ing in spite of herself. "But tell me more
of the process of your experiment. You took her as a child, and resolved
to train her according to your own ideal. Was that easy?"

"It seemed so. I desired to instil habits of truth--she was already by
nature truthful as the day; a taste for nature and all things natural--that
seemed inborn: perceptions of Art as the interpreter of Nature--those were
more difficult to teach. I think they may come. You have heard her play
and sing?"

"No."

"She will surprise you. She has less talent for drawing; still, all that
teaching could do has been done--in a word, she is accomplished. Temper,
heart, mind--these are all excellent." Harley stopped, and suppressed a
sigh. "Certainly, I ought to be very happy," said he; and he began to wind
up his watch.

"Of course she must love you?" said the Countess, after a pause. "How
could she fail?"

"Love me! My dear mother, that is the very question I shall have to ask."

"Ask! Love is discovered by a glance; it has no need of asking."

"I have never discovered it, then, I assure you. The fact is, that before
her childhood was passed, I removed her, as you may suppose, from my roof.
She resided with an Italian family, near my usual abode. I visited her
often, directed her studies, watched her improvement--"

"And fell in love with her?"

"Fall is such a very violent word. No; I don't remember to have had a
fall. It was all a smooth inclined plane from the first step, until at
last I said to myself, 'Harley L'Estrange, thy time has come. The bud has
blossomed into flower. Take it to thy breast.' And myself replied to
myself meekly, 'So be it.' Then I found that Lady N daughters, was coming
to England. I asked her Ladyship to take my ward to your house. I wrote to
you, and prayed your assent; and, that granted, I knew you would obtain my
father's. I am here--you give me the approval I sought for. I will speak to
Helen to-morrow. Perhaps, after all, she may reject me."

"Strange, strange--you speak thus coldly, thus lightly; you so capable of
ardent love!"

"Mother," said Harley, earnestly, "be satisfied! _I_ am! Love, as of old,
I feel, alas! too well, can visit me never more. But gentle companionship,
tender friendship, the relief and the sunlight of woman's smile--hereafter
the voices of children--music that, striking on the hearts of both parents,
wakens the most lasting and the purest of all sympathies: these are my
hope. Is the hop