"No reason," said Mabel, quickly; "neither does she think you are in love
with her either."
"Dear me," said Lida. "Of course you do not wish me to think so, and we
all know why; but never mind frowning so dreadfully, Mabel; I won't tell!"
and the mischievous girl glided away, laughing to think that she had
succeeded so well in teasing Mabel Mortimer.
After a moment, Dr. Lacey turned to Florence and said "It seems you saw
Julia Middleton. Do you not think her very handsome?"
"Yes, very," answered Florence; "but I liked Fanny's looks the best."
A pang shot through Dr. Lacey's heart at the mention of Fanny's name, but
he continued to inquire concerning his friends in Kentucky. Before the
party closed, Florence, Mabel and Lida had each managed to repeat to him
all the conversation which he had overheard in the first part of the
evening, never once thinking how desolate was the heart which beat beneath
the calm manner and gay laugh of him who listened to their thoughtless
raillery.
At length the party drew to a close. Dr. Lacey was among the first that
left. He longed to be alone with his troubled thoughts. Mechanically
bidding Mabel "Good night," he ran down the marble steps, and stepping
into his carriage, ordered Claib, the coachman, to drive home as soon as
possible. There was no particular necessity for this command, for Claib
had been fretting for the last hour about "White folks settin' up all
night and keepin' niggers awake. Darned if he didn't run the horses home
like Satan, and sleep over next day, too."
With such a driver the horses sped swiftly over the smooth road and in a
very few minutes Dr. Lacey was at home, alone in his room. Then the full
tide of his sorrow burst forth. He did not weep. He would scorn to do
that. But could one have seen him as he hurriedly paced the apartment, he
would have said, his was a sorrow which could not vent itself in tears.
Occasionally he would whisper to himself, "My Fanny false!--she whom I
believed so truthful, so loving, so innocent! And she loves another--one,
too, whom it were almost a sin to love. Fool, that I did not see it
before, for what but love could have drawn such devotion to him on his
deathbed? And yet she assured me that I was the first, the only one, she
had ever loved; and I believed it, and gave her the entire affection of my
heart."