a cup of coffee first, and you had better lie quiet until we hear the dining-room bell. It would be a pity to disturb your sister before the gentlemen come out. She looked fagged and tired; but she evidently considered it too great a concession to human weakness to lean back in an arm-chair before me; and I suppose the indulgence may be considered lawful when she is quite alone.'

'How you do see through people,' said Ellen. 'Not all people. You remain a mystery, all the more provoking because you seem transparent. I am not half-satisfied with our talk this afternoon, and I should like to begin again, if it would not worry you.'

'It would worry me,' said Ellen; and there were tears in her voice. 'It tires me to think of the past, when I am only anxious to forget; and though it may be true that I am not well nor happy, you ought to be satisfied to know that you and yours are not responsible. Promise me,

Cecil, to be satisfied with this.'

'I am of a restless and inquisitive nature,' said Cecil; but I will be as passive as I can.'

'And not cast about for confirmation to groundless fancies. I have suffered enough from that,' said Ellen; and Cecil again acquiesced; but she was not diverted from her intention of watching narrowly the intercourse between the cousins, and drawing her own conclusions. That evening's observation left her in doubt of Ellen's sentiments; but then she was always quiet and undemonstrative, and must instinctively attempt to

the eyes of others.

check Mr. Carew's undisguised admiration before On the whole, Cecil saw no reason to despair of hearing that the affair was brought to a happy conclusion, as soon as Louis was appointed to a ship on the Cape station, to which he so eagerly aspired.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

I know I love in vain, strive against hope:
Yet in this captious and intenible sieve
I still pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lose still: thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore

The sun, that looks upon his worshipper,
But knows of him no more.

All's Well that Ends Well.

THE days slipped by in busy preparation; and though out driving constantly, and in every direction, Ellen never saw the face she sought, yet feared to meet: no one spoke or seemed to think of Colonel Oliphant, and she was forced to believe that he had left town. On the very last evening, however, when they were assembled for dinner, the door opened, and 'Colonel Oliphant' was announced.

'So it is,' said Lord Calton, in the pause which intervened before his appearance. 'I forgot to tell you, Cecil, that I heard of him at the club, and left a note, asking him to dine here any day this week. It is unlucky he should have chosen to-night,' he added, looking kindly at Ellen, and ascribing her agitation to a natural unwillingness to meet a stranger, when she was depressed by the impending parting.

'Colonel Oliphant,' said Cecil, lightly, 'looks

as discomposed as if he had fallen among strangers. Have you forgotten Ellen-Miss Kerr?'

The meeting is unexpected,' Hugh replied; and his tone and formal greeting restored Ellen's self-possession. The crimson colour quickly faded, and she returned his slight bow with a pale and resolute face.

What has brought you to town?' resumed Hugh, turning to Lady Cecil. 'I was not aware that you had any intention of leaving Houghton.'

'It was a sudden thought,' replied Cecil. 'Papa came on business, and I not on pleasure; for it was to see the last of Ellen, who sails tomorrow for the Cape.'

'Indeed! To join Mrs. Kerr, I presume,' said Hugh; and the last words were spoken with such studied indifference, that Ellen dared not trust the impression that his voice had at first slightly trembled.

'Yes; and I am afraid the voyage out alone will be disagreeable enough, though her cousin has made all possible arrangements for her comfort. Are you acquainted with Mr. Carew?'

'We met at Rose Cottage,' replied Hugh; and all the circumstances of that meeting flashed on Ellen's mind, and were perhaps equally present to his recollection. Was it too late to undo that morning's work, and to clear away the misconception which had divided two loving hearts?

'Will you go down with Ellen?' said Cecil, as dinner was announced; for I have something to say to Mr. Carew about a commission with which I entrusted him.

Hugh had not the option of declining; and Ellen took his arm, and hoped there might be no tremour in her voice, when called to reply to some trifling remark. But such anxiety was thrown away; for no word was spoken by Hugh, and they descended the stair in unbroken silence. Ellen felt that the resentment which declared itself by defying the common courtesies of society was strong and cruel; and she could not know that the wounded love from which it sprang was stronger still. She took her place with a failing heart; the lights swam before her eyes, and the voices of those around her made a confused hum like rushing waters in her ears; and she mechanically stretched out her hand for a glass of

water.

'I beg your pardon,' said Colonel Oliphant, as he took the caraffe from her hand; and when the trifling act of courtesy was accomplished, he turned to conclude the remark he was addressing to Lady Cecil.

His tone of ceremonious politeness, so different from the voice which had in other days made her heart throb with pleasure, sent a shiver through Ellen's frame; but her maidenly pride was roused by the fear that she was betraying emotions which he must despise, and she cast the weakness aside with one resolute effort. She bent forward to talk to Lord Calton; and if Hugh's eyes occasionally strayed in that direction, Ellen never noticed it, and he only caught the haughty turn of her slender throat, or occasionally, perhaps, the outline of a profile always remarkable