 quite cool again. But Harold was not entirely satisfied;
if there was any obstacle in his way, he wished to know exactly what it was.
    »That must have been a wretched life for you at Treby,« he said, - »a person
of your accomplishments.«
    »I used to be dreadfully discontented,« said Esther, much occupied with
mistakes she had made in her netting. »But I was becoming less so. I have had
time to get rather wise, you know; I am two-and-twenty.«
    »Yes,« said Harold, rising and walking a few paces backwards and forwards,
»you are past your majority; you are empress of your own fortunes - and more
besides.«
    »Dear me,« said Esther, letting her work fall, and leaning back against the
cushions; »I don't think I know very well what to do with my empire.«
    »Well,« said Harold, pausing in front of her, leaning one arm on the
mantelpiece, and speaking very gravely, »I hope that in any case, since you
appear to have no near relative who understands affairs, you will confide in me,
and trust me with all your intentions as if I had no other personal concern in
the matter than a regard for you. I hope you believe me capable of acting as the
guardian of your interest, even where it turns out to be inevitably opposed to
my own.«
    »I am sure you have given me reason to believe it,« said Esther, with
seriousness, putting out her hand to Harold. She had not been left in ignorance
that he had had opportunities twice offered of stifling her claims.
    Harold raised the hand to his lips, but dared not retain it more than an
instant. Still the sweet reliance in Esther's manner made an irresistible
temptation to him. After standing still a moment or two, while she bent over her
work, he glided to the ottoman and seated himself close by her, looking at her
busy hands.
    »I see you have made mistakes in your work,« he said, bending still nearer,
for he saw that she was conscious yet not angry.
    »Nonsense! you know nothing about it,« said Esther, laughing, and crushing
up the soft silk under her palms. »Those blunders have a design in them.«
    She looked round, and saw a handsome face very near her. Harold was looking,
as he felt, thoroughly enamoured of this bright woman, who was not at all to his
preconceived
