t spoken, only bent lower
over her work.

"Yes, mother," in a very low voice; "and I suppose he has told you the
news."

"What news, my pet?"

"That he and Miss Selby are engaged. Oh, yes, I knew it directly I saw
the letter. It is good of him to tell us so soon. I am glad; you must
tell him we are glad, mother."

"Will that be the truth, Fern?" looking at her doubtfully.

"One ought to be glad when one's friends are happy," was the unsteady
answer. "If he loves her, of course he must want to marry her. Crystal
says that she is very handsome and looks so nice. You must write a
very pretty letter to him, mother, and say all sorts of kind things.
And it is for us to be glad that he has got his wish, for I think he
has not looked quite happy lately." And Fern folded up her work in her
old business-like manner, and then went about the room, putting little
touches here and there; and if she were a little pale, the dusk soon
hid it. Mrs. Trafford had no fault to find with her daughter that
evening; nevertheless she did not feel easy; she thought girlish pride
was bidding her conceal the wound, and that in reality her child was
unhappy.

If any one had asked Fern what were her feelings when she saw that
letter in her mother's hands she would have answered most truly that
she did not know. When a long-dreaded trouble that one knows to be
inevitable at last reaches one, the mind seems to collapse and become
utterly blank; there is a painless void, into which the mental vision
refuses to look. Presently--there is plenty of time; life is overlong
for suffering--we will sit down for a little while by the side of the
abyss which has just swallowed up our dearest hopes.

Numbness, which was in reality death in life, blunted Fern's feelings
as she worked, and talked, and fulfilled her little duties. When she
went up to her room and looked at Crystal's empty bed, she thought the
room had never looked so desolate. She undressed slowly, with long
pauses, during which she tried to find out what had happened to her;
but no real consciousness came until she laid her head on the pillow
and tried to sleep, and then found her thoughts active. And the
darkness seemed to take her into its black arms, and there seemed no
rest anywhere. They were all over--those beautiful dreams that had
glorified her life. No bright-faced young prince would ride out of the
mist and carry her away; there would be no more kind looks full of
deep, wonderfu