you may command me to the full extent of my powers. If I did you wrong at first, I know you now for what you are, a woman as brave as you are beautiful, whom any man may be proud to call his wife."

With this he gave me his hand to raise me from the ground, and we walked rapidly down the path which led from Lyncombe hill to the river. My feet fairly flew, and my companion had some difficulty in keeping the pace with me. As we walked, he informed me rapidly of the route by which I must travel, and declared his purpose of going immediately after leaving me to the booking office of the London coach to engage passage for me and my maid. When we reached our lodgings in York Street, he bade me farewell, saying, “I could face the guns as well as the next man; but I should not have courage to face your aunt when you inform her of that which you have to tell."

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"Indeed you need not fear," I answered. “'T was but the other day she was urging Sir Miles upon me as a husband, and flew into a passion because I told her my mind was firm against him."

“Silly child!" exclaimed Lord Bolingbroke. "I had nearly forgotten how young you are. Do you not see that Sir Miles Farringdon,

master of Bolton Court and like to rise in the king's favour, is quite a different person from Miles Farringdon, the younger son, who is in disgrace?"

"I should despise Lady Penrose if I thought that," I cried, reddening. Seeing me like to burst out further, Lord Bolingbroke continued: "Summon your philosophy, young lady! You must wear your philosophical spectacles as constantly as the Spaniards wore their armour. You must make them a part of your dress and sooner part with your gown or your scarf. Through their medium you will see few things to daunt you, few people to despise, or rather, despising all alike, you will be the less exercised, though, of course, the truest philosopher must always see many things that he would wish altered and many persons whom he would wish hanged."

"Alas!" I cried, "I am no philosopher and I am capable now of only one wish, to be at Sir Miles's bedside with what speed I may."

“A natural and proper wish, in which I bid you God speed with all my heart. I could wish" (looking at me critically) "that you were older and plainer. It would make your journeying alone less noticeable and less perilous. Could you not contrive to give the effect more of a matron, and less of a young and beautiful girl who should

not have been trusted by her parents to travel alone?"

These words brought to my mind other words spoken by Sir Miles on that eventful night at Twickenham, when I would have returned the ring which he had given me. "Keep it!" he had said then, "the things we value least in the world may have their use at some time."

With a deep blush I now drew from my bodice the ring which I had worn day and night on a chain next my heart. "By this badge," I said, as I slipped the golden circle on my finger, “all may know that they are dealing with a married woman. From this moment there is no more Veronica Playfair, and I ask only that my conduct may be worthy of Miles Farringdon's wife."

My Lord Bolingbroke laughed lightly; but there was a kind light in his eyes, as he kissed my hand warmly as he bade me adieu, promising to return and acquaint me with the arrangements which he was about to make at the booking office.

CHAPTER XVI

IN WHICH I AM TURNED OUT OF DOORS

WHEN I entered our lodgings I went directly to my aunt's rooms. Never in the whole course of our acquaintance had my heart gone out to her as now, and I longed from the bottom of my soul to tell her everything. If I had doubted of finding an opening for what I wished to say, it was furnished me by Lady Penrose, but in quite a different fashion to anything I could have foretold.

No sooner had I entered the door and stood before her as she sat at her toilet table, than by some chance she espied the ring on my finger, and it angered her at once.

"Fie, Veronica! What is this that I see?" she exclaimed. "Do you mean to tell me that you have had the imprudence to accept a ring from my Lord Bolingbroke? 'Tis as much as your reputation is worth. I own I am surprised at him, for I thought since his marriage with the Marquise de Villette he had left off the following of women, which made him a pretty name

in the town when he was young. Of all the roystering blades! So he is at it again! And that was why he was all smiles and compliments to me at the assembly rooms, and then packed me off in my chair under the pretense of my needing a nap."

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It was you yourself, Aunt, who suggested the nap," I answered, quite robbed by now of any desire to enter into a confidence.

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Tut, tut, Miss! No impertinence! In my time a girl would have been sent to her room on bread and water for less. As for your cavalier, he shall have his ring back before the day is an hour older, and with it such a letter from me as shall let him see he has some one beside a green country girl to deal with."

I had never before seen my aunt in such a fit of passion as shook her now. Her eyes blazed. She rose from her chair and advanced toward me with hands outstretched, as if she were about to tear the ring from my finger. I put my hands behind me and answered her with as much calmness as I could command.

"The ring," I said, "is none of my Lord Bolingbroke's giving, and while I live, it shall never leave my finger."

"Is this the truth that you are telling me?" cried my aunt, crimson with rage.