was gone, and, with some chagrin, and with few words, she unravelled the difficulty. Her mother--the old fool--was about to be married, and to a Mr. Patrick Delaney, an Irish gentleman, fresh from the green island, who had only been some eighteen months in America. “You seem annoyed by this affair, Julia; but how does it affect you?” “Oh, such a match can not turn out well. This Mr. Delaney is a young man, only twenty-five, and what can he see in mother to induce him to marry her? It can only be for the little pittance of property which she possesses.” I shrugged my shoulders while replying:-- “There must be some consideration in every marriage-contract.” “Ah! but, Edward, what sort of a man can it be to whom money is the consideration for marrying a woman old enough to be his mother?” “And so little money, too. But, Julia, perhaps he marries her as a mother. He is a modest youth, who knows his juvenility, and seeks becoming guardianship. But the thing does not concern us at all.” “She is my mother, Edward.” “True; but still I do not see that the matter should concern us. You do not apprehend that Mr. Patrick Delaney will seek to exercise the authority of a father over either of us?” “No! but I fear she will repent.” “Why should that be a subject of fear which should be a subject of gratulation? For my part, I hope she may repent. We are told she can not be saved else.” Julia was silent. I continued:-- “But what brings her here, and makes her so suddenly affable with me? That is certainly a matter which looks threatening. Does she explain this to you, Julia?” “Not otherwise than by declaring she is sorry for former differences.” “Ah, indeed! but her sorrow comes too late, and I very much suspect has some motive. What more? the shaft is not yet shot.” “You guess rightly; she invites us to the wedding, and insists that we must come, as a proof that we harbor no malice.” “Is that all?” “All, I believe.” “She is more considerate than I expected. Well, you promised her?” “No; I told her I could say nothing without consulting you.” “And would you wish to go, Julia?” “Oh, surely, dear husband.” “We will both go, then.” A week afterward the affair took place, and we were among the spectators. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE HEART-FIEND FINDS AN ECHO FROM THE FIEND WITHOUT.