in the same afternoon they consulted the wishes of their young
ward, who emphatically declared in favor of Blue Cliff Hall as her
temporary home.

The next morning Mr. Lyle and Mr. Brent took leave of the ladies and
returned to Wendover, where the Californian again became the inmate of
the minister's home.

But both gentlemen continued to be frequent visitors at Blue Cliff Hall.

On the Monday following the funeral the work was recommenced on the old
mansion and went rapidly on--the three ladies, Mrs. Fanning, Laura
Lytton and Electra, moving from one part of the house to another as the
improvements progressed.

Six weeks after this they received the first cargo of new furniture for
the drawing-rooms, which were ready for it.

And as the work went on, from room to room, they received more furniture
to fit them up.

At the end of three months the work was completed within and without.

And the fine old mansion, thoroughly remodeled and refurnished,
presented as elegant and attractive an appearance as any modern palace
in the whole country.

And then, when all was ready for the returning bride and bridegroom,
Mrs. Fanning received a letter from them informing her that on the
Saturday following the date of that letter they were to embark on board
the steamship "Amazon," bound from Liverpool to New York, and they
expected to be at Blue Cliffs two weeks from the day of embarkation.

Yes, the happy young pair were on their way home, unconscious of the
horrible pitfall that had been dug to receive them!

CHAPTER XLIV.

WEDDINGS AND WEDDING RECEPTIONS.

What do you think of marriage?
I take it as those who deny purgatory.
It locally contains or heaven or hell:
There is no third place in it.
--WEBSTER.

It was a beautiful day near the last of May, and the scenery all around
Blue Cliff Hall was glorious with sunshine, bloom and verdure.

A happy party of friends was assembled at the Hall that day for a double
purpose--to meet the returning bridegroom and bride, who were expected
to arrive that evening, and to assist at their wedding reception, which
was to be further graced by two new bridals the next morning; for it had
been arranged by correspondence that Stephen Lyle and Laura Lytton and
Joseph Brent and Electra Coroni should be married on that occasion.

All was ready: the house newly-restored, decorated and furnished, the
rooms aired and adorned wi