Calvert, with all his successes, is not half so
happy a fellow as mad Harry used to be without
a guinea."

"But you'll not leave us? You'll stay here
to-night?'"

"Pray excuse me. One of my objects—my
chief one—in coming over here, was to ask your
nieces' acceptance of some trinkets I had brought
for them. Perhaps this would not be a happy
moment to ask a favour at their hands, so pray
keep them over and make birthday presents of
them in my name. This is for Florence—this, I
hope Emily will not refuse."

"But do not go. I entreat you not to go. I
feel so certain that if you stay we shall all be
so happy together. There is so much, besides,
to talk over; and as to those beautiful things,
for I know they must be beautiful——"

"They are curious in their way," said he,
carelessly opening the clasp of one of the cases,
and displaying before her amazed eyes a
necklace of pearls and brilliants that a queen might
wear.

"Oh, Colonel Calvert, it would be impossible
for my niece to accept such a costly gift as
this. I never beheld anything so splendid in
my life."

"These ear-drops," he continued, "are
considered fine. They were said to belong to one
of the wives of the King of Delhi, and were
reputed the largest pearls in India."

"The girls must see them; though I protest
and declare beforehand nothing on earth should
induce us to accept them."

"Let them look well at them, then," said he,
"for when you place them in my hands again,
none shall ever behold them after."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I'll throw them into the lake
yonder. A rejected gift is too odious a memory
to be clogged with."

"You couldn't be guilty of such rash folly?"

"Don't you know well that I could? Is it
to-day or yesterday that the Calvert nature is
known to you? If you wish me to swear it, I
will do so; and, what is more, I will make you
stand by and see the water close over them."

"Oh, you are not changed—not in the least
changed," she cried, in a voice of real emotion.

"Only in some things, perhaps," said he,
carelessly. " By the way, this is a miniature
of me—was taken in India. It is a locket on
this side. Ask Emily to wear it, occasionally,
for my sake."

"How like; and what a splendid costume!"

"That was my dress in full state; but I prefer
my service uniform, and think it became me
better."

"Nothing could become you better than
this," said she, admiringly; and truly there was
good warrant for the admiration; " but even this
is covered with diamonds!"

"Only a circlet and my initials. It is of
small value. These are the baubles. Do what
you will with them; and now good-by. Tanti
salutì, as we used to say long ago to the ladies
Tanti salutì de la parte mia. Tell Milly she is
very naughty not to have given me her hand to
kiss before we parted; but if she will condescend
to wear this locket, now and then, I'll forgive
her. Good-by."

And, before Miss Grainger could reply, he had
opened the window and was gone.

When Calvert reached the jetty the boatman
was not there; but the boat, with her oars, lay
close to the steps; the chain that attached her
to an iron ring was, however, padlocked, and
Calvert turned impatiently back to seek the man.
After he had gone, however, a few paces, he
seemed to change his mind, and turned once more
towards the lake. Taking up a heavy stone,
he proceeded to smash the lock on the chain. It
was stronger than he looked for, and occupied
some minutes; but he succeeded at last. Just
as he threw into the boat the loose end of the
broken chain, he heard steps behind him; he
turned; it was Emily running towards him at
full speed. " Oh Harry, dear Harry!" she
cried, " don't go, don't leave us; Florence is
quite well again, and as far as strength will let
her, trying to come and meet you. See, yonder
she is, leaning on aunt's arm." True enough, at
some hundred yards off, the young girl was seen
slowly dragging her limbs forward in the direction
where they stood.

"I have come some thousand leagues to see
her" said he, sternly, " through greater fatigues,
and, perhaps, as many perils as she is
encountering."

"Go to her—go towards her," cried Emily,
reproachfully.

"Not one step; not the breadth of a hair,
Milly," said he. " There is a limit to the indignity
a woman may put upon a man, and your
sister has passed it. If she likes to come and
say farewell to me here, be it so; if not, I must
go without it."

"Then I can tell you one thing, Colonel
Calvert, if my sister Florence only knew of the
words you have just spoken, she'd not move one
other step towards you, if, if——"

"If it were to save my life, you would say.
That is not so unreasonable," said he, with a
saucy laugh.

"Here is Florence come, weak and tottering
as she is, to ask you to stay with us. You'll
not have the heart to say No to her," said Miss
Grainger.

"I don't think we—any of us—know much
about Mr. Calvert's heart, or what it would
prompt him to do," said Emily, half indignantly,
as she turned away. And fortunate it was she did
turn away, since, had she met the fierce look of
Calvert's eyes at the moment, it would have
chilled her very blood with fear.

"But you'll not refuse me," said Florence,
laying her hand on his arm. " You know well
how seldom I ask favours, and how unused I am
to be denied when I do ask."

"I was always your slave—I ask nothing
better than to be so still," he whispered in her
ear.

"And you will stay?"

"Yes, till you bid me go," he whispered again;