as far as you know him, do you like this

young man?"

"No."

"No! Have you any reason?"

"Yes; but I shall not tell you what it is." And Langley laid down his pipe. This simple action betrayed much to Justin.

"I must probe him home now," thought Justin. "I must make him speak of her."

"I do not wonder at this St. Clare," he said. "Little Ethel has grown so prettyeven as a brother I can realize her attractions. There is something so unconscious, and half child-like in her demeanour. She reminds me of Longfellow's 'Maidenhood''Standing with reluctant feet,

sure.

Where the brook and river meet,
Womanhood and childhood fleet!
Gazing with a timid glance

At the brooklet's swift advance
On the river's broad expanse!'

And she is a good little girl at heart, I am But, perhaps, I am too partial as to her appearance; frankly, now, does she strike you as pretty?"

It was all over with poor Langley, then. He made an effort to speak, but his lips trembled too much; he slowly rose from his seat, and laid his arms on the mantelpiece, and his head on them, while his whole figure drooped nerveless for an instant. He muttered, in a voice that seemed not to belong to him-a voice that startled Justin by its strangeness

"She is very pretty; too pretty, is your sister, for my peace, friend. You should have told me so before I came here."

"Touched home, at last, old fellow ?" said Justin, sorrowfully.

Whenever Langley and Justin were most in earnest and most sad, they called each other respectively "old fellow" and "friend": these were always solemn occasions.

"But, Martin, you say I should have told you. Supposing one of my reasons for wishing you to come here was the very thing that has occurred? Certainly, I did not anticipate any frustration to my hopes in

the person of Mr. St. Clare. I knew there were very few young men here no one Ethel would be likely to love. I thought my friend might be my brother in name as well as affection."

Langley did not reply, he only grasped the marble tighter, and buried his head deeper. After a few moments' silence in the room, during which no sound broke the stillness but the monotonous beating of the clock, and each was occupied with his own mournful reflections, Langley raised his head and quietly resumed his seat. Taking up his pipe, he refilled it.

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Quite yourself again, old fellow?-only a spasm of the heart!" Langley looked up and forced a smile-it was a very poor smile.

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'Well, I suppose you have really fancied yourself in love, at last? but you will soon get over it-live it down."

It appeared profanation to Langley to speak thus jocosely of the secret shrined in the holiest precincts of his heart; so he said

nothing; but he thought, with a shudder, Justin had a barbarous way of tearing aside the bandages from a hidden wound; it might be wholesome, but it was not pleasant; it reminded him of the way Justin would prepare his operating-knife, remarking to his patient," it was a mere nothing, a sharp pang, and all was over."

Justin was not cruel; he was a surgeon at heart, and had a real pleasure in surgical operations; Langley was a tender-hearted coward, and fainted at the sight of them.

After a pause, Langley collected himself sufficiently to say, "I think it will be best to pass over this revelation you have forced me into, as though it had never been; we will not mention it again. You understand me, friend?" and he held out his hand, which Justin clasped fervently.

"Martin, I can sympathize with you; for I too have loved, and am miserable.” After a minute he resumed: "But do you not think you had better leave here for a little

time? I can take your place-change might do you good, make you forget her."

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Forget her!" replied Langley, with a curious smile; "do you think I want to forget her? I would not go away on any consideration. Do you deem me a lovesick fool, that I must go into a corner and have my little cry out!" and his eyes flashed unwonted fire. Then he continued, more gently: "No: these sorrows come to temper and try us. I have felt myself purer, gentler, since this has grown in my heart. Do not fear for me, friend; I could stand by at the altar and see her wedded to him without an eyelid quivering. When once I nerve myself for the trial, I can endure anything; unexpected encounters, such as to-night, overpower me."