The Good Time Coming

as she could retire from the family, without attracting observation, she did so. And now she found herself in a state of deep disquietude. Far too

nd reasonings in favour of Mr. Lyon. How well did Fanny now remember the instant repulsion felt towards this man, on their first meeting. She had experienced an instant constriction about the heart, as if threatened with suffocation. The shadow, too, about which Aunt Grace had spoken, had also been perceived by her. But in a little while, under the sunshine of a most fascinating e

arning would have mingled in her ears with the sweet voice of the wooer. No string would have jarred harshly amid the harmonies of her life. The lover who came to her with so many external blandishments-who attracted her with so power

ge of beauty and perfection. Earnestly did her heart plead for him. Sad, even to tears, was it, at the bare thought of giving him up. There was yet burning on her pure forehead the hot kiss he had

, far too soon in life, to influences which stron

e in her daughter's mind with the letter received from Mr. Lyon, and it showed her but too plainly that the stranger's image was fixing itself surely in the young girl's heart. This conviction gave her pain rather than

Mr. Lyon,-he had written her that certain business, which he had engaged to transact for Mr. Lyon, required his presence in New York,-and following so soon upon

n her sleeping hours. And the more she thought of it, the more deeply it disturbed her. As an interesting, and even brilliant, companion, she had enjoyed his society. With more than usual interest had she listened to his varied descriptions of personages,

sleep of her child was not sound. Every now and then she turned restlessly in her bed; and sometimes muttered incoherently. Several times did Mrs. Markland raise herself and lean upon her elbow, in a l

gentle, encouraging voice. But Fanny only muttered somethin

ow calm respiration of her child. The dreams which had disturbed her sleep, seemed to have given place to

Lyon! Don

stillness, and then, with a sharp cry of

er! Oh, come

dreaming girl fell forward into her arms, which were closed tightly aro

emble so! You are safe in my arms. T

s it you?" half sobbed the

th your mother. But what ha

from her mother's bosom, and lo

m, and you are on your own bed. You have

thankful I am! Oh

t, daughter?" ask

tting clearer and calmer

name of Mr. Lyon,

's voice expre

f him that you

n my dream,"

you afra

r-very strange," said Fanny, eviden

Taking my hand, he led me to one of the garden chairs, and we sat down side by side. And now I began to see a change in him. His eyes, that were fixed upon mine, grew brighter and deeper, until it seemed as if I could look far down into their bu

m, Fanny," said Mrs. Markland

ther!" Fanny seemed

ome visions in sleep, sometimes, that are permitted as wa

nderstand y

a quality represented by the dove. When our Saviour said of Herod, 'Go te

is apply to drea

reaming images, the embodied form of some predominating quality in those whose association may do us har

, as these words fell upon her ears,

or the space of several minutes, Mrs. Markland thought it unwise to intrude other remarks upon her, believing that the distinct image she had already prese