If only the baron would speak out or go away!

She was Kitty's dearest friend; could she speak to the baron? She decided that she could not.

Poor little Ella! She was too young as yet-numbering only twenty summers-and too feeble to deal with these obstinate, perplexing circumstances. As she lay on her sofa, so pale, so blonde, so mignonne, as the French would say, she only wanted a golden harp and wings to look like an angel "dressed for heaven;" and one instinctively felt that the harder business of life was very little fitted for her, and that the position of being Sir George's daughter was not fitted for her at all.

But no matter what a woman may be-a seraph or a virago, a saint or a sinner-she is almost sure to possess the feminine quality of tact; and Ella had managed to keep Sir George's undesirable idiosyncrasies wonderfully in the background hitherto. She could not feel sure of being able to do so now, and the thought was a distressing one. She could bear to lose Kitty, her newly-acquired, highly-cherished treasure-her pearl beyond all price; but she could not bear to have anything cloud their most sweet friendship; and would not Sir George's unpleasant conduct cloud it? If her father persisted in persecuting Kitty, she could be her defender, but she could hardly be her partisan.

As she lay thinking these sad thoughts, and sighing to her self, after the manner of women, that the sweetness of life should be so short-lived, in came the Apple of DiscordKitty's bright, bewitching, indescribable self! Never were two women better contrasted: the one possessed of a magnificent physique, of an elastic character, so adapted to the exigencies of human life as it is, possessed of so many nascent charms and capabilities; the other all delicacy and softness, and almost infantine loveliness and purity of look and temperament, and quite unfitted for intercourse with any but "the élite of humanity," though the leaven that leaveneth the lump of society with it is but small.

"We have had such a pleasant drive," began Kitty, in a

flow of spirits. "I hardly think you would have found it fatiguing. See, I have brought you home a pretty sketch, made on the spot for your album by Mr Tyrrell and the baron "

The words were fairly on her lips as Sir George entered the room; but no sooner had he heard them than he said, snappishly

"Always that confounded Frenchman! When you have finished talking about him, Miss Silver, perhaps you will listen to what I have to say."

And with that he slammed the door to very violently, and went away.

"Oh, dear!" said Ella, as soon as he was fairly out of hearing. "What can we do to make poor papa more amiable?" Kitty sympathised and suggested, but she did not say, "Let us leave Malaga," which step Ella felt in her secret heart to be the only panacea for the evil.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

GOOD NEWS.

IT is a question whether the noblest and bravest of us could long support the small vexations that will disturb even the best-ordered life without the stimulus of a pleasant surprise. Wise men and good women can doubtless do a great deal towards preventing sordid or unworthy elements from spoiling the harmony of daily existence; but who can command those happy accidents upon which we are all so dependent? We learn-ah, how bitterly!-the mirage-like nature of anticipated joy; but happiness that comes to us as unexpectedly as treasuretrove, how good and reviving and blessed it is! We may respect our preachers, but let those who like listen to the best sermon that ever was preached, and give me for my soul's good a sudden piece of welcome news instead!

Whilst poor Ella was pondering upon the numerous vexations cropping up in her daily path in consequence of her

father's intractable temper, an unseen force was at work that would for the time turn the lion into a lamb. A snarling terrier turned into a placid parlour cat would be a more fitting simile; but a baronet is a baronet, and must not be taken liberties with, even in jest.

It must be mentioned, then, that Sir George's temper had been of late years tried amongst other things by a lawsuit. This lawsuit was, as usual, an affair of very long standing; so long, indeed, that it had settled itself down in Sir George's life as a sort of chronic ailment or inconvenience to which one submits with a bad grace. He sometimes wished that the matter might never come to an end, so sorely did he dread the idea of defeat.

The question was one involving twenty thousand pounds, however; and when news came one morning that he was master of the field, he hardly knew how to keep his exultation within decorous, much less dignified, bounds.

The two girls were sitting in their pretty summer-house, looking across the orange-trees at the beautiful purple mountains, and talking over their needlework, very likely of the baron,-only Sir George had no ears just then,-when he rushed in, flourishing a letter over his head, his teeth chattering with excitement, his black hair blown about his eyes, which were like the bright little eyes of a terrier who smells pleasant prey.

"I've gained it!—I've gained it!" he cried, throwing the letter on the table, and taking it up the next moment, as if it was too precious to be out of his hands. "I've gained it!"

Then he laughed, almost a maniacal laugh, kissed Ella, and shook hands with Kitty. When the first preliminaries of congratulations were got through, Kitty, with her usual tact, left father and daughter alone. Sir George looked up, as much as to say, "Oh! what can it matter who hears about a lawsuit that has put twenty thousand pounds in my pocket!"

Ella looked up as much as to say, "As if we had secrets from you." But Kitty's tact was never at fault. She was, in truth, an epicure where her friendships were concerned, never

accepting immoderately of the good things her adorers offered her, never taking an ell if they offered several inches. "Custom cannot stale the infinite variety” of a person so rich in gifts and graces, and so temperate in using the tribute paid to

them.

So Kitty smiled and nodded to her friend; and, pretending that she wanted to write some letters that very minute, left them to their cheerful little tête-à-tête.

"Dear papa!" cried Ella; "what a weight off your mind ! I am so glad!"

"But it makes such a difference in our income. In fact, it makes all the difference," Sir George went on, now grown quite calm and collected. "We need not keep away from England all the year round, as if we were dunned-not that I like England, it's growing so abominably democratic; but you should be in London for a season now and then."

Kitty would no doubt like it," Ella said, reflectively; "and I should like it, for some things."

"Or we might go down to Akenholme Park--I want very much to get my books re-catalogued. I shall put up a memorial window to your mother in the church now, Ella; and, oh! my darling, I could die with an easy mind any minute, for you will have enough to live upon!"

Sir George's eyes were actually full of tears just then, but the next moment he was laughing again exultingly.

"It's about the only piece of good luck that ever overtook me in my life," he went on; "isn't it? All my labourers' wives bore them sons, but no boy was ever born to me. Your dear mother died when we were both in the heyday of our youth. In the matter of property, how shamefully did my uncles and aunts treat me ! In fact, without wishing to find fault with Providence, I must say I've been all along more hardly used than my neighbours, though I'm a good churchman, and lead a proper sort of life."

"But now," said Ella, affectionately, for she was too used to her father's somewhat pompous show of orthodoxy to be shocked by it, "all will be well with us; and if we are not

contented and pleasant, and charitable to our neighbours, there will be no excuse."

The last sentence was uttered very slily, and, as may naturally be supposed, had reference to the baron. The cap fitted.

"I should be charitable enough to people if they minded their own business," Sir George said; "but if that prig of a Frenchman comes dangling after Kitty, I'll pitch him out of the window without the least compunction."

This speech was, however, uttered more in jest than in earnest, and wholly wanted the acrimony of former speeches made to the same purpose.

"Papa, now you have got your cake, we shall expect you to be good, and not to get cross with anybody."

"Don't you think the best thing we can do is to leave Malaga?" Sir George said, maliciously. "It would serve them both right."

66

Both, papa? How can you utter anything half so unpardonable Kitty has done nothing wrong."

"She hasn't done anything wrong; but the whole thing-the flirtation ".

"O papa

!

Well, call it what you will; the whole thing has been carried quite far enough to spoil our enjoyment. If I want Miss Silver to write a letter for me-which she says she likes doing where is she to be found? In the company of the baron. If we plan a pleasant drive, who is favoured with her conversation? The baron. She neglects even you for that confounded Frenchman, and I won't put up with it!"

But Ella went back to the subject of the twenty thousand pounds, and brought out all the salient points of it with so much discretion, that Sir George's heart softened towards the whole world in general, and poor Kitty in particular, and he promised to treat her more leniently in future.

For the few days following Sir George was highly busy in consequence of his newly acquired property, writing letters, making calculations as to investments, and so on. Ella advised