asked with a look and tone such as he had never before bestowed upon
her, if the play which he had seen that evening had been real, or only
the baseless fabric of a dream.

She understood him and drew back with a look almost of awe, shaking her
head and replying in a startled way, "I do not know, I dare not say, I
scarcely have taken time to think."

"Then take it," he murmured in a voice that shook her body and soul,
"for _I_ must know, if _he_ does not." And without venturing another
word, or supplying by look or gesture any explanation of his unexpected
appearance, or as equally unexpected departure, he bowed before her as
if she had been a queen instead of the child he had been wont in other
days to regard her, and speedily left her side.

But he had not taken two steps before he paused. Mr. Ensign was
approaching.

"Mr. Sylvester! you are worse than the old woman of the tale, who
declaring she would not, that nothing could ever induce her to--_did_."

"You utter a deeper truth than you realize," returned that gentleman,
with a grave emphasis meant rather for her ears than his. "It is the
curse of mortals to overrate their strength in the face of great
temptations. I am no exception to the rule." And with a second bow that
included this apparently triumphant lover within its dignified sweep, he
calmly proceeded upon his way, and in a few moments had left the house.

Mr. Ensign, who for all his careless disposition, was quick to recognize
depths in others, stared after his commanding figure until he had
disappeared, then turned and looked at Paula. Why did his heart sink,
and the lights and joy and promise of the evening seem to turn dark and
shrivel to nothing before his eyes!

XXXIII.

TWO LETTERS.

"I have no other but a woman's reason,
I think him so, because I think him so."

--TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

A woman who has submitted to the undivided attentions of a gentleman for
any length of time, feels herself more or less bound to him, whether any
special words of devotion have passed between them or not, particularly
if from sensitiveness of nature, she has manifested any pleasure in his
society. Paula therefore felt as if her wings had been caught in a
snare, when Mr. Ensign upon leaving her that evening, put a small note
in her hand, saying that he would do himself the pleasure of calling for
his reply the next day. She did not need to open it. She knew
intuitively the manly