"My dear one she intended that I should make miserable with reproaches,

and from his own home drive him to her home for some consolations;" and

Katherine smiled as she reflected how hopeless such a plan of separation

would be.

Never, perhaps, are we so happy as when we have just escaped some feared

calamity. That letter lifted the last fear from Katherine's heart, and

it gave her also the expectation of an early visit. "I am very impatient

to see you, my Kate," he wrote; "and as early as possible after the

funeral, you may expect me." The words rang like music in her heart. She

read them aloud to little Joris, and then the whole household warmed to

the intelligence. For there was always much pleasant preparation for

Hyde's visits,--clean rooms to make still cleaner, silver to polish,

dainties to cook; every weed to take from the garden, every unnecessary

straw from the yards. For the master's eye, everything must be

beautiful. To the master's comfort, every hand was delighted to

minister.

So these last days of May were wonderfully happy ones to Katherine. The

house was in its summer draperies--all its windows open to the garden,

which had now not only the freshness of spring, but the richer promise

of summer. Katherine was always dressed with extraordinary care and

taste. Little Joris was always lingering about the gates which commanded

the longest stretch of observation. A joyful "looking forward" was upon

every face.

Alas, these are the unguarded hours which sorrow surprises! But no

thought of trouble, and no fear of it, had Katherine, as she stood

before her mirror one afternoon. She was watching Lettice arrange the

double folds of her gray taffeta gown, so as to display a trifle the

high scarlet heels of her morocco slippers, with their scarlet rosettes

and small diamond buckles.

"Too cold a colour is gray for me, Lettice: give me those scarlet

ribbons for a breast knot;" and as Lettice stood with her head a little

on one side, watching her mistress arrange the bright bows at her

stomacher, there came a knock at the chamber door.

"Here be a strange gentleman, madam, to see you; from London, he do

say."

A startled look came into Katherine's face; she dropped the ribbon from

her hand, and turned to the servant, who stood twisting a corner of her

apron at the front-door.

"Well, then, Jane, like what is the stranger?"

"He be in soldier's dress, madam"-"What?"

She asked no further question, but went downstairs; and, as the tapping

of her heels was heard upon them, Jane lifted her apron to her eyes and

whimpered, "I think there be trouble; I do that, Letty."




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