im every penny I
possess to carry him safely through. Oh, I am so glad he is coming
to-night!"

"Come down to supper," called Mrs. Muir.

"Why, Madge," exclaimed the lady, as they sat down under the light of
the chandelier, "how flushed you are! And your eyes fairly beam with
excitement. I half believe you are feverish."

"Nonsense! No doses for me now; milk and beefsteak are my remedies.
I've been dwelling on some scenes partly imaginary, and you know how
wrought-up I get."

"Oh, yes; now I remember, you asked Miss Thompson for a book, and went
for it to her room. Of course that was the last seen of you. I never
could get so carried away by a story."

"I haven't your even disposition, Mary."

"Miss Wildmere looks brilliant to-night, also. And if there isn't her
father! This is the first time I've seen him up during the week. Well,
I'm glad to see that his daughter can wake up a little for his sake, a
well as for some other man."

Madge looked at her with mingled curiosity and repugnance. "Horrid
little monster!" she thought. "Now she is performing her filial act.
As her father said, 'such high-toned people should not be misjudged.'"

"I think you dislike her worse than Henry does," said Mrs. Muir, with
a low laugh. "You look at her as if she were a snake."

"She is not a girl after my heart," Madge replied, carelessly; then
added, under her breath, "She's a vampire, but she shan't drain
Graydon's life-blood."

Miss Wildmere was certainly in a genial mood. The munificent offer
received from Mr. Arnault had enhanced her self-appreciation, and she
felt that she had met it with rare nerve and sagacity. She had not
shown herself dazzled like a village girl, and eager to grasp the
prize. Moreover, she had thought, with proud complacency: "The man who
can offer so much is not going to give me up, even should I keep him
waiting months longer. I still believe that Graydon can give me all
I want at present, and at the same time a position in society which
Arnault could never attain, though worth millions. Arnault is on top
of the wave now, but he is a speculator, like papa, and I'm sick
of these Wall Street ups and downs. I believe in Henry Muir's
conservatism. Because he is keeping quiet now they think he is going
to fail. He is just the kind of man to be five times as rich as people
think. Graydon will succeed to his business and business methods, and
will not only make an immense fortune, but keep it. Papa has gi