tinued
to laugh at Alick's expectations of producing any effect on the Clever
Woman, and the debate of the woodcuts was adjourned to the Monday.

In good time, Rachel made her appearance in Miss Williams's little
sitting-room. "I am ready to submit to any test that Captain Keith may
require to confute himself," she said to Ermine; "and I do so the more
readily that with all his mocking language, there is a genuine candour
and honesty beneath that would be quite worth convincing. I believe that
if once persuaded of the injustice of his suspicions he would in
the reaction become a fervent supporter of Mr. Mauleverer and of the
institution; and though I should prefer carrying on our work entirely
through women, yet this interest would be so good a thing for him, that
I should by no means reject his assistance."

Rachel had, however, long to wait. As she said, Captain Keith was one
of those inborn loiterers who, made punctual by military duty, revenge
themselves by double tardiness in the common affairs of life. Impatience
had nearly made her revoke her good opinion of him, and augur that,
knowing himself vanquished, he had left the field to her, when at last
a sound of wheels was heard, a dog-cart stopped at the door, and Captain
Keith entered with an enormous blue and gold volume under his arm.

"I am sorry to be so late," he said, "but I have only now succeeded in
procuring my ally."

"An ally?"

"Yes, in this book. I had to make interest at the Avoncester Library,
before I could take it away with me." As he spoke he placed the book
desk-fashion on a chair, and turned it so that Ermine might see it; and
she perceived that it was a bound-up volume of the "Illustrated London
News." Two marks were in it, and he silently parted the leaves at the
first.

It revealed the lace-making beauty in all her rural charms.

"I see," said Rachel; "it is the same figure, but not the same shaped
picture."

Without another word, Alick Keith opened the pages at the lace-school;
and here again the figures were identical, though the margin had been
differently finished off.

"I perceive a great resemblance," again said Rachel, "but none that is
not fully explained by Mr. Mauleverer's accurate resemblance and desire
to satirize foolish sentiment."

Alick Keith took up the woodcut. "I should say," he observed, holding
it up to the light, "that it was unusual to mount a proof engraving so
elaborately on a card."

"Oh, I see what y