s sake don't let her think anything is wrong. I am
going to find Grant; wait here."

She ran out of the room, and Elizabeth stood thinking over her words.

Very soon perhaps the whole world would know that she was a lost, ruined
woman, without a home, a friend, or even a name.

Could she bear up; could she find strength to go on to the end and not
die till then?

The hardness and desperation died out of her face; she fell to her
knees, and a prayer for help rose to her lips; low and faint, but
intense with agony.

She heard steps in the hall; they were coming for her. She sprang to her
feet, moved towards the door and opened it; her husband, Elsie and their
guest were there. She answered Mrs. Harrington's careless words; passed
on with them through the hall, and took her misery out into the world as
we all do so often, hidden carefully in the depths of a tortured soul.

At dinner that day Elizabeth met two or three superior people from the
city, men and women of note, whose presence at the board was like meteor
flashes--kindling everything with brilliancy; but among the most
cheerful and most witty this wretched woman shone forth preeminent.
Every word she spoke carried electric fire with it. Her cheeks were
scarlet; her eyes radiant. The lips that had been so pale in her
husband's presence a few hours before, glowed like ripe cherries with
the sunshine upon them. In her desperation she was inspired, and kindled
every mind around her with enthusiasm.

CHAPTER LI.

THE OLD CEDAR TREE.

Immediately after breakfast the next morning, Mrs. Harrington returned
to the city, perhaps glad to escape from the unnatural mental atmosphere
of the house, certainly much to the relief of all the inmates of the
dwelling.

Grantley Mellen drove his guest down to the railway train. The moment
they departed Elizabeth and Elsie, as if by a common impulse, started in
a different direction, apparently anxious not to be left alone with each
other.

Elsie was passing through the hall when her brother drove up to the
door. She stopped him after he got out of the carriage for a few
moments' trifling conversation, then allowed him to pass on towards the
library.

As the girl fluttered back towards the veranda, she saw old Jarvis
Benson approaching the house, and hurried out.

"Oh, Jarvis, I wanted to see you."

Jarvis took the pipe out of his mouth, regarded her complacently, and
answered:

"Then thar's a pair on you, M