that I re-entered the house and took up my watch in the sick-room. I
found every thing as I had left it an hour or so before, with the
exception of my companion; the younger Mr. Pollard having taken the
place of his brother. Mrs. Harrington was nowhere to be seen, but as
breakfast had been announced I did not wonder at this, nor at the
absence of the elder son, who was doubtless engaged in doing the
honors of the house.

My own call to breakfast came sooner than I anticipated; soon
enough, indeed, for me to expect to find Mr. Pollard and his sister
still at the table. It therefore took some courage for me to
respond to the summons, especially as I had to go alone, my
companion, of course, refusing to leave his mother. But a glance in
the hall-mirror, as I went by, encouraged me, for it was no weak
woman's face I encountered, and if Mrs. Harrington was as beautiful
as she was haughty, and as haughty as she was beautiful, Constance
Sterling at least asked no favors and showed no embarrassment.
Indeed, I had never felt more myself than when I lifted the
_portiere_ from before the dining-room door and stepped in
under the gaze of these two contradictory beings, either of which
exerted an influence calculated to overawe a person in my position.
The past----But what have I promised myself and you? Not the past,
then, but my present will and determination made the ordeal easy.

Mr. Pollard, who is certainly a man to attract any woman's eye, rose
gravely as I approached, and presented me with what struck me as a
somewhat emphasized respect, to his sister. Her greeting was nothing
more nor less than what I expected--that is, indifferently civil,--
though I thought I detected a little glimmer of curiosity in the
corner of her eye, as if some words had passed in regard to me that