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riod # abséntly was thinking 'of : liam, and she her 'Aas #0 near; what should I done if he had Tot egme ¥ J most afraid to think! "How rij - 'my instinct was! 1 always dislik that man, and I was right. It must have been intuition, I suppose, for how could 1 know that he was in © league with Mose? Well" "with & + deep sigh' of relief, "he oy gone, and 1 may dismiss him from my mind ; 'and 'as for this great; Mr Crawshaw why, 'by this time, no doubt, 'he has forgotten that such a person as Nancy Hamilton ever existed 'at all, and so he will not be likely to trouble me much." And; having arrived at this sat- iafactory conclusion, Nancy began her toilet for/dinuer, singing soft- ly to herself as she dressed. The gong had nut sounded as she glided down the stairs in her even- ing gown of white India muslin, the work of her own fingers, and she had time for a stroll in the grounds before dinner; so she stepped out onto the terrace, and 'was going . slowly to the lawn, when she found her progress barred by a tall form. "Oh, Mr. Darnley!" she said, eoloring deeply, *'how you startled me!" "Did © 17" Darnley returned; quietly. {If you had been less en- frosed in your thoughts, Miss Hamifton, you might have seen "He turned and sauntered beside er. "Quite recovered your fright' he asked, trying hard not to stare 100 closely at her, and longing to wrap his arms about her and draw her to 'his heart. Quite,' she smiled. "Then 1 can prepare you for a great disappointment." + Nancy looked suddenly startled: 'Mr. Crawshaw has gone away, and you will not see him for a whole week," Darnley explained. Nancy drew a deep breath. "How you frightened me!' she cried, feeling that this piece : of news came as an apt finish to her commonsense reasoning on her po: sition. *'I am so glad I" Her undoubted pleasure sent a thrill through his veins. "But. I thought you adored foonoy ©! he said, fixing his gray eyes on her fair, sweet face. Nancy shook her head. "I would not exchange my pre- sent lot for all the money in the world, Mr, Darnley." . ho Darnley drew. a shade closer to "Wouldn' you?' he said, with a. his dangerous tenderness in * Neither would T, Naser: 22 Then he was silent. he conld pour out words olive, or 'protestations; but he saw her shy, uy Siasid look; and' he Testrain y ng | Sowers ul 'over the h as~they: rough to oer laid | Ty rou will: be 'Baked 'alive!' she ori 'remionstrance; us Ella futormed Det they were going to Bere & good 'practice. /*'The hei is: something terrific!' Oh 'we 7 don't mind ip the Hon, Maude answered ;: 'and,' she! declared, with: the most ingenuous frankness; "we 'mean to win that lovely diamond brooch Bir Humph: rey 18 giving for the first prize; don't we, Ella?' Ves,"" agreed Ella. 'It's no fun playing for nothing?' * Nancy smiled ag she watched: the two energetic forms cross the lawn, and! then returned to her flowers. It war a work of love with her, going' through 'the large, old-fash- ioned rooms, and beautifying them with all the rare and sweet blos- soms she culled from the gardens. By nature industrious, Nancy would not. be content with luxurious idle- ness. She felt she must have some occupation; and so she. practically took all' Dorothy's small duties on her 'shoulders, and delighted' in them, "Just half-past eight,' she c¢om- muned to: herself, glancing at a clock; . '1. shan't: have ' Dorothy roused for another hour. She will be nearly worn out before the day is over!. What a glorious day it will 'be! Fitting weather for her fete. She should have nothing but sunshine about her, darling Doro- thy 1' Nancy made a very pretty pic- ture' 'as she stood, surrounded. by scattered flowers, "in her cotton frock of palest blue: She had bunched her mass of hair in one huge lump on the top of her head, and a few soft tendrils crept over her brow and round her milk- white throat. Day by day the girl seemed to ex- pand. and 'beautify. = Every gentle so and' sweet trait was drawn out in her nature. Life was so happy, so wonderfully good, in her sight, that she welcomed each hour with open arms; and; basking in the sunshine o such care, gradually forgo. the Phe clock ticked on another five minutes, and Naney did wonders in that short time. It 'was wonderful ly quiet and peaceful. in 'the long, quaint 'drawing-room; no' sound came to disturb Der, fo although at "Do it I don't) 2 'Please don't be tude; Mr. Darnley," ""*Plenss allow me to be just what I like, Miss Hamilton." "1 shall do nothing of the sort: the day is much too love for peo- ple to be in bad tempe "My. temper soon gots Sood when I am with you, Nancy." "But you can't always be with me, Mr. Darnley. es "Nb, warse luek Fa He picked up a blade of gris and ate it slowly, while he 'tilted his hat over his eyes and stared at ancy: "I 'wonder," hé said, meditative: ly, 'after a pause, {how you will like my mother.' 'Oh! very much!" Nancy, de- cleared, at 'once. "Hum.-that is by no means cer- tain. * Bhe is not popular, as a rule." Is she like you 1' anked Nancy, demurely. ©, The young man's face" twitched with a dawning smile. greatly," he replied--gravely, how- ever, Nancy just glanced at his face, with its eyes of deep, rare gray. Ah" she remarked, withimuch deliberation. moved a step nearer to her. 'You «insulting little witch, "he. said, tenderly, at ad he came a hi closer still to he Naney, felt her Desks grow and her heart thrill suddenly. iat a lovely day it is going to '. she declared, hurriedly. ae. it?" asked the man, dredm- ily, gazing at her fixedly, he 'Don' t=--don't you think so sky is cloudless, and the breeze: licious.'?" © Darnley. put his hand on he "Perhaps, Nancy,"" he said ly, yet with a world of passi love in his voice--"Perhaps. that why 1 feel in paradise to-day, N "I am supposed to resemble her! ce = Darnley Iaugheu outright; and -- NDS wo) CER J 'don't shrink away, ay: daning Sir. Humph hrey had | given her his {me morning: kiss nearly an hour ago, |! and was by now out in the park 1