hing of Mr. Hayne's being here to tea
with us: so I must tell her and avert disaster."

And with this barefaced--statement on her lips and conscience, where it
rested with equal lightness, that exemplary lady quitted the room. In
the sanctity of the connubial chamber that evening, some hours later,
she thus explained her action to her silent spouse:

"Right or wrong, I meant that those two young people should have a
chance to know each other. I have been convinced for three weeks that
she is being forced into this New York match, and for the last week that
she is wretchedly unhappy. You say you believe him a wronged and injured
man, only you can't prove it, and you have said that nothing could be
too good for him in this life as a reward for all his bravery and
fortitude under fearful trials. Then Nellie Travers isn't too good for
him, sweet as she is, and I don't care who calls me a matchmaker."

But with Mrs. Waldron away the two appeared to have made but halting
progress towards friendship. With all her outspoken pluck at school and
at home, Miss Travers was strangely ill at ease and embarrassed now. Mr.
Hayne was the first to gain self-control and to endeavor to bring the
conversation back to a natural channel. It was a struggle; but he had
grown accustomed to struggles. He could not imagine that a girl whom he
had met only once or twice should have for him anything more than the
vaguest and most casual interest. He well knew by this time how deep and
vehement was the interest she had aroused in his heart; but it would
never do to betray himself so soon. He strove to interest her in
reference to the music she would hear, and to learn from her where they
were going. This she answered. They would go no farther East than St.
Louis or Chicago. They might go South as far as Nashville until mid-May.
As for the summer, it would depend on the captain and his leave of
absence. It was all vague and unsettled. Mrs. Rayner was so wretched
that her husband was convinced that she ought to leave for the States as
soon as possible, and of course "she" must go with her. All the
gladness, brightness, vivacity he had seen and heard of as her marked
characteristics seemed gone; and, yet, she wanted to speak with
him,--wanted to be with him. What could be wrong? he asked himself. It
was not until Mrs. Waldron's step was heard returning that she nerved
herself to sudden, almost desperate, effort. She startled him with her
vehemence: