"O, Rupert!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands in agony as she turned to re-enter her chamber--"Rupert, farewell--farewell forever!" "Dearest Mildred!" cried a voice whose tones leaped into her heart with a strange thrill of joy--"dearest Mildred!" Did she still dream--or was it indeed Rupert to whose breast she was now folded with a bliss too great for words! "Thank God, Rupert, you have come!" cried Mildred. "Mildred," said Rupert, (for it was indeed Rupert,) "what mean these tears? Are you not happy--this marriage--" "A--h!" shrieked Mildred, clinging to him as though the basilisk hand of Perozzi were already upon her, "_save me--save me_, Rupert!" "_Save_ you! dearest, beloved Mildred--tell me--tell me quick--this marriage--is it not your own choice?" "O no, no, no!" sobbed Mildred. "Then no power on earth shall compel you to it! You are mine--mine, dearest Mildred!" and clasping her once more in his arms, Rupert kissed the tears from her beautiful eyes, as full of hope and love they met his beaming gaze. "But my grandfather!" she cried, starting up. "He is here, dear girl." "Here! then lead me to him quickly--let me implore him to have pity upon me!" The arrival of Mr. Dundass upon the scene was wholly unlooked for by Mr. Donaldson--need we say as wholly unwelcome. Guilt and fear paled his cheek and almost palsied his tongue as his lips feigned a welcome--nor was Perozzi less moved. To define the feelings of Mrs. Donaldson would be difficult. Her love for her daughter had been held in complete subjugation to the will of her husband, and while she grieved deeply for the sorrows heaped upon her, her love and fear of Mr. Donaldson, and her knowledge of his pecuniary distress caused her at the same time to exert all her influence to rivet the chain around poor Mildred--so strange is human nature! What then was to be the result of her father's unexpected visit--was it freedom for Mildred--was it to heap disgrace upon her husband? In the mean time Mr. Dundass had been shown to a private room in a remote wing of the building, while Mr. Donaldson and Perozzi were already planning new schemes. They resolved that Mildred should be kept in ignorance of her grandfather's arrival as long as possible--of Rupert's they themselves knew nothing--and that on no account should she be allowed to speak with him privately. The marriage should take place at an early hour the following morning--_that_ consummated they would defy even the devil himself! Mr. Dundass was sitting sad and sorrowful in the apartment to which he had been conducted, for this marriage filled him with grief, wondering that Mildred did not appear to welcome him, or that Rupert did not return, when the door suddenly opened and Mildred rushed in, and falling at his feet exclaimed: "O dearest, dearest grandfather, pity me--O sacrifice me not to Perozzi!"