"You will come and see me often, will you not?--you and Miss Leigh--by-and-by, when the conventional time of mourning for my poor wife is over. Make my house your second home, both of you!--and when I return from Italy--" "Oh!" the girl exclaimed, impulsively--"Are you going to Italy?" "For a few weeks--yes!--will you come with me--you and your godmother?" His old heart beat,--a sudden joy lighted his eyes. It would have been like the dawn of a new day to him had she consented, but she shook her fair little head decisively. "I must not!" she said-"-I am bound to finish some work that I have promised. But some day--ah, yes!--some day I should love to see Italy!" The light went slowly from his face. "Some day!--well!--I hope I may live to be with you on that 'some day.' I ought not to leave London just now--but the house is very lonely--and I think I am best away for a time--" "Much best!" said Miss Leigh, sympathetically--"And if there is anything we can do--" "Yes--there is one thing that will please me very much," said Lord Blythe, drawing from his pocket a small velvet case--"I want my friend Pierce's daughter to wear this--it was my first gift to her mother." Here he opened the case and showed an exquisite pendant, in the shape of a dove, finely wrought in superb brilliants, and supported on a thin gold chain. "I gave it as an emblem of innocence"--a quick sigh escaped him--"I little knew!--but you, dear girl, are the one to wear it now! Let me fasten it round your neck." She stooped forward, and he took a lingering pleasure in putting the chain on and watching the diamonds flash against her fair skin. She was too much moved to express any worded thanks--it was not the value or the beauty of the gift that touched her, but its association and the way it was given. And then, after a little more desultory conversation, he rose to go. "Remember!" he said, taking her tenderly by both hands--"Whenever you want a home and a father, both are ready and waiting for you!" And he kissed her lightly on the forehead. "You are famous and independent, but the world is not always kind to a clever woman even when she is visibly known to be earning her own living. There are always spiteful tongues wagging in the secret corners and byways, ready to assert that her work is not her own and that some man is in the background, helping to keep her!" He then shook hands warmly with Miss Leigh. "If she ever comes to me"--he went on--"you are free to come with her--and be assured of my utmost friendship and respect. I shall feel I am in some way doing what I know my old friend Pierce Armitage would, in his best moments, approve, if I can be of the least service to you. You will not forget?"