barrister whom Henry is so fond of, and who is always hanging about the house. I have spoken to Connie about him, but she only laughs. You have more influence with her than any one else. I hope you will use it for her true interest.

'I suppose you will soon be coming home. The Riviera must be getting hot and dusty. Henry wishes me to say he hopes you will pay us an early visit-you are a great favourite with him, as you know, and Lotty is longing to see her godmother.

[From Henry Barton, barrister-at-law, Inner Temple,
to Mrs. Arbuthnot, Cannes.]

"MY DEAR MRS. ARBUTHNOT,

"April 25th.

"It is all over. Even if Constance loved me-which she does not-I could not come forward now, when she is an heiress and I have nothing. She will always be the one woman in the world for me, but our paths lie apart, and it only remains for me to thank you for your kind sympathy and encouragement, which I shall never forget.

"I am very sorry. I think Constance would have been happy with you. I suppose it is useless to try and move you from your determination. Love has small chance with a man when his pride is in question, and he never seems to remember how hard it is on the woman. Whether Constance cares for you or not I cannot say, but if I were in your place I would try my fate. She is worth risking a refusal for.

V.

[From Miss le Breton, No., Grosvenor Street,

to Mrs. Arbuthnot, Hôtel Splendide, Aix-les-Bains.]

"MY DEAREST CHARLOTTE,

"May 28th.

"The prince has appeared on the scene-a real prince, the Principe di San Felice, of an old Italian family. He was introduced to me at the Isaacsons' the other night, and since then not a day has passed without my seeing him. He is about thirty years of age, very handsome, with an aquiline nose and piercing dark eyes. Henry does not like him, but then you know poor dear Henry is so intensely insular. Can you imagine your little Connie a princess? I can quite. 'Principessa di San Felice.' How nice it sounds! Much better than Mrs. Harry Barton.

"He is not rich, but, thanks to poor Uncle Silas, that does not matter. He supplies the title and I the money. I speak as if it were already settled; but, indeed, I think it only depends upon me. I have but to hold up my finger and he will be at my feet.

"I wish you could see him. But you will, of course, very soon. His manners are too delightful for anything, and when he kisses my hand I feel like a queen. He says there are no women like the English, so beautiful, so virtuous. It has been the dream of his life to marry an Englishwoman.

"I saw Harry yesterday evening in the Row. He bowed very coldly. I was walking with the prince, and Edith was a little way behind. He has not been near the house since Uncle Silas died. Any one would think I had got the plague by the way he avoids me. He looked very ill. I suppose it is over-work.

"When are you coming? I shall be wooed and married and. a' if you don't make haste. It was too provoking of your doctor to order you to Aix on the way home. Henry keeps worrying to know when you are expected. He says you are the only woman he knows with a grain of common sense. I hope you feel flattered. He thinks you will be on his side against the prince.

"A thousand kisses.

"Ever your loving,
"CONSTANCE."

VI.

[From Henry Meyer, No.-, Grosvenor Street, to Henry Barton, Inner Temple.]

"MY DEAR HARRY,

"May 25th.

"You are a fool for your pains, if you will excuse my saying so. While you are hanging back from a mistaken sense of delicacy, the ground is being cut from under your feet by a socalled Italian prince, who in my opinion is nothing better than an adventurer. He is never out of the house. My wife and Constance have put their heads together and I am nowhere. you have any regard for the girl you will come forward and save her before it is too late. She is dazzled by his title and position, but I believe she has a secret weakness for you in her heart, and that you may beat him yet. She is more hurt than she chooses to own by your desertion. Only make haste about it. You have no time to lose.

"The prince proposed to me to-night and I accepted him. I have been wondering ever since if I did right. I shall have a devoted husband, a splendid position. My wildest dreams are realized. And yet-Harry's face keeps haunting me as I saw it last, pale and sad under all its coldness. Well, it is his own fault. He could not expect me to make the advances. But, oh, Charlotte, why did you not come home a little sooner ? "

"June 2nd.

"After all I only needed a little contradiction. Henry came in furious this morning after an interview with the prince, who had insisted on my fortune being settled on himself. Henry informed him that it was quite contrary to English custom, on which the prince drew himself up, said it had always been so in the San Felice family, and that to require anything else was an insult to himself.

"Henry used some strong language about a beggarly Italian fortune-hunter. I fired up. The prince was quite right, I declared. If I was ready to trust him with myself I could surely trust him with my money. Henry muttered something about the money being my best protection, but I would not listen. I am of age and I shall do as I please. The prince spoke to me. about it to-night. He told me that he would rather give me up than that I should suspect him of mercenary motives, but that the pride of a San Felice could not submit to be dependent on a woman's bounty: a wife's interests should be identical with those of her husband. I quite agree with him. He looked very handsome and determined while he spoke. I had never liked him so well."

If you have the

an engagement than be wretched for life. slightest feeling for Harry in your heart it is madness to marry another man, and of all men an Italian. I do not like what you tell me about the money. Listen to your brother-in-law. judgment is sound and he is sincerely fond of you. Above all, do nothing in haste. If you really want me I will return at once,

His

"Constance was married this morning. I am so sorry my aunt's illness prevented your being present. She looked perfectly lovely in her wedding dress. I have never seen a handsomer couple. The prince is simply devoted to her. He can scarcely bear her out of his sight. I am afraid he is a little inclined to be jealous. He would not allow her to accept any wedding presents from men. She held out for some time about

one-from that Mr. Barton that you and Henry are so infatuated about, though what you see in him I cannot conceive-but he carried his point. 'Carina,' he said, kissing her hand, 'it is my love for you; I cannot endure that any man but myself should give you presents.' Connie yielded. He has a very strong will, and I think she is a little afraid of him. But that is as it should be. Henry says he only wishes I was afraid of him.

"I went to the wedding to-day to see the last of her. Perhaps I should have done better to keep away, but a singed moth flutters back to the candle. Poor Constance! I hope she may be happy. If it had been any one else but that cut-throat looking Italian! But these are the natural sentiments, you will say, of a disappointed lover. Henry Meyer looked very glum. He caught sight of me in the crowd and whispered: This is your doing. I hope you feel proud of it.' As a matter of fact it is his own wife's. The seed she has religiously sown in Constance's mind has borne fruit at last.

"I went up among the rest to shake hands with the bride and congratulate her. Her husband was standing by her side. She changed colour a little when she caught sight of me, and I saw his eyes rest on me with a look of angry suspicion. Well, I am not likely to give him much cause for jealousy. She has soared out of my sphere.

"I think she might have kept my present. It was to Constance le Breton I sent it, not the Princess di San Felice. Her sister returned it with a curt little note signifying that the prince did not care for his wife to receive presents from her male acquaintances. And not a line from Constance herself to soften the refusal.

"This is a selfish letter, but you will excuse it. Kindest and best of friends, you know how I feel. If I had listened to youbut Constance never made a sign. And now it is too late. "Yours sincerely and gratefully,

"HENRY BARTON."