Then Mr. Raby rose and seemed to bend his mind inward,
but he neither forbade, nor encouraged, this impulsive act of Grace
Carden's.

Now there was not a man nor a woman in the room whose curiosity had not
been more or less excited about this picture; so there was a general
movement toward it, of all but Mr. Raby, who stood quite still, turning
his eye inward, and evidently much moved, though passive.

There happened to be a strong light upon the picture, and the lovely
olive face, the vivid features, and glorious black eyes and eyebrows,
seemed to flash out of the canvas into life.

Even the living faces, being blondes, paled before it, in the one
particular of color. They seemed fair glittering moons, and this a
glowing sun.

Grace's first feelings were those of simple surprise and admiration.
But, as she gazed, Henry's words returned to her, and all manner of
ideas struck her pell-mell. "Oh, beautiful! beautiful!" she cried. Then,
turning to Henry, "You are right; it was not a face to hide from the
world--oh! the likeness! just look at HIM, and then at her! can I be
mistaken?"

This appeal was made to the company, and roused curiosity to a high
pitch; every eye began to compare the dark-skinned beauty on the wall
with the swarthy young man, who now stood there, and submitted in
haughty silence to the comparison.

The words caught Mr. Raby's attention. He made a start, and elbowing
them all out of his way, strode up to the picture.

"What do you say, Miss Carden? What likeness can there be between
my sister and a smith?" and he turned and frowned haughtily on Henry
Little.

Henry returned his look of defiance directly.

But that very exchange of defiance brought out another likeness, which
Grace's quick eye seized directly.

"Why, he is still liker you," she cried. "Look, good people! Look at
all three. Look at their great black eyes, and their brown hair. Look
at their dark skins, and their haughty noses. Oh, you needn't blow
your nostrils out at me, gentlemen; I am not a bit afraid of either of
you.--And then look at this lovely creature. She is a Raby too, only
softened down by her sweet womanliness. Look at them all three, if they
are not one flesh and blood, I have no eyes."

"Oh yes, miss; and this lady is his mother. For I have SEEN her; and she
is a sweet lady; and she told me I had a Cairnhope face, and kissed me
for it."

Upon this from Jael, the general conviction rose into a hum that buzzed