cleft. Yesterday when I came to the channel | I turned my rein towards the sea, and presently heard him coming up along the other side by the same narrow path where I was overtaken. He hailed me and made some remark about the tide, which was coming in rapidly and dashing among the rocks about the cleft in a very beautiful manner. I drew up to see it, and he brought his grey on to the plateau so that we were near enough to converse. He remarked that the ride had freshened me, and in a halfjesting way said, 'You look very attractive over there, Helen, What will you give me to leap Grey Randal across?' and he began backing for the leap. I cried Don't be so mad,' I was in real earnest frightened for him. He laughed and said Now you look like my Own little passionate Helen. Helen, I'm coming.'

f

"No doubt the life I have been leading o late has tended to make me nervous. I was so agitated I could hardly keep my saddle. I knew it was best not to speak, but I could not conceal my distress. My cousin dismounted and came up to me saying, 'You were really frightened. Now scold me as I deserve, though I must say I'd do it again any day in the week for the pleasure of seeing you cared that much for me." "

"I did not dare to trust my voice, but tried hard for composure and soon was able to guide my mare onward. He still urged me to speak; to give him a smart scolding. I chose to ride away in silence and he followed at some distance. This morning he alluded to the matter, asking, with a smile, if I were going to make him leap the cleft again to-day. I answered that such a feat was not to my taste, and little calculated to benefit my nerves. Then he said he feared he had been inconsiderate, but that the temptation was too strong at the moment to be resisted. How very different from Grant's former self," said Helen in conclusion, "to admit that women's nerves should he considered."

"Helen," I answered, "I hope for your cousin's sake that much of the change in him may be grounded on a serious conviction that his former conduct and manner were unbecoming and unworthy; but it may be as well to bear in mind that what is not so grounded is merely, as it were, a part played for a purpose. Do not let his exemplary behaviour tempt you to treat him otherwise than you have done; for his sake, for your own sake, and for the sake of our absent friend."

to treat him. He will know hereafter that I could not do better than appear ungrateful, as I must, of course, now.'

"Don't you think, Helen, it might be possible to make your grandfather see the expediency of acquainting Grant with the fact of your marriage?"

"I dare not urge it. You see how he is just now; on pleasant terms with Grant, the affairs going on just serve to amuse him, and he is secure and confident that all will go right. Dr. Meredith said I must be especially careful to keep him from any worry or excitement. No, it's very unhappy for me, and worse for Grant; but we must bear it."

"You had no private conversation with Mr. Brown when he was here?"

"No; and nothing of much importance was spoken of, except that he mentioned our palefaced man had been positively identified, his natural complexion having returned. We had some talk too of Mr. Witham. I believe he is still under careful observation, but nothing has been discovered to confirm suspiciou.”

Does Mr. Grant know that he is other than he represented himself?"

"I feel uncertain. I am afraid of touching upon the subject, as I must not yet say how much reason there is to suspect him; and I do not wish to enter upon the matter of our warning through Alfred Merrivale, or the photographs from the continent."

66

It seems the horse-dealer could get off without applying to your cousin for a character. What sort of one do you think he could have given ?"

"He said he knew nothing of him beyond the fact that he was a horse-dealer. He was very angry indeed about his conduct on the marsh. The only time I have heard him swear since his return from London was when he adverted to it."

I mentioned to Helen that I had received the day previous a few lines from Merton Brown, dated from his brother's house in Derbyshire. He intended coming again to our neighbourhood before long, and assured me he was quite at liberty, did I see any reason to wish for his presence, to be with us immediately.

My pupil completed that day a very pretty sketch of two old pear-trees in the orchard. The next subject is to be selected at the rocks. It is to be a very small drawing, so that it may be forwarded in a letter to a certain friend abroad, whose twenty-second birthday anniversary is not far off.

CHAP. XXXIX.

CAREFUL SAILING. A SIDE WIND FROM AN OLD FRIEND.

wrote that she feared Miss Dalziel thought her offer to visit Darliston again so soon implied some self-denial; and she was desirous I should assure Helen that the contrary was the case, as she had a special private reason for wishing at the present time to be away from home.

What that reason can be puzzles me, but I cannot be sorry she is so desirous of being with Helen. I sent back word that I would attend to the matter she spoke of.

Helen's sketch from the rocks was commenced that day. On the north side where they shelve towards the bay we found shelter from the afternoon sun, and while my pupil took a portion of the rock for a study, I ventured on the more extended prospect which included Cardington Castle.

I had a ride with Helen afterwards, and in the evening she sung to me. Her grandfather retires now at eight o'clock, and the piano being against the wall of his room, he hears her music, but says he likes it, that it sets him off comfortably to sleep. If Grant Wainwright has not previously departed, he rises and says goodnight when the old gentleman does so; having been, I suspect, required to observe this rule by his uncle. I am concerned to hear to-day that it is only in seeming he takes his departure then.

Mrs. Cargill either found or made an excuse to come down to the village to-day, and called upon me. Her first question was concerning Miss Alice Ainslie-if I knew when she was likely to come again to Darliston Hall. I had heard nothing since Alice's note came, but knew Helen had written expressing readiness to receive her; so I replied that I believed it would be soon.

“Well, ma'am,” said Mrs. Cargill, "the sooner the better, say I; she's a sweet young lady, and so thoughtful, like. Master likes her, and I would be glad to see her come at any time; but just now most partic❜larly. I feel so bewildered with one thing or another-master being not himself, nor Grant neither."

"Have you anything new to tell me about him?" I asked.

“Well, ma'am,” she proceeded, "you see he has been altogether so changed since master told him Miss Helen was engaged; and he don't go on about her to me as he used: but for all that, somehow, I don't know what he does think about her. Certainly, considering, things have gone on of late wonderfully smooth and pleasant; and I don't want to be the first to make a stir about anything; yet it makes me uneasy like, to see that when Miss Helen thinks Mr. Grant has gone off to his home, and she sits singing to herself, he's always now a-sitting listening. He goes into the spare bedroom, which you know is on the other side of masters, and sits there in the dark. It seems a thing as is no harm in itself, but I know if I was to tell Miss Helen she would stop playing, which would be a pity, for it pleases her and pleases master. Now you see if Miss Alice was at

Darliston, either he would not stay, or there could be no harm if he did?"

Saturday, August 14th.-I went the same evening to Darliston, and heard from Helen that Mrs. Ainslie had written, fixing the end of the following week for Alice's next visit. I the more wished an earlier day had been named in that Helen's spirits evidently required cheering under the depressing effects of the prolonged silence of our correspondent. Mr. Mainwaring had never let more than ten days elapse between his letters. We had agreed to consider one lost, but now more than double the time had passed bringing nothing from him.

Messrs. Gray and Dennison wish to see me in Liverpool on Monday, so I went up this evening to sit a few hours with Helen. I had previously counselled her against sitting long alone in the dreary drawing-room as ill calculated to keep up her cheerfulness; but in answer was told it was to her the happiest place in the house-the only room where she had been with him. I therefore contented myself with enjoining Nanny Cargill to keep as good watch as she could to prevent Helen receiving any annoyance, and if the key of the spare room could not be found (which I understood was the case), either to find other means of fastening the door, or to say at once to Mr. Grant Wainwright that she could not think it right to let him conceal himself there, and must speak to her master if he insisted upon the practice.

Nothing else worth noting has occurred this week, except that this morning another bouquet arrived by the carrier for Helen. Grant was by when it came. He knew what the little box was likely to contain, as the servants had told him about the last. He brought it into the parlour himself, saying: "This is for you, Helen, do you know who it comes from?"

66

No, I do not." she answered. "Well, Helen, you never told a falsehood yet, so I must believe you."

Nanny Cargill was in the room, and at Helen's bidding opened the box and took out the bouquet. Grant snatched it from her, looking at the poor flowers, Helen said, very contemptuously.

"What do you mean to do with them?" he questioned.

"I don't know," was her answer. "And don't care?" he said.

"I don't care, only as they are very pretty, and somebody I cannot object to-as I do not know him-has been so bountiful as to send them, I think you had better give them to Nanny to put in water: they may serve to decorate the drawing-room."

Grant deliberately crushed the bouquet in his hands, shred the flowers in pieces, and flung them out of window with a curse on the sender.

"They are sent by some lover, Helen," he said, "whoever he may be. I ought to beg pardon for swearing in your presence; but as to

your drawing-room, if you want flowers for that you can have plenty."

When he came in again at tea-time he had brought from his own garden enough for all the vases Nanny could muster.

Thursday night, August 19th.-The matter Messrs. Gray and Dennison had to speak of, concerned the probability of my husband being required to take command of the Andromeda, which was about sailing when her captain was taken with a serious attack of rheumatic gout. The cargo being very valuable, and wanted in the market, it is thought expedient Richard should leave his ship to the chance of Captain Starling's recovering, and bring home the laden vessel. On one account I must regret this-he will have no time to make the inquiries I wished; but, it is great compensation to think of his being home by Christmas, and making a long stay with me. Messrs Gray and Dennison were both very considerate towards me, and promised the search for news of the "Emma" should be followed up by their agent until something definite was known. Other affairs detained me some hours on Tuesday, and, when I arrived at home, I was too tired to undertake a visit to Darliston. I sent Lance with a note to say how it was with me, and forwarded also a letter I had found from Mr. Merton Brown. He had written to a friend in Vienna, and received a reply now enclosed.

The writer, a young Oxonian, travelling during the long vacation, had been desirous of an introduction to Arden Mainwaring. In answer to inquiries at Vienna, one person had told him he believed Lord St. George had sent him into Podolia: another jestingly said he thought he was on a private mission in Turkey -studying the sumptuary laws; as the last time he had seen him he was being earnestly consulted by an Archduchess on the subject of oriental costume. In fact he could get no certain information concerning either Mr. Mainwaring or his lady relatives; and had been advised to forward the letter of introduction he carried to the care of Lord St. George, who was most likely to know what had become of his secretary.

Mr. Merton Brown thought if we were still without a letter, this negative sort of information might appear better than none, as it proved that no ill-news was extant at Vienna concerning our friend.

I met Helen at the Croft next afternoon. I saw she had suffered from anxiety and hope deferred, but she strove to be gay, and proceeded very industriously with her sketch.

We had been busy with our drawings for about half-an-hour, when we were surprised by visitors. Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Grant Wainwright appeared in sight and joined us-the latter only for a few minutes, having come as guide. Mr. Hawkins tarried a while, talking on general subjects and watching Helen's work. Presently he said to her, "Why, Miss Helen; what have you been doing to your cousin.

Mr. Grant looks as pale, and is as changed as if he had started fair for a consumption. It isn't your fault, I hope?"

"I do not think anything ails Grant, now," Helen answered, but she coloured. "He was ill while in London."

"So I've heard," he said rather drily. Then, after a pause he continued, "maybe after all his illness and the rest of it may have been for his good. He has somehow been induced to avoid the foolish set who were about him a while ago. I know he refused an invitation to Captain Ashton's for to-day because he did not wish to meet that Witham. Still, I can plainly see his health is not what it used to be. He is not only thin and pale, but there is a spot of red rises in his cheek at times, like hectic, and his eyes seem unnaturally bright. I hope he's safe; but, you must not use him badly, for at his age there's no saying how it might turn out." "has my

"Mr. Hawkins," Helen said, cousin complained to you of my behaviour towards him?”

"No, not a word. To say the truth, I could not venture to speak to him on such a subjectespecially as it is reported he is not standing so well with you as formerly. I don't feel so ceremonious with you, for I've had you often on my knee, and you were never apt to take amiss my plain speaking; so I tell you my convictions: that young fellow loves you from the bottom of his heart, and he loves you for yourself. He's a fine young fellow, there isn't a handsomer in the country, and he's quite the gentleman. Now you are going to be an heiress one of these days, and will have dozens of lovers, but not one like him, that would take you without a penny if he had the pick of all the heiresses in the land. So, don't cross his love because he's a bit spirity at times. You were a little inclined that way yourself, once."

I would have given much to have checked this speech of Mr. Hawkins. It was too much for Helen; she fell into a fit of tears and sobbed violently. All I could do was to excuse her nervousness on the plea of her having been lately in such close attendance on her grandfather. I also told Mr. Hawkins as plainly as possible that Mr. Grant Wainwright had been informed by his uncle that his suit was unacceptable, and that he could only be recog nised at Darliston as a relation. Mr. Hawkins gave a sort of civil attention, but probably thought it still depended upon Helen's inclination," and calculated on his speech having had much weight. He apologised certainly, but the apology was as bad as what had gone before. He said he could not help speaking, for he was sure that one like Grant Wainwright could not give up a girl he loved at the bidding of any man, and that Helen, though she might find fault with him, might likely have more cause if she chose another.

Helen attained sufficient composure to say "You mean well, I know, Mr. Hawkins, but you don't know-”