on the subject. Sarah will make a fine wife.'

"Think of me, Lizzie! Think of me, in that miniature dungeon,
silently listening to the death sentence of my earthly happiness!
Think of my weakness, in mutely listening to the lie that was,
perhaps, to wreck my whole life! Think of me, and pity me!" Leah
brushed away a tear, the first that had fallen from her stony eyes
since the beginning of her story; and then she continued:

"If Mark heeded these last words of my step-mother, he gave no
evidence of it, for he continued to stare blindly at the glowing
grate, apparently oblivious of every surrounding object. At length
he aroused, and said:

"'I must be going. Mrs. Mordecai, I bid you good night.'

"'Stay longer, I pray,' rejoined my step-mother; and he replied:

"'Not to-night; it's late now, and I must be alone. Alone!' he
reiterated sorrowfully, and then was gone in a moment.
All this time, Lizzie, I had stood shivering in my hiding-place,
with my trembling hand almost benumbed by the cold granite knob, by
which I held the door. I scarcely dared to breathe, for fear my
presence would be revealed. The ordeal was terrible, I assure you! I
thanked Heaven when I heard the library door open and close again,
this time upon the receding figure of my step-mother, for then I was
free again--free to breathe, and to move, and to sigh, if I chose,
without betraying my hiding-place, or the cause of my concealment. I
need not, could not if I chose, tell you of my feelings on that
occasion. I remember them but dimly, even now. But this much I do