CHAPTER XXXVI. THE EVENING STAR.

wn,now." AndClaytonheardthelightfootstepstrippingdownthestairs.Herousedhimself,and,aftersomelittleattentiontohistoilet,appearedontheveranda. "Teahasbeenwaitingforsometime,"saidNina."IthoughtI'dgiveyouahint." "Iwaslyingveryhappy,hearingyousing,"saidClayton."Youmaysingmethatsongagain." "WasIsinging?"saidNina"whyIdidn'tknowit!Ibelievethat'smywayofthinking,sometimes.I'llsingtoyouagain,aftertea.Iliketosing." Afterteatheyweresittingagainintheveranda,andthewholeheavenswereonerosyflushoffilmyclouds. "Howbeautiful!"saidNina."ItseemstomeI'veenjoyedthesethings,thissummer,asIneverhavebefore.ItseemedasifIfeltaninfluencefromthemgoingthroughme,andfillingme,asthelightdoesthoseclouds." And,asshestoodlookingupintothesky,shebegansingingagainthewordsthatClaytonhadheardbefore:— "Iamcomefromthehappyland, Wheresorrowisunknown Ihavepartedajoyousband, Tomaketheemineown! Haste,haste,flywithme, Wherelove'sbanquetwaitsforthee Thineallitssweetsshallbe,— Thine,thine,alone! "Thesummerhasitsheavycloud, Therose-leafmustfall,"— Shestoppedhersingingsuddenly,lefttheveranda,andwentintothehouse. "Doyouwantanything?"saidClayton. "Nothing,"saidshe,hurriedly."I'llbebackinamoment." Claytonwatched,andsawhergotoaclosetinwhichthemedicinesandcordialswerekept,andtakesomethingfromaglass.Hegaveastartofalarm. "Youarenotill,areyou?"hesaid,fearfully,asshereturned. "Oh,noonlyalittlefaint.Wehavebecomesoprudent,youknow,thatifwefeeltheleastbeginningofanydisagreeablesensation,wetakesomethingatonce.Ihavefeltthisfaintnessquiteoften.Itisn'tmuch." Claytonputhisarmaroundher,andlookedatherwithavagueyearningoffearandadmiration. "Youlooksolikeaspirit,"hesaid,"thatImustholdyou." "DoyouthinkI'vegotapairofhiddenwings?"shesaid,smiling,andlookinggaylyinhisface. "Iamafraidso!"hesaid."Doyoufeelquitewell,now?" "Yes,Ibelieveso.Only,perhaps,wehadbettersitdown.Ithink,perhaps,itisthereactionofsomuchexcitementmakesmefeelrathertired." Claytonseatedheronthesetteebythedoor,stillkeepinghisarmanxiouslyaroundher.Inafewmomentsshedroopedherheadwearilyonhisshoulder. "Youareill!"hesaid,intonesofalarm. "No,no!Ifeelverywell—onlyalittlefaintandtired.Itseemstomeitisgettingalittlecoldhere,isn'tit?"shesaid,withaslightshiver. Claytontookherupinhisarms,withoutspeaking,carriedherinandlaidheronthesofa,thenrangforHarryandMilly. "Getahorse,instantly,"hesaidtoHarry,assoonasheappeared,"andgoforadocto