Year: 1873

of Madame Roland with the dignity OF
Queen Elizabeth, addressed them:


"Children, ] asked you to wait because
1 wished to inform you of a new arrival. l
have been applied to by my friend, Mrs.
Sidney, to receive as parlor boarder the
daughter of Senator Evelyn, who desires to
have the advantage of musical and Italian
instructors in New York. Miss Evelyn
belongs to a very distinguished Boston
family, and l have no doubt that her
society will be an acquisition to all of usl
But wish you all to understand that there
must be no running freely into her cham
ber, or intruding upon her privacy, as she
will have nothing to do with the school or
rules. And now, children, prepare for your
walk with Madame Fanchon; donnez moi
la CARTE" The last remark was intended
for the servant, and, glancing down at the
card which bore Miss Evelyn's name, Miss
Hatherton prepared to descend, regardless
of morning-wrapper and soiled linen
Please have the weekly reports ready for
me on my return, Miss Dare" she said, as
she left the room.


With weary tired hand Cecil Dare
opened the book of marks, and sat down
to fill up the reports. She was used to the
treadmill now; but to-day her head ached
shockingly, the children in her department
had been especially trying, and she had in
dulged in a faint hope that Miss Hatherton
would assign her the duty Of walking with
the girls instead of madame.


Cecil was different looking being from
the one who had laughed and danced, the
gayest of her set that summer at Wacha-
hasset. The face was older, paler, and
more set in its severe outline; even in her
happy days she had been devoid of color,


but now the cheek was at times waxen in
its transparency, and the full lips a shade
less rosy. But the noble brow and deep
eyes were lovely as ever, and the purple


stuff dress fitted as trinity as the silks had


done, while the linen collar rolled back


from the beautiful slender throat, white as


of old.


1t was two years since she had accepted


a pOoltiOh dc bOttSiOl III 4illoo lldOhSl IOh o


school, three, since she Had broken her en-


gagement with Percie Lennox. Teaching


was her own choice, for both the Maxwells


and Dares were strongly opposed to it, and


had each offered her home. Perhaps she


might have accepted it but that it gave, her


too much time to think, for years had by


no means deadened that parting. Twice
since then letter had come for Cecil bear


ing the Lennox crest, and with trembling


hands she had locked them in her desk,


She did not dare to send them back, but
she was equally resolved not to let her
heart influence her now, when in trial
: and adversity, or bring Harold's vengeance
upon him by yielding to his pleading. And
stern and naughty as she had been in hei
defiance of Harold, she was yet woman
: enough not to wish to exasperate him
further therefore, when they met (as they
sometimes did at the Maxwells), she was
polite, but coldly Indifferent This behav
iour seemed unaccountable to her uncle
for after Commodore Dare's death, wher
{ Cecil's dependent condition became known
Harold had written an apparently generous
and ardent letter to Mr.. Maxwell, besech
ing his influence with Cecil. She received


the proposal with something very like


scorn, and the Maxwells were much an
, noyed at the refusal of so excellent
8 match. About eighteen months before
upon the occasion Of his mothers second
, marriage, Percie Lennox had accepted
diplomatic appointment, and it was previ
' Gus to his sailing for Vienna that his SECOND
? letter went to Cecil.


Cecil set at hen desk, working with me
: chanical precision and rapidity, until thu
i fading light rendered it impossible to con
: tinue the task, and then she sat still in tn,
a darkness thinking Her head ached to-
+ much to allow her ideas to go beyond TIN


mere physical pain, but even this was no
. to be long indulged, for presently granC
! disturbance rose suddenly in the hall. Firs
a one shrill voice, and then another unit


she began to think that all the FrencI
q servants in the house must be scolding to
8 gether and she rose and opened the door
a 1t was not totally dark in the vestibule, bu
f as the only light came from a burner OF
d the second fight above, it only served T.


"make darkness visible" AS far as Cecl
n could discern, three Of the servants wer


announcing their intention not to carry u
n another trunk, while the fourth stood o.
a the staircase explaining matters to littl