yours."

"I don't fear it," she said; "and yet,--O Ned! it is misery to me to
have to share your society with that woman, even for a day or two!"

"I don't know how I can help you out of it," he said, after a moment's
consideration, "unless by shutting myself up alone,--to attend to
correspondence or something,--and leaving you to entertain her by
yourself. Shall I do that?"

"Oh, no! unless you much prefer it. I think it would set me wild to have
her whole attention concentrated upon me," Zoe answered with an uneasy
laugh.

So they went together to the parlor, where Miss Deane sat waiting for
them, or rather for Edward.

She had the chess-board out, the men placed, and at once challenged him
to a renewal of last night's contest.

He accepted, of course; and they played without intermission till
lunch-time, Zoe sitting by, for the most part silent, and wishing Miss
Deane miles away from Ion.

This proved a worse day to her than either of the preceding ones. Miss
Deane succeeded several times in rousing her to an exhibition of temper
that very much mortified and displeased Edward; and his manner, when
they retired that night to their private apartments, was many degrees
colder than it had been in the morning. He considered himself forbearing
in refraining from remark to Zoe on her behavior; while she said to