tly remonstrated with her.

"You are sadly mistaken," he said. "Captain Bervie stood to receive my
fire as fairly as I stood to receive his. When I discharged my pistol
in the air, he was the first man who ran up to me, and asked if I was
seriously hurt. They told him my wound was a trifle; and he fell on his
knees and thanked God for preserving my life from his guilty hand. 'I
am no longer the rival who hates you,' he said. 'Give me time to try if
change of scene will quiet my mind; and I will be _your_ brother, and
_her_ brother.' Whatever his faults may be, Charlotte, Arthur Bervie has
a great heart. Go in, I entreat you, and be friends with him as I am."

Charlotte listened with downcast eyes and changing color. "You believe
him?" she asked in low and trembling tones.

"I believe him as I believe You," Percy answered.

She secretly resented the comparison, and detested the Captain more
heartily than ever. "I will go in and see him, if you wish it," she
said. "But not by myself. I want you to come with me."

"Why?" Percy asked.

"I want to see what his face says, when you and he meet."

"Do you still doubt him, Charlotte?"

She made no reply. Percy had done his best to convince her, and had
evidently failed.

They went together into the cottage. Fixing her eyes steadily on the
Captain's face, Charlotte saw it turn pale when Percy followed her into
the parlor. The two men greeted one another cordially. Charlotte sat
down by her mother, preserving her composure so far as appearances went.
"I hear you have called to bid us good-by," she said to Bervie. "Is it
to be a long absence?"

"I have got two months' leave," the Captain answered, without looking at
her while he spoke.

"Are you going abroad?"

"Yes. I think so."

She turned away to her mother. Bervie seized the opportunity of speaking
to Percy. "I have a word of advice for your private ear." At the same
moment, Charlotte whispered to her mother: "Don't encourage him to
prolong his visit."

The Captain showed no intention to prolong his visit. To Charlotte's
surprise, when he took leave of the ladies, Percy also rose to go. "His
carriage," he said, "was waiting at the door; and he had offered to take
Captain Bervie back to London."

Charlotte instantly suspected an arrangement between the two men for a
confidential interview. Her obstinate distrust of Bervie strengthened
tenfold. She reluctantly gave him her hand, as he parted from her at the
pa