arest; it seemed to me that my last hope was gone. Oh,
my beloved--my own at last!" and then Malcolm's long, passionate kiss
set the seal to their betrothal, and for a little while there was the
silence of a great peace.

An hour had passed--no one had come in search of them, and the evening
shadows were beginning to steal over the Pool--but still they sat hand
in hand, talking earnestly and lovingly after the manner of lovers,
until the gong warned them that it was time to return to the house. But
even then they lingered.

"Is the spirit of the Pool properly exorcised now, Malcolm?" asked
Elizabeth, with her old playfulness. Then he clasped her close.

"I have her safe in my own keeping. Dearest," in a low, vibrating tone
full of tenderness, "if I ever grow supine or forgetful in my great
happiness, and the memory of these long years of misery and unrest fade
away, you must bring me here and I shall remember."

"You shall remember nothing but that I love you," she whispered.
"Malcolm, you will not leave me to-morrow? I cannot part with you so
soon." And he promised that he would certainly remain over Sunday.

Elizabeth had not entirely laid aside her mourning, but the black silk
dress she selected that evening fitted her exquisitely, and the dull,
heavy folds suited her tall, queenly figure. She looked at herself for
a moment, then with a hesitating hand she fastened a spray of white
lilac in her dress. The next moment there was a familiar tap at her
door, and Dinah, flushed and agitated, came into the room.

Elizabeth watched her smilingly; then she opened her arms without a
word, and for a few moments the sisters held each other very closely.

"Oh, Betty, my darling--my darling, if you knew how happy this has made
me!"

"How did you know, Die--have you seen him?"

"Yes, just now; he was crossing the hall, and I saw his face. We were
alone, there was no one near, and he caught hold of my hands--oh, such
a grip. 'Dinah,' he said--'you will let me call you Dinah now? for I am
going to be your brother.' But we had no time for another word, for
Cedric and Anna came out of the drawing-room."

"We shall not tell them this evening," returned Elizabeth. "Malcolm has
promised to keep it quiet. I told him that only you--my other
self--must know to-night. You will be careful, will you not, Die?"

"Yes, dear, but you must let me hear more. How did it happen, Betty? I
thought you and Malcolm Herrick never meant to spea