ng in the drawing-room.

'Ah, Captain, the very man I wanted! We haven't had a moment to
ourselves since your arrival. You must come and take a bit of dinner
with us to-day--thank Heaven, we've no company! I have a leg of pork,
smuggled into the house as if it was a bale of goods from Alexandria;
nobody knows of it but myself and Tim.'

'Tim! why, have you brought Tim to Paris?'

'Hush!' said he in a low, cautious voice; 'I 'd be ruined entirely if
Madame was to find him out. Tim is dressed like a Tartar, and stands in
the hall; and Mrs. Rooney believes that he never heard of a civil bill
in his life. But here we are.'

So saying, he opened a small wicket with a latchkey, and led me into a
large and well-trimmed garden, across which we walked at a rapid pace,
Paul speculating from the closed shutters of his wife's room that he
needed not have hurried home so fast.

'She's not down yet--one o'clock as I'm a sinner! Come along and sit
down in the library; I'll join you presently.'

Scarcely had Paul left the room when I began to think over the
awkwardness of my position should I meet Miss Bellew. What course to
follow under the circumstances I knew not; when just at the moment the
door opened, and she entered. Not perceiving me, as I stood in a deep
window-recess, she drew a chair to the fire and sat down. I hardly
ventured to breathe. I felt like one who had no right to obtrude himself
there, and had become, as it were, a spy upon her. A long-drawn breath
burst from me; she started up. I moved slightly forward, and stood
before her. She leaned her hand upon the arm of the chair for support;
her cheek grew deadly pale, and a tremulous quiver shook her lip.

'Mr. Hinton,' she began; and then as if the very sound of her voice had
terrified her, she paused. 'Mr. Hinton,' resumed she, 'I am sure--nay,
I know--if you were aware of the reasons of my conduct towards you, you
would not only acquit me of all blame, but spare me the pain of our ever
meeting again.'

'I know them--I do know them,' said I passionately. 'I have been
slandered.'

'No, you do not, cannot know what I mean,' interrupted she. 'It is a
secret between my own heart and one who is now no more.'

The last words fell from her one by one, while a single tear rolled from
her eyelid and trickled along her cheek.

'Yes, yes, Louisa; I do know it--I know all. A chance has told me how
your dear father's name has been used to banish me for ever from your