But she had gained a victory, anyhow, and with that she must be content. She gave over talking, and sat silently by the side of her dejected betrothed, wondering uneasily if he would always be like this, if she could never win him to love again, and at last he looked up at her with absent eyes, saying abruptly: “I will not wait till to-morrow, Lelia. I will go to Lewisburg to-day and attend to that business, and return to-morrow afternoon.” “As you will,” she replied radiantly, believing that after all he was coming round, and showing an eagerness to make the wedding arrangements. In fact, he cared nothing about it. He was thinking of the vow he had made last night--the vow of vengeance he had called Gipsy’s spirit to look down from heaven and witness. His marriage to Lelia would not make him relax one jot or tittle of vigilance in keeping his solemn vow. He was going to Lewisburg to get the advice of the best lawyer there on the case, and to have him employ a professional detective to ferret out the mystery. It seemed to him that they had only to trace the diamond-robbers to bring home punishment to the murderers. Lelia’s plausible theory had taken hold on every one, even Laurie. He lost no time in starting, though when Lelia confided the truth to her mother and the general, both were surprised, and slightly demurred at the hasty wedding. “But Laurie wishes it very much, and so do I,” was her excuse, and she easily brought them around to approval of her plans. Both were heartily tired, in fact, of the caprices of the proud young pair, and eager to see them settle down to wedded happiness. The general only ventured to hint that if Cyrilla got well she would be disappointed at having missed the wedding. “Oh, no, she will be heartily glad that it is over. I know it from all that she has said to me,” protested Lelia. So they said no more, and the wedding preparations went on, such as they were, for there would be no show, no gaiety, just a simple ceremony; then the bride and groom would remain to help nurse the invalid. “Just to snare the bird so that he cannot escape me again!” Lelia confided to her mother, who applauded her daughter’s cunning. Laurie returned from town quite late the next afternoon; but he brought the license, the minister, and the rings, as Lelia wished, and her heart beat high with triumphant joy. The victory had cost her dear, but she was all the more exultant. Laurie hurried to his aunt’s room, but she still lay silent and pale as a death-mask on her bed, without recognizing any one, faithfully tended by Mrs. Goodwill, who never ceased lamenting the haste with which she had blurted out the awful tragedy to the hapless lady.