"My good girl," he replied, with the thick, husky voice of suppressed emotion, "when I worked, for so many long years, at a business that I hated--I dreamed of such a time as this. The last few hours have been the happiest I have spent since my retirement. And is not this your doing? How true it is, that we often entertain angels unawares." She tried to speak, while tears of hallowed pleasure dimmed the sparkle of her deep azure eyes, her lips trembled, and her cheek flushed; then stooping over the hand that held hers, she kissed it, drew herself away, and fled from the room. She might have said to herself--"What! have I devoted so many weeks to his service, and yet a few hours from the truant Lucy give him more pleasure than all those of my unwearied service!" But no such thought, even by its most transitory influence, sullied the heart of the self-devoted girl. CHAPTER III. Merrily, merrily, Welcome and sweet, Ready hearts, waiting them, Sabbath chimes greet. Mournfully, mournfully, Yet do they fall On the dull, worldly ear. Deaf to their call. CULVER ALLEN. "Who is your fat friend?" enquired Caroline of Hargrave, when they met at dinner. "The gentleman who called this morning," he replied, drawing himself up with much hauteur, "is my uncle." Mrs. Villars cast a look upon her daughter, which seemed to say, half in entreaty, and half in reproof. "Oh, your unfortunate tongue." At the same time, Hargrave, perhaps, perceiving that Mabel's quick glance was upon him, suddenly changed his manner, and seemed, by the gentleness of his tone, anxious to apologise for the short feeling of anger Caroline's query had occasioned. "I had not time to introduce him this morning," he said, "before the entrance of Mr. Stokes; but I was otherwise going to ask my aunt to give him the _entree_ of the house, as he is a perfect stranger here, and his only object is to see me." "Oh, certainly," said Mrs. Villars, with one of her blandest smiles--"any friend of yours is welcome here, as a matter of course; I shall be delighted to know him." "He is a singular being," returned Hargrave, smiling his thanks; "and those only who are familiar with his peculiarities, can see through them, the greatness and goodness of his heart. There is no man to whom I owe so much--and few whom I esteem so highly." "Indeed," said Caroline, "one ought not to judge so hastily of strangers. I am sure, I beg your pardon, for speaking of him disrespectfully." Hargrave's timely change of tone had thus prevented the display of temper which Mabel had foreseen and dreaded.