res, and
soon began to show something of her usual lightness of heart. Harry,
however, though most tender and affectionate, seemed changed, and the
change was soon detected by Katie's quick perception.

"What is the matter with you?" she asked. "You don't seem glad at all."

"Oh yes," said Harry. "I'm very glad indeed."

He spoke in a doleful tone of voice, which was by no means in accord with
his words.

"Your voice don't sound very glad," said Katie, reproachfully, "and you
look troubled. You are so preoccupied that you can't say anything. But I
suppose you feel the effects of that awful scene--and oh, how awful it
was!"

Katie relapsed into silence, and Harry felt somewhat relieved; for in
truth he was preoccupied, and had much on his mind.

It was the thought of Talbot that filled his mind. It was she whom he had
seen in that priest's disguise. It was his affianced bride whom he had
lost, and now at last found! Found! Great Heaven! and here! and thus!
Here--when he was here ready to die for Katie; when he was now with Katie,
who had turned to him from all the world!

Was he a man of honor? Honor! The name now seemed a mockery. Which way
would honor impel him? To give up Katie? What! when she had given up all
for him? What! when he had fought a mortal quarrel with Ashby for her?
Honor! Was not honor due to Ashby? and had he not been a traitor to his
friend?

There was this fight yet before him, and it would be soon; for Ashby was
free. A fight for Katie! And Talbot was here! She would know all. And
she--she who had come all the way from England, who had found him not, who
had imagined herself deserted--she would learn of his perfidy. The thought
was horrible.

Upon such agonizing thoughts as these came Katie's question,

"Why are you so sad?"

Harry sighed.

"I'm thinking of Ashby," said he. "He's free now. He'll soon be seeking
you."

At this Katie tapped her foot nervously.

"Well," said she, "if you are thinking of him it's very bad taste to say
so. I wasn't thinking of him at all."

But this remark seemed to set Katie off thinking about Ashby, for she too
seemed preoccupied.

"I think it's a great shame," said she.

"What?"

"Why, for Mr. Ashby to come bothering me just now."

Harry said nothing, and they both relapsed once more into silence.

The harder task was before Harry. There were two for him to face. One, the
friend to whom he had been traitor; the other, his betrothed, to whom