flashed before me like a living
panorama."

"Mother, how did this happen?" faltered Lina, trembling from head to
foot.

Mabel lifted her face, and saw how pale and troubled the young girl was.

"Sit down, darling, here at my feet, and I will tell you all. Move,
Fair-Star, and let your mistress sit down."

The beautiful Italian grey-hound that had been looking so wistfully at
his mistress all the morning, as if he knew all the risk she had run,
drew back from his place near the embroidered stool, and allowed Lina to
seat herself thereon. Then he stole back to his position, contrasting
the snowy folds of her morning-dress with the pretty scarlet housings,
edged with black velvet, which he always wore in chilly weather.

"Why, how you tremble! how white you are, Lina! and I was but just
thinking you neglectful."

"Neglectful--oh, mother!"

"Well, well, it was all a mistake, child; but what kept you from me so
long?"

"I went out to walk."

"What, after hearing of----"

"Oh! mamma, how can you think so? I have seen no one this morning."

"Then you knew nothing of this accident?" questioned Mabel,
thoughtfully.

"Indeed, indeed I did not. What could have kept me from your side, if I
had known? Oh, it was terrible! What must have become of us all had you
never returned--of me, of _him_?"

Lina could hardly speak, the whole thing had come upon her so suddenly,
but sat wistfully questioning her mother with those tender blue eyes.

Mabel told her all, even to the false illumination of the cedar tree,
and the appearance of Agnes Barker, like an evil shadow in the
firelight. All? no, no! The facts she related faithfully, but
feelings--those haunting spirits that fluttered in her heart even
yet--those Mabel Harrington could not have spoken aloud even to her God.

When Mabel had told all, Lina's face, that had been growing paler and
paler as the recital progressed, flushed with sudden thanksgiving; her
eyes filled with great bright drops, such as we see flash downward when
rain and sunshine strive together; and, creeping up to her mother's
bosom, she began to sob and murmur thanksgivings, breaking them up with
soft tender kisses, that went to Mabel's heart.

"You are glad to have me back again, my Lina?"

"Glad, mamma, glad? Oh, if I only knew how to thank God, as he should be
thanked!"

"I think you love me, Lina," answered Mabel, and her face was luminous
with that warm, tender light, which made her whole c