She raised her wet eyes with a glance of incredulous gratitude. "I am sorry I gave way," she murmured. "I am not usually so weak. But you see, a great deal has happened ... and I hardly slept at all last night, and I am very tired." Slowly she stood up, eagerly but silently questioning him. After a moment's embarrassment she held out her hand. He drew his own from his pocket to present in return. Half contemptuously, he threw a glance at the little girlish fingers lying in his square brown palm. "I'll give you another ring," he said brusquely, "but I couldn't stand seeing you wear that other. When we meet to-morrow morning, I hope you will be rested. Good night. Off with you." She needed no second bidding. CHAPTER XI A FIRST EXPERIENCE "_Living alone in an empty house Here half hid in the gleaming wood, ... Till a morbid hate and horror have grown Of a world in which I have hardly mixt, And a morbid, eating lichen fixt On a heart half turned to stone._"--Tennyson. It seemed to Virginia, as she let her limbs relax in the big, downy old bed, as though she never could sleep again. Somewhere in that silent house couched the Monster, as yet inert, but one day to awake, one day to rise before her as she cowered there chained to her rock. The very silence seemed full of breathings, the whispering of the trees outside her window was like a stealthy approach. How could sleep visit her? Yet youth exhausted will have its way, and she had not been laid to rest more than half an hour when she was in a profound and tranquil slumber, which lasted without a break until she was called next morning. Grover had drawn back the curtains, and her room was full of sunshine. The maid brought her tea to the bedside, and smiled as though she could not help smiling at the angelic little face in its tumbled golden halo. "Dear me, ma'am, if you'll pardon the liberty, it does seem that odd to have a lady in this house," said she benevolently. "Why? Does Mr. Gaunt not have many visitors?" asked Virgie drowsily. "Oh, never ladies, ma'am! Why, ever since I came, no lady has stayed in this house--no, nor so much as dined! What is it they call the master in these parts--it means one that hates women?" "Misogynist?" said Virgie. "Have I married a misogynist?" "Indeed, ma'am; it's high time he was cured. A fine man like him, strong and in the prime of life. We've all wished it, many a time! And cured he could not help but be, once he had seen you, as we all agreed last night," was the flattering verdict, given rather timidly. The bride coloured, but did not seem offended. She raised herself on her elbow and ate her morsel of toast, asking Grover various questions. "Our courtship has been so short, I know nothing about his home life," she said. "But this seems to be a very pretty place."