the picture-gallery the young artist,
in compliance with an invitation of Lord Ridsdale, came over to Thorpe
Castle. Long before he came Marion had grown sick of the deception and
weary of the chains that bound her.

She was naturally so frank, so open, that the need for concealment
troubled her greatly. She had the warmest affection for Lady Ridsdale.
She would have liked above all things to have trusted and confided in
her. It was torture to the girl to think that she was helping others to
keep secret from her that which she ought to know. She shrank from Miss
Lyster. She no longer cared to be beguiled by long walks in the
shrubbery, to hear nothing but praises of "my brother," and the oft-told
tale of his love for her. Association with refined, honorable,
high-minded people was doing its work with her; anything approaching
deceit, falsehood or meanness revolted her.

Those were not the best possible dispositions in which Allan could find
her. He had not reckoned upon these better influences; he had not
thought that when she came to contrast his behavior with that of others
she would see how deficient in all honor and manliness it had been; he
trusted to the glamor of love, and behold! there had been no love on her
part; nothing but gratified vanity.

He was very pleased to go to Thorpe Castle--he thought nothing would
advance his cause more than for her to meet him among her own class,
meet him as her equal in some respects, if not in all.

"I am so happy," said Adelaide Lyster to her on the morning of the day
on which he was expected. "I am so very happy, Marion, and you"--

But no answering enthusiasm shone in Miss Arleigh's face, and Adelaide
noticed it.

"Allan will enjoy himself so much here," she continued. "Ah! Marion, the
sight of you will be like sunshine to flowers to him."

But Miss Arleigh did not look delighted; she was thinking more of how
she could keep such a secret from her good, kind guardians than of any
pleasure in meeting her lover.

He came; she lingered by Lady Ridsdale's side during his reception. The
thought did certainly pass through Lord Ridsdale's mind that Allan
Lyster was very young and very handsome to be drawing-master of a young
ladies' school; but not for the world would he have breathed such a
thought to any one living, lest it should injure him. Lord Ridsdale was
courtesy itself to his young guest. He pointed out to him the finest
pictures; he took him over the woods to s