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I u linn I.. F a-h .1 ifheu I wasa little la**, just enteen. ikiuuie was I. but prou I u a i|nncu ; Proud end uucy, and hard to plea**, Au. I wouderfu fonJ o' taking luy MM. Folk* iL.lna miuil then (or I wae young Tlw " van ua u* tubed ' that WM ay on my toiife-ue. " I oouldna b* tubed " wi 1 my book! at the school, And now 1 in old. 1 am only a tool ; loouMua be (a*hiki " wi'tho dairy and houae, And DUW I'm as poor a uuy kirk mouse ; Andwbeu mitber ipak o' uiy uoxlle ami thread " 1 oouldua b< fashed ' wai aye what 1 said. But spit* o' uiy laiinee*. pite o' IUT pride, Young KM nut. the pride o the oouutry-side, Cam seklut; my luvt ; and utt (or big a&ke A wbeeu u' fair piuuitaeH I would make ; but wheu the nine oniiie tin- gu.le purpose was Wl 1 ju.t Uiemuld aaug. " I caooa be fashed." - 1 oouldua U. (ashed." i( be wante.1 to walk ; 41 1 oouldua be fuelled." if be wantod to talk . I thougut it we. flue aae iu.iiBrnt to be Folks uiumna be sure o' U:e gotuug u me ; Aba thue a' uls hopee aud bis pleasures weru daebed Wttb tliae wearlaoiue words, " 1 caoua be faalied." But I said tbein too often. One bot summer day When uie (oiks were a busy ID " saving the My lover said, " Lassie let's belp them awhile." " loanna. be (ssbed," I said, wf a smile. - O laeslv. dear Ussiu, tbas words Kie me pain , And I looked to his (ace and ald them again Then b* put cu hut bit. took the over hill track. And from tbst day to this he has never come I've had " (asbes " euon slnoe thae happy days Wi' lueses and crosses and wearifu' wajrs . 1 uiujht ka been weel and happily wed If I'd keepit s kind, caevil tongue in my bead but " I oouldus be (aebed " wi' others, you see, And fortune sod (rieuds eeaeed " faahln wi Dje> See, Isesrrs. tak tent from the tale I hae told ; Diuna wn.il to be oeevil until you grow old. ih. el I " . Hay. wbatlsli(e? "TU to be born A belpless babe to greet the light Wltb a sharp wail, as if the uiuru K rtfll s cloudy uoou and night To wewp. to sleep, and weep again, With auuuy smiles between and then .' And tben space the infant grows To be a laughing, sprightly boy. Happy despite bis little woes, W. re bs but ounscloui cf his joy ' To !>, In burt. from two to ten. A merry, moody child -and tbeu ' And tben. in ooat aud trousers olsd, To learn to eay a deoalotfue, And break It, an unthinking lad. Wltb mirth and mischief all sgog; A iruitm o(l by field and fen. And capture butteuttUM -and then " And then, iocreaeed In itreniith and site, To be anon a youth full grown , A hero In bis moiher'i eyes, A yonng Apollo In bis own, To imitate the ay. o( men In faablonable sin and then ' And then, at last, to bs s man. To fall in love, to wooaud wed' Wltb eeatumg i.raiti to lobeiue and plau To gather gold or toll for bread; To sne> for lame, with longae and pen. And gam ur lues the prise. Aud then .' And then to gay and wrinkled eld T, . mouru the speed of life decline ; To praise tbe scenes our youth beheld. And dwell In tbe memory of lang svue To drs>am swbile with darkened ken To drop into the grave-end tben ' PHYLLIS. T IH uocius*. astlor of "110117 Bawn. "Tbe Baby." Fairy LUIan." etc . ec. Airy Can ahe? Bat perhepe you (ail in tbe veruuHM also '.'" " I tbiuk you are eioessively rude and disatfreeiable, ' 1 ay, muoo affronted, and tliug op, move with dignity towards the Joor " It you see Aahurst tell him I want him," alls out Marmaduke as I reacb it. " Yee : and at the earn* time I -mall tell 1m you said he was a duuoe at college," 1 return, in a withering tone. Mariuaduk* laugba, aud dropping the precious gun, run* after me, catches aud draws me back into bn mnctvm. " I tbiuk Djra and Aaburst two of the snott intellectual people it ha* ever been my good tortune to meet," he aay*, (til laughing and holding m*. " Will that do? I* your majesty appeased ?" " I wouldn't tell nbe, it I were yoa,' return I, severely. " Bay lie*. I hate the word ' fib.' A lie souud* much more honeet. But I am really in earnest when 1 *ay I tbiok Dora olever. I know at least twenty girls who hav* done their best So be mad* Lady A in ant, and not one ot them ever came ae near success aa sbe has." " Bat he ha* not proposed to ber yet." " It i* the same thing. Auy one can tee that be has Dora on tb* brain, and I don't think (aakiug yoar pardon humbly) hi* brain would stand much pressure. I'd lay any amount abe baa him at her feet before hi* visit la concluded." " How delightf nl I How pleased mamma will be ! Marmaduke, I forgiv* you. But >ou muiit not say slighting thing* of m* Hiain." " Blighting thing* of you, my own darling t < anoot you see when I am in fun ? I only anted to make you pout and look like the b *by you at*. In reality I think you tbe righsst, dearest, sweetest, et cetera." Thus my mind ia relieved, and I feel I n wait with oalmnea* the desirable end tost is evidently in store for Dora. I am so elated by Marmaduke'i concur- rence with my hope* that I actually kia* him, and, re-seating myself, consent to take the but etid of the gun upon my lap and hold it carefully, while h* rub* tb* barrel* up and down with a dreadtally dirty piece of scarlet flannel soaked u oil. " Do you think they would ever grow brighter than they are now '.'" I venture mildly. If yoa rubbed them for years, Marmaduke, I don't believe they would be further improved . do yoa ?" " Well, indeed, perhaps you are right. I think they will do now," replie* h*, regard- ing hi* new toy with a fond eye ; and tben almoet with regret, aa though loath to part with it, be replace* it in it* tlanuel berth. " By the by*, Phylli*, I had a letter from atnendof mine thi* morning -Cbandoa telling me ot hi* return to England, and 1 hav* written inviting him her*)." " Have you ? I hope he i* ciee. I* he Mr or Captain Cbandoa, or what ?" " Neither ; he I* Lord Cbandoa." "What!" cry I: " tb* real live lord at last I Ktne, I eappoa*, w* will bav* to b* very Mainly ID oar conduct, and forget w* ever laughed. 1* he very old and staid, Duke?" Very. He i* a year older than I am ; and I reintuiber you oaoe told me I wa* (ordering on uiy second childhood, or home- thing like it. However, in reality you will not tind ChaodoH (ormidable. He has held hut honor* but a very short time. Lait autumn be wa* only Captaiu Everet, with nothing to (peak of bayoud hi* pay, wheu ate in the shape of an unsound yaout sailed u, aud, having drowned one old man and two young one*, ported Kverelt into hi* present position." " What a romance ! I suppose one ought to feel sorry for the three drowned men, >ut somehow I don't. With such a atory connected with him, your friend ought to both baudaoma aud agreeable. IiheT" I don't know. I would be afraid to aay. You might take me to tank and abuse me afterwards, if our opiniouH differed. Tou mow you think Oeorge Aabunt a very !aaoiaaliug youth. Cbandoe I* a wonder- 'ul favorite with women, if that ha* any- thiig to do with it." Of oourae it ba everything." I hav* been ihi. king." aay* 'Duke, that a* a set off to all the hospitality we have received from the county, we ought to live a ball." 'A ball! UL, delicious!" ory I, clapping my hand* rapturoualy. ' What ha* put suoh a gloriou* idea into your bead ? To dauoe to a band all down that great, big, ball-room ! Oh, 'Duke I I am BO glad I married yon !" 'Duke laughs and colors (lightly. Are you, really? Do you mean that ? Do you never repent it '.'" "Repent it? Never! not for a *ingle .netaut. How could I when you are so good to me when yon ac* always thinking of tbiug* to make ma bappv ?" I am doubly, trebly rewarded tor any- thing I may have done by hetring *uoh jrda from your lip*. To know you are glad you married me' ia tbe next beat thing to knowing you live me." ' And no I do love you, you silly boy ; I am very, very food ot you. Marmaduke, do you think yon could get Hilly here for the ball ?" I will try. I dare aay I (hall be able to manage it. And now ran away aud get Blanche Going to help you to write out a ut of people. She knows every one in the county, and ia a capital hand at anything of that eorL" " She eeemi to be a capital band at moat thing*," I reply, pettishly, " except at making bareelf agreeable to me. It i* always Blanche Going can do thin, and Blanche Ooing can do that. She i* a para icon of perfection in your eyee, I do believe. I won't auk her to help me. I bate her." " Well, ask any on* else you like, then, or no one. But don't bate poor Blanche. What baa she done to deeerve it ? ' . Nothing. But I bate her for all that. I t'eel like a oat with it* far rubbed up the wrong way whenever I am near her. Sbe ha* tne happy knack of always making me feel email aud foolish. I cuppoee we are antagonistic to each other. And why do you call her -poor Blanche?' I dont ae* that abe i* in any need of your pity." " Have you not aaid sbe ha* incurred yoor di. pleasure .' What greater miifor t me could befall her .'" say* 'Duke, enuliug tenderly into my croa* little face. I relent and amile in turn. " Ob, believe n/e, she will not die ol .that," I eay ; " at all event* don't you be unhappy, "Duke," patting hi* face Boftly. I eball never bate you -be *ure of that." And tben oatobiog up my traia to facili- tate my movements, I run through tbe house in search of Harriet aud Bebe, to make known to them my new* and diou*> with them tbe juy* and glorin of a ball. " It ihall be a ball," *ay* Bebe, entbuii aatically, " such a* tbe county never before attended. W* will aatomah tbe natives. We will get men down from London to settle everything, and the decoration* and music and supper (ball b* beyond praiae. I knjw exactly what to do aud to order. 1 have helped Harriet to give ball* ever HO often, aud 1 am determined, a* it will be your unit ball aa Mr*. Carrington, it (ball b* a splendid suoooas." My first ball in every way," I aay, feeling rather aihamed ot myeell. " I waa at aeveral small dances before my marriage, and at a number of dinner-parties aiuoe, but I never in my life wa* at a real large ball." " What "' oriea Bebe, literally etruck dumb by this revelation ; then, with a little lady like *bout of laughter, I never heard of anything half BO ludiorou*. Why Phyllis, I am a venerable grandmother next to you. Harriet," to Lady Handoook, who bad just entered, "juat fancy! Phyl- lis tell* me abe wa* never at a ball '." " 1 dare lay the i* all the better for it," ay* Harriet, kindly, seeing my color i* a little high. " If you bad gone to fewer you would be a better girl. How did it happen, Phylli*?" " No on* in our immediate neighbor- hood ever gave a ball," 1 naaten to explain, " and we did not visit people who lived far away." I aupprega tbe fact of our having no respectable vehicle to convey ua to those diatant ball givtra, had we been ever ao inclined to go. "I suppose it appear* very odd to you." " Odd t" orie* Bebe ; " it is abominable ! I am so enviou* I can aoarcely bring myself to apeak to yon. I know exactly what I may expeet, while you can indulge in tbe moat deligbtful anticipation*. I oan re- member even now the rapturea of my nrat ball; the reality far exceeded even my wildcat fligbta of fancy, and that 1* a rare thing. Positively I oan imell the flower* and hear the mntic this moment. And tben I had *o many partner* more, I think, than I oan get now ; I oould have tilled twenty oarda initeal of one. Why, 1'hyl 1U, I am but two year* older than you, and yet if I bad a pound for every ball I have been at, I would have enough money to tide me over my next season without tear of debt." I ait down, and running over all my dreaee* in my mind, cannot convince myself that any ot them, if worn, would have the denired effect of adding yean to my face aud form. My trmuteau, to he just, wa* desirable every way. How aha managed it no one oould tell, but mother did cou- trive to screw inffiolent money out of papa to aet me oreditablv before the world. Still all my evening robe* seem youthful and girlleh in the extreme a* I call them up one by one. After a lull hall-boar ot earnest cogita- tion, I make up my Blind to a grand pur- pea*, and, iteallng dowuttaira, uov* rather Hueakily to Marmaiok*'* study. I devoutly trust he will be alone, and aa I open tb* door I find I bave my wish. He ia busily writing ; bat, a* b* i* never too busy to attend to ma, be laya dewn his pen and amile. kindly a* he nee* m*. Com* in, little woman. What am I to do tor you?" Marmadake," 1 say, nervously, " I hav* come to aak you a great favor." Tuat ie souietbiog refrenhingly new. Do you know it will be tbe flnt favor you bave aaked ol me, though we have been married more tban three months? Say on aud I awear it sball be your*, whatever it ia to the hall of my kingdom." Yon are quite sure you will not think it queer ot me, or or *habby ?" " Quite certain." Well, tben with an effort "for this ball, I think, Marmaduke, I would like a new dress ; may I send to London tor it ?" When I have said it, it aeemt to ma ao disgracefully aooo to aak for new clothes that I bluiih crimson, and am to the last degree shamefaced. Marmaduk* laugh* heartily. "I* that all?" he aaya. "Are you really wasting a blush on auob a alight request '.' Wbat an odd little girl you are 1 I believe you are the only wife alive who would feel modeit about asking luoh a question. How much do you want, darling ? You will require some other thing* too, I suppose. Shall I giv* you a hundred pounds, to aee how tar it will go ? Will that b* enough ?" Ob, 'Doke ! a great deal too much." Not a bit too saucb. I don't know what dresses ooat, bat I hav* always heard a considerable sum. And now, aa we are on tb* aubject ot money, PbvUia, what would you pnfer an allowance, or money whenever you want it, or wbat ?" ' II yoa would pay my bills, Marmaduke, I would like it best." I bav* never felt so thoroughly married a* at tbia moment, when I know myself to be dependent on him for every tbilling I may apend. "Very well. Whatever you like. Any time yon tire ol thi* arrangement you oan aay so. But at all events yon will require some pocket-money," rising from tbe table aud going over to a email f e in the wall. " No, thank yna, 'L>uke ; I bav* tome." " How much '" " Buongh, thank you." Nonsense, Phyllis !" almost angrily. How abeurd yon are ! On* would think I waa not yoar nueband. I wi*b yoa to try to remember you have t par feet right to everything I posses*. Come ben directly, tike this," holding out tome a roll of notes and a handtul of gold. "Promise me," b* ays, when you want more you will come to me for it. It would make me positively wretched if I tbougbt you wen without money to buy whatever you fancy." But I uever bad fifty I never bad ten pounds in my life," I eay, half amused. " I won't know wbat to do with it." 11 I wonder if yoa will have tbe same atory to relate this time next year " anewen 'Duke, laughing. " The very aim pleBt thing to learn is bow to upend money Aud now tell me I oonfeaa I have a little curiosity on tb* subject- what are you going to wear OD tbe twenty-fourth? Yon will make yourself look your moat charm ing, will you not, Phyllis?" " I shall nev*r be able to look dignified or imposing, if yoa m*tn that," nay I, gloomily. " All the old women about the farms who don't know me thiuk I am a viaitor here, and call me Mi**,' just a* though I were never married." " That is very tad. especially aa \ou will hav* to w*it ao many years for those wrinkle* you covet. I dare say a dealer in ooametioi, however, would lay yon on a few for tbe Decision, if you paid him well : aud, with on* ol your grandmother'* gowns, we might perhaps be able to persuade our gueiit* that I bad married a woman old enough to b* my mother." " I know what I should 'ii to wear," 1 ay, ibyly. " What?" " Black velvet aud tbe diamonds," I say- boldly. Marmsduke roars. " What are you laughing at ?" I aak teitily, somewhat vexed. At tbe picture you bav* drawn. At the idea ol velvet and diamond* in conjunc- tion with your baby taoe. Wby did you not thiuk ol adding on tb* ermine ' Than indeed, with vour height you would be quite majestic?" " But may 1 wear it ? May I may I a*k I, impatiently. " All my lift I have been wanting to wear velvet, and now when 1 bave ao good to opportunity do let me. " I* that your highest ambition ? By all means, my dear child, gratify it. Wby not Probably in *uob an effective, get-up you will take the house by storm." 1 I really think I shall look very nice and old," I return, reflectively. Then " 'Duke, bave you written about Billy ?" " Yes ; I aaid w* wished to bave him on tbe 19th for a week ; that will bring him in time for the daughter ou tbe 20th. 1 thought perhaps be might enjoy that." " Yon think of everything. I know no one so kind or good-natured. 'Duke, don'i make a joke about that velvet. Don't teli any on* what I Mid, please. ' "Never fear. I will be silent aa the grave. You ahall bunt upon them a* an aparition IQ all your ancient bravery." That evening we dreaa early, Beba and I for no particular reason, that I oan nmem ber, and, coming downstair* together, a*at oumelves before tbe drawing-room fl re to rain our complexions and bav* a aozy obal until tb* others break in upon a*. A* w* pause, the door at the end of tb* room i* nung wide, and a tall young man coming in walk* straight toward* m*. Th* lamps bavi not yet been lit, and only the crimson ''.ashen from th* blazing fire reveal to us hi* features. H* is dark rather more distinguished-looking than handsome, and Las wondtrtul deep, kind gray eye*. " Lord Chandos," announce* Tynon, in the background, speaking from oat the darkness, after which, having played hu part, b* vanishes I rise and go to meet the new-oomer with extended hand. Thia i* a inrprise, bat a pleasant one I am very glad to bid yoa welcome," I nay in a shy, old-fatbioned manner ; bat my band-clasp is warm and genial, and h* (mile* and looks pleased. " Thank yoa ; Mrs. Carrington, I nup poee ?" he aay*, with some taint hesitation hi* eye* travelling over my dreadfully youthful form, that looks even more thai usually obildiah to-ulght in it* clothing ol white cashmere and blu* ribbon*. II Yes,' I return, laughing and bluihing Marmaduk* ahould have been here to live us a tormal introd action to each other. hough indeed it i* hardly necessary ; I seem to know you quite well from all I have teard about yon." A alight rustling near the fire, a faint >aue, and then Bebe cornea forward. How d'ye do, 1- >rd Chandoe?" she says. " I hope you have not quite lorgot- ten me." Sbe bold* out bar baud and for an inttaut i*r eya look fairly into bia only lor an n*tant. 8b* ia dressed in some til my black gowo, that olinga clone to her, and has nothing to relieve it* gloom save one apot of blood-red color that rest* upon her bosom. Her arm* bin* lair and wbite to tbe elbow ; in her lair i* another fleok ol blood-red ribbon. it the flickering uncertain light or my own fancy that make* her face appear so pale? Her eye* gleam large and dark, and the curious little black mole lying so clone to aer ear look* blacker tban usual in contrast to her white obeek. But her tone rings Hay and steady' aa ever. A smile quivers round bar lip*. I am puzzled, I scarcely know why. I ilauoe at Lord Chaudos, and surely tbe ftrelight to-night it playing fantastic triokH hit face appears flusned and anxious. I draw oouciueious, bu: cannot make them satisfactory. " I bad no idea I ahould meet yoa here," b* aayt in a low tone that i* studiously polite. Bebe laugh* musically. No ' Then we are mutually aeteniabed. I thought yoa safe in Italy. Certainly it is on my mind that some one told me you were there." I returned home last weak." Then, turning to me, be says, hurriedly, " I hope Carrington i* well ?" " Quit* well, thank you. Will you come with me to flnd him ? He would bave been tbe flnt to welcome you, had h* known you were coming, but we did not hope to *** you until next week." " I had no idea my belt I oould have been here ao soon. But buaineu, luckily, there wae none to detain me, so I came straight on to throw myself on your tender mer oiee." We have now reached the library door. " Marmaduke," I call out, opening it and entering, " I have brought you Lord Cban- do*. Now, are you not surprised and pleased?" " Oh ! more pleased tban I ean aay," exclaims 'Duke, heartily, coming eagerly forward to greet bis friend. " My dear fellow, what good wind blew you to ua ao soon ?" When I return to tbe drawing-roam I nod the lampe burning obeerily, and uioat of our party assembled. Lady Blanche, reclining on a low tauteuil, i* conversing earnestly with Sir Mark Gore, who stands beeide her. Seeing me, she amilea) softly at him and motion* him to a obair near her. Dora, in bar favorite wbite mutlin and weet demure amile, is holding Mr. Powell and Sir Oeorge Asuuret in thrall. Sbe is beatowing tbe greater part of her attention upon tbe former, to tbe disgust and bewil- derment ol honeet Oeorge, who looks with moody dislike upon hie rival. Both men are intent upon taking her down to dinner. There ia little need for you to torture your- self with jealous fears, Kir Oeorge. When tbe time oomee it ia without doubt up< i yoar arm sbe will lay that little whit* pink tinged baud. hube is titting upon the sofa, with the infatuated Cbipe baside her, aud i* no longer pale ; two crimson spot* adorn her cbeeks aud add brilliancy to her eyes. A* I watch ber wondermgly she slowly raises her bead, and, mealing my gaze, bestows upon me a glance ao lull of tbe liveliest reproach, not unmixed with indignation, that I am filled with consternation. What kavf I done to deeerve BO withering a look .' " I would give something to know of whom yon are thinking just now," *ay* voice) at my elbow. Nut of me I tru-t ' ' I turn 10 flnd Sir Mark i* regarding me earnestly. Inatlootively I glanoe at the vacant cbair beside Lady Blanche and in doing ao encounter her dark eyee bent ou mine. Verily, I am not in good odor with my guests to nijzbt All through dinner I try to attract Bebe'i attention, but cannot. I addreim ber only to receive tbe coldest ot replies. Even alter- wards, when we get back one* more to the drawing-room, I oannot manage an explau ation, aa tbe escapes to ber own room, and doe* not appear again until the geutlemen have joined aa. Neither ahe nor Lord Cbandoe exchange one word with each other throughout tbe entire evening. With a sort ol feverish gayety ibe chatter* to young Thornton, to Captain Jenkins, to any one who may onanoe to be near her, a* though she tear* a silence. Nevertbelee* the minute* dra? . It ia tbe atupidoet night we bave known, and I begin to wish I had learned whist or chess or Bom nth ing of that sort I am out of spirits, and, though i unooent ol what it may be, (eel myself guilty ot aom* hideous blander. Presently tbe dreaded quiet tall*. Tbe whist-players are happy, tbe reet ol u* are not. Sir Mark, with grave politeneea, comes to the reaoue. Pwrhapa Mr. Thornton will kindly favor u* with a long ?" be *ay*. without a smile. And Mr. Thornton, with a lao* even more than usually beui^n, willingly con- tent*, and givee ua " Wbat will yoa do, love, when I am going?" apropot ol hi* approaching departure tor India with much sentimental fervor, and many tender glanoea directed openly to Mia* Beatouu. "Thank yoa." murmur* that young lady, when the doleful ditty i* finished, having listened to it all through with an air ol sad dened admiration Impoeiibl* to describe, and unmistakably flattering. " I know no toog that tooobea me so deeply ae that," " I know yon are laughing at me," *ay* Chip*, frankly, Beating himself again beside ber, and linking hi* voice to a whiaper that be loudly but erroneously believe* to be inaudible . " but I don't care. I would rather have you to make tun of me than any other girl to love me I" Could infatuation further go? " Pehapi one migbt find it poasible to do both," miinaatek Mia* Beatoun, wickedly ; but tbia puce of flagrant uypooniy proving too rnuoh even for bur, she raise* ber tat. to a level with her lips and ubaide* with an irropresaible *mil behind it, while poor little Chlpa murmurs : " Oh, come, now. That i* mor tban any fellow would believe, you know," and grin* a I'leaaed and radiant grin. Bebe, being aaked to aing, refuse*., gently but firmly ; and when I bav* delighted my audience with one or two old Engiub bal- lad*, we give in, and think with animation ot oar beds. In the corridor above I seize hold ol Bebe. " What has vexed TOO ?" I ask, anxiously. Wby are you not friend* with me) T Yoa tut come to my room before yoa go to bed. Promise." 11 Very good. I will oom*,' qaietlv dU- engagiug my baud. Then before closing tbe door, " Indeed, Pbylli*. I think you might have told me," she aaya, in a too* ef deep reproach. Ho that u it ! Bat surely ahe muat bave >een hie coming ao unexpectedly was a great lurpriie. And IB there a romance oonneoiea with ber and Lord Chandoa? 1 ooofeea to an overpowering feeling of curiosity. I dismiss my maid with more baste than usual, aud, eitting in my dreea- mg-gown and dippers, long lor Bsbe'i coming. I am convinced I sball not sleep ne wink if bbe tail* to keep this appoint- ment. I am not doomed to a ileeplea* night, however, a* presently she come* in all ber beautiful hair loose about her shoulder*. " Now, Hebe," I exclaim, jumping up to give ber a good shake, " bow oould yon be so oross all about notbiog ? I did not know myaelt he was oomiug so soon. You made me miserable the eutire evening, and spoiled everything ?" " But you knew be wa* coming aome tin?* ; why did yoa not aay ao?" " I for k ot all about him. I knew no reason why I should attach importance to hi* presence her*. I don't know now either. I wa* quite ignorant of your previous acquaintance with him. Probably had be waited in London until next week, a* h* originally intended, it might bave occurred to me to mention hi* coming, and so I would hav* apared myaelt all tbe oroelty and neglect and wicked looks so lavishly bestowed upon me thia evening." Yoa have yet to learn," aay* Mis* B*a- toun, who it, I think, a little ashamed ol her p*ttiabne*s, that ol all tbinga I meet detest being taken by surprise. It pat) me oat dreadfully . I don't recover myself lor ever BO long; and to see Lord Ohaodo* here, ot all people, when I believed him ale in Italy, took away my breath. I'hyl lis, 1 don't know how it ia, bat I feel I mail tell you all about it." " Yea, do. I am ao anxious to bear. Yet I hall guesa b* ii, or wae, a lover of yoar*. I* it not to ? And something bat) gone wrong?" " Very much wrong, indeed," with a rather bitter laugh. " It ill b* a alight come-down to my pride to tell yon this tory ; but I aan truat yoa, can I not? 1 am not fond ot woman f riendi as a rale indeed, Harriet i* my only on* bat you, Phyllis, bav* txerciaed upon me tome charm, I do believe, aa whan I am near you I forget to be reaerved." " That ia because you know bow well I like yoa." " Ia it 7 Perhaps an. Well, about Lord Cbaudoa. My atory is a abort one, you will *ay, and to the point. I met him first two yean ago. H* fell in lev* with me, and last year aiked me to marrj him. That is all . but you ill understand by it how little ambitious I wa* ot meeting him again." " And you " " Refused him, dear. How oould I do otherwise? He wa* only Captain Kverett then, without a prospect on earth ; and 1 am no heiress. It would bave meant pov- erty scarcely even wbat i* filled genteel poverty' bad 1 consented to b* bia wife ; and" with a quick shudder of disgust " I would rather be dead, I think, tbau endure such a life a* that." " Did yoa love him, Bebe ?" " 1 liked him well euougb to marry him, certainly," ibe admit*, alowly, " had oir- oumatanoea been different." We are silent lor a litUe time ; then Bebe 8ys, in a low tone. II He wa* so good about it, and I daeerved so little mercy at hi* hand*. I don't deny I bad flirted with him horribly, with eruel heartlessnee*, considering I knew all along, whan it oame to the final move, I would Hay No.' I liked him so well that I oould Let make op my mind to be brave in time and let him go, never counting tbe pain I would afterward* have to iufliot-and oear." Her voice sinks to a whisper. Without turning my bead, I lay my hand on her*. " It all happened on* morning," ahe goes on, presently, makingkfaint pauw between each sentence, " quit* early. There wae nothing poetic or sentimental about it in the way of conservatories or flower* or music Ha bad oom* to pay me bia usual viiit. It was July, ana mamma and I were leaving town the Dxt day. We are not to see each other again lor a longtime). Per- bap* that hastened it. It wa* a wet day, I remember I can bear tb* *ad drip, dnp, of the raindrop* now and wa felt silent and depressed. Somehow then 1 hardly know bow it all wa* said and over." " How Had it waa I" I murmur, atroking the hand I bold with quiet sympathy. " And then " " Tban I let him * how utterly false and worthies* was the woman b* loves'. I let him know that even if I adored him hi* want ot money would be an insurmounta- ble barrier between us. I tbiok I (old him eo. I am not quite sure ol that. I do not recollect distinctly one word I aaid that day. I only know that b* went away impressed with tbe belief that I was) a mere contemptible money-worehipper." " Did b* lay anything reproachful, I mean ?" " That was the hardest part ol it. H* would not reproach tne. He only eat then, looking distinctly miserable, without aa unkind word on hi* lip*." " What ? Did b* aay nothing?" "Very little. I nless to tell me 1 had treated him disgraoelully, I don't know that there was anything to be said. H* declared that be bad expeoted just aaoh an answer ; that be felt he had no right to bop* tor a happier one. He did not blame me ot course I waa anting wisely and ao on. He never once aaked me to reconsider my words. Then he got up and aaid be muit bid me a long farewell. lie knew a man who would gladly exchange with him and give him a chance of seeing a little Indian life , b* waa tired of England. You oan imagine tbe kind of thing." " Poor fellow, how did b* look ."' (To b* continued It I* one prod of a good education and of true reuiioment of teeling to rtipeot aati- qoity . Sigounvy .