Cruel as the Grave.

CHAPTER I.

BERRYLANDS.

"THEY ought to have been here by this time," said Mr. Hamilton, rather fussily, as he looked at his watch. He had looked at it ten times within the last quarter of an hour, and every time he had done so the lady on the sofa had sighed rather plaintively and under her breath, as it were, and had then offered some consolatory remark, as to the roads being dark, the down express always late, and so on.

"I hate this sort of thing. Kept waiting for dinner, the soup cold, the fish

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B

spoiled, and people coming in unwashed and unkempt-they had much better have put it off till to-morrow morning."

"It is very trying, and you have borne it all so well that I wish they could have been punctual."

"I dare say it's the fault of the train," replied Mr. Hamilton, mollified, "and I told Jones to be careful how he drove. These dark, cold nights, with a suspicion of frost, are neither good for man nor beast."

"There they are!" exclaimed the lady, as the sound of approaching wheels struck upon the ear.

Mr. Hamilton never allowed members of his family to rush out into the hall to "welcome the coming guest," and, therefore, his companion merely rose from her seat, and took a step nearer the door as she spoke.

The next moment it was burst open, and a young and beautiful girl almost ran into the room, followed by a youth of about her own age. She went straight to Mr. Hamilton, and holding up her face to be kissed, said frankly, “Oh, I'm so glad you let me come here! It was so good of you; but you were always good to me, even in poor mamma's time, and I'm afraid we're late. My train was behind time." As she spoke she turned and looked at the lady on the hearthrug. Mr. Hamilton led her forward, and said kindly, “This is Lesbia, Caroline. I know you will

be good to her."

Lesbia put her little hand frankly into that of the lady, and then, after peeping at her shyly for a moment from under her thick lashes, pursed up her rosy mouth and kissed the elder lady's cheek.

Well, Frank, my boy," said Mr.