and enervating mist. Ceaselessly the rain beat
against the window-glass, and the wind had a desolate echo that sounded
far more like winter than spring.

Pale, in the dismal morning-light, Kate and Rose Danton bade their
lovers adieu, and watched them drive down the dripping avenue and
disappear.

An hour before he had come down stairs that morning, Mr. Stanford had
written a letter. It was very short:

"Dear Old Boy:--I'm off. In an hour I shall be on my way
to Ottawa, and from thence I will write you next. Do you know why
I am going? I am running away from myself! 'Lead us not into
temptation;' and Satan seems to have me hard and fast at Danton
Hall. Lauderdale, in spite of your bad opinion of me, I don't want
to be a villain if I can help it. I don't want to do any harm; I do
want to be true! And here it is impossible. I have got intoxicated
with flowing curls, and flashing dark eyes, and all the pretty,
bewitching, foolish, irresistible ways of that piquant little
beauty, whom I have no business under heaven to think of. I know
she is silly, and frivolous, and coquettish, and vain; but I love
her! There, the murder is out, and I feel better after it. But,
withal, I want to be faithful to the girl who loves me (ah! wretch
that I am!), and so I fly. A month out of sight of that sweet
face--a month out of hearing of that gay, young voice--a month
shooting, and riding, and exploring these Canadian wilds, will do
me good, and bring me back a new man. At least, I hope so; and
don't you set me down as a villain for the next four weeks, at
least."

* * * * *

The day of departure was miserably long and dull at the Hall. It rained
ceaselessly, and that made it worse. Rose never left her room; her plea
was headache. Kate wandered drearily up stairs and down stairs, and felt
desolate and forsaken beyond all precedent.

There was a strange, forlorn stillness about the house, as if some one
lay dead in it; and from morning to night the wind never ceased its
melancholy complaining.

Of course this abnormal state of things could not last. Sunshine came
next day, and the young ladies were themselves again. The preparations
for the treble wedding must begin in earnest now--shopping, dressmakers,
milliners, jewellers, all had to be seen after. A journey to Montreal
must be taken immediately, and busin