and laying her hand on his sleeve, whispered a word or two in his ear.
He immediately glanced out of the window at the carriage standing before
the door, then looked back at her and nodded with something like a
smile. In another moment he stood at the front door.

"Be prepared," cried Paula to Cicely.

It was well she spoke, for when in an instant later Mr. Stuyvesant
re-entered the parlor with Bertram at his side, the rapidly changing
cheek of the gentle girl showed that the surprise, even though thus
tempered, was almost too much for her self-possession.

Mr. Stuyvesant did not wait for the inevitable embarrassment of the
moment to betray itself in words. "Mr. Sylvester," said he, to the young
cashier, "we have just received a piece of news from the bank, that
throws unexpected light upon the robbery we were discussing yesterday.
Hopgood has absconded, and acknowledges here in writing that he had
something to do with the theft!"

"Hopgood, the janitor!" The exclamation was directed not to Mr.
Stuyvesant but to Mr. Sylvester, towards whom Bertram turned with looks
of amazement.

"Yes, it is the greatest surprise I ever received," returned that
gentleman.

"And Mr. Sylvester," continued Mr. Stuyvesant, with nervous rapidity and
a generous attempt to speak lightly, "there is a little lady here who is
so shaken by the news, that nothing short of a word of reassurance on
your part will comfort her."

Bertram's eye followed that of Mr. Stuyvesant, and fell upon the
blushing cheek of Cicely. With a flushing of his own brow, he stepped
hastily forward.

"Miss Stuyvesant!" he cried, and looking down in her face, forgot
everything else in his infinite joy and satisfaction.

"Yes," announced the father with abrupt decision, "she is yours; you
have fairly earned her."

Bertram bowed his head with irrepressible emotion, and for a moment the
silence of perfect peace if not of awe, reigned over the apartment; but
suddenly a low, determined "No!" was heard, and Bertram turning towards
Mr. Stuyvesant, exclaimed, "You are very good, and the joy of this
moment atones for many an hour of grief and impatience; but I have not
earned her yet. The fact that Hopgood admits to having had something to
do with the robbery, does not sufficiently exonerate the officers of the
bank from all connection with the affair, to make it safe or honorable
in me to unqualifiedly accept the inestimable boon of your daughter's
regard. Till the re