“‘You don’t mean really?’ I asked, incredulously. ‘Don’t I? that’s all,’ he answered emphatically. ‘I should like nothing better. Well, is it a bargain?’ Adela turned quite pale. ‘Oh, don’t,’ she said, hurriedly, ‘_please_, don’t; why should you run such a risk? How do you know that you might not be sent mad too?’ He laughed very heartily, and coloured a little with pleasure at seeing the interest she took in his safety. ‘Never fear,’ he said, ‘it would take more than a whole squadron of departed ones, with the old gentleman at their head, to send me crazy.’ He was so eager, so persistent, so thoroughly in earnest, that I yielded at last, though with a certain strong reluctance, to his entreaties. Adela’s blue eyes filled with tears, and she walked away hastily to the conservatory, and stood picking bits of heliotrope to hide them. Nevertheless, Ralph got his own way; it was so difficult to refuse him anything. We gave up all our engagements for the evening, and he did the same with his. At about ten o’clock he arrived, accompanied by a friend and brother officer, Captain Burton, who was anxious to see the result of the experiment. ‘Let me go up at once,’ he said, looking very happy and animated. ‘I don’t know when I have felt in such good tune; a new sensation is a luxury not to be had every day of one’s life; turn the gas up as high as it will go; provide a good stout poker, and leave the issue to Providence and me.’ We did as he bid. ‘It’s all ready now,’ Henry said, coming downstairs after having obeyed his orders; ‘the room is nearly as light as day. Well, good luck to you, old fellow!’ ‘Good-bye, Miss Bruce,’ Ralph said, going over to Adela, and taking her hand with a look, half laughing, half sentimental-- “‘Fare thee well, and if for ever, Then for ever, fare thee well,’