again uncertainly, hesitating.

"I am to ride with Desiree in the morning," said he, and the next
moment was gone.

"Desiree!"

He called her Desiree!

I think I smiled for an hour over that; and, though my
reflections were not free from apprehension, I really felt but
little anxiety. Not that I underrated Le Mire's fascination and
power; to confess the truth, my ease of mind was the result of my
own vanity. Le Mire had flattered me into the belief that she was
my friend.

A week passed--a dull week, during which I saw little of Harry
and Le Mire not at all. At the time, I remember, I was interested
in some chemical experiments--I am a dabbler with the tubes--and
went out but little. Then--this was on Friday--Harry sought me
out in the laboratory to tell me he was going away. In answer to
my question, "Where?" he said, "I don't know."

"How long will you be gone?"

"Oh, a week--perhaps a month."

I looked at him keenly, but said nothing. It would have done no
good to force him into an equivocation by questions. Early the
next morning he departed, with three trunks, and with no further