ngagement to Miss Kilfinane. By dint of telling her friends so, she had at last persuaded herself that she had been in the secret all along; and, if she felt any

he world. These sources of comfort, combined with an excellent digestion, and the perennial gratification of contemplating her own claims to distinction as con

e to her old quarters. Mrs. Errington had not previously written to Rhoda from Westmoreland, but she had forwarded to her at different times two copies of the Applethwaite Advertiser. In one of these journals a preliminary announcement of Algernon's marriage had appeared under the heading of "Alliance in High Life." In

ting paragraphs marked in red ink. She also looked forward with much complacency to having Rhoda for a listener to all her narrations about the wedding and life at Long Fells, and the great people whom she had met ther

stinguish all the familiar features of the streets through which she passed. "James will be standing in the inn-yard ready to receive me," she thought; "and I suppose the fly will be waiting at the corner by the booking-office. I won

erment, standing hot, dusty, and tired in the yard, where, after a bustling waiter had tripp

left her luggage in the coach-office to be called for, and set out carrying a rather heavy hand-bag, and hurrying through the streets at a pace much quicker than her usual

A letter? Oh, if a letter had come for Rhoda, her father would have sent it on to her. It was a two days' post from where she was to Whitford. And the newspapers? Betty did not know. She had not seen them. Her brother-in-law had had them, she supposed. Yes; she had heard that Mr. Algernon was married, or going to be married. The servants from Pudcombe Hall had spoken of it when

repellent look of an uninhabited apartment. The corner cupboard was locked, and its treasure of old china hidden from view. Algernon's books were gone from the shelf a

ly accepted Betty Grimshaw's invitation to take her tea downstairs in the comfortable, bright kitchen, instead of alone in the melancholy gentility of her own sitting-room. Betty was as wooden-faced, and grim, and rigid in her aspect as ever. But she was not unfriendly towards her old lodger. A

being tired with her journey. As she did so, she said, "Mrs. Grimshaw, wil

ll, do you think it is worth while to s

s words. "Oh, I see," she said; "you took it for granted that, on my son's marriage, I should leave you and join him. But it is not so, my good soul. My daughter-in-law has implored me to live with them, but I have refused. It is better for the y

eplying. "Then Jonathan has not said an

have not heard from

pon myself to speak for him. I shouldn't have got on with my brother-in-law all these

the past two or three weeks, Jonathan Maxfield had declared his intention of getting rid of his lodger, and of not letting the first

ould not believe her senses. "Why, what is

'am, as he had begun to spend a deal of money on her clothes. And since then, more and more; it's been all his

oo much notice of her. I regret it now. But, really, Rhoda is such a sweet creature that I don't know that I have been so very much to blame, either. It is true I have introduced her to

a matter-of-fact tone, "as it is that Jonathan has latterly been thin

onfer gentle birth

han many folks think. He's been a close man all his life. And, for that matter, he's close enough now in some things, and screws me down in the housekeeping pretty tight. But for Rhoda he seems to grudge nothing, and wants her t

which had been her home for so many years! It was incredible. And, indeed, before long she had made up her mind to resist old Max's intention of turning her out. "I shall

r that. James Maxfield went over to Duckwell, and came back bringing a fo

come but seldom in contact with them during all the time they had lived under the same roof with him), and had, perhaps, been a little jealous in his sullen, silent way, of their petting of Rhoda. At all events, on the present occasion, he was n

a kind to be much affected even by ruder rubs than any which could be given by James Maxfield's uncouth bluntness. "I shall take no notice whateve

any possibility be pressed into the service were required to assist her. The Docketts; Rose and Violet McDougall; Mrs. Smith, the surgeon's wife; and even Miss Chubb, were sent hither and thither, asked to write n

town, with a garden behind it which ran down to the meadows bordering the Whit; and was the very ho

retentious house, they would be expected to entertain. And you know, my dear sir," (or "madam," as the case might be) "that there is a great mixture in Whitford society; and that would not

Mr. Diamond's asking her what objection there could be to that; and challenging her to point out any good thing on earth, from a bowl of punch upwards, which was not "mixed!" But however this might be, no one believed

ch of their acquaintances as did not happen to be also her acquaintances. And as there were very few individuals in Whitford either so eccentric,

day reappeared in his own house, and marche

s my son James informs me that you don't seem to be taking any steps in consequence of it, I've come to say that you will have to remove out of m

e useful to the young couple." The only article of any value in the whole collection was a porcelain vase, which had long stood in obscurity on a side-table in Lord Seely's stu

asted in a lively manner with the old man's grey, lank, harsh visage. The years, as they passed, did not improve old Max's appearance. And as soon as she beheld

ly, "how do you do? I have been wanting to see yo

rs I want to talk over with you," he returned. "You had better understand that I mean w

at you intend to turn

o quit, ma'am. You needn't call it

ton exclaimed, "But I really don't comprehe

sters at the top of the landing. "Rhoda?" said he gruffly

me not to find Rhoda here on my return. I'm very fond of her; and shall continue to be so,

re so fond of Rhoda," he said, with a queer expression on his sour old

he seaside with my frien

Miss Minnie is a real lady, and she understands how to treat Rh

d strengthen itself in her mind that the old man was positively out of his

my lodgings after all these years," she said, rever

as have happened after all these years.

f we cannot make an arrangement. If you ha

atters to me? I want the rooms for the use of my

right senses to address me in thi

ace. I give you warning not to unpack any more here, for out everything 'll have t

ish, indeed! These are a few-a very few-of the valuable we

ance to you, you can take it! I'll give it to you-a free gift! The place is going to be done up and new furnished for Miss Maxfield. Furnished handsome, fit for a young lady of property. Fit for a young lady that will have a sum o' money on the day she marries-if I'm pleased with her choice-as 'll make some folks' mouths water. It won't be reckoned by twenties,

"Mad!" she exclaimed at length, drawing a long breath. "Quite mad! But I wonder if ther