"She is decidedly handsome, and her eyes are black." "Do you like her, mamma?" "Quite well, dear. She is very charming. I will tell you a secret. Perhaps she will be your auntie some day." "Is she going to marry Uncle Bert?" inquired Ruby, wide-eyed. "Nothing is settled yet, dear. But it seems probable. Bert could not find a more brilliant Mrs. Chesleigh." "I do not wish for Uncle Bert to marry. I shall tell him so!" cried Ruby. "Fie, little selfishness, you will do no such thing! He ought to marry and settle down at home. We should not then have to be running after him in every out-of-the-way place where he chooses to fall sick. Here I have been by his sick-bed all summer, ruining my health and missing the whole season by the sea!" "How gladly I would have exchanged places with you," moaned little Golden, to herself. "Mamma, did you like Glenalvan Hall?" inquired Ruby. "Oh, very much, though it is little better than a ruin. It must have been quite a grand place once. It is beautiful still in its decay. The owners were ruined by the late war." Oh, how anxiously beautiful Golden longed to hear one word from her old grandfather and her black mammy. She listened with a beating heart to the lady's words, but she never named the two that little Golden loved so dearly, and after awhile she rose and said that Celine was waiting for her, and she must go. Little Ruby clung to her dress. "Mayn't I go?" she pleaded, and Mrs. Desmond yielding a smiling assent, they went away together, and left Golden alone in the room. Alone, with her young heart full of strange, troubled joy. Bertram Chesleigh was here, under the same roof with her. She should see him, she should hear him once again. There was a bitter, troubled pleasure in the thought. She could not bear the tumult of oppressive thoughts that rushed over her mind. To escape them she went in quest of Mrs. Markham, and paid her the money she had borrowed from her a few days before. Then she went back to the room to wait for little Ruby, but the child was so preoccupied with her friends that she did not return to her room during the day. At twilight she came flitting in joyously as a little fairy. "Oh, Mary, I have had such a charming day! And you must dress me now in my white lace dress over the pink satin slip, and my white satin slippers, and embroidered rose-silk stockings. I am going to stay up for the ball to-night. Won't that be splendid?" Golden looked a little anxiously at the moist, flushed face and shining, dark eyes. "Darling, let me persuade you to lie down on the sofa and rest awhile," she urged. "You have had such a busy, exciting day, that you need rest. To-morrow you will have one of your bad headaches." "Oh, no I am not tired one bit. And mamma and Miss Glenalvan are gone to dress now. I must be ready when they call for me," urged Ruby.