some
day. It seems strange, does it not. Mr. Ferrers?"

"Not to me," returned Raby, quietly; but there was a smile on his face
as he spoke. "Crystal will never care for your friend, Mr. Huntingdon;
it is no use, his persecuting her with his attentions."

"If I could only get Percy to believe it; but he seems absolutely
crazy on that point. Miss Davenport--Miss Ferrers, I mean--is not
quite the style I admire; but she is superbly handsome, one must own
that."

"Yes," replied Raby, with a sigh; "I always said her face would do for
Vashti's. She has Italian blood in her veins; her mother was a
Florentine. Oh, here comes Margaret," as the door opened and she
reappeared. "Maggie, what do you think? Mr. Huntingdon has invited me
to Belgrave House."

"My uncle is very hospitable, Miss Ferrers," observed Erle, with a
smile at her surprise; "Percy and I can always ask our friends. He is
old, and has his own rooms; so we never interfere with him. Mr.
Ferrers would find himself very comfortable with us, and I would take
great care of him."

"You are very good"--but rather doubtfully. "You will not go to London
without me, Raby?"

"I think it will be better, Maggie. Mr. Huntingdon has promised to
take me over to Beulah Place; we shall go there one evening. Oh, yes,
it is all arranged. Please God, I shall bring her home with me," and
there was a strange, beautiful smile on his face as he spoke.

CHAPTER XIX.

AMONG THE SHADOWS.

When no more the shattered senses round the throne of reason dwell,
Thinking every sight a specter, every sound a passing bell;
When the mortal desolation falleth on the soul like rain,
And the wild hell-phantoms dance and revel in the human brain.

PHILIP STANHOPE WORSELY.

It was nearly dinner-time when Erle reached Redmond Hall; Sir Hugh had
not returned from London, Ellerton told him; he had telegraphed that
he might be detained all night--my lady was in the damask
drawing-room, and the young ladies had left an hour ago. Erle listened
to all this, and then rushed up to his room to make himself
presentable; and the dogs slunk off, evidently on the same errand.

He had to dine in solitary state by himself, while Fay ate her chicken
in the big drawing-room, where the old-fashioned mirrors always
reflected the tiny figure.

Fay was looking very pretty to-night, but just a trifle sad at the
thought that Hugh might not be home. She had