e almost a grimace, she was flushed, she
showed her pretty teeth; but there was a little passionate quiver in her
voice.

"My dear child," said Mrs. Vivian, "we should be delighted to have you
pay us a visit, and we should be so happy if we could do you any good.
But I am afraid you would very soon get tired of us, and I ought to tell
you, frankly, that our little home is to be--a broken up. You know there
is to be a--a change," the good lady continued, with a hesitation which
apparently came from a sense of walking on uncertain ground, while she
glanced with a smile at Bernard and Angela.

Blanche sat there with her little excited, yet innocent--too
innocent--stare; her eyes followed Mrs. Vivian's. They met Bernard's for
an instant, and for some reason, at this moment, Bernard flushed.

He rose quickly and walked away to the window where he stood looking out
into the darkness. "The devil--the devil!" he murmured to himself; "she
does n't even know we are to be married--Gordon has n't been able to
trust himself to tell her!" And this fact seemed pregnant with evidence
as to Gordon's state of mind; it did not appear to simplify the
situation. After a moment, while Bernard stood there with his back
turned--he felt rather awkward and foolish--he heard Blanche begin with
her little surprised voice.

"Ah, you are going away? You are going to travel? But that 's charming;
we can travel together. You are not going to travel? What then are you
going to do? You are going back to America? Ah, but you must n't do
that, as soon as I come abroad; that 's not nice or friendly, Mrs.
Vivian, to your poor little old Blanche. You are not going back to
America? Ah, then, I give it up! What 's the great mystery? Is it
something about Angela? There was always a mystery about Angela. I hope
you won't mind my saying it, my dear; but I was always afraid of you.
My husband--he admires you so much, you know--has often tried to explain
you to me; but I have never understood. What are you going to do now?
Are you going into a convent? Are you going to be--A-a-h!"

And, suddenly, quickly, interrupting herself, Mrs. Gordon gave a long,
wondering cry. Bernard heard her spring to her feet, and the two other
ladies rise from their seats. Captain Lovelock got up as well; Bernard
heard him knock over his little gilded chair. There was a pause, during
which Blanche went through a little mute exhibition of amazement and
pleasure. Bernard turned round,