question announce itself by stirring in the pulses and thrilling in the
nerves of the descendant of all these grandmothers?

She was leaning imperceptibly towards him, drawn by the mere blind
elemental force, as the plummet was attracted to the side of Schehallion.
Her lips were parted, and she breathed a little faster than so healthy a
girl ought to breathe in a state of repose. The steady nerves of William
Murray Bradshaw felt unwonted thrills and tremors tingling through them,
as he came nearer and nearer the few simple words with which he was to
make Myrtle Hazard the mistress of his destiny. His tones were becoming
lower and more serious; there were slight breaks once or twice in the
conversation; Myrtle had cast down her eyes.

"There is but one word more to add," he murmured softly, as he bent
towards her--

A grave voice interrupted him. "Excuse me, Mr. Bradshaw," said Master
Bytes Gridley, "I wish to present a young gentleman to my friend here. I
promised to show him the most charming young person I have the honor to
be acquainted with, and I must redeem my pledge. Miss Hazard, I have the
pleasure of introducing to your acquaintance my distinguished young
friend, Mr. Clement Lindsay."

Once mere, for the third time, these two young persons stood face to
face. Myrtle was no longer liable to those nervous seizures which any
sudden impression was liable to produce when she was in her half-hysteric
state of mind and body. She turned to the new-comer, who found himself
unexpectedly submitted to a test which he would never have risked of his
own will. He must go through it, cruel as it was, with the easy
self-command which belongs to a gentleman in the most trying social