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