But we shall do better in future--when we are far away and have begun life again." The hopeful words sounded very dreary in the sweet young voice, which seemed to have changed its tone, and taken the low mournful intonation of her Indian race; but she moved calmly away, replaced the contents of the desk with care, and closed and locked it.

Then she gave the key to her mother, and bent over her again to say good-night.
There were no more words spoken between them.

A long kiss, and they separated.

But for the first time Mrs.Costello did not visit her daughter's room--she guessed that a battle had to be fought there in solitude, and that hers was not the only vigil kept that night.

So the two watched apart; and the dawn, which was not far distant when they bade each other good-night, came in and found them both looking out with sleepless eyes at the grey sky and the familiar landscape, from which they were each planning to escape for ever.
But as the sky reddened, Lucia remembered that her sleepless night would leave traces which she wished to avoid, in her pale cheeks and heavy eyes.