'I dare say we will do our best to spoil you the girls, especially. You are pleased with your new sister then?'

'My new sister? Oh, you mean Rose Trevaille? Yes; so far as I can judge from one evening's acquaintance, she is a charming girl. Bright, sweet, and very pretty.'

6

rare

And my pearl of girls-my pale Margaret,"-has not she aroused your enthusiasm ?'

Eric gently raised his eye-brows. 'Enthusiasm, my dear father! Is it possible to become enthusiastic about any human being so calmly placid, so deliciously tranquil as my cousin Margaret?'

'Oh, I see your penchant is for vivacity and brilliance; well, you will find those qualities in Rose, but when you tire of them you will value more highly the exquisite repose of manner which distinguishes your betrothed wife.'

Eric stared at his father with a look of blank amazement, which did not even contain the element of enquiry, so thoroughly at a loss was he to understand his meaning. Presently, however, an amused twinkle came into his eyes, and he laughingly said, 'Why, father, for one moment you absolutely terrified me! I feared that I had entered into a matrimonial engagement without being aware of it, and to one who values his liberty as I do, what a terrible mishap that would be! You allude to that absurd and super-romantic notion of mine to engage myself to Margaret before I went abroad? Of course, if she remembered that nonsence for more than a week, it could only have been to laugh at the childish folly of it.'

'I cannot answer for Margaret's memory, but mine has retained the fact very distinctly, perhaps, because it coincided so perfectly with my desires. However, it is too soon, and wholly unnecessary at present, to discuss the subject, but my dear boy, let me tell you that nothing on earth would

make me so happy as to see you married to Margaret; she is a woman in a thousand for loveliness of nature and character, and so, when you are choosing a wife, remember your father's wishes.'

Eric looked somewhat embarrassed and just a trifle annoyed. Had he withstood the sieges of match-making mothers, and equally match-making daughters in all quarters of the world, besides the more subtle danger of sincere affection and admiration, which this handsome rich young American won so easily from the fair daughters of every clime-had he escaped this, he asked himself, to be the victim of a matrimonial scheme, the first thing on his return?

His father saw the shade of displeasure, and hastened to say, 'but come, the girls are waiting us in the drawing-room, and no doubt, pulling you to pieces in the unmerciful manner peculiar to their sex.'

Eric smiled complacently as he followed his father from the room. Without being an abnormally conceited young man, he knew well that, when in the hands of fair critics, he was in no danger of a harsh judgment.

As time passed, the serene happiness which had hitherto existed in Mr. Forbes' household was disturbed. The more Eric thought of his father's project, and he now found it impossible not to think of it every day of his life, the more distasteful it appeared to him. It was not that he liked his cousin Margaret less than formerly, it was simply to make use of Brutus' very expressive distinction that he loved Rose more. Margaret's prophecy had come true, and Eric's heart, hitherto held so securely in his own keeping, was lost to the little stranger, who had entered like a sunbeam into his father's family. Margaret herself was the first to become aware of the state of affairs, and by the cold deathly chill that struck to her heart when she realized the fact, she knew, also, that she loved her cousin Eric-loved

him with the one great constant passion of her life.

'I love him!' she cried, between her closed teeth, as she watched him from an upper window, slowly strolling round the garden paths with Rose by his side, on a lovely evening in early June.

'I love him! Oh, humiliation worse than death! Unsought and unasked, I have let my heart go from me to one who loves another! and she-as the thirsty flowers drink in the summer showers, yielding their own sweet perfume in the return, so does she return his love! I will tear his image from my heart, banish all thought of him from my mind! But no-that is impossible. Too well I know myself; nothing but death, if even that, can kill my love! It must be hidden, buried deeply away where no one will even guess that it has an existence. Ah the woe-the despair of knowing that I love where I am not loved! That one day he will be the husband of another!

And that was how she welcomed the event about which she had joked so pleasantly with her friend. Oh, the irony of fate!

'Will you ride with us this morning, Margaret? Rose wishes to go for a canter.' It was Eric who spoke, and, as she raised her face to answer, he thought how marble-like it was, and how unfathomable were her deep violet eyes. Of course he wished her to refuse, and she knew it. His manner, unknown to himself, betrayed him, notwithstanding his perfect goodbreeding and politeness.

'Would I not be de trop?' she asked, smiling archly.

He looked at her a moment, and then a pleased, surprised expression dawned on his face. 'What a fool I have been to worry about a marriage with this girl!' passed rapidly through his mind; why she doesn't care a particle for me, more than as a cousin, and wouldn't marry me if I were ten times her devoted slave! More than

that she is aware of my admirationlove for Rose, and approves of it. Thank heaven, with her assistance we can frustrate my poor father's plans in the simplest and most natural man ner.'

'Dear Margaret,' he said, gratefully, touching her hand, I would like a tête-à-tête with Rose this morning, if you will pardon my abominable rudeness. I have something to say to her -but stay; I am in a quandary ! Margaret, my sage councillor in days gone by, advise me.'

'Speak! Demand! We will answer!' said Margaret, quoting the Witches in Macbeth, while every word he uttered pierced her heart, for she knew she was to be made the confidante of his love-tale, and that later she would be obliged sympathetically to listen to the overflowings of Rose's happy feelings. It was a severe trial, but, difficult as it was to meet, she was thankful, for it proved that her own secret was safe.

I love Rose Trevaille,' he said, 'and you, with your quick woman's eye, have divined it. I do love her, Margaret, with my whole heart-who could know her and not love her! You have known her longer than I; tell me, is she not a rare combination of beauty, talent, and goodness of disposition?'

Margaret laughed. "I agree with you in everything! Rose is a darling, and I am glad-oh, very glad! that she has won your heart, for she loves you.'

'Oh! do you think so? Are you

sure?'

'Sure? Yes; we women know the symptoms in one another. But you would much rather she told you herself than I, wouldn't you? Ask her, and make yourself and her happy. She will not keep you in suspense. Like Juliet, she has not cunning to be strange?'

'But it is on that point I want your assistance. My father-he will not consent.'

'Not consent? What possible ob

jection can my uncle have to your marriage with Rose? She is beautiful, high-bred, and rich, and he loves her as a daughter already. You are surely mistaken.'

'Well, Margaret, my dear father is absurd enough to have "other intentions" regarding my disposal in the field of matrimony.'

Margaret's face flushed to the roots of her hair; her very ears tingled with the unusual emotion of indignation and alarm, and the fire leaped into her eyes till they sparkled like great sapphires.

'My uncle could not be so absurd, so foolish! It is preposterous; it is not right! Excuse my warmth,' she added, with a nervous laugh, as she met Eric's surprised gaze, but any thing like coercion in marriage affairs always calls forth my greatest indig

nation.'

'I am grateful to have an enthusiast on my side,' Eric said, kissing her cheek. She grew deathly white, and turned faint at the caress, but quickly recovering, she said, speaking rapidly,

You love Rose and she loves you. Nothing must come between younothing shall. It is my pet scheme, that you and she should be married, and I won't be disappointed. There, now, I have confessed myself that intolerable creature, a match-maker! See, there are the horses. Go, settle it with Rose, and I will manage "mine uncle."' And, with an airy lightness that was too prononcé to be natural, if Eric had understood her better, she left him.

'Bless the girl; she has lifted a weight from my heart! Why, father will have to relinquish his "pet scheme" when he finds that his Rare pale Margaret wouldn't have me on any terms.'

He stepped out of the open French window and met Rose on the piazza ; she was standing against a pillar switching the climbing vines with her riding-whip, and, with her bright

drooping plumes and glowing face, making a pretty picture in the darkgreen setting.

'Has Margaret gone to put on her habit?' she said, colouring vividly as she encountered his glance in which the ardent love which he had been just discussing, beamed without disguise.

'No; Margaret will not ride with She wishes to spend the morning with my father.'

us.

"Oh! then we will have to go alone,' said Rose; and having arrived at this logical conclusion, she ran down the garden-path, not so sorry, perhaps, at the loss of Margaret's company as she would have been a few weeks before. She waited at the gate for Eric, and, placing her tiny foot in his hand, sprang lightly into the saddle, and together they cantered merrily away. Rose chatted gaily and incessantly, and the exercise increased her vivacity to a degree that was a little beyond her own control; as they entered a beautifully inviting expanse of country, she touched her horse smartly and went off at a gallop. Eric was startled. He saw that for some reason she was unduly excited, hence his alarm, though he knew her to be an excellent horsewoman under ordinary circum

stances.

'Pray, don't do so!' he cried, as he overtook her; 'your horse is very spirited, and you do not know the ground!' She only threw back a saucy glance at him and darted off again.

Rose, darling-Hear me !-stop -one moment !'-but before he had finished speaking she had lost her seat and was lying motionless on the green sward, while her horse, much surprised at his riderless condition, was snorting inquiringly under a neighbouring tree. In a few moments Eric had leaped from his horse and was kneeling at her side.

'Are you hurt? Oh, Rose, my own sweet love, speak to me! at me!'

Look

Rose sat up; her hat had fallen off and her hair hung over her shoulders in dishevelled luxuriance; she tossed it back from her face, which was dyed with blushes, and wore a slightly mortified expression.

'I do not know whether I am hurt or not! I'll tell you presently, when I have recovered that erect posture which nature designed for my species. In the mean time, please to hand me my hat and assist at my toilette!' and she laughed a little constrainedly, then burst into a merry peal at his perplexed look as he obediently did as she had told him.

'Thanks-no, I'm not hurt-only shaken! Shall we remount?'

'Not if you are going to ride so wildly! You might have been killed, and I told you

'There never mind the rest! We women have the monopoly of that phrase, and you musn't encroach. I'm sufficiently shaken for my recklessness without having to be scolded too! Besides, it was all your fault!'

'My fault?' said Eric, astounded. 'I know you are clever, and have a creative fancy, but if you succeed in proving that accusation, I will not scold another word!' and as he spoke he drew close to her and threw his arm around the little trembling form. Tell me, now-how was it my fault?'

Why, because you startled me so by calling-me-darling! And now I've lost my reputation for fine horsemanship, and its all your fault!'

He bent and kissed the pouting lips. 'You must get used to the expression, my darling, or your neck will be in constant danger. As for your horsemanship, no one witnessed your downfall but myself, and I vow to keep the secret sacredly on one condition.'

'Name it, Tyrant! I see you are inexorable!'

'Only this-that you will say, "Eric, I love you, and I will be your wife!

Rose then hesitated, then murmured the words, and slipped from his encircling arm.

'Come!' she said, 'I am anxious to redeem myself. Let us mount.' And slowly riding, only occasionally speaking, they returned home in a calm state of happiness, which was as near perfection as this world affords.

Rose flew upstairs to Margaret, and Eric went straight to his father's study. They found everything smooth and ready prepared for them. Margaret received Rose's announcement with sympathy and delight, and poured forth expressions of pleasure and congratulation. Mr. Forbes gave his unqualified consent to the marriage.

It is not just as I had planned, my boy, but since Margaret and you are not for each other, I could not choose a better, sweeter wife for than our you little Rose. You have my approval and blessing. Send Rose to me.' Eric left him, too happy and wellsatisfied to notice the abrupt dismissal, or the weary disappointment in his father's face.

6

And

Mr. Forbes had suffered a keen disappointment; more than that—a bitter grief, for he knew Margaret's secret, and his heart ached with love and pity for her. She had gone directly to him upon leaving Eric that morning, and laying her hand upon his arm, 'Uncle,' she had said, in her sweet low tones, a little monotonous from restraint, Eric and Rose love one another. You must not oppose their union!' And then, in answer to his impatient gesture of dissent and annoyance, she continued passionately: My happiness, my very life depends upon it!' and, sinking on her knees by his side, and clasping his hand, she sobbed, 'Oh, uncle, you who are everything to me-father, mother, all-if you love me, help me now! He loves her -not me, and they must not know, must not guess, what you have discovered.'

The old man was inexpressibly touched; he had never seen her so

affected before.

He lifted her in his arms and soothed her tenderly. 'Be calm, my sweet child! you are acting hastily,' he said, when she was quieter.

Eric is betrothed to you, and will return to his allegiance when his first fancy for Rose's pretty face has flickered itself out. It is my fondest wish that he should wed you, and he must.'

6

Uncle, do not tempt me with that childish bond, which, trivial as it is, Eric would respect if it were insisted on! But what do I say? There is no tempation! What, entrap a man into a marriage against his inclination! Where is your pride, and where, think you, is mine? If your son were to ask me to marry him in deference to your commands alone, I should quietly refuse, but if he asked me out of pity because of my mad love for him, I should kill myself, if I did not die of shame.'

Her uncle looked at her, as she stood with flaming eyes and face of marble pallor. You are right,' he said at last. " Forgive me, Margaret, if I sought to sacrifice your woman's dignity to my own selfish wishes. Eric may marry Rose, and you will stay with your old uncle always, and take care of him. Will you not?'

Rose Trevaille was a lovely bride, and her radiant beauty shone more by contrast, when she stood beside her pale bridesmaid, who, in gauzy draperies of snowy white, bent over her like a gentle lily, arranging and admiring her shimmering robes of creamy silk and lace.

After Eric and Rose had gone, Mr. Forbes feared for the health and strength of his much-loved Margaret, but without cause. She was in every way her old self, only a little more reserved and unfathomable to those who did not comprehend her. And, as years rolled by, and her raven hair whitened, though not with age, there was a saintliness, the sacredness of a great though hidden grief, about Margaret Elliott that caused even the poor and needy, to whom she was a ministering angel, to stand in awe of her, for

Those who saw her snow-white hair,

Her dark, sad eyes, so deep with feeling,
Breathed all at once the chancel air,

And seemed to hear the organ pealing.'

I