be serious, and to take no notice whatever of some of his most marked looks and speeches, was a course which seemed to have been taught to Mabel by a comIt pletely new kind of instinct. was, in fact, the feeling of safety, backed up by the General's pro

mise and her confidence in Dick. She no longer feared Randal; he saw that very well, and became careful not to annoy her, trying to make friends again, and to bring her and himself back to their old footing of the summer, when they first began to call each other by their Christian names. Miss Wrench was, of course, a great protection to Mabel, as nothing

could be said before her. She marched about with a dragon-like air, but in fact, being in a sense off duty, and not exactly responsible for Mabel's behaviour, she was enjoying herself very much. Randal talked a good deal of nonsense in desperation, got up political arguments with her, and was considered by her a most intelligent amusing man. She only wondered that Mabel did not seem to appreciate his comMabel herself was a pany more. good deal disturbed, as the days went on, at seeing and hearing nothing of Dick. But one morning she had a letter from him, telling her that he had something most particular to say. He would come to the Castle the next day, and she must manage to see him alone. Mabel wondered how this was to be done, but Fate favoured her. That same morning Randal had a letter from London, which seemed to contain something very disagreeable, if one was to judge from the gloomy face he carried about all day. He watched his opportunity, and caught Mabel alone in the drawing-room after

tea.

At last I can speak to you,'

He looked so pale and vexed and worn, that Mabel half forgot her antipathy, and asked in a friendly voice what was the mat

ter. 'An old story to me,' said Randal. Money troubles. I want to raise a large sum, and don't quite see how I am to do it. We must come to a mortgage in the end. But all this does not concern or interest you. I must go to town to-morrow.'

'I am very sorry you are in debt,' said Mabel.

'So am I. Well,' said Randal, with a return of his old carelessness, a few years hence, when I have a day out of the workhouse, and ask you for a shilling or two, you won't refuse it, for the sake of our old friendship. We might have got on very well, if there had been no mischief-makers. I think I shall start to-night.'

He was standing by the fire. Mabel vividly remembered that wet evening in the summer, when he had brought so much life and cheerfulness into that same room, when the blaze had crackled, and all the dancing lights were reflected in the steel, just as they She was sorry for Randal as she looked at him. 'What is a mortgage, exactly?'

were now.

she said.

'A fellow lends me so many

thousand pounds, for which so much land of mine, or rather my father's, is security. I pay him interest. But if he chooses to call in the mortgage at any time, I must either pay him the capital, or he takes possession of the land. It is a very common arrangement,

Lots of estates are burdened in that way. This will be one more.' Mabel listened to him silently. 'After my telling you this,' he said, 'you will of course give me credit for mercenary motives only. Must that answer of yours be always the same, Mabel?'

'Yes, Randal, always,' she said very gently and quietly.

I am beaten and baffled on all sides,' said Randal.

It was a wild and windy afternoon; the trees were tossing themselves in the moaning air, and every now and then a sharp scud of rain came flying against the windows. These noises outside went on growing wilder, while Randal and Mabel remained quite still in the drawing-room. At last she got up and went towards him. He looked gloomily at the small slight figure, the delicate thoughtful face, the large eyes full of feeling, and as he looked he smiled a little.

May I say something, Mabel, without offending you?' he said.

'You need never be afraid that that money of yours will be the chief attraction. I don't know what you have done to yourself in this last fortnight.'

'O, don't talk to me like that,' said Mabel, in her old simple way. 'Won't this mortgage make your father unhappy?'

'Perhaps so,' said Randal. 'But he is too old to care much.' 'How much money doyou want?" 'Ten thousand; and I'm tired of the Jews.'

'Look here,' said Mabel. If I was to write a letter to papa's lawyers, and ask them to let you have it would they?'

'No, they certainly would not,' said Randal. And if they would, I could not take it. You are very much too generous. That shilling, fifty years hence, is all I can accept from you. Mabel, it

is rather cruel of you to make a man feel ashamed of himself.'

'I didn't mean that at all,' said Mabel, blushing deeply.

'Of course you did not. Well, a thousand thanks-and apologies too,' he added, with a quick glance and a smile.

Mabel knew that her past persecution was covered by those three words, and forgave Randal with all her generous little heart.

Miss Wrench came in at the moment, so that she could not answer in words; but she gave him a smile, which, if rather sad, was full of charity.

The hours went slowly on, and brought the next day, when she hoped to see her Dick again. Randal started by the last train that night, in pouring rain and driving wind; the late equinoctials had come at last, and were rocking the ships in harbour, and driving wild clouds of salt spray for miles inland. The next day the storm continued. Mabel wandered from room to room, dividing her time as best she could between her guardian and Miss Wrench, who sat shivering over the fire. The morning passed away, and no Dick. At one o'clock the clouds cleared away and the sun came out, a fresh wind still blowing; there was no rain but the flying showers that shook themselves from the trees.

After luncheon, standing in the drawing-room window, Mabel turned various things over in her mind. Should she go out and meet Dick? But she might perhaps miss him, for there was no knowing which way he would come. And how was she to see him alone? Miss Wrench would never dream of leaving them together. Mabel glanced over her shoulder at Miss Wrench, who had gone back to her favourite fireside corner. It was a good

A

steady face, she thought, having studied physiognomy of late. face to be trusted, though perhaps likely to be disagreeably candid. And Miss Wrench, innocent as she was, had been very useful as protector against Randal. She was a woman, after all, though an ugly one, and hardened by a struggling life.

'Girls are so horrid ; no wonder d; she should be horrid too,' thought Mabel. 'I wonder if she was ever in love. I'll talk to her a little, and see what comes of it.'

'Miss Wrench,' said Mabel, wandering back to the fire, 'do you think it is best to be married, or not?'

'My dear, young ladies should not-began Miss Wrench, with a reproving air.

Not while they are at school, of course,' said Mabel. 'But afterwards they are obliged to, you know. Tell me what you really think about it, as if I was— five-and-thirty.'

'A married life,' said Miss Wrench, entails great responsibilities. But if the parties suit each other in disposition, no doubt there is a corresponding amount of happiness. Many of the troubles of life are avoided by an unmarried person. But on the whole it is a solitary lot. Some characters are naturally fitted for it; others not.'

'On the whole, then, you think it is best to be married?'

'It depends entirely on character,' said Miss Wrench.

'Really there is a nice look in her eyes,' Mabel thought. 'I shouldn't wonder if the poor old thing had had a disappointment when she was very young.'

'I believe I shall be married some day, do you know,' she said.

'My dear,' said Miss Wrench, staring into the fire, I cannot say that you surprise me.'

'Don't I said Mabel, rather surprised herself. But I haven't told you anything about it.'

'Some things are visible,' said Miss Wrench.

'O, but you are quite mistaken. Now, if I tell you, will you promise to keep it secret?'

Miss Wrench turned her eyes gravely from the fire to Mabel's face.

'You know me too well,' she said, 'to expect me to countenance any underhand arrangement.'

'This is not underhand at all; quite the contrary,' said Mabel. 'It's true that we haven't asked the General yet; but he is sure to consent, because he told me the other day that I might decide for myself. The fact is, he is coming this afternoon, I hope, and he wants to speak to me alone. I want you to be so kind as to go out of the room.'

'I cannot undertake this task, Mabel,' said Miss Wrench, with a slightly grim smile, till I am informed who the gentleman is.'

'You remember him,' said Mabel.

'What! Is it possible! The young man in the train ?'

'That very young man,' said Mabel, nodding.

She felt that she was talking rather flippantly on a serious subject, but it was Miss Wrench's fault.

'How unaccountably extraordinary! The General disapproved of him,' said Miss Wrench.

'All the stories against him were false,' said Mabel.

There was no time for any further arguments, for just then the butler opened the door, and Dick walked in. Certainly he did not seem troubled with the fear of anybody's disapproval. He recognised Miss Wrench at once, and for a few minutes talked pleasantly to her and Mabel,

Then, with a face of the deepest gravity, Miss Wrench got up and walked out of the room.

'I never thought she would,' said Mabel, with a sigh of relief, as Dick instantly moved to the sofa, where she was sitting.

'She's a brick. Now I have a great deal to say to you.'

Dick's explanations were rather confused; he had really so much to say, and was in such a hurry to say it. And then there was the fact that he and Mabel had not seen each other for several days, which made it necessary to stick in quite irrelevant questions here and there.

'How has Randal been behaving?'

'O, very well. Nothing could be better. He is gone to London about some money business.'

'A good riddance. But look here, this was the important thing I had to say. How bright you are looking! Wasn't I in a towering rage, when I found you were gone back! So was aunt Kate:

we used a lot of bad language. My dear child, you are making me talk all this nonsense, and I really have something serious to tell you. Much too serious to be pleasant. I don't know what is to be done. Aunt Kate thought perhaps you would go with me, but her notions are always wild.'

'Where are you going? Of course I'll go with you; at least, if-if you like, Dick.'

'Well, I have had a letter from Herbert, in a tremendous hurry to have me out there again. He has been building a new house, a very pretty one. There was a man with us for a time, who was going to live in it, but he's gone; which is altogether a great bore, for Herbert has more on his hands than he can manage, and you understand that half the concern is mine.'

'New Zealand! You are going back!'

'There, my darling Mabel, don't cry. You'll only make it worse for me. Don't you see, I'm some

how bound in honour not to throw Herbert over, to say nothing of profit. Yes, it seems as if I must go. And soon too. To be of any real use, I ought to sail in the Empress next Thursday fortnight.'

O, how dreadfully, dreadfully soon!' sighed Mabel.

It was impossible to help crying over such news as this, and Dick himself seemed to think it bad enough, as he did his very best to comfort the girl whose happiness he had taken under his care. The other side of the world! Anything else would be bearable, it seemed to Mabel; and, O dear ! it was hard, when she had just been thinking herself so happy. She was very sorry for herself, and for Dick too, and for some time he found her almost inconsolable.

'Aunt Kate is a mad woman, isn't she, Mabel?' he said at last, in a low doubtful voice. 'The idea of your going with me is preposterous, of course.'

6

Is it?' said Mabel, with a sudden flash of joy, which faded away as suddenly. Ah, yes, you wouldn't want me out there. I'm not active or strong enough. A poor little creature like me would only be a hindrance to you.' 'Mrs. Herbert is not strong a bit,' said Dick. 'She doesn't do much: reads novels, and feeds the poultry if she likes, and goes out riding, and has the prettiest and smartest drawing-room you ever

and buy the nicest place in England. You see my only reason for going out now is not to leave Herbert in the lurch; he has been one of my best friends. So you see, darling, even if you don't go, I shall soon come home to look after you-and there's aunt Kate. I can't bear the notion, though, of you and I being at the Antipodes. Suppose anything was to happen to either of us. Now what do you think of it honestly, Mabel? A long passage, you know, and a strange country; but after all there would always be me.'

'Do you want to know what I wish whispered Mabel.

'Yes. I know what I wish myself; but one is naturally selfish.' I want to go with you, Dick,

please.'

Then all the guardians and aunts and parsons and governesses in England sha'n't keep you here,' said Dick, in the most demonstrative and decided manner. What next! I say, Mabel, we must go and collar the General.'

Mabel

He

A few minutes later, glided with her usual gentleness into General Hawke's room. was in his armchair, quite awake, almost unnaturally so, Mabel thought, when he asked her who had come up-stairs with her; he fancied it was a strange footstep. Mabel blushed scarlet, and answered that it was Mr. Northcote.

'He wants very much to speak to you,' she said.

'Bring him in,' said the General. 'I have not seen Dick for months.' So Dick came in at once. He was quite equal to the occasion, and inquired politely how General Hawke was before he entered on his own business. Perhaps the General had some faint suspicion what this might be. He looked rather curiously from one to the other, as they stood side by side.