"I looked at him earnestly a moment, and in that glance gathered a knowledge of all he had suffered. My heart smote me, for that moment I was ready to make any sacrifice that would do him good. In truth, the life I had been leading had already become wearisome. After all, empty homage satisfies no real want of the heart. "'Shall we go home?' I said, with a sudden impulse of kindness. "He grasped my hand so tightly that the diamonds hurt me. "'If you would--if you only would!' "'Let us go to-morrow, then,' I answered. 'No, that cannot be, I have engagements; but next week. We shall get home in full time for the orange-blossoms.' "'And you _will_ go?' "'Certainly. All this is getting very tiresome. Even the spite of the women has lost its charm.' "That morning we went into the breakfast-room together, and then I remarked how completely Mr. Dennison's appetite had failed. This made me very thoughtful. What if he should die?' "'Cora,' I said that night, as the girl was undressing me, 'have you observed how ill Mr. Dennison looks?' "'Yes, I have, young mistress, and it has frightened me dreadfully.' "'Frightened you, Cora? Is he so far gone as that? I did not dream of your caring so much for him.' "'Neither do I. It is you that I care for.' "'And you think that I would grieve?' "'Yes, I do.' "'It should be so. Indeed, Cora, he is a good man, and has been kind to us.' "'But that won't last forever, young mistress. The old master is keen as he is kind. If he was to make his will now, have you much idea that his property would go to the wife, who scarcely speaks to him once in twenty-four hours?' "I started, and turned upon the girl. "'Why, Cora, you frighten me!' "'Not so much as you have frightened me. Poor white widows aren't to my taste. We have tried that once, and I didn't like it.' "'Cora, we will go back to the plantation.' "'That is the best thing you can do,' answered the girl, quietly. 'Home is the place for a man to die in.' "'Why, girl!' I cried out, in nervous dread, 'you speak as if he were really in danger.' "'And so he is; people seldom get over the disease that has been creeping on him ever since we came here.' "'What disease? What are you speaking of, Cora? What disease do you think Mr. Dennison has?' "'A broken heart.' "'Cora!' "'None of your sudden fits--people get over them; but slow and sure: I have been watching it from the first.' "'And you think I have done this?' "'Of course. Who else?' "'Cora, we will go home next week.'" CHAPTER LXXIII. FIRST WIDOWHOOD. "I am a widow. The name fills me with awe, as if I had never heard it before. It has a new meaning now--a terrible meaning of death, which is full of reproach and horror. He lies yonder, cold and still, the smile which he had almost forgotten of late frozen on his white lips, the lines of age graven deeply in his face,--with something more terrible still, which makes me shiver and shrink as I gaze upon it.