gone; it is so unlike Polly to cry about

nothing.'

'If it is nothing.

But if she is really the

cause of Sir Richard's anger, it is enough to disturb her; she was not like herself last night, and I am inclined to think that Anthony Bertram must have made her an offer of marriage.'

Mr. Windsor admitted that this was a possible solution of the mystery; but, though he was annoyed, it did not occur to him that the matter might be complicated by any response on Polly's side. The mother had misgivings on this point also, but she gave Polly plenty of time to recover herself before seeking an explanation; and the poor girl had cried until she could cry no more, had washed her face, and had begun to cry afresh before Mrs. Windsor came to her room. Alone with her mother, the confession, however incoherently, was soon made.

'I am so miserable and ashamed, mamma. Father will be ruined because I had not the courage to say No yesterday when Mr. Bertram asked me to marry him.'

'It was a pity; but it is not too late to repair the mistake. Considering the disparity in age and position, it was natural enough that you should find a certain difficulty in telling him that you do not, cannot love him.'

I told him the truth yesterday,' said Polly, hiding her face in her mother's lap;

I cannot now tell a lie. I do love him with all my heart. Of course we cannot marry; I see that now, though I foolishly hoped a little, since he said that Thomasina was sure that Sir Richard would consent.'

'Is Thomasina mixed up in the affair?' 'Oh, no, mamma!' said Mary, shrinking

from the implied blame; he never said a word until we were riding yesterday. I

knew that I liked him, but I did not know why my heart beat when he spoke to me with such a grave, kind smile, nor why life was dull when he did not come. I never guessed why he asked me to ride more slowly; only when he asked me if I could love him, my heart gave a leap, and I thought only of the joy. 'He gave me this,' added Polly, drawing the locket from her bosom. 'Will you send it back to him, and say that he must never see or speak to me again? I do not know how I can tell Sir Richard that I am the only person to blame, and that father must not suffer.'

'I do not blame you, dear; but I must talk over the matter with your father before anything is done. You must feel that it would be an unsuitable marriage in every respect, and try not to be downcast; it is not given to many women to marry their first love.'

'I suppose not,' said Polly, as her tears still flowed.

It was natural that the father of the family should feel a little more annoyance and a little less sympathy. He could not have believed that Polly, whom he had always considered the most sensible member of the family, should have been silly enough to fancy herself in love with a man almost thirty years older than herself-old for his age too-and who, as everyone declared, would never be half such a man as his father. He supposed that she had been dazzled by the prospect of becoming a fine, great lady, and that he must thank her foolish vanity for the ruin of all his prospects.

Mrs. Windsor smoothed down her husband's irritation as well as she could, and helped him to compose his reply to Sir Richard's letter. Its tone was more forcible, if less dignified, than it might have been

without her corrections. Mr. Windsor accepted his dismissal without a protest. He added that Sir Richard could not be more sensible than he was himself of the objections to a match between Mr. Bertram and his daughter; and he added that Miss Windsor begged him to give the enclosed packet, containing the locket in a blank envelope, to his son.

Sir Richard triumphantly handed Mr. Windsor's note to his son, as well as the rejected offering. I thought my letter would bring him to his senses,' said he.

Anthony went straight out of the room without making any reply, and Lady Bertram presently saw him, from the window, walking with rapid strides in the direction of the cottage. Now, Sir Richard, you have done very wrong,' she said. 'I know Anthony well enough to feel sure that your taking the agency from Mr. Windsor will