"Whatever she is waiting for, she takes her first step down the street to-night. What a new world it will open before her!" And Frank unconsciously quickened his pace. Edgar followed with a less impatient step but with fully as much determination. Pride was mingled with his love, and pride demanded that his future wife should not be held in any bonds forged by the obstinacy or the superstitious fears of a wayward sister. They expected to see the girls at the windows, but they found the shutters closed and the curtains drawn. Indeed, the whole house had a funereal look which staggered Frank and made even Edgar stare in astonishment. "It was not like this yesterday," he declared. "Do they not expect you?" "Yes, if my telegram was delivered." "Let us see at once what is the matter." It was Doris who came to the door. When her eyes fell upon the two young men, especially upon Frank, her whole countenance changed. "Oh, Mr. Etheridge, is it you?" she cried. "I thought--I understood----" She did not say what, but her relieved manner made quite an impression on Frank, although it was, of course, impossible for him to suspect what a dangerous deed she had been contemplating at that very moment. "Are the young ladies well?" he asked, in his haste to be relieved from his anxiety. "Oh, yes, quite well," she admitted, somewhat mysteriously. "They are in there," she added, pointing to the parlor on the left. Frank and Edgar looked at each other. They had always before this been received in the cheerful sitting-room. "If something is not soon done to make Miss Hermione leave the house," Doris whispered passionately to Frank as she passed him, "there will be worse trouble here than there has ever been before." "What do you mean?" he demanded, gliding swiftly after her and catching her by the arm just as she reached the back hall. "Go in and see," said she, "and when you come out tell me what success you have had. For if you fail, then----" "Then what----" "Providence must interpose to help you." She was looking straight at him, but that glance told him nothing. He thought her words strange and her conduct strange, but everything was strange in this house, and not having the key to her thoughts, the word _Providence_ did not greatly startle him. "I will see what I can do," said he, and returning to Edgar, who had remained standing by the parlor-door, he preceded him into that gloomy apartment. The girls were both there, seated, as Frank perceived with a certain sinking of the heart, in the farthest and dimmest corner of this most forbidding place. Emma was looking towards them, but Hermione sat with downcast eyes and an air of discouragement about her Frank found it hard to behold unmoved. "Hermione," said he, advancing into the middle of the room, "have you no welcome for me?" Trembling with sudden feeling, she rose slowly to her feet; and her eyes lifted themselves painfully to his. "Forgive me," she entreated, "I have had such a shock."