ar as it is, for one such hour, I think."

Mr. Sylvester smiled. "It is a rare kind of coin to offer for such a
simple pleasure, but it may meet with its acceptance, nevertheless;" and
in his look and in his voice there was an appearance of affectionate
interest that completed the subjugation of the watchful Miss Belinda,
who now became doubly assured that whatever neglect had been shown her
by her niece was not due to that niece's husband.

Mr. Sylvester recognized the effect he had produced and hastened to
complete it, feeling that the good opinion of Miss Belinda would be
valuable to any man. "I have been a boy on these hills," said he, "and
know what it is to long for what is beyond while enjoying what is
present. You shall hear the organ my child." And stopped, wondering to
himself over the new sweet interest he seemed to take in the prospect of
pleasures which he had supposed himself to have long ago exhausted.

"Hear the organ, I? why that means--O what does it mean?" she inquired,
turning with a look of beaming hope towards her aunt.

"You must ask Mr. Sylvester," that uncompromising lady replied, with a
straightforward look at the fire.

And he with a smile told the blushing girl that according to his
reading, mortals went blindfold into fairy-land; and she understood what
he meant and was silent, whereupon he turned the conversation upon more
common-place subjects.

For how could he tell her then of the intention that had awakened in his
breast at the first glimpse of her grand young beauty. To make her his
child, to bequeath to her the place of the babe that had perished in his
arms three long years before--That meant to give Ona a care if not a
rival in his affections, and Ona shrank from care, and was not a subject
for rivalry. And the _if_ which this implied weighed heavily on his
heart as moment after moment flew by, and he felt again the reviving
power of an unsullied mind and an aspiring nature.

X.

THE BARRED DOOR.

"A school boy's tale; the wonder of an hour."

BYRON.

"Did you know that your niece was gifted with rare beauty as well as
talents?" asked Mr. Sylvester of Miss Belinda as a couple of hours or so
later, they sat alone by the parlor fire, preparatory to his departure.

"No, that is," she hastily corrected herself, "I knew she was very
pretty of course, prettier by far than any of her mates, but I did not
suppose she was what you call a beauty, or at least