tague Vicars such a tartar.
know, as McDermott said of his partner's
'Crim,' you
wife, you could not have helped it any more
than I could. But come down-stairs. Rus-
sell has been told to get the spare room
ready; and when the poor tired child is
gone to bed, I will tell you all about it."

my request to see Miss Dallas by presentphonse.' This young gentleman replied to ing a salver for the reception of my card, and then ushered me into a back drawingroom. I sat down and looked at the furniture, dirty chintz, and the pictures, tapestry; and was contemplating a carddubious water-colour, at the carpet, cheap basket, wherein were displayed some very venerable specimens of pasteboard, when I heard a voice in the adjoining room exclaim, in anything but pleasant_accents:

son.' Something was murmured in reply, "Stay, Miss Dallas; I will see this perand then the voice said, 'It was quite understood that I do not allow followers, and Mr. Pennifold was made aware of that yesterday. You will remain where you are if you please.'

I was so utterly taken by surprise that I could not give expression to my feelings, and I did not try to do so. I accompanied James in meek silence to the drawing-room, and there, standing by the ottoman, in the full glare of the light, I saw the beautiful young girl of whom I had had a momentary glimpse when she was Mrs. Devlin's lodger. Pale, agitated, tired, and evidently frightened, she was yet exceedingly beautiful; and, as the rich crimson colour rushed over her pale face at the sight of me, it lent a brilliance to her appearance which effectually combated the sombre effect of her how should I know anything about you, or "The deuce I was,' thought I; 'why, heavy black dress and the close crape you about me?' Then the door opened, bonnet, which imprisoned her rich dark and in walked the owner of the voice. hair. I took her hand and bade her a Such a woman, Maggie! I should have kindly welcome, to which she vainly at-run away in four-and-twenty hours if I had tempted to reply. The next moment she been her companion. was sobbing on my bosom.

I had seen Winifred safely deposited in her bed; and having positively interdicted all attempts of talking on her part, had returned to my husband, whom I found pacing the drawing-room from end to end, and as impatient to narrate as I was to hear his adventures.

"Well," he said, "is she all right?" "Oh, yes," I replied, "she is happy, comfortable, and sleepy; and I am in an agony of curiosity to hear how all this happened, and how you came to do anything so imprudent. Do tell me all about it." "Just what I want to do," said he. "This affair has a very unexpected complication in it, I assure you, Maggie. I need say nothing about my journey, that was all as usual the morning papers and the "Saturday" lasted me till I got to Leamington, and there I took a fly and drove direct to Monthermer Park. Such a park, Maggie! You might as well call our back-garden a pleasure-ground, or the mignonette box a conservatory. It is nothing more than a prettyish detached villa, with an acre of brand-new shrubbery, and a great deal of stucco "fixings." I'm particular, because the place is an index to the people. Small, low, vividly green gates, and a curved drive, fondly supposed to represent all the dignity of distance; a monstrously heavy door, studded with nails of the Newgate pattern, and opened by a page who might be own brother to Mrs. Wittitterly's Al

A tall, gawky,

eyes, bleared and blind-looking: with a slouching, untidy woman: with gogglelarge purposeless nose and a long upperlip, and a mouth which expressed brainless egotism, if ever mouth did: with untidy hair rolled into flat curls on each side of her flat unmeaning forehead with a flat bust, and a flat waist, and flat hands, and, to say I did not see them; I am certain, flat feet, though I am happy dressed in shabby finery, black flounced silk, rusty and crumpled, with a jacket badly made, and collar crookedly put on."

:

-a woman

James always had a marvellous eye for the details of women's dress, and was insufferably quick at finding out if one wanted brushing, or had on cleaned gloves, or a "second best " bonnet; so that I was not at all surprised at the accuracy of his description.

66

Montague Vicars, of course; do go on
Charming creature," said I!
"Mrs.
James."

and looked at
"She put up her gold-rimmed eye-glass,
out the slightest sign of salutation; but by
me deliberately, with
degrees, as she mastered the details of my
appearance, I supposed, with some surprise
depicted in her countenance, which was of
a kind that turned every expression into a
caricature, I bowed profoundly, and waited
for her to speak.

she said, in a tone which was almost of-
"You are Mr. Pennifold, I presume,'
fensive.

"She was fast working herself into a rage, the bones in her scraggy throat were working, and her unpleasant, bleared eyes assumed an expression of angry spite which you could scarcely have supposed them capable of. I did not in the least understand what she was driving at; but I was determined to see Miss Dallas, and re-learn what is Mr. James Pennifold's busisolved to cut this fury short, so I said, as ness with you.' curtly as possible,

said, timidly, 'You are not the gentleman | plained the reason. Arthur Dallas had rewhom I expected to see.'

"We were all three standing at this time, and the amiable Mrs. Montague Vicars was glaring upon Winifred through her eyeglass. At this point I quietly took the girl's hand and led her to a seat. She trembled very much but did not speak, and I turned to the she-dragon, and said,

newed the intimacy which had subsisted between my uncle John and himself in their boyhood when they met in India; and as he and my father had quarrelled, and uncle John and my father had never been attached as brothers, the friends had avoided him, and knew nothing of his family. The traditional estrangement has extended to my uncle's children; they and their mother had no wish to undertake the acquaintance of their un

"I have already informed you, madam, that I have to discuss private affairs with this young lady. May I request you to per-known relatives, and only this extraordinary mit me to see her alone?'

"Certainly not,' she answered, with the grossest rudeness; 'I don't know what girls of her age have to talk about with a gentleman alone, and I don't allow such interviews in my house. I have no reason to suppose Miss Dallas's notions of propriety very exact, considering that I found her yesterday with the other Mr. James Pennifold's arm round her waist when I went into the drawing-room unexpectedly.'

"The other Mr. James Pennifold! Who on earth can she mean, James?' I exclaimed.

"Wait a moment, Maggie, and you shall hear. Winifred started up, and cried out, 'Oh, sir, do not pay any attention to Mrs. Vicars's opinion of me. I do not know who you are, or why you have come to see me. But if James has sent you, you know how it is with us, and that I have nothing to be ashamed of.'

succession of chances could probably have
made us known to each other. I could not
ask any distinct question on this part of the
subject, of course, but I fancy that when
Captain Dallas's wife left him, my aunt
took as much as possible of the charge of
the deserted little girl, for it was she who
made all the arrangements for sending her
home to England, to be educated, at the
same time that her own son and daughter
came. The love affair seems to have been
lifelong, but there was no formal engage-
ment, which is to be regretted, as Captain
Dallas would have died more at peace had
he known that his daughter's affections were
given to the son of his old friend. James
Pennifold and his mother and sister were
not in England during the last months of
Captain Dallas's life, and now, Maggie, here
is another surprise for you. Do you re-
member Mrs. Devlin telling us about the
young man who inquired for Miss Dallas,
and got her address from Hannah ? '
"Of course I do why it must have
been ".

"Just so, Maggie, it was my cousin and namesake, James Pennifold."

"James sent me! my dear young lady,' I said, 'I have no idea what or who you mean! I come to you on behalf of a lady, who was a dear friend of your father many years ago, before you were born, and who has discovered your existence by the merest The unexpected turn of affairs disclosed accident, but wishes to be your friend too. by my husband's narrative up to this point, The explanation of my visit would not at had effectually banished Aunt Anne's any time have been easy, but there is evi- share in the matter from my memory, but dently a mistake somewhere, which renders with the mention of Mrs. Devlin, it recurred it more difficult. Who is this James of whom to my mind. How strange it had all been you speak, my dear Miss Dallas, and who before anything of this had transpired! — appeared to be a namesake of mine?' She how doubly strange it all appeared now! looked down, blushed beautifully, then lifted Through what curious chances and changes up her sweet eyes, and looked me in the had the girl, sleeping quietly, I hoped, beface with gentle, modest composure, as she neath our roof, been brought to that refuge, said: and to the knowledge of her father's faith"James Pennifold and I were little chil-ful friend. That John Pennifold's son should dren together in India, sir, and some day we hope to be man and wife.'

become the husband of Arthur Dallas's daughter was a curious turn of fate, and acquired additional strangeness from the probability that she would pass to his home from that of the woman whom her father had so loved and so wronged. The fatherless and motherless girl had been wonderfully guided and guarded by the great Father of orphan children.

"Well, Maggie, there is no use in prolonging your suspense, and intensifying your astonishment. A little questioning elicited the fact that this James Pennifold is my cousin, my uncle John's only son. We have never known anything of my aunt and her children, and Winifred's story has exTHIRD SERIES. LIVING AGE. VOL. XXXII. 1498.

"Well, James, but about Aunt Anne," I| asked; "what did you tell Winifred, and how did she take it? Did you succeed in seeing her alone, or did that odious woman persevere in staying there ?”

"No, Maggie, I saw her alone. When I had discovered for myself, and explained to her the relationship existing between her betrothed husband and myself, Winifred took more courage, and told me that James had visited her on the previous day, and had won her assent to their marriage, though conditional on his mother's consent, of which he had, however, assured her. The young people had arranged that she should remain at Monthermer Park for the present, until, as James hoped, his mother would receive Winifred. I had no other friend, Mr. Pennifold,' she said, innocently, except Mrs. Devlin, at our old lodgings at Knightsbridge; and I knew it would not do for me to go there.' All this time, you must remember, not a word had been said about the friend on whose behalf I had come; my business had been overlooked in the surprise of the discovery that there were two James Pennifold's, and that these were cousins. At this point Mrs. Montague Vicars internally assisted our proceedings, and furnished me with a pretext for doing what I had been longing to do from the moment I had first caught sight of the sweet, timid face in the doorway. She had sat down by this time, and was drumming her feet (still happily invisible) upon the floor, and scowling, as only a short-sighted woman, with a bad disposition and a conntenance to correspond, can scowl. When Winifred made the avowal I have just mentioned, then she broke out:

Winifred a home where you are wanted, and will be welcome; but you shall hear nothing more until you have turned your back upon this place. So run and pack your belongings, my dear, and I will sit in the carriage which brought me here until you call me.'

"But, Mr. Pennifold,' she stammered,' 'I—I'

"Don't be egotistical,' said I; 'you shall know all about it when we are in the train, and if you are not satisfied, we will send for the other James Pennifold and explain matters to him, and I daresay he will contrive a way of overcoming your scruples. In the meantime, you are coming home to my wife, and I don't doubt you will find her infinitely more agreeable than Mrs. Montague Vicars.'

"At this moment a grim-looking woman, in a dirty cap, came into the room, laid a a small parcel on the table, and said, in a tone of intolerable insolence,

"Missis says here's your wages, and you're to let her have a receipt.'

"Winifred turned pale, and looked at me, but smiled, and desired her to count the money. She did so.

"Was your agreement for quarterly payments and a quarter's notice, my dear? I asked.

"Yes,' she said.

"Then that is right. Draw out a receipt and sign it.' I handed her a receipt stamp from my pocket-book, watched her affix her signature, gravely folded the paper, and handed it to the woman, whose unconcealed astonishment at the whole transaction was very comical. Have the goodness to hand that to Mrs. Montague Vicars,' I said. When she had left the room, Winifred said,

"But am I to take the money? I don't like that. I don't think I can take it.

666

"Soh!, Miss Dallas, you condescended to arrange with this gentleman, about whom you tell us such a very proper and probable story, that you would make a convenience of me and my house! I am deeply indebted to Certainly, you must take it,' said I. you, I am sure, but two words go to that bar-She calculated upon your refusal, and gain. I know nothing of the person who visit- taking it is the very best way in the world ed you yesterday and the person here now, to punish her. Now, she must either do who call themselves by the same name; and without a companion or victim until the I don't mean to keep such a romantically-end of the quarter, or pay twice over for circumstanced companion. You will please the luxury. So it strikes me she has leave my house as soon as you can make it paid too dear for her whistle, and also that convenient. I will send my maid with your we are the winning party in this game of money, and write to the person to whom cross-purposes.' you referred me.' So saying, she stalked out of the room, and Winifred turned a horrified face towards me.

"Don't be frightened, my dear. My dear,' I said, it is only a few hours sooner, only a little less courteously than I had intended, for I came to offer you a home,

"She was soon ready, and I obeyed her signal, and emerged from the fly. I cannot carry my box down-stairs,' she said, in a tone of distress. I have managed to pull it outside the door of my room, and none of the servants will help me.'

"I will then,' said I; 'show me the box.'