tain Maudsley had been raving about
the beauty of the wonderful brunette who was sitting opposite to him
at dinner. "She must be an Italian," he had said to Miss Bellagrove,
who received his confidence somewhat sulkily; "one never sees those
wonderful eyes and that tint of hair out of Italy or Spain.
Tanqueville, who is an artist, is wild about her, because he says he
has never seen a face with a purer oval. He wants to paint her for his
Rebecca at the Well. It is rather hard lines she should be engaged to
a blind clergyman," finished Captain Maudsley, rather incautiously.
Miss Bellagrove's fair face wore an uneasy expression.

"How do you know they are engaged?" she said, impatiently; "I do not
believe they are. Miss Ferrers does not wear any ring."

"Nevertheless, I should not mind betting a few dozens of gloves that
they are," replied Captain Maudsley, with a keen, mischievous glance
that rather disconcerted Miss Bellagrove. He was quite aware that he
was teasing the poor little girl; but then she deserved punishment for
flirting with that ass Rogers all last evening. Jack Maudsley was
honestly in love with the fair-haired beauty, but he had plenty of
pluck and spirit, and would not be fooled if he could help it. Perhaps
Miss Bellagrove, in common with the rest of her sex, liked a lover to
be a little masterful. It was certain that she was on her best
behavior during the rest of the evening, and snubbed Mr. Rogers most
decidedly when he invited her to take a turn in the shrubberies.

Crystal attracted a great deal of notice in the boarding-house, but
she gave no one any opportunity of addressing her. Raby was always
beside her, and she seemed completely engrossed with his attentions.
As Miss Campion observed to Margaret, she might as well look for
another companion for all the good Crystal was to her.

But one evening Margaret found Crystal sitting alone in a corner of
the large drawing-room. Most of the company had gone into the
tea-room, but one or two, Raby among them, were lingering in the
garden. Raby was talking rather earnestly to Miss Campion.

"Alone, Crystal!" sitting down beside her with a smile. "Do you mean
that Raby has actually left you?" But Crystal's face wore no answering
smile--she looked a little disturbed.

"I asked him to go and let me think it over. I can not make up my
mind, Margaret. Raby wants me to marry him at once, before we go back
to England; he will have it that it will be better