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^^^m .V h'. 1 3 1 i u Katlif-rlikad and Mother Touguo. Our l.itliorUnd '. ftud wonUr.-^t tliou !:»iOw WIjv wo alumld cibll it " fiitherlaud 1*" it ih tliftt A(Ui)i,ht«ro l>t*U)W, WaH mH(l«< <if i4&rth l>y uattirc's hand And Ho, uiir Father, luadu of earth, Hath poitpU'd eartli mi t-vnry liaud« And wo. iji nittuiury of hi^ birth, Do call our country 'â-  fatliorland." And lifftt in Kdtni'a bowrrs, they say. No Houud of speech had Adatii caught. But whiatUsd Ukt5 ti hird all day, Arid iii-^y bo twau tnr want uf tUougUl ; But iiatiiru, wih ruuiMtlouu law4, Madti Adtui Hcxm burpati'^ l!ih birds. HIh* tittvc liini lovely Kvt* bft-aiieo if l.»_'d H wlfuâ€" tlii'y UiUit have wordn Am) t*o the native land. I holt], Ity titalu dotiufut is priiudl) niino ; Tbt- Iaii^na(.'i\ as the talc hutli told. WaH Riven in the retnato line. And tliiiM wi- bt'o 111! either hand, Wo naniti uur Idt'nMiif;^ whence -U.-y/o i.pruui,. We rail otir country fiitlierhind, \\ e '-all <n.r lan;,Miai;ti mother toiiguo. SHIRLEYROSS : A Story of Woman's Faithfulness. CUAl'TKU \ III. Tho Now Year's eve ball at Fairholmo Court was always lnokici for-Aaid to with eajjtr ituticilialion, botli by the !'o:i3e jurty and by the youiin people of tliu iu!i;jhbor- fcoo<l. TUia year It was to bo uiicnpecially fcrilliant affair, for Lady I'airlioIiHo wished it to be a kir.d of public annoinicemoiit of the rn^!»;;i'mont of Hir Oilbuifn iiieouto Major Stunrt. The cni4a|{unieiit wan not to be a loai> ono -there waa no reiisoii why it nhould he no. Blajor Ktuart'a loiij{ leave expired in April, «uid lie wiahod to rejoin hia re(;iincnt, then quartered at AUlerahot, with hia wife ; so it waa decided tliat the marrin^o Rhould take placd oil St. Valentiue'a I):iy, and, at Shirley's own ruqueiit, it waa to bo a '(uiet Weddin((. Kir Huijh (llynn and Major Htiiart waro atlll Sir Gilbert's Kuesta, and '.i-.u formnr , fleeiiied Uj have rc-iiuweil hia tUrtitioii with £lico, who received hia atttMitioas votf fcvorably. The weather had becoiiio much colder, and there had been aomo fikating; 6ut on the :ii)th of December n rapid thaw fl^t in, to Kiiby (lapel's horror, but to Uio uiidoubl<!d Hatiafiiction of kU thoau Wha were to drive any diataiict^ to Uio Uil. Mot only was I'airholme Court full from grret to baaement with viaitors, but Kir Vuk'' bad placed Maxwell at Lady I'air- toluie'a diapoaal ; ami he waa to I'lilertain ftero for tliree or foiir days !t iiutnber of bachelor (jiieata who were i|uite iiu.icsaary, Alice declared, to make the ball i O'lipletely Rtcceauful, and who were tc drivo and cide over from Maxwell on NV-w Vear'a •re. " Our liouse is unfortunab ly not iiiaile of caoutchouc," .Mice H:iid iHii^jhinjjIy " wi- cannot ai^ooiniiioilatu every one, but I think yuu init;ht let them entertain thein. wives, Sir Ilu;jli, and not leave r.i to iiir own devices here." " I am afraid that it would not bo very conrteoua, Mias raiiholinu," Sir lltijoi •jiawereii, smiliii;;. " Ho Mian H031 mmit lor»{ivo me for carryiii){ off (iuy to morrow eveniiin," he added, turning to Shirloy, into (Vlioae fair pale cheeks the color 1 nme, as it usually did, Kreally to her owu aiiiiuyauco, when ho adilreaaed liir. " I dare aay Shirley will ^et ciuitu enough of Major i^tuart'a society 111 tlij liitiire," /Qice sairl cirelenaly. " Hut you iiro nut |{oiM|« until the afternoon. Sir llit.^h " Nciiin of those tireaouie men are comiii;; till the 6' o'clock train ; and you can i ido over 'i: much leat than an hour.' " (.>h, yeii we will put theevil hour off aa lout; as poaaible!" Sir llii;;li Hiiswerud catlier nbaently, for liia eyea wii'i foil >wiii;{ Bhirley as she moved down tlei ^loat hall whuru this conversation touU plaue, vnd wliich waa set apart for dancing on the fullowiii;{ evi!nin|>. Those days which had been sii ;li happy ones to (Juy and Shirley hail bi-i-ii cjiiitn Ihn reveiHH to Sir lluc.h. It waa imposaiblo but that, lovin|> Shirley as he ili.l, selliahly perhaps, but yet passionately, bo hliould Htllfer, seeiii;; bur lovu for and porl.ir.t tni.it i(i (iiiy ; and once or twice hu lud said to timself tliat ho could boar it 110 lonuoc, that ho would ^o away and put tho wide ooaa between him aiul her, and I 't liimaolf DO loiif^er be tormented by the hifjlit of tho bappiiiesa which was denied to liiiii. Itiit «o could not lenvo l''airholriie. It waa , liotter to see Sliirley at any pricu timii to fose sinlit of her altogether; besides, ho •Iways hoye.l, oven H:;ainat hope, that sonin tTiiiiK would happen, and tliat nfler >tll Bliirley would be his. Ho ho linni)re<t, hating (Iuy, lovinjj and batintt Shirley, ami despiaini{ biiiiKelf iiiual of all for the v/eiikncHH which made biin the slave of at{irl who had nothnu^^lit for liini, â- tid whose whole heart waa (jiveii to another. T'o a man who bas bei^i ii\, l.ia life lUlUHiially successful, who has never Known what defeat is, and who liaalnid his every wish fultillod, his every desire tiiatiliod, tim very idea of a repulse in an)thiii)( upon which he has set Iiim mind ia.piite siillirlunt tb ui;t as an iiicentivo, and to iir<{u liiiii on to further exertion ; and this was tho i-nnu with Sir IIut{h Glynn. It initjlit liave bifii, (2iat, if Shirley had fallen a victim, Kir Bii);h'H psK.Hion would have weariel, anil Anally died a natural death; but the |;irrii Indifference, and above all liur love fortiuy, •iciled in him an oajtor deaira to conquer tliat inJifferon'io and win that love. Hitherto Sir llu>;li (ilynn'a life, aUhouj{h <U>t a useful or iioblo one, had been coin. rratively harniliHa, and hia ruiilts bad I'M negative ones ; but now the hitent cruelty itiiil passion of hia n.ilure hMl Bpriint{ Hiiiliienly into life, and tho death blow of his friendship for (iiiy was HtriicK. Who was Uuy Stuart, ho thought |iaaaioii ately, that ho should win without nil effort a love for which ha would have f;iv(>n liis Ufo'i' Had it not been for hiiii, Shirley would huvo loved him. Other woinoii had done BO, why should not she? llu waa handsome and pleasing and wealthy, while (jiiy Htuart wa.n any tiling but ail elit{ihle. And yot ho had 'von Shirley Boss I I Must he t{iva iier up? Moat lio leave Guy in iindisturbHil poasosaion of tliis troaaura ho cxjveted so Kreatly'? ISIiiat ho stand by kiuI see their happinosH, and Miiiln and coni^ratulato them, unniovod and iiidit lerent ? Ha could not ilo it it waa impns. â- ible. He would have her yet. If fair means failed, he would try foul I There was no hasBnona to whioh ha would not | â- toop to win the woman he lovod with ao fatal a passion 1 There waa no treachery too great to practice, if by it ho could gain her for hia own ! Hu waa thinking thus in the solitude of hia own room on the day on which he and Guy were to leave the Court. Luncheon waa over, and be had left the rest of the party in the oak parlor, where they were busy with sumo of the preparations for the morrow. The girla had been unpackingthe dainty little pro^rammoa which had juat arrived from Kdiuburgh,and they had been chatting i;:c.rily about them with Guy, Mr. liivera, and some of the other gentle- men at tho Court. Lady Fairholme and the older ladica had taken refuse in one of tho smaller drawin^-rooma, leaving; the young people to their own derioea ; and Sir Uugh had left tho oak-parlor, unable any longer to bear the miaery and unreat and wild lonKini; which burned in his heart and brain. lie waa in just tho state of mind 10 euccumb to temptation, and to hitn at that moment and in that mood the temptation came. The rooms which Sir llufjli occupied at I'airholme Court were a bedroom and dressing room on the first lloor, opening on to a long picture gallery ; and, as he paced restlessly up and down, he could hear hia servant moving about in the dressing-room adjoining, busied with hia master's pack- ing. But Sir Hugh was too irritable juat then to bear any diatnrbance, noiseless as the man's movomentH were ; and he called out aharplyâ€" " Latreillel" The mail appeared on tho throahold of the door between the two rooma, calm and quiet as usual. " I am here. Sir Hugh," he said, in his ovoii voice. Ilia keen eye noting the disijuiet un his maatcr's haggard face. " What the deuce are youdoingin there?" demanded Sir Hugh irritably. '• 1 waa packing up, Sir Hugh." â- ' Let tho packing wait- I want to bo alone," said Sir Hugh, in tho same im- patient manner, but tho man lingered. "Can 1 get you anything. Sir Hugh ?' he aaked respectfully. " 1 am afraid you are ill, sir." " III ? What put that in your head .'" returned the baronet, aa ho walked over to the looking-glass. ISut the pale, haggard face bo saw there utartled himself, and be laughed a little bitter laugh. •' IJy Jove, I don't wonder at your thinking so !" he said carelessly. " I am afraid Scotland, and esi>ocially l-'airholmo Court, doea not agree with me." " Vou look as if you needed a change of some kind. Sir Hugh. May I get you some braiiily '.'" " So you think brandy is the universal panacea?" Sir Hugh said, with another little laugli. " I have found it very etlioacious. Sir Hugh." l.atreille answered, with tho same unmoved iinpaasive countenance. •• Have you .' Then bring me some, and some soda water ; or make mo one of your ' pick.ine-u|H,' if you like. That is one of your accouipliHlimeiits, and you have several." " 1 have knocked about the world a good deal. Sir Hugh, and I have acijuired some knowledge everywhere," was the quiet answer, as the man left the room to fetch tho rei|uiieil restorative. When ho returned, ho found that Sir Hugh had thrown himself into an arni- oliair and was lying back, with hi^i lyea closed wearily. .\s the baronet took the glass from tlie man's hanil their eyes met. Sir Hugh's lieeii and ipiestioiiing, the aervaiit'ri ineaning and aigiuticant. " 1 don't Hiipposo you are more honest than your fellows, Latreille," Sir Hugh aaid coolly. " I don't suppose I am. Sir Hugh. 1 do not jirofesa to be so. I only deem niyKi'lf ('<|iitilly lionist," wan the unmoved anawer. " Ob, you profess so much rectitude then ' " said tlie baronet, with a laugh. " 1 wonder if tliirii is anything m the world you would not do for money, hatreille .'" •' Very little. Sir IIugh,e.\cept what would give me into tlie bands of the law. 1 liave a wh.oleHOine fear of that." Kir Hugh laughed. " Short of what is |iuniahablo by law then," he said calmly, " there ia no treachery you would not jommit, no lie too great for you to utter to serve your own ends ?" " Or yoiira. Sir Hugh, " replied Latreille promptly, with a elight eniphasis on the words. " You always may count upon my ibivotion, sir." " I suppoao you think 1 would pay well for it," said hia maator, with a slight siKwr. '• Just ao. Sir Hugh," the man answered, with a Hooting smile, which his master did not aee. " You are hoiioHt aofar, " said the baronet lightly ; then, after a pause, he added, in the Haiiie cari'less manner," What do they ~iay in the aeivaiit'u halt about Miss Uoss's 'Migageinent, Latr^Mlle ? " " Tliey say. Sir Hugh, that tho young lady might have gone further and not fared worae," waa the prompt reply ; and a dark Hush ruse slowly in the handsome haggard frtuo of the man who liatened. " And they say too, Sir Hugh," the man I'ontinueil, noting hit' master's emotion, " that Miss Kiss has come to the same conclusion herself." " Indeed! How is that ?" " Miss l''airholiiie's maid, Sir Hugh, is a roiintrywonian of mine," answered the valet coolly, " and ahe has overheard her mistress talking of the engageinent ; and, from wiiat she heanl, Mademoiaelle Delphine ia of opinion that Miss Uoas vv}uld not 1)0 sorry to undo what she has done." " What grounds has Delphine for such an opinion ?" Sir Hugh naked, in the same oareleaa manner, but with a swift eager gleam in hia blue eyes which did not oaeapo tho valet's notice. " Miaa Uuaahasalwayawished for wealth, Sir Hugh. She has no fortune herself, 1 understanil, ami aliehas a brother to whom she ia tenderly attached. Major Stuart ia not wealthy. Sir Hugh." " Still Miaa Uoaa haa accepted him." " Miss Uoaa, I need hardly tell you. Sir Hugh, ia rather nnh&ppily situated. Hha ia dependent on Sir U.'lbort, and ahe ia ao oxtremely beautiful tliat"~-tho mam smiled slightly-"" it is ciuite posaiblo her beauty might interfere with her ladyship's plans for Mias I'sirhulme's establialiinent. niias Uosa'a life may nut have been suuh a happy one, Hir Hugh, that, uiilesa she were sure of K btftter offer, she would feel justified in rofiiain,: Major Stuart's." " A very prudent young lady," Sir Hugh rnmnrked, tidying to keep up the alToctation of indifference, yet not succeeding ao aa to escape Latreille's notice. " lioaides," continued Latreille mean- ingly, "MisB Roaa is a very enthusiastic admirer of beauty, and Major Stuart ia not an Adonis." " You speak as if you had college educa- tion, Latreille," Sir Hugh remarked. " I had good opportunities," the man replied modeatly. •' Then Delphine thinks that it is very likely Mias Uoaa wearioa of her engage- ment ?" â- â-  Mademoiaelle Delphine thinks ahe will do BO, Sir Hugh." " And what is your opinion, most aagacioua of valets ?" '• I think. Sir Hugh, that before very long Miaa Uosa, if she ia aa sensible as ahe IS beautiful, will be greatly obliged to any one who will release her from her engage- ment ; andâ€"" " Well?" said Sir Hugh, as- tho man hesitated. " And I think," Latreille continued slowly and meaningly, " that if I cared for a young lady in Scotland I should put it out of her power to throw me over." "How?" Sir Hugh asked (juickly, betraying his oagerueaa, as he aat up in his chair and faced his servant. " I5y marrying her out of baud. Sir Hugh." " That ia easier said than done, Latrielle," Sir Hugh rejoined, a disappointed ahadow flitting over hia face. •' Not in thia country. Sir Hugh." •• Not in thia country?" interrogated Sir Hugh, in a pu/./.led tone ; and then, aa he looked up be found Latreille'a blue eyea with an intenae signillcance in t'leir earnest gaze fixed upon bis face. For a moment master and man looked at each other in sileuco; then Sir Hugh said juietly â€" "1 am very dense, I am afraid, but I don' t understand. Juat explain, will you, La- trielle, how it ia easier in thia country than in any other to put i., out of a lady's power to jilt you?" "It ia very easy. Sir Hugh, seeing that we are neither in France, where it ia aa ditlicult to got married aa to undo that marriage, nor in Kngland, where it ia rather eaaier to undo than to do; but," ne added alowly, " wj are in Scotland." " What difference does that make? ' '• Juat all the diflerenco, Sir Hugh. " There waa another pause, and then Sir Hugh said, with some irrita- tion â€" "Just e.xplaiu yourself, Latreille. What are you beating about tho bush for?" •• I will explain myself willingly. Sir Hugh, if you will spare me half-an hour. 1 could not undertake in le.ss time to tell you tho atory of Misa Uosa'a mother, which will bo the beat explauation I can give you." •' The atory of Miaa Uoas'a mother I" Sir Hugh rejxiatod elowly Can you spare Ualf-an-hour will Yea, Sir Hugh. m« so much time? suffice." â- ' Tako an hour then," Sir Hugh said hurriedly. " Hut come to the point." There waa a pretty French yfndule on the mantel piece in Sir Hugh's room, and, as ho glanced at it iiniiatieiitly, he aaw that it marked the balf hour after throe. At i o'clock, when a .servant came up tc aay tliat the carriage was waiting to take Sir Hugh and Major Stuart to Maxwell, tho baronet waa still in eiynest eoiiferenco with his valet ; but Latreille had linished his ex- |ilaiiation, and they were busy with the application of Mrs. Koss's atory â€" that story which her daughter had never heard. CUAl'TKU IX. (in1ili.n)ii'«rl Hat in tliB dri)|i|iiM({ of leaves 'I'hat tell like a nliower efi^nld, Aiid th<inijht " Wt^en a lover lii« aoug of love weavi'u, Tray luiw shall liis iiuirit bo told'' llllti will I |Mit to miinu (iHHperate teat. And HO almll 1 ijatlitir \iiw luvetli liiu bent. (iultlenhuart 'ear, (tuldnnlisarl dear IHiuH pouuured of loverd wliu yet stiould t\ppear. Shirley Itosa's rioh sweet voice rang gayly through tho oak parlor, aud Uuby Capel looked un laughingly from her crewel as she liatened to the song. Haifa do/.en girla were grouped about the room in varioui attitudes of rest and eaHo, and the tire waa bla/.ing up clieerily, castings pleasant red glow over the polished oaken paneling and wainscoting, and tbe graceful figures lounging about on sofas and arm chaira , and Uuby herself looking like acme bright foreign bird in her quaint tea-gown of some gay I'^astern-looking material, waa sitting on the hearth rug a la /'iin/iii', making a pretty little picture. It waa the afternoon of the last day of thu year and a cold, blustering December day. All the preparations for the evening Were completed. Lady I'airholme and the chaperons were retiring in their rea{>ective bed-ruouiH, and tho male portion of the viutors had been aiinimarily sent off to tho billiard room by Mias ('apel, who aaaertod that if they worriisl them all the afternoon they would have nothing left to say for tho evening, ao that the girls were alone, ana were making the moat of their aolitude ~a noisy, merry, chatty aolituile. " We want to be freah for this evening," Uuby had deolared merrily ; "and we shall not be if we liavu to amuse youall tho after- noon." So tho lords of creation had made a virtue of iioneHsity, and taken themselves away to tho billiard-room, where they con- soled themaelvea with billiards and pool, while tho girls assembled round the lire in tho oak parlor and gossiped over their afternoon tea, and dreamed of past, present, and fnturo ooiii|Uosta, while Shirley's white lingera ran swiftly over tlu black and the white keys, lllliiig tho room with melody. Clayly and sweetlyâ€" Shirley's voice had loat its pathetic thrill now, but it had not loat ita sweetnessâ€" the rich tones raug out " (}olduiilHiandear, (teldnnheart dear Thus luiiidorixl of lovom who yet should ai'poar.' " Who yet shall appear I" laughed Uuby Caxiol. " Not like yours, Shirley !" A protty rouo tluahâ€" whioh it was a pity (iuy could not see -moutited alowly over the soft creamy pallor of Shirley's face as ahe glanced for a moment as the white tliigera, on ono of whichâ€" the fourth linger on tho loft hand â€" there gleamed a thick gold band with tho word " Ouy" studded in diamonds. Major Stuart had been royally gcnoroua in hia selection of an engagement. ring. '' Not like Shirley's," echmed Alice, who leaned baok in a low American ukair, look- 1 ing as pretty aa possible in a dress of pale blue cashmere. " Her admirer ia big enough to be distinctly visible even at a distance. " " Yes, it would be diffioalt to overlook Shirley's beau sahreur," said Uuby gayly ; " I always feel as if I had gone back to my infancy when I am anywhere in hia neigh- borhood." " So do I," remarked Rhoda Montolieu laughing, " although I am not a pocket Venus like you, Uuby. By the by, Shirley, I don't think you had better do much flirt- ing tonight ; if one may judge by Major Stuart's gray eyes, ho would not like it." " Never judge by appearances," said Alice, carelesaly. " Is it not Oliver Gold, smith who says that a reserved lover makes a jealous husband ? One can not aoouae Major Stuart of being a reserved lover." " No," agreed Uuby. " Altogether they are a very well-behaved pair of engaged people â€" not nearly so objectionable as some couples are in the circumstances. Shirley, my dear." she added, raising her voice a little, " we havequitedoneâ€" forthepresent, at any rate â€" discussing your /iancir and your engagement, so will you give us the next verse of the song that we were rude enough to interrupt ?" Shirley, who had been letting her fingers wander aimlessly over the ivory keys, the color dickering in her cheeks as she liatened, started slightly as Kuby'a voice fell on her ear, and in a voice a little less assured, perhaps, but e<iually sweet, she went on singingâ€" Cfuldeulteart said, " If a soldier should comi«. A province fei dpoil ho shall bring. Or. i' a rich man, he stiall lay down a huui Siitflcieijt to raiirtom a king. Or. if my lov.»r a pnot ahould be, I'.l ask bini in s.mg t.i iiiimorlalizo me." Goldeabearl fair, GoUleu heart fair Dreamt many a iiroject of fantasy there. •' I am afraid your soldier doea not bring a province, Shirley dear," whispered Uuby Capel, softly â€" she had left her seat on tbe rug and come up softly behind Shirley. Miss Ross laughed, but a quick shadow paaaed over her face. "No," she replied, lightly; "Guy's province consists of four hundred a year and his pay." " I'oor Shirley, who always wanted to be rich I" said Uuby, regretfully ; and again tho dark swift shadow crossed Shirley's face. " llut, you see, dear, it is not to be," she returnetl, smiling. " If you had waited a little, yon would have bad a chance of Sir Hugh," said out spoken Ruby ; and an angry color sprung into Alice Fairholme's cheeks as she caught the words. " Should 1 ?" Shirley answered, care, lesaly. 'â-  Sir Hugh might not have given me the chance." •• 1 believe he would I think he admirea you immensely." Shirley laughed aa ahe turned over the laat page of her song, and Uuby smiled to beraelf at the proud tender intonationa which came into tho soft rich voice as she sung Ni-VHr a Holdier. or rich man, or bard Caiile wooing in (i.ildenheart'rt l>ower. llut only a pour youth wtio pteiulfd full hard, And bioii^hr but hiN love for a dower. bill*. Hilly nitii.len, fori^ettuig tier tt»»t. Hnw merely the lov».r wh<» loved her tho bogt i (ioMentleart sweet, I ioMenlleart sweet Tlunka now that love'a triumph is wholly complete. The sweet voice ceased ; Shirley loft the piano and came out of the recosa, and then she went to the table, and began pouring herself out some tea. ' I suppose you share (ioldenheart's c<.)nviction," said Alice, rather contomp tuoualy ; Ruby's careless words had vexed her, and she could not refrain from making her vexation felt by the innocent cause of them. " What conviction ?" Shirley asked, laughingly, glancing back at her cousin from where she stood at tbe table. " That ' love's triumph is wholly com- plete,'" Alice answered, looking a little diaooiicerted under Shirley's steady, in- quiring look. " As Major Stuart did not bring a province for spoil, and you accepted him, wo must either conclude that love's triumph is complete, or-" "Or what, Alice?" asked Shirley, calmly . " Or that you accepted him janti de mifiis," replied Miss l'"airholme ; aud the slight, disdainful, contemptuous laugh with which tho worda wore spoken made Shirley's cheeks burn. " Nonsense, Alice," said Uuby, quickly. " I dare say Shirley has had lots of offers." " 1 have never heard of them, then," declared Alice, disdainfully. " You are wrong. Ruby," said Shirley, quickly. '• Your friendship is generous enough to give me credit for refusing a duke, I dare aay ; but Alice will tell you that It isconrlusivB evidence in favor of my never having received a better offer since 1 accepted Major Stuart's â€" and I will acknow- ledge that hia was the tirst 1 received." " Hut you don't mean to aay that you would throw Guy over if you got a belter offer?" (|uestionod Uuby, quickly. I should not believe you if you did so, Shirley." Shirley's faint blush faded slowly, and she hesitated a moment before answering ; then, catching sight of her couaiu's face, aho replied, careleaaly " 1 am not at all sure that I could resist temptation, Uuby, if it came in my way. It ia not likely to do so, however, so you need not be at all anxious, Alice." Aa she spoke Shirley moved away with her charming grace of movement, and sat down in one of tho low chaira near the window, her heart beating more quickly than usual in her vexation and anger against herself fur tho false words aho had apokon. All, if ahe could have guessed with what tears of bitter anguish she would regret them in the future, when no tears couUl blot thumout, no anguish make them unsaid I " Y'ou see, after all, itwaa/aufc demifux," said Alice, contemptuously ; and even as she apoke the dooropened, and Sir Hugh in his heavy fur-trimmed coat came iiuickly in. " May I como in ?" ho said, smiling. " I hoir that you have shut us all out, and that there ia no admittance except on business. Well, I have come on business." " Sir Hugh," Alice exclaimed, sitting up upon her cuahions. flushed and rosy, •' are you a deserter or an ai'a;it i-oiiriiT ?" " Something of both," he answered, smiling at her. " Lady Fairholmo said that wo might all come over to dinner ; and, as Stuart was obliged to oome now, I could not resist the tempation of driving him across. Ho haa had a telegram, Miaa Uoas, but he will be here in a moment to toll you himsolf. Meanwhile, will any of yoa fair ladies take pity on me and give ma a cup of tea ?" " So you are converted I" Alice aaid, with a laugh, as ahe went to the table. â- â-  I thought we ahould convert you. Sir Hagh." " Anything poured out by you woold b* nectar," be anawered, beuding bis hand- some head over her as he stood by her side. " Have yoa missed ua a little ?" ha added, softly. " Not at all," Alice said, with smiling lips, but her eyea told a very different tale. " You men are so conceited that you woald quite believe me if I were to say that wa had been victims of ennui ever since yoa left ua." " You would have been if you had had no sabatitutes," laughed Sir Hugh, auda- ciously. " That half hoar after dinner before the men put in an appearance most be a regular pennance, if we may jadga from the faces of tbe ladies 1 What bara you been doing with yourselves? " Oh, we have read a little, worked a little, and talked â€" " " A great deal, I suppose," he laughed. " Of course, a great deal," answered Alice. " A lot of women are sure to talk a great deal." " Don't you remember the old Persian creed," said Shirley Ross, turning her fair face towards them for a momeut, "that Providence sent down tea meagarea of talk for the use of the whole of mankind, and that women took nine at them?" " Shirley.for shame !" laughed Ruby CapeL "How can you try to promulgate such a libel on our sex?" " I did not say it was ray creed," Shirlej said laughingly. " I said it waa a doctrine held by the Persians. They held some very queer notions with regard to our sex, yoa know, Rcby." "I know! Horrid old herotica ! They ought to have been ashamedof themaelves," Ruby anawered, laughing. " I am sura Mohammed must have been jilted by some- body to have made him exclude ua from Paradiae." " Perhaps she threw him over for a richer suitor," put in Sir Hugh laughing; " although one would have thought that the old prophet would have been a very good catch." " But Shirley argues that throwing over one suitor for another more blessed with thia world's goodj is quite legitimate," said Alice Fairholme, eagerly ; and Sir Hugh glanced across at her cousin with a swift eager glance. " Shirley said nothing of tho kind," inter- posed Ruby, haatily. " Alicequite misunder- stood what Shirley did say." " I do not think I did," said Alio*, iiuietly. •â- Shirley ia there to corro- borate my statement or contradtet it, aa she likes. Did you not aay ao, Shirley." Shirley's ha/.el eyes, which had beea tixed dreamily on the uucurtaiue<l window, came back slowly and went to Alice's face in the same absent nianner. â- What did 1 lay, Alice?" she aaked, carelessly and indifferently ; and, as she spoke, (iuy's voice waa distinctly audible outside speaking to Sir Gilbert. The color mounted slowly in Shirley's beautiful face as she caught the sound of the rich deep tones. " Vou said," Alice replied, quickly, that there waa conolasivo evidence is favor of your never having received a better offer, since you had accepted Major Stuart's." " 1 Iwliove I did say something to that ffect," Shirley replied, inditferently. llut surely, Alice dear, you have aume- thing more entertaining for Sir Hugh than a recital of the aftertiouu's chatter? Itcan- not possibly interest him." There could be nothing in the world ao interesting to me," Sir Hugh said promptly. So," he added, slowly and distinctly, Misa Uoss holds it aa a part of her creed that there ia no harm in throwing over one lover for another, so long as that other is rich enough to make jilting a pradent proceeding?" " Hxactly," aaid Alice, vindictively. Hut Shirley did not heed, for Uuy Stuart had entered the room, and was greetin){ Miss Montolieu, who was nearest him, an he came in. Then he passed on quietly t« Alice'a side. 1 am sorry to aay that I have come to bid you goodbye, Mias Fairholme," ka said. " 1 have had a telegram from my uncle's doctor, desiring me to go to him at once, if 1 wish to see him alive. " Oh, Major Stuart, I am indeed rievedl" .Mice returned, with ready court- esy. â-  Poor Shirley ! How disappointed he will be!" Guy glanced acrosa the room to where Shirley stood talking to Sir Gilbert, who had followed Major Stuart into theoakpar^ lor , she was very pale, but she was listen- ing to and answering her uncle with perfect composure. 1 am very disappointed myself," ha said, quietly. '• 1 had no wish to pass New Year'a day in a railway carriage; but, yott see, it cannot be helped and 1 have no time to lose. Miss Fairholme," he added, ([uickly, seeing that Shirley had already escaped, from the room. " I must catch Ih* 7 p. m. train from Dumlifo." "It ia not a pleasant time of the year for travelling," remarked Mice, with a grace- ful little shiver. " 1 don't envy you. Major Stuart. Hut I hope you will find yoar uncle better than you expect. Medical mem are not infallible, you know." "Thank you; I ho[)o so," said Ouy absently. "Good-bye, Mias Fairholme. Y'ou will, I hope, allow me to thank yoo for your kindness during my visit at the CJourt ?" " Vou must at least carry away oat pleasant romini-'cence with you," she r»- sponded, smiling, aa ahe gave him her hand. " Good-bye, Major Stuart. We will take good care of Shirley during your absence. 1 hope you will not be anowed up on your way." " I hope not," Guy aaid, aa ha apoko his farewells and hurried out of (ha room. " Poor Shirley! Hard lines for her I" re- marked Uuby, regretfully. " Her pleasure is spoiled." " Yes, poor child," said Alioe, in her soft voice, mindful aa she ai)oke what a quick, half-angry, half- triumphant light ahone ia Sir Hugh's blue eyes. " Hut what can't ba cureil must be endured, you know. Ruby; ao she must boar it as philosophically aa ahe can." To bo coutinued.) V 1 W « It'a a warm day for makes a cool thousand. a man when ha N / \ J