out opposition. To hear him
make a speech was a decided treat; a handsome man of stately presence,
he invested every word with new dignity. The grand volume of sound
rolled on in one continuous stream; the ideas he expressed were noble,
the sentiments patriotic and exalted; his gestures were full of
animation and grace.

Royston Carruthers had done great service to his country in his time. He
had advocated several important measures; his eloquence had facilitated
the introduction of several bills; his country thought well of him, and
for a wonder, was grateful to him.

Government offered him the title of Baron Rutsford of Rutsford, and he
had declined it, saying that his ancestors had for years asked no higher
title than that of Lord of the Manor, and he valued his name--Carruthers
of Ulverston--too highly to ever exchange it for another.

In the very pride and zenith of his prosperity he married the Lady
Hildegarde Blenholme, the only daughter of the Duke of Blenholme. She
was a very beautiful and accomplished woman--proud to a fault, but
generous and noble in disposition. They had one child, Basil, and while
he was yet a boy, his father died, worn out with work and over-exertion.
He left his wife, Lady Hildegarde Carruthers, sole guardian of the boy,
expressing a wish that she should bring him up to resemble herself in
mind and disposition as far as it was possible.

Three years after the great statesman's death, a cousin of Lady
Hildegarde died, leaving her only child, Marion Hautville, under the
sole care and guardianship of the mistress of Ulverston Priory.

"Bring her up as you would a daughter of your own," wrote the dying
mother. "She has a large fortunes--save her from fortune-hunters."

And Lady Carruthers, scrupulously carried out her kinswoman's wish. She
took the girl to her own home, Ulverston Priory; she superintended her
education; she brought her up in simple, refined habits--succeeded in
making of her a perfect lady and a noble woman.

Then the dearest wish of her heart was to see her son, the heir to
Ulverston, marry Marion Hautville, one of the loveliest girls and
wealthiest heiresses in England. She was far too wise ever to express
such a wish openly, none the less it was deeply engraven on her heart.
They were warmly attached to each other and Lady Carruthers fancied that
she already saw some signs of liking on the part of Marion for Basil.

While Miss Hautville pursued her quiet, ordinary