"Is it possible," exclaimed the gentleman, "that the invalid for whom you have denied yourself the society and admiration of the most eminent persons in Rome, ever bore such a relation to you? I understand your character well enough to be sure no trivial reasons would gain your consent to a divorce; and you have treated him as if he were your best friend." "Did not our Saviour, whom we propose to take for an example, do this? Did he not return blessing for cursing; kindness for unkindness; and shall not we, with far less provocation, endeavor to do likewise? But indeed you are giving me too much credit. Surely no one would see a fellow countryman suffering from disease and privation, without hastening to his relief; and I have been rewarded," she continued, turning her humid eyes, beaming with holy fervor, on his, "by witnessing the most remarkable display of divine grace, that has ever come to my knowledge." "With my whole heart I sympathize with your joy," he responded, warmly. "Will the gentleman remain in Rome?" "If he lives till June, which I consider doubtful, he will return to the United States, where his parents reside. I shall probably never see him more." Possibly the gentleman made his own inference from the fact that she had left the invalid, when he might live for months. At any rate his spirits rose; and she thought he had never been more brilliant in conversation, than during their return home. A long private conversation with Mr. Wallingford, resulted in an earnest invitation for the travellers to make their headquarters at his country seat, while in Great Britain. But this, though urged by her brother to accept, Gertrude steadily declined. All she would do was to spend one day in the beautiful retreat so exactly to her taste, before she hurried Edward away to London. When the time for sailing came, she acknowledged to herself, it was none too early, for her own happiness, to bid Sir Jones adieu. A few more weeks passed in his society would make it difficult for her to adhere to a decision which in her case she knew to be right. Contrary to her expectations, when she went on board the steamer for New York, she found Mr. Radcliffe awaiting them; and when she expressed her surprise at finding him there, a merry glance thrown at her brother, convinced her it was not an accident. She wondered a little at his manner of bidding her adieu, not at all as if he considered it, as she did, a final parting; but when he said in her ear, with a hopeful smile: "Another year and I intend to be speeding over the waters," the vivid blushes that dyed her cheeks, proved to her lover that she was aware he had not abandoned his design. CHAPTER XXII. FATHER AND SON.