there had
been a momentary yielding upon Violet's part, though there was some
doubt as to just what she had intended to do, and she was determined to
make it count if she could do so by any means, legitimate or otherwise.

"Don't be cross with me, Belle," Violet pleaded, with a quivering lip,
"for I really cannot remember. Lord Cameron was so kind, so generous,
and I began to say something to him--I don't know what--when I felt
queer and knew nothing more until I awoke and found you here."

Mrs. Mencke saw her advantage in all this, and did not fail to make the
most of it.

"Well, you must have given him to understand that you accepted him, for
he told me that he had won you, and now I hope we shall not have any
more nonsense about the matter. Lord Cameron is too good to be trifled
with. You have given your promise, and must stand by it," she concluded,
in an authoritative tone.

"Yes, if I have promised, I suppose--I must," gasped unhappy Violet, and
then fainted away again.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE DAY IS SET FOR VIOLET'S MARRIAGE.

Mrs. Mencke privately informed Lord Cameron that Violet had acknowledged
the engagement, and would see him again when she was a little stronger.

His lordship thanked her with a beaming face, and tried to think that he
was the happiest man on the Continent, but there was, nevertheless, an
aching void in his heart that could not be fully satisfied with the
result of his wooing.

The morning following his betrothal he sent Violet an exquisite bouquet
composed of blue and white bell-flowers, cape jasmine, and box, which
breathed to the young girl, who was versed in the language of flowers,
of gratitude, constancy, and joyfulness of heart.

She turned white and faint again at the sight of them, and a
broken-hearted sob burst from her lips.

"Did I promise? did I promise?" she moaned. "I do not remember; but if
he says I did, it must be so, for I know that he is too noble to deceive
me. I wish I could die! for it seems like sacrilege to become Lord
Cameron's wife when my heart is so filled with the image of another."

Mrs. Mencke came in and found her in tears, and was secretly very much
annoyed, besides being a trifle conscience-smitten over the strategy
which she had employed to bring about this longed-for marriage. But she
exerted herself to amuse her troublesome invalid, while she told herself
that she should consider it a lucky day when she got her off her hands
altogeth