utting back her hair, she
looked up and answered--

"That should increase your willingness to aid her in her misfortunes."

"Hold out your hand; fifty, one hundred, a hundred and fifty, two hundred.
There, will that do?"

"Thank you! thank you. You will not need it soon, I hope?"

"Not until you are ready to pay me."

"Dr. Arnold, you have given me a great deal of pleasure--more than I can
express. I----"

"Don't try to express it, Queen. You have given me infinitely more, I
assure you."

Her splendid eyes were lifted toward him, and with some sudden impulse she
touched her lips to the hand he had placed on her shoulder. Something like
a tremor crossed the doctor's habitually stern mouth as he looked at the
marvellous beauty of the girl's countenance, and he kissed her slender
fingers as reverently as though he touched something consecrated.

"Irene, shall I take you home in my buggy?"

"No, thank you, I would rather walk. Oh! Doctor, I am so much obliged to
you."

In answer to Irene's knock, Electra opened the cottage door, and ushered
her into the small room which served as both kitchen and dining-room.
Everything was scrupulously neat, not a spot on the bare polished floor,
not a speck to dim the purity of the snowy dimity curtains, and on the
table in the centre stood a vase filled with fresh fragrant flowers. In a
low chair before the open window sat the widow knitting a blue and white
nubia. She glanced round as Irene entered.

"Who is it, Electra?"

"Miss Irene, aunt."

"Sit down, Miss Irene; how are you to-day?"

"Mrs. Aubrey, I am sorry to hear your eyes are no better."

"Thank you for your kind sympathy. My sight grows more dim every day."

"You shan't suffer much longer; these veils shall be taken off. Here is the
money to enable you to go to New Orleans and consult that physician. As
soon as the weather turns cooler you must start."

"Miss Irene, I cannot tax your generosity so heavily; I have no claim on
your goodness. Indeed I----"

"Mrs. Aubrey, don't you think it is your duty to recover your sight if
possible?"

"Yes, if I could command the means."

"You have the means; you must employ them. There, I will not take back the
money; it is yours."

"Don't refuse it, auntie, you will wound Irie," pleaded Electra.

There was silence for a few seconds; then Mrs. Aubrey took the hands from
her face and said,--"Irene, I will accept your generous offer. If my sight
is restored, I can r