ews to Edith; but, my dear fellow, not a word of it at the
clubs. Of course, they will hear of it from the newspapers before the
world is many hours older."

Arthur was right, for the _Pall Mall Gazette_, of the following day,
announced the retirement from the service of Captain Carlton, Light
Dragoons, by the sale of his commission, and the _Court Circular_ of the
same date created quite an excitement in fashionable circles by the
following: "_On dit_.--Captain A. Carlton, late of the Light Dragoons,
has just succeeded to the title and estates of his great grandfather,
the late Earl of Castlemere, which title had lain dormant for several
years, in consequence of the only son of the late nobleman never having
assumed the title, and died in obscurity abroad, and we, learn that the
new Earl is about to lead to the hymenial altar the beautiful Miss
Effingham, heiress of the splendid estate of Vellenaux in Devonshire."

The news of the alteration in Carlton's social position was received
with the utmost satisfaction in Berkly Square. Edith was too firmly
convinced of the unalterable attachment of her lover to fear that a
change of fortune would, in any way, alienate or weaken the love he bore
her, believing, as she did, that Arthur loved her with all the devotion
of a long tried affection. Certain alterations in the programme had to
be made, consequent on the elevation to the Peerage of the Bridegroom
elect. The wedding, which, was to have taken place in Devonshire, was
now to be celebrated in London; this entailed a delay of some few weeks
in order that the family mansion of the Castlemeres, in Saint James'
Square, might be re-decorated and furnished in a style befitting the
occasion.

As the rent role of the Carlton Abbey property produced an income equal
to a clear ten thousand a year, Arthur now considered himself in a
position to carry out the great desire of his heart, that of presenting
to his beloved Edith the costly gems he had brought with him from India.
He therefore took them to one of the leading jewelers in London for
arrangement and re-setting, and among the beautiful and costly wedding
presents from the aristocratic connections of the Earl, from the Bartons
and others who had known Edith from her infancy, there were none that
could compare in any way with the magnificent diamond tiara ear rings
and bracelets, the cross rings and brooches of rubies, pearls and
diamonds, from the jewel case of that mutinous