ld be
simple madness.' I made no reply. 'Indeed,' she continued, looking at
the amulet as she might have looked at a cobra uprearing its head to
spring at her, 'it must really be priceless. And to think that all
this was to be buried in the coffin of--! It is your charge,
however, and not mine.'

'Yes, mother,' I said, 'it is my charge;' and taking up the cross I
wrapped it in my handkerchief.

'Take the amulet and guard it well,' she said, as I placed it
carefully in the breast pocket of my coat.

'And remember,' said my aunt, breaking into the conversation, 'that
the true curses of the Aylwins are and always have been superstition
and love-madness.'

'I should have added a third curse,--pride, aunt,' I could not help
replying.

'Henry,' said she, pursing her thin lips, 'you have the obstinacy and
the courage of your race, that is to say, you have the obstinacy and
the courage of ten ordinary men, and yet a man you are not--a man you
will never be, if strength of character, and self-mastery and power
to withstand the inevitable trials of life, go to the making of a
man.'

'Pardon me, aunt; but such trials as mine are beyond your
comprehension.'

'Are they, boy?' said she. 'This fancy of yours for an insignificant
girl--this boyish infatuation which with any other young man of your
rank would have long ago exhausted itself and been forgotten--is a
passion that absorbs your life. And I tremble for you: I tremble for
the house you represent.'

But I saw by the expression on my mother's face that my aunt had now
gone too far. 'Prue,' she said, 'your tremblings concerning my son
and my family are, I assure you, gratuitous. Such trembling as the
case demands you had better leave to me. My heart tells me I have
been very wrong to that poor child, and I would give much to know
that she was found and that she was well.'

I set out to walk to my hotel, wondering how I was to while away the
long night until sleep should come to relieve me. Suddenly I
remembered D'Arcy, and my promise to call upon him. I changed my
course, and hailing a hansom drove to the address he had given me.

When I reached the door I found, upon looking at my watch, that it
was late--so late that I was dubious whether I should ring the bell.
I remembered, however, that he told me how very late his hours were,
and I rang.

On sending in my card I was shown at once into the studio, and after
threading my way between some pieces of massive f