“Accomplish thou my mandhood and thyself;
   Lay thy sweet hands in mine and trust to me,”

brought down the house with ringing applause.

The curtain fell and rose again.  The Prince and Princess stood with hands clasped.  The eyes of the conquered Princess looked again at the people in the gallery, but the eyes she wanted to see did not meet hers.

An hour later Maggie Oliphant had occasion to go back to the forsaken green-room to fetch a bracelet she had left there.  Priscilla was standing in the corridor when she passed.  Quick as lightning Prissie disappeared, and, making her way into the library, which was thrown open for a general reception that evening, sought out Hammond, and, taking his hand, said abruptly: 

“I want you; come with me.”

In surprise he followed her into the hall.

“Maggie is in the green-room.  Go to her,” said Priscilla.

He raised his brows; his eyes seemed to lighten and then grow dark.  They asked Priscilla a thousand questions; his lips refused to ask one.

Replying to the look in his eyes, Priscilla said again:  “It is cruel of you to leave her alone.  Go to her; she is waiting for you—­ and oh, I know that her heart has been waiting for you for a long, long time.”

“If I thought that,” said Hammond’s eyes.

He turned without a word and went down the long corridor which led to
the little theater.
                               _______

Late that evening, after all the bustle and excitement were over and most of the guests had left, Miss Heath was standing in her own sitting-room talking to Prissie.

“And you have quite made up your mind, Prissie?”

“Yes,” answered Priscilla.  “I heard from Aunt Raby to-day; she told me all about Mr. Hammond’s visit, for Mr. Hayes went to see her and told her everything.”

“Well, Prissie,” said Miss Heath, “what have you decided?  It is a great chance for you, and there is nothing wrong in it; indeed, for aught we can tell, this may be the direct guiding of Providence.”

“But I don’t think it is,” said Priscilla in a slow voice.  “I have thought it all over very carefully, and I don’t think the chance offered by dear Maggie would be a good one for me.”

“Why not, my dear?  Your reasons must be strong when you say this.”

“I don’t know if they are strong,” answered Priscilla, “but they are at least decided.  My father and mother were poor and independent.  Aunt Raby is very poor and also independent.  I fancy that were I rich in comparison, I might cease to be independent.  The strong motive power might go.  Something might be taken out of me which I could never get back, so I——­” Her lips trembled.

“Pause a minute, Prissie; remember what Maggie offers, a sufficient income to support your aunt, to educate your sisters and to enable you to pursue those studies at St. Benet’s for which you have the greatest talent.  Think of the honors that lie before you; think how brilliantly you may pass your tripos examination with your mind at rest.”