serge, looking at him with frank sym- the subject, and his hand lifted the pathy in her dark eyes. "Yes, it is book beside him as he spoke. Mrs. I," she said, in answer to the look; "I wanted to thank you," and she took a step nearer. "We should both have been drowned if it had not been for you."

Meredith was still standing there; if Sir Aymer was unaware of the fact, she noted the quiver of the red lips, she knew that the tears were very near falling.

"Come, missy," she said kindly, and she put her arm round the girl, we must go back, or Johnny will be waking and crying for me. Gentlemen are always cross when they are ill," she observed discreetly, as they walked away side by side; "they are not used to it, and it frets them, and they say things they don't mean.'

Kindly, comforting interpretation of many uncomfortable words and acts! But Aymer Digby probably thought -if he thought of them at all that they were very pardonable, as he re

in store for him; and feverish nights were apt to be haunted with the memory of a faithless woman, whom he had loved.

In the doorway she paused, waiting | flected that another feverish night was for her companion. As she had risen, Felicity had slipped down on to the vacated seat. Leaning a little nearer, so that only Sir Aymer caught the words, so near that her dark curls touched his hand, "Tell me," she said impetuously, was it brave? Did you

think so?"

"Brave," he repeated. "Jumping overboard do you mean? Doubling the danger for me, and the risk for every one! No, foolhardy, if you want a name. At least, that is what I should call it, if a sister of mine had behaved in the same way."

The same brilliant sunshine that had greeted them day after day welcomed their arrival in New York.

"You have brought us good weather," the captain told Felicity as she sat by his side for the last time at breakfast; and immediately afterwards there was the excitement of approaching land, and farewells and last words to pass the time, until the landing hour had actually arrived, and certainty should take the place of doubt as to what her next step should be.

“But I can swim." The eager pride had faded off her face; she was still leaning forward, looking anxiously at him. Sir Aymer was well again— nomi"So can I," he replied shortly;nally, that is; he still coughed and was "and as I am a strong man, and you are a child, it stands to reason that, as I was there, to say nothing of many others, you were not the right person

to go.

"The captain said" there was a flash of anger in her eyes and in the quick tones of her voice- "that I was a plucky little devil- I heard him say so to the doctor!"

unpleasantly reminded, at every moment, of that plunge into the ocean, but he was the only one to whom any evil consequence clung.

Mrs. Meredith lost some of her careworn appearance when her husband came on board with the news of good health and steady employment. He looked strong and healthy enough to be able to lift some of the weight off her "I should have used another adjec-over-burdened shoulders. With chiltive," was all Sir Aymer replied, rather dren clinging on either side, and the curtly, too, as if he had had enough of baby in his arms, he stood still, listen

ing to the story of Johnny's escape, she was there, but as he opened the door she passed him, hurrying away, leaving him and the captain alone.

told in duet by Jem Moore and Mrs. Meredith. His somewhat stolid countenance did not betray any emotion, but when the recital was over, he handed the baby to Mrs. Meredith, and, solemnly divesting himself of the other manifold packages in his arms, he took Felicity's hand in his great clasp and wrung it several times.

"Well, I never!" he repeated once or twice ; but of further expressions he seemed incapable.

"Return by next steamer. Mrs. Lucas will meet you, and take you to school in London.'

"She does not want to go," Captain Gratitude seemed Baxter observed, as he laid it down. swallowed up in wonder. After that" She wants to go to Charleston with he continued on his way laden with Mrs. Davis.”

parcels and babies, like some great "I suppose her wishes don't very merchantman, feeble Mrs. Meredith much matter, after all," Sir Aymer following in the wake, and Felicity commented. "Which is the steamer?" holding the baby.

"It is the last time I can hold the dear little thing," and Mrs. Meredith, recognizing the awfulness of the deprivation, felt obliged to consent.

"The France leaves to-morrow." "That is fortunate." He waited. It was a moment before the captain added, "Mrs. Davis is taking her ashore; she will stay with her to-night at the hotel."

"Well, I must be saying good-bye, though perhaps we shall meet again.

"Who is that girl?" as the little procession passed by, Percy Wyndham who was on board, discussing future plans with Sir Aymer Digby-stopped Good-bye." in mid speech to inquire. "What a handsome girl ! "

"She is a Miss Brooke," Sir Aymer replied. He was loyally silent as to the escapade which had brought her, though he was aware of the curiosity in his friend's face.

"One of the Brookes of Holden ?" "Yes, I believe so."

"What on earth is she doing here?" "She is at school, I believe," he answered vaguely, "but I really know nothing of her; she is only a child.”

But at the door he turned back. "Has she money?" he asked, rather awkwardly.

"Oh, there's no difficulty about that. Mrs. Davis will see she gets all she wants."

Sir Aymer breathed a sigh of relief when he had shaken hands with Captain Baxter, and stood once more on deck. It was empty of passengers now; there was no one visible except officers and sailors, and one girlish figure walking up and down, -evidently awaiting him, for, as he appeared, she hurried to his side at once.

"She will be a lovely woman," Mr. Wyndham answered, "or I am much mistaken." But Aymer Digby had "Sir Aymer, I have made up my nothing to say or foretell on the sub-mind- I am going back to England toject, and the conversation drifted to more important topics.

"I will get my things together," he said, "and meet you at the hotel in a couple of hours, and we can make our plans," and on that agreement they separated.

Left alone, he walked over to the captain's cabin, into which, a quarter

morrow in the France.” There was a ring of exultant triumph in her voice.

'Well, I don't see that you have much choice, have you? Your aunt has telegraphed her instructions to the captain.”

"But I might go on to Charleston with Mrs. Davis," she persisted.

"My dear child, at your age young

of an hour before, he had seen disap-ladies do what they are told, not what pear Felicity's blue serge skirt. Yes, they fancy."

She half turned her head away; the | asked Mrs. Meredith to write, but she soft curls hid her eyes from him. says she is a poor correspondent, and she does not think there will be much time for writing."

Two tears slowly made their way into the dark eyes, but she stared steadfastly out to sea the while behind those sheltering curls. She furtively brushed them away, and no others followed dith as a husband and father, adding them.

66 I

licity assented. "I don't think I told we are all inclined to keep up those you before, but when I am twenty- little fictions, even with ourselves. one I shall be very rich, and then I mean to live with Bob; we settled that the last time I saw him."

Aymer, so you have returned! I did not believe it, and am all the more glad to see you. Come and tell me

"How old is he?" the captain what you have been doing." asked, tenderly curious.

"He is one year older than I am. Time goes very slowly, does it not?"

But the captain could not echo the reflection, and it was with a laugh they went out to look for Mrs. Davis.

"My dear Ferris, I have far more to learn than to tell. I feel like an outer barbarian. Come, instruct me. Tell me all about everybody."

But the whole time he stood talking with his old friend, he was well aware Even the next day, when he took her of all that went on around, of almost on board the France, and gave her into every passer-by in the crowded rooms; the charge of the new captain, and the was well aware, though he never very last moment had arrived, there turned his head, when a beautiful was still no flinching, no fear of what blonde woman passed slowly by, her was to come, no outward lack of cour-hand on the arm of an old man, whose age. It was there, Captain Baxter age was scarcely concealed, under all knew, when he felt the slim, sunburnt the assistance that art could give. hand cling to his; he recognized something of what she was enduring in that convulsive clasp, guessed more when he noted how the rich color had faded, and how often the red lips quivered. But there was not a word to show it, or to ask for the sympathy he was so ready to bestow, and which her silence kept out of reach; but it was that knowledge that made him stoop his grey head and kiss her smooth cheek when he said good-bye—that knowledge that prompted his thoughts of her as he drove away afterwards, "A beautiful child! and what courage · what courage ""

!

PART II.

Though Love do all that Love can do,
My heart will never ache or break
For your heart's sake.

So close did they pass that the golden brocade of her train swept against him, brocade scarcely more golden than the rich plaits of hair, under their diamond coronet; so close that his friend paused a moment before he risked his comment.

"The Duchess of Huntingdon, as beautiful as ever-hers is a beauty that time does not seem to touch." "She

And at the same moment, smiled oftener when I knew her," the other man was thinking, as she mingled with the crowd.

Yes, it was for that he had come here — with some vague idea of testing his own weakness and strength, that he was standing in this brilliant room, amongst all the greatest in the land; and it was with a wave of thankfulness he recognized that the wound had healed, that the cold, beautiful face in which he had once read his fate, now held no power to sway him either to grief or joy. It had been a slow, agonizing recovery, but the wound had healed at length.

LONDON at the very height of the season. Dusty already, and hot, though it was still early in June, and the night air was pleasant and refreshing; so thought at least Sir Aymer Digby, as, leaving his hansom, he And all the time his friend was mounted slowly the steps of a great slowly remembering the old story, house in a fashionable square. cursing the luck that had made him "It is three years, more," he re-revive it, by his passing allusion to a flected, "since I was in a ball-room. woman whose name could only call up I wonder what is taking me to- bitter or unhappy thoughts. night?" "The new beauty is better worth But he did not really wonder, only looking at," with nervous anxiety to say

something, and a nervous consciousness | deliberately towards where she stood, that he had said the wrong thing. "she must have been in the nursery

But Aymer Digby seemed unaware when I left England.”

of it.

"You must point her out to me," he said carelessly; all the time he was rejoicing over his regained strengthrejoicing that he had proved it, and that he need fear no more.

He had made his escape this time. A sudden channel had opened in the crowd. With a parting nod he had gone, and Tom Ferris was left alone. A few minutes later he was back by the girl's side.

"Did you tell him?" she began eagerly.

Mr. Ferris shook his head.
"You are mistaken. He says he has

66

"There, look to your right,” — he was conscious of his friend's words, of a light touch on his arm, and, glancing in the direction indicated, became aware of a small group, the centre of never seen you before that he has which was evidently the girl in ques-been out of England for years tion. He could not see her distinctly, 66 There, Felicity, now you see," her head was bent, he could only broke in the fair-haired boy - he to vaguely distinguish a beautiful figure whom had been assigned the part of clad in white satin, that fell in straight | hero now you see what comes of folds, and was devoid of flounces and seeking out new adorers instead of ornaments alike, — of a white throat, resting content with faithful people round which was clasped a single like me." string of pearls, of pearls twisted into thick, dark hair; then the bent head was lifted, and she walked away, a very straight, beautiful — yes, certainly beautiful young figure, and disappeared with her partner.

"How tiresome you are, Jack," half turning her head. "Did you tell him my name?" addressing again her unlucky messenger. "No? Perhaps he might remember it " - her voice was not very assured "if you were to tell him. He ought to remember me," she added more confidently; "he once saved my life."

But he saw her again; this time she was talking to the man who had pointed her out to him, and he watched her with a certain idle curiosity, a certain There was no resisting the petition half-careless wonder as to what would in the dark eyes. Mr. Ferris said not be the end of her story. This first another word, but turned back and chapter reminded him of another story fought his way through the crowd, till, that fair-haired young man who hov-in the very last room of all, he found ered near her was probably the hero himself once more by Aymer Digby's of the romance; and then he smiled at side. the thought of how much he had conjectured.

"What do you think of her?" His friend was back by his side. "Beautiful, is she not? It is no wonder she has turned every one's head."

"Going?" he questioned.

"No, I have come after you to ask you to reconsider what you said justnow. Miss Brooke is certain that she has met you, and she wishes to speak to you." Of

Miss Brooke, did you say? course I remember her. I met her once it was several years ago."

"It seems to have been a memorable meeting?"

Sir Aymer looked at the speaker quickly, suspiciously, but "She was only a child in those days was all he said.

"Knows me, my dear fellow! that must be a delusion." He was moving slowly away as he spoke. "Why,' "Here he comes," the fair-haired raising his eyes and looking slowly and boy observed. Cheer up, Felicity;

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