powers in this respect. The human mind is only capable of taking in, and being subjugated by, a certain amount of emotion. It was not a fear lest she should break down, or lest she should not sing well enough to represent Miss Danvers, that in the least daunted or discouraged Ruth; it was the terror of what the governess might disclose.

Ruth, who was a woman of business, and had not been a private secretary to Lord Lochawe for many years without learning something of the world, had carefully provided herself with all the necessary apparatus for maintaining her part. She had gone to that shop near Covent Garden where theatrical costumes and theatrical jewels are to be bought; and she had provided herself with a diadem, and with a girdle, which they said had been worn by an actress so dear to many persons of the generation that is passing away, Madame Grisi.

Ruth had not failed to notice every peculiarity in her friend Miss Danvers. She dressed her hair as Miss Danvers was wont to dress it; she

tried to think of every turn of her features, and to look like her; but all the while she was aware that this disguise would be a failure in the eyes of any one who had seen Miss Danvers.

Ruth felt that there were only two courses open to her: she must either dupe this governess, or must win her over to silence. So serious, so awful, did she feel this difficulty to be, that, for the first time, she took the others into council.

Ruth's sole fortune consisted in the dowry of her mother, which had been settled upon her. It produced £220 a year. The Professor's savings, which he had transmitted to Germany, amounted to a sum which produced about £110 a year. The old Count Maremma was not utterly ruined, for he had much plate, and several jewels, amongst which were a large emerald and two large diamonds. "I would not," he said, "my dearest dear," for he had become very fond of Ruth, "die in this country and be buried by my enemies. You must not sacrifice your money, and my dear Professor must not sacrifice his; you must not make any promises of that kind;

but if anything can be done by these jewels, and women are fond of jewels, they are yours to deal with."

The day passed away in anxious deliberation. Ruth took care, using the privilege of a prima donna, to be late. She feared to meet the governess in the family circle of his Excellency the Governor.

The room was crowded when she made her appearance. She was well rewarded for the care she had taken in her costume, for one of the first thoughts that passed through the Governor's mind, might have been expressed in these words, "What a wonderful effect these actresses produce with their grand costume and false jewellery! I should not have recognized her."

Then came Ruth's introduction to the general circle; and afterwards the governess was introduced to Ruth. Ruth overwhelmed her with questions, "Where did she come from?" "With whom had she lived?" &c. &c.; and then, on the pretext of their having some common friends, took her hand affectionately, and drew her a little apart from the circle.

Ruth had never looked so anxiously into the eyes of any human being as she now looked into the eyes of this governess, whose name was Miss Ansley. She was a hard-featured, stern, middle-aged woman; but her countenance was one in which there were gleams of possible goodnature which might be evolved when she was not with her pupils at lessons.

Ruth had heard that you might look like a person if you thought earnestly of that person, and tried to imagine that you were that person. She conjured up an expression which she thought Miss Danvers, of whom she felt that she was an unworthy representative, would have had, upon a similar occasion; but it would not do. The governess said, in her hard, dry way, "I should never have recognized you, Miss Danvers. When his Excellency described you to me, it was not like the lady whom I had heard more than once at an oratorio in Exeter Hall. I am not sure

that I should have known you.

You seem to

me as if you had grown a great deal shorter."

Ruth unfortunately was not so tall as Miss Danvers.

She made up her mind that the peril was imminent. Such a partial recognition, or rather such a partial non-recognition, would be fatal. The dissenting minister's daughter was a great actress, a born actress: perhaps we may say that all women have a capacity of acting which is unknown to men. Taking Miss Ansley by the hand, she rejoined the circle, and addressed the Governor:

"Miss Ansley says, your Excellency, that she is not satisfied with the way in which I have arranged my head-dress for the part. She saw me, I find, in Paris, as well as in London, and will have it that I must dress after the Parisian fashion."

Miss Ansley listened to these statements in a state of utter bewilderment, and suffered herself to be led from the salon and to be conducted by Ruth to her own room. No sooner were they alone together in that room than Ruth knelt before her. "I am not Miss Danvers," she said. "Don't interrupt me; we have only five minutes' time for talk. The lives of three innocent persons