“So do I,” said Edith, impulsively, repenting her words the moment she met the peculiar glance of Arthur’s eyes.

She was beginning to be afraid of him, and half wished Richard was there.  Remembering his letter at last, she gave it to him, explaining how she came by it, and marvelling at the sudden whiteness of his face.

“I will wait till she is gone,” he thought, as he recognized Dr. Griswold’s writing, and knew well what it was about.  “I won’t let anything mar the bliss of the next two hours,” and he laid it upon the table.

“Ain’t you going to read it?” asked Edith, as earnestly as if she knew the contents of that letter would save her from much future pain.  “Read it,” she persisted, declaring, with pretty willfulness that she would not touch a pencil until he complied with her request.

“I suppose I must yield then,” he said, withdrawing into the adjoining room, where he broke the seal and read—­once—­twice—­ three times—­lingering longest over the sentences which we subjoin.

* * * “To-day, for the first time since you were here, our poor little girl spoke of you of her own accord, asking where you were and why you left her so long alone.  I really think it would be better for you to take her home.  She is generally quiet with you, and latterly she has a fancy that you are threatened with some danger, for she keeps whispering to herself, ’Keep Arthur from temptation.  Keep him from temptation, and don’t let any harm come to little Miggie.’  Who is Miggie?  I don’t think I ever heard her name until within the last few days.” * * *

And this it was which kept Arthur St. Claire from falling.  Slowly the tears, such as strong men only shed, gathered in his eyes and dropped upon the paper.  Then his pale lips moved, and he whispered sadly, “Heaven bless you, Nina, poor unfortunate Nina.  Your prayer shall save me, and henceforth Edith shall be to me just what your darling Miggie would have been were she living.  God help me to do right,” he murmured, as he thought of Edith Hastings, and remembered how weak he was.  That prayer of anguish was not breathed in vain, and when the words were uttered he felt himself growing strong again—­strong to withstand the charms of the young girl waiting impatiently for him in the adjoining room.

There were many things she meant to say to him in Richard’s absence.  She would ask him about Nina, and the baby picture which had so interested her.  It had disappeared from the drawing room and as yet she had found no good opportunity to question him about it, but she would do so to-day.  She would begin at once so as not to forget, and she was just wondering how long it took a man to read a letter, when he came in.  She saw at a glance that something had affected him, and knowing intuitively that it was not the time for idle questionings, she refrained from all remark, and the lesson both had so much anticipated, proceeded in almost unbroken silence.  It was very dull indeed, she thought, not half so nice as when Richard was there, and in her pet at Arthur’s coolness and silence, she made so many blunders that at last throwing pencil and paper across the room, she declared herself too stupid for any thing.