mellen was home again--home under her husband's roof, for ever +at home in his heart. She sat in her dressing-room. The autumnal +sunshine came through its windows, with a rich, golden warmth. A hickory +wood fire filled the room with additional cheerfulness, which was +scarcely needed, for that awful chill had left her heart for ever. A few +days of supreme happiness had given back the peach-like bloom to her +cheek and the splendor to her eyes. Full of contentment, all the +generous impulses of her character rose and swelled in her bosom, till +she longed to share her heaven with anything that was cast down or +unhappy. + +The door between her room and Elsie's boudoir was open, and through it +she could hear a soft, pleading voice amid a struggle of sobs and tears. +Prompted by tender sympathy, Elizabeth half-rose from her easy-chair, +but fell back again, murmuring: + +"No, no, she will best find her way to his heart alone. God help her to +be frank and truthful." + +Still she listened, and her beautiful face grew anxious, for the +sternness of her husband's voice, in answer to those feeble plaints, +gave little hopes of conciliation. Directly Mellen came through the +boudoir and sat down on a couch near his wife, shading his face with one +hand, not wishing her to see how much he was disturbed. Elizabeth arose, +bent over him, and softly removed the hand from his eyes. + +"For my sake, Grantley," she said, "for my sake." + +Generous tears filled her eyes, pleading tenderness spoke in her voice. +Her lips, tremulous with feeling, touched his forehead. + +"For my sake, Grantley." + +Mellen lifted his eyes to hers--a mist, such as springs from the unshed +tears of a strong man, softened them. She fell upon her knees by his +side, laid her head upon his bosom with soft murmurs of entreaty which +no living man could have resisted. + +Mellen folded her close, and touched his lips to her forehead with +tender reverence. + +"For your sake, my beloved; what is there that I would not do for your +sake?" + +"And this forgiveness is perfect," she questioned. + +"Her fault from this hour is forgotten, sweet wife." + +"It was terrible--more terrible than you dream of. When I tell you that +she had engaged herself secretly to Thomas Fuller, even your mercy may +be qualified." + +Elizabeth withdrew from her husband's arms and bowed her lovely face for +a moment in sad thoughtfulness. Then she looked up, smiling faintly. + +"Elsie is so thoughtless--she does not mean the wrong she does poor +Tom--still we must not be unmerciful, so once more let us forgive her +wholly--without reservation." + +A knock at the door disturbed them. It was Victoria, who came to +announce Mr. Fuller, who was close behind her. + +"Elizabeth, I've come back. It was no use trying to stay in that +confounded city. To save my life I couldn't do it," he said, pushing by +the pretty mulatto and closing the door upon her. "Can I see her +now--only for once, you know?" + +Elizabeth blushed crimson. + +"Oh, Tom, you don't know your----" + +"Yes, I do know." + +"And still wish to see her?" + +"Why not? of course I do; because one--infernal villain--excuse me, I +won't talk. Where is she?" + +Elizabeth, a little shocked and quite taken by surprise, glanced towards +the blue boudoir. In Tom strode and shut the door resolutely after him. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXX. + +TOM ACCEPTS THE SITUATION. + + +Lying upon a couch, over which that pale marble statue was bending with +its cold lilies in mocking purity, lay a pale little creature, covered +with a pink eider-down quilt, which but half concealed a morning dress +of faint azure; quantities of delicate Valenciennes lace fluttered, like +snowflakes, around her wrists and bosom, and formed the principal +material of a dainty little cap, under which her golden tresses were +gathered. She looked like a girl of twelve pretending womanhood. + +When Tom came in she uttered a sudden cry, flung up her hands and +dropped them in a loose clasp over her face, which flushed under them +like a rose. + +Tom walked straight to the couch, drew one of the fragile gilded chairs +close to it, and sat down. + +"Don't--don't--go away. It's cruel. I shall faint with shame," she +cried, trembling all over. + +"Not till you have answered me a few questions," said Tom, firmly. +"Questions that I have a right to ask and you must answer." + +Elsie drew the little hands slowly from her face and looked at him. The +blue eyes--grown larger from illness--opened wide, her lips parted. That +was not the lover she had trifled with and domineered over. She was +afraid of him and shrunk away close to the wall. + +"Elsie, one word," said Tom, pressing a hand firmly on each knee and +bending towards her. + +Her lips parted wider, and she watched him with the glance of a +frightened bird when a cat looks in at the door of its cage. + +"You have come to torment me," she faltered. + +"Torment you! I! It isn't in me to do that. Torment! I do not know what +it is." + +"Well, what do you want of me then?" + +"What do I want, Elsie, dear? What do I want? Nothing but God's truth, +and that I will have!" + +Elsie's eyes grew larger, and the flush of shame left her face. + +"I can't--I can't tell you the truth, Tom Fuller, now. Elizabeth can say +enough to make you ready to kill me, but I would rather die than talk of +it." + +"I know all that Elizabeth can tell me," said Tom, resolutely. + +"What did you come for, then?" + +"To ask this one question: Did you love that man?" + +A shiver of disgust ran through her and broke out in her voice: + +"Love him! No! At first it seemed as if I did; but after I saw what he +was and how he lived, it was dreadful, I hated him so." + +"But how came you married to him?" + +"I don't know; I never could tell. It was when we went on that picnic. +He asked me to walk with him. It was good fun to set you all wondering, +and I went. He took me down the hill and towards the beach, close by the +tavern. We had been flirting for weeks then in New York and here, for he +always met me when I went out to walk or ride, or anything; but I never +thought of marrying him in earnest, upon my sacred word. Well, that day, +just as we came to the tavern, he said, 'Let us stop a moment and get +married; there is a clergyman in here.' + +"I didn't believe him, and said so. 'Come in and see for yourself,' was +his answer. I went in laughing. A gentleman sat in one of the rooms, and +Mr. North's mulatto servant, who was sauntering about the door when we +came up, followed us in. I don't know what possessed me. Perhaps for the +minute I loved him; it seemed to me that I must stand up when the +strange man rose. He only said a few words, and before I really believed +it was a true ceremony the man said I was Mr. North's wife, and wrote +out a paper, which I dropped, thinking that I should be really married +if I took it, but which Mr. North picked up, saying I did not know its +value." + +"The scoundrel! The infamous, double-dyed scoundrel!" cried Tom. "But +you didn't love him--you didn't love him?" + +"No," said Elsie, shaking her head. "I tried my best to get away from it +all, but it was of no use. Then he petted me so, and told me how +beautifully we would live somewhere in Europe, and I thought him so +rich. But it was my money he meant to use. He thought that half of +uncle's property was mine, and when I told him how it was, oh, I won't +tell you how rude he became. Just after he told me about that other +person." + +Elsie broke off here, and covered her face with both hands again. Tom +saw the scarlet glow where it shot up to her temples and bathed her +white throat, and gave his hands one hard grip in a wild desire to +strike something. + +"There comes a question," he said, hoarsely; "did you leave him?" + +"Yes, yes; that very hour." + +"And never saw him again?" + +"Never but once; and then I ordered him out of the house." + +"Because you hated him so?" + +Tom seized both her hands as he asked this question, and wrung them till +she could scarcely keep from crying out with pain. + +"Oh, how I did hate him!" she exclaimed, shuddering. + +"Elsie," said Tom, "look into my face, straight into my eyes." + +She obeyed him, with a look of piteous appeal. + +"Did you ever love me?" + +Her hands were locked together, she lifted them up with more of energy +than he had ever witnessed in her before. + +"Did you?" repeated Tom, and a glow came into his face. + +"Yes." + +The word had scarcely left her lips when Tom flung the gilded chair back +and fell on his knees, gathering her up in his arms with a wild outburst +of feeling. + +"Then I'll be d---- hung and choked to death if anything on God's +beautiful earth keeps me from marrying you!" + +She clung to him, she lifted her quivering lips to his. + +"Say it again, just once, darling?" cried Tom, shaking back his tawny +locks with energy. "Is this love downright, honest, whole-hearted love?" + +"Yes, yes!" + +"God bless you, darling! And when was it? about what time did it begin?" + +She answered him honestly, but with a faltering voice: + +"Oh, Tom, I'm afraid it wasn't till after you got so rich. Don't think +hard of it; I do love beautiful things so much--but indeed, indeed I +love you more." + +"Then I'm glad the old covey left me all his money. I don't care a +d---- red cent why you love me, only I must be sure that it's a fixed +fact. Now I'll go straight out and tell Bessie." + +Elsie turned cold. + +"Oh, Tom, she'll never consent to it." + +"Won't she! I'd just like to know why?" + +"And my brother, he is so cold, so unforgiving." + +"Is he? then I'll take you away to a warmer climate. But don't believe +it; he's proud as a race-horse, but you'll find him a trump in the end." + +"Don't go yet, Tom, I am afraid they will--" + +"No, they wont," cried Tom, and away he went into Elizabeth's +sitting-room, with tears sparkling in his eyes and a generous flush on +his face. + +"Mellen," he said, wringing Grantley's hand, "I want to be married +to-morrow, and carry her away." + +"Fuller, what is the meaning of this?" demanded Mellen, pained and +surprised, while Elizabeth stood up aghast at this sudden outburst. + +"It means just this, Mellen, I don't care a tin whistle for what has +gone before, and I feel strong enough to take care of anything that may +come after. Your sister loves me, and I love her, that's enough. I am +satisfied, and--there--that's enough. The whole thing is a family +secret, and who is going to be the wiser. I only hope they have dug the +fellow's grave deep enough, that's all." + +"But, Fuller, have you reflected?" + +"Reflected! I've done nothing else for a week, and this is just what it +has brought me to. So give us your hand." + +Elizabeth came up to Tom, put her arms around his neck, and burst into +tears. + +"That's the time o' day," shouted Tom. "Silence gives consent; now just +give us a good brotherly grip of the hand, Mellen, and it's all right." + +Tom folded one arm around his cousin, and held out the other a second +time. Mellen took it in his, wrung it warmly, and left the room. + +"Just go in and comfort her a little, Bessie, poor darling, she's afraid +you won't consent." + +"Generous, noble fellow," said Elizabeth, kissing him with warmth; "but +where will you go? what will you do? It is all so very sudden." + +"Do! what on earth can I do but love her like distraction? Go! any place +where she can find life and fun, plenty of shopping. Paris, isn't that a +nice sort of place for pretty things? I think we'll go to Paris first. +But, I forgot, Rhodes's daughter, the old maid, is waiting for you +downstairs. Victoria would have told you if I hadn't shut her out." + +Elizabeth went down, leaving Tom in the only spot he cared to occupy on +earth. She found Miss Jemima in a state of wild commotion, with her +riding-dress buttoned awry, and one of her gauntlets torn half off with +hard pulling. + +"Did you know it? had you any suspicion?" she demanded, confronting +Elizabeth like a grenadier; "I could think it of your sister, but +you--you--" + +"What is it? I know nothing," answered Elizabeth. + +"They are married, absolutely married; my par and that painted lay +figure you introduced to him, that Mrs. Harrington." + +"What, your father married to her!" cried Elizabeth; "you surprise me." + +"It's a solemn truth, though a disgraceful truth, but she shall never +come into the house that shelters me. I'll burn it down first. Where's +your sister?" + +"She is ill in her room." + +"Yes, I dare say. But she's had a hand in this, and I'll pay her for it, +or my name isn't Jemima Rhodes. Tell her so, with my compliments. Good +morning!" + +With this abrupt adieu the spinster took herself off, tugging away at +her gauntlet, or what was left of it, and diversifying the movement with +a vicious crack of her whip now and then. + +Elizabeth smiled and went upstairs again. Thus the great events of the +day ended. + +In less than a week Tom Fuller was quietly married, and took his wife at +once on board a steamer bound for Europe. She had come forth from her +sick room greatly subdued and changed in many respects, but able, from +her peculiar character, to put a veil between her and the past, which +would have been impossible to a woman like Elizabeth. + +I am happy to state that Dolf's treachery met with its proper reward. +Clorinda succeeded in saving her money, and she married the parson, +leaving Dolf to his shame and remorse. Victoria gave him the cold +shoulder, and made herself so intimate with a new male Adonis, who came +to the house as domestic, that Dolf's days were full of misery and his +nights made restless with legions of nightmares. + +The house by the sea shore stands up in its old picturesque stateliness, +and within the sunshine never fails, and the summer of content is never +disturbed. + +Old Benson, a very short time after these events, became possessed of a +fine tract of land running back from the point where his house stood; +how he paid for it, and got a clear deed, no one could tell except +himself and Mr. Mellen. It is certain that both of these men knew how to +keep a secret, for to this day it is utterly unknown in the +neighborhood, that Elizabeth ever lay ill and suffering in that good +man's house. The servants speak of her visit to New York about that +time, and so this great family mystery ended. + +THE END. + + + + +MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS' WORKS. + + + _A NOBLE WOMAN._ + + _PALACES AND PRISONS._ + + _MARRIED IN HASTE._ + + _RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY._ + + _THE CURSE OF GOLD._ + + _WIVES AND WIDOWS; OR, THE BROKEN LIFE._ + + _THE REJECTED WIFE._ + + _THE GOLD BRICK._ + + _THE HEIRESS._ + + _FASHION AND FAMINE._ + + _THE OLD HOMESTEAD._ + + _SILENT STRUGGLES._ + + _MARY DERWENT._ + + _THE WIFE'S SECRET._ + + _THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS._ + + _MABEL'S MISTAKE._ + + _DOUBLY FALSE._ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Noble Woman, by Ann S. Stephens + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NOBLE WOMAN *** + +***** This file should be named 30111.txt or 30111.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/1/1/30111/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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