orely tempted her. Curiosity to see the writer, and a lurking feeling that he might really be able to find work for her, were mingled with a girlish longing for adv

ea-rooms where the waitresses were ladies, dressed in soft lilac gowns, with dainty muslin aprons, and where delicious music was played to the fortunate tea-drinkers. To have tea in such a place, with a man whose business it was for the moment to look exclusively after her and her well-being, would be such a treat as she had never enjoyed in all her life. Her parents had

f her own small room, she read her letter for the second time; "but there maybe somewhere not too smart, where he

enough to see there, than in the man whose "open sesame" was to admit her to the sacred precincts. And only when some chance train of thought reminded her of her recent interview with Lady Cicely,

duced to her by Lady Cicely, as "my cousin," and a hot flush of shame rushed to her face, as she wondered what he would think of her,

not nice to contemplate the kindly glance

ver be aware of, or interested in, the doings of so insignificant a person a

her letter to the unknown Mr. Mernside. "I shouldn't ever have answered the advertisement at all, if I had not

ad been, and its recipient both smiled and sighed, as he read

AR

e I now have a chance of getting some work

faith

MO

e fire; "what I could have done with the girl if she had agreed to me

s brain, but it gave him a painful pleasure to let his eyes rest upon the well-formed letters of the handwriting, though a resentful indignation towards the writer stirred within him. She had not treated him well, and yet-she was the one wom

iety, I forgot to let you know. I cannot tell you my address just now, but Elizabeth is with me, and I am safe and well. I have often warned you, have I not,

Mrs. Milton, 180, Gower S

fire as soon as it was written, finally writing a fifth, which appeared to satisfy

himself into a passing hansom, and leant forward on the closed doors, watching the t

d flat, rigid form were as uncompromising as her speech; "she bid me say to anyone enquiring, that she was gone in the country for a time, and I ca

ly away, speculating grimly on the eccentricities of women. Why, when she had a house of her own, did Margaret have her visitors and letters sent to Gower Street for information, or

ble of dark secrets, or hidden, mysterious actions; she and Baba were children together, and one was scarcely more innocent and crystal pure than the other-which reflections brought him by easy stages to his cousin's estates, and his own trusteeship; and

liss. If you want any tea, Rupert, you must have it here-hot buttered toast and all. Dawson won't approve, but I am tired of trying to live up to him." Dawson was the butler, a magnificent personage who had only

Rupert laughed; "meanwhile, nursery tea is much jollier than the drawi

e baby and the big man had been partially satisfied. "Baba has chosen a new nurse for herself, but-I can't

the green eyes and shabby clothes was making indelible marks on your kind heart. But-you

is like driving a pig towards the north, when you want him to go there

m I to infer from your remark that you are intending to e

to ask your green-eyed friend of the shabby hat, to come

th a laugh. "I know you, Cicely. The girl seemed to have a

ders; "and ever since the girl came here, Baba has gone on saying: 'Baba would like that pretty lady to live with her; can't the pretty

t that girl's eyes, and her voice was particularly pleasant. It reminded me

nursery governess who wanted work? Can she come and see me

hat, as before, he spoke with a trace of embarrassment. "I have found out nothing

must be able to produce some kind of reference. She can't just have 'growed,' like Topsy, into her present position. Oh!

to see your ladyship very

when the door had closed noiselessly after the butl

he world in general; "you don't know him, do you? He is a cousin of John's; and

naturally; but I neve

fe hardly ever come to town. They look upon it as modern Babylon, sunk in iniquity. He is hugely rich, and their jewels are amazing, but very few people ever see them. He lives in

hy

ver told me details. Sir Arthur is a most unspeakably conventional person, but I believe some of his relations were quite the reverse. Come and help me entertain him," she added, when a housemai

n he had ever seen. White-haired, with a heavy white moustache, his complexion was clear and healthy as a girl's, and his refined, well-cut features were a

some family business, brought me to this city of dreadful night for a few hours, a

hing, and Baba is in rude health. We don't call her Veron

usly. "Veronica is a name in our family; a name about which, alas! cling many sad associ

t any comments upon her husband's possible conduct would be unendurable from Sir Ar

ing was pleasant and friendly; the older

ome to this terrible Babylon, unless absolutely driven to do so by irresistible circumstances. And in your hus

of John's greatest friends, and is Baba's trustee and guardian. But you," she tried to speak more lightly, "you and Cousin E

had been omitted from his composition, and he took himself, and the whole world, with a seriousness that could not be sha

shan't we?" Cicely asked, her blue eyes wide an

our flippancy would have fallen from you. But I fear you are determined to turn this va

ming voice; "the troublesome world can be beautiful, as well as tr

o be burnt. When I am asked to admire the mountains near my home-the woods, the ri

time of preparation," Rupert said smiling; "

don is rushing on its doom, and I have no doubt that the fashionable throng which numbers you amongst its member

; "but I don't belong to the smart set, and I don't even want to belong to it, and I exp

my designs in coming here to-day, was to ask whether you would ever care to come and pay us a visit at Burnbro

ith a recollection of a depressing fortnight spent in Sir Arthur's home, during her hu

eign watering places; we have, as you know, been little at home, and we have invited few guests to Burnbrooke. If you will come, we shall be happy to see

ead, in the mutinous setting of her pretty lips, that she had small intentio

e?" the little lady asked, taking a certain malici

business. I am anxious about the news of my unfortunate brother-in-law and

her mind, any fragments of knowledge she might ever have possessed about Sir A

never believe what I told her. My sisters-Ah! well, well, I must not trouble you with our family skeletons. I hav

conversation, murmured something non-committal and symp

wellery which she greatly values, and which I also value exceedingly. The loss is a very strange one; and,

u had a

e door. One person was in the compartment, a quiet-looking young lady, so the maid describes her. We reached home. My wife discovered the loss of the jewel she so much values. It had been put into the bag at the last minute before we left our friends

it?" Cicely aske

gle and very remarkable emerald, set in beautifully chased gold, and above the