“There is a trunk,” I said, “that I wish you would take to the Mansion House—­to the care of a Mr. Somnus lodging there—­here is the card attached, with his name; place it with his baggage.  It is to go to New York, for a Miss Harz, a relation of mine—­a teacher, I believe, who has applied to me for assistance; but he understands all that, so you need not be at, any trouble to explain.  Be quiet, Franklin, in removing it, as Evelyn is very nervous to-day, and dislikes noise; and go with the drayman yourself to insure its safe delivery.”

So passed my first lesson in deception, but I schooled lip and eye to obedience, so that Franklin suspected nothing, and, being a discreet servant, who never let his right hand know what his left was doing, especially when gold crossed the palm, I was sure of silence on the subject, at least until after my own departure.

Mabel and I dined tete-a-tete at two; I had caused dinner to be served earlier than usual for my own convenience, though indeed I found it a mere form—­for how could I swallow a morsel, choked as I was with grief, while the fair child I worshipped, yet was forsaking, sat so calmly and unconsciously in my sight!

After dinner I sought Mrs. Austin, leading Mabel by the hand.  I had been kissing her, almost wildly, every foot of the way up-stairs, and she gazed on me, I could not help perceiving, with a sort of fond surprise, for it was not my habit to lavish such passionate caresses, even on her, without occasion.

“I am obliged to go out now,” I said, in a broken voice, which I vainly tried to command.  “Take our darling, Mrs. Austin, and keep her very safely until I come again.  Promise me this!” I added, eagerly seizing her hand.

“La!  Miss Miriam, what’s the use of promising for one afternoon, when I have taken the best of care of her all her life?  You act so singularly to-day!” she added, pettishly, and she began to smooth Mabel’s hair, grumblingly.  I turned away without another word, murmuring blessings in my heart on that dear head.

There was no time to be lost now!  The carriage was already at the door of the Mansion House to convey us to the steamboat when I reached it, and Colonel La Vigne standing, rather anxiously, on the pavement, looking up and down.

“I was afraid you had rued your promise and were not coming,” said Marion, springing forth from the door-way eagerly, to greet me.

“And we had forgotten to ask your address,” added Madame La Vigne, “or we might have called for you, and saved you a long walk, perhaps.”

“We should not have carried off your trunk, even had you not appeared, Miss Harz,” said Colonel La Vigne, blandly.  “There it is you see, distinctly labeled, on the baggage-wagon in front, directed to the care of ’Mr. Somnus!’—­a good deal of waggery about you, I perceive, or had you forgotten my name?”

“No, no!  I had reasons—­but, you remember, no questions were to be asked; you must wait for voluntary communications.”