As he came in, seeing inquiring looks all around him, he said: "The new influx of birds is only the annual migration of pigeons from Africa.

I am told that it will soon be over." The second victory of Mimi Watford made Edgar Caswall more moody than ever.

He felt thrown back on himself, and this, added to his absorbing interest in the hope of a victory of his mesmeric powers, became a deep and settled purpose of revenge.

The chief object of his animosity was, of course, Mimi, whose will had overcome his, but it was obscured in greater or lesser degree by all who had opposed him.

Lilla was next to Mimi in his hate--Lilla, the harmless, tender-hearted, sweet-natured girl, whose heart was so full of love for all things that in it was no room for the passions of ordinary life--whose nature resembled those doves of St.Columba, whose colour she wore, whose appearance she reflected.