quiet figure of the child for whom he dared recall the past. She
stood with folded hands, so fair, so young, the sight was a
refreshment, and a strange assurance always, to his weary eyes and
weary heart. Never did she look so lovely to him as now when he was
about to speak again to her of his life's love for another.

"It was once a magnificent estate," he began.

"Oh, is she a grand lady?" broke from Elizabeth.

"Yes, a grand lady. You speak well," replied Manuel, with a smile.
"The estate was once ten times as large as this island. Towns and
villages are built over the land now, but the old house stands as it
has stood through ten generations. There she lives. If she stands by
the library-window today, she can see the church built by her
great-grandfather, and the little town of Desperiers, which had in
his day a population of tenantry. She can see the ponds and the park,
and a garden where there are hothouses, and graperies, and
conservatories, and winding walks where you might walk all day and
find something new to surprise and delight you at every turn. There
is a tower that commands a view of fifty miles in one direction. The
old house is full of treasure. She is mistress of all,--the only
representative of a long line of noble men and beautiful women who
have dispensed magnificent hospitality there. The last time I saw her,
Elizabeth, she was standing in the library, a woman so beautiful and
so strong you would not have thought that trouble could approach her.
It came through me. I opened those ancient gates for the black train,
--I, who loved no mortal as I loved her! But I lost her in my fight
for Truth. Shall I complain? Her heart was with mine in that struggle.
Cannot Truth comfort her?"