goodness and agreeableness, the excitement most could be regarded as a token of any even of her unkind and spiteful moments, greater inclination?

which had made such a deep impression Otto reminded himself at that moment upon the calm, equable, good-humored of one trifling incident among others—of Otto. All these seemed to him to suit how he had once let fall that there was Celine's individuality so completely, that something unfeminine in a woman smokhe could not think of her, indeed he would ing, which grated against his feelings; and have admired her far less, with the calm how from that time forth he had never been dignity which had attracted him in Mary. at Beckley without seeing Celine smoke a Indeed, in his present excited frame of cigar, and at times when he knew she had mind, there was something in Mary's calm, not previously been in the habit of doing equable temperament which oppressed and so. Besides that, she had never sung again irritated him.

Yes, that was the real word, thought
She was indifferent to him-that

a song which on one occasion he had And then-though Otto felt ashamed praised as especially pretty and to his taste; that this reason should have such undue in short, neither by word nor deed had weight with him—he still could not deny she ever shown him anything but indifferthat he was carried away by the incompar-ence. able beauty of Celine; beautiful in all her Otto. various moods, with the soft melancholy was the final result of all his reflections— expression which sometimes overshadowed she was indifferent to him, and it was bether face; beautiful also with her eyes flash- ter so; it would make it easier for him to ing with anger, and the heightened flush fulfil his duty to Mary. of passion; but more beautiful still in the abandon of her light-heartedness, which now and then made her dark eyes sparkle and own, the happy man whom she would spread over her countenance an expression | love!

of almost childlike joy.

And Mary?

With a blush of shame Otto broke loose from these meditations. Why these comparisons? Wherefore these tormenting thoughts and recollections? Mary was his betrothed, the future companion of his life, whom he had voluntarily chosen, and who at all events he could not think of but with the utmost respect, which she well deserved.

Moreover, were he free, what security had he that Celine Arnold would ever be anything more to him than she was at present?

And yet, when he thought of the happy mortal who would some day call Celine his

There was an unusual bustle in the sitHad he ever been able to perceive any ting-room when Otto entered, owing to the sign on her part that her feeling towards preparations for the journey which was at him was anything more than a passing incli- hand. Bending over a large trunk, Mary nation for a pleasant acquaintance? Was was packing, under her father's directions, there anything in the unreserved tone in the necessaries which he could not dispense which she often spoke to him which at the with till the last evening, although it would

certainly have been far more agreeable to packed with the other things, Otto took Mary not to have had to put off all these advantage of the opportunity when Mary arrangements till the last.

was sent up-stairs to fetch something, to sit down unexpectedly close to Mr. van Stein, and to proceed with his object without any preparation.

"Uncle, I wish very much to speak to you about Mary."

"Remember my foot-warmer, Mary; and don't forget the milk tester, that at least I may know whether I have sour milk in my stomach. Put in my own drinking glass; without it I shall not be able to measure the quantity of water I drink, and I may "To speak about Mary!" said Uncle take too much. For Heaven's sake don't van Stein, making a face as if a toothache forget the Scott's pills, and the cushion for were now added to his other torments. my back and the sleeping powders, "I thought we had talked the matter out Mary." about Mary last time. You must not "All packed up, dear papa," said Mary; trouble me this evening, Otto. Rememand between all these questions, and with ber that to-morrow I must set off on my her hands full of business, she could only journey, and if I excite myself I certainly bid Otto welcome with a friendly nod as shall not sleep; indeed I have not much he entered. chance of that anyhow, for Mary has 'Packed up! No, I don't believe it, packed up my woollen night-cap, and she Mary, for I must have seen it; I was sit-knows I cannot sleep in the thin one; but ting by all the while, and it would have that is just like her, she always thinks most been extraordinary if I had missed seeing of herself, and her invalid father is only an it. Yes; I understand it all well enough- incumbrance." you say it only to put me off; and it is just the same to you, it won't prevent you from sleeping."

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"Hush, papa, dear! they are packed; but I will get them out again in order to convince you; it is not much trouble."

Mary patiently took out of the trunk all the things packed above them.

Otto waited patiently for the end of this new complaint; and as soon as his uncle was silent, he proceeded with the matter he wished to accomplish.

"When I last spoke to you about Mary, uncle, neither of us then had the little legacies from Aunt Emmy, which we could Otto stood not apply better than in setting up houseby, with folded arms, silent, but in his keeping. I can rely on my business and heart angry. Struck, as he had often been on the means I possess to maintain ourbefore, by Mary's unhappy lot, his com- selves comfortably, so that a longer indefipassion for her now was stronger than nite postponement of our marriage is ever yet this time he also began to feel unnecessary. Last week it came to my cross with her. As Mary stood stooping knowledge that Mr. Stork is about to leave over the trunk, patiently repacking, to the town, and next May his house will be pacify the sickly ill-humor of her father, to let. I have already asked for the refusal without a shade of annoyance or impa- of it, and I hope you will agree with me tience on her face, Otto asked himself that I should take a lease of it, and that in whether this goodness of heart which he the summer when Mary returns with you had so much admired in her could possibly from Montpellier'arise from a want of character. But this thought no soon occurred to him than he felt ashamed of it; and when the unfortunate sleeping powders were found and re

Otto had proceeded thus far, when he felt a hand placed on his shoulder, and, turning round, he beheld Mary's face, from which all color had vanished. It seemed

He was

as if for a moment it cost her much to and motionless opposite him. speak, as if her lips refused to utter the still more put out of temper by her strange words which hung upon them; but that behavior, of which he in vain sought the with a great effort of will she was able to key. It had been with much self-conquest, overcome this momentary feeling; and if and urged on by the force of his feelings of her face had not been so pale and agitated, duty and honor, that he had compelled one would not have remarked anything himself to speak to her father; and here particular from the tone in which she it was Mary herself-Mary, for whose spoke. happiness he was ready to sacrifice his "Otto," she said, "you must not own-who hindered him. trouble papa on this subject to-night. We "How is it, Mary?" he began again. must be up early to-morrow, and papa "Perhaps what I offer you may not appear must begin his journey after a calm, quiet enough? It is true the house is but small, night. What you wish to say can just as and our income will at first be somewhat limited; but I thought that your desires were moderate, and that it would be enough for you."

well be written. Take leave of him now, if you like, for I want to speak to you myself."

Otto obeyed her involuntarily. He got "No, Otto, it is not enough for me." up and said a few words to his uncle, the Calm and deliberately these words were substance of which was that he intended to uttered; proudly she raised her head, and see him again at the station. Mary was her eyes, which till now had wandered waiting for him at the door with a light; round the room, rested upon Otto with an he followed her in silence down the pas- indescribable expression of goodness and sage to a little room opening into the sorrow.

garden. They entered this room, which "No, it is not enough for me," she was lighted by a small lamp. In silence Mary set down the candle, and, as she did so, Otto saw plainly that her hand trembled.

repeated; "the small house, the still more limited income, would not deter me; but I wish for and require the undivided heart of the man with whom I must share

A strange feeling of annoyance and ill-them, and that you cannot offer me, Otto." humor had come over Otto at Mary's interruption. The tone of voice in which he broke the silence was not what she was accustomed to hear from him.

Alarmed and perplexed at these unexpected words, Otto stammered out, "I do not understand you, Mary."

"Do not say that, Otto," interposed "What is the meaning of this, Mary, Mary, who had now become perfectly calm; that you forbid me to speak to your father?"let there be truth between us. If you How am I to understand it? Are you dis- yourself find it difficult to speak out, let it pleased because I did not first talk it over be for me to say what ought to be said. with you? You know well that it is of Tell me, Otto, have you really thought no use for us to speak to each other about that I did not observe what was passing in it until we have your father's approval; you—that I did not know how your heart and I am sure that, but for your strange, had been turned away from me-how aninexplicable interference, he would now other possessed your love, which by a mishave given his consent." take you thought belonged to me? Believe Otto was silent after saying this, evidently me, I have known and understood it all. expecting Mary's answer; but she, with I have seen the struggle which it has cost her hand resting on the table, stood silent you, and I have inwardly pitied you, Otto.

For many weeks past I have resolved to There he stood, before Mary, silenced and give you back your liberty; but I wished, confounded. Painfully the consciousness as it would have been more agreeable for forced itself upon him that he had lost a us both, to have written to you from noble and magnanimous heart. Sinking Montpellier. Your conversation with papa, down into a chair, he covered his face with however, has hastened the necessity of this. his hands, and at last so far controlled his So let us part in peace and friendship; I agitation as to be able to speak. can never be more to you than a sincere Mary," he whispered, "you must and interested friend, but also not less; of indeed despise me deeply to thrust me that you may be confident." away from you thus. I know that I have

She offered him her hand, but Otto forfeited my right to alter your determidared not take it. He was overpowered nation. I only ask you decide nothing with indescribable feelings of alarm and to-day, and give me the winter to learn to shame, and his confusion was such that it know thoroughly my own heart." was impossible for him to speak.

She shook her head with a sorrowful expression on her face. "No, Otto, you must not do violence to your heart on my account. Employ the winter in seeking for the love to which your heart is attracted. Let that word be never more pronounced between us. It was a delusion which entangled both of us. Let us be thankful that we have waked up from it before it was too late.'

suppose?"

"That I know, Otto. It was not any doubt of your uprightness and honor which was the cause of my determination. I "And what if you are mistaken, Mary know that had I agreed to the hiring of the-if all this is the phantom of your imagihouse for us, I should have had nothing nation-if I have never loved Celine as you to fear in my absence, from Celine Arnold. I know that, with her image in your heart, your word once given would have stood firm, and that even without your love I should not have had to complain of you. But once more, I repeat to you, Otto, this is not enough for me. I know of no middle course in this respect. I will have all or none. I can give you up now because my reason tells me that it must be so; but to become your wife with the conviction that your love belongs to another, Otto, that I cannot, and what'is more, I will not do."

Long and earnestly Mary gazed at Otto with a searching look, whilst a deep blush colored her cheeks. Perhaps it was a flickering of hope which thus so greatly affected her, but certainly it was a feeling of guilt which made Otto turn away his eyes; and when he raised them again to her, she stood before him as calm and as pale as at first.

"You do love her, Otto; do not mislead yourself. Win her love; be happy with her, and think of me as a sister, who wishes you well with all her heart. Forget that you ever thought we could be anything else to each other."

How strange these words, uttered in a passionate accent, sounded to Otto; how strange from the lips of her whom he had "And you, Mary"-Hesitating and after never known otherwise than calm and an interval of silence, he faltered out these gentle, whose goodness he had ascribed a words. Oh, that he could have said to her few minutes before to want of character. with a pure conscience: "I love you; you

Her hand, which she held out to him,

are necessary to my happiness." But even at this critical moment he could not say that he took between his, and he gazed once which in the present state of feeling of his more, with a pained expression, on the heart would have been a lie; he could not friendly, 'soft face, and, deeply affected, he feign before those honorable, truthful eyes, whispered, "God bless you, Mary; forwhich pierced the very depths of his soul; give me. Then she accompanied him he could only utter the words which at the along the passage as she had done all these moment pressed like lead upon his heart : months after his evening visits. Whether And you, Mary ?" from habit or by design, she put her hand through his arm as usual, and so they went in silence together to the outer door.

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"May I come to-morrow to the train to wish you good-bye, Mary?"

"Do as your heart inclines you, Otto. Farewell.”

brace her.

Slowly, hesitatingly, he let go her hand. Tears started into his eyes as she closed the door behind him.—It was over!

"My way lies marked out before me have no anxiety as to that, Otto. In my old helpless father God has laid upon me my task in this world; and is, perhaps, punishing me for wishing to set it aside. He knows what is good for me better than I do, and whosoever trusts in Him shall Once more she put out her hand to him, not be ashamed. Do not these words of and he dared not-no, he dared not emcomfort stand written: 'All things work together for good to them that love God?"" So calm, so composed, she stood before him, that again the same effect was produced upon him by this outward calmness, as had latterly so often been the case. Springing from his chair, he said in a bitter tone, "Mary, is it possible you can have loved me, and can part from me so calmly? With your Christian submission is there not mixed a good deal of indifference, which makes you acquiesce in our separation without difficulty?"

Over! And this also was the word which sounded like a knell in Mary's bosom. Over ! She shut and chained up the door, as she had done every evening at Otto's departure, but slowly, hesitatingly, as she had never done before.

She was overcome with an irresistible feeling, as if it were her happiness, her hope, her youth, that she had bolted out.

With her ears against the door, she listened to the retreating footsteps of him she loved so much-how much Heaven only knew.

She put down the light, which she had been holding in her trembling hands, and sat down for a moment on the bench in the passage to collect her strength to answer the bell in her father's room, which had rung incessantly since she had shut the door upon Otto.

"So, Mary, you are come at last to lock the trunks and help me into bed. You might as well have put off your chatter with Otto to a more suitable time. There are things to be done now which are much more important than such nonsense.