well married, though she would on no account like to see her Johnny enslaved by either of them. She eulogized Margaret therefore in particular to her young visitor, all unawares how another listener sat by endorsing every word mentally.

"Yes, indeed!" was Captain Robin's comment on his hostess's lively panegyric; “she is a remarkably beautiful girl. But really Shrugg ought to be ashamed of himself for bringing such a family down to a shop."

"The fact is," Johnny cried, “they ought to be at The Park, Robin, my boy. Can't you persuade the governor to abdicate in their favour?"

"That would be a stretch of disinterested affection, of which I am incapable," Captain Robin said, with a laugh; "but it must have been an awful blow when Francis Shrugg knew he was cut out. I don't know how he could speak to my father again. I half expected a cool reception this morning."

"Ah!" said Johnny, "but you're a heathen, most noble captain, and can't understand Christian virtue."

"Johnny, you're growing bumptious," he retaliated. "By the bye, how is Gracey Exelby. When shall I be wanted to do best man ?”

"Come, come," Mrs. Dale interrupted, not wishing what was to her a serious subject to be laughed at. "You two young men want keeping in order. I think I'll drive to Clack, and bring some of the girls back with me ; then you'll be obliged to behave properly.”

A proposal which was eagerly seconded, and promptly put into execution.

M

CHAPTER VIII.

THE INDIAN MAIL.

"WE'RE Cousins, you know," said Captain Robin, sitting cosily by Margaret's side in the great drawing-room at The Chase that evening.

We ought to call each other by our Christian names; shall we set a good example?"

"All right," said Margaret, who thought him a good-natured little oddity, and received his admiring attention as a matter of course.

"Very well; then now I'll electrify your sister Susy. "By the bye, isn't she engaged to some one?"

"Yes; didn't you know?"

"Well, I've heard, I fancy; but I'm afraid she knows how to flirt."

"Susy flirt!" cried Margaret;

"what an

idea.' Susy was sitting between Mrs. Dale

and Mr. Murkitroyd-the latter being a great

favourite with his hostess. Her fair, soft face was slightly turned away from the doctor, who was speaking across her to Mrs. Dale; but his eyes were on the younger lady,-eyes that even from the farther side of the large room seemed to be full of admiration.

"What do you call that then?" Captain Robin continued, as Susy lifted her beautiful eyes slyly, and fixed them on his. "But perhaps coquetry is natural to pretty women, and they don't know when they practise it."

Poor Susy! Mrs. Dale was asking the doctor after a mutual acquaintance who was in India; and, quite unconscious of the deep interest Susy took in India, Mr. Murkitroyd was relating some of his friend's experiences— experiences by no means of a pleasant nature. "I can't understand," he added, "how ladies can stand the discomforts of Indian life; they really must be actuated by the most unselfish, sterling love to go out there." It was this that made Susy's eyes smile upon him; she had

CHAPTER VIII.

THE INDIAN MAIL.

"WE'RE Cousins, you know," said Captain Robin, sitting cosily by Margaret's side in the great drawing-room at The Chase that evening. "We ought to call each other by our Christian names; shall we set a good example?"

"All right," said Margaret, who thought him a good-natured little oddity, and received his admiring attention as a matter of course.

"Very well; then now I'll electrify your sister Susy. "By the bye, isn't she engaged to some one?"

'Yes; didn't you know?"

"Well, I've heard, I fancy; but I'm afraid she knows how to flirt."

"Susy flirt!" cried Margaret; "what an idea." Susy was sitting between Mrs. Dale and Mr. Murkitroyd-the latter being a great