"I'd rather ask papa-both, I should say," he replied, with a significant shrug.

"Do so by all means. Meanwhile I would suggest that a great many people go to the Catskills,— thirty thousand, more or less, it is said."

Is Gray

"I had another question in mind. don Muir going there in order to follow the crowd ?"

"If he is going I suppose he will follow his inclinations.'

"Or you ?"

66

Were that possible, I could not prevent it. Indeed, women rarely resent such things.'

"No indeed. It is well you do not, for you would become the embodiment of resentment. How large is your train now, Stella?"

"You can diminish it by one if you choose," she replied, smiling archly.

"I should be little missed, no doubt.”

"I didn't say that."

"I'm more afraid of Muir than of all the train together.'

That's natural. The train has little chance collectively."

"Don't pretend to misunderstand me. There was unmistakable meaning in Muir's eyes.

"I should hope so. He means to help me have a good time. So do you, I trust."

Certainly. You may judge of the future from the past," he added, significantly, as he rose to take his leave.

"Then the future promises well for me,

said, giving him her hand cordially ; been one of the best of friends."

"And a good deal more. Good-night."

Mamma," said Miss Wildmere, stopping at the nursery on her way to her room, "we must get ready to go to the Catskills at once.”

Why, Stella! This is the first I've heard of this plan. Your father has said that he doesn't see how we can go out of town at all this summer.”

66

Nonsense! I'll insure that papa agrees."

The

"I don't see how I can get ready soon. baby is fretful, and I'm all worn out between broken rest and worry. Won't you take Effie for a little

to take care of the child. What else is she paid for? Why can't one of the other maids take her ?'' "Effie is too nervous to go to strangers tonight."

"Oh, well, give her to me, then."

The sensitive little organization knew at once that it was in the hands not only of a comparative stranger, but also of one whose touch revealed little sympathy, and its protest was so great that the tired. mother took it again, while the beautiful daughter, the cynosure of all eyes in public, went to her room to finish the exciting scene" at her leisure.

But the scene had grown unreal. Its hero was but a shadow, and a distorted one at that.

The

book fell from her hand; she again saw Graydon Muir coming forward to greet her with an easy grace which no prince in story could surpass, and with an expression in his dark blue eyes which no woman fails to understand. It assured her that neither in the old world nor in the new had he seen her equal.

"I wish it could be," she murmured; "I hope it can be; were it not for that 'if' it should be soon."

Thus, after her own fashion, another girl had designs upon Graydon.

CHAPTER IX.

THE MEETING.

RAYDON had completed his final transactions

abroad with more expedition than he had anticipated, and, having been favored by a quick passage, had arrived several days sooner than he was expected. Therefore he decided to accompany his brother to the Catskills on Saturday, spending the intervening time in business and such arrangements as would leave him free to remain in the country for a week or two. The second evening after his arrival again found him in Miss Wildmere's parlor, and before he left he was given to understand that Mrs. Wildmere had decided upon the Under-Cliff House also, and that they would depart on Saturday.

Then you will be compagnon de voyage," said Graydon, with undisguised pleasure.

Somewhat to Mrs. Wildmere's surprise, her husband quietly acquiesced in his daughter's wishes, telegraphed for rooms, and desired his wife to be ready.

She was a quiet, meek little woman, whose life had somehow become entangled in a sphere which

Her beauty

was not in harmony with her nature. had faded early, and she had little force of character with which to maintain her influence over her husband. His life was amid the fierce excitements of Wall Street; hers, as far as she had a life, was a weary effort to keep up appearances and meet the expenses of a fashionable daughter, on an uncertain and greatly fluctuating income.

Mr. Wildmere informed her that his affairs would keep him in town until late in the following week, but that, as the house to which she was going was a quiet family hotel, she would have no trouble.

Mr. Muir had telegraphed the arrival of his brother, and the latter had written a few cordial but hasty lines to both his sister-in-law and Madge Where he spent his evenings was unknown to Mr. Muir, but that gentleman had little trouble in guessing when he saw his brother greet the Wildmeres as if he understood their plans, and laughingly promise Mr. Wildmere that he would see the ladies and their belongings safely established in the UnderCliff House. Graydon observed the slight cloud on his brother's face, but ignored it, feeling that his preference was an affair of his own. He believed that the long-wished-for opportunity to press his suit with vigor had come, and had no hesitation as to his purpose. He did not intend to act precipitately, however. He would first learn just how Mr. Arnault stood, and become reasonably assured by Miss Wildmere's manner toward himself that her preference was not a hope, but a reality.

The enterprise in which Mr. Muir had engaged,