t damp?"

"No, sir; my shoes are thick, and thoroughly protect them."

She paused before him, and, in her soft, brown eyes, he saw a strange,
unwonted restlessness,--an eager expectancy that surprised and
disturbed him.

"Are you at leisure this morning?"

"Do you need my services immediately?"

She answered evasively; and he noticed that she glanced anxiously
toward the road leading into town.

"You will greatly oblige me, if some time during the day, you will be
so good as to superintend the preparation of some calves'-feet jelly,
for one of my poor patients. I would not trouble you, but Rachel is
quite sick, and the new cook does not understand the process. May I
depend upon you?"

"Certainly, sir; it will afford me pleasure to prepare the jelly."

Looking more closely at her face, he saw undeniable traces of recent
tears, and drew her arm through his.

"I hope you will not deem me impertinently curious if I beg you to
honor me with your confidence, and explain the anxiety which is
evidently preying upon your mind."

Embarrassment flushed her transparent cheek, and her shy eyes glanced
up uneasily.

"At least, Miss Dexter, permit me to ask whether Muriel is connected
with the cause of your disquiet?"

"My pupil is, I fear, very unhappy; but she withholds much from me
since she learned my disapproval of her approaching marriage."

"Will you acquaint me with your objections to Mr. Granville?"

"Against Mr. Granville, the gentleman, I have nothing to urge; but I
could not consent to see Muriel wed a man, who, I am convinced, has no
affection for her."

"Have you told her this?"

"Repeatedly; and, of course, my frankness has offended and alienated
her. Oh, Dr. Grey! the child totters on the brink of a flower-veiled
precipice, and will heed no warning. Perhaps I should libel Mr.
Granville were I to impute mercenary motives to him,--perhaps he
fancied he loved Muriel when he addressed her,--I hope so, for the
honor of manhood; but the glamour was brief, and certainly he must be
aware that he has not proper affection for her now."

"And yet, she is very lovable and winning."

"Yes,--to you and to me; but her good qualities are not those which
gentlemen find most attractive. What is Christian purity and noble
generosity of soul, in comparison with physical perfection? Muriel
often reminds me of one whom I loved devotedly, whose unselfish and
unsuspicious nature wrought the ruin of her happiness; and f