By this time Marion seemed indeed like a sister, and was treated, both by Mr. Wallingford and Mrs. Dudley, with the frankness due to that relation. Gertrude was not at all surprised, therefore, to hear her brother ask the young girl to walk with him on the piazza. She went to her room to undress little Paul, a delightful task, never delegated to another. On this occasion she lingered longer than usual, for the wide awake child was not readily soothed to sleep. At last dropping the lace netting around his crib, she descended the stairs leaving Bridget, with her sewing, within hearing. Edward and Marion were sitting on the piazza; and she was about to join them, when she heard an exclamation: "Disgraceful! He is a villain! I am surprised though I always distrusted him! And so lovely as she is; worthy the affection of a noble heart?" Gertrude paused trembling from head to foot. Could it be Paul, her husband, of whom her dear friend was saying such hard things. Then he was alive; and one great throb of joy quickened her whole being; but presently came a resolve to hear the worst and stepping quickly forward she said: "What is it, Edward? What bad news have you heard. If it concerns me, I can bear almost any thing better than to be kept in suspense." "Come with me," said her brother, leading her into the parlor, when he shut the door. "I have seen a gentleman to-day," he began, leading her to a seat, "who is acquainted with Paul. He parted from him the first of June. Your husband was aware he was coming direct to New York; and yet he sent no message." He waited to see how she bore this; but as her countenance remained unchanged and she sat as erect as ever, he went on: "Gertrude, darling sister, your affections were misplaced. Paul Dudley is unworthy of your love. You must forget him." She found her voice now. Her eyes sparkled with indignation. "Edward Wallingford," she began, "is it you who counsel me to break my vows; who tells a wife to forget the husband of her choice, the father of her babes? I cannot believe you are in earnest in what you say. I married too young, brother. I have always regretted that I did not listen to your advice, and wait till I had completed my education; but I never regretted that I chose Paul Dudley. I don't pretend that he has no faults. None of us are perfect; but whoever says I ought not to love and respect him, gives me wrong counsel and I reject it." She drew up her form to its full height, her nostrils dilating; and her whole face expressing derision. The gazer thought he had never seen a finer, grander model of beauty. "Gertrude," he urged tenderly, "do you think I would have taken up a mere rumor and brought it to you? The gentleman I saw was a stranger to me; and gave his evidence unbiased." "What evidence?" She asked the question proudly.