meant to hold the victim fast, that is quite another matter.

But there was no fairy, good or bad, to mingle in their affairs, and
they flowed smoothly on, to the content of all concerned, till Graeme
came home from Cacouna, to play, in Mrs Grove's opinion, the part of a
very bad fairy indeed. She was mistaken, however. Graeme took no part
in the matter, either to make or to mar. Even had she been made aware
of all the possibilities that might arise out of her brother's short
intimacy with the Groves, she never could have regarded the matter as
one in which she had a right to interfere. So, if there came a pause in
the lady's operations, if Arthur was more seldom one of their party,
even when special pains had been taken to secure him, it was owing to no
efforts of Graeme. If he began to settle down into the old quiet home
life, it was because the life suited him; and Graeme's influence was
exerted and felt, only as it had ever been in a silent, sweet, sisterly
fashion, with no reference to Mrs Grove, or her schemes.

But that there came a pause in the effective operations of that clever
lady, soon became evident to herself. She could not conceal from
herself or Miss Fanny, that the beckonings from the carriage window were
not so quickly seen, or so promptly responded to as of old. Not that
this defection on Arthur's part was ever discussed between them. Mrs
Grove had not sufficient confidence in her daughter to admit of this.
Fanny was not reliable, mamma felt. Indeed, she was very soon taking
consolation in the admiration excited by a pair of shining epaulets,
which began about this time to gleam with considerable frequency in
their neighbourhood. But mamma did not believe in officers, at least
matrimonially speaking, and as to the consolation to be derived from a
new flirtation, it was but doubtful and transitory at the best. Besides
she fancied that Mr Elliott's attentions had been observed, and she was
quite sure that his defection would be so, too. Two failures succeeding
each other so rapidly, would lay her skill open to question, and "mar
dear Fanny's prospects."

And so Mrs Grove concentrated all her forces to meet the emergency.
Another invitation was given, and it was accepted. In the single minute
that preceded the entrance into the dining-room, the first of a series
of decisive measures was carried into effect. With a voice that
trembled, and eyes that glistened with grateful tears, the lady