“What have you heard?” Edith asked, half bitterly, for since their engagement was known at the hotel, she had more than once suspected the truth of what he said to her.  The world did not approve, but she would not tell Richard that she knew it, and she asked again what he had heard.

“The ear of the blind is quick,” he replied; “and as I sat waiting in the stage this morning I heard myself denounced as a ’blind old Hunks,’ a selfish dog, who had won the handsomest girl in the country.  Then, as we were descending to this ravine you remember we stopped at the foot of some stairs while you removed a brier from your dress, and from a group near by I heard the whispered words, ’There they come—­the old blind man, who bought his ward with money and gratitude.  ’Twas a horrid sacrifice!  Look how beautiful she is!’ Darling, I liked to hear you praised, but did not like the rest.  It makes me feel as if I were dragging you to the altar against your will.  And what is worse than all, the verdict of the people here is the verdict of the world.  Edith, you don’t want me.  You cannot wish to call one husband whose dependence upon you will always make you blush for your choice.  It was gratitude alone which prompted your decision.  Confess that it was, and I give you back your troth.  You need not be the old blind man’s wife.”

For an instant Edith’s heart leaped up, and the sun spots dancing on the leaves were brighter than she had ever seen them, but the feeling passed away, and laying both her hands reverently in Richard’s, she said,

“I will be your wife.  I care nothing for the world, and we won’t mingle in it any more to cause remarks.  We’ll stay at Collingwood, where people know us best.  Let’s go home to-morrow.  I’m tired of this hateful place.  Will you go?”

Ere Richard could answer, Grace Atherton was heard exclaiming,

“Ah, here you are, I’ve hunted everywhere.  Mr. Russell,” and she turned to the dark man at her side, “this is Mr. Harrington—­Miss Hastings—­Mr. Russell, from Tallahassee.”  Edith did not at first think that Tallahassee was in Florida, not many miles from Sunnybank, and she bowed to the gentleman as to any stranger, while Grace, who had just arrived in another omnibus, explained to her that Mr. Russell was a slight acquaintance of Arthur’s; that the latter being in town, and accidentally hearing that he was coming North, had intrusted him with some business matters, which would require his visiting Grassy Spring—­had given him a letter of introduction to herself, said letter containing a note for Edith—­that Mr. Russell had been to Shannondale, and ascertaining their whereabouts, had followed them, reaching the Mountain House in the morning stage.

“He can spend but one day here,” she added, in conclusion, “and wishing him to see as much as possible of our northern grandeur I brought him at once to the Falls.  Here is your note,” and tossing it into Edith’s lap she moved away.