Diana of the Crossways -- Volum

ier half is ever alert to speed them. They travel with an astonishing celerity over the land, like flames of the dry beacon-faggots of old time in an

arations of the matrimonial vessel for its oily descent into the tides, where billows will soon be rising, captain and mate soon discussing the fateful question of who is commander. We consent, it appears, to hope

s heroical or nature incorrigible in the species. Marriages are unceasing. Friends do it, and enemies; the unknown contractors of this engagement, or armistice, inspire an inter

eir beds at the midnight hour and wag tongues in the market-place. It did away with the political hubbub over the Tonans article, and let it noise abroad like nonsense. The Hon. Percy Dacier espouses Miss Asper; and she rescues him from the snares of a siren, he her from the toils of the Papists. She would have gone over to them, she was going wh

ltar, but excelling it in the pomp that bids the heavens open. She and no other spread the tidings of Miss Asper's debating upon the step to Rome at the very instant of Percy Dacier's declaration of his love; and it was a beautiful struggle, that of the half-dedicated nun and her deep-rooted earthly passion, love prevailing! She sent word to Lady Dunstane: 'You know the interest I have always

rectly relating to the soul she loved. An accident in the street had befallen Mr. Warwick. Redworth wanted to know whether Diana should be told of it, though he had no particulars to give; and somewhat to his disappointment, Lady Dunstane said she would write. She delayed, thinking the accident might not be serious; and the information of it to Diana surely would be so. Next day at noon her visitor was Lady Wathin, evidently perturbed and anxious to say more than she dared: but she

hospital. Mr. Warwick was then alive,' said Lady Dunstane; adding: 'Well, if prevention is better than

d her lips shut fast at the col

ends a life of m

compass

I must speak, if you will l

dened her eyes.

hension. Love so ardent, so sincere, was never shown by bridegroom elect: and it is not extraordinary to those acquainted with dear Constance. But-one m

to will not be used to interfere with any entertainment in prospect. It was freedom my friend desired. Now th

ely . . .

! O

ing just before t

the man to be the puppet

y-are not puppets that on

antipodal basis. But, as for your alarm, check it: and spare me further. My friend has ack

ranged with her flyman to catch a train. Her cousin Lady Dunstane smiled loftily at everything she uttered, and she felt that if a woman l

oming,' she said, at

e hen-hearted over your adopted brood. The situat

distress, no horror of catastrophes, no joy in the happiness of the deserving. Brains in men advance a household to station; but brains in women divide it and are the wrecking of society. Fortunately Lady Wathin knew she could rally a powerful moral contingent, the aptitude of which for a one-minded cohesion enabled it to crush those fractional daughters of mischief. She was a really good woman of the world, heading a multitude; the same whom you are accustomed to hear exalted; lucky in having had a guided girlhood, a thick-curtained prudence; and in having stock in the moral funds, shares in the

have held it in terror over the baneful woman, but not have persecuted her: for she was by no means the active malignant of theatrical plots. No, she would have charged it upon the possession of brains by

he drove from the London railway station to see

betrothed Percy were tog

on her husband's appearance the next morning, as the good gentleman made a point of visiting her, to entertain the wife he adored, whenever he had a wallet of gossip that would overlay the blank of his absen

essionable,'

the institution of marriage-when

have it at present,' she said; 'and the world at a wedding is

ed. Mrs. Fryar-Gunnett was much more intelligi

gth, she thought she might journey to London, and on the t

n to Arthur Rhodes w

een her?' s

Mrs. Warwick is unwell; she

so, I'm

ny that, whatever

on,' said she, entering t

my lady,' said Danvers.

is

lying on her b

Lady Dunstane

scretion. 'Since she heard

to her. Or no:

r command. My mistress will not let me light the fire; and she has not eaten or drunk of anything since . . . .

cal maid, that she must be a good soul after

whispered. 'The bed is to the left, and a chair. I would

ays and nights, fasting. The proof of an uttermost misery revived the circumstances within her to render her friend's presence in this desert of darkness credible. She found the bed by touch, si

ireless grate gave the room an

nd kept but a wormy memory of the daylight. She dared not speak, for some fear of startling; for t

beloved who suffered in this depth of mortal agony. Tony's love of a man, as she should have known, would be wrought of the elements of our being: whe

of her face, without hue of it, could be seen: sign of the hapless women that have souls in love. Hateful love of men! Emma thought, and was; moved to feel at the wrist for her darling's pulse. He

my,' said

ang to heaven on

she breat

of of life in the motionle

r hand, a thread-lik

o stay with you, n

as at her hand a moment

h was taken

talk

arned not to press it by the dead

is little wavering taper in the vaults Emma cowered,

e: 'Wi

cold wint

r will

light th

r as to the drawing-in of a sword; rather as to the releaser than the sustainer. Her feet were on the rug her maid had placed to cover them. Emma leaned across the bed to put them to her breast, beneath her fur mantle, and held them there de

sed her

is E

ss

no str

ips. They were cold; even t

been lon

think so. I am

h and the love were br

been happy. It i

ill wait for her soul's own s

sion in the body. 'If I

Emmy's arms,

ensation. A tear ran down from her, but the pain

hort winter day

she said: 'I shall stay with you; I shall send for clothes; I am

s wanted, and smart service: within ten minutes an appetizing bouillon sent its odour over the bedroom. Tony, days back, had said her la

ts love you,

or good

have the habit of calling ourselves the practical people!-This bouillon is consummate.-However, we have the vi

said

all to myself: a solitary toper is a horr

s a song o

vilizing commenced, and I am particularly fond of hearing the call. It is grandly historic. So pledge me, Tony. We two

ghed to resist. The stronger will compelled her to move her

fect was a g

er sleeper. But during the night at intervals she had the ha