After the meal was over Dr. Hutton made a motion to depart, but Miss Joe vigorously opposed his purpose, supplicating him to remain at Mount Calm for only a few days, if not longer. Miss Seabright joined her invitation to the old lady’s entreaties, and Dr. Hutton finally consented to stay, and retired to his room to write letters to his friends in the West. The few days of Dr. Hutton’s projected stay at Mount Calm grew into a week, and the week was stretching into a month, and still Hugh Hutton found it daily more difficult to tear himself away from Garnet Seabright, for every time he would make an attempt to go she would say: “Not yet, Dr. Hutton. Not just yet! Stay till to-morrow;” and she would think, “Why does he not speak? He loves me! He stays here at my bidding. He must know that I love him, too! Why does he not speak? Will he go away without an explanation? Can it be that my fortune and his own lack of wealth hinders him? There are some men so proud that they will not marry an heiress, lest it be said of them that they owe all they have to their wives. But such a thought would never enter the head of my noble Hugh! He would not elevate money on one side or the other into importance enough to divide two hearts that love. Yet there is some reason, and some good reason, why, when his eyes and tones and gestures tell me every hour that he loves and esteems me, his words never do.” And then sometimes when alone she would break forth impatiently, thus: “Indeed, I won’t bear this much longer! No, that I won’t! I shan’t have Hugh’s heart and my own tormented in this way to no good purpose! I will make him tell me what it all means! Feeling very sure he loves me he shall tell me what all this hesitation means.” Such would be her impatient resolve, but Garnet never could bring herself to lead her lover on to any explanation, until one night when Hugh for the dozenth time made known that he should leave Mount Calm the next morning. It was after supper when Miss Joe retired, and they were playing a game of backgammon together. Miss Seabright looked up from her dice and said: “Well, Dr. Hutton, since you are going to-morrow, and I feel that we cannot justly keep you from your business any longer, I wish, before you depart, to ask your advice—I——” “Well, Miss Seabright?” “I—you know that my social position is a very singular one.” “It is, indeed, Miss Seabright.” “Responsible as I am for the faithful stewardship of a very large fortune——” “It is indeed, in your case especially, a very heavy responsibility.” “Yes; and I have neither father nor brother to aid and counsel me.” “My poor counsel is at your command always, Miss Seabright.” “Thank you! It is in relation to the stewardship of Heaven’s goods intrusted to me that I wish your advice. One should not live for themselves alone, you know.” “Assuredly not,” said Dr. Hutton, giving her his close attention.