The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

ADOPTED BY THE DEAN : A TALE Of TWO COUHTUBa. And with a sense of fresh work to be filled into the day, Cornelia roaMd herself (rain her revtrie, lighted her reading-lamp, od opening ponderous volume was toou lout to ths world ar.rin.l bei. Ksperanou came down-stairs tbe next morning m good spirits, tad rtady la look at everything in tbe bent light- Before leaving bur room she liJ fastened one ol the wll lljw-rd in her .irons, and had caught hernell tinging tbe ' >frain of a game which ibe used to play viih the oouvent papili. ( ti tu t* da built* Ullci Her sprighll;neBS, however, ROOD vaniihei, for in tbe hot, oppressive dining- room she foaud to ber dninsy that a sab slantial meal awaited her. To sit down at eight o'clock to a n^ular dtjrunrr * i /ourchette, was an almost unbearable inflict- iou to ber ; nbe resolved to take only ber accustomed cup ol coffee and roll, bat found the coffee so execrable that it was an im possibility ; moreover, MM. Morllake was no evidently offended at ber numerous refnsalf, that cue forced herself to take what sbe would much rather bavo been without. The garden looked temptingly cool and shady, and after breakfast wai over Eeptr unce asked leave to go out. Cornelia received her proposal with tome earprise. " on, certainly, it you wish to do so, bat there is nothing w ortn seeing in oar garden, and besides it is almost time for service.' " Bsrvioe at the oatbtdral ? I am BO longing to see tbe interior." " You will bavo plenty of opportunities, then, for we always attend both morning and evening serviee : be cartful to be ready five minutes before the boar, as my father is very particular as to pauotuality." And Cornelia moved away, leaving Espurauoe chilled and repulsed, though she oould not have explained why. Hhe was null looking oat of the window, rather sadly, wbsn Mrs. Morllake retnrued, leading by the baad a fair haired little girl of.abunt six years of age, who would have been exaeedin^ly pretty, bad not ber mouth been spoiled by constant pooling. ' Hun and kiss your new coasin, 1J< lla," aid Mm. Morllake. " Uo at once, there is a good child." But Hulls drew back with an obstinate " Sha'n't." Eaperanoe who wan very fond of children, began to ooax her, and would soon have won her over, bat Mrs. Morllake interf erred in an aggrieved tone. " Excuse me, Esperance, but I most really have the management of my own child. Leave her to uiu." Then as Eiperanoe moved to tbe other side of the room, with heightened color, she tamed again to the child. " Now, liulla, do as mamma tells you, and you shall bavs a piece of sugar." Ksperanoe would much rather have been without the bribed kits, but aftur Mrs. Mortlake's very pointed remark she oould not venture to say so ; lit! la hetilated for minute, advanced a stop or two, then tamed ouoe more. 11 A large piece, mamma ? " " Yes, my darling, a large piece." " Bella hesitated no longer, and Ksper- aaoe, innch amused, met liar half-way and kissed her unluckily <ia bjtli cheeks. " Bella ran back to her mother triumph- aatly. " Two lumps of sugar, mamma, two big lamps, she kissed me iwico t " Eiperanoe laughed nitrnly, bit Mrs. Morlias.6, vexed at Ibe foolishness of her own bribe, looked annoyed. " Nonsense, child, 1 i aid one pieoe," Then, mi Bella began tu i ry loudly, " Ah, I knew that would oonie uf it ; it junt shows yo, Ksperanoe, how cartful you ought to M with children, and Bella is so very sensi- tive Besides, tiow oould you expect her to drrttand yonr French ways .' I'll not have them introduced hure, so please re- member." Hsperanoe was too surprised and indig- nant to attempt any vindication. " A thousand " sbs would have said " 1'ardons," hot the words stuck in her throat ; she hastily substituted " a thous- and regrets," and left tbe room, while Mrs. fortune bean to bargain with her child as to the amount of sugar uho should have, if she would only stop urying. '1 turn* h Esperaoce woulil only laugh in after days at the rooolleotion of ber absurd lull-mill. -in, M tu Bella, at the time she was considerably tuflled by it ; it was the tint tissein ber life that sbe had suffered from injustice -it was hard to be falsely blamed, and Mm. Mortlako's slighting mention of ber " French ways," had wounded her deeply. It was with a very heavy heart that at tbe appointed time she joined Cornelia and Bertha, and walked with them lo the cathedral. But comfort came to her as she entered and ga/.ed around with wonder and awe. Whether from thu beauty of the sight, or from the vaatnesa and strength of all aboat her, or from a certain resemblance to Notre Uame de Pans, sh>< did not know, hut somehow she was stilled, her heart no longer throbbed indignantly, and for the n rut lima sbe felt at home at Uiloheater. They walked much faster than sbe would have liked down tbe choir aisle, and she had only time for a brief glance at the nave, with its glorious vista of arc.b and pillar, before they panned through the screen gate, and were dshered by a prim looking verger into the deanery pew. The service seemed to her dull and dreary in the extreme, and though the ohu'.r WIN fairly good, she soon wsaried of the complicated Anglican chants I and lengthy nsnticles, in which no one atti-mpud to j .in There was something deprtssing, Iou, in the smallnt>sa of the con- ] grrgation, whiob certainly could not have numbered more than a .li./., n, and in the hall incomprehensible foriign [irayrrs. Ksperanoe was sadly trouble! with wandering tU'ui^htH, no that she was rn- heve.1 when the hour was ended and sbe was free once more to devote all her eyes to j tks beauty around. i n.i-lia, howuvsr, allowed no lingering, and they had sciroely Mi the oalhedral before h began in her clear, authoritative way, " As soon as we are at home will you exniin to me in my mom, ami I will ne wbat studies you had brllor take up ? Wu must lose no more time." Ksperauoe knew she ought to have baun mneh more grateful, but iliprn was some- thing in : rnrlin'H wild km Incus which grated on her, and undoubtedly them was in ber tone an implied reference to the lime which bad already been so foolishly wasted. It was with same ililii jolly that she said " indeed, you are very good to think 01 helping mo, my cousin ; I know 1 am very Ignorant." " If you will lake pains, it will bo a pleasure to mu to help yon," roplied Cor nelia, wiili ruu;h more warmth. "And! an going lo givo yon one correction already I'o not always address me as ' my coasin, it is quite unnecessary iu English. " Indeed 1 1 had no idea of that ; in France It would be thought rude almoo not to do it Ilut a thousand tbauki for tolling me." Tbe hour upeut in Cornelia's room wa not altogether a pleanant oue. A brie examination brouxhl to light what seemed to Cornelia almost unparalleled ignorance and she wad ruaily in despair over euch an unpromising pupil. Ksperanos, onaoous tomed to examination of any kind, an< uoderutanding English very imperfectly was, of course, at a great disadvantage, am though now and thin she would give i quick, intelligent answer, the was generally either pu/.iltd completely, or frightened b, her cousin's peremptory manner ml absari mistakes. Cornelia, seeing that this was B-M wast of time, bewail a leisou on pnyaica geography, but this was not much mor successful Though exoeediuglv clever, sh was not u good teacher ; she could neither understand nor sympathize with tbe diffi oalties ef a less talented mind, and oven painstaking slowness made her impatien and sarcastic. Esperanoe was rcilly unhappy aware that sbe had answered badly, aud vexec that sbe had not done more justi :e lo her father's teaching. Hhe was certain, too that had the circumstances been different sbe oould have done muoh better, and t consciousness that Cornelia did not under tand ber added to her wretchedness. But ilm last thought reminded her ol one of Ciaepard's pieces of advice " What ever happens, don t let yourself become a rnimf incnmfnte,' " and, taking oourage she began, " Von will think me shockingly ignorant, Cornelia ; bat really, it is partly my ignorance of English that makes ma so stupid ; yoa must not think i have never been taught these things." " The fruits of good teaching are soon in the imprt h.-iiim left on the memory," said Cornelia, calmly. Ksperance (lushed angrily. " No, no, that annot be, I am sure it cannot ; if the memory is bad, the best teaching may bj thrown away to it." " ()u il," corrected Cornelia, in the same impassivs tone ; " but do not excite your- elf so much ; I nur.lv may bold different views without rouniug all Ibis indignation." " II is not your views 1 do not oare for your views," replied liaporanoe, her voice risicg ; "it is your -your slights lo my lather, to the education he has given me, that make me angry. You do not know, yoa can never kuow, how good, how wise, how noble he was." " 1'srhai's tiol," replied Cornelia. " But if I were to JT'.^O of him by whal his daughter is at pre ..t, what should 1 Ksperanoa burst n i . tears. You am cruel cruel ! to speak so of him DOW that -oh, papa 1 papa ! why did 1 not die too '.' bhelli falling all day lung- ami not oue would oomu where il would have been welcomed ! " Hbe was leaning down on the table, her fare hidden WouLi Cornelia never speak, he wondered- would no word of svmpathy pass those grave lips .' But still the silence was only brokon by her own sobs; an 1 looking up at last, sbe found herself alone. Hbe was HO dismayed, 10 astonished, that bo oould not cry, oven tli -.u,li suub a desertion seein>l to bur must cruel ; sbe sat looking at Cornelia's vacant chair, and at the map of mountains and rivers on the table, Hoaked through and through with ber own tears. When Cornelia runrne.l she was quite oalin, however ; her tears wire spent, and, lo her oousm's scorn and nnrpriso, shu was busily engaged iu tracing the wet loar- marks on the map lo the same length n tbe various nvors. 1 think you do not require the ijuiut of my study fur such an intellectual employ- ment," said Uoruulia, " an I as our lesson is over yoa may go." Kr|> Tan.-e could nol help smiling at Cor- nelia's sarcasm. 11 11 was vsry foolish, was il not ? I hope it has not hurl the map," sbe said, with a littl laugh , adieu, tlnin, aud many thanks tor >uur lesson." Cornelia was mute with astonishment. Bhe had left lh roum, ijuite out of patience with Ksperancv's lears, and resolved lo read htr a Itclnre on bur demonslrativeuess when shu returned but her plans had bom trnutrated, thu goo.l-humured rt ply I i i tinging s|ieei-li, and th.i little ringing laugh, were even inoru sg^ravaliug than the sud- den burst of passion, ami for ones in HIT life shi< full tlioruu^hly nouplutsrd. This little I 'reuch >,irl was, indeed, a pu/./le to her ; but ou the whole sbe was not allogulher ilispltusud with her for being out of the common, and as a lie* study of oharaoter she interested her. Ksperanco, meanwhile, went down atairn, amusu.l and a litlln triumphant at Cor- nelia's evident surprise , tbe consciousness of having averted a " scene " or a lecture r/as *xhilraling, and she was .|<iite ouu- vinoed from Cornelia's manner that some- thing of thu kind had bee.ii intended. Bui her j >y was short ltv I, for in HID dining ruum sne found Mrs. Mortlake and Bella eagerly looking at the last lllustralud London Ntws," which was full of tbe horrors of the Cornmuuti. " Oh, mamma, whal are they doing to that woir.au .' " arlod Bella. "Bhootiig her, darling ; she has boon spreading pelroluuin, wicked creature. And there, you seu, are soino luasvs, all falling down, in Ihe Uuude Uivoli ; the silly pnoplu are destroying their own city. And look I there they are shooting the insurgents in the Luxembourg (iardens." Tbe familiar nam>s, and the cruel want of oonmdurati n in speaking thus before her were too much for Usperanoe'a powers of endurance , again htr tears broke forth, and not attempting a second argument she hurriedly left the room. But where could shu go V To return to Cornelia would be lo reoeive a double scold- ing, and sbs longed loo muoh for sympathy to oare to seek her own room she would, at any rats try lo Dud Bertha before shu resorted to il. Bertha was sitting in tbe great drawing- room writing letters ; she looked very unapproachable, but Eiperanoe was toe miserable to hesitate. " Ob, Bertha ! " she exslaimed, " I am s unhappy, do have pity on me. Cornell will noi have me in her study, and Cbrista bel will talk about tbs Commune, and can't bear it, in teed I can't." But wbat can I do for you ? " sai Bertha, gravely, bat not nnkindly. " O OOUIM yta may sit hers, U that ii whatyo waul " " Yes, I want that too, bat Bertha, if yo could only love me a little I can't liv without love." " I thought so o'iM>," replied Bertha with a half smile ; " but I find I can mau age without it now." Then, a) Esperanoe looked astonished, " I am speaking, o course, of one's ideal of real love, not of th ordinary oori of loleranoo that relationsbi] brings." 11 I don'l know wbat yoa mean," sail Esporanoe half frightened " With u> relationship brought all tbat was true an strong, and beautiful in love. Dots il no to every one ? do yoa really love you sisters ? " " If we were not sisters we bhould pro bably hate each other," replied Bertha " never were there three lesj congenia people, I should say ; but being related, o course, we have to tolerate, or if you l.k love ' each other. Now you uuderatam what I mean about existing without love.' Esperanoe looked aghast. It must be very dreadful," she said with a shiver. " One grows ao:ustomed to it in time,' replied Bertha. " II will soon cease t trouble yon." " No, thai I can never believe 1 and until I have come to that state, yon will love me a little, will yoa not?' and Esperanca looked up so coexingly that Bertha was fairly con jeered. I will try," ehe raid with more energ; than usual. " Only I am 10 uupraclioei thai you must not expect much from me - I can't be demonstrative." Never mind, 1 will do all tbe demon stration," said E-tpcrance, laughing, and givu.i 1 Bertha what seemed to her an overwhelming embrac*. There ! now 1 am happy. And you will really do a little more than tolirate mo ? " ' Yoa are the strangest child I ever saw,' said Bertha, but as if she did not mind tbe strangeness. " Yes, I will try ; but you tiave come to a most unlikely quarter far love." Esperaace was, however, quite satisfied and moreover, ths had solved tbe mystery of H'-rtha's nonchalant manner and dreamy uditference If sbe neither loved nor was oved, what else cjuU be expected ? Here was an interest already at the deanery ; sbe would maku it her special object to give liertha pleasure. Her letter to Uaspard that day was almost cheirful, and though she could not avoid telling him what she thought of Mrs. Morllake and Cornelia, she dwell so much on Bertha's kindness, and the beauty of tbe cathedral, aud gave such amusing descrip lions of the English manners and customs hat Uaspard was relieved from bit anxiety about her and much cheered in bis loneli ness. CHAPTER XIV. Kartli is sick \tiil Heaven is woary of itie hollow wi rd-t t\ . i.'h -. n:.-i ni'l kiug. loins uitor wheu they talk )( trutn ami jutitetj. Turn to private life rbood look we to ourselves. \ li^t.t of duly uliiuvs on evury day i 1 or all ; aud yt luw fuwaru warm.'.! .tr . bestsjdl Uil Chester was a picturesque old town, with narrow, irregular streets, gabled louses, curious old courts, aud ancient gateways. A peaceful not to say sleepy air pervaded tbe whole plaoe ; even in th i n.i. i[.l street there was litlle traffic, aud >he few pedestrians walked quietly aud eUurely along, as if harry and bustle were a thing unknown to them. Tbe population was Lot very great, and iad of late years decreased, so that although here was little aolaal poverty in the plaoe, i rtain parts of Ihe town had a most de- .rasing aspect, tbe old houses having 'alien out tf repair, and the owuera nol :aring to lay out mousy on ihsm. These drssrlei quarters, however, w.ru some way from Ihe cathedral, and rarely, f ever, obtruded themselves upon Ibs notice of the more wealthy citizens. 1'roximity lo the cathedral being a mark of station, houses iu tbe doss were eagerly sought after, aud though they were mostly 'ery oil, draughty, and ill built, some icople had been known to leave much more cumfortabls dwellings for their sale. There were certainly, however, the advantages of a fine view of the cathedral, and an open, malthy situation, not to mention one of the real attractions to tbe inhabitants of Kil uhuster a Ural-rale view of vjur neighbors' louses, and the best possible chance of mowing all they did. I .r, like all miiall towns, Kilchealer sa- lved its pleasure, it st in- of anecdotes, its laily conversation from gossip ; and as here was but littls amusnment of a higher und in the plaue, and a dearth of work, or, nure truly, a sleepiness in the atmosphere, whiob tended to destroy tha fajulty fur work, tbsre was somn excuse for this. Ths arrival of a visitor at the deanery was sufficient to set all the tongues iu Ihe ilaoe going, and when il gradually became mown thai Ihe dean hail adopted his niece, nd thai she would thenceforth live at Kil- hester, Esperan oo became quite a " niut- avs' wonder." Had sbe only come to thu plaoe earlier iu be year, wheu every one was full of com- assion for Ihe whole 1'reiuh nation, she rould have mat with a much warmer wel- ni ; but the horrors of the Commune ad quiii) altered Ibis feeling, aud to bs of 'rciic,h birth was tbe reveres of a reooni- unndation. Her appearanoe was criticise 1 severely, nd strange stories were set ml >al as to her istory ; one old lady well known as the reatesl gossip in the close- had told her riuud that the. dean had been seen to llush nits angrily when MI u.. oue had made uquiries after M de Mabillon she feared e had been a mo^t notorious character He dean had felt his sister's marriage most cutely, she knew Ibis as a fact. From this beginning arose a wild story xaggerated still more at each repetition, in which it was stated that Esperauoe's father ad ended a must iniquitous life by at empting to betray bis country to the 1'rus tans, and had iu consequence been shot, 'bile her brother hat assisted in the ranr- r of Clement Thomas, and had subse uenlly been killud as a communistic iumir cnl. When it transpired that he was live and well in London, a marvelous esoape was first supposed, and afterward added to the story as a fact. Of ecurse the subject was avoided both with the Collinsons and with Esp'-rana herself, so tbat il was long before tbe truth was really known. Ksperanoe, iu corse qoenoe, thought the Kilch tster people hard hearted and unsympathmng. It vsoal. have been a relief to her to talk some times of ber father, and ef their troubles in the siege, but iu on* opened the subject and if she tvr alluded to il, they chauged the conversation at once, in reality from kind-heartedness and a wish tu spare her but with what me mod of course, to her, an utter want of interest. Those first few months tried her severely She was very lonely, anxious about Oas pard, and oat of harmony with liur aur roondings. Cornelia was cold and sar casuc, and her time for study was a rea trial. Mrs. Mortlake was UDJUBI anc irritating ; Bella, cross and spoiled Bertha, disappointing and reserved. This at least, was Esperance's Mew of tbe family. Sbe had yet to learn tbat " Tin we, not ttey. who are in fault, Wheu otutrg seem so wrong " Of course her grievances were not wholly imaginary, but she magnified them grtatly and would not ate the good points which counterbalanced the failings. Her letters to Oaapard, which had at tirbt been brave and cheerful, were now either in a strain of forced merriment, or with an undertone of bitterness whijh was very foreign to ber nature. She never complained, it is true, but she iuiul^cc herself more and more in little sarcasms at the expense of ber cousins or their fi and Gaspard grew srioaaly uneasy about her. lie wrote to her at last with a very gentle remonstrance, and entreating ber to Ul him if she were really unhappy ; bat the reply was far from satisfactory, and only made him still more anxious. Il ran as follows : 11 The Deanery, KiUher.er, l-'ih Beptem ber, 1871." MY Dr..vn GAJUMM', A thousand thanks for your welcome letter and for tbe sooUi you gave me, cnly 1 can hardly call it by such a name, since I am aooustomtd here to much more seven fault-finding. Bo you really think I am growing sarcastic i Well, I am hardly surprised, for I am a great deal with Cornelia, and she ii j-ui one grtal pieoe of sarcasm I suppose it is infectious. Nothing in particular has tap pened since I wrote. Bertha is still away wul the bouse is very dull, the uiojl tu livening thing being one cf Bel'a's scream :ng tits, which are likea kind of intermittent Fever, and come every other day. In be twevn she is what Christsbel calls ' good,' really petted and spoiled I Bhe is indeed an taunt UrrMe. I forgot to say that I lave had my ursi experience of an Euglish dinner-party. I wtsb you could have seen i, il was most amusicg ; that is to say, Ihe evening was, for I did col dine, thus escaping an infliction of two hours. Tbe .adies come to the drawing-room about nine, or perhaps later, looking very sleepy and bored, and then they sit trying to talk for about half an hour, a footman bringing u first coffee, and then lea to prevent them Irom quite going to sleep I 1 mast tell yoa thai they are all dressed to match, tbe married ladies chiefly iu grays, motives, and violets, and the young ladies in limp while muslin. I suppose it is Ihe way English people put on their ololhts, but they always look as if they had been out m oc of their fogs. Later in the evening Ihe gentlemen straggle into the room, as if they didn't much want to com* ; they all look very >lack and sombre, the old gentlemen, wear ng great white ties and ths younger ones IH0 looking collars, and no dress clothes at 11. for they are all clergymen, there seems scarcely a layman in the plaoe. They stand til together in a group, like so many rooks, iLoagh it is not thought imporper in Eug and for them to speak to the ladies, aud wruaps two or three venture into the circle >y and by. I noticed Ihe other night that here was quite a little manu<avre to secure i vacant chair. Englishmen teem so much li-ipi'i' r when they are sitting down, hey never seem to know what to do with heir hands and feet, otherwise. Altogether, t was very dull and iiff, bat perhaps I tave seen a bad specimen ; people uever could endure many such parlies, surely, hey would die of eonni. Why do you ask .tut blank if I am happy ? It was iucon- iderate of yon. Of course I am not, and cannot be, away from you. As to the aihedral, it is uaai velousiy beautiful, but .he long daily services do not agree with me ; perhaps it is being quite unaccustomed o such things, or perhaps the foreigu >ra>ers, or il may be what airs. Monlaae woi.ld call my 'frivolous Frtnoh mind.' but certainly they are at present a penance. No oue here has a good word lo say (or a 'renchuian they seem to think we are all 'omtnnnists, and forgot that the runty rs, ilonseigueur Uarboy, the Abbe IVguarry, "ere dn Coudray, and many others, wen also French. It is very hard to bear. I uppose, however, Ihe troubles are nearly >ver '! Have yon heard lately from donsieur Ltmercier ? 1 hope he has not n am.HVed, poor man. How wonderfully earnest he was that morning we 1 ft 'aris. With my compliments to Bismarck. Ji i' fiabrittif df taut c,fur, EHFKIUNCK HUN AIXKK UK MASILI.ON." In reply tj this letter Gaspard HOUI a tile French edition of tbe English Church ervioee, aud sbe was so muja touuhei by is anxiety for her, and so really anxious to o right, that she tried very hard to attend etter. OJB bright suuuy morning, about the nd of September, Esperanoe, after a teater effort than nual to listen to tbe 'sains, bad taken her place in the anooin- urtable oak'.-n stall, which was her usual eat, and had opened her French Bible, iu rder to follow the reading of the first les ou, when a sound of voios iu the choir isle roused her curiosity. The speakers were evidently oloso behind bur, for she ould distinctly hear even the low-toned onvurdatic.il. " No painting allowed iu service time, ir." " Wbat, not out here ? How can I pns- tbly disturb the services 1 " replied the i ind voice. " Can't tell, sir," answered the lirsi : bin 'tis agaiust rules ; yon must move at noe." " But I tell yon, my good fellow, this is my service, just as much as it's yours to wear a black gown aid carry that poker , results, the light is perfect now." The reply was inaudible, but was followed by a crash, as of something falling kea en tbs stone door. An unguarded ezolamasioa of wi made ilseif heard so distinctly in tbe oh| thai tbe reading of the leseou was fo_ moment suspended, and the iwo verger, ncuing their silver headed staves, hasten* to quiet the disturbance. Liperanoe listened with hushed really qoite trembling for tbe vi.:trna, Sn beard a great many repetitions uf hash," " iheu tbe eager voica r.siug a-tiu, I was) daiug no harm here." Another admonitory " bush " followed by a whispered altercation, then that voiosi once more. " Wili, since I mayn't paint, I will comsT in.' Tbe footeteps drew nearer ; Esperanoa. and indeed everybody looked curiously toward the door with a stately, measured step, the two vergers returnee, their slaves) triumphantly raised in the air, and behind them walked the culprit, a yoang man of two cr three ana twenty, tall and hand- some, bis fair complexion a little dushed by IBS dispute, bis lips gravely compressed, but an irrepressible sparkle of amusement iu his kt*n blui eyes. He was solemnly conducted to a seat. nd after oce rapid glance around, Esper- ance was relieved to see thai he behaved with perfect rtverenoe, joining in tbe Ts> Deam in a way whicb set an example to thai silent congreijiti jn, and during the reading of the second lesson, scarcely stirring, bat gazing at tbe reredos and the grand t.aas window, thr.-u^h whicb tbe sausbine wa streaming, shedding an exquisite raiianosj on all around. Al the close of tha services, Mrs. Mort- lake made all bpeed to go out, bat no* before the stranger had already left the) choir. Whirii crm; an explanation to Cor- nelia, she folio *ea iu the direction of ths> north choir aisle, closely atunded by Esperanoe, who was foil uf curiosity, and m great terror !<si Corntlia should call bee back. In the aisle they discovered the causa of the dowcfall and tui angry txclarnation > prostrate easel and canvas ; tbe JUUDJ{ artist had just raised tb Utter, aud wan looking at it critically, when Mrj. Mortlaksi approach d. ' Mr. Magnaw ! hj v are you ? You bars) indeed taken ui by surprise." I came lain last ituht," replied tha artist, glancing froai Mrs. Uortlake to Esperance, as hj shook hands. " I was hoping to call on you later iu ibe day, not thinking that the cathedral might be oar meeting-place. The dean is well, I hope ?" " Very well, thank you, he will be glad to see you, I am sure," replied Mrs. M jrtlaka, moving toward the door. Claude Magnay hastened to move the aael, which lay in Euperauce's way, aud walked down the ait-1 > with them, holding open the heavy outer dour while Mrs. Mort- lako uttered many last aords. " You are hire for some lime, then I " sbe asked. " I cannot lei', how long," he replied. " I Stave a commission for a view of this) interior. One could cut have a more) delightful subject, certainly. HowgloriooA it is in this light! " Esperaccs Ibongbt tbe grand eld door- way, with its sombre moldings, ths eager, half-wistful face of Claude Magnay, and ifce background dim with brightness would tiave made a wonderful picture ; but detecting a slight ahado of impatience, and a rustles movement of the hand whiob h-^ld the canvas, tbe was not sorry when Mrs. Morllake closed the conversation with si pressing invitation to dinner tbat evening and really turned homeward. ' Wbat a thorough artist be is, to be sure ! " she exclaimed, half musingly. > Bo engrossed with bis work, and with the) uty of the cathedral, that bu forgot even o speak of tbe disturbance he made during he service ! " " Is he English ?" i-qnirtj E<pranoe. secretly wondering whether any one sx> 'elite could be, ber dislik'< to the Kilchester wop'.e having prejudiced her against the) vhole nation. " Yes, ob, yes," replied Mrs. Morllaksi. I am nol sure that lh name is nol of Scotch origin, but the family has been in England for years. This youog man's) ather wai an architect a very clever man and a friend of father's, lie had great money losses before bis death, and bad U lot been for Claude's talent, t don't know low they would have managed. However, all is comfortably settled now ; ore sister is inarrisd, and has taken tbe youngest child o live with her : tbe mother died nol long ago, and so Claude has only himself to upporl." Eperanoe thought this a very hearties* p tecO ; but tbe mention of the losses, tha >ereavemsntB, au.l the loneliness, touched a chord in her own life, and for the first time n. c' bar arrival ehe fell thoroughly inter std and attracted. Tbe day paesod rather more ha;-p,ly than uuttl. and K<pi ranee was quite m spirits when she went to dress for dinner ; aha oald not help looking forward eagerly to he diversion of soring some one really new and not an inhabitant if Kilchester. Claude had already arrived when ate iame down, and was standing talking to ho dean, having qoite lost tha somewhat ireoocapied expression ha had worn iu the atbedral. Tho dean gravely introduce.! My ,, ieoe, Mademoiselle de Mabillon he" lays uttered tru name with an effort ud Clauda'd easy but courteous manner* eemed all the more pi. aaant when Don- ranted with her uncle's pompous solemnity. " I atn afraid you were one of thojsa horn I disturbed tni-t morning in the a-.hcdral," be said. " I hope yon will for- ive me for tbe coufusija I made, was it ery distracting ? " Kdperance's nrst impu'ae was to utter 3e false " Ob ! not at all," a form of polite vitg proverbially habitual to Freuoh women, Mid not tritr.-.i'i iv!y indulged in by their En^liah ainors. Shj had, bow- v r, bi-'ii brought up very carefully in this [ :-\ by her father, her standard of truth wv. high, and with ready ta it the said instead, " I do nol think it disturbed the congregation generally . for myself, I cannot say manh, it uk u.h a small thing to draw off my attention." " I had no idea there was any rale as to not painting during s>rviue time, so I hops my ixuoranoe may le my excuse," said Claude, turning to the deau. (Ta be Continued.) The Daohess of Marlboroagh deolares lhal she and the L'ul e cau'l Hve en 4200.000 a year.