Thirteen years! Had they changed her past recognition? She hoped, she believed so, and yet, never in her life had Agnes Remington’s heart beaten with so much terror and apprehension as when she entered the reception-room where Guy sat talking with the infirm old man she remembered so well. He had grown older, thinner, poorer looking, than when she saw him last, but in his wrinkled face there was the same benignant, heavenly expression, which, when she was better than she was now, used to remind her of the angels. His snowy hair was parted just the same as ever, but the mild blue eyes were dimmer, and rested on her with no suspicious glance, as, partially reassured, she glided across the threshold, and bowed civilly when Guy presented grandfather to her. A little anxious as to how her grandfather would acquit himself, Maddy sat by, wondering why Agnes appeared so ill at ease, and why her grandfather started sometimes at the sound of her voice, and looked earnestly at her. “We’ve never met before to my knowledge, young woman,” he said once to Agnes, “but you are mighty like somebody, and your voice, when you talk low, keeps makin’ me jump as if I’d heard it summers or other.” After that Agnes spoke in elevated tones, as if she thought him deaf, and the mystified look of wonder did not return to his face. Numerous were the charges he gave to Agnes concerning Maddy, bidding her be watchful of his child, and see that she did not “get too much taken in with the wicked things on Broadway!” then, as he arose to go, he laid his trembling hand on her head, and said solemnly, “You are young yet, lady, and there may be a long life before you. God bless you, then, and prosper you in proportion as you are kind to Maddy. I’ve nothin’ to give you nor Mr. Guy for your goodness, only my prayers, and them you have every day. We all pray for you, lady, Joseph and all, though I doubt me he knows much the meaning of what he says.” “Who, sir? What did you say?” and Agnes’s face was scarlet, as grandpa replied, “Joseph, our unfortunate boy; Maddy must have told you; the one who’s taken such a shine to Jessie. He’s crazy-like, and from the corner where he sits so much, I can hear him whispering by the hour, sometimes of folks he used to know, and then of you, whom he calls _madam_. He says, for ten minutes on the stretch: ‘God bless the madam—the madam—the madam!’ that’s because you are good to Maddy. You’re sick, lady; talkin’ about crazy folks makes you faint,” grandpa added hastily, as Agnes turned white as the dress she wore. “No—oh, no, I’m better now,” Agnes gasped, bowing him to the door with a feeling that she could not breathe a moment longer in his presence. He did not hear her faint cry of bitter remorse, as he walked through the hall, or know she watched him as he went slowly down the walk, stopping often to admire the fair blossoms which Maddy did not feel at liberty to pick.