The stranger was standing by the carriage with his arm extended to assist her. She partially rose--then, and without the slightest warning, beyond a deep, shuddering breath, sank back insensible. Elsie and Mrs. Harrington gave a simultaneous cry, but there was no opportunity for the widow to go into hysterics, as she had intended, since the stranger and the footman were fully occupied in lifting Elizabeth from the broken carriage. Elsie was crying wildly, "Bessie! Bessie!" and wringing her hands in real affright. "She has only fainted," said the stranger hurriedly; "we will carry her on to the hotel." He raised the insensible girl in his arms, and carried her down towards the inn, as if she had been a child; while her companions followed, sobbing off their terror as they went. Once in the house, and the stranger out of the way, Mrs. Harrington recovered her wits sufficiently to give Elizabeth assistance, and restore her to consciousness. Elizabeth opened her eyes, gave one glance around, and closed them again. "Are you hurt?" cried Elsie. She shook her head. "What made you faint so suddenly?" demanded Mrs. Harrington. "The danger was over." Elizabeth made a strong effort at self-control, sat upright, and tried to answer. "I can't tell--I--" "Do you know that gentleman?" asked Mrs. Harrington. "Why, how can she?" said Elsie. "Well, she fainted just as she looked at him." Elizabeth controlled herself, found strength to rise, saying in reply to Mrs. Harrington's repeated inquiries-- "How should I know him?--what folly!" But she was trembling so violently, that they forced her to lie down again. "Stay with her, Elsie," said the widow, "I will go and see how we are to get home." She went out of the room, and in the hall encountered the gentleman just as she had expected. She overwhelmed him with protestations of gratitude, to which he listened with no great appearance of interest, though Mrs. Harrington was too completely dazzled by his brilliant appearance and manner to perceive the absent, preoccupied way in which he received her. "I don't know how we are to get home," she said. "Your coachman has engaged a carriage from the hotel-keeper," he replied; "it will be ready in a few moments. Your own horses are not hurt, luckily." "I don't know what Mr. Mellen will say!" she exclaimed. "He warned me not to keep the horses." The stranger turned quickly toward her, with a sudden flush on his face. "May I know whom I have had the pleasure of assisting?" he asked. "I am Mrs. Harrington," she replied, "of ---- street. I am so--" "And your friends?" "Miss Mellen, the sister of Grantley Mellen; and the other lady is his betrothed wife." "She! That--"