the Edith of other days. "You are taking Richard from gratitude,
nothing else. Victor told me of your parentage, but because he
saved your life, you need not render yours as a return. Your heart
is not in this marriage."

"Yes, it is--all the heart I have," Edith answered curtly. Then,
as some emotion stronger than the others swept over her, she laid
her head upon the sofa arm and sobbed, "You are all leagued
against me, but I don't care. I shall do as I like, I have
promised to marry Richard, and Edith Hastings never lied. She will
keep her word," and in the eyes which she now lifted up, Grace saw
the years glittering like diamonds.

Then a merry laugh burst from the lips of the wayward girl as she
met Mrs. Atherton's anxious glance, and running to the piano she
dashed off most inspiriting waltz, playing so rapidly that the
bright bloom came back, settling in a small round spot upon her
cheek, and making her surpassingly beautiful even to Grace, whose
great weakness was an unwillingness to admit that another's charms
were superior to her own. When the waltz was ended Edith's mood
had changed, and turning to Grace she nestled closely to her, and
twining one of the silken curls around her fingers, said
coaxingly,

"You think me a naughty child no doubt, but you do not understand
me. I certainly do love Richard more than you suppose; and Grace,
I want you to help me, to encourage me. Engaged girls always need
it, I guess, and Victor is so mean, he says all sorts of hateful
things about my marrying my father, and all that. Perhaps the
village people will do so, too, and if they do, you'll stand up