Now this is saying a great deal, for young as he was, Wilfred North was a connoisseur in female beauty, and had seen some of its most perfect types in earth's fairest climes. But though he was critical, and affected airs concerning woman's loveliness, he was fairly taken aback at the beautiful vision which suddenly appeared before him.

Milicent Gray was dressed in white. Her garments were simple enough, poor enough, for that matter, but she wore them with a highbred air, and her native charms were strong enough to lend grace to humbler attire than her white muslin gown and scarf. A broad brimmed straw hat trimmed with ribbon, covered her head, and modestly shaded her lovely face. Her dark eyes were raised to Wilfred's as he stepped out of her way, the path being too narrow for them to pass abreast. Milicent knew the heir, and feeling abashed at his surprised scrutiny, she colored high, and passed

on.

Wilfred's first impulse was to follow her, but he did not obey it, reflecting that as she was one of the guests, chance must needs bring them together many times before his birthday fête

was over.

CHAPTER V.

WHAT GILBERT SAW.

The master of Colemarsh Mill was partaking of his solitary tea. Susan Marks, bedecked in old-world finery, her toilet enhanced by a big bouquet of southernwood and pink roses, had started early in the afternoon for the Hall, after duly setting forth her master's meal.

"But ye'll come up in the evening, master," she said at parting. "Miss Millie said you'd be sure to go."

But the old-fashioned clock in the hall had long struck six, and Gilbert Armstrong still sat in the shadowy parlour. He had no fancy for joining in these festivities, no desire to assist in fêting the proud young man, who, as well as his grasping father, wanted his heritage. But he had said he would be in the park in the evening, and although Milicent had expressed no pleasure at his intention, he felt that she would expect him.

So Gilbert left his lonely tea-table, and after ¿ hasty and somewhat careless toilet, locked up his house, and went on his way to the Hall. He struck into the park through a large field hich bordered the road, and the path he had chosen led him out near the spot where the marquee stood. It was empty now, for the

5

peeped inside, and as he withdrew he heard a familiar voice at the other end of the tent. He looked again, he was not mistaken; there indeed was Milicent, and with her Wilfred North. Milicent had evidently been dancing, for she was flushed and heated, and a perceptible heaving of her lovely neck and shoulders showed her to be panting from some recent exertion.

She did not glance towards the end of the tent, nor would she have seen Gilbert had she done so, for a sudden impulse influenced him to step back instantly, but he continued to survey the unconscious pair through an opening in the canvas. He watched with an undefined, vague jealousy, while Wilfred North opened a camp stool which he had brought, and so accomodated his fair companion with a seat.

Milicent took it with shy grace, blushing deeply beneath the earnest gaze of her companion, who immediately seated himself near her, on the end of the long tressel-table which ran through the tent. Then he spoke, and Gilbert's ear, uneducated as it was, caught the insincere tone lurking in the florid, polished speech of this youthful "squire of dames."

"I am furious with myself, Miss Gray, when I see you so fatigued. I ought not to have insisted on that last dance."

Milicent's reply was too low-toned to reach the listener's ear, but he heard the answer plainly enough.

"Yes, dancing must be a welcome diversion in such a benighted place as Colemarsh. How any one could settle down in such a spot is beyond my comprehension. And yet you have lived here all your life? "

Again Milicent's answer was unintelligible to Gilbert Armstrong, and ere Wilfred North could reply, he turned away from the tent with a dark frown on his face, and bitter thoughts in his heart.

"She never looked at me like that," he muttered, as he plunged into a remote shrubbery, a spot which was silent and deserted even on this day of public rejoicing. "She never smiled at me like that. And why did he take her into the tent, and find her a seat? Why does he stay there and talk with her ? "

Unanswerable questions! Gilbert smote savagely at the young green shrubs, and at last flung himself down on the sward in a little open spot. A great pain gnawed at his heart, and he put yet another question to himself.

"Am I jealous of her?" he said, “am I jealous of that which never was mine, which

"Nay," he added fiercely, springing to his feet, "she shall be mine, and that soon; and once my own, young North shall find that lowly as I am, I can hold both land and wife as well as the best of his class and kind."

He retraced his steps, and as he went, calmer thoughts came to him, then common-sense re-asserted itself, and he began to feel ashamed of the ebullition of passion which so simple an occurrence had aroused, and to tell himself that it was only Wilfred North's way to be gallant to pretty women, and that Milicent, though young, was too sensible to place a wrong construction on his butterfly manner.

So, self-comforted, Gilbert Armstrong again neared the tent. The merry-makers were all at a great distance, the dancers gaily flying round to the enlivening strains of a military band, the children at their various sports, their elders seated in little groups watching them, and gossiping. All round the deserted marquee silence reigned. Gilbert at first meant to pass it without observation, judging that Milicent and her companion had long since joined the rest of the party.

Notwithstanding this conviction, Gilbert, as he came close to the tent, paused at his former post of espial, and looked in.

The color faded from his bronzed cheek, and left it white as ashes. A deadly flame sprang up in his eyes.

Milicent had risen from her seat, Wilfred North stood beside her, his handsome head bent over her little hand, his lips pressed upon it. The girl was blushing and confused, but apparently offered no resistance to the gallant salute.

One moment sufficed to make this scene plain to Gilbert Armstrong; in the next, he sprang into the tent, with a rough movement he flung Milicent Gray aside, and stood with heaving breast and flashing eyes, before the astonished heir of Colemarsh Hall and Cleethorpe Manor.

Wilfred North recovered his self-possession before Gilbert Armstrong could put his passion into words.

"Mr. Armstrong," he said angrily, "what do you mean by such conduct? What right have you-"

Gilbert interupted him.

you are an innocent and modest girl, did not Mr. Wilfred North insult you ?"

"You are so hasty, Mr. Armstrong," she faltered.

"Was it no insult," he thundered, "that a man in his station should be alone with you in this tent, apart from other visitors ?"

"I deny it," put in Wilfred North, "others have been in and out."

"Do not lie to me, Mr. North," said Gilbert, with ominous calmness, and turning he spoke again to Milicent, this time with cruel, cutting quietness.

"It was no insult, then, to your maidenly feelings, that a man-a stranger to you—should kiss your hand here-alone in this place ? I think, Milicent Gray, your father would have judged differently."

Milicent burst into tears. Her love for her father had been great, her sorrow for him was yet at times very sore, though she took her share of youth's pleasures with gladness.

The sight of her tears goaded both men, -Gilbert almost to madness. He turned savagely to Wilfred North.

"Leave us, Mr. North," he said, “and I will take this unhappy girl to her mother. Do not speak, sir, but go."

Something in his manner was stronger than young North's will, for with one hesitating look at Milicent, whose sobbing face was hidden, he left the tent, and retired to the house. Here he pleaded fatigue, and was found an hour after in his own room, sustaining exhausted nature with a cigar.

CHAPTER VI.

MILICENT SAYS NO.

A dead silence fell between the occupants of the tent after Wilfred North's departure; broken only by Milicent's occasional sobs.

For several minutes Gilbert stood beside her, and looked with an unutterable expression of mingled rage, grief, and tenderness at the beautiful, bowed head.

66

"Milicent," he said at last, come to your mother, and I will take you both home. Tell her you have a headache, or something of that sort,"

Milicent ceased sobbing, dried her eyes, rose, and said in a curious, hard voice, whose changed tone instantly struck her listener,

"Yes, I think we had better go home, Mr. Armstrong, but we can go without you. I should be sorry to interrupt your pleasure."

"And I should be sorry to interrupt yours," he rejoined gravely, "if I could think you would take pleasure in staying longer."

Something in his tone and manner checked the incipient rising of pique and temper which she felt against him, and she answered shortly,

"Well, we will find mother," and so saying she stepped outside the tent, Gilbert following.

They found Mrs. Gray sitting under a spreading oak at a little distance, gossiping energetically with female friends, but she rose at their approach, seeing with maternal quickness that Milicent was disturbed in her manner.

"Milicent has danced too much," said Gilbert Armstrong, "and the heat has made her head ache."

"I will go home, I think, mother," said Milicent.

"To be sure, dearie," said the anxious mother, we will go at once and you shall lie down. She is not strong," added Mrs. Gray, turning for sympathy to the little knot of gossips.

7

that this girl could, when she was called to decide, put the light, even rude, admiration of a stranger, into the balance against a love and care which had encompassed her from childhood.

"Shall I win her? Shall I win her ?" was the question which repeated itself with painful iteration that calm summer's evening. When they reached Mrs. Gray's cottage, Gilbert Armstrong had made up his mind.

"I will know my fate at once."

So he accepted Mrs. Gray's invitation, and entered the house with them. Milicent at once went up stairs, saying that half-an-hour's rest would cure her headache. Mrs. Gray sat down, bonnet in hand, by the window, and Gilbert took a chair opposite.

He plunged at once into his subject. "Mrs. Grey," said he abruptly," will you accept me as a son-in-law?”

Now though Mrs. Grey had long expected this offer, and had privately grumbled at Gilbert for his delay many a time, the suddenness, and the abrupt manner of the speaker somewhat overwhelmed her.

Why, Mr. Armstrong," she began. "One word," he said eagerly, "yes or no." "Well, yes, then, but you are in such a hurry, Mr. Armstrong, and took me so by surprise." "You know how I love her," he went on, scarcely hearing her last words, "You must know how long I have loved her. Trust her to me, and neither her life nor yours shall know a shadow or a care which the tenderest love can disperse."

'You are very good, Gilbert, but have you asked Milicent ? "

"Not yet," he answered, speaking bravely, in spite of the cold doubt that gnawed at his heart. "Not yet, but she must take pity on my long, long love, and reward it."

"Well, I don't know," said practical Mrs. Gray, "though she is so young, Milicent has queer ideas, and is very obstinate sometimes."

"I will wait," said the anxious lover," only be my friend, influence her, persuade her, if you can."

"I think," said the mother, "you had bet ter ask her yourself first."

The door creaked slightly, then opened, and revealed Milicent pale as death, standing on the threshold."

"I have heard your conversation," she said. Gilbert Armstrong rose and crossed to her. "Milicent," he said in a trembling voice, “I will take your mother's advice. Will you take

THE FULL-SIZED PATTERNS.

The Patterns are all suited for Ladies of medium height and of proportionate figure: measuring 344 inches round the chest and 24 waist, unless otherwise stated in the description. All allowances necessary for seams, are already given to these Patterns.

The greatest care is always taken by the binders to ensure the whole of the picces composing each pattern being folded up in it. If at any time, through accident, our subscribers should find any pieces missing, the Editor will be happy to supply the deficiency post free, during one month after publication, on receipt of a letter or post card addressed to him at 1, Kelso Place, Kensington, London, W.

Our first full-sized pattern is THE OTTAWA CORSAGE A GILET, as represented on the third figure of our second plate. This pattern, all the pieces of which are given complete in their full length, consists of Gilet, Front, Revers, Sidepiece, Back and Sleeve. The position of the revers on the front is shown by the notch on the front edge, and by the single cut a few inches above it, which corresponds to the single cut in the edge of revers. The gilet shows the shape to which this piece must be cut af ter the plisses have been formed; the pricked line shows where the front is joined to the Gilet. The fish or pleat taken out in the front is marked by pricking.

Our second pattern (all the pieces of which are marked by one round hole, so as to distinguish them from the pieces composing our first pattern,) is THE CUIRASSE CORSAGE FOR A BALL DRESS, as repre- " sented on the second figure of our fourth plate. This pattern is given complete in its full length, and is composed of Front, Sidepiece, Back, and short Sleeve. The shape of the revers at the neck, is marked with pricking at top of the back and of the front. In the sidepiece a small pleat is laid across at the waist level, as marked by pricking, so as to set without a crease at this part. The corners which are cut off at the bottom of front, at the seam under the arm, and at the middle of back, will have to be filled in by the gusset shaped pleatings of a darker shade, as shown on the colored plate. In the short Sleeve, the shape of the underside, and the pleats at the top of shoulders, are marked by pricking.

::

Some lives, like flowers, are fair, but not fragrant. We love to look at them, but do not care to hold them. Others there are, sweet, gladdening, but with less of outward perfection, yet we would have them near us always.

41.-Dress for a little girl of six: fig. 4.

Plate 3.

42. Polonaise for Ball Dress with square train :

fig. 1.

43.-Empress Casaque: fig. 2.

44.-Gisela Dinner Dress: fig. 3.

Plate 4.

45.-Polonaise for Dinner Dress: fig. 1.
46.-Drapery of Upper-skirt: fig. 2. The Cor-
sage is given gratis with the Magazine.
47. The Marie Ball Dress: fig. 3.

48.-Dress Skirt of walking length, as shown on
plate 7.

N.B.-These patterns are cut for ladies of good figure, measuring 34 inches chest measure and 24 inches Waist measure. Full instructions for enlarging or decreasing the size will be en. closed gratis with each pattern.

PRICE SIXPENCE EACH, POST free.

Apply by LETTER ONLY, enclosing postage stamps, to MESSRS. LOUIS DEVERE & Co., 1, Kelso Place, Kensington, London, W.

N. B. In ordering a pattern the number only need be specified.