About nine o’clock we stopped for refreshments, and on re-ëntering the cars, I found to my joy that the dark stranger’s seat was appropriated by a son of Erin, who seemed nowise inclined to surrender it, inasmuch as he had with him his wife, baby, and bundle. This time the fates were propitious, for after looking around him awhile, the stranger asked permission to sit by me, saying he should not discommode me more than two or three hours, as by that time he hoped to reach his journey’s end, a remark which gave me more pain than pleasure, for every nerve thrilled with joy at being thus near to one who, though an entire stranger, possessed for me a particular attraction. It was quite dark where we sat, and the night lamp burned but dimly, so he did not once obtain a full view of my face. He proved a most agreeable and attentive companion, opening and shutting the window just as often as I evinced an inclination to have him, holding my sachel in his lap; placing his own travelling trunk at my feet for a footstool, and offering me his fur-lined overcoat for a pillow; besides expressing many fears that I would take cold whenever the window was open. At almost every station, too, he asked “if I wished for anything,” but I did not, except indeed to know whether he was yet the husband of Ada Montrose, and to obtain that information I would have given almost anything. At last I hit upon the following expedient. He made some remark about the country through which we were passing, and I replied by saying that “I believed it was not the first time he had been over that road, as, if I mistook not, I saw him in the cars with his _wife_ the year before.” The wrinkle in his forehead grew deeper, and his face flushed as he said quickly, “I do not remember of meeting you before, though I _was_ here last fall, but not with my _wife_, for I have none. It was my _ward_, Miss Montrose.” Nothing could have given me more satisfaction than this announcement, for if Ada were his _ward_, it explained, in a measure, his attentions to her; and as I cast stolen glances at him, I felt more and more convinced that there could be no affinity between him and the haughty, imperious girl to whom he was guardian. It seemed to me a very short time ere he arose, and offering me his hand, said he must go, adding, “We shall undoubtedly meet again, as I occasionally travel this way.” Yes, we should meet again. I felt sure of that, though how and where I could not tell.