It was an auspicious omen--or, at least,
their full hearts may have thought so; and then, again, there was a
wedding chorus all around them from the birds--from the bright-eyed
robin perched on the crimson bramble-spray; from the speckled thrush on
the swaying elm; from the lark far-hovering over a field of young corn.
But in their own happiness they had thought of others; Francie soon came
back to Lionel again and his grievous misfortunes; and she was listening
with meekness to this tall, clear-eyed man, who could now claim a
certain gentle authority over her. They were a long time before they got
to the doctor's house.
That same evening Miss Kate Burgoyne invited Lionel to come to her room
for a cup of tea when he had dressed for the last act; and accordingly,
when he was ready, he strolled along the corridor, rapped with his
knuckles, and entered. It turned out that the prima-donna had other
visitors: a young lady whom he had never seen before and Mr. Percival
Miles. The young gentleman, in faultless evening dress, seemed a little
surprised at the easy manner in which Lionel had lounged into the place;
and perhaps Lionel was also a little surprised--for this was Mr.
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