ply, and the rest of the journey was
completed almost in silence.

Every one at the Manor was of course deeply interested in the story
which Walter had to tell, and shocked at the dreadful termination of the
exhibition in the park. That Julia looked scared and ill was naturally
no matter of wonder to anybody; to have witnessed such an accident was
enough to upset the strongest nerves. In a day or two, however, she had
pretty nearly recovered her former spirits, for the newspaper account of
the terrible catastrophe finished by stating that Signor Telitetti was
going on well; an arm and two or three ribs had been broken, and the
body generally much bruised and shaken, but the hospital surgeons did
not anticipate fatal results,--it was expected that in a few weeks the
signor would be able to go about again. But though this news had come
as a relief to Julia Vivian, and raised her spirits, there was by no
means unclouded sunshine in her face or words. Conscience _would_
speak, and it spoke in low but distinct utterances of condemnation. She
could see, too, that Walter was not altogether feeling towards her as he
had done before the accident. She had sunk in his esteem; he clearly
did not take the same pleasure in consulting her wishes and getting up
schemes for her amusement as formerly. To her aunt and Amos she rarely
spoke, except when compelled to do so; and her father would often look
at her anxiously, fearing that her health was giving way.

Amos wondered a little, and asked his brother if he could account for
the change in their sister; for though at times she was hurried along by
a perfect gale of boisterous spirits, at others she was swallowed up by
the profoundest gloom. Walter's answer was evasive, and left an
impression on his brother's mind that there was something amiss which
had been kept back from him. He made several loving attempts to draw
his sister out of herself, and to lead her to confide her sorrows or
difficulties to him, but all in vain: and when he attempted gently to
guide her thoughts to Him who alone could give her true peace, she would
turn from him with a vexed expression of countenance and an air of
almost disdain. Poor Amos! how grievously was he disappointed to find
the sister for whom he had done and suffered so much getting, now that
she was restored to her old home, more and more out of sympathy with him
in what was highest and best, and giving herself up to reckless and
unmiti