low, dreamy air, which stole into his heart
and riveted his laggard feet still more to the room where she was.

As he slowly turned away, she partly turned her head, and with unmoved
face watched his retreating figure. But when she noted his absent
manner, which she recalled so well; saw the pondering look on his face
when he picked up the book, which she knew he was not conscious of
holding; caught the tired droop of his shoulders, and the glint of
early grey hair at his temples, a pathetic expression stole about her
mouth, and she made a motion as though she would cease playing and go
over to him; but the bitterness was greater than the pity, and
conquering the impulse, she kept her seat and played on.

As he was closing the book it fell on the table. His eyes followed it
mechanically. "Yes," he went on presently, as though following out a
deep train of thought, "a frightful mistake, how could I have made
it?"

His restless fingers sought his watch-chain as he once more turned
toward the door. The notes from the piano were now getting faint, low
and irregular--her face was still turned in his direction.

As he was about to open the door, his attention was attracted by a
thermometer which hung there in a prettily worked frame. Taking it
down he looked at it for a space and then, unthinkingly, put it into
his pocket. As the door was closing behind him his lips again moved:
"Yes, a frightful, frightful mistake!"

She continued to play, her face turned toward the door; but the white
fingers were now straying very waveringly over the keys. Suddenly the
room was filled with a discordant jar--her arms were resting heavily
on the keys, her face buried in them, and her shoulders were heaving
in quick distress. If he had but come back then!

CHAPTER II.

ARCH-CONSPIRATORS.

When Mary Tiffin, who had been in the employ of the Townsleys ever
since their marriage, excitedly entered the parlor ten minutes after
the events narrated, it was empty. Mary was a comely maiden of
forty-three, of comfortable proportions and goodly to look upon. Her
cheeks were still attractively round; her glossy black hair was, with
much placidity, smoothed over her temples, cunningly brought above her
ears, and twisted in an alluring knot at the back of her head. Her
eyes were of that deep peculiar blue which generally is such a menace
to the peace of the sterner sex, and over which lovers are wont to
expatiate so tryingly to bosom fri