Northern faction and fanaticism already break ominously against our
time-honoured constitutional dykes, and if the South would strengthen her
bulwarks, there is no time to be slept or wrangled away."

As he spoke, Russell's eye fell upon a large oval vase on the mantelpiece
filled with rare exotics, whose graceful tendrils were tastefully disposed
into a perfumed fringe. Rising, he looked carefully at the brilliant hues,
and said, as he bent to inhale their fragrance--

"Where did you grow such flowers at this season?"

"Irene brings them almost every day from the greenhouse on the hill. She
takes a peculiar pleasure in arranging them in my vases. I think she stood
a half-hour yesterday twining and bending those stems the way she wanted
them to hang. They are so brittle that I snap the blossoms off, but in her
hands they seem pliable enough."

Russell withdrew the fingers which had wandered caressingly amid the
delicate leaves, and, reseating himself, took a book from his pocket.

He drew his chair nearer the lamp and began to read aloud. Nearly a
half-hour passed thus, when the library door was opened hastily, and Irene
came in, dressed magnificently in party costume. She stood a moment,
irresolute and surprised, with her eyes fixed on Russell's, then both bowed
silently, and she came to the fire.

"How are you, Uncle Eric? You look flushed, feverish." She laid her cold,
pearly hand on his forehead, and stood at his side.

"Tolerably comfortable, thanks to Mr. Aubrey, who has made me almost forget
my headache. You will be fashionably late at the party to-night."

"Yes! as usual; but for a better reason than because I wish to be
fashionable. I wanted to know how you were, and as father was not quite
ready, I came in advance, and sent the carriage back for him and Hugh. I
was not aware that you were in Mr. Aubrey's hands for the evening. You were
reading, I believe. Pardon my intrusion, and do not let me interrupt you."

She stood still a moment, listening.

"Good night, Uncle Eric; the carriage is coming. I believe I should know
the tramp of those horses amid a regiment of cavalry."

"Why need you hurry off? Let your father come in."

"I will spare him that trouble. Good night, Mr. Aubrey."

She turned to leave the room, but, in gathering her cloak around her,
dropped her fan. Russell stooped to pick it up, and, as he restored it,
their hands met. His brow flushed, but not even the pale pearly glow of a
s