-what folly!"

But she was trembling so violently, that they forced her to lie down
again.

"Stay with her, Elsie," said the widow, "I will go and see how we are to
get home."

She went out of the room, and in the hall encountered the gentleman just
as she had expected.

She overwhelmed him with protestations of gratitude, to which he
listened with no great appearance of interest, though Mrs. Harrington
was too completely dazzled by his brilliant appearance and manner to
perceive the absent, preoccupied way in which he received her.

"I don't know how we are to get home," she said.

"Your coachman has engaged a carriage from the hotel-keeper," he
replied; "it will be ready in a few moments. Your own horses are not
hurt, luckily."

"I don't know what Mr. Mellen will say!" she exclaimed. "He warned me
not to keep the horses."

The stranger turned quickly toward her, with a sudden flush on his face.

"May I know whom I have had the pleasure of assisting?" he asked.

"I am Mrs. Harrington," she replied, "of ---- street. I am so--"

"And your friends?"

"Miss Mellen, the sister of Grantley Mellen; and the other lady is his
betrothed wife."

"She! That--"

"Yes, yes! Dear me, if any accident had occurred, how terrible it would
have been! They are to be married next week," continued the widow,
hurriedly. "Mr. Mellen is out of town, and will not be back till just
before his wedding. Oh, I shudder to think! Dear, dear sir, how can I
thank you!"

The servant came up that moment to say that a carriage was ready to take
the ladies back to the city, and the gentleman escaped from her flood of
meaningless gratitude.

Mrs. Harrington ran back to call her friends, and found Elizabeth quite
composed and strong again.

"He's the most magnificent creature!" exclaimed the widow. "And you
don't know him, Elizabeth?"

"Have I not said so? Come, Elsie."

As she passed into the hall, Elizabeth hurried on, leaving Mrs.
Harrington to repeat her thanks, and Elsie to utter a few low, and
apparently thankful words, to which he listened with more interest than
he had done to all the widow's raptures.

They were in the carriage: the door closed; the stranger gave his
parting bow, Elizabeth leaned further back in her seat, and they drove
on, leaving him standing in the road.

"His name is North," said Mrs. Harrington. "Such an adventure! What will
Mr. Mellen say?"

"We won't tell him yet," Elsie replied; "it would only f