"I told Nelly to wrap herself up,” said Mrs. Eastwood, calmly. She was not afraid of the east wind. The Eastwoods had never been known to have any delicacy about the chest. And as for a more serious danger, Nelly's mother, secure in full possession of her child, had not even begun to think of that.

tell directly?" said the girl, with a half | fear," he said, in the very midst of the whimper, which the foolish young man discussion about the plumber. thought celestial. This to be said by Nelly, a girl who had never in all her life kept a secret half-an-hour from her mother! The fact was that she wanted to have the telling herself, and quaked at the thought of presenting this ardent personage to her mother, and probably having her dignity compromised before that mother's very eyes by "some of his nonsense." Nelly was very shy, and half ashamed of coming into the light and looking even her wooer himself in the face.

She was scarcely alarmed even when the two entered, somewhat flushed and embarrassed, as soon as Major Railton, who, poor man, had an engagement, had withdrawn, breathing fire and flame.

"What a colour you have, Nelly," said Mrs. Eastwood, innocently. "I suppose it is the wind. The Major tells me the wind is in the east. You should not have stayed out so long. Come to the fire and warm yourselves, both of you. I see you have got no primroses after all."

"There were none," said Nelly, guiltily, putting her hand over the little cluster in her belt. "It is too cold for them; but I don't think I ever was out on such a lovely night."

There were but a very few primroses, and these were half frozen, cowering among their leaves. Young Molyneux carried away a little cluster of them, and gave another to Nelly, which was not placed in her basket, and then they made another final round of the garden, and walked down the elm-tree avenue solemnly arm in arm. How quickly the mind gets accustomed to any revolution! This little concluding processional march threw them years in advance of the more agitating contiguity of the Lady's Walk. "You have no idea how beautiful it is," "This is how we shall walk about said young Molyneux-and then he took everywhere ten years hence, when we his leave in the most embarrassed way. are sober old married people," he said; When he clutched one of her hands and and there glanced over the imagina- held it fast, and groped in the dark for tions of both a sudden picture, which the other, Nelly thanked heaven in both would have been sadly discon- mingled fright and gratitude that she had certed to have described. A little tremu- put a stop to his intention of at once telllous laugh went from one to the other. ing her mother. What might he not How much emotion that cannot express have done before Mrs. Eastwood's very itself otherwise has vent in such soft eyes ? laughter? And a sense of the calm of happiness to come so different from this delightful dream of the beginning, yet issuing naturally from it, stole over them and stilled their young hearts.

This was what was going on in the garden while Major Railton, not without many a horrible thought of his rival's advantages, was talking bricks and slates, as Molyneux flippantly said, to Mrs. Eastwood. They had come to the length of a pipe and water-butt for the rain water, and the plumber's estimate, when Nelly and Molyneux were gathering the primroses. How the gallant Majro's heart was being torn asunder in the midst of those discussions, I dare not attempt to describe. He had seated himself so that he could see into the garden; but the flicker of the firelight filled the room, and the Lady's Walk was invisible from the windows.

"But Nelly," said the mother, when he was gone, "you should not have stayed so long out of doors. I don't want to be absurd, or to put things into your head; but Ernest Molyneux is quite a young man, and very nice-looking, and just the sort of person to have stories made up about him. and really what object you could both have, wandering about on a cold night, except chatter and nonsense

Nelly was kneeling before the fire, warming her cold little fingers. At this address she sidled up to her mother's side and put her flushed cheek down on Mrs. Eastwood's silken lap, and began with the most coaxing and melting of voices

"Mamma!”

It is not to be wondered at if an event like this happening quite suddenly and unexpectedly in an innocent young house "Don't you think Miss Eastwood will which had not yet begun to afflict itself catch cold? There is an east wind, Il with love-stories should for the moment

have eclipsed everything, and put the strange inmate and all the circumstances of her first appearance at once into the the shade.

CHAPTER XIII.

CONSULTATIONS.

dence of waiting longer. When it occurred to him that he must tell Mrs. Eastwood that he was earning nothing, but lived on the allowance his father gave him, it made the young man uncomfortably hot and nervous. He avoided the mother's eye as he told this part of the story, dwelling much upon what THE Commotion produced in The Elms he would do in the future, and his eagerby the above event was very great. It ness to provide for Nelly "all the comwas the first experience of the family in forts she had been used to." Mrs. Eastthis kind of thing, and it affected every- wood, though she was not a woman of body, from Mrs. Eastwood down to the business, knew enough about the world to kitchen-maid. Frederick was perhaps the shake her head at this. She was very least moved of all. He intimated it as his well inclined to Molyneux, both for his opinion that Molyneux was all right see- own sake and for Nelly's. He was gooding that he had a father before him: that looking, well-mannered, and always nicely he wondered at Nelly's taste, but sup-behaved to herself, which naturally has a posed it was her own look-out, and if she certain influence upon a mother. And was pleased no one had any right to inteifere. He made his speech rather disagreeable to his sister from the little shrug of the shoulders with which he announced his surprise at her taste; but otherwise he was friendly enough. Dick, for his part, said little, but he walked round her with a certain serious investigation in the intervals of his studies.

"You look exactly as you did yesterday; I can't see any difference," said Dick. "Why don't you put on another kind of gown, or pin Molyneux's card on you, to show you are disposed of?"

To this, however, Nelly paid no more attention than she did to the comments of Winks, who came and wagged his tail at her in a knowing, good-humoured sort of way. When Molyneux came to see Mrs. Eastwood next morning, Winks met him at the door, escorted him to the dining-room, where he was to have his audience, and then trotted in on three legs to where Nelly was sitting, and wagged his tail confidentially. "A very good fellow, on the whole, I assure you,' he said as plainly as could be said by that medium of communication.

his connections were all that could be wished. Mr. Molyneux, Q.C., who was recognized by everybody as going to be Mr. Justice Molyneux at the very first vacancy, was perfectly satisfactory as a father-in-law for Nelly, and would secure for Nelly's family a comfortable certainty of being well-lawyered all their lives. And they were "nice people;" there was, on the whole nothing in the world to be said against Mrs. Molyneux, Ernest's mother, or the Misses Molyneux, his sisters. But, nevertheless, as it is strictly necessary for a young couple to have something to live on, Mrs. Eastwood shook her head.

"Nelly has five thousand pounds," she said, "but with my boys to place out in the world, I shall not be able to give her any more, and that is not much to depend upon. And, as a matter of principle, I don't like to see young people depending upon allowances from their fathers and mothers - unless it might be an eldest son, with landed property coming to him. I don't think it is the right way."

Molyneux was rather surprised at this display of wisdom. He thought some one must have put it into her head. He had Nelly did not sit in awful suspense meant to slur over his want of income in while her lover was unfolding himself to his interview with the mother, as he could her mother. She knew that mother well not have done with a father. And then enough to be sure that nothing untoward Mrs. Eastwood was so "jolly," so good nawould come in the course of her true love. tured, and kind, that he did not expect his But she awaited their coming with a cer- position to be regarded as involving any tain importance and expectation. They want of principle. It must not be supposed, had a long conversation in the dining- however, that the young man had any inroom, longer perhaps than Nelly approved. tention of deceiving, or that he was aware Mr. Molyneux had a great deal to say to of having done wrong in obeying his imMrs. Eastwood. No one could be less pulse, and hastening by so many weeks or disposed to "repent at leisure" after the months his explanation with Nelly. Yet he hot haste of his declaration, but yet it is felt that but for that over whelming impulse very probable, had he had time to think, it might have been prudent to have postthat he would have decided on the pru-poned the explanation; and now he re

ceived a sudden check, and for a moment | keep you at arm's length, for that would experienced the sensations of a man who be to punish Nelly; but I think you has been proceeding on false pretences, should not have spoken till your prospects and did not know what to say.

were a little more clear."

"I am afraid you will think I have been "They are clear enough," said the anxpremature," he said. "The fact is, Iious lover. "It is only that I have been should have made my way first before I idle, and wanted energy; but now no ventured-but then, Mrs. Eastwood, you man can have a stronger motive—” must make allowances for me, and recollect that to see Nelly often, and yet to continue quite prudent and master of my-hand, and even permitted a filial salute, self

"But you need not have seen Nelly quite so often," said Mrs. Eastwood with a smile.

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Supposing I had stayed away, what should you have thought of me? That I was a despicable fellow laying myself out to please her, and then running away when I thought I had gone too far."

"I don't think I should have thought anything of the kind," said Mrs. Eastwood, in that easy way which is so disconcerting to people who feel that the eyes of the world ought to be upon them. I should have thought you were occupied, or had other engagements. Indeed, until Nelly told me last night, I never had distinctly identified you as being fond of her, Mr. Molyneux. No doubt it was my stupidity, but I should not have remarked it; I don't know whether she might have done so."

Molyneux felt considerably crushed by this calm and tolerant judgment, but he

went on.

"You may be sure this state of things won't last," he said; "I have a motive now, and I shall set to work. Of course I cannot press for an early marriage, as I should otherwise have done had I been wise, and made my preparations first"

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No, of course not," said Mrs. Eastwood. This gave her great pleasure, practically, but theoretically I am obliged to confess that she half despised her future son-in-law for his philosophy. It was quite right, and relieved her mind from a load. But still a woman likes her child to be wooed hotly, and prefers an impatient lover, unwilling to wait. Such an one she would have talked to and reasoned down into patience, but, theoretically, she would have liked him the best. You will not oppose me?" said Molyneux, taking her hand; you will be a good mother to me, and let me see Nelly, and be a sort of new son, to make up to me for having to wait? You are always good, to everybody—you won't keep me at arm's length?

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"No," said Mrs. Eastwood, "I won't

Mrs. Eastwood shook her head again, but she smiled likewise, and gave him her

which reddened her comely cheek, and softened her heart to Nelly's betrothed. Perhaps, under the circumstances, it was permissible for a man to be imprudent. Molyneux spent the rest of the day in and about the Elms, appearing and disappearing, hanging about Nelly, disturb ing all the household arrangements, and communicating to the visitors premature information as to what had happened. Not that he made any confidences, but that his mere presence there all the afternoon, his look of possession and triumph, the little air of being at home, which the young man could not resist taking upon himself, told the tale more clearly than words. Mrs. Barclay ran in "just for a moment," as she said, to beg Nelly to go with her next day to a Horticultural show, and "finish what you have begun, you little puss," she whispered in the girl's ear. "What have I begun?" Nelly asked, bewildered, while Molyneux, without any assignable reason, was so rude as to burst out laughing in his enjoyment of the joke. He put Mrs. Barclay into her carriage as if he had been the son of the house, she said afterwards, a proceeding which sent her away with a certain vague disquiet and resentment, though of course, as she allowed, she had no right to interfere. Major Railton, too, when he called about the plumber's work, was infinitely disgusted to find Molyneux there, and to leave him there, when, after long waiting, he was obliged to relinquish the hope of out-staying his rival. "I must go," he said at length, in tart and ill-tempered tones, "for, alas! I am not so lucky as you young fellows with nothing to do. I have my duties to attend to." This was a poisoned arrow, and struck the whole happy group, mother, daughter, and lover, with equal force.

"I am sure, Major Railton, you are an example to us all," said Mrs. Eastwood; "always so ready to serve others, and yet with so much of your own work to do. But I hope Mr. Molyneux has his duties, too."

"Yes, I have my duties," said the lover,

in his insolent happiness turning a beam- But notwithstanding so many appearing countenance upon the unsuccessful ances against him, he was the most inone. It was growing dark, and he was so tellectual of Mrs. Eastwood's sons — a impertinent as to give a little twitch to "sap" at school, and addicted to reading Nelly's sleeve in the obscurity, under away from school, a fashion of Eton boy Major Railton's very eyes; who did not, with which the world is not familiar. By indeed, see this flaunting in his face of way of making up for this, he was somehis adversary's banner, but felt that there what rough in his manners, and great in was some bond unrevealed which joined such exercises as demanded strength the three before him in a common cause. rather than skill. He was tremendous at He went away in a state of irritation football, though no one gave him the for which he could not have given any credit for clever play; and though his just reason, and tore the plumber's esti-"form" was bad, and precluded all hope mate to pieces when he emerged from the of "the boats," he could carry a skiff shrubbery in front of the Elms. Mrs. Eastwood had not taken kindly even to his plumber. She had stood by a certain old Sclater, an old jobbing Scotsman, for whom she had a national partiality.

along at a pace which no one could keep up with, and against the stream was the greatest oar of his years afloat on Thames. In consideration of these qualifications the youth of Eton graciously looked over his "sapping," or rather were vaguely impressed by it- as, to do him justice, the modern schoolboy generally is when intellectual power is combined with the muscular force of which he has a clearer

"Why should I bother myself about their concerns? Let them get Molyneux to look after things," the Major said to himself with scorn that transcended all other expression; and he laughed what is sometimes described in literature as a understanding. Jenny was not yet a "hollow laugh" of bitterness and sar

casm.

Indeed, I think Major Railton was right, and that Molyneux's supervision of the roofs and water-butts would have come to very little good.

It had been resolved in the family that nothing was to be said about the engagement for the present, as it would in all probability be a long one; and this was how they began to carry out their resolution. I do not need to add that the servants knew it the first evening, and had already settled where the young people were to live, and what sort of an establishment they would keep up. Winks, too, was aware of the fact from the first, and, as I have said, was confidentially humorous about it with Nelly, and kept up her courage during the interview between her mother and her lover. But, notwithstanding all we have been hearing lately about the communications made by dogs to their friends, I do not think he spread the news out of doors, or if he did whisper it to a crony, that crony was dis

creet.

On Saturday, which was the day following, Jenny came up from Eton to spend the Sunday with his adoring family. Jenny was extremely unlike his name — a big and bony boy of sixteen, promising to be the biggest of the family, though neither Frederick nor Dick were short. He had big joints and long limbs, and red wrists and prodigious knuckles projecting from the short sleeve of his coat.

"swell," but he was in a fair way for being a swell - -a title which at Eton bears a very different meaning from its meaning elsewhere. But he was very good to his family when he went home, and tolerant of their ignorance. Jenny's name in the school list was all starred and ribboned, so to speak, with unknown orders of merit, such as the profane eye comprehends not. He had a big Roman letter before his name, and a little Greek one after it, and a double number after that — mystic signs of honours which the Eton man understands, but which I will not attempt to explain. It might have been confusing to a more mature intellect to contemplate all the novelties which were to dawn upon him on this visit; but Jenny was not emotional. He shook hands with his brother-in-law who was to be, with extreme composure.

"I suppose they have told you," said Mr. Molyneux, good-humouredly permitting himself to be inspected by this big boy.

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Yes, they have told me," said Jenny, "but I knew you before."

"You did not know me in my present capacity. Indeed, I am not generally known in my present capacity," said Molyneux; "and I don't quite see why you should have been told. You would never have found out."

"Oh, shouldn't I!" said Jenny. "Last time I was at home, I said, 'He's going to be Mr. Nelly, that fellow;' didn't I, Mamma? Of course you are Mr. Nelly.

Women don't get half justice in this | lieve you are right. If I could love her world. I like her better than you, as a heartily, right out, as I love Nelly matter of course; so that's your distinction to me."

"But that is everything a woman ought to be," said Molyneux. "Isn't there a proverb about being seen and not "The question is, has she anything to heard, &c. What a difference from say?" said Jenny. "I have felt myself, some people! When I came in to-day, sometimes, What is the good of talking? the first thing I heard was some one sing- I don't blame you for not being fond of ing upstairs-singing so that I felt in-her, mother; for that, I suppose, you clined to dance. I suppose it was not this Innocent?"