"I have suspected such a calamity would happen--but even now it is not too late to prevent it!" exclaimed Virginia, sharply. "Why, Virginia," reproached Hazel, with a stamp of her foot. "You insult me!" and she turned away to conceal the tears that arose. During a short, impressive silence, Mrs. Harris abruptly entered the room, followed by Corway and Sam. "Dear me!" she exclaimed, as she smilingly surveyed the trio, "James has often gone into raptures over the domestic cooing of the Thorpes, but I was quite unaware that it made them careless of the wishes of their guests. "Thorpe, your arm"--and she swept down the room and seized his arm. "Hazel, I have brought you an escort," and with a smile at Virginia, "I don't think that Sam is far away. You cannot refuse to come now." Hazel proudly accepted Corway's arm. Then they turned to leave the room. As they neared the door, Virginia exclaimed, with low but startling irony: "Il. cavalier is careful to make it appear he is delighted with the society of his affianced. No doubt feeling an honorable justification for his mercenary felicity. Ho, ho," Virginia laughed, her lips quivering with scorn. "The situation is charming. Ha, ha, ha, ha." The principals to this little drama understood its meaning perfectly, but while Mrs. Harris paused for an instant in wonderment, her easy nature forbade worry--and so the incident quickly passed out of her memory, and Sam was too shrewd to show that he heard it, and with his round face beaming with unquenchable admiration, bowed and offered his arm to her, accompanied by the characteristic side movement of his head--"Ea, ha, I guess so--eh, Auntie?" The joyous manner of utterance was like a shaft of sunshine bursting through the dark, tragic clouds of impending storm. Virginia's first attack fell short of accomplishing the purpose intended, yet the seed of doubt, of suspicion and fear of family disgrace had been grounded in her brother's mind, and it would be strange, indeed, if Corway's position proved invulnerable to more carefully-planned attacks. It must be remembered that an opportunity had come at an unexpected moment, and she impulsively seized upon it. Through it all, however, Virginia must be credited with a sincere belief that Corway's intentions toward Hazel were as insincere and mercenary as they had been to her. CHAPTER II. The night of the Harris reception at "Rosemont," in honor of Lord Beauchamp, was beautiful. Dark, yet serene and tranquil as the illimitable void through which the myriad of glittering stars swept along on their steady course.