At first Aurora thought that the tune had some vague resemblance to a musical production which she had heard before, but could not tell when and where. As it proceeded it gradually dawned upon her that, somehow there was a connection between the thought of Margaret and the music. She became more and more agitated and was quite certain now that this soul-stirring melody was the creation of her dear, beloved friend and confidant, Margaret MacDonald. Then she realized that the words were her own. "Oh, the oath!" she gasped, her brain in a delirium of intoxication. Realizing fully that the melody was nothing else than the very composition of Margaret, and that she had written the words at the Diana Seminary on the very eventful night of the moonlight reception, she was unable to conceive how it had become a public property. Was Margaret after all a capricious traitor, a recalcitrant, who had forsaken her solemn vow and desecrated their covenant? These and other thoughts drove Aurora to the verge of collapse, and as Spencer Hamilton concluded the piece with a finale of deep pathos that reached the pinnacle of tragic intensity, there was commotion around where Aurora was enthroned, for she had lost consciousness. Thinking that the intense interest and excitement of the occasion had caused her faintness, she was gently removed to her apartment and the program of the evening's festivities was completed with a brilliant reception and dance. Hamilton himself, however, was so affected that he left the reception at once and returned to his hotel and there tried to regain strength for the ordeal that he was planning to carry out next day. The following morning, at the proper time for calling in India, he left his hostelry and directed his steps toward the Viceregal palace on the pretense of making inquiry concerning the health of Aurora, but ostensibly to reveal the mysterious metempsychosis of himself and to reassert his undying love for her. Having arrived at the gate he learned that Aurora had been restored to her normal state of health and spirits. He consequently sent in his card and a few minutes later was summoned to the drawing-room of the palace where, after a second's waiting, Aurora Cunningham appeared on the threshold, somewhat flushed and agitated. Hamilton, on seeing Aurora, came forward and, extending his hand, inquired most anxiously for her health, and intimated that it would give him extreme pleasure to explain certain circumstances which would lead to the gratification of her own unspoken desires.