and with such sweet, seductive sweetness, if anything in his letters had put him out. 

"No," he would answer with a sigh. "Oh, no! There is nothing in my letters to annoy me--just the contrary. I ought to feel delighted. Sir Charles Pomfret wishes me to go over to Pomfort Castle for a few days; he has a fine large party there, and several of my old friends among them." 

"What a disappointment to you," she cried. "You must feel these things sorely." 

A frown instead of a smile passed over his face. 

I remember when he used to laugh, and say that it was a pleasure to give up anything to be with my mother. Now he began to pace up and down the room while she looked after him with pitiful eyes. Suddenly she rose, and, going up to him, laid her hand on his arm. She gazed earnestly into his face. 

"Why stay away, Sir Roland? I am sure you might go if you would. I will take care of Lady Tayne. I do not see that you need be anxious, or that there is the least need for giving up the party; let me persuade you to go." 

"It seems unkind to leave Lady Tayne," he said. "I have never left her for so long, and never alone." 

"If you will trust her to me, I will take the greatest care of her," said Miss Reinhart; "and I am sure, quite sure, that if Lady Tayne knew, she would insist on it--she would indeed. She would be the last to wish you to give up every pleasure for her sake." 

It was the thin end of the wedge, but she succeeded in driving it in. 

He went. It was the first time he had left my mother, but by no means the last. He went himself to tell her that he had decided on going. She was most amiable and unselfish, and told him what was perfectly true--that she was delighted, and that if he would begin to go out without her she would be most happy. I know that she was unselfishly glad, yet her sweet face was paler that night than usual; and once more I felt sure that there were tears in her eyes. 

My father's visit was prolonged for a whole week, and very much he enjoyed it. He wrote home every day; but it did not seem natural to me that Miss Reinhart should be waiting for him in the hall, or that he should tell her all about his visit long before he went to my mother's room.But it was so, and my poor, dear mother did not know it.

CHAPTER 

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