Revived by this question, she eagerly answered, "Wherever Mrs. Maple will permit."

Harleigh, who, in the scowl upon Mrs. Maple's face, read a direction that they should remain where they were, would not wait for her to give it utterance; but, taking the hand of Ellis, with a precipitation to which she yielded from surprise, though with blushing shame, said, "In this next room we shall be nearest to give the answer to Mrs. Maple;" and led her to the adjoining apartment.

He did not dare shut the door, but he conducted her to the most distant window; and, having expressed, by his eyes, far stronger thanks for her trust than he ventured to pronounce with his voice, was beginning to read the letter; but Ellis, gently stopping him, said, "Before you look at this, let me beg you, Sir, to believe, that the hard necessity of my strange situation, could alone have