off without her. Both mothers looked after them with great satisfaction,
and the governor's wife whispered to Susannah: "Before the judges
to-day, but ere long, please God, before the altar at Church!"

To reach the hall of judgment they could go either through the house or
round it. If the more circuitous route were chosen, it lay first through
the garden; and this was the course taken by Orion. He had made a very
great effort in the presence of the ladies to remain master of the
agitation that possessed him; he saw that the battle he had begun, and
from which he, at any rate, could not and would not now retire, was
raging more and more fiercely, obliging him to drag the young creature
who must become his wife--the die was already cast--into the course of
crime he had started on.

When he had agreed with his mother that he was not to prefer his suit
for Katharina till the following day, he had hoped to prove to her in
the interval that this little thing was no wife for him; and now--oh!
Irony of Fate--he found himself compelled to the very reverse of what he
longed to do: to fight the woman he loved--Yes, still loved--as if she
were his mortal foe, and pay his court to the girl who really did not
suit him. It was maddening, but inevitable; and once more spurring
himself with the word "Onwards!" he flung himself into the
accomplishment of the unholy task of subduing the inexperienced child
at his elbow into committing even a crime for his sake. His heart was
beating wildly; but no pause, no retreat was possible: he must conquer.
"Onwards, then, onwards!"

When they had passed out of the light of the lamps into the shade he
took his young companion's slender hand-thankful that the darkness
concealed his features--and pressed the delicate fingers to his lips.

"Oh!--Orion!" she exclaimed shyly, but she did not resist.

"I only claim my due, sunshine of my soul!" he said insinuatingly. "If
your heart beat as loud as mine, our mothers might hear them!"

"But it does!" she joyfully replied, her curly head bent on one side.

"Not as mine does," he said with a sigh, laying her little hand on his
heart. He could do so in all confidence, for its spasmodic throbbing
threatened to suffocate him.

"Yes indeed," she said. "It is beating..."

"So that they can hear it indoors," he added with a forced laugh. "Do
you think your dear mother has not long since read our feelings?"

"Of course she has," whispered Katharina. "I ha