provement always insisted on our recreations tending to that point; so as I mentioned before, we generally chose geographical, historical, or biographical words. This was geographical, historical, with a biographical tinge, for the word in question was Burn-hamThorpe. Burn was managed by going through the well-known scene in 'Evenings at Home.' Ham, the escape of Louis Napoleon from the fortress of that name. Thorpe, I forget; let me see, Elizabeth, I think you managed that; we had a comical dissertation, à la Trench, upon the origin and meaning of such words as thorpe, thwaite, bury, bourne, &c., &c., as conveying something graphic with regard to the locality thereby designated. As to the whole, we were a lionising party, visiting the birth-place of Nelson, and drove to pretended distraction one of our number, who took the character of an old deaf woman, in the habit of showing strangers the spot where the illustrious hero first drew breath."

"It was very amusing," said Grace. "I am so glad Dora thought of charades. I am sure we shall enjoy ourselves."

"But the charades we are now meditating, must necessarily be quite unlike the trifling, school-girl nonsense to which you have just alluded," said Dora, gravely.

"Oh must they!" exclaimed Grace, naïvely. "I was just pleasing myself with thinking how nicely we could manage some of our old words. Why do you think they should be different ?"

"Why? my dear Grace, what a question! Men

SOMETHING PIQUANT.

59

and women are expected to do something more than children; you must forget that you were a school-girl this time last year. There must be a brilliancy, a point, a piquancy in our acting; otherwise the whole affair will be dull, vapid, and supremely ridiculous. And precisely because I think Miss Grahame is devoid of wit, eloquence, and acumen, I fancy it will be better that she, as well as Lady Leslie, should be among the spectators, if, indeed, Miss Whittaker, you cannot induce your sister to join our party; we should consider her an invaluable accession, should we not, Nelly; should we not, dear Grace ?"

Before any answer could be returned, the door was gently opened, and Mabel entered the room.

'

CHAPTER VI.

I would have joined him-but as oft
Thy whispered warnings, kind and soft,
My better soul confessed.

'My servant, let the world alone;
Safe on the steps of Jesus' throne,
Be tranquil and be blest.'"

MABEL came in looking pale and distraite. Hester was in one of her cold moods, that is so far as Mabel was concerned; for when in the midst of the family circle, she talked with a rapidity and brilliancy that bade fair, were it but continuous, to eclipse even Dora Wedderburn. Margaret was surprised; Grace and Elizabeth little less so; for Hester's gayest moods, in the old Austerley House days, were ever tinctured with her characteristic languor; it had always seemed too much trouble to express lucidly and vividly her thoughts and opinions; too great an exertion to enter earnestly into anything which might engross the attention of those around her. And yet, when alone with Mabel, she became grave and constrained.

"Is anything the matter, dear Hester ?" she asked, when, after breakfast, she followed Lady Leslie to the solitude of her own room.

Nothing, I thank you!" was the chilling reply,

A DISAPPOINTMENT.

61

spoken in a tone which a stranger might have conceived to imply wonder and annoyance at an intrusive interference.

The

Mabel was silent: perhaps she had been wiser to go away, and seek more communicative society; but she did not do so: she could never bear to leave Hester with a cloud on her brow, and with those cold, unloving tones lingering on her lips; she always staid, in the hope of thawing the icy mist which at times seemed to envelop the affections and almost the faculties of her friend; for when Hester was in this frigid, unamiable frame of mind, she always seemed unnaturally obtuse and abstracted. source of Hester's disquietude was a communication her husband had that morning made to her: he observed that she seemed very comfortably established among her old friends; and that as he had urgent business which required his frequent presence in London, he thought he could not do better than take possession of his old bachelor rooms, and just run over to Richmond when he could spare the time. Poor Hester was completely upset; she had so relied upon the quiet friendly fortnight they were to spend at Kingsdown Lodge; she had so anticipated the joy of seeing her husband almost continuously; for surely when there was no rouge et noir to tempt him away, no evil associates, no glittering bait to lure him from her side, then, surely, he would content himself with the society of the happy home circle, and surely somewhat of the lover's chivalrous regard for the woman of his choice might be revived in that

62

SYMPATHY REPELLED.

cold, world-hardened heart. Great, then, was her consternation to find that her bright visions were but airy castles: and though for the first few minutes she sought to win him from his purpose, she was soon silenced; for she saw and felt, oh how bitterly! that she possessed no longer even the shadow of influence. The necessary explanations were made to Mr. and Miss Hamilton; and by the former received in very good part; for the claims of business were ever regarded by Mr. Hamilton as paramount; and moreover he was not likely to take offence at anything which Sir Herbert Leslie, Bart., chose to do or to say, provided he were not exactly insolent or in any way injurious.

And so Sir Herbert left Kingsdown Lodge, carelessly bidding his wife enjoy herself, and promising to run over from time to time, as he found leisure.

When he was gone Hester sat in her own room, too sad to weep, and too angry to seek sympathy. How miserable she felt, how slighted, neglected, perhaps despised! And then came Mabel with her soft step, her sweet, low voice, and her loving heart, ready to fold in her arms her poor, weary, sorrowful friend; but her gentle words met no reply, her tender glances and her quiet caresses were alike unheeded. By degrees, the cold tone became haughty; the reserved manner would have suited an offended elder, who from a sense of duty bears herself chillingly towards a juvenile culprit in acknowledged disgrace, till, at length, Mabel could bear no more, and she hastily left Hester's apartments to seek the solitude