claimed, savagely,--

"Why can't you speak out? What is the matter? What has happened?"

"Ulpian's friend is dead."

"Thank God!"

"For shame! How can you be so heartless?"

"If the man could not recover I should think you would be glad that
he is at rest, and that your brother can come home."

"But the worst of the matter is that Ulpian is not coming home. Mr.
Manton wished him to act as guardian for his daughter, who is in
Europe, and Ulpian will sail in the next steamer for England, to
attend to some business connected with the estate. It is too
provoking, isn't it? He says it is impossible to tell when we shall
see him again."

There was no answer, and, when Miss Jane wiped her eyes and looked
around, she saw the girl tottering towards the door, groping her way
like one blind.

"Salome,--come here, child!"

But the figure disappeared in the hall, and when the moonlight looked
into the orphan's chamber the soft rays showed a girlish form kneeling
at the window, with a white face drenched by tears, and quivering lips
that moaned in feeble, broken accents,--

"God help me! I might have known it, for I had a presentiment of
terrible trouble when he went away. How can I trust God and be
patient, while the Atlantic raves and surges between me and my idol?
After all, it was an angel of mercy whose tender white hands held
back this bitter blow for nine hours. Gone to Europe, and not one
word--not one line--to me! Oh, my darling! you are trampling under
your feet the heart that loves you better than everything else in the
universe,--better than life, and its hopes of heaven!"

CHAPTER VIII.

"Salome, where did you learn to sing? I was astonished this morning
when I heard you."

"I have not yet learned,--I have only begun to practise."

"But, my child, I had no idea you owned such a voice. Where have you
kept it concealed so long?"

"I was not aware that I had it until a month ago, when it accidentally
discovered itself."

"It is very powerful."

"Yes, and very rough; but care and study will smooth and polish it.
Miss Jane, please keep your eye on Stanley until I come home; for,
although I left him with his slate and arithmetic, it is by no means
certain that they will not part company the moment I am out of
sight."

"Where are you going?"

"To carry back some work which would have been returned yesterday had
not the weather been so inclement."

In addition to the package of embroidered ha