and Elizabeth's too, than the recently earned peerage of Lynwood. But why should poverty be an insuperable barrier? When people really loved each other, they could afford to wait. And Elizabeth's fortune would be her own, on the day she came of age! Three years would not be long to wait, and she would then be independent of her parents' consent, which of course might be an obstacle now.

But would not Kenneth be too proud to ask her, knowing that she was rich and he had nothing? That too was possible. However, if he only knew that she cared, would not that make all the difference? "And why shouldn't he know ?" Christina thought again. "Isn't it common sense, and even common justice, not to leave him in ignorance? How can I stand by, and see her talked into marrying a man she does not care for, when one word from him would give her strength to resist, and to wait, and to be happy for life? I wonder if she secretly wanted me to tell him? But I will do it, he shall know; it will make him happy, of that I am sure, whatever comes of it. He would wait, like the old knights, for years and years. I will tell him this evening if there is a chance.'

Kenneth and Charlie were As soon as the little boy about indifferent things.

The opportunity did not come till late. at a choir-practising, and came in together. had gone to bed, Christina began talking Kenneth scarcely answered, as he had an open book before him; but his attention was at once fixed when she said, "We did not have any music, Elizabeth and I, to-day, for she had something else to think of. She is so much worried just now. What a shame it is for people to be forced into doing things whether they like it or not!"

"We can't have things our own way always? Is that what you mean? Is anything the matter ?"

"Bessy's relations seem to think they can do as they like with her; they will perhaps talk her into marrying some one she does not care for." Christina was busy darning socks, and did not look up, to see how

his brow darkened; but he answered as quietly as usual.

"She will never be talked into doing anything wrong, like that." "Well, they are trying to do it though, now. But she would never give in if she were only sure of one thing; she could and would brave them all for the sake of one she really cares for, and it would make her perfectly happy if she knew that-that he cared too."

Kenneth here interrupted fiercely. "What right have you to say such things?"

both so much

When two per

She answered with vehemence; "Because I love you I want you to be happy! As if I couldn't see! sons care for each other, who are made for each other, why shouldn't they know it? especially when there is no real disparity! We are their equals in all but wealth, and mere worldly advantages ought not to be put in comparison with lifelong happiness. Her relations might be angry, of course, but they can't prevent her doing as she likes when she is of age; besides, she will have her own fortune—”

"How dare you speak of such a thing ?" exclaimed Kenneth, losing all patience and self-command. "You have no right to say a word! Most dishonourable! Whatever your friend chose to say, it was, or ought to have been in confidence."

Christina was astounded. She had never seen Kenneth so angry before. He had stood still, as if thunderstruck, at her audacity, while she went on speaking, until he burst forth thus; then he continued, moving up and down with quick restless steps,

"The treachery of such a betrayal of confidence is only matched by Even now I can hardly believe my ears. You, whose strong

its folly.
point was common sense, to talk such nonsense!

You, who were so

proud of our unsullied honour!-you, to betray confidence!" Then seeing that she looked half ready to cry, he added hastily, "Come, Christina, I don't want to frighten you. Can't you understand ?"

"O, Kenneth, I didn't mean,-I didn't think, there was anything dishonourable in telling you. I'm sure she,—that is, I thought she might mean me to tell you; at least, to give a hint.”

"You have no right to suppose any such thing," exclaimed he, more angrily than ever. If you can't see how treacherously you have acted, so much the worse. The very subject on which your lips ought to be for ever sealed! I can never forgive you !"

Christina was terribly hurt, but she tried to speak calmly. "It may have been a mistake, that I allow; but I was thinking of your happiness."

"I will not hear a word more! Happiness indeed! Is that the end of existence? You have indeed lost all sense of honour! You think it possible that I can degrade myself to the level of a fortunehunter; that I can take advantage of the terms of our intimacy with the Dacres, who have put such trust in us both. No real disparity! Nonsense! Do you think that Sir George and his wife would have allowed the acquaintance unless they had known how impossible it

would be for-I am ashamed to have to put it so plainly-how impossible it would be for me ever to think of such treachery? And you too, revealing a secret entrusted to you! I hope to GOD a mere fancy, an impulse, nothing more! I forbid you to mention the subject again; not one word more, either to me, or to her!" So saying, he suddenly departed, shutting the door behind him with violence.

Christina sat for a time as if stunned. She was unable to realise the magnitude of her fault; she might have been mistaken, but how could she have known that Kenneth would receive her communication in this way? He was so violent, so harsh, so unlike himself. As by degrees she recovered her thoughts, she felt most indignant at the language he had used. "Surely, when it is a case of true love, people ought to be willing to withstand all the tyranny of their relations. He could save her from being forced into this engagement. Is it possible that he can care less for her than I do? and the thought of it makes me wretched. She is to be taken off to Lynwood to be talked over, I can see. What a shame it is! and yet he will not save her, and is furious with me for daring to suggest that he can do it if he likes. A word from him, and she would stand firm against all their arguments. I don't see that it is behaving badly to the Dacres. How can it be? There was no compact made-You may come to our house, and we will be good friends, provided only that you don't fall in love.' People can't help falling in love! It's absurd of Kenneth, over-scrupulous, and yet he is not in general so unreasonable as that; and how unkind! he never treated me so before." Christina's tears began to flow. She passed a restless night, feeling proud and humiliated, sorry and angry by turns, till the morning light began to dawn, when she fell into a refreshing slumber which lasted till it was time to rise. When she came down stairs, she heard from Sarah that Kenneth had gone out, leaving word he should not be in to breakfast. There was nothing very unusual in this, for sometimes he had to be in the City early; and Christina felt a kind of dreary relief. A little note came from Elizabeth

in the course of the morning.

Good-bye, till Tuesday, dear C. Come to me then at 12 o'clock, if you can. I shall be here (at Lynwood) till Monday. All most kind, and I am to be let alone for the present, and see a little more of society. O dear! life is a strange puzzle.-Your loving E."

Christina's notions of honour were crude and unformed; but it was her devotion to her brother which obscured her judgment.

Now that

she felt angry with him, she began to view the case differently. After all, she had been in fault. It was wrong, as well as mistaken, to repeat any words uttered in confidence. As to the rest-yes, it was foolish perhaps to suppose that Kenneth would act upon such a communication; but she could not see why it should be unfair to the Dacres. She had been thinking and talking of absolute equality, and so on, but with all her views of the grandeur of the Grahames, she had failed to grasp the real nature of the links which formed the intimacy, the tacit assumption that the scions of a chivalrous, noble race, could not fail to act in a loyal and honourable spirit. How could any man with a fine sense of honour stoop to make use of the facilities afforded him by this intimacy, to ensnare the affections of the heiress?

The more Christina considered the question, the clearer her apprehension became. There was then a mutual understanding between people of honour. Was that what Elizabeth had meant by assuming as a matter of course that he would never know? Did she think that fate was hard and life a puzzle, because she felt herself, and Kenneth too, bound down by invisible chains, unthought of till the struggle came? In most books, reflected Christina, all parents and guardians who hinder the course of true love, are represented as tyrannical, cruel, and selfish, especially when rank or riches are concerned, and brought forward as the chief or only obstacles. But here was one lover siding with the parents and guardians, and the other taking it all as a matter of course!

It's a very queer world indeed," sighed Christina.

66

However, since she is not to be teased into marrying that man, I'll try and think it's all as it should be, for them at least. I see that I have been wrong and foolish. Yes, and I have made the dear old fellow unhappy, I fear." There was nothing cheering in this reflection.

Kenneth had expressed himself with more harshness than was just, but his feelings were altogether in a strangely excited state. In his indignant denunciation of dishonourable conduct, he was thinking not of Christina only, but of himself. He was fortifying his own determination to overcome the sudden, almost irrepressible joy which had seized him, at the thought of Elizabeth's love. It was merely momentary, and it was repelled with all the force he could summon; he was determined to crush out, destroy the fatal suggestion; but the struggle was tremendous. The wild tumult of conflicting feelings was too much for him. He hurried out of doors, and paced up and down in the cool

night air till mind and body were utterly wearied. He slept but little, and dreamt of tossing on a stormy sea, with flowery sunlit lands in sight while siren music sounded in his ears. He rose unrefreshed, and quickly left the house, intending to take a long walk before the heat of the day. The Regent's Park was quiet and empty, but a dull grey mist shrouded everything, and the air was heavy and thick. He took out his little pocket Homer, and tried to read, but even the Odyssey had lost interest for him. The mist after a time settled into a slow drizzling rain, and the hot damp air seemed to drive away all energy. At last he turned his steps eastwards, breakfasting at a coffee-house on the way to his office.

The long hours of work seemed duller and drearier than ever. His thoughts were turned inwards continually, and he felt himself to be like Ulysses, a much-enduring man. What was to be the end of all this weary toil? Why should he have taken up a burden harder and heavier than others had to bear? He was sorely tempted to give up the battle; oppressed by weariness both mental and bodily, he could not keep his thoughts from wandering; and the wild visions of the night haunted his imagination. Could it be true that Eden was within his reach? that she whom he now knew to be the one maiden in all the world for him, the fairy princess who had thrown a spell of enchantment over his heart, had confessed that her own was touched? What if it were but a fanciful impulse? Surely the strength and depth of his love would serve to kindle the delicate sparklet into responsive brightness. When and where should he next meet Elizabeth? was it possible to withstand the magic that dwelt in her silvery tones, in the bright depths of her lustrous eyes?

He put away the thought again and again, calling to his aid the hard-won principles which had hitherto sustained his life-struggle. He was bound by all the ties of honour, friendship, duty, not to speak. He must never let her know the state of his affections. If he could not trust himself in her presence, there was only one course open to him, not to see her until he could meet her calmly, merely as a friend. But to give her up, to stand by, and see her sought and won by another! There indeed was the bitterest pang. How can I do it ?" he groaned in spirit, as he bent over the papers on his desk, sitting for some moments with his face buried in his hands. A sharp reminder from one of his fellow-clerks roused him, and he returned to his work. Another, who noticed that he looked worn and tired, kindly asked