who has
applied to me for assistance; but he understands all that, so you need
not be at, any trouble to explain. Be quiet, Franklin, in removing it,
as Evelyn is very nervous to-day, and dislikes noise; and go with the
drayman yourself to insure its safe delivery."

So passed my first lesson in deception, but I schooled lip and eye to
obedience, so that Franklin suspected nothing, and, being a discreet
servant, who never let his right hand know what his left was doing,
especially when gold crossed the palm, I was sure of silence on the
subject, at least until after my own departure.

Mabel and I dined _tete-a-tete_ at two; I had caused dinner to be served
earlier than usual for my own convenience, though indeed I found it a
mere form--for how could I swallow a morsel, choked as I was with grief,
while the fair child I worshipped, yet was forsaking, sat so calmly and
unconsciously in my sight!

After dinner I sought Mrs. Austin, leading Mabel by the hand. I had been
kissing her, almost wildly, every foot of the way up-stairs, and she
gazed on me, I could not help perceiving, with a sort of fond surprise,
for it was not my habit to lavish such passionate caresses, even on her,
without occasion.

"I am obliged to go out now," I said, in a broken voice, which I vainly
tried to command. "Take our darling, Mrs. Austin, and keep her very
safely until I come again. Promise me this!" I added, eagerly seizing
her hand.

"La! Miss Miriam, what's the use of promising for one afternoon, when I
have taken the best of care of her all her life? You act so singularly
to-day!" she added, pettishly, and she began to smooth Mabel's hair,
grumblingly. I turned away without another word, murmuring blessings in
my heart on that dear head.

There was no time to be lost now! The carriage was already at the door
of the Mansion House to convey us to the steamboat when I reached it,
and Colonel La Vigne standing, rather anxiously, on the pavement,
looking up and down.

"I was afraid you had rued your promise and were not coming," said
Marion, springing forth from the door-way eagerly, to greet me.

"And we had forgotten to ask your address," added Madame La Vigne, "or
we might have called for you, and saved you a long walk, perhaps."

"We should not have carried off your trunk, even had you not appeared,
Miss Harz," said Colonel La Vigne, blandly. "There it is you see,
distinctly labeled, on the baggage-wagon in front, directed to the