CHAPTER XXIX.
Mrs.Gallilee saw her housekeeper as usual, and gave her orders for the day.

"If there is anything forgotten," she said, "I must leave it to you.

For the next hour or two, don't let me be disturbed." Some of her letters of the morning were still unread, others required immediate acknowledgment.

She was not as ready for her duties as usual.
For once, the most unendurably industrious of women was idle, and sat thinking.
Even her unimaginative nature began to tremble on the verge of superstition.

Twice, had the subtle force of circumstances defeated her, in the attempt to meddle with the contemplated marriage of her son.