She was lying down in a loose robe with a bandaged head, but she did not look so ill after all, for there was a delicate flickering color on her cheek and a tender light in her languid eyes. Mr. Somerville dismissed the attentive maid and bent down to embrace his daughter, with fondest affection. “Thank Heaven you are spared to me, my darling!” he cried. “Ah, how frightened I was when I heard about the accident, until I knew you and Reggie were safe, and only slightly hurt. I cannot think what made the horses bolt. He always assured me they were so safe.” Eva hid her face on his breast and burst into tears, remembering the cause of it all. “Why, what is it, my pet? What troubles you? Or is it only nervous excitement?” queried the anxious father, soothing and petting her as if she had been a little child. Eva, with difficulty, suppressed her sobs, and faltered: “Papa, I must confess everything to you like a little child, for I cannot bear the burden of a secret. It always seems to me lighter when shared with a sympathetic heart.” “That is very true, my precious Eva, and I have always loved your sweet confiding nature; so like the one who bore you, my angel Nellie. Go on, tell me all you wish, and be sure of my sympathy.” “I am not so sure of that, dear papa, for I fancy you will be displeased when you hear what I must tell you, that I have refused Reginald Hamilton.” “Impossible, Eva.” “Ah, I knew you would be angry with me,” she sobbed. “Not angry, my sweet daughter, only sorely disappointed. The match was a fine one even for my daughter, and it was the desire of my heart.” “I know, I know--and of auntie’s too. I have seen it all along, and I tried so hard. I wished so much to love poor Reggie.” “It seems strange that you could not--so handsome, so winning, so rich--half the girls in society are setting their caps at him, my dear.” “They are welcome to him.” “Don’t say that, Eva, for you may love him yet, as we all wish.” “Oh, papa, if it could be! But my poor, poor heart, it is too faithful to another,” she dropped her crimson face and wet eyes upon his breast in tender shame. Softly stroking the golden head, he exclaimed: “Then you have not forgotten him yet, Eva? the man who deceived you, whom you refused to forgive! If you cared for him so much why send him from you? And can you wish to recall him now?” In his heart of hearts he had thought Eva wrong to break with her promised husband for the reason she had given, fairly acquitting Doctor Ludington of blood guiltiness in Terry Groves’ death, in his own mind. But he had not told her so, and he would not now; he could not help a little selfish gladness in getting back the daughter he had been cheated of so long unincumbered by a husband. She thus seemed more entirely his own. But since he could not keep her always he had smiled on Hamilton’s suit, believing it would be for Eva’s good to wed him, and thus break forever with her painful past.