d her icy composure, and, as she lifted
the little crushed, faded bouquet, and pressed it against her wan
cheek, a moan broke from her colorless lips.

"Oh, Elsie,--Elsie! How could you desert me? You knew you were all
I had to love and trust,--and how could you die and leave me
alone,--utterly alone, in this miserable world that has so cruelly
injured me!"

She clasped her hands passionately over the flowers, and the motion
caused the sapphire ring, which was now much too large, to slip from
the thin finger, and roll ringing across the marble floor.

Dr. Grey picked it up, and as he replaced it, drew her hand under his
arm, and led her out of the boat-house. They walked slowly, and as
they ascended the steps, he saw his buggy approaching the side gate.

Opening the parlor door, he drew his companion into the room, where
the Psyche lamp still burned brightly.

"Mrs. Gerome, will you trust me?"

He had hoped that a return to the house would touch her heart and make
her weep, but the cold, dry glitter of her eyes disappointed him.

"Dr. Grey, I trust neither men nor women, nor even the angels in
heaven; for one of them turned serpent, and if tradition be true, made
earth the dismal 'Bochin' I have found it."

She turned from him, and threw herself wearily upon the divan that
filled the recess of the oriel window.

Securing the door of the library, he extinguished the lamp, and
closing the parlor went out to meet Salome.

CHAPTER XX.

"Doctor Grey, you look weary and anxious."

"I feel so, for this has been a memorable night."

"The servant who opened the gate for us said that the poor old woman
died about day-break."

"Yes; when I arrived I found her speechless, and of course could do
nothing but watch her die. Come down this walk, I wish to talk to you
before you go into the house."

He pointed to a serpentine walk, overarched by laurustinus, and they
had proceeded some yards before he spoke again.

"Salome, I believe you told me that you had met Mrs. Gerome?"

"Yes, sir; once upon the cliffs, a mile below, I saw her for a few
moments."

"She is a very eccentric woman."

"I should judge so, from her appearance."

"Her life seems to have been blighted by early griefs, and she has
grown cynical and misanthropic. Loving no one but her faithful and
devoted nurse, she has completely isolated herself, and consequently
the death of this servant--companion--nay, foster-mother--is a
terrible blo