rew,
leaving only Philip with a book in a distant corner "to play propriety,"
as he whispered to me on passing, with a mischievous glance at the
blushing Annie.

And now the reader doubtless thinks, that in the engraving prefixed to
this volume, he has a copy of the sketch made on this New-Year's
morning. In this, however, he deceives himself, for the work of this
morning amounted to the merest and most unfinished outline, which would
have stood for Zuleika as well as for Annie Donaldson. Yet instead of
one hour, Annie generously allowed Mr. Arlington nearly to triple the
time. How he was occupied during all this time, I cannot tell, though
that he did not spend all of it in drawing I had ocular demonstration.

Nearly three hours, as I have said, had passed since we left the
library, when, looking from my window, I saw Philip, returning to the
house on horseback. Having left in the library a book in which I was
much interested, I had been waiting somewhat impatiently for Annie's
appearance, to satisfy me that I might without intrusion return thither
for it. I now concluded, somewhat too hastily, as it afterwards proved,
from seeing Philip abroad, that the sitting was at an end, and
accordingly went for my book. I entered noiselessly, I suppose--I am
usually quiet in my movements--by a door directly opposite to the seat
which Mr. Arlington had arranged for himself, and behind the sofa on
which, at his desire, Annie had been seated when I left her. There still
was Mr. Arlington's seat, and before it a table with the drawing
materials and unfinished sketch, but Mr. Arlington was on the sofa
beside Annie. He was speaking, but in tones so low, that even had I
wished it, I could not have heard him; but the few seconds for which
surprise kept me chained to the spot, were sufficient to suggest the
subject of those murmured words. The reader will probably conjecture
that subject without aid from me, when I tell him what I saw. Of Annie,
as she sat with her back to me, I could only see the drooping head and
one crimson ear and cheek; Mr. Arlington's face was turned to her, and
was glowing with joy, and as it seemed to me with triumph. Before I had
turned away, he raised her hand to his lips. I saw that it rested
unresistingly in his clasp; and gliding through the door by which I
stood, I closed it softly and left them unconscious of my presence.

The invitations had been given for the early hour of half-past seven,
and at seve