Staunton to Everil, and the evident pleasure she takes in them?' 'Pleasure? Oh! Mr. Mildmay, when she is as good as engaged to poor dear Valence!'

That is just it, Mrs. West. She is as good as engaged; and should she refuse to fulfil her engagement, she will not only ruin her own prospects, but cause us all great pain. And, in her position, it is not right she should receive the constant visits of a young man like Captain Staunton. He is here almost every day.'

'He is staying at Greenock Park, you see,' murmured the widow, and his sister, Lady Russell, is one of my earliest friends. We are so very intimate. It only seems natural to me that Maurice should be much about any place at which I am a visitor.'

Oh! if he came on your account, Mrs. West, I should have nothing more to say on the subject. But it appears to me that his object in coming is the company of my ward. I met them walking through the wood together yesterday as I returned from my parish rounds, and I meet them riding through the lanes together to-day. It's not safe, madam-it's not safe.'

'Not safe! In what way?'

'Why in the usual way, of course. This young fellow will get making love to Everil-if he has not done so already-and turning her head with his nonsense; and then I wouldn't give twopence for the Earl's chance of winning her. He ought never to have been allowed to become so intimate here.'

'Dear me! You put the matter before me in an entirely new light,' remarks Mrs. West musingly.

Miss Strong wheels round on her chair and looks the innocent creature full in the face.

'It's more than Mr. Mildmay does to me,' she says plainly; ' and

I should hardly have thought, Mrs. West, after the conversation we had together the day Miss West-Norman sprained her ankle, that you would have been so blind. I've seen it all along, and been very sorry for it; but she has paid no attention to my hints. I don't like Captain Staunton-I never did; and I think, if he were an honourable man, he would avoid making a young lady whom he knows tobe already engaged to be married the topic of common discussion.'

He would be afflicted beyond measure if he knew your opinion of him,' remarks the other lady quietly, as she bends over the piece of work in her hand.

I cannot say I quite disagree with Miss Strong,' interposes the rector. I don't know much of Captain Staunton, but, under the circumstances, a gentleman should refrain from forcing his attentions upon any woman.'

'But who says he forces them? What proof have we that he makes love to her? Has any one seen. anything or heard anything, that we should condemn Captain Staunton without further inquiry? For my own part, such an idea never entered my head.'

Miss Strong can restrain herself no longer.

'Oh! Mrs. West! What then did you think was the meaning of this gentleman and your cousin always getting alone together, walking together, riding together, as they have invariably done for the last fortnight? Mr. Mildmay, I should have spoken to you before, but after what the General and yourself said to Miss West-Norman, I thought it would be presumption to interfere further. And with Mrs. West present, too, who knows Captain Staunton so intimately and is so well aware of her cousin's engagement, I thought there could be no real danger.'

'As I was just saying to you, Mr. Mildmay, when Miss Strong interrupted us,' continues the widow, with scornful contempt of the other's interposition, this is all news to me; and, entre nous, I believe it to be all moonshine. Maurice is an agreeable companion, I allow, and one whom any young girl would be pleased to laugh and talk with. But if you are really alarmed, what had we better do? With poor dear Valence's cause so close at heart (to say nothing of my attachment to Everil), you may be sure you may command my services.'

'I never doubted it, Mrs. West. I am afraid Captain Staunton's intimacy here has advanced too far to be ended without causing an unpleasant rupture, which would be the very thing to put my fiery ward upon her mettle, and make her think she liked him and that they were both very much illused. So, what I propose to do is to ask the Earl to come and stay here at once.'

'What! poor dear Valence?' 'Yes!—why not? He was to have been here on the twentysixth, the day before her birthday, and a week or so cannot make much difference to him. Though of course, we must be very careful not to let him have the slightest hint of the reason we wish his visit to be forestalled.'

'I understand. But what good do you suppose Valence's presence will effect, Mr. Mildmay?'

to his promised bride-and all women are romantic. He may even drive Captain Staunton from the field.'

'Oh! Mr. Mildmay, do send for him!' says Miss Strong imploringly.

The governess who was looks at the governess that is with wideopened eyes of surprise at the familiar manner in which she presumes to mention a member of the aristocracy.

'Lord Valence may have engagements that will preclude his compliance with Mr. Mildmay's wishes,' she replies with awful precision.

'I look to you to aid me in persuading him to fulfil them, Mrs. West,' says the rector. 'Will you write to your brother-in-law and ask him to come here as soon as he can conveniently leave Castle Valence ?'

'I am afraid there is very little chance of his doing so.'

'But on such an occasion! Well, never mind; perhaps, after all it would be better that, in the character of her guardian, I should write and ask him to take up his residence here for a few days before the eventful twenty-seventh. Whatever Captain Staunton's intentions may be, he will hardly be so bold as to attempt to carry them out under the Earl's very nose.'

'I am sure you are unjust to poor Captain Staunton,' says the widow, who sees she has played a wrong card in refusing to write to Valence, and dear Everil too. How shocked she would be if she could hear us discussing her actions in this cold-blooded manner! It always seems to me as though these very delicate matters should be left quite alone to take care of themselves, in fact.'

'There is such a thing as leaving matters too much alone,' replies

the rector shortly. 'General Hawke mentioned the impolicy of young Staunton's frequent visits to our ward when he was last here; but, unfortunately, advice too often seems to have an opposite effect upon Everil to what is intended. She has certainly not discouraged his presence since.'

'She invited him to dinner the very same day,' says Miss Strong.

'That may have been because she felt her guardians' fears were so unfounded,' says Mrs. West sweetly. 'We should try and be charitable in our judgments, Miss Strong. Arthur, my darling! bring me that skein of thread.'

'Well, let us hope so,' remarks Mr. Mildmay, rising. Any way, I shall write to the Earl to-night; and if you can add anything to induce him to come here, Mrs. West, we shall be very much obliged to you. Good-day!'

'Oh, I shall do my best, you may depend on it, Mr. Mildmay. If dear Everil does act against your wishes and those of General Hawke, you shall not have to say it is my fault,' she responds softly, as she takes her little boy by the hand and leads him out of the room.

But as soon as she hears from her own apartment the quick, rather noisy step of Miss WestNorman on the staircase, and the slam of the door that usually betokens that young lady's entrance to her bedroom, she rushes after her.

'Well, darling! have you had a pleasant ride?'

Very pleasant, thank you, Agatha,' replies the heiress, with a suspiciously heated appearance about the face.

'How far did you go?'

'Only to Rockingham Corner.' 'Only to Rockingham Cornerand away two hours and a half! How slowly you must have ridden!'

'We did ride slowly. It is too warm to-day to do anything but walk. I feel quite " done up" as it is.'

'Oh, you naughty girl! Well' (with a sigh), 'I wish I had been spending my afternoon half as pleasantly. We've had such a scene downstairs.'

'A scene! Who with?' 'Your guardian and your duenna, my dear! I wouldn't be you for all the world. What a life you lead amongst them.' 'What have they been saying now?'

'What have they not been saying? It seems you are carrying on your game a little too openly, Miss Everil. There is to be a stop put to all your rides and talks and pleasant little walks. You are to have a watch-dog set over you next week.'

'What do you mean?'

I

'My dear child, I think it too serious a subject to joke on. am telling you the plain truth. Mr. Mildmay and Miss Strong (who appears now to be his chief counsellor) have come to the conclusion that poor Maurice is at Norman House much too often, and have resolved to let Valence know of it, and ask him to come here at once, instead of delaying his visit till the twenty-sixth. It's no use you see, Everil. Fate is too strong for you. You'll have to give that man up.'

Miss West-Norman does not answer, but her teeth are fixed upon her lower lip and her colour has considerably increased.

'Are they really going to write to Valence?"

He asked

'Mr. Mildmay is. me to do so, but I refused. I love dear Valence, as you know, as much as if he were my own brother, but I love you too, Everil,' says the Cat in a lower tone.

Thank you, Agatha. Yes, I almost believe you do.'

'And when I hear them abuse poor Maurice for no fault of his own, I confess it disturbs me. How can the poor fellow help adoring you? He knows his own deficiencies well enough; and yet the fact is these things are not to be argued or reasoned about.'

'Does Guardy think that—that Captain Staunton likes me, then?'

'Think, my dear Everil! Who could help seeing it. The man is simply swallowed up with love for you. But he is quite aware there is no chance of marrying you. He is not so conceited as to suppose you would give up your fortune for his sake. And I suppose these little rides and walks are a solace to him. Poor wretch!' (with a pitiful laugh) 'they won't last long.'

'And my cousin is to be asked here in order to put a stop to them?' says the girl presently.

Valence is to be asked here in order (as Mr. Mildmay puts it) to "drive Staunton from the field." I can't say I like the idea, Everil. It strikes me rather in the light of an indignity. Even your father left you a free agent till your twenty-first birthday. I don't think he can have intended you should be ordered about, and have a watch set over you as though you were a naughty child.'

'Neither will I,' cries the girl in a burst of indignation. 'They

may bring all the earls in the kingdom and set them to keep guard over me, and it will not make the difference of one jot or tittle in my behaviour. I have done as I liked hitherto, and I will do it to the end.'

'Shall you speak to Mr. Mildmay about it? There is yet time.'

'No! I shall speak to no one. I shall go on my own way rejoicing, and let them do exactly as they choose. What difference should Valence's presence or absence make to me? He holds no authority over me, and never will

'Oh, hush! mustn't say that. you know.'

darling. You It isn't right,

Miss West-Norman glances at her companion with something very like contempt.

You are such a wonderful mixture, Agatha. I never know whether you really want me to marry Valence or not. But no one's opinion but my own will have any weight with me. And I am almost glad my cousin is coming, that I may just show him how little I care for what he likes or doesn't like.'

'You mustn't do anything naughty, you know,' says the widow coaxingly, 'or I shall be sorry I told you this. You can easily give poor Maurice a hint on the subject, which I am sure you will not find him backward to take. He may be all that Miss Strong and Mr. Mildmay say, but he is a thorough gentleman, and will not submit to have his pride wounded twice.'

'What do they say of him?'

'Oh! terrible things, my dear. I shouldn't like to repeat them; and especially as I know his worst fault in this instance has been loving you too much. But I'm sure you'll find a mere hint sufficient

to rid yourself of his presence. Or would you like me to write to Lady Russell—'

'Thank you, Agatha' (coldly), 'but I can manage my own affairs without help from any one. When is Valence likely to arrive?'

'I don't know that he'll come at all, my dear-indeed I think it very unlikely he will. But Mr. Mildmay insists upon my adding my mite of influence in the scale. Which way shall I turn it, Everil? Shall Valence come before the appointed timeor-shall he not come?'

'Let him come!' cries the girl excitedly. Why should I object to it? He will be no more check upon my actions than any other guest would be. He will not be able to claim one minute more of my time than I choose to bestow upon him. By all means let him come. It may soften the disappointment in store for him,' she adds with a hard laugh. 'He will see how little he has to lose.'

Very well, dear. I will do my best to persuade him,' replies the Cat, though, as usual, she does not mean what she says.

Miss West-Norman, still in a white heat of indignation, changes her riding-habit, and descends to the drawing-room like a porcupine with all its quills erect, ready to let drive at the first intruder.

The only person she finds there on whom to exercise her skill, however, is Captain Maurice Staunton, whose large dark eyes soften with pleasure at her coming.

She does not approach him within half the length of the room, but throws herself upon a sofa in the opposite corner, whereon Charley, the Skye terrier, has comfortably ensconced himself. After a few vague remarks her companion shifts his

seat, and draws nearer to her side.

Are you tired after your long ride?' he says, leaning over the back of the sofa.

Rather. It is a languid day, is it not?'

'Yes, it was so delightful, I wish that we had ridden twice as far.'

She makes no answer to this remark, but pulls the ears of her Skye terrier.

'Happy Charley!' sighs Captain Staunton, slipping into the seat next to her.

To have his ears pulled?'

Even that, by such a hand as yours;' and as he speaks he lightly touches it. The dog springs forward with a growl.

Take care. Charley is a very vigilant guardian, and will fly at any one who touches even the sleeve of my dress.'

'What an inconvenient dog. How your friends must bless him.'

Oh! he is not so undiscriminating as all that. He knows my friends from my foes. If I said to him, "Friend, Charley— friend!" he would let you do anything.'

Say it to him, then.'

The girl is silent. She is looking downwards, gazing into the yellow eyes of the Skye terrier, whose jaws are all ready for a snap, with her face full of a thoughtful anxiety, as though she were waiting to hear what her heart said to her.

Everil!' (it is the first time he has called her by her Christian name) do you want me to have my fingers bitten off?'

His hand is stealing nearer to her own. The dog's eyes become livid: his nose trembles with excitement.

'Friend, Charley-friend!' she says in a low agitated whisper. The next moment the 'friend' has his arm round her waist.