at Miss Clara had allowed herself to be won too easily--others were
picturing to themselves the situation of the poor girl who was absent;
and contributed little toward the gayety of the party. On this occasion,
however, nothing occurred to interrupt the proceedings; the marriage
took place; and, immediately after it, Mr. Streatfield and his bride
started for a tour on the Continent.

On their departure, Jane Langley returned home. She made no reference
whatever to her sister's marriage; and no one mentioned it in her
presence. Still the color did not return to her cheek, or the old gayety
to her manner. The shock that she had suffered had left its traces on
her for life. But there was no evidence that she was sinking under the
remembrances which neither time nor resolution could banish. The strong,
pure heart had undergone a change, but not a deterioration. All that had
been brilliant in her character was gone; but all that was noble in it
remained. Never had her intercourse with her family and her friends been
so affectionate and so kindly as it was now.

When, after a long absence, Mr. Streatfield and his wife returned to
England, it was observed, at her first meeting with them, that the
momentary confusion and embarrassment were on _their_ side, not on
_hers_. During their stay at Langley Hall, she showed not the slightest
disposition to avoid them. No member of the family welcomed them more
cordially, entered into all their plans and projects more readily, or
bade them farewell with a kinder or better grace, when they departed for
their own home.

Our tale is nearly ended: what remains of it, must comprise the history
of many years in a few words.

Time passed on; and Death and Change told of its lapse among the family
at Langley Hall. Five years after the events above related, Mr. Langley
died; and was followed to the grave, shortly afterwards, by his wife. Of
their two sons, the eldest was rising into good practice at the bar; the
youngest had become _attache_ to a foreign embassy. Their third daughter
was married, and living at the family seat of her husband, in Scotland.
Mr. and Mrs. Streatfield had children of their own, now, to occupy their
time and absorb their care. The career of life was over for some--the
purposes of life had altered for others--Jane Langley alone, still
remained unchanged.

She now lived entirely with her aunt. At intervals--as their worldly
duties and avocations permitted them--the