At last the suspense and wretchedness became too great for her young heart to bear. With it all, there started up in her mind the wilful pride and determination of a petted child accustomed to being treated as the idol of all about her. "She has stolen him from me--bad, designing woman!" she exclaimed. "But this shall not last--she shall not stay here--I will not be braved by her and set aside that she may be worshipped! She shall see, and Norman Lovel, too; they are laughing at me, I dare say, at this very moment--but they shall not laugh long." She approached the window once more and looked out. Barbara and Norman Lovel stood side by side, as before; her hand rested on his arm, he was looking into her face. Elizabeth could not clearly distinguish his features, but her jealous fancy required no aid to help her paint that glance. Her own eyes had drooped so often beneath its passionate fervor, her girlish heart, ever tremulous, had responded so fully to the tones of that thrilling voice--yes, she could imagine it all! She flung down the draperies again, and, forcing back the tears which had fairly pained her cheeks as they poured over them, she left the chamber and hurried down-stairs to put in force a resolve formed during her unquiet vigil. When Sir William Phipps conducted his wife into the house, at the conclusion of that embarrassing scene, they passed through the long passage and entered an apartment which the governor occupied as his study. "I was hardly expecting your arrival to-night," Lady Phipps said, as he placed a chair and sat down near her. "I made all haste, for I was anxious to return--" "Be careful how you arrive again in the dark," she said, interrupting him in a playful tone, through which some faint annoyance that her husband's mistake had occasioned might have been detected. "I regret that," replied Sir William, gravely; "but supposing the lady could be no other than my own fair wife, I did not hesitate to greet her." "Let us say no more about it--we will leave the lady to herself for a little, when she will have recovered from her agitation." "Is she your friend from the farm house?" "Yes--it is Mistress Barbara Stafford; you remember the name, and the shipwreck." "I remember; and you have persuaded her to become our guest at last?" "I have. You do not disapprove? I thought you desired it." "Whatever you do, fair lady, must be well done--any arrangement that affords you pleasure always meets with my approval."