would do great things—and sometimes see Mr. Erskine.

Jessie Macbean bantered Mr. Sandon when she saw him, upon his niece's altered appearance—" she was evidently weary of waiting!" Jessie never meant to offend anybody, but generally gave utterance to whatever speech came uppermost. Georgy had never said that she was engaged; but from some words of Mr. Sandon's, Jessie was quite sure of it. She patronized Georgy, whom she thought a good, quiet little soul, not formed for society (in that, perhaps, she was right), and, on the whole, a little peculiar. This was the summary she gave of Georgy, but liked her nevertheless, and protected her. Georgy was very much in love with Stephen, that Jessie saw with half an eye; and they were two sober people, just suited to each other. Why, she had waited for three years, and never flirted with one of the Eastham officers! She deserved a good character for constancy; indeed, her conduct altogether edified Jessie, who said so to Captain Walters, with a coy insinuation that she should not be equal to such a course. Jessie said this while she was resting after a polka, and contemplating a galop. What would Jessie do in any world where people do not polk?

CHAPTER XI.

"ANSTRUTHER will return this autumn, you know," Uncle Robert had said at breakfast; and all that day Georgy watched for her uncle. A little before dinner she saw him walking in the garden, and went at once to meet him.

"Uncle Robert." "Well!"

"When do you think Stephen Anstruther will be at home ?"

"What a question! how can I tell? All women will ask those questions: am I one of the Admiralty? His three years will soon be out, so you had better write to the Admiralty to say how much you want him, that he may return to a day. Are you in such a hurry?"

"Not at all—anything but that," she replied, abruptly.

"What do you mean ?"

"I mean.

"I mean," she said, feeling very nervous, that I am not at all in a hurry for his arrival,"

"What fancy have you taken now ?"

"I do not want to marry Stephen Anstruther. I was very young when I was engaged, and I did not know my own mind: I don't want to marry him, now."

"Georgy," Mr. Sandon said, very sternly, "don't talk such nonsense or you will make me angry. What do you mean? You cannot break your engage

ment."

66

66

Why not?" (resolutely).

Why not? why not? why not? the d-1! Jane is right, and you have always been allowed far too much liberty."

66

Why cannot I break my engagement? Is it better to marry, hating it all the time?"

"Don't be romantic, if you please. How the deuce should you hate marrying Stephen? What is there about him to hate?"

66

Nothing," she answered, with a half smile; for the ice once broken, her courage began to rise.

"You must marry; it would be wrong not, Georgy; so be reasonable, and tell me what you really mean."

He was quiet now, and they took a turn on the walk in silence.

"The long and short of this, Georgy, is, that some one has begun to make love to you: when and where, I cannot conceive. Be open, and tell me all about it."

"I have nothing to tell: no one ever made love to me but Stephen."

"You mean to tell me that?"

"Yes," she replied, looking him in the face, but crimsoning as she said so. It was a rash movement: her colour brought forth the rather natural retort.

"Then you have fallen in love."

That stirred her: "You have no right to say such a thing," she said, sternly. "No right: do you hear me? Don't say it again. I will not marry Stephen Anstruther: I don't care for him, and I won't: that is all I have to say."

She was as savage as a desperate woman could be. Those chance words respecting some other love, had stirred the one chord which would have made her defy anything. Her uncle had never seen her in a rage before. She was nervously tearing to pieces the topmost roses on a little tree.

"Are you mad?"

"No; I am not. Is it mad to

say

I won't marry

a man I don't care for? Would it not be much more mad to do it?"

66 Do you like no one better?"

"A great many people: I have seen a great many people, whom I would rather marry. Shall I tell them all over?" she continued, in a deliberate mocking tone.

66

Stephen's money is involved in our concerns;

and it was all on your account." Her uncle was momentarily quieted by her outbreak,

"I am very sorry; but I did not make him do it.” “You are a true woman; you will talk of liking or not liking by the hour, and then turn a deaf ear when you are told what is honourable or dishonourable."

"I know what is honourable or dishonourable, too," she retorted; her face contracting at the thought of some inward consciousness, with which her uncle's words had no connection.

"You shall marry Stephen, or I'll turn you out of the house!" Mr. Sandon was at a loss for any

other argument.

"Very well.

I'll go."

"Where?"

66

I won't wait to be turned out:

Anywhere, anywhere. What do you want?. Shall I go now ?" and she took him aback, as she stood there biting her lips, her eyes wild with anger and excitement.

"Are you coming in to get ready for dinner?” called out Aunt Jane from the window.

It was a relief to them both, and they walked silently into the house. He opened the door, and saw her in before him, as if he half expected to see her execute her offer of going at that moment.

For a few minutes Georgy sat in her own room,