Oh, how suddenly the face of all the world was changed to the girl who such a little while ago was so unhappy that she wished herself dead! The beautiful face grew so animated that he was charmed and delighted. He told her that she had the fairest face he had ever seen, and that he would like to be a king, that he might make her a queen. All too soon that happy excursion came to an end, but it stood out brightly forever in Pansy’s memory. She had been so happy, so blessed; and when she parted with her lover it was to look forward to secret meetings--pleasant walks with him that would take away the dreariness and loneliness of her life. He told her that it would not be wrong, and she loved him too well to doubt his word. Several weeks afterward Pansy’s mother was quite sick one day with a headache, and the girl had to stay home from work. Toward afternoon she grew much better, and then Pansy, who was sitting near the bed with her sewing, said timidly: “Mamma, I am afraid that we have all been too hard on Norman Wylde. Perhaps he did love me and mean to marry me.” “Nonsense!” the mother exclaimed curtly, and then she saw tears in Pansy’s blue eyes, much to her dismay, for she thought Pansy had got over her fancy for Norman Wylde. “But, mamma----” “I do not wish to hear anything about that villain,” answered the mother sharply, and, although the girl had made up her mind to confess everything to her mother, she was frightened out of it by her harshness; and the next time she saw Norman she told him that she had made the effort to tell her mother all, but had failed through dread of her anger. They were in the Capitol Square, for it was Sunday afternoon, and Pansy had told her mother that she was going for a little walk. Norman Wylde was waiting for her under the tree in a secluded part of the grounds, and they sat down together on a rustic bench while Pansy, half in tears, related her failure with her mother. “I am sorry, for I have wished so much that I might be able to visit you at your own home,” said her lover. Then his face brightened, and he added: “But never mind, darling, it does not matter so much now, for I am going away from Richmond very soon. Do not look so woebegone, my little Pansy, for I have good news for you.” She started and looked up eagerly, wondering if his parents had relented. But it was nothing like that. In a moment he continued: “Congratulate me, my dearest. I have at last found a client!” “Oh!” cried Pansy gladly. “Yes, and a wealthy one, too,” said the young man exultantly. “He wishes me to go to London upon some law business for him, and if my mission proves successful my reputation will be made at once, and I shall earn a princely fee, also.” “But to go away so far--oh!” cried Pansy, in unutterable distress. But her lover laughed.