a little while, but the dawn is at hand. God is over all, and He will take care of His children. Instead of storm, the cloud may distil only gentle rain, quickening dews."

"The disciples feared, as they entered into the cloud, Ermy."

"Yes, they feared. Peter, and James, and John were only weak, erring mortals like ourselves, and so they were afraid when the darkness overshadowed them. But they need not have feared, for they found there only Jesus, and they heard the Father's voice."

'Ermy, I begin to wish I were a Christian."

"Only begin, Maude? I thought you wished that long ago."

66 Ah, yes; I wished it as a matter of course; but now I wish it in right good earnest."

"Thank God for that! but, Maude, why are you so wishing it now?"

"Life seems to me so sad, so unsatisfactory; there is so much trouble in the world. And I feel the need of a rest— of a sure abiding place-of a refuge from all sorts of sorrow, and from myself!"

"There is but the one refuge-the one rest, Maude." "I know, Ermy; but what am I to do?"

"To do? Nothing, only take the rest that is offered. If you were dying of weariness, and I spread a couch for you, what would you do but lie down upon it? If you were faint with hunger, and I put sweet, nourishing food to your lips, what would you have to do but taste? 'O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.'"

"The simplest things are sometimes the most difficult. I feel as if I could, and at the same time as if I could not, take the free salvation. I know it is free, for mamma and Criff have always taught me the truth, and Ambrose often talks to me about such things: in that one particular alone we are not twins. He is a Christian, and I am not. But I shall never rest till I am one."

"I am so glad, Maude."

"But about my going away—I want to tell you before we get home. I see no reason why Criff should be the only bread-winner amongst us. Ambrose, of course, is out of the question; but I am strong and active, and I want to work— aye, and I will work!”

"In what way will you work?”

"There is but one way-the hackneyed way of governessing. Ermy, how did you like it?"

"Not at all; but my experiences were unfortunate. Yet I suppose there is always something to 'put up with,' as people say, in every position; and I am afraid that if we have no particular 'crook in the lot,' we are apt to make a moan over our crumpled rose-leaves.""

6

"Some people have no rose-leaves to get crumpled."

"There are very few in such a predicament, I hope." "Very few without luxuries; for that, of course, is your interpretation of the Sybarite legend."

"Without some kind of luxuries: our household ties, our fellowship with friends, our deepest affections, are all luxuries, as are the wild-flowers by the wayside, and that purple stretch of wavy hill, and budding woodland, and yonder glancing river, and this intense blue dome of sky, folding us round like the arm of a gracious Providence!"

"You are right, Ermy. Oh, what a wretched mind I must have! I thought only of money, and of the comforts that money can purchase. And yet I am not sordid, I think. Oh, if only I were rich, I would take Criff and mamma and Ambrose all away to Italy. We would wander about in those sunny climes, till health came back to the dear ones; they would soon be well in Italy."

66

They may be quite well in England yet. If it be necessary that they should go to Italy, God will provide the means just put it into His hands. But, Maude, do you think you can be spared from home?"

"That is what is troubling me; and Ethel is not likely to be of much help. Her own health is delicate, and George

does not like her coming home too much. Ermy, how he does dislike Criff!"

66

"He is not fond of him-he does not appreciate him; but I would not say he absolutely dislikes him."

"I know why it is. So much simple, unassuming goodness is a reproach to him. He is kind to me, though, is George— kind in his way; for when Ethel told him I had made up my mind to go out as a governess, he said directly that it must not be, and he told Ethie to tell mamma that she might consider him her banker. But, of course, that could not be."

"Of course not, especially now that Grosvenor Smith is in the firm."

"I shall wait a little, but in the meantime I shall look out for a situation, and I should like to begin my career after midsummer. I can play well, you know, and my French is as good as it can be, seeing that I was taught at Great Copley; but then, M. Robec was a veritable Parisian, and he took great pains with me. As for generals, I have something to start with, and I must go on increasing my stock-in-trade. Perhaps, in time, I shall save enough money and acquire sufficient experience to set up a first-class boarding-school; and I shall be a dignified lady principal, and a benevolent spinster aunt, educating the children of Christopher and of Ethel. Ah, here is the train."

And in a few minutes the young ladies were whirled away to Great Copley, and in a quarter of an hour they were at Town Head House; and Ermengarde and Christopher were to speak with each other for the first time since that ever-tobe-remembered night in the November of last year. Dicky Dance opened the gate for them as they went in. It is to be noticed that that young gentleman was cleaner and better clad than aforetime; also, that he did not manifest his usual tendency to self-inversion.

CHAPTER XXXI.

ENGAGED AT LAST.

ERMENGARDE had not seen Christopher for many weeks, and when she saw him last he was unconscious of her presence, lying on his bed in a sort of weary delirium, that was not violent, but extremely persistent-so much so as to alarm all about him, lest his senses should never fully be restored. Now the bed was exchanged for the sofa; he was able to come downstairs about noon to join in conversation, and to read for half-an-hour at a time. But Ermy had no idea how greatly he was changed till, coming unexpectedly into the dining-room where the family was sitting, she saw what seemed but the mere shadow of her friend. The slight figure was slighter and frailer than ever, the lips and cheeks were colourless, and the hands were wasted and lay listlessly on the travelling-rug with which Mrs. Gray had covered him; for though there was a fire in the room, and the day was so warm and bright that some people were sitting with open windows, the invalid was shivering with cold.

The front door had been open, so that Maude and Ermy had entered without giving any notice of their approach; and Maude, who was still incautious, notwithstanding her long experience in a sick chamber, ushered in Miss Liebrecht without a word of warning, never reflecting that a sudden surprise, however pleasant, is a very trying thing for a person who has been hovering between life and death for several months, and whose recovery is so incomplete as to render him dependent as a little child on the good offices of those about him.

The result was exactly that which might have been anticipated, which Mrs. Gray at once foresaw, so soon as she perceived the extent of Maude's imprudence. Christopher's face for a moment flushed crimson, and then faded to an

ashy paleness at Ermy's unexpected advent-for he had not been told the object of Maude's visit to the Manor House, lest she should be unsuccessful. The "all" who had agreed to request Miss Liebrecht's company for the day, comprised Maude herself, Mrs. Gray, and Ambrose, while Christopher was still safely ensconced in the upper regions.

Any unlooked-for face, any unwonted voice, is sometimes more than the shattered nerves of a delicate invalid can bear; but when suddenly the face that has haunted one day and night through the long hours of sickness, and before sickness came, comes flashing on the weak, dazed vision; when the voice that has been thrilling the memory, like remembrances of sweet, pathetic music ever since its last tones were heard, falls without note of preparation on the ear, it is no sign of any want of manliness if for the moment the mingled shock and ecstasy is overwhelming. Ermy was hurried out of the room, and Maude was sunk in depths of penitence and self-reproach. It needed not that Mrs. Gray should scold her, as for the moment she felt quite inclined to do, so greatly did she blame her own foolishness and lack of common prudence.

"How could I be so stupid?" she said apologetically to Ermy, who was extremely discomposed herself, and looking pale and agitated. "I forgot that he did not recognise you when you were here during the worst. I forgot, too, that now he remembers all about that dreadful evening in the Butter Market, and the sight of you would naturally bring it all back again, as fresh as possible."

"You do not mean that he knew I was there, Maude!" "Yes, but I do! he spoke of it as soon as ever he could talk easily; at first it was all like a dream, and he was not sure whether you really were by his side that night, or whether it was part of the long delirium; but as his brain gradually cleared he began to recollect, and nothing seems to have made so strong an impression upon him as the fact of your having saved his life-at the risk of your own, he believes."