Ishmael fervently pressed the hand of his kind friend and left him. Of course Bee, who was still busy with her maids in the store-room, was not to be spoken to on that subject at that hour. But Ishmael went up to his own room to reflect. Perhaps the whole key to Ishmael's conduct in this affair might have been found in the words he used when pleading with his father the cause of the Countess of Hurstmonceux; he said: "It seems to me, if any young lady had loved me so, I must have loved her fondly in return; I could not have helped doing so." And he could not. There was something too warm, generous, and noble in Nora's son to be so insensible as all that. His inspiration also instructed him that not the beautiful and imperious Claudia, but the lovely and loving Bee was his Heaven- appointed wife. He was inspired when in his agony that dreadful night he had cried out: "By a woman came sin and death into the world, and by a woman came redemption and salvation! Oh! Claudia, my Eve, farewell! And Bee, my Mary, hail!" And now that he was about to betroth himself to Bee, and make her happy, he himself felt happier than he had been for many days. He felt sure, too, that when his heart should recover from its wounds he should love Bee with a deeper, higher, purer, and more lasting affection than ever his fierce passion for Claudia could have become. CHAPTER V. SECOND LOVE. The maiden loved the young man well, And pined for many a day, Because that star-eyed, queenly belle Had won his heart away. But now the young man chooses well Between the beauteous pair, The proud and brilliant dark-haired belle, And gentle maiden fair. --_M. F. Tupper_ After tea Ishmael, having missed Bee from the drawing room, went out into the garden, expecting to find her there. Not seeing her, he walked up and down the gravel walk, waiting for her appearance. Presently she came up, softly and silently, and joined him. "Thanks, dearest Bee," he said, as he drew her arm within his own. "It is a beautiful evening, Ishmael; I have never seen the garden look more lovely," said Bee. And it was indeed a beautiful evening and a lovely scene. The sun had just set; but all the western horizon and the waters of the distant river were aflame with crimson fire of his reflected rays; while over the eastern hills the moon and stars were shining from the dark gray heavens. In the garden, the shrubs and flowers, not yet damp with dew, were sending forth their richest fragrance; the latest birds were twittering softly before settling themselves to sleep in their leafy nests; and the earliest insects were tuning up their tiny, gleeful pipes before commencing their evening concert. "This garden is a very pleasant place, quite as pleasant as Tanglewood, if uncle would only think so," said Bee. "Yes, it is very pleasant. You do not like the plan of returning to the country, Bee?" said Ishmael.