I touched the books Lilian must have touched; in the articles of furniture, as yet so hastily disposed that the settled look of home was not about them, I still knew that I was gazing on things which her mind must associate with the history of her young life.

That luteharp must be surely hers, and the scarf, with a girl's favourite colours,--pure white and pale blue,--and the bird-cage, and the childish ivory work-case, with implements too pretty for use,--all spoke of her.
It was a blissful, intoxicating revery, which Mrs.Ashleigh's entrance disturbed.
Lilian was sleeping calmly.

I had no excuse to linger there any longer.
"I leave you, I trust, with your mind quite at ease," said I."You will allow me to call to-morrow, in the afternoon ?" "Oh, yes, gratefully." Mrs.Ashleigh held out her hand as I made towards the door.
Is there a physician who has not felt at times how that ceremonious fee throws him back from the garden-land of humanity into the market-place of money,--seems to put him out of the pale of equal friendship, and say, "True, you have given health and life.

Adieu! there, you are paid for it!" With a poor person there would have been no dilemma, but Mrs.Ashleigh was affluent: to depart from custom here was almost impertinence.

But had the penalty of my refusal been the doom of never again beholding Lilian, I could not have taken her mother's gold.