Her fingers closed so spasmodically over the girl’s foot, that she winced from the pressure.

“I saw you walking about the churchyard, and would have come home with you, if I had thought the storm was so near.  Please, Hannah, bring me some cool water.”

She pitied the old woman’s evident confusion and anxiety, and rejoiced when Mr. Hargrove changed the topic.

“I am very sorry, Douglass, that I cannot accompany you as far as New York.  When I promised this afternoon to do so, of course I did not anticipate this storm.  There may have been lives lost, as well as steeples blown down, and it is my duty not to leave my people at such a juncture.  If it were not for the sailing of the steamer, I would insist on your waiting a day or so, in order that I might go with you and have a personal interview with Dr. Pitcairns.  I ought to have thought of and attended to that matter before this.”

“Pray do not feel annoyed, uncle; it can be easily arranged by letter.  Moreover, as my mother goes with me to Boston, it would not be right to leave Regina here alone in her present helpless condition.”

“Do not think of me a moment, Mr. Hargrove.  Go with him and stay with him as long as you can; I would if I could.  Hannah will take care of me.”

“My dear, I think of my duty, and that keeps me at home.  Douglass, I will write a short note to Pitcairns, and you must explain matters to him.  Elise, it is ten o’clock, and you have not much time.”

He went into the library, and Mrs. Lindsay hurried upstairs to put on her bonnet, calling Hannah to follow and receive, some parting injunctions.  Kneeling by the lounge, Mr. Lindsay took one of the girl’s hands.

“Regina, I desired and intended to have a long talk with you this afternoon, but could not find you; and now I have no time, except to say good-bye.  You will never know how hard it is for me to leave my dear little friend; I did not realize it myself until to-night.”

“Then why will you go away?  Can’t you stay, and serve God as well by being a minister in this country?  Can’t you change your mind?”

She raised herself on her elbow, and tears gushed over her cheeks, as, twining her fingers around his, she looked all the intense loving appeal that words could never have expressed.

Just then his stony Teraph—­Duty—­smiled very benignantly at the aching heart he laid upon her dreary cold altar.

“Don’t tempt me to look back after putting my hand to the plough.  I must do my duty, though at bitter cost.  Will you promise never to forget your friend Douglass?”

“How could I ever forget you?  Oh, if I could only go with you!”

His fine eyes sparkled, and, drawing her hand across his cheek, he said eagerly: 

“Do you really wish it?  Think of me, write to me, and love me, and some day, if it please God to let me come home, you may have an opportunity of going back with me to my work in India.  Would you be willing to leave all, and help me among the heathens?”