made my poor Ethel very the name of Trevanion into

just, Marcia. George is to

Had he left Rachel aloneed her, all this would never have to blame from the very first. I am

and then Ermy tried to set the case er friend; but she would hardly be of the reports had reached her ear, thy for Ethel rendered her a rather She could scarcely believe that Rachel screature society had presumed her to he least of her offences was proclaimed.

at last, "I will not be hard, Ermy. If been weak and foolish-and verily, if I I should not like to be tempted by George he has not sinned further than she says, I end as far as I can without appearing to coundoing, or without compromising myself with

But, poor child, nothing will ever bring back character again!"

ows that, and she is willing to bear the punishher fault. There is something very touching in her Marcia. She does not seek to exonerate herself at expense; she owns and deplores to its full extent she has committed-the sin of deceit towards her , and the sin of doing that which her conscience lowed." Taking prese That is or

She has

from George, for instance."
the exaggerations of scandal.
from him-the ivory cross. The coral
day present from her mother, and the
her one day when she came from the

believe it all if I can. Why we women be so ready to accept the worst scandal about

your love in the churchyard, Ermy. It would be a bitter thing to you to watch the face that is dearest to you in the world fade and fade, till Death spread over it his dim, mysterious veil; but that would not be half so hard, half so bitter, as having to take your love and your hopes into some decent place, that you might dig a grave for them, and bury them down deep, and lay the turf over them—and then go away and face the world again, and make no moan, nor go back to water the grave with your tears! Happy Ermy! You will never have to say

But how weakly I am talking to-night! it is not often I am so foolish. Enough of this; let us talk of something worthier and pleasanter. You will take what I offer you, Ermy?"

"I do not know; I think not, Marcia dear. But I will say nothing now; and you know it is getting on for two o'clock."

"And I am keeping you up, with my senseless rhapsodies and vain lamentations. I will try not to trouble you again for a long while; nay, I will try not to trouble myself. I am glad something has happened to cheer us, for this miserable affair of George Trevanion and Rachel Meacham has vexed me greatly. My poor, sweet Ethel ! what does Mr. Gray say about it?"

"He has said nothing; I believe they have kept it from him very much. But, Marcia, I think things are not so bad as they were represented. Rachel has been here to-day: she wanted to see you."

"It was well I was from home. I should have refused to admit her. How dared she come here?"

"She came here relying on your generosity to be allowed to explain, as far as explanation is possible."

"She cannot explain away facts. Ermy, I will not have

you take her part.

She has made my poor Ethel very wretched, and she has brought the name of Trevanion into bad repute."

"I think you are not quite just, Marcia. George is to blame for Ethel's wretchedness. Had he left Rachel alonehad he not actually pursued her, all this would never have happened. He has been to blame from the very first. I am very sorry for Rachel." And then Ermy tried to set the case as it really was before her friend; but she would hardly be convinced. The worst of the reports had reached her ear, and her strong sympathy for Ethel rendered her a rather one-sided partisan. She could scarcely believe that Rachel was not the shameless creature society had presumed her to be, as soon as ever the least of her offences was proclaimed. Well," she said at last, "I will not be hard, Ermy. If the girl has only been weak and foolish-and verily, if I were a young girl, I should not like to be tempted by George Trevanion-if she has not sinned further than she says, I will be her friend as far as I can without appearing to countenance wrong-doing, or without compromising myself with my relations. But, poor child, nothing will ever bring back her spotless character again!"

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"She knows that, and she is willing to bear the punishment of her fault. There is something very touching in her penitence, Marcia. She does not seek to exonerate herself at George's expense; she owns and deplores to its full extent the sin she has committed-the sin of deceit towards her mother, and the sin of doing that which her conscience disallowed."

"Taking presents from George, for instance."

She has

"That is one of the exaggerations of scandal. had but one present from him-the ivory cross. The coral bracelet was a birthday present from her mother, and the little dog followed her one day when she came from the town."

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Well, I will believe it all if I can. Why we women should always be so ready to accept the worst scandal about

each other I cannot think; but so it is. Women, as a whole, are spiteful; men, though they have other and more serious faults, are more generous. I am not naturally spiteful, I am sure; but I flew out against Rachel for Ethel's sake-not that I mended matters by so doing. I was very foolish. Now shall we go to bed?"

"Yes; you look very tired, Marcia-very weary."

"I am weary; my heart is weary, as well as my head and my limbs. Good night, Ermy. Forgive me for troubling you with my own old sorrow again. Last time I spoke I said it should never be again. How weak I am!"

"If it relieves you, speak, Marcia dear."

Ermy, if you ever have a torturing heart-wound-which God forbid !-treat it as you would treat a terrible burnthat is, cover it up from sight. As the external air inflames. the injured part, so does airing some kinds of sorrow serve to increase and deepen the suffering. Cover it up, my dear; let nobody look at it-don't even examine it yourself. Perhaps, after awhile, when the agony is abated, it may not hurt you to behold the scars. No, not another word! Good morning. I hear the birds begin to twitter: it will be sunrise soon."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

PROPOSALS.

A FEW days later Robert Carfax found his way to Town Head House, and Christopher was well enough to receive him. Indeed, it was wonderful how rapidly Mr. Gray improved after that visit from Ermengarde; he began to feel quite strong again, he said-something of his old energy began to return, and Maude declared that he was really getting "frisky!" Perhaps it was this friskiness which led him to get out his papers and his blotting-pad one fine