Tempest and Sunshine

For Julia's opinion Dr. Lacey possibly might not have cared, but when Mr.

Middleton too added his testimony, the matter was settled. The letter was

not sent.

During the day Lida wondered much why Dr. Lacey stayed so closely in his

room. "I should think he would roast in there," said she. "I do wonder

what he is about?"

"I fancy," answered Florence, "that he still loves Fanny, and now that she

is engaged he is staying alone until he gets his rebellious heart tied

up."

When Lida afterward learned the truth, she expressed a wish that her

tongue might have been cut out ere she had been the bearer of news which

caused so much trouble.

While Dr. Lacey was securely bolted in his room, nerving himself to bear

this fresh disappointment and striving to drive each thought of Fanny from

him, Julia too was alone and busily engaged. What pains she took to rub

and soil those tiny sheets of paper, until they assumed a worn and

crumpled look! Then dipping her finger in the silver goblet at her side,

what perfect tear blots she made, and how she exulted over the probable

success of her morning's work! When it was finished she placed it in her

portfolio, and waited for a favorable opportunity.

It came not that day, however, for save at meal time Dr. Lacey made not

his appearance. To Mr. Middleton's inquiries concerning the reason of his

seclusion, he replied, "that he was busy with important matters"; but his

abstracted manner led Mr. Middleton to believe what he had long suspected,

viz., that Dr. Lacey's heart was wholly centered upon Fanny, and that the

news of her coming marriage was the cause of his unhappiness.

Next morning's sun rose clear and bright, but it brought a day which Dr.

Lacey long, long remembered, and which Julia, in the bitterness of her

heart, cursed many and many a time. In the early part of the morning Dr.

Lacey wandered down to a small arbor, which stood at the foot of the

garden. He had not been there long before Julia, too, came tripping down

the walk, with her portfolio and drawing pencil. So absorbed was she in

her own thoughts that she of course did not see Dr. Lacey until she had

entered the arbor; then, with a most becoming blush and start, she said,

"Pray pardon me for disturbing you. I had no idea you were here."

Dr. Lacey, of course, insisted upon her staying. She knew he would, and

sitting down, she busied herself in looking over the contents of her

portfolio. Suddenly she heaved a deep sigh, and Dr. Lacey looked up just

in time to see her wipe something from her eyes, or pretend to, which must

have been tears. At the same time she hastily thrust a paper back into her

portfolio, which she immediately shut.