forever
unattainable!"

"Oh, mother, I never once dreamed of such presumption as to think
of--of"--The youth paused and a deep blush again overspread his face.

"I know you have not indulged presumptuous thoughts as yet, my boy, and
it is to warn you against them, while yet your heart is in some measure
within your own keeping, that I speak to you. Indulge your imagination
in no more sweet reveries about Miss Day, for the end thereof will be
bitter humiliation and disappointment. Remember also that in so doing
you would indulge a sort of treachery against your patron, who in his
great faith in your integrity has received you in the bosom of his
family and admitted you to an almost brotherly intimacy with his
daughter. Honor his trust in you, and treat his daughter with the
distant respect due to a princess."

"I will, mother! It will be hard, but I will! Oh, an hour ago I did not
dream how miserable I should be now!" said Traverse, in a choking voice.

"Because I have pointed out to you the gulf toward which you were
walking blindfolded!"

"I know it! I know it now, mother," said Traverse, as he arose and
pressed his mother's hand and hurried to his own room.

The poor youth did his best to follow out the line of conduct prescribed
for him by his mother. He devoted himself to his studies and to the
active service of his patron. He avoided Clara as much as possible, and
when obliged to be in her company, he treated her with the most
respectful reserve.

Clara saw and wondered at his change of manner, and began to cast about
in her own mind for the probable cause of his conduct.

"I am the young mistress of the house," said Clara to herself, "and I
know I owe to every inmate of it consideration and courtesy; perhaps I
may have been unconsciously lacking in these toward Traverse, whose
situation would naturally render him very sensitive to neglect. I must
endeavor to convince him that none was intended." And so resolving,
Clara redoubled all her efforts to make Traverse, as well as others,
happy and comfortable.

But happiness and comfort seemed for the time to have departed from the
youth. He saw her generous endeavors to cheer him, and while adoring her
amiability, grew still more reserved.

This pained the gentle girl, who, taking herself seriously to task,
said:

"Oh, I must have deeply wounded his feelings in some unconscious way!
And if so, how very cruel and thoughtless of me! How could I have done
i