"And what pleasant evenings we shall have," said Madeline, holding her sister's hands, "in the Christmas time! You will be staying with us, you know; and that pretty old room in the north of the house Eugene has already ordered to be fitted up for you. Well, and my dear father, and dear Walter, who will be returned long ere then, will walk over to see us, and praise my housekeeping, and so forth. And then, after dinner, we will draw near the fire,--I next to Eugene, and my father, our guest, on the other side of me, with his long gray hair and his good fine face, with a tear of kind feeling in his eye,--you know that look he has whenever he is affected. And at a little distance on the other side of the hearth will be you--and Walter; I suppose we must make room for him. And Eugene, who will be then the liveliest of you all, shall read to us with his soft, clear voice, or tell us all about the birds and flowers and strange things in other countries. And then after supper we will walk half-way home across that beautiful valley--beautiful even in winter-- with my father and Walter, and count the stars, and take new lessons in astronomy, and hear tales about the astrologers and the alchemists, with their fine old dreams. Ah! it will be such a happy Christmas! And then, when spring comes, some fine morning--finer than this--when the birds are about, and the leaves getting green, and the flowers springing up every day, I shall be called in to help your toilet, as you have helped mine, and to go with you to church, though not, alas! as your bridesmaid. Ah! whom shall we have for that duty?" "Pshaw!" said Ellinor, smiling through her tears. While the sisters were thus engaged, and Madeline was trying, with her innocent kindness of heart, to exhilarate the spirits, so naturally depressed, of her doting sister, the sound of carriage-wheels was heard in the distance,--nearer, nearer; now the sound stopped, as at the gate; now fast, faster,--fast as the postilions could ply whip and the horses tear along. While the groups in the church-yard ran forth to gaze, and the bells rang merrily all the while, two chaises whirled by Madeline's window and stopped at the porch of the house. The sisters had flown in surprise to the casement. "It is, it is--good God! it is Walter," cried Ellinor; "but how pale he looks!" "And who are those strange men with him?" faltered Madeline, alarmed, though she knew not why. CHAPTER II. THE STUDENT ALONE IN HIS CHAMBER.--THE INTERRUPTION.--FAITHFUL LOVE. NEQUICQUAM thalamo graves Hastas . . . . Vitabis strepitumque et celerem sequi Ajacem. --HORACE: Od. xv. lib. 1. ["In vain within your nuptial chamber will you shun the deadly spears, ... the hostile shout, and Ajax eager in pursuit."]