her when she dies--and die she will--that there fine gentleman and
his guitar will be found at the bottom of her chest. But don't go
off about that now--though 'tis the reason I won't part from the poor
thing till I can help--the better luck for you that you'd got more in
your head than vanities and furbelows. What I meant was not being
faithful to him out in Peru--that's your own affair, but the being
faithful to your duty to your mistress, whether she's after you or
not. You know what a good servant is, and you've got to show it
ain't all eye-service.'

Charlotte cried heartily. No one else was allowed that privilege
when the 13th came, excepting Mrs. Frost herself. James, afraid that
a scene would hurt his wife, severely forbade Clara to give way; and
the poor girl, mute and white, did as she was told, and ventured not
a word of farewell, though her embraces were convulsive, and when she
went down stairs she could not help kissing Charlotte.

James handed his grandmother to her seat in the carriage which was to
take her to the station.

'Good-bye, my dear,' she said; 'I know the day will come when all
this will be made up. You know how I have loved you both.'

'I wish my uncle all good.'

'I see it now,' she said, holding his hand between both of hers. 'It
is my fault. I fostered our family pride. May God take away the sin
from us both!'

The words were hardly articulate through tears, and perhaps James did