tep she contemplated.
He rose, and turned towards her, but her countenance was hidden.

"Good night, Salome. God bless you and direct you."

She raised her face, and her eyes sought his with a long, questioning,
pleading gaze, so full of anguish that he could scarcely endure it.
Then he saw the last spark of hope expire; and she bent her queenly
head an instant, and silently passed from the parlor.

"I have watched my first and holiest hopes depart,
One after one;
I have held the hand of Death upon my heart,
And made no moan."

CHAPTER XVII.

"Pardon my intrusion, Mrs. Gerome, and ascribe it to Elsie's anxiety
concerning your health. In compliance with her request, I have come to
ascertain whether you really require my attention."

Dr. Grey placed his hat and gloves on the piano, and established
himself comfortably in a large chair near the arch, where Mrs. Gerome,
palette in hand, sat before her easel.

"Elsie's nerves have run away with her sound common sense, and filled
her mind with vagaries. She imagines that I need medicine, whereas I
only require quiet and peace, which neither she nor you will permit me
to enjoy."

She did not even glance at the visitor, but mixed some colors rapidly,
and deepened the rose-tints in a cluster of apple-blossoms she was
scattering in the foreground of a picture.

"If it is not of vital importance that those pearly petals should be
finished immediately, I should be glad to have you turn your face
towards me for a few moments. There,--thank you. Mrs. Gerome, do I
look like a nervous, whimsical man, whose fancy mastered his
professional judgment, or blunted his acumen?"

"You certainly appear as phlegmatic, as utterly unimaginative, as any
lager-loving German, whom Teniers or Ostade ever painted '_Unter den
linden_.'"

"Then my words should possess some influence when they corroborate
Elsie's statement, that you are far from well. Do not be childishly
incredulous, and impatiently shake your head; from a woman of your age
and sense one expects more dignity and prudence."

"Sir, your rudeness has at least a flavor of stern honesty that makes
it almost palatable. Do you propose to take my case into your skilful
hands?"

"I merely propose to expostulate with you upon the unfortunate and
ruinous course of life you have decided to pursue. No eremite of the
Thebaid, or the Nitroon, is more completely immured than I find you;
and the seclusion