time I shall ever ask you to forgive me. Will you?"

"As freely and fully as a grieved brother ever forgave a wayward
sister."

He took the folded hands, lifted her from the grass, and led her to a
side door opening upon the east gallery.

"Dr. Grey, give me one kind word before I go."

The lamp-light from the hall shone full on his pale face, which was
sterner than she had ever seen it, as he forcibly withdrew his hands
from her tight clasp, and, putting her away from him, said, very
coldly,--

"I exhausted my store of kind thoughts and words when I called you my
sister."

He saw that she understood him, for she tried to hide her face, but a
spasm passed over it, and she would have fallen had he not caught her
in his arms and carried her up to her own room.

Stanley was asleep with his head pillowed on his open geography, but
the candle burned beside him, and Dr. Grey placed Salome on a lounge
near the window, and sprinkled her face with water.

Kneeling by the low couch, he rubbed her hands vigorously with some
cologne he found on her bureau; and, watching her pale, beautiful
features, his heart swelled with compassion, and his calm eyes grew
misty. Consciousness very soon returned, and when she saw the noble,
sorrowful countenance, bent anxiously over her, she covered her face
with her hands and moaned rather than spoke,--

"I can't endure your pity. Leave me with my self-contempt and
degradation."

"My little sister, I leave you in God's merciful hands, and trust you
to the guidance of your womanly pride and self-respect. Good-night. We
will not engrave this unfortunate day on our tablets, but forget its
record, save one fact, that for all time it makes me your brother;
and, Salome,--

"'So we'll not dream, nor look back, dear,
But march right on, content and bold,
To where our life sets heavenly clear,--
Westward, behind the hills of gold.'"

CHAPTER XVI.

"Dr. Grey, who is that beautiful girl to whom Muriel introduced me
this morning? I was so absorbed in admiration of her face that I lost
her name."

As he spoke, Mr. Gerard Granville struck the ashes from his cigar, and
walked up to the table where Dr. Grey was sealing some letters.

"Her name is Salome Owen, and she is my sister's adopted child."

"What is her age, if I may be pardoned such impertinent queries?"

"I believe she has entered her eighteenth year."

"She is a regal beauty, and shows proud blood as plainl