d he. "Oh, Julia," said he, as he drew nigh, "it is
worse than I had even suspected. Cutbill tells me that--"

He could not go on, but bending his head on her shoulder, sobbed
hysterically.

"George, George, do not give way thus," said she calmly. "What is it
has happened? What has he told you?"

"The mine--the Lisconnor scheme--is bankrupt."

"Is that all?"

"All! Why, it is ruin--utter ruin! Every shilling that you had in
the world is gone, and I have done it all." And once more his feelings
overcame him, and he sobbed convulsively.

"But, my dear, dear brother," said she, fondly, "if it's lost, it's
lost, and there's no help for it; and let us never fret over what
binds us only the closer together. You can't get rid of me, now, for
I declare, George, no earthly consideration will make me accept Mr.
Cutbill."

"Oh, how can you jest this way, Julia, at such a moment!"

"I assure you I am most serious. I know that man intends to propose to
me, and you are just in the humor to mix up our present misfortunes
and his pretensions, and actually espouse his cause; but it's no use,
George, no use whatever. I 'll not consent. Go downstairs, now. Stay,
let me wipe those red eyes. Don't let that man see any trace of this
sorrow about you; bear up quietly and well. You shall see that I do not
give counsel without being able to show example. Go down now, and I 'll
follow you."

As he left the room she sat down, and accidentally so as to see her
face in the glass. The forced smile which she had put on was only slowly
vanishing from her features, and she was shocked at the pallor that now
succeeded.

"I _am_ looking very ill," muttered she. "There's no denying it. That
man will certainly see how this news has struck me down, and I would not
that he should witness my want of courage. I wish I had--no, I don't.
I 'd not put on rouge if I had it; but I wish we were alone to-day, and
could talk over our fortune together. Perhaps it 's as well as it is."
And now she arose and descended the stairs hastily, as though not to
give herself time for further thought.

Cutbill was in the act of cautioning L'Estrange against speaking of the
Lisconnor misfortune to his sister when she entered the room. "Do you
forget me, Miss L'Estrange," said he, coming forward, "or am I to remind
you that we met in Ireland?"

"Forget you, Mr. Cutbill," replied she, laughingly; "how can I forget
the charming tenor who sang second to me, or the gall