Transcriber's Note:
A Table of Contents has been added.
AUTHOR OF "PORTIA," "MOLLY BAWN," ETC., ETC.
NEW YORK
INTERNATIONAL BOOK COMPANY
3, 4, 5 AND 6 MISSION PLACE
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXX.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CHAPTER XXXII.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
AIRY FAIRY LILIAN.
"Home, sweet Home."
—Old English Song.
Down the broad oak staircase—through the silent hall—into thedrawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshineis rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, andrendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable.
Outside everything is bright, and warm, and genial, as should be in theheart of summer; within there is only gloom,—and Lilian clad in hermourning robes. The contrast is dispiriting: there life, here death, orat least the knowledge of it. There joy, here the signs and trappings of woe.
The black gown and funereal trimmings hardly harmonize with the girl'sflower-like face and the gay song that trembles on her lips. But, alas!for how short a time does our first keen sorrow last! how swiftly areour dead forgotten! how seldom does grief kill! When eight long monthshave flown by across her father's grave Lilian finds, sometimes to her