The spring passed in delightful anticipations. CHAPTER III OLD ACQUAINTANCES But, unhappily, in the height of midsummer, Abel Force, believing that he acted from the purest motives of affection, but--no doubt--as the event proved, deceived and misled by the enemy of mankind, proposed to take all his family for a tour which should include the White Mountains, the Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, the Thousand Islands and Niagara Falls. Mrs. Force, who had long lost her morbid dread of public resorts, willingly agreed to the proposed journey. About the middle of July the party set out. They traveled very leisurely, enjoying every foot of land and every ripple of water they passed over. It was late in August when at length they reached Niagara. They took rooms at the Cataract House, and spent a week in making excursions through the magnificent scenery around the Falls. It was in the first days of September that something of very grave import to the future of the happy family occurred at their hotel. The whole party, together with many of the guests of the house, were out on one of the grand piazzas overlooking the rapids. They remained out enjoying the sublime and almost terrific scene until the sun set and the moon arose. Then Mrs. Force, dreading the dampness of the September evening over the water for her children, led the way into the house, followed by all her party. They went into the brilliantly lighted public parlor. As she was crossing the room, leaning on her husband's arm and followed by her children and their governess, she suddenly started and turned pale. Mr. Force, who felt her start, but did not see the sudden blanching of her cheek, looked up and saw a stranger approaching them from the opposite side of the parlor. He was a short, stout, fair-haired, rosy-faced, blue-eyed man of middle age and pleasant aspect, in a fashionable evening dress. He came up with a frank smile, holding out his hand, and exclaiming: "Lady Elfrida Glennon! This is really a delightful surprise!" The haughty beauty shuddered, but almost immediately commanded herself and received her accoster's effusive address with cold politeness, and then said: "Let me present you to my husband and daughters. Mr. Force--Col. Anglesea, of the Honorable East India Company's Service. Col. Anglesea--my husband, Mr. Abel Force, of Mondreer, Maryland. Our daughters, Miss Force, Miss Wynnette, Miss Elva, Miss Meeke." While bows were being exchanged the lady quite recovered her self-possession. The party took seats near together, the colonel dropping into a lounging-chair immediately opposite the sofa on which Mrs. Force sat with her daughters--and saying something poetic and complimentary about a perfect rose surrounded by fresh buds, as he gazed upon the beautiful mother and children. Mr. Force, who occupied another armchair near them, seemed the best pleased of all the group.