As the autumn weather was now very pleasant, Capitola continued her
rides, and, without standing on ceremony, repeated her visit to the
Hidden House. She was, as usual, followed by Wool, who kept at a
respectful distance, and who during his mistress' visit, remained
outside in attendance upon the horses.
Capitola luckily was in no danger of encountering Colonel Le Noir,
who, since the night of the mysterious tragedy, had not returned
home, but had gone to and settled in his winter quarters in
Washington city.
But she again met Craven Le Noir, who, contrary to his usual custom
of accompanying his father upon his annual migrations to the
metropolis, had, upon this occasion, remained home in close
attendance upon his cousin, the wealthy orphan.
Capitola found Clara the same sweet, gentle and patient girl, with
this difference only, that her youthful brow was now overshadowed by
a heavy trouble which could not wholly be explained by her state of
orphanage or her sorrow for the dead--it was too full of anxiety,
gloom and terror to have reference to the past alone.
Capitola saw all this and, trusting in her own powers, would have
sought the confidence of the poor girl, with the view of soothing
her sorrows and helping her out of her difficulties; but Miss Day,
candid upon all other topics, was strangely reserved upon this
subject, and Capitola, with all her eccentricity, was too delicate
to seek to intrude upon the young mourner's sanctuary of grief.
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