Happy, as all human beings are, to have another heart so dependent on them, the gratified lady passed her arm round the waist of the loving child, and they ascended to their rooms like two confidential school-girls.
After tea, Mrs.Delano said, "Now I will keep my promise of telling you all I have discovered." Flora ran to an ottoman by her side, and, leaning on her lap, looked up eagerly into her face.

"You must try not to be excitable, my dear," said her friend; "for I have some unpleasant news to tell you." The expressive eyes, that were gazing wistfully into hers while she spoke, at once assumed that startled, melancholy look, strangely in contrast with their laughing shape.

Her friend was so much affected by it that she hardly knew how to proceed with her painful task.

At last Flora murmured, "Is she dead ?" "I have heard no such tidings, darling," she replied.

"But Mr.
Fitzgerald has married a Boston lady, and they were the visitors who came here this morning." Flora sprung up and pressed her hand on her heart, as if a sharp arrow had hit her.