CHAPTER XV. Oh soul, in vain thou strainest Of all vain things, the vainest Thou dost but hug thy chain. AUBREY DE VERE. "Ir does not signify who is there," Kathleen restlessly repeated to herself, when the hurry and bustle of a late tea was over, and she was left alone in the schoolroom. The chances of meeting Lord De Cressy were almost as slight as if he were to remain in London; and even supposing they should be thrown together, the rencontre would only prove how insuperable was the barrier between their respective positions. And farther, were it possible for Lord De Cressy to overlook these obstacles and she was forced again to repeat that it was not possible such constancy would contrast favourably with his previous conduct, but it might not obliterate her recollection of it. She must ever bear in mind that he had broken his faith to Adelaide Wilmot, and any advances on his side could only make her conduct more painful and difficult. And yet the faint prospect of seeing him once more made her pulses throb, and her eyes kindle with a brilliancy which the fastcoming tears could not extinguish. The following letter to Sophy was the result of the cogitations in which a restless night was passed: Ardcrae, July 25. "MY DEAR SOPHY, I have to thank you for so constantly remembering our parting words, when it was agreed to say nothing of the past. You must not think me too weak, if I now ask you to forget them for I accidentally learned that your cousin is coming down to this part of the country next month, and I am very anxious to know if he is aware that I am living here with the Irvines. If not, of course you will tell him nothing; and it is most unlikely that we should meet. Yet, as you are to speak of him at all, I should like to know whether you have seen much of him since I left you. You must not think that I am unhappy, dear Sophy, for though it is less easy to forget than I had supposed, I do not doubt that I shall attain to it at last. And I believe that the greatest help would be to hear, as I fully expect, that he has forgotten. Here I must end, for the children have come down to lessons. My love to Addy, and to your mother; but this letter is meant only for yourself, and the fire. "Yours affectionately, "KATHLEEN MORTIMER." Sophy's answer was full and free. "DEAREST KATHLEEN, I am so very glad to be no longer tongue-tied, though I have, after all, nothing satisfactory to tell. And first, to answer your question. I do not believe that De Cressy has any definite idea of your habitat. When he came to town, mamma had no ness. intention of sparing him, and he was greeted with the intelligence that you had gone to Scotland as a goverHe shut up his lips, and said not a word not from indifference, however; and I believe that when he left us, he went on to call on your sister, but he did not see her. He did not come near us for some time, but we met occasionally at the Etheringtons; you need not think that there is anything going on in that quarter, however, for I expect every day to hear that Helen's marriage to Mr. Bosanquet is declared. I do not believe that he ever mentioned your name, for Mr. Enmore was obliged to ask me what had become of you, and, after a fitting pause, whether I did not think De Cressy very much altered. Those who only know him slightly might not observe any change, for he is always self-possessed; but I can see plainly that he is by no means happy in his mind. And you will not mind my saying that he is, with all his faults, steady and sincere in feeling very unlike another of the victims to Mr. De Cressy's worldly views, whom we chanced to meet the other day. "We were at Lady Bewicke's, and mamma pointed out a Mr. Milton, and said that she hoped he would not recognise us, for he was no other than the hero of poor Addy's disappointment. He married an heiress, last spring, at Mr. De Cressy's instigation, who was his guardian, and he is supposed to have put an end to the former attachment. He came to us in the course of the evening, and introduced Mrs. Milton; and Addy did it so well her manner expressed quite sufficient civility, without the least agitation. And I think the meeting did her good, for he is a frivolous, conceited little man -not the least likely to take her fancy now, though mamma says that he was much more likeable when they knew him at Nice. He has probably been spoiled by Mr. De Cressy, who has a good deal to answer for in that way. "His nephew sees more than enough of him, though neither of them appear to derive much pleasure from the companionship, when we see them together. I am sorry that De Cressy is to shoot with his uncle less, indeed un but I will not anticipate what you say you do not desire. Of course, your secret would be safe with me, even if I had any opportunity of revealing it. But I hardly expect to see De Cressy again before we leave home, as he is now out of town. "Next week we start on a round of visits to the Etheringtons in the first instance, where we shall stay some time. I look forward to the visit with great pleasure; for Helen and I have quite renewed our old friendship. "I am sorry that we have seen so little of your sister; but we have been living in a maze of engagements. They were all looking pretty well. Mrs. Lisle without her shade for the first time; but she said that her eyes were only fit for knitting. Walter looked pale and transparent, and I was glad to hear that they have settled to give up these lodgings at the end of the quarter, and seek for purer air. He has not forgiven your voluntary exile, any more than I have, and always wonders when you will come back. But mamma is the most implacable of all, to judge by the vindictive tone in which she still speaks of the West Highlander. "Dear Kathleen, if I ever wished for riches, it would be for your sake. I must not write all the projects and schemes which would look fanciful on paper, though I De Cressy. 11 long to see you and talk them over. And now I must go to bed, for it is past midnight, and I am tired. "Your most affectionate "SOPHIA WILMOT." Kathleen perused the whole letter with breathless eagerness, but she dwelt longest on the latter part of it. When the first faint suspicion of the truth deepened into certainty, and she yielded to the conviction that Adelaide's affections had been engaged by Mr. De Cressy's ward, and not by his nephew, her heart beat wildly with such conflicting emotions as could only find relief in tears. And though joy prevailed, it was alloyed by self-reproach for her mistrust in his sincerity; she forgot the original cause of estrangement, and imagined that it had been only due to her unworthy suspicion. If, however, she had by her own act for ever forfeited his regard, there was joy unspeakable in the knowledge that he had once loved her truly, and not with the passing fancy of a fickle mind. "Is your sister better?" Janet asked, when her governess entered the room with an elastic step, very different from her former languid movements. The question had a sedative effect, for Sophy's account was little cheering, since it was evident that the inflammation had not passed away without accomplishing its purpose of darkening Mrs. Lisle's already imperfect sight. But the thought of Agnes only led her back to the subject nearest her heart; Agnes must be informed at once of the injustice of her imputation against Lord De Cressy, and she resolved to write and justify him without delay. Accordingly, she enclosed a brief note, written in |