how often. He was hers now; her vassal. Yes, he, the saint, the demigod, had assumed an earthly bondage. She had talked, in her foolish childish rapture, of being his slave; but she meant to make him hers.

'I wish I could get out of the visit to auntie, as he wishes,' she thought. If Blanche could go in my place, for instance. But my dresses wouldn't fit Blanche; and perhaps it would be as well for me to see the world a little before I bid good-bye to it, drain the cup of pleasure to the dregs, and find out how vapid the draught is.'

This was an easy way of settling the question; but the fact is that Elizabeth Luttrell, having looked forward during the last four years to the unknown delights of a London season, was hardly disposed to relinquish so much pleasure, even for the sake of the man she loved better than all the rest of the world. She was a girl who thought she had a right to obtain everything she wished for, and even to serve two masters if she pleased.

She appeared unusually restless during the interval between breakfast and luncheon; wandered out into the garden and orchard, and came back to the house with her hair blown about by the bleak March wind; sat down to the piano, when that instrument was

available, and sang a little, and played a little, in her usual desultory manner; took up a book from the table, only to fling it down impatiently five minutes afterwards; and every now and then went to the window, and stood looking absently across the lawn.

'One would suppose you expected somebody, Lizzie,' said Diana; 'you do fidget so abominably, and stare out of the window so continually.'

'You may suppose it, if you like.'

'Has Lord Paulyn come back to Ashcombe ?'

I know nothing of his lordship's movements.' 'Indeed, I thought he was about the only person in whom you were interested, and I began to think you had received private intelligence, and were on the watch for him.'

'I am not on the watch for him, nor do I care if I never see him again.'

'What a change! But how about your wager in that case ?'

'My wager! what, the pearl necklace, you mean? Of course you knew that was the merest nonsense.' 'What are you going to back out of it? I thought it was a serious challenge.'

'Take the necklace, if you like. I don't think I shall ever wear it, and I have other things of poor mamma's.'

'But does that mean that you confess yourself beaten-that you promised more than you feel yourself able to perform ?'

'Have it so, if you

like. You put me in a passion that night, and I said anything, only to annoy you. But I shall never be Lord Paulyn's wife.'

'What a death-blow for poor auntie! She had set her heart upon having a niece in the Peerage. Her Debrett wonld have opened of its own accord— like the book Thackeray speaks of—at the article Paulyn.'

The sisters were dawdling over their luncheon, when they heard a footstep on the gravel, and anon a ring at the hall-door. Blanche, the agile, dashed to a window in time to recognise the visitor.

'Now, whoever do you suppose it is, girls?' she cried. Guess!'

Nobody appeared able to solve the enigma, although Elizabeth's fast-beating heart told her the visitor's name.

'Mr. Forde!' cried Blanche.

'He has come to tell papa, no doubt,' said Gertrude, taking a hasty survey of the table, to see that the mid-day meal made a respectable appearance, and then going straightway to the dining-room door, to intercept the visitor. Papa is in his study, dear Mr.

Forde,' she said, shaking hands with him; but do come in first and have a little luncheon.-Blanche, ring for some fresh cutlets.'

'No, thank you, Miss Luttrell. I never take any luncheon. And I do particularly want to see the Vicar.'

'But I told him everything, and he is so grieved.'

'I don't think you can have told quite everything,' he answered, with a stolen look at Elizabeth, who was standing just within the doorway, and a little smile, and I hope we shall be able to overcome his grief. I will go to him at once, and look in upon you young ladies in the drawing-room afterwards.'

'Now, remember, we shall expect you,' said Gertrude, with her reverential air, hardly sorry that he had been proof against the temptation of the hot cutlet, which had been a somewhat speculative offer; since there might or might not be a section of the 'best end of the neck' in reserve in the larder.

‘What delightful manners!' she said, as she went back to her place at the table; 'no assumption of goodness, no consciousness of possessing a loftier nature than the common herd.'

'Why, you wouldn't have him stalking about in a surplice, or expounding the Scriptures on the doorstep, would you, Gerty?' cried the irreverent Blanche.

'I don't see why sinners should be the only people with decent manners.'

'Hold your tongue, child; you are incapable of understanding such a nature as his. You can gaze upon that saintly brow without one thrill of emotion.'

'I certainly shouldn't offer mutton-cutlets to people with saintly brows; I have more sense of the fitness of things,' replied the uncrushable youngest.

Elizabeth said nothing. She was subject to long lapses of silence in the company of her sisters. They were so little worth the trouble of conversation. And now she had sweet thoughts that filled her mind while they were babbling,-a new wealth of happiness. He had come to speak to her father, to offer himself as her husband: and afterwards he would come to the drawing-room, and she would know the result.

'Suppose papa should reject him,' she thought with alarm. I know how aunt Chevenix preached to him about Lord Paulyn, and the brilliant future before me. But, thank Heaven, papa is not mercenary; so long as he is not disappointed in his dinners, he is sure to take things easily.'

The four girls repaired to the drawing-room soon after this, and Gertrude skirmished round the room,