"

"I know--I feel that, Bessie; but just let things go on! Perhaps I am
asleep and dreaming, but the slumber is pleasant, so don't wake me; it's
cruel kindness, dear."

Elizabeth said nothing more; it was useless to pursue the subject; where
Tom was concerned she saw plainly that it could do no good, his heart
was fixed.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

LURED INTO DANGER.

Just as Elizabeth was thinking over this conversation, and giving
another little sigh for Tom and what she feared for him, a blithe young
voice rang in the hall, carolling like a bird.

"There she is!" exclaimed Tom.

His face lighted up, his whole frame seemed to expand with delight.
Elizabeth watched him. She knew better than ever that his heartstrings
were twined about that young creature, that his very soul had gone out
in worship at her feet.

"And where are you hidden, Lady Bess?" sang Elsie, gayly.

Tom rushed to the door and flung it open, upsetting the table again, and
this time leaving Elizabeth to pick it up herself.

"Here she is, my fairy princess!" he called, standing in the doorway and
looking up at her as she paused on the stairs.

"In that dismal den and guarded by a dragon," cried Elsie, peeping at
him through the banisters, mischievously. "Pray where did you come from,
C[oe]ur de Lion?"

"If you knew what I had brought for my lady-bird, you would be on your
prettiest behavior and give me your best welcome," said Tom.

"It's bon-bons!" cried Elsie with a shriek of delight. "The ogre means
pralines and caramels and marons glaces!"

"Come down and see," said Tom, mysteriously.

Elsie danced downstairs and entered the room where her sister sat.

"Ugh, the ugly place!" said she. "It makes me shiver!"

"Better come into the den than lose the sweets," said Tom, opening the
papers and pretending to eat greedily.

"He won't leave a drop!" cried Elsie, darting upon him.

Tom prolonged the playful struggle artfully enough; and when a truce was
concluded it was only on condition that he should feed her with the
sugarplums, and as he did not satisfy her greediness fast enough, there
was a great deal of sport and laughter between the pair.

Elizabeth sat in the window and watched them, sighing sometimes and
regarding Elsie with a strange pain in her eyes, as if annoyed and
troubled that the happy creature could not leave her the full affection
of this one heart.

"I want to go out on the water," said Elsie. "Will you take me,