It was a significant sign of the times, that even a passing footstep, sounding a little strangely at night, was subject for suspicion, both to brother and sister--so common a subject, that they suspended their conversation as a matter of course, without exchanging a word of explanation, until the tramp of the strange footsteps had died away.
"Louis," continued Rose, dropping her voice to a whisper, after nothing more was audible, "when may I trust our secret to my husband ?" "Not yet!" rejoined Trudaine, earnestly.

"Not a word, not a hint of it, till I give you leave.

Remember, Rose, you promised silence from the first.

Everything depends on your holding that promise sacred till I release you from it." "I will hold it sacred; I will indeed, at all hazards, under all provocations," she answered.
"That is quite enough to reassure me--and now, love, let us change the subject.

Even these walls may have ears, and the closed door yonder may be no protection." He looked toward it uneasily while he spoke.
"By-the-by, I have come round to your way of thinking, Rose, about that new servant of mine--there is something false in his face.