quate voice, as one
confronted by a world so tragic that any hope of her assisting therein
was out of the question.

It was not long after this exposition of the family affairs that
Christopher called upon them; but Picotee was not present, having gone to
think of superhuman work on the spur of Ethelberta's awakening talk.
There was something new in the way in which Ethelberta received the
announcement of his name; passion had to do with it, so had
circumspection; the latter most, for the first time since their reunion.

'I am going to leave this part of England,' said Christopher, after a few
gentle preliminaries. 'I was one of the applicants for the post of
assistant-organist at Melchester Cathedral when it became vacant, and I
find I am likely to be chosen, through the interest of one of my father's
friends.'

'I congratulate you.'

'No, Ethelberta, it is not worth that. I did not originally mean to
follow this course at all; but events seemed to point to it in the
absence of a better.'

'I too am compelled to follow a course I did not originally mean to
take.' After saying no more for a few moments, she added, in a tone of
sudden openness, a richer tincture creeping up her cheek, 'I want to put
a question to you boldly--not exactly a question--a thought. Have you
considered whether the relations between us which have lately prevailed
are--are the best for you--and for me?'

'I know what you mean,' said Christopher, hastily anticipating all that
she might be going to say; 'and I am glad you have given me the
opportunity of speaking upon that subject. It has been very good and
considerate in you to allow me to share your society so frequently as you
have done since I have been in town, and to think of you as an object to
exist for and strive for. But I ought to have remembered that, since you
have nobody at your side to look after your interests, it behoved me to
be doubly careful. In short, Ethelberta, I am not in a position to
marry, nor can I discern when I shall be, and I feel it would be an
injustice to ask you to be bound in any way to one lower and less
talented than you. You cannot, from what you say, think it desirable
that the engagement should continue. I have no right to ask you to be my
betrothed, without having a near prospect of making you my wife. I don't
mind saying this straight out--I have no fear that you will doubt my
love; thank Heaven, you know what that is well enough! However