ea, and told her that she looked pale and tired. "But
you must have a long rest; and, as Aunt Adela is out, you need not be
afraid that you will have to talk to strangers. This is my private
sanctum, and only my special friends come here."

"I ought to be going home," replied Fern, uneasily; for the thought
had suddenly occurred to her that Erle might come and find her there,
and then what would he think. As this doubt crossed her mind, she saw
Miss Selby knit her brow with a sudden expression of pain; and the
next moment those light ringing footsteps, that Fern often heard in
her dreams, sounded in the corridor.

Fern put down her cup and rose; "I must go now," she said, unsteadily.
But as she stretched out her hand for her bonnet, Erle was already in
the room, and was looking from one pale face to the other in
undisguised amazement.

"Miss Trafford!" he exclaimed, as though he could not believe his
eyes; but Evelyn quietly went up to him and laid her hand on his arm.

"Yes, I have brought her. I asked her to drive with me, and she never
guessed the reason; I could not have persuaded her to come if she had.
Dear Erle, I know your sense of honor, and that you would never free
yourself; but now I give you back this"--drawing the diamond ring from
her finger; "it is Miss Trafford's, not mine. I can not keep another
woman's property."

"Eva," he remonstrated, following her to the door, for she seemed
about to leave them; "I will not accept this sacrifice; I refuse to be
set free," but she only smiled at him.

"Go to her, Erle," she whispered, "she is worthy even of you; I would
not marry you now even if she refused you, but"--with a look of
irrepressible tenderness--"she will not refuse you;" and before he
could answer her she was gone.

And Fern, looking at them through a sudden mist, tried to follow
Evelyn, but either she stumbled or her strength forsook her. But all
at once she found herself in Erle's arms, and pressed closely to him.

"Did you hear her, my darling?" he said, as the fair head drooped on
his shoulder; "she has given us to each other--she has set me free to
love you. Oh, Fern, I tried so hard to do my duty to her; she was good
and true, and I was fond of her--I think she is the noblest woman on
God's earth--but it was you I loved, and she found out I was
miserable, and now she refuses to marry me; and--and--will you not say
one word to me, my dearest?"

How was she to speak to him when her hear