"You shall be gratified; look, quite helpless, crippled for life,
perhaps."

The chair was turned from the groups about the fire, and as he spoke,
with a bitter laugh Treherne threw back the skin which covered his
knees, and showed her the useless limbs once so strong and fleet. She
shrank and paled, put out her hand to arrest him, and cried in an
indignant whisper, "No, no, not that! You know I never meant such cruel
curiosity, such useless pain to both--"

"Be still, someone is coming," he returned inaudibly; adding aloud,
as he adjusted the skin and smoothed the rich fur as if speaking of
it, "Yes, it is a very fine one, Jasper gave it to me. He spoils me,
like a dear, generous-hearted fellow as he is. Ah, Octavia, what can
I do for you?"

"Nothing, thank you. I want to recall myself to Mrs. Snowdon's memory,
if she will let me."

"No need of that; I never forget happy faces and pretty pictures. Two
years ago I saw you at your first ball, and longed to be a girl again."

As she spoke, Mrs. Snowdon pressed the hand shyly offered, and smiled at
the spirited face before her, though the shadow in her own eyes deepened
as she met the bright glance of the girl.

"How kind you were that night! I remember you let me chatter away about
my family, my cousin, and my foolish little affairs with the sweetest
patience, and made me very happy by your interest. I was homesick, and
Aunt could never bear to hear of those things. It was before your