jointly building, "to the glory of God, and as a thank-offering for many mercies."

The large windows of the castle opening on the western terrace were all open, and foremost amongst the group congregated there to watch the dancers stood the tall handsome earl, the owner of those broad lands. A few gray hairs sprinkled his dark locks, which had grown thinner over his broad forehead since we last saw him.

First by the side of her husband, then darting off to a group of pretty children congregated on the steps of the terrace leading down to the dancers, then flying back to exchange some exclamation of delight with the invalid lady on the sofa, or to chat for a few minutes to the stately old lady beside Ann Leigh, Ethelind's figure is always conspicuous. The evening breeze is blowing about her bright golden curls, and waving the soft silvery folds of her gossamer dress; and though her colour is brighter and her figure rounder and plumper and a little more matronly than when we parted from her, there is a loving depth in her violet eyes, which are resting with their old childish confidence on Philip, as she puts her arm through his, and stands gazing down merrily on a group of dancers just below them.

Close beside the oriel window of the morning-room, out on the terrace, Ann Leigh is sitting. She no longer acknowledges herself an invalid, though her pale face proves that this has been a trying day, and is testing rather hardly her newly-acquired strength and activity.

Sitting beside her, frail and delicate, and with a clear transparent complexion, which causes many an anxious heart, Katie is hushing a tiny baby to sleep on her knees; while she, and Mrs. Leigh, and Ann, and Dr. Harford, are wondering and conjecturing why the morning's mail failed to bring any tidings of the travellers,-Barbara and Horace Chudleigh,—who are now on their wedding-tour among the Swiss mountains. Beyond them, and seated on the upper step of the broad stone flight leading down to the crowd, is Mrs. Harford, in her plain silk dress, beside Diana Langton, little less plain and neat and quaker-like than herself, and Susannah, in her grandest array of white muslin and gold trinkets and pretty ornaments, amusing and taking care of a bevy of little ones, all eager and anxious to join the gay throng below.

Somewhat nearer to the low stone balustrade is a second group, collected round the sofa on which Guy Vyvian is lying. To judge by the smiles on his face, and the bright quick flash of his deep-sunk eyes, you would not suspect the weary months of intense suffering which have been his portion since his return from the Crimea.

But Margaret is very hopeful. She has faith in her own nursing and care of her invalid, and more perhaps in the skilful treatment of Dr. Harford, who confidently assures her it is only time and patience and careful watching and nursing which Captain Vyvian needs. As to the doctor himself, he is brimful of spirits, like a young schoolboy just home for the holidays. This is the first time his patients have missed the daily

round of his brougham at Wylminstre for many years, but Ethelind would take no denial; so, as he says, "to save appearances," he packed off his wife and children by the train, and then accompanied Guy and Margaret and Aunt Sarah in the Vyvians' carriage.

If you look over the balustrade, you will see the pretty active figure of a fair girl, scarcely so tall, and yet perhaps slightly stouter, than Lady Redenham, and so like her people turn to speak. But those who know them can never be mistaken; there is more self-reliance and decision in Grace than her sister, and though she never can be so perfectly lovely, there is somebody in that crowd who believes her to be infinitely more piquant and charming, and far more determined on obtaining her own way.

"Now, has it not all been a great success?" Grace exclaimed as, later in the evening, she came up to them, her face radiant in smiles, and her cheeks flushed with exercise. "I never danced so much in my life. I have scarcely sat down since breakfast."

"There is one thing you have not done, Miss Atherton," Lord Redcar said, as he came and stood beside her," I have been begging and entreating one small favour the whole day, and you always contrive to put me off, in the most unscrupulous way possible. It really is more than a man can stand, and I appeal to Mrs. Vyvian whether you do not take advantage of your power, and abuse my good nature awfully."

Margaret looked up at the two bright faces as they stood together in the full light of the setting sun-so bright, so handsome, so free from care. She felt sure Grace could not long withstand such honest open love as her companion offered her.

"There will be no more dancing to-night," Margaret said; "they are all coming this way in a body-going to thank Lord Redenham, I suppose, for their pleasant day."

"And my friend, that handsome young farmer, is to be their spokesman," Grace exclaimed eagerly. "I hope they will come to these steps, that we may hear what he says."

All eyes were now directed to the mass of heads gathered in front of the terrace. Philip, with Ethelind beside him, came to the top step; Margaret, with Redcar's help, placed a seat for Guy, and stood by him; while Mrs. Leigh, and Ann, and Ralph, and Katie, and Diana, and all the other guests, drew close round to listen to the simple manly words which fell from the lips of the young spokesman, whose superior southcountry education had marked him out as the fitting mouthpiece of the party.

The speaker's voice was almost drowned in the vociferous cheers of his comrades; but Margaret's ear caught the sound of Ethelind's name, coupled with a similar compliment to Ann Leigh; and amidst the deafening shouts and the waving of hats and handkerchiefs, she could see the flush on her sister's cheek and the sparkle in her eye as she and Ann were led forward by Philip to bow their thanks to the crowd.

Poor Ann! this was her first appearance in public for many years. Her lips trembled, and tears fell over her white cheeks; but she went through the ordeal very bravely, and then sat down out of sight beside Mrs. Leigh.

In making way for her, Margaret lost the commencement of Philip's reply. There he stood, in his own cool collected way, addressing the crowd below, thanking them for the honour they had done him, and taking in review his reasons for the policy he had pursued since his public duties had commenced. A pin-fall might have been heard in the stillness of that vast crowd.

"In devoting myself so entirely to politics," he said, "I have hitherto been unable to fulfil properly the duties of a landed proprietor; but henceforth these, I trust, will claim a larger share of my time and attention. Few of us arrive at my time of life without feeling that, with the best and purest intentions, we often fail in fulfilling the duties set before us. Such has, I know to my sorrow, been my experience. But, as it is never too late to mend, I hope this day will bear witness that, in humbly acknowledging my errors, I trust, with God's blessing, to do much better for the future.

"In your kind wishes for Lady Redenham, my mother, and Lord Leigh, you call forth my sincere thanks. There is not a more zealous labourer in your service than Lady Redenham; and, confident alike in her ability as well as desire to serve you, you will always find me ready to follow in her wake.

"As to my boy, I trust when he comes of age he will not only deserve, but meet with as warm a welcome from you all as he has done today on his sixth birthday."

Margaret watched with intense interest the varying colour on Ethel's tell-tale cheek; she saw a bright smile play round her mouth, while she brushed away the tears from her eyes. Philip had put his arm round her, and now stood facing the crowd of upturned faces, publicly acknowledging his own failures, and openly, before all the world, according her the love and trust she coveted.

At this moment, Frank, with the light, crisp, curling hair and deep blue eyes of his family, and all the hilarity of a thorough sailor, dashed up the steps, and held a short conference with Grace and Lord Redcar; and the next minute he and Lord Redcar had disappeared down the steps.

Margaret's heart a little misgave her.

"Those two mischief-loving people are hardly to be trusted," she said, appealing to Grace; but before her sister could reply, Margaret had to assist Guy on his crutches, to make his acknowledgments for the hearty "three times three" which followed the name of Captain Vyvian, coupled with "the heroes of the Crimean war."

Guy's clear deep tones rung out in the stillness; and many eyes in that throng of attentive listeners were moist with tears, especially amongst

the women, as they traced the ravages of sickness and suffering in his pale hollow cheeks and thin shrunken figure.

Before Margaret had succeeded in getting her husband back to his seat, there was a sudden parting of the crowd, and Lord Redcar and Frank Atherton dashed up the steps, bearing on their shoulders the smiling excited little Lord Leigh.

A low murmur of welcome greeted the little fellow as, with all the easy grace of a child, he gravely lifted his plumed cap from his curly head, and then bent low in acknowledgment of the compliment.

No wonder Ethel's heart beat as she listened to the murmured admiration he called forth,—his short crisp golden hair waving to and fro in the breeze, and his bright eyes flashing and dancing, and the row of little pearly teeth visible between his parted lips, and rosy cheeks, as he looked down from his pinnacle on the vast sea of upturned faces.

Just for a moment he was confused and bewildered by his strange position; but a word from his uncle Frank prompted him to his work, and, with the colour deepening his cheeks, his clear shrill little voice could be distinctly heard.

“Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I thank you for your kind wishes. I am but a little boy now, but when I grow up to be a man I hope I shall be as clever and good as my papa; and then I mean to wear a sword, and be a soldier like Uncle Guy, and go and fight great battles, just as he did, for my country and the Queen."

Here the bright little face became overcast, and was suddenly bent down to Lord Redcar's, and those near could hear the eager inquiry of— "Redcar, what am I to say next? I quite forget."

The next moment, however, the little face rose again, and the sweet soft treble notes were heard, only in more tremulous tone

dear mamma.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you most of all for your good wishes for my She is the very best mamma a little boy ever had. If I grow up to be a man like papa, or a hero like Uncle Guy, it will all be owing to my mamma's love and care of me."

Here the shouts of applause and violent clapping of hands again disconcerted the speaker, who, between bashfulness and excitement, was fain once more to drop his little face, and declare in tremulous tones,

"He could not say a word more."

But Frank, bent on fulfilling Grace's mission, and wilfully blind to Ethel's fever of anxiety on one hand, and Leigh's nervousness on the other, encouraged and bribed the child to go on, assuring him he never could be a hero until he had learnt to make speeches like a man.

In a desperate effort of resolution, the flushed face was again raised. "Ladies and gentlemen, Uncle Frank says it will be a long time before my grand birthday comes I can't tell how long; but when it oes, I hope I shall see every one of you here to spend it with me, as you have done to-day. It is so late now, I cannot say any more to-night, only God bless you all until we meet again !"

And then, bowing to them, and kissing his tiny hand, he slipped down from his pinnacle, and rushed up the steps, and flew into the outstretched arms of his mother.

"Ethie's cup of happiness must be filled to the brim to-night," Margaret said, as she watched Lord Redenham congratulating little Leigh on his "maiden speech;" while the smiles and tears struggled in his mother's face, as she bent over her boy's curls, and covered him with kisses.

"You must acknowledge, Margaret, it has been a very great success," Grace exclaimed, as she came to Guy's chair. "I know you were halffrightened when my two knights departed on their errand. And I am bound to acknowledge my heart misgave me when Leigh got frightened, and broke down. But really the open way in which Philip first, and now Leigh, have stood forth and acknowledged her position and her power must, I think, convince Ethie I was no false prophet when I assured her on her wedding-day, with a brave heart she would hold her own against all the pride and prejudice of the Leighs put together."

"And now that your bidding has been so faithfully observed, fair lady, and having had some mean share in bringing your augury to pass, a trusty knight may surely be allowed to claim the guerdon for his services which he humbly trusts you will no longer withhold." And Lord Redcar dropped on his knee before his lady-love, and modestly remained there, with his head bent towards the ground.

"The honour of a true knight is not dearer to him than is the word of her who sped him forth on his mission," Grace said, standing demurely and without a smile before the kneeling figure. "Be it known, Sir Knight, a deed well performed in a lady's service merits its own reward; and therefore, and with all deference to your estate and the exalted position you hold, I herewith, as in honour bound, and in presence of these my witnesses, tender you my hand." And so saying, she gravely stepped forward, and placed her little gloveless fingers in his broad palm.

Pressing it between both his own, and springing lightly to his feet, he clasped her eagerly in his arms, and imprinted on either cheek an honest hearty kiss.

"Now, hang me, if that is not the best bit of love-making I have witnessed, off the stage, in the whole course of my short life," Frank exclaimed, in an ecstasy of delight. "And the cool, deliberate, shameless way in which that girl absolutely offers you her love, Redcar, beats all conception."

And

"And why, may I ask, Master Frank, should I be ashamed?" Grace, releasing herself from Lord Redcar, though still leaving one hand in his, faced round upon the amused little group collected about Guy's chair to vindicate her womanly pride and dignity before her younger brother. "Have I not declared, over and over again, I would never marry until I was sure, not only that I loved with the hearty, honest love which would carry me safely through all the ups and downs of

VOL. III.

Q