very pale, and the profound regret printed on his
countenance found expression also in the deepened and saddened tones
of his voice.

"Trust me, Janet! I will do all a man can to rectify the mischief, of
which, God knows, I have been an innocent and entirely unintentional
cause. Salome's course is unwomanly, and lowers her in my estimation;
but she is so young I shall hope and pray that her preference for me
is not sufficiently strong to prove more than an idle, fleeting,
girlish fancy."

He took his gloves from the table and left the room; and, for some
time after his departure, his sister sat rocking herself to and fro,
pondering all that had passed. Finally, she struck her hand decisively
upon the cushioned top of her crutch, and muttered,--

"Yes, he certainly is as nearly perfect as humanity can be; but,
after all, Ulpian Grey is only flesh and blood, and despite his
efforts to crush it, there must be some vanity hidden under his proud
humility,--for certainly he is both humble in one sense, and
inordinately proud in another; and I do not believe there lives a
man of his age who would not be flattered by the love of a fresh young
beauty like Salome. He thinks now that he is distressed and
mortified; and, of course, he is honest in what he tells me; but I
have studied human nature to very little purpose for the last fifty
years, if, before long, he does not find himself more interested in
Salome than he will be willing to confess. Her love for him will
invest her with a charm she never possessed before, for men are
vulnerable as women to the cunning advances of flattery. One thing
is as sure and clear as that two and two make four,--if he is proof
against Salome's devotion it will be attributable to the fact that he
gives his heart to some one else; and I thought his blue eyes rather
shied away from mine when he said he had yet to meet the woman he
could marry. You don't intend to deceive me, my precious boy, I
know you don't; but I should not be astounded if you had hoodwinked
yourself,--a very little. But 'sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof,' and I will wait,--and we shall see what we shall see."

CHAPTER XIV.

"Elsie, it is worse than useless to talk to me. Once I could listen to
you,--once I felt as you do now; but that time has gone by forever. I
will read to you as often as you desire it, provided you do not make
every chapter a text for a sermon. What do you wish to hear this
morning?