like the roar of the
angry sea. A cloud of dust entered through the glass door which was
partially concealed by the heavy curtain. The light flickered, and the
smoke poured out into the room from the fire-place. At the same time
Dolores heard, or fancied she heard, a sound like that made by the
closing of a door.

"They have forgotten to shut that door," thought Dolores; and she rose
to repair the omission, but suddenly paused, astonished and almost
frightened. She saw the curtain move, not as if in obedience to the
wind, but as if an invisible hand had shaken it.

"Heavens! there is some one behind the curtain!"

That a robber should have effected an entrance into the house at that
hour of the night was not at all impossible; and this was the first
thought that entered her mind. She recollected, too, that Vauquelas and
Coursegol had just gone out, that the servants were in bed and that she
was to all intents and purposes alone in the house. The feminine mind is
quick to take fright; and night and solitude increased the terror which
is so easily aroused by a fevered imagination. Her usual courage
deserted her; she turned pale and her lips quivered.

"How foolish!" she said to herself, the next instant. "Who would think
of entering here at such an hour? It must have been the wind. I will
close the door."

And struggling against the fear that had taken possession of her, she
stepped quickly forward, but paused again. She could plainly discern a
human form in the shadow behind the curtain.

"Oh! this is terrible!" she murmured, pressing her hand upon her heart.

Then she said, in a trembling voice:

"Who is there?"

There was no response. Summoning all her courage, she made two steps
forward, seized the curtain and lifted it. Leaning against the glass
door, which was now firmly closed, stood a man. Dolores was so terrified
that she dare not raise her eyes to his face.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

The words had scarcely left her lips when the man sprang forward,
crying:

"Dolores! Dolores!"

"Philip!"

Then, with a wild cry of rapturous delight, she flung herself in the
arms of her lover from whom she had been parted three long weary years.
They clung to each other a moment without uttering a word, completely
overcome with emotion. It was Philip, but Philip grown older and
thinner. His face was unshaven and his clothing disordered, and he was
frightfully pale. When she saw the ravages time and suffering