"Just so

"I must see her!" Then, with increased energy, she looked-just so she spoke-just so she was when or is it but the coinage of my brain? an illusion to torment me? No, no, it was not she-it is impossible!"

He sank back exhausted. Dr. Arnold had attributed these words to the delirium of fever, but when, after some time, he spoke again, and, looking at him intently, said in a tone of earnest entreaty, "I must see her!" Dr. Arnold ventured to question; when he heard enough to convince him that the interest evinced by the young lady who had summoned his attendance had a deeper motive than solely the feeling of humanity, to which alone he had attributed it.

It was yet early. The clock tower had just struck seven, when the watchers were startled by a knock at the cottagedoor. It was Dr. Arnold. He replied to their eager looks of mute inquiry

"He lives, but his life is on the balance of a feather. If you would see him alive, no time is to be lost."

They stayed not to question: impelled as by strong necessity, Mrs. Maitland and Edith returned with Dr. Arnold. Helen had looked beseechingly; it was in vain-her mother and Edith, fearful of the consequences, urged her not to go.

They reached the farm-house. Dr. Arnold has entered the chamber, the sufferer has sunk into a deep sleep, and Mrs. Maitland and Edith wait the result in dread suspense. They are in the next room, but the door is open, and the deep breathing of the sleeper is distinctly audible.

There is a slight stir in the chamber-it is Dr. Arnold approaching nearer to the bed; his patient has just opened his eyes, he is more composed, and his pulse beats more hopefully. Looking earnestly at Dr. Arnold, he asks"Is she come ?"

"She waits."

"Then now—now, or it may be too late!"

Dr. Arnold is gone, and Edith is in the presence of her

father! For one moment they gaze at each other in silence; instinctively Edith approaches the bed, and involuntarily she falls on her knees beside it.

"My father!"

"Does she does your mother live ?"

"Thank Heaven she does!"

"You had a sister?"

"I have a sister still."

"And both have been taught to execrate their father's name ?"

"O never! never!"

He sank back on the pillow, his eyes were closed, and then there was a groan of mental agony, so deep, so heartfelt, that to Mrs. Maitland it seemed a groan to break the heart from whence it came, and to soften the most callous to mercy and pardon.

another figure was She could not speak, towards her, she sank

When he again opened his eyes standing near him :-it was his wife! but, taking one of the hands extended on her knees beside the bed, and, hiding her face in the clothes, was overpowered by the intensity of her emotions. Then there was silence; it was the awful silence intervening between time and eternity, and it penetrated to the soul. Mr. Stafford was the first to break it—

"Merciful Heaven! I have not deserved this. Spare meyet a little longer spare me!"

The silence came again. After a while Mr. Stafford continued

"There is much that I would say, but at this dread hour I must be brief. I cannot tell how fierce the struggles between remorse and pride, but, stung by remorse, I returned to England. She whom I sought was gone; fearing the consequences of being myself discovered, I dare not prosecute my inquiries publicly. The house had passed into other hands; no traces were to be found. I could not stay in England-there the fearful images which haunted me were

more fearful still. Again I crossed the sea; years passed on, and-but this avails not, no matter where or how, I lived!

"That signature gave me no power, the property was settled too securely-I could not touch it. It has continued to accumulate, and may it be some mitigation of my crime that the trustees have from time to time received intimation that sooner or later that property would be claimed.

"I had a raging fever; my couch was haunted by an appalling vision. It was the same for ever and for ever. Wherever I turned it was present with me still. It was she -she with that face of mute despair, pointing to two shadowy forms hovering round my couch-the forms of my children!

"The struggle over between life and death, again I sailed for England. The vessel was wrecked-I clung to a fragment of the sinking ship-the watery gulfs beneath seemed opening to receive me I felt the dashing of the waves over my head, and then I know not what. When consciousness returned I was stretched on the beach; the sun was rising, the sea was at rest, and I thought the morning dawned upon another world. There I lay. Not far distant was an old church; I stood amid the ruins, and then I knew that I was in England. I walked on till, in ascending the green cliff, my strength failed, and I could go no further. Stretched on the grass, I sank into a deep slumber. When I awoke, there on the grassy cliff, in the clear moonlight, a vision rose before me. I followed it, and it fled. You know the rest, and-and-"

Overcome by the effort he had made, Mr. Stafford sank back exhausted. Again there was that awful stillness. His wife and daughter knelt at the side of the bed; they had been listening with intense earnestness, fearing that each word would be the last. His eyes are slowly turned towards them, but their fire is quenched for ever. Then passed over his countenance that livid paleness which told the hue of life never would return again. One hand is held by his wife

with tightening grasp, who bathes it with her fast-falling tears, the other, with movement almost imperceptible, is turned towards his daughter..

"Let me let me feel the pressure of a daughter's hand— let me feel the pressure of a daughter's lips!"

Edith took the hand. How clammy and how cold it was! She pressed her lips to his brow. It was a daughter's firstlast kiss. The world is fast fading from his sight, and now all is over!

CHAPTER XL.

AUNT REBECCA was staying at Forest Hall, when Mark read aloud the following paragraph from a morning paper:

"We regret to state that the musical world is likely to sustain a loss in the unexpected retirement from public life of the débutante, who was expected to make her first appearance before a London audience at the Hanover Square Concerts. We are happy to add that to the young lady herself this is a matter for congratulation, as we understand this sudden relinquishment of her profession is attributable to an accession of property to considerable amount.'”

Mark's voice faltered a little, and he put the paper quickly on the table.

"Why, Mark," exclaimed Flora, "how your hand does shake! Oh, dear!" she continued joyfully, "is it possible this can be true? Oh, Mark! oh, Aunt Rebecca! if it should be But so many things are put into newspapers that are-"

She took up the paper, and read the paragraph to herself, then she continued

"But this reads real-now does not it, Aunt Rebecca? does it not read as if it were really and indeed true ?" and she threw her arms round Aunt Rebecca. "Is not it delightful? Why, aunt," she said, as a tear of Aunt Rebecca's fell on her cheek, "this is no cause for tears."

Aunt Rebecca attempted to smile; and as she drew Flora gently towards her she saw that her eyes were filling also. "I am thinking of my poor friend, her mother-and these are tears of joyful sympathy for her."

Mrs. Ellison, who was present, and who had been observant of all that passed, appeared so deeply engrossed by her letters, that no one thought of disturbing her. Mrs. Ellison had her apprehensions, though they were apprehensions in which the truth or falsehood of the account in the newspaper had no share. She beat her foot impatiently, but Aunt Rebecca was the only one who understood the movement.

There was a loud ring at the gate, and the trampling of horses. It was an hour unusually early for visitors, and Flora ran to the window to ascertain who it could be. The riders had dismounted, and she could see only the groom, who was holding both horses.

"Who is it, Flora?" asked Mrs. Ellison.

Flora had made a sudden retreat from the window; she could see nobody but the groom, she said, and her cheeks had the tinge of brilliant rouge.

Captain Kingley was announced.

"You here!" exclaimed Mark, advancing to give him a cordial reception. "Why it is but a few days ago that I heard that your regiment was ordered to—I don't know what distant part of the world. Flora, did not you tell me that Captain Kingley's regiment was ordered to?"

"No," said Flora, her colour heightening to a still deeper hue; "it was to

The Captain glanced rapidly at Flora, his countenance beaming with joy. Their eyes met; it was only for an instant that they met, but-the tale was told!