Then his thoughts came back to Edith's question, "May I go to
Nina?" and his first feeling was that she might, even though her
going would necessarily defer a day to which he was so continually
looking forward, but when he remembered the danger to which she
would be exposed from the intense heat at that season of the year,
he shrank from it at once, mildly but firmly refusing to let her
incur the fearful risk.

"Could I be assured that my bird would fly back to me again with
its plumage all unruffled I would let her go," he said, "but the
chances are against it. You would surely sicken and die, and I
cannot let you go."

Edith offered no remonstrance, but her face was very white and her
eyes strangely black as she said, "Let us go home, then; go to-
morrow. This is no place for me, with Nina dying."

Nothing could please Richard more than to be back at Collingwood,
and when Grace came to them he announced his intention of leaving
on the morrow. Grace was willing, and Victor, when told of the
decision, was wild with delight. Mr. Russell, too, decided to go
with them to Shannondale, and when, next morning, the party came
out to take the downward stage, they found him comfortably seated
on the top, whither he had but little trouble in coaxing Grace,
who expressed a wish to enjoy the mountain scenery as they
descended.

"Will Miss Hastings come up, too?" he asked, but Edith declined
and took her seat inside between Richard and Victor, the latter of
whom had heard nothing of the letter; neither did Edith tell him