rite when I am across the water. Good-bye."

He stooped down and kissed her as he spoke. She laid her hand
on his arm, and detained him for a moment.

"Horace," she said, "you must not vex yourself to much about
this; you and Maria have only discovered in time what numbers
of people discover when it is too late--that you are not suited
to each other. Believe me, it is far better to find it out
before marriage than after."

"I daresay you are right," he said. "Don't be afraid, Georgie,
I shall not vex myself too much, but at present the whole
thing appears hateful to me, as far as I am concerned."

The next morning he was gone before any one of the family was
stirring.

CHAPTER V.

Er, der Herrlischste von Allen.

"Ashurst, July, 186--,

"Dear Uncle Horace,--Mamma has a bad headache, and says I am to
write and ask you whether you have quite forgotten us, and if
you are never coming to see us again. She says, cannot you
come next week, because Lady Lorrimer's great ball is on the
31st. She and cousin Madelon are going, and she would be very
glad if you could escort them, as papa says he will not go.
Cousin Madelon is here still, and Aunt Barbara is coming on
Monday to stay with us for a little while before she goes back
with her to Cornwall. Cousin Madelon has been reading French
with me, and giving me music-lessons. We had a pic-nic in the
woods last week, and my holidays begin to-morrow. I wish you
would come back, Uncle Horace, and then we could have some fun
before Cousin Madelon goes away. I wish she would never go,
but stay here always, as Maria used. I have been reading some
of your book; mamma said I might, and I like it very much.
Mamma sends her love, and I am

"Your affectionate niece,

"Madge Vavasour."

"Mamma says that she received yesterday the note that I
enclose, and that she sends it to you to read."

The note was from Maria Leslie, and was dated from a country-
town whither she had gone to stay with some friends, shortly
after Graham's departure from Ashurst.

"Dearest Georgie,

"I feel that you are the first person to whom I should write
the news that I am engaged to be married to Mr. Norris. He has
just had the offer of a living in the north, and lost no time
in coming to tell me of his prospects, and to invite me to
share them. To you, who know him so well, I need say nothing
of my own great happiness. I only fear that, after all that
has passed, you may think I have