please you." And surely it needed no special judgment in horse-flesh to see that the two fine creatures who stood in their stalls, so daintly groomed and cared for, were of no common lineage. “Dear old lady,” said the Major, returning the caress of the animal next to us, "we had a hard day of it yesterday, hadn't we Stella?" and he stroked her face affectionately. "That is to be my daughter's property when she comes home, and no lady in Warwickshire will have a better mount, for I have trained the mare myself, and she can do anything in the field." So saying, he unfastened the halter and led his favourite out into the yard, that we might the better inspect her points. Staunton eyed her admiringly, and with the air of a connoisseur, but presently took a few steps forward and ran his hand down one of her fetlocks. The Major hastened to explain that she had slightly hurt herself there a few weeks before, but the swelling was only temporary. Staunton's quick eye at detecting this had not been lost on him, however, and he enquired if he was accustomed to riding. "Not lately" replied Staunton, "but I used to be considered rather horsey' amongst our quiet set at Oxford, and when I get my Rectory I think it very likely I shall set up a staid old cob. "Just let me put the saddle on Stella, and you take her a canter round the field yonder," said the Major, and he called to his man to bring saddle and bridle. Staunton's eyes sparkled at this mark of confidence, and putting his foot into the stirrup, he threw himself lightly across the mare with the ease of a practised horseman. "If you like to try a jump, put her at the fence leading into yonder paddock, and come back across the brook at the lower end; she knows them well enough, and the slightest hint will be enough," Staunton nodded, and started off. Stella seemed inclined to indulge in a little playfulness with her new rider, and performed a series of rearings and curvets which would quickly have brought my hands to the pommel, and probably my body to the ground. But the horseman, taking it very quietly, soon steadied her, and set off at a smart gallop. "What a seat the fellow has!" cried the Major delightedly; "why he might have learnt his riding in the 5th. Bravely jumped!" he added, as they cleared the fence with plenty to spare'; "Stella and he are well matched indeed," and he followed them with eager eyes as horse and rider rounded the paddock, and after taking the water jump with equal cleverness, came up to us at a hand gallop. "Well, what do you think of her?" asked the Major as Staunton threw himself off, and patted his steed's neck with emphasis. "A horse fit for a queen" replied he, "and if I had done her Majesty a service, I would crave no higher reward than to have the exercising of Stella." "Her Majesty would evidently seek a long way before finding a better or gallanter groom, Mr. Staunton, and meanwhile, if you will take the loan of the mare from me, whenever you would like a ride, she is very much at your service. It will be an agreeable relaxation from your parish work, and I shall be able to give more attention to Charlemagne, yonder, whom I have somewhat slighted for his lady companion lately." And he turned to the stable again, to appease the jealousy of its other occupant, whose "whinnying" seemed to denote a shrewd

suspicion that fun was going on from which he was unwarrantably excluded.

This exhibition of proficiency in an art which the Major prized so highly, and of which he was himself an accomplished professor, had evidently greatly strengthened our host's good opinion of Staunton; and a cordial friendship soon sprung up between the two. They had a few rides together, on the rare occasions when Staunton would allow himself to yield to the temptations of the Major, but the duties of his Curacy grew apace, or rather, he constantly made for himself new duties, and his opportunities for this or any other personal indulgence grew fewer and fewer.

And, by and bye, Stella passed into her young mistress's hands, for Florence Mercier had at last been able to escape from her warm-hearted relatives, and to come and gladden her father's solitary home.

She made her first appearance at church on Christmas morning, and was naturally the object of much interest and curiosity. The Major's usual stately walk along the aisle seemed statelier still as he for the first time conducted his daughter to their pew, and the graceful courtesy with which she passed into her place while he held open the pew door was pleasant to witness. From my own seat I could watch her features without apparent rudeness, and I fully availed myself of the opportunity during the service. Fine picturesque features they were, of the genuine Irish type, full of verve and life, the eyes and mouth seeming to vie with each other in expressing each passing emotion; the prevailing expression, however, being, as I fancied, one of good natured indifference towards the service and the congregation, varied by intense pleasure in the floral decorations of the church, to which her eyes were constantly wandering. She stayed while the organist played us out, and listened with evident appreciation and enjoyment to his Voluntary; but she took no part in the Major's interchange of greetings with his friends, and it was not until Mr. Marshall came from the vestry, and the church was nearly empty, that she rose from her seat as a signal for their departure.

Staunton and I had a chat about her as we strolled home together, and we both agreed that she was handsome and interesting. But it seemed tolerably certain that a change of government had taken place at The Lysways, and that henceforth our friend the Major would be the willing slave of an absolute monarch in the person of Miss Florence. From that time until Staunton's avowal this evening, I had increased my acquaintance with her but little, for I was shortly afterwards called away by a business engagement to the Continent, where I remained for several months, and on my return I had small leisure for visits either at The Lysways or elsewhere. I generally saw her on the Sunday, and thought I could detect a change for the better in her outward demeanour. Certainly she paid marked attention to our Curate's preaching, and now and then her face would light up with quickened sympathy as he spoke with more than usual eloquence and feeling.

But I found that the verdict of St. Francis' was not altogether favourable. Her brusque and slightly imperious manner obtained for

her amongst the envious of her own sex the reputation of being rather 'uppish' and disagreeable; while the vanity of more than one of our young "exquisites" had been sorely wounded by the sarcastic banter with which she mercilessly overwhelmed their attentions.

Such was the girl who had managed to win Edmund Staunton's affections, without the slightest knowledge or suspicion on my part; and I was still absorbed in my meditations, when I heard his returning footsteps on the stairs.

CHAPTER VI.

I watched his face anxiously as he entered my room, and saw at once that his visit could not have been altogether unfavourable.

"Well, has Miss Florence found you as irresistible as everybody else, or are you going to leave us?" I asked. He smiled, and it was the smile of quiet content and happiness, without any of the ecstacy of a newlyaccepted lover. Then, walking across to the fire-place, he planted his hands under his coat-tails, and deliberately studied the pattern of my hearth-rug.

"That is one way of taking the rough edge off a fellow's impatience," I cried, "but when you have quite done chewing the cud of your recollections, perhaps you will remember that I am brimming over with what Byron calls, 'that low vice' curiosity. How is it, old fellow ?" I added earnestly, putting my hand on his shoulder and looking hard at him: "have you won her ?"

"No," he replied, returning my gaze with a provokingly amused twinkle in his eyes.

"Has she refused you, then ?"

"No!" And again he was silent, apparently enjoying his survey of my perplexed and half-annoyed countenance. "By-the-bye, Llewellyn, did I leave my pipe in your room yesterday?"

"Hang the pipe, and its owner too!" I ejaculated hotly.

"The latter's all in good time, my boy, but I must find my pipe;" and he sauntered out of the room to do so, leaving me discomfited at his cool treatment. Returning with the missing meerschaum, he proceeded with the same aggravating air of nonchalance, to fill it from his tobacco-pouch; and then, handing the latter to me, said laughingly, "Come and sit down, and I will tell you all about it, for I see there will be a dangerous explosion if I don't;" and he drew up an easy chair. I did the same, and after lighting our pipes, he looked up at the ceiling and began.

"When I reached The Lysways, the maid told me her master was in his study, and I went straight up to him. He received me with the same hearty welcome I have always had from him, although I've no doubt it would have been decidedly less impressive if he had known the object of my visit. For some minutes we conversed on indifferent topics, and I managed to preserve my coherence, but I'm a bad hand at subterfuge; so, taking advantage of the first pause, I plunged boldly in medias res and asked him if he would allow me to pay my addresses to

his daughter. If my happiness had not been so much at stake, I should have been amused at the immediate result of my question. I verily believe that a bomb-shell falling through the roof amongst his favourite books and papers, could not have startled him more; and it was really a sight to witness the fine old fellow's struggles between his evident first impulse to kick me down stairs, and the juster and gentler emotions which followed. For a few seconds he said nothing, but looked steadily into my face with a gaze that brought the blood into my cheeks; and then, rising from his chair, he paced a few steps up and down the room with his arms folded. I began to feel nervous and uncomfortable under this sort of suspense, but after a short time, he came back into his chair and spoke to me, his face wearing a grave but kindly expression. Staunton, your request has taken me utterly by surprise, and you must forgive me if for a moment I betrayed a feeling which was as unjust to you as it was unworthy of myself. The idea of any attachment between you and Florence had never entered my mind; and I confess I don't know how to answer you. My daughter is very dear to me, and, without her, my home would be indeed a desolate one. I have pictured her to myself-selfishly perhaps as the companion of my declining years, and your revelation has now rudely awakened me to the possibility of a separation. And yet, I couldn't expect the girl always to remain single on my account,' he broke out, in his old genial, confidential way, a smile for the first time appearing on his face. But he grew serious again, and seemed at a loss how to go on. After another pause, he continued, 'I will tell you candidly, Staunton, that I like you thoroughly; and I believe you to be a true-hearted, manly, Christian gentleman, whom any girl might be proud to call her husband-(It is embarrassing to repeat all these compliments, Llewellyn, but I must in justice tell you everything.)-And the longer I think of it, the more strongly I feel, that from you this declaration-whatever may come of it—is an honour to my daughter and myself. But there are several things to be considered, and I should like time for reflection. First of all, what says Florence herself, for I presume there is some sort of understanding between you, notwithstanding my parental blindness ?'

"I have neither said nor hinted anything to her,' I replied, 'nor should I dream of doing so without first asking your sanction.' This seemed to move him deeply, and he held out his hand and grasped mine.

"Just as I might have expected, Staunton. Well, go downstairs and break it to her; you will find her alone in the dining-room. But don't be too sanguine,' he added gently, for she has a mind of her own, and will be sure to use it honestly in this matter, as in everything else. You had better not see me again to-night, in any case, for I want to be

alone now.'

"I fully appreciated the delicacy of this last suggestion, considering the uncertainty of my mission below; and, exchanging a warm 'goodnight' with him, I left the room."

"What an ideal of a man the Major is!" ejaculated Staunton, breaking off from his narrative. "Thackeray might almost have had him in

mind when drawing his Colonel Newcome, whom I take to be the most delightful male character in English fiction."

"Strangely enough, I have always associated them myself," I replied, "and I congratulate you heartily on the possibility of such a father-inlaw; but let us come to the daughter, please, and don't tantalise your auditor by any further interruptions.'

"It won't take long to tell you the rest, for I suppose even your impudence will not expect me to relate verbatim what took place in the dining-room?"

"And yet, a minute ago, in apologising for repeating some very flattering remarks on yourself, you said you must in justice tell me everything !"

Staunton laughed, and blushed just a little. "Well," continued he, "I went downstairs with considerable trepidation, for notwithstanding the Major's kind and encouraging reception, his warning as to the possibility of a different termination to my interview with Florence agreed only too completely with my own fears. Knocking at the door, a wellknown voice bade me come in, but, directly I entered, a mutual embarrassment seized us; for, expecting to see only the servant, she had continued her occupation, and I discovered my lady-love kneeling on the floor, and cutting up a long roll of flannel, which for greater convenience of manipulation she had spread out on the carpet. I thought I detected a shade of vexation and resentment on her face as she rose to her feet and returned my greeting, but her native good-breeding prevailed, and she asked me to take a seat, at the same time disengaging the scissors from her fingers.

"I don't want to be an unwelcome visitor, Miss Mercier, and yet I fear you will consider me so,' I said, glancing involuntarily at the flannel. She also looked in the same direction, and then at me, and then could not restrain a smile.

"Confess, Mr. Staunton, that you find it difficult to realise the scene before you, and to reconcile the incongruity of Miss Mercier cutting up flannel petticoats for the poor.' This was said with a slightly sarcastic and defiant air which did her injustice, and I hastened to express the pleasure I really felt at seeing her so well engaged. As to the incongruity, I certainly fail to detect any,' I said warmly, and something in my tone or looks seemed to surprise her.

"As I am discovered, I may as well tell you the meaning of it, but on condition that you keep my secret.' I bowed, and she continued, 'You probably know the Wilsons who keep that small haberdasher's shop in the village? They are honest, deserving people, and have evidently seen better times. Lately, things have been going wrong with them, and the stock in their shop is fast dwindling to supply their daily needs. It was from one of their neighbours I heard this, for they never complain themselves, and she told me that all three of the sisters were neither fed nor clothed as they should be. 'It would do them good if some of their own flannel was cut up into petticoats for themselves while there is any left,'-the woman said, and I thought it a capital idea. So I went