ill go up to my room. You can drop in, and
look over those papers before you go. However, stay as late as it is
agreeable for you to do so." Walter Jerrold understood him. Already
captivated by Helen's beauty and worldliness, his decision was made.

Very soon was heard through the silent mansion strains of music, which
startled the echoes in its silent and deserted rooms, accompanied by a
voice of such thrilling sweetness and volume of tone, that the solitary
old man, in his cold and cheerless apartment, threw down his pen, and
sprung to his feet, to listen. It was Helen singing wild cavatinas
from _Norma_, and solos from _Der Freischutz_, and looking so
splendidly beautiful the while, that Walter Jerrold thought with pride
and exultation of introducing so much loveliness to the world as his
bride. May was silent, and wondered at it all, and _felt_, rather than
reasoned that somehow Helen was bartering away her eternal interests
for gain, and that these scenes were integral parts of the ruinous
scheme.

So she was not much surprised when Mr. Jerrold, on taking leave, asked
permission to call the next day with his mother; to which Helen
assented graciously, and May, having no decided reason to do otherwise,
said, "they would be pleased to see Mrs. Jerrold."

"Where shall I find Mr. Stillinghast, Miss Brooke?"

"In the room, sir, just at the head of the staircase. It is the first
door, a little to the left."

"Thank you. Good night, again, fair ladies," he said, bounding up the
steps.

"Come in," said the voice of Mr. Stillinghast, in answer to his low
tapping.

"Aha! well?"

"Have you the necessary papers ready, sir?" inquired the young man,
eagerly.

"Here they are. Are you ready to sign them?"

"This moment, sir. Give me the pen."

"No, sir; read them first. I'll have no such head-over-heels doings in
any transactions in which I am concerned. Here they are!" said Mr.
Stillinghast, in his saturnine, rough way.

Walter Jerrold read the papers, which were worded according to the
strictest legal forms, slowly and attentively, and felt more than
satisfied.

"All right, Mr. Stillinghast. 'Faith, sir, your niece requires no
golden chains to her chariot. She is the most beautiful creature I
ever beheld--accomplished, and elegant in form and manners. Give me
the pen!" he said, earnestly, as he spread out the parchment, and
prepared to sign his name thereto.

"Clouds are beautiful with the suns