Here her hands began to tremble, and she worked her needles for a moment, vigorously, but made another abrupt pause the minute after, and thus her thoughts ran, "Well, why should they not marry, these two noble creatures? She is dearer than a child to us, the true-hearted Mary, and he--who could help being good under the care of a father like Esmond? She loves him, I can see it in her eyes, in the quiet humility of her look; she loves him, and he loves her; they will soon find it out, but the others, I must see the young man; I must try to read all these young hearts." Aunt Hannah was disturbed in her reverie by a light step that came through the outer room, followed by the quick opening of a door, and Isabel Chester entered the kitchen. Poor Isabel! her eyes sparkled wildly through their tears, her face was flushed, her lips quivering, and the rich masses of her hair hung in waves around her head. Still was she wondrously beautiful, for grief softened a style of loveliness sometimes too brilliant and imperious. In tears, Isabel was always sweet and womanly. She was a being to cherish as well as to admire. She entered hurriedly, and flinging back the shawl, of mingled colors, that partially covered her head, looked eagerly around. "Mary, where is Mary Fuller?" she inquired, "I wish to speak with Mary Fuller." Mary heard her voice and sprang up. "Oh! Isabel, this is kind, I am glad you have come so soon." "Come with me, Mary. I must speak with you." "Let us go up to my room," said Mary, with some excitement, when she saw the flushed face and agitated manner of her friend. "Mary, Mary, come here, hold my head against your bosom, it aches, oh, it aches terribly," cried Isabel, reaching out her arms as she sunk on the bed in Mary's room. "I have come to live with you dear Mary, tell me I am welcome, oh, tell me I shall not be turned out of doors. I ask nothing better than to stay at the Old Homestead all my life." "You are sick, darling Isabel, very sick, to talk so wildly," said Mary, striving to soothe her excitement; "why, you would seem like a bird of paradise in a robin's nest here at the Old Homestead--yes, yes you are sick, Isabel, your hands are burning, your lips mutter these things strangely; what has come over you?" "I have left Mrs. Farnham for good!" exclaimed Isabel, starting up and pushing the hair back from her temples. "I shall never see Frederick again, never, never--Mary, Mary Fuller, I know this is death, my heart seems clutched with an iron claw." "Try and be calm, dear Isabel--if you have really left Mrs. Farnham, tell me, how it all came about, and what I can do." "She taunted me with my poverty--she flung the Alms-House in my teeth--oh, Mary, Mary, dependence on that woman has been a burning curse to my nature--oh I would die for the power to fling back all the money she heaped upon me. It crushes my life out."