excites wonder and
comment. Forgive me, however, if my inquiry annoyed you."

He rose and took his hat, but her hand caught his arm.

"Do you know the import of the word?"

"Yes; I understand the significance of the letters, and the wonderful
power attributed to them when arranged in the triangles and called the
'Shield of David.' Knowing that it was considered talismanic, I could
not imagine why you were christened with so mystical a name."

"I was never christened."

He could not explain the confusion and displeasure which the question
excited, and anxious to relieve her of any feeling of annoyance, he
added,--

"Have you ever looked into the nature of the _Aglaophotis_?"

She struggled up from her cushions, and exclaimed, with a vehemence
that startled him,--

"What induced you to examine it? I know that it is a strange plant,
growing out of solid marble, and accounted a charm by Arab magicians.
Well, Dr. Grey, do not I belong to that species? You see before you a
human specimen of _Aglaophotis_, growing out of a marble heart."

Sometimes an exaggerated whimsicality trenches so closely upon
insanity, that it is difficult to discriminate between them; and, as
Dr. Grey noted the peculiarly cold glitter of her large eyes, and the
restless movement of her usually quiet hands, he dreaded that the
crushing weight on her heart would ultimately impair her mind. Now he
abruptly changed the topic.

"Mrs. Gerome, whenever it is agreeable to you to drive down the beach
or across the woods and among the hills, it will afford me much
pleasure to place my horse, buggy, and myself at your disposal; and,
in fine weather like this, a drive of a few miles would invigorate
you."

"Thank you. I shall not trouble you, for I have my low-swung easy
carriage, and my grays--my fatal grays. Ah if they would only serve me
as they did my poor Elsie! When I am strong enough to take the reins,
I will allow them an opportunity. Dr. Grey, if I seem rude, forgive
me. You are very kind and singularly patient, and sometimes when you
have left me, I feel ashamed of my inability to prove my sincere
appreciation of your goodness. For these beautiful flowers, I thank
you cordially."

She held out her hand, and, as he accepted it, he drew from his pocket
the silver key which he had so carefully preserved.

"Accident made me the custodian of this key, which I found on the
floor the day of Elsie's burial. Knowing that it belonged to your
esc