who have
felt any strong human attachment, especially that one which for the sake
of its object seems able to cross the bounds of distance, time, life, or
eternity.

It was a thing that neither then or afterwards could she ever account
for, and years elapsed before she mentioned the circumstance to any
one. But while she lay weeping across her bed, Agatha seemed to hear
distinctly, just as if it had been a voice gliding past the window,
half-mixing with the wind that was then rising, the words:

"_I love you! No man will ever love you like me._"

That night, before she slept, her determination was taken.

CHAPTER V.

Next morning Miss Bowen astonished every one, and excited once more Mrs.
Ianson's incredulous smile, by openly desiring the servant who waited to
take a message for her to Major Harper's. It was to the effect that she
wished immediately to see that gentleman, could he make it convenient to
visit her.

The message was given by her very distinctly, and with most creditable
calmness, considering that the destinies of her whole life hung on the
sentence.

Major Harper appeared, and was shown into Miss Bowen's drawing-room. She
was not there, and the Major waited rather uneasily for several minutes,
unaware that half of that time she had been standing without, her hand
on the lock of the door. But her tremulousness was that of natural
emotion, not of fluctuating purpose. No physiognomist studying Agatha's
mouth and chin would doubt the fact, that though rather slow to
will--when she had once willed, scarcely anything had power to shake her
resolution.

She went in at last, and bade Major Harper good morning. "I have sent
for you," she said, "to talk over a little business."

"Business!"--And the hesitation and discomfort which seemed to arise in
him at the mere mention of the word again were visible in Major Harper.

"Not trust business--something quite different," said Agatha, scarcely
able to help smiling at the alarm of her guardian.

"Then anything you like, my dear Miss Bowen! I have nothing in the world
to do to-day. That stupid brother of mine is worse company than none
at all. He said he had letters to write to Kingcombe, and vanished
up-stairs! The rude fellow! But he is an excellent fellow too."

"So you have always said. He appears to love his home, and be much
beloved there. Is it so?"

"Most certainly. Already they know him better than they do me, and care
for him more; though