Rue shook her head. "There can be but one Master Harry for me," she said quietly,--"the one that I nursed as a babe and petted as a child, the one that I have lived with so many years, and who has always been so kind to me--kinder even than he has been to himself. So please let me call him Master Bergan; but, of course, the rest of the people will give him any name that you say." "Of course they will," returned the Major, haughtily, "or I'll know the reason why. As for you, maumer, I shall let you do as you please; you've had your own way too long to be balked of it now. But take care that the others don't hear and imitate you,--or you know what they'll get.". "Thank you, Master Harry," replied Rue, as gratefully as if the assent had been more graciously given,--"you are always good to your poor old maumer. Good night." And she turned to go. But on the threshold, she paused, and lifted her sightless face toward the dim night-sky, across which dark clouds were swiftly scudding. "Master Harry," said she, suddenly, "do you remember how I told you, six months ago, that the Bergan star was set, and how angry you were?" "Yes, yes, I remember," exclaimed the Major, hoarsely and eagerly,--"what of it?" She slowly raised her right hand, and pointed skyward, with a strange, intent, watchful expression in her uplifted "See! it is rising!" said she; "it comes up through the clouds,--they try to hold it back, but they cannot,--it grows brighter! it rises higher!--ah!"--drawing her breath hard and gaspingly,--"it stops--it goes down again!--the clouds cover it!--it is--No! it is not gone! it shines faintly behind the clouds--it breaks through--slowly, slowly, slowly,--it rises! it rises!" Yielding, half-unconsciously, to the powerful influence of the blind woman's rapt, ecstatic manner, Bergan had drawn near to her, and now saw, with surprise, a single star shining for a moment through the rifts of the clouds. Glancing at the Major, whom he had before seen to be hanging with breathless interest upon the words of the old negress, he perceived that his eyes were fixed upon it also, with a gaze that was half-awed, half-triumphant. He knew not what to think. Maumer Rue still stood in the same commanding attitude, with raised hand, and intent, uplooking face. Suddenly, her arm fell by her side; her head drooped on her breast; the majesty that had informed her pose and gesture went out like an expiring flame; she shivered, tottered, and would have fallen but for the Major's prompt support. Without a word, he guided her safely to the door of her cabin. Coming back, he reseated himself at the table, which had been cleared of everything but the bottles and glasses, and hastily poured out and swallowed some raw brandy. Then he remarked, in a half-explanatory and half-apologetic tone,--