there was called "Long Island," and the other, with
scarcely any trees, "Spate" or "Spirit Island," because it was the
burying-ground of the Indians. Another was "Sheepback," from its shape,
and full of poisoned ivy, which, if accidentally touched, infected the
blood, and caused swelling like erysipelas.

The younger ones, with Cecil and Bluebell, were too restless to stay
in the lamp-lit room they had supped in, but wandered about, finally
settling in the long drawing-room, where they could watch from the
windows the moon silvering the lake, and the antlered furniture throwing
strange shadows on the floor.

Then Bluebell sang the "Lorelei," and Cecil invented legends for the
lake, till, their rooms being at last prepared, the old nurse swooped
down on her charges, and bore them away from the domain of Undines to
that of Nod.

Colonel Rolleston had soon exhausted the resources of his new purchase,
and duck-shooting having not yet begun, he went down to Quebec, taking
Cecil with him, for an excursion up the Saguenay. She was rather
unwilling to go, for, though the elders got tired of a place without
roads, she was perfectly content to be all day long in her canoe,
fishing, sketching, reading, or picnicing with the children on the
island. But perhaps her strongest reason for not wishing to absent
herself was the continual expectation of Du Meresq's appearance.

They had had no tidings of him since they had settled at the lake; but
nearly all Bertie's advents were sudden and without warning. From her
nook in the gable she commanded the hotel landing, and few boats left it
without being reconnoitred through Cecil's binocular.

But then the Colonel wanted a companion, and was convinced it would be
delightful for Cecil; so she prepared to go with well-assumed expressions
of pleasure, devoutly hoping that no such _contretemps_ as Bertie wasting
any days of his leave by coming in her absence might befall.

To be sure, as she was in correspondence with him, nothing, apparently,
was easier than to mention her intended trip, which, of course, would
prevent his choosing that time to come to the lake; but it happened that
Cecil had written last, and since a certain fatal speech, which even now
maddened her to remember, she had been very particularly careful to let
him make all the running. Still, not wishing to be left in the dark
should he arrive during her absence, she said, carelessly,--"I hope,
mamma, you will write now a