“Oh, yes—­yes,” was the low, but earnest response.  Yet the maiden’s eyes were not lifted from the ground.

“Will you try and remember what I have said, Fanny?”

“I can never forget it, Mr. Allison—­never!” She seemed deeply disturbed.

Both were silent for some time.  Mr. Allison then said: 

“But the day is waning, my dear young friend.  It is time we were both at home.”

“True.”  And Fanny arose and walked by the old man’s side, until their ways diverged.  Both of their residences were in sight and near at hand.

“Do not think of me, Fanny,” said Mr. Allison, when about parting with his companion, “as one who would oppress you with thoughts too serious for your years.  I know the dangers that lie in your path of life, and only seek to guard you from evil.  Oh! keep your spirit pure, and its vision clear.  Remember what I have said, and trust in the unerring instinct given to every innocent heart.”

The old man had taken her hand, and was looking tenderly down upon her sweet, young face.  Suddenly her eyes were lifted to his.  There was a strong light in them.

“God bless you, sir!”

The energy with which these unexpected words were spoken, almost startled Mr. Allison.  Ere he had time for a response, Fanny had turned from him, and was bounding away with fleet footsteps toward her home.

CHAPTER X.

Earnestly as Fanny Markland strove to maintain a calm exterior before her mother and aunt, the effort availed not; and so, as early in the evening as she could retire from the family, without attracting observation, she did so.  And now she found herself in a state of deep disquietude.  Far too young was the maiden to occupy, with any degree of calmness, the new position in which she was so unexpectedly placed.  The sudden appearance of Mr. Lyon, just when his image was beginning to take the highest place in her mind, and the circumstances attending that appearance, had, without effacing the image, dimmed its brightness.  Except for the interview with Mr. Allison, this effect might not have taken place.  But his words had penetrated deeply, and awakened mental perceptions that it was now impossible to obscure by any fond reasonings in favour of Mr. Lyon.  How well did Fanny now remember the instant repulsion felt towards this man, on their first meeting.  She had experienced an instant constriction about the heart, as if threatened with suffocation.  The shadow, too, about which Aunt Grace had spoken, had also been perceived by her.  But in a little while, under the sunshine of a most fascinating exterior, all these first impressions were lost, and, but for the words of Mr. Allison, would have been regarded as false impressions.  Too clearly had the wise old man presented the truth—­too clearly had he elevated her thoughts into a region where the mind sees with a steadier vision—­to leave her in danger of entering the wrong way, without a distinct perception that it was wrong.