HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1859. (The right of Translation is reserved.) 249. 26. 308. THROUGH THE SHADOWS. CHAPTER I. "In diligence, the bee's thy model; SCHILLER. RUTH did not see her sister again till they met at the foot of the stairs, on their way down to the drawing-room, just before dinner. Caroline, who was exquisitely dressed, looked more than usually beautiful. Excitement, though it had not been of a pleasant kind, had given her face the animation it often wanted. VOL. III. B Ruth made her stand still on the last step of the staircase, that she might admire her, as she had been used to do in their days at home. "You must let me be proud of your looks," she said, half playfully, half tenderly, with the protecting air, which, though strange when coming from a younger to an elder sister, sat well upon Ruth. "Thank you;" Caroline answered, more moved than it was her wont to be; "no one else will.-Let me look at you; I am glad to see that you have put on an evening dress, though it is only another black silk one. How nicely you have arranged your hair! where did you get those beautiful white chrysanthemums ?" "From Alice's garden; you see I don't despise ornaments, when I can get them for nothing; my choice of sober colours is quite a matter of necessity; I am as fond of pretty things, as anyone can be, and of you first of all, because you are the prettiest of pretty things." "What! prettier than Alice?" Ruth thought of another word that suited Alice better, but, remembering her sister's old jealousy of Alice, not quite worn out yet, she changed the subject. 66 "I am keeping you," she said; my black dress, though it is my best one, must not come into the room beside your beautiful lilac brocade. You go first; I will wait a moment." They were near the door now,-Ruth retired into a dark corner, and Caroline entered alone. A gentleman, who had been standing half hidden by some tall plants that adorned the entrance-hall, came forward, as Ruth stood back, and held out his hand to her. It was Maxwell Earle. "Forgive me for having stood aside to |