"My own, own heavenly angel, the sacrifice will not be required. You have been once offered, and you have been wonderfully delivered. It is final, my darling. No victim was ever laid a second time upon the fire!" "But yet you are not free, mamma?" "I do not know. I cannot even conjecture what the monster's next move may be. But I do know this--that, whatever he does, or attempts to do, he will not be permitted to touch you, or even to see or to speak to you again!" "Oh, I should be overjoyed to hear that, if only you were free from him, sweet mother!" "My darling, the arm that delivered you is not shortened that it cannot save. For, Odalite, whatever the instrument might have been, it was the hand of Providence that saved you." "I know it, mamma. And I will hope and trust. You never did any evil in your life. You have only suffered from evildoers. Why, on that account, should you continue to suffer? Yes, I will hope and trust. And, mamma, I have roused myself, and am going down to dinner to surprise papa. And then, oh, do let us try to recover the good, old days of peace and gladness that we had before the tempter and destroyer came. Who is downstairs besides our own family?" "Dr. Peters is here. He brought confirmation of that monster's Californian marriage." "Oh, I am very glad of that! I would have it confirmed and reconfirmed forever and ever. Who else is downstairs, mamma?" "Mrs. Anglesea. Your father asked her to the house, that we might hear her statement in more detail. And she seems to like her quarters so well that I am inclined to think that she will stay just as long as she is permitted to do so." "Well, mamma, let her stay. Poor woman! To be deserted by her husband! Is she very unhappy?" "Not she! I should say that she is the most happily constituted human being I ever saw. She has the soundest health, the finest appetite, the keenest senses and the dullest sensibilities that I ever heard of. She has no more sentiment than if she ran upon four feet, instead of two! Give her full bodily comforts and pleasures, which she can feel and enjoy, and she will be perfectly happy." "Oh, mamma, what a character!" "But that she is very--what shall I say of her that will not seem harsh or uncharitable?" "Very unsophisticated and very unconventional, mamma?" suggested Odalite. "Yes, dear, that will do. But for those drawbacks, you may find her amusing." "But perhaps she is more amusing on account of those drawbacks, mamma," suggested Odalite. But her mother shuddered. There was a little bustle at the chamber door, which opened suddenly. Mrs. Force turned around, and exclaimed: "Here comes Wynnette, delighted to see you up! And now, dear, I will leave you with your sister, and return to our visitors. You will be down to dinner, you say?" "Oh, yes, mamma--certainly," said Odalite. Mrs. Force kissed her daughter, and left the room.