He came at last, his kind face all beaming.

"Christian I have been having a long talk with--But you are very tired."
His eye caught--she knew it would at once--the change in her face, "My
darling," he whispered, "would you not like to go home!"

"Oh yes, home! Take me home!" Christian replied almost with a sob.
She clung to his arm, and passed through the crowd with him. And
whether she fully loved him or not, from the very bottom of her soul
she thanked God for her husband.





Chapter 9.

_"Teach me to feel for others' woes,
To hide the fault I see;
The mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me."_

Breakfast was just over on the morning following the soirée at the vice
chancellor's. Christian sat with the two aunts, quietly sewing.

Ay, very quietly, even after last night. She had taken counsel with her
own heart, through many wakeful hours, and grown calm and still.
Neither her husband nor Miss Gascoigne had once named Sir Edwin.
Probably Aunt Henrietta did not know him, and in the crowded party
Dr. Grey might not have chanced to recognize him. Indeed, most likely