you not?"

"No, no; the doctor said you required meat at least three times a week,
if we could get it; it will do you more good than any thing else in
restoring your strength."

"And yet we are in debt, Lenora!"

"Come, come, father, let our debts alone, everybody will be paid and
satisfied. Don't trouble yourself about them any more: I'll answer for
them all. And now be so good as to take your papers off of the table, so
that I can lay the cloth."

De Vlierbeck got up and did as he was asked. Lenora covered the
deal-boards with a snowy napkin and placed on it two plates and a dish
of potatoes. It was indeed an humble table, at which all was extremely
common; yet every thing was so neat, fresh, and savory, that a rich man
might have sat down to it with appetite. They took their places and
asked a blessing on the meal; but, before the prayer was finished,
Lenora started suddenly and interrupted her father. With eyes staring
toward the door and head leaned forward, she listened eagerly, motioning
her father with her hand to be silent.

There was a sound of footsteps and voices on the staircase, and, as they
approached, Lenora thought she recognised the tones. She bounded to the
door with a sharp cry, and, closing it, leaned against the boards to
prevent any one from entering.

"For God's sake, child, what are you afraid of?" cried her father.

"GUSTAVE! GUSTAVE!" whispered Lenora, with pale and quivering lips. "He
is there! he is there! I hear him. Take away that table quickly. Of all
the world he is the last who should see our misery!"

De Vlierbeck's face grew dark, his head became erect and fierce, and his
eyes flashed with their ancient fire. Advancing silently to his
daughter, he drew her from the door. Lenora fled to a corner of the
room, and covered her face, which was red with mortification.

Suddenly the door opened, and a young man rushed into the chamber with
an exclamation of joy as he advanced, open-armed, toward the trembling
girl, whom he would have pressed to his breast had not the hand and look
of her father arrested his steps.

For a moment he stood like one stupefied, glancing from the wretched
board to the miserable dress of the old man and his daughter. The sight
affected the intruder, for he covered his eyes as he exclaimed, in
subdued and despairing tones, "Oh, God! has it come to this?"

But he did not allow himself to remain long under the influence either
of his feelings or of her f