able to do so soon. I do not ask you to come to Groschenheim; I am selfish enough to wish to enjoy having you away from all these associations: I am getting what the Germans call 'home-sick,' and to enjoy being with you thoroughly, I must be with you in England."

"Lesbia is not coming, mamma,” said Ella.

"I am sorry for it," answered Mrs. Dobree, and nothing more was said on the subject.

But Ella was not satisfied. She could not sit down with her hands on her lap, and supinely leave things to take their course, when a little exertion might arrest their fatal progress. She overcame her prejudices and her scruples, and rode that afternoon to Berrylands.

"Mr. Hamilton was out, but Mrs. Scars dale was at home. Would she walk in ?"

She hesitated for a moment, then decided that it would be better to do so, and jumped down from her horse.

The servant led the way to the library. Mrs. Scarsdale had abandoned the drawing-room, and had permanently fixed herself in the antechamber to Mr. Hamilton's own special sanctum sanctorum. His study, a tiny room leading out of the library, was the only place in his large house which he could now absolutely call his own. But to reach it he must traverse the library, and thus was little better than a prisoner after all. During his frequent absences in town Mrs. Scarsdale had inaugurated this arrangement, and finding her established in the library on his return, he knew it would be difficult, nay, he confessed to himself at once, that it would be impossible, to eject her.

"It is so lonely in those large drawing

of

rooms," said Mrs. Scarsdale, by way explanation, and the master of the house only wished he could say the same of the library.

She sat now with her feet upon the fender, absorbed in not altogether muscular studies. As Miss Dobree entered, the greasy yellow volume was thrust hastily behind the cushions of the armchair, and Mrs. Scarsdale rose to receive her visitor.

"My visit is in fact to Mr. Hamilton," said Ella with more sincerity than courtesy. "But, faute de mieux, you will say what you have to say to me?" asked Mrs. Scarsdale, with an unpleasant smile.

"Scarcely," replied Miss Dobree, not in the least discomposed by the remark; "but I thought it better to ask you than to trust to a servant, when Mr. Hamilton would be at home?"

"Mr. Hamilton's movements are very

uncertain."

"In that case I must be patient; but perhaps you would be so good as to ask him kindly to come over to Monkshill as soon as he can." Then, seeing Mrs. Scarsdale's look of surprise, Ella added, somewhat haughtily, "I should not ask the favour, but that it is on a matter which nearly concerns himself, and—another, that I wish to speak to him."

Impolitic speech!

The ladies bowed to each other. Mrs. Scarsdale rang the bell, and the next minute Ella was riding down the avenue. "Himself and another," repeated Mrs. Scarsdale, aloud; "what other? Perhaps that wretched little Lesbia."

It is almost needless to say that Mr. Hamilton neither received the message nor heard anything of Miss Dobree's visit.

CHAPTER X.

MEA CULPA.

THE qualities for which Mr. Dalrymple had hitherto valued his wife had been

"

negative ones. Her "want of character had been her chiefest charm in his eyes. Her obedience, her desire to please, her devoted, if somewhat childish, attachment to himself, her unsuspicious, elastic nature. But all these had vanished. As though at the stroke of some magic wand, Lesbia had grown from an appealing, clinging, shallow, easily-disposed-of girl, into a selfreliant, silent, reserved woman. No allusion was made to what had taken place between them; there are matters upon which it is better to preserve in silence.

The following day both Prince Immen