Slowly but steadily the barrier between father and child had risen and strengthened since the visit to Greyledge--a wall as of crystal, which she could neither level nor penetrate. Close to him, having him apparently within touch, yet conscious always that a transparent obstacle divided them. To the cause of estrangement he never referred, even indirectly, and he was neither irritable nor stern, but mercilessly cold and punctiliously courteous. Why he had selected Taormina in preference to Palermo was known only to himself, but one morning Eliza and Eglah saw a letter postmarked Catania, and both recognized Mr. Herriott's peculiarly bold handwriting. Judge Kent read it, returned it to the envelope, which he put in his pocket, and unfolded a New York newspaper. Mrs. Mitchell moved away to a distant window, carrying her embroidery frame and silks, and Eglah opened the piano and played softly two of Chopin's _nocturnes_. In the mirror opposite she saw that her father was listening, beating time with the index finger of his right hand. When she ended and approached him, he shut his eyes and hummed the final bars. "Father, why did you come here for so long a stay?" "It is convenient to Catania and on the road to Messina." "You knew that Mr. Herriott expected to be there?" "I know that he has a scientific friend there who is an expert in all that pertains to seismology, and that he wishes Herriott to see his seismographs." "That fact should in no degree influence our movements." "Speak solely for yourself, my dear. I particularly desire to see Herriott before he starts from Tromso on his trip to the midnight sun." Leaning forward, his fine dark eyes fixed on hers, he lowered his voice. "A separation of eighteen months must have brought you to a realization of your blind folly, and it is necessary that you should have an opportunity to retrieve your error. Herriott comes to-day." "A lifetime--a thousand years would make no difference with me. I am glad to know that he will never ask me a second time to marry him, and if he should, I could not, and I would not. Oh, father! Put that idea out of your mind, and give me back my own place in your heart." She came close and tried to embrace him, but he held her back at arm's length. "I love only those who obey me; and defiance I never forgive. Until you come to an appreciation of your duty as regards my unalterable wishes, I must request you not to touch me, not to expect any notice from me, except such social courtesies as one cannot avoid." "I am the price of something Mr. Herriott alone can sell you? What is it you wish to buy?" "Your future happiness, and my peace of mind." "Distinctly, I decline to be sold." He smiled, put her aside, drew his chair out upon a balcony, and resumed reading his newspaper.