“My curse be on the woman’s head who wrought this ruin, then,” said Edith, her black eyes flashing with something of their former fire.

She had forgotten the scene in the kitchen of Brier Hill when Rachel whispered to her that Grace Atherton was in love, and she had now no suspicion that the calm, white-faced woman sitting there before her was the being she would curse.  Neither was her emotion caused, as Grace imagined, by any dread lest the early love of Richard Harrington should stand between herself and him.  The thought that she could be his wife had never crossed her brain, and her feelings were those of indignation toward a person who could thus cruelly deceive a man as noble and good as Richard, and of pity for him who had been so deceived.

“I will love him all the more and be the kinder to him for this vile creature’s desertion,” she thought, as she beat the floor nervously with the little prunella gaiter, and this was all the good Grace Atherton had achieved.

Edith had cursed her to her face, and with a sigh audible only to herself she arose and said laughingly, “It’s time we were off, and you’ve certainly admired that figure in the glass long enough.  What do you think of yourself, any way?”

“Why,” returned Edith, in the same light, bantering tone, “I think I’m rather jolie, as I used to say.  I wonder where I picked up that word.  Victor says I must have had a French nurse, but I’m sure I was too poor for that.  I wish I knew where I did come from and who I am.  It’s terrible, this uncertainty as to one’s birth.  I may be marrying my brother one of these days, who knows?”

“See rather that you do not marry your father,” retorted Grace, following Edith as she tripped down the stairs and down the walk, whipping the tufts of box as she went, and answering to Grace who asked if she did not sometimes find her duties irksome at Collingwood.  “Never, never.  The links of my chains are all made of love and so they do not chafe.  Then, too, when I remember what Richard has done for me and how few sources of happiness he has, I am willing to give my whole life to him, if need be.  Why, Mrs. Atherton, you can’t imagine how his dark features light up with joy, when on his return from riding or from transacting business he hears me in the hall, and knows that I am there to meet him,” and Edith’s bright face sparkled and glowed as she thought how often the blind man had blessed her with his sightless but speaking eyes, when she gave up some darling project which would take her from his side and stayed to cheer his solitude.

They had mounted their horses by this time, and at the speed which characterized Edith’s riding, dashed down the road and struck into the woods, the shortest route to Grassy Spring.  With the exception of Collingwood, Grassy Spring was the handsomest country seat for miles around, and thinking, as she continually did, of Nina, Edith rather gave it the preference as she passed slowly through the grounds and drew near to the building.  Grace had seen the housekeeper, Mrs. Johnson, a talkative old lady, who, big with the importance of her office, showed them over the house, pointing out this elegant piece of furniture and that handsome room with quite as much satisfaction as if it had all belonged to herself.