ere again spoke the very enthusiasm
of self-worship! But how know you, Marian, that I do not find such
regnant superiority wearisome?--that I do not find it refreshing to sit
down quietly beside a lower, humbler nature, whose greatest faculty is
to love, whose greatest need to be loved!"

"How do I know it? By knowing that higher nature of yours, which you now
ignore. Yet it is not of myself that I wish to speak, but of her.
Thurston, you pursue that girl for mere pastime, I am sure--with no
ulterior evil purpose, I am certain; yet, Thurston!" she said,
involuntarily pressing her hand tightly upon her own bosom, "I know how
a woman may love you, and that may be death or madness to Angelica,
which is only whim and amusement to you. And, Thurston, you must go no
further with this culpable trifling--you must promise me to see her no
more!"

"'Must!' Upon my soul! you take state upon yourself, fair queen!"

"Thurston, a higher authority than mine speaks by my lips--it is the
voice of Right! You will regard it. You will give me that promise!"

"And if I do not--"

"Oh! there is no time to argue with you longer--some one is coming--I
must be quick. It is two weeks, Thurston, since I first urged this upon
you; I have hesitated already too long, and now I tell you, though my
heart bleeds to say it, that unless you promise to see Angelica no more,
I will see and have an explanation with her to-morrow!"

"You will!"

"You can prevent it, dearest Thurston, by yourself doing what you know
to be right."

"And if I do not?"

"I will see Miss Le Roy, to-morrow!"

"By heaven, then--"

His words were suddenly cut short by the entrance of Mrs. Waugh. In an
instant his countenance changed, and taking up his bag of game, he went
to meet the smiling, good humored woman, saying with a gay laugh:

"Good-morning, Mrs. Waugh! You see I have been shooting in the woods of
Luckenough this morning, and I could not leave the premises without
offering this tribute to their honored mistress."

And Thurston gayly laid the trophy at her feet.

"Hebe! will you please to see that a cup of hot coffee is sent up to
Mrs. L'Oiseau; she is unwell this morning, as I knew she would be, from
her excitement last night; or go with it yourself, Hebe! The presence of
the goddess of health at her bedside is surely needed."

Marian left the room, and then Mrs. Waugh, turning to the young
gentleman, said:

"Thurston, I am glad to have this opportuni