hall begin to hope that you fear to trust your own
heart."

"Do not forget yourself, sir. If you knew where my heart is housed,
you would spare yourself the fruitless trouble, and me the annoyance,
of attentions and expressions of admiration which I avail myself of
this opportunity to assure you are particularly disagreeable to me. I
wish to treat you courteously, as the guest of those under whose roof
I am permitted to reside, but 'thus far, and no farther,' must you
venture. Moreover, Mr. Granville, since we are merely comparative
strangers, I should be gratified if you will in future do me the honor
to recollect that it is one of my peculiarities,--one of my
idiosyncrasies,--to prefer that only those I respect and love should
call me Salome. Good afternoon, sir."

She took her music-book, bowed coolly, and made her exit through the
front door, which she closed after her.

In the hammock that was suspended on the eastern side of the piazza,
Dr. Grey had thrown himself to rest; and meanwhile, to search for some
surgical operation recorded in one of his books.

Just behind him a window opened from the hall, and to-day, though a
rose-colored shade was lowered, the sash had been raised, and every
word that was uttered in the passage floated distinctly to him.

The whole conversation occurred so rapidly that he had no opportunity
of discovering his presence to the persons within, and though he
cleared his throat and coughed rather spasmodically, his warning was
unheeded by those for whom it was intended.

He knew that Salome could not possibly have guessed his proximity, as
he was not accustomed to use this hammock, and was completely shielded
from observation; and, while pained and surprised by Mr. Granville's
dishonorable course, which threatened life-long wretchedness for poor
Muriel, Dr. Grey's heart throbbed with joy at the assurance that
Salome was not so ungenerous as he had feared. Probably no other human
being would have so highly appreciated her conduct on this occasion;
and, as he mused, with his thumb and forefinger thrust between the
leaves of the book, a glad smile broke over his grave face.

"God bless the girl! Her prayers and mine have not been in vain, and
she is putting under her feet the baser impulses that mar her
character. Granville is considered by the world exceedingly handsome
and agreeable, and many,--yes, the majority of women, would have
yielded, and indulged in a 'harmless flirtation,'