oves. Her brother took note of this.

"You had better sit," he murmured.

"I will not! In this room--you know I have never sat here since----
You know the vow I made. And why."

"I know, my sister, I know. Nevertheless, sit now."

Father Rielle turned half round. "Sit, my daughter. It will not be
for long."

And from Dr. Renaud came the sharp order: "Sit--at once."

Overruled, but with annoyance and aversion in every movement, Pauline
took madame's chair.

"I cannot stay--I mean--I cannot stay long. Oh--Henry, why have you
brought me here? I can do you no good, and the sight of you will do me
harm, it always does!"

This outburst was more natural to her stormy temperament than her
previous rigidity; her hands clasped and unclasped, while the frown
between her eyes, almost the shape of a barred gate, broke up as a few
wild tears fell upon her lap. Clairville, for his part, though a dying
man, showed resolution and calm obstinacy.

"You ask that question--and yet you profess to know why I sent for you?
If you do not come to me of your goodwill, I must send for you, that is
clear. You are hearing nothing of me, for I have been too long a dead
man to the world, but I continue to hear much of you. This
marriage--is it true?"

"I was coming to you," she said hastily, and with evasion; "I had made
arrangements so that when I leave Canada for good I shall have nothing
to reproach myself for."

"I ask--and see that you answer--you are going to be married?"

With an uneasy glance at the priest, Miss Clairville murmured: "Yes".
Then louder, as if in an effort to assert herself: "It is to Mr.
Hawtree, an old friend, your friend. There is nothing new or
surprising, nothing peculiar in that. Only what is new is this--that
he will not have to work, that he has come into some money, that we can
go away and live in other places; live indeed how or where we like.
Henry--think what that will do for me! Think how it will change all my
life and how at last I shall realize my dreams, if not fulfil my
ambitions! And then I may be able to help you too, perhaps--and--and
Angeel. That is--I am not sure of this, but I shall try and do so."

Clairville seemed to be endeavouring to look at his sister more closely.

"I cannot hear you very well. Will you approach the bed, Pauline? I
am feeble, you see--I am----" Terrible coughing now interrupted him,
and he called upon the doctor.

"Renaud!" he gasped. "Where i