had in the world; and I was ready to promise all she wished in regard to the future of little Bertie.

I was twelve years older than this four-years old sister, and very young to take her education into my hands; but I did it cheerfully, and tried to do my duty.

We had a neighbor, a ricketty old man, with every complaint known, whose only safeguard was his great wealth.

Well, this man died; and in a week his heir came down to Granby Hall to view his vast inheritance. Bertie, dear little soul, had been remembered in the old man's will, for her bowls of soup and morning-calls; and Frank Granby himself led down the snowy horse, which had been the old man's bequest, and saw my golden-haired darling.

I was so fond and proud that I should not have wondered at any man who fell in love with her; and so, of course, I was not surprised to see Frank Granby lose the indifferent face he had brought across the lawn, and carry away one very animated and full of admiration.

I did not see every glance, or hear every word they spoke after this; but I knew they were progressing well, and was quite prepared, when, after a few weeks, Frank led her to me, all blushes and modest happiness, and asked me to give them my blessing, and consent to their union. Ah, how readily I complied for this was the realization of all my bright dreams. She would have money, position, and love!

Before the Summer ended, my cousin Clarice came on a visit. I have already said that she was beautiful, and she possessed -what even goes further-the most wonderful conversational powers, and manners refined to almost perfection.

She was nearly as old as myself, but far more beautiful than in her girlhood; and when she crossed our threshold, I was as envious and jealous for Bertie's sake, as though I knew she would take our Frank away. She knew in a very little while that Bertie was engaged; and when my darling went out to cut some fresh flowers for our tea-table, she said:

"Pattie, why didn't you make the child wait? She is pretty, and would produce a sensation in town. Why, she might marry a very rich man.'

"I believe that Frank quite claims that title. His uncle has recently left a large property, and his father died but a year ago, equally rich, and left everything to Frank.”

Strange that he should select such a little wild flower. Being young, he might marry almost any one he chooses.” She was our guest, so I held my peace; but it galled me very much to do so, and I at once resolved to watch her. The very moment she saw Frank, I knew that she made up her mind to win him, and before he had been present an hour she had drawn him away from Bertie's side. He did not seem to understand that she was several years older; indeed, she did not look it. As he went away she said:

"You are the only member of the male sex I have seen since I entered this town, and as I verily believe you to be the only one I shall see, I claim you for my escort."

He laughed at her, and went away with the same animated face he had worn when he first met Bertie. From that moment a cloud hovered over us. At first it was a tiny thing, but gradually it grew larger, until it quite dimmed our lives. Frank became as wax in Clarice's strong hands.

Then there were nights when my darling came to my room, and crept into my arms, and lay her tear-wet check close tɔ mine, sobbing:

"Oh, Pattie, my dear sister, my heart is breaking."

"How icy you are! Bless me! what a miserable-looking wretch !"

The last sentence had no particular reference to me, but to a man who was crossing the lawn to the back-door. I went out to him.

A wretch! It was a fair name for him. He was not ill-looking, but he was, indeed, wretched. There was the dust and mud of one week's travel, at least, clinging to his heavy shoes, and a dirty, half-grown beard hiding the lower part of his face. His coat was ragged and ill-fitting, and his linen limp and dirty. I spoke, and asked him his errand.

"I am hungry, I am tired, I am poor, and out of work," he answered.

"You shall have food; come in."

He came and sat upon the door-step. "Couldn't you find a few days' work for me in all those fields yonder? I can work well, ma'am."

My answer did not come readily; and he spoke again.

"I see! I don't blame you. It is the way of the world. You cannot trust such an ill-looking vagabond as I. Give me plenty of water, a little soap, a comb, and shaving materials, and I shall be a man."

I had lived the greater part of my life in that quiet country place, and had learned to be a trifle cold to strangers, and most of all to such as he; but something possessed me then, and I bade him enter, called one of the farm-laborers, and asked him to supply the man with the necessary toilet articles and clothes. In half an hour he again came before me. I was surprised at the change. John, the farm-laborer, had provided him with a clean suit of clothes, and his face was clean-shaven, and his hair combed smoothly.

"Your name is Miss Patience Stanleigh ?" he said. "Yes," I replied, in wonder.

"I have got a long story to tell you. Will you come out to the end of the garden-walk across your lawn, and listen?''

And timid creature that I always was, I got up without a word, and followed him out, and listened to him. When his story was ended, I directed him to a cottage where he could lodge, and work for me; and then I went back to the house with a great peace in my heart.

I did not speak of my visitor to Clarice, or Bertie, and the former quite forgot the miserable wretch she had seen; but I sent to Granby Hall, and asked its master to come to our farmhouse. I hurriedly called Clarice and Bertie out to the door; and we were sitting there admiring the rosy sunset, when Frank came up. There was a visible embarrassment in each face; but I stood up quickly, saying:

"Frank, I brought you here to-night, not because I am angry at anything you have seen fit to do, but because I wish to befriend you. You mean to marry my cousin?" "Yes," he said, with a flush. "You cannot !"

"Who will prevent it? Not you, you envious, malicious old maid!" cried Clarice.

"Not I, indeed!"

"No, Clarice, not your cousin-but I, Mark Bradley, your husband ;" and my ragged guest stepped forth from the hall. Clarice sprang up, with a sharp cry, and then caught the trellis for support.

"Perhaps you don't believe it," cried Mark, holding out a paper excitedly toward Frank; "but 'tis true. There is the certificate. She thought me rich; but when we had been married four weeks, she found her mistake, and left me in my desopoverty, and fled. I have been ill, alone, poor, and friendless; but I have always kept an eye upon her."

With one glance at the white, trembling figure of my enemy, Frank came to me, and held out his hands. "Pattie, can you forgive me?'' "Yes, Frank, with all my heart." "Will Bertie forgive me?" "Go and ask her?"

I am sure she forgave him; for they were gone a long while down in the orchard, and in three weeks they were married. I have never seen Clarice since; but Cousin Mark is my bailiff, and a frequent visitor at Granby Hall.

867

AT FLENSBERG.

CHAPTER I.

STARTED suddenly when Cora's hand fell upon my shoulder, for there she was standing beside me, and I had not even heard her enter the room.

"Good Heaven!" I cried, inexpressibly shocked at her appearance," what is the matter?''

For my sister's beautiful face was frightfully pale, her blue eyes were heavy, and her hair, that glorious yellow hair, looked more than ever like a golden crown upon the sculptured image of a queen.

"What is the matter, Cora ?" I demanded again.

"We will not need Bertha-at least, not yet. Wait, I have something to tell you; it is this: the count returns to Flensberg."

"Then we will not go," I promptly decided.

"But we will go, dear; nay, more, we will meet him pleasantly, as though nothing had happened, in fact."

"But, how dare he go to our guardian's after this?'' "After our quarrel, do you mean? Why should he not? Our guardian is his uncle; besides, you forget that Flensberg was once his home. Do not be silly, Lucie. Come, now, will you promise to obey me?''

"Yes, of course. After all, you are right. We will go, and all will be right again. Is not that so, darling?"

"It is probable, at all events. Ring for Bertha now. Not that there will be much for her to do," she continued, laughingly. "Why, you careful little fairy, your task is almost finished!"

"Of course; it behooves me to be industrious, you see, for I have chosen a lowly lot in life."

"Don't that frighten you sometimes, Lucy ?"

the most reasonable woman in trifles. Beyond his good name and his talent, he has nothing, absolutely nothing. And you have so little! I tremble for your future welfare.'

"Let no thought of my future welfare trouble you," I answered, somewhat indignantly. "Adolf Arndt and I love each other; we marry for each other; we will live for each other; and be sure that if there is perfect happiness on earth, it shall be ours, for hand-in-hand will we seek it."

"And God grant that you may find it!" said my sister, very solemnly.

Thoroughly ashamed of my momentary vexation, I went to her, and kissed her, as I loved her, most tenderly. No word did we speak, but just sat there quietly, her dear head upon my breast, and my arms about her. Presently she whispered, sighing softly:

"It is the old happy time come again, Lucie. Sitting so, we are children once more-poor sad little orphans once more!" "Nay," I answered, "we are women, my sister, women, but loving each other with the pure love of little children, and letting no one come between us."

She was silent, and so we sat, locked in that fond embrace, until Bertha came to us, unbidden.

CHAPTER II.

WO days later, we were at Flensberg Now, as all the world knows, Flensberg is full fifty miles north of Vienna. A quaint old castle, built centuries ago, and half hidden among the mountains-the home, in fact, of our guardian, the old State Councilor, Baron Nicholas von Achen. And a heavenly home it seemed to me, for, unlike Cora, I could not love a city life. Heavenly, indeed! the balmy air teeming with sweet scents and sounds, for the tender leaves were glistening yet with the heavy drops of a Summer shower, the twittering swallows were circling around and above us, and in the ravines sober little quails were skimming across newly turned furrows, whilst over all fell a calmness so solemn, so penetrating, that I could no more have prevented the tears springing to my eyes than I could have prevented my heart from beating.

But as for my sister, the eyes of her soul were closed to all these beauties. During the entire journey she had been leaning back in the carriage, reading a French novel, and smiling goodnaturedly at my rapturous outbursts. Such composure, after all that had just transpired, troubled me greatly; it troubled me still more when I found that even our meeting with the councilor and his wife could not disturb it. And we might have been daughters of the house, such a joyous welcome did we receive. The good councilor! He was one of the few who are wise in their day and generation; he could enjoy life as it came to him. A tall man, with blue eyes, a big nose, a round chin, a large, well-forme 1 mouth, and a general air of good-humored content, he could yet, when occasion arose, be grave, and dignified, and stern. As for his wife, she was as fresh and brightcolored as a rose; the sound of her cheery voice would send a new life coursing through your veins were you faint unto death, whilst the mere touch of her soft white hands was a comfort and a blessing.

"Are you here, my little ones?" cried our guardian. "Heaven bless you, Cora, but you grow more beautiful with every hour of your life! And you, too, Lucie! Little witch, Adolf will have no need to blush for you. Lord, save us! what a woman you are, to be sure! Too much of one to give me a kiss, I suppose."

A kiss! I gave him a dozen; and then as soon as I had removed my traveling-wraps, I was obliged to take his arm, and be conducted to the garden, to see the wonderful improvements which had been effected under the supervision of the new gardener.

"Ah, let the child rest!" called the baroness after us, as we started across the lawn.

"Not at all," retorted her husband, merrily; "she deserves no rest, nor shall she have it."

But if you fancy that this merriment lasted when we were out of hearing of the others, you are mistaken; for we had no sooner quitted the house than my companion's face grew very sober, and his voice was almost stern as he said:

"Child, tell me of this trouble between Cora and the count." "The trouble?" I commenced, falteringly. "Do not hesitate," he continued. "Tell me." "But how did you know anything about it?''

"I heard something of it from Von Fallersleben himself. He is here now; he came two days ago. But even if I had heard nothing, I would have suspected a great deal after his behavior to-day."

"Ay, and so much the worse; neither will see the folly of he whole affair until too late."

"But they cannot remain long at enmity: they will soon be friends again."

The councilor smiled, and shook his head.

"You are thinking of Adolf now," said he, "and so, from the depths of your great wisdom in the ways of lovers, you speak. But yours is a false prophecy, little one, for your Adolf and the count are two, just as Cora and you are two. Ah, Heaven help us all! the haughtiest are not always the happiest! My poor little Cora!''

"See!" I cried. 46 Who is that?'' "Where?''

"There-down by the arbor. That girl in a gray dress." "Oh, that is Theckla-old Wilhelm's niece. Surely you remember her."

"That Wilhelm's niece? That Theckla, my old playmate?" "Ay, even so; and a dear, good creature is she. Her uncle died two years ago, you remember, and as the poor child has not another relation in the world, we keep her with us. We are very of her, I assure you. As for the baroness, she swears by

"Oh, wou a shame!"

"Theckla! Theckla Dahl !" he called.

"I come," blithely answered a fresh, sweet voice. Then a little gray-robed form came swiftly down the walk, and Theckla Dahl stood before us, smiling, blushing, half eager, half afraid.

I could not repress an exclamation of wonder, which my guardian understood, for he nodded, and said: "Time has changed her, eh?"

"It has not changed her," I answered, quite seriously; "it has only made her more beautiful."

And thereupon I took Theckla's hand, and looking straight into her eyes, read there such purity and truth that I kissed her, and we were friends forever.

So for a little while we three sauntered through the gardenpaths, my admiration for Theckla increasing with each moment -not merely an admiration for her exquisite loveliness, but for the manifold graces of her sweet nature, for her modesty, her simple pride, and, above all, for the reverential affection she evinced for my guardian and his wife. When at last she quitted us, my enthusiastic praise burst forth:

"My dear baron, that girl is a lovely creature! Why, her eyes are like pansies, her hair is like sunlight, her"

I paused abruptly, for my guardian was regarding me with a twinkle of a smile curling the corners of his pleasant mouth.

"Continue," said he, dryly-" do continue. "Upon my word, Lucie, to hear you is like reading a novel. Come, now, what next?"