“Mrs. Houston, you are mistaken. I bear no new name or new relation, as your words would seem to imply.” “Then, miss, so much the worse!” exclaimed Nellie, indignantly. “I do not understand you,” said Margaret, in amazement. “You do! And I wonder more than ever that you should presume to present yourself before me!” retorted the lady, raising her voice. “Mrs. Houston, my mother was your bosom friend. Do not insult her daughter,” said Margaret, as the blood rushed to her face. “You have dishonored your mother!” exclaimed Nellie, in a paroxysm of emotion between anger, awakened memory and grief. “God knoweth!” replied the maiden, dropping her head and her clasped hands with a gesture of profound despair. But the altercation had reached the ears of Colonel Houston, who now came out, saying: “Nellie, my dear, this is not the way to meet this exigency. Good-morning, Miss Helmstedt, pray walk in and be seated. Nellie, she is but a young thing! If she has committed any grave fault, it carries its own bitter punishment, God knows. As for us, since she presents herself here again, we must continue to give her shelter and protection until the arrival of her father. Nay, Nellie, my dear, I say this must be done whatever her offences may be.” “You too! Oh, you too, Colonel Houston!” involuntarily exclaimed Margaret, clasping her hands. “Miss Helmstedt, my child, I am not your judge. Make a confidante of my wife, she loved your mother. Go into your apartment, Margaret. Attend her, Mrs. Houston.” “Colonel Houston, I thank you! Mrs. Houston,” she continued, in a faltering voice; “I returned here only--because--it was my appointed place of abode--the home selected for me by my parents and--Ralph.” “Never mind about Ralph now, my child,” said the colonel, in a gentle tone, which nevertheless cut Margaret to the heart. She meekly bowed her head and passed on to her own apartments, followed by Mrs. Houston, who threw herself into a chair and immediately commenced a close catechism, which was interrupted in the midst by Margaret saying: “Dear Mrs. Houston, not from any want of respect to you, and not in defiance of your authority, but from the direst necessity--Oh, what am I saying!” She stopped suddenly in great anguish and remained silent. “Margaret Helmstedt, what mean you?” demanded Mrs. Houston, indignantly. “Nothing! I mean nothing!” “You mean to affront me!” “No, Heaven knows!” “How can you explain or defend your conduct?” “In no manner!” “And you expect us quietly to submit to your contumacy?” “No! Do your will. I cannot blame you!” “And Ralph?” Like the rising of an inward light came a transient glow of faith from her beautiful face. “Ralph will think no evil,” she said, softly. “Yet let me assure you, Miss Helmstedt, that though Ralph Houston’s chivalric confidence in you may be unshaken; yet his father will never now consent to the continuance of his engagement with you. You heard what Colonel Houston said?”