with Dolly before her father got back from
meeting.

"She is such a true-hearted, honest girl," said he to himself, "she 'll
not be able to hide the fact from me; and I will ask her flatly, Is this
so? was it not on my account you left the place?"

All was still and quiet at the minister's cottage, and Tony raised the
latch and walked through the little passage into the parlor unseen. The
parlor, too, was empty. A large old Bible lay open on the table, and
beside it a handkerchief--a white one--that he knew to be Dolly's. As
he looked at it, he bethought him of one Alice had given him once as a
keepsake; he had it still. How different that fragment of gossamer with
the frill of rich lace from this homely kerchief! Were they not almost
emblems of their owners? and if so, did not his own fortunes rather
link him with the humbler than with the higher? With one there might be
companionship; with the other, what could it be but dependence?

While he was standing thus thinking, two ice-cold hands were laid over
his eyes, and he cried out. "Ay, Dolly, those frozen fingers are yours;"
and as he removed her hands, he threw one arm round her waist, and,
pressing her closely to him, he kissed her.

"Tony, Tony!" said she, reproachfully, while her eyes swam in two heavy
tears, and she turned away.

"Come here and sit beside me, Dolly. I want to ask you a question, and
we have n't much time, for the doctor will be here presently, and I am
so fretted and worried thinking over it that I have nothing left but to
come straight to yourself and ask it."

"Well, what is it?" said she, calmly.

"But you will be frank with me, Dolly,--frank and honest, as you always
were,--won't you?"

"Yes, I think so," said she, slowly.

"Ay, but you must be sure to be frank, Dolly, for it touches me very
closely; and to show you that you may, I will tell you a secret, to
begin with. Your father has had a letter from that Mrs. M'Gruder, where
you lived."

"From her?" said Dolly, growing so suddenly pale that she seemed about
to faint; "are you sure of this?"

"My mother saw it; she read part of it, and here 's what it
implies,--that it was all my fault--at least, the fault of knowing
me--that cost you your place. She tells, not very unfairly, all things
considered, about that unlucky night when I came under the windows and
had that row with her husband; and then she hints at something, and I'll
be hanged if I can make out at what; and if my