elt as if the lights about him had suddenly lost a portion
of their brilliancy. He stood holding his own glass, after just tasting
its contents, waiting for Blanche to raise the sparkling liquor to her
lips, but she seemed like one under the influence of a spell, not
moving or responding.

CHAPTER X.

BLANCHE still held the untasted wine in her hand, when her father, who
happened to be near, filled a glass, and said as he bowed to her:

"Your good health, my daughter; and yours, Mr. Whitford," bowing to her
companion also.

The momentary spell was broken. Blanche smiled back upon her father and
raised the glass to her lips. The lights in the room seemed to Ellis to
flash up again and blaze with a higher brilliancy. Never had the taste
of wine seemed more delicious. What a warm thrill ran along his nerves!
What a fine exhilaration quickened in his brain! The shadow which a
moment before had cast a veil over the face of Blanche he saw no
longer. It had vanished, or his vision was not now clear enough to
discern its subtle texture.

"Take good care of Blanche," said Mr. Birtwell, in a light voice. "And
you, pet, see that Mr. Whitford enjoys himself."

Blanche did not reply. Her father turned away. Eyes not veiled as
Whitford's now were would have seen that the filmy cloud which had come
over her face a little while before was less transparent, and sensibly
dimmed its brightness.

Scarcely had Mr. Birtwell left them when Mr. Elliott, who had only a
little while before heard of their engagement, said to Blanche in an
undertone, and with one of his sweet paternal smiles:

"I must take a glass of wine with you, dear, in, commemoration of the
happy event."

Mr. Elliott had not meant to include young Whitford in the invitation.
The latter had spoken to a lady acquaintance who stood near him, and
was saying a few words to her, thus disengaging Blanche. But observing
that Mr. Elliott was talking to Blanche, he turned from the lady and
joined her again. And, so Mr. Elliott had to say:

"We are going to have a glass of wine in honor of the auspicious event."

Three glasses were filled by the clergyman, and then he stood face to
face with the young man and maiden, and each of them, as he said in a
low, professional voice, meant for their ears alone, "Peace and
blessing, my children!" drank to the sentiment. Whitford drained his
glass, but Blanche only tasted the wine in hers.

Mr. Elliott stood for a few moment