l figure floated before him like
a vision, a deep, despairing melancholy settled on his heart, and he
murmured to himself, "To-morrow she expects him!" But with desperate
determination he continued to himself, "Well, then, woe to him if I
find him going astray!"

* * * * *

CHAPTER X.

AN UNEXPECTED ALLY.

Thanks to Bertram's forethought and caution, he had succeeded in
restoring Elise to her father's house, without her absence having been
remarked, or having occasioned any surmise. In the close carriage in
which they performed the journey home, they had not exchanged a word;
but leaning hack on the cushions, each had rest and repose after the
stormy and exciting scenes they had just passed through. Elise's hand
still rested on Bertram's, perhaps unconsciously, perhaps because she
had not the courage to withdraw it from him to whom she owed so much
gratitude.

Bertram felt the feverish warmth of this trembling hand, and as he
looked at her and remarked the paleness of her cheeks, the painful
twitching of her lips, he was overcome by a feeling of deep
wretchedness, of pitying sadness, and was obliged to turn his head
away to conceal his tears from her.

When the carriage stopped, and he accompanied her into the house,
Elise pressed his hand more firmly, and turned her gaze upon him
with a look of deep gratitude, which made his heart palpitate with a
mixture of delight and anguish. He wished to withdraw, he wished to
let her hand go, but she held his still more firmly clasped, and drew
him gently up the steps. Powerless with emotion, he followed her.

As they entered the hall which led to her room, she cast a searching
look around to see if any one were present, and perceiving that
they two were alone, she turned toward Bertram with an indescribable
expression. She tried to speak, but the words died on her lips, a deep
glow suffused her cheeks, and completely overpowered, and giddy
from the tumult of her feelings, she leaned her head on her friend's
shoulder.

Gently he passed his arm around her delicate, trembling figure, and
his eyes beamed with a pure emotion. In the depth of his heart he
renewed to God and himself his vow of fidelity and self-sacrificing
love to this poor girl who lay on his bosom like a drooping flower.

Suddenly she raised her head, her face wet with tears and convulsed
with deep feeling. "Bertram," she said, "I know that I am not worthy
of your no