he thought, was merely a weak-minded flirt; while Harry had become a traitor in allowing himself to fall in love with her. Even for Harry he could now make some allowances; and since he had found out his own feelings, he had less jealousy, and therefore less resentment against his former friend. As for jealousy, if he now had that feeling, it was all directed elsewhere--namely, toward that stranger whose sudden appearance had so engrossed Dolores. In such a state of mind as this Ashby advanced toward Katie. Now Katie had come down with the express purpose of seeing him, and with her mind full of a very pretty speech which she intended to make to him. But the sudden meeting of Harry with Talbot had raised other thoughts and feelings, which had driven her pretty speech altogether out of her mind. A bitter jealousy afflicted her tender heart. This lady was the Sydney Talbot of whom he had told her, and who had come all the way from England on this perilous journey to marry him. Would she now give him up? Impossible! And how could Harry escape her? As Ashby approached, Katie therefore had but little thought for him. Ashby also thought less of her than of Dolores. Who was this stranger? he thought. Why was he so familiar? Why did Dolores leave him so abruptly? and why was she telling to this stranger the whole story of her life? Thus Ashby and Katie met again. Ashby had to say something, and so, as was natural, he took refuge in conventionalities. "I hope," said he, "that no ill effects have arisen from this recent excitement." "Oh no," said Katie, in an abstracted tone. She was trying to listen to Talbot's words. They did not sound pleasant. Ashby also was trying to listen to Dolores. She seemed to him to be altogether too familiar. "I'm very glad," said Ashby. "I was afraid that this excitement might have an injurious effect." (Dolores was still giving an account of herself. It was unworthy of her!) "Oh no," said Katie, "not at all." She heard Harry speak in an apologetic manner. It was very hard to bear. Would he leave her for this lady? There was now a pause. Ashby and Katie were both listening with all their might to hear what was said by Dolores and by Harry respectively. Ashby felt the necessity of saying something. "Very fine weather," said he. "Oh, very fine," said Katie. "A fine moon." "Oh, very fine." At this mention of the moon, each thought of those moonbeams which had streamed in through the narrow windows on those past few nights--nights so memorable to each; and each thought of them with the same feelings. Ashby tried to find something new to say. He thought of the position in which they all were--its danger--their liability to recapture--the necessity of flight, and yet the difficulty of doing so--things which he and Dolores had just been considering. "This," said he, "is a very embarrassing position."