going
upstairs, and began to fan herself with her straw hat.

She had grown very calm, and almost ashamed of her passionate
ebullition in the presence of strangers; and numerous good resolutions
were sending out fibrous roots in her heart. How long she rested there
she knew not, and started when Dr. Grey said, in a subdued voice,--

"Salome, I am waiting to lock the door, and should be glad if you will
come in now, or be careful to secure the inner bolt whenever you do.
As I always shut up the house, I was afraid you might not think of it;
and burglaries are becoming alarmingly frequent."

She rose instantly, and entered the hall.

"What time is it?"

"Eleven o'clock."

"Is it possible? You know, sir, that the evenings are very short
now."

"Yes."

He was removing a chair from the gallery and closing the Venetian
blinds, and she could not see his face. Hoping to receive some
friendly look, which she was painfully aware she did not deserve, she
loitered till he turned around.

"Salome, have you a light in your room?"

"I do not know, but suppose so."

"There are two candles in the library, and you had better take one,
rather than stumble along in the dark and wake everybody."

He brought out one, and handed it to her.

"Thank you. Good-night, Dr. Grey."

"Good-night, Salome."

The candle-light showed no displeasure in his countenance, which was
calm as usual, and there was not a hint of harshness in his unwontedly
low voice; but she read disappointment in his grave, kind eyes. She
knew that she could not sleep until she had made her peace with him;
and, though it cost her a great effort to conquer her pride, she said,
humbly,--

"'And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven
times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent,--thou shalt
forgive him.'"

"Yes; but the frequency of the offence renders it difficult to believe
the repentance genuine."

"Christ, your master, did not doubt it."

"I am less than the disciples whom he addressed; and they answered,
'Increase our faith.'"

"You did not pray for me this morning."

"I never neglect my promises. Why do you doubt that I fulfilled them
this morning?"

"This has been one of my sinful days, when Satan runs rough-shod over
all my good intentions, and drags me through the mire that I was
trying to hold my soul far above. I tell you, sir, that the 'unclean
spirit' that vexed the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman was mi