tion of this year--Catholic emancipation.

"You are a staunch supporter of the Bill, my father says. Of course,
you aid him in the Kingswell election to-morrow?"

"I can scarcely call it an election," returned John. He had been
commenting on it to us that morning rather severely. An election! it
was merely a talk in the King's Head parlour, a nomination, and show of
hands by some dozen poor labourers, tenants of Mr. Brithwood and Lord
Luxmore, who got a few pounds a-piece for their services--and the thing
was done.

"Who is the nominee, Lady Caroline?"

"A young gentleman of small fortune, but excellent parts, who returned
with us from Naples."

The lady's manner being rather more formal than she generally used,
John looked up quickly.

"The election being to-morrow, of course his name is no secret?"

"Oh, no! Vermilye. Mr. Gerard Vermilye. Do you know him?"

"I have heard of him."

As he spoke--either intentionally or no--John looked full at Lady
Caroline. She dropped her eyes and began playing with her bracelets.
Both immediately quitted the subject of Kingswell election.

Soon after we rose from table; and Guy, who had all dinner-time fixed
his admiring gaze upon the "pretty lady," insisted on taking her down
the garden and gathering for her a magnificent arum lily, the mother's
favourite lily. I suggested gaining permission first; and was sent to
ask the question.

I found John and his wife in serious, even painful conversation.

"Love," he was saying, "I have known it for very long; but if she had
not come here, I would never have grieved you by telling it."

"Perhaps it is not true," said Ursula, warmly. "The world is ready
enough to invent cruel falsehoods about us women."

"'Us women!' Don't say that, Ursula. I will not have my wife named in
the same breath with HER."

"John!"

"I will not, I say. You don't know what it cost me even to see her
touch your hand."

"John!"

The soft tone recalled him to his better self.

"Forgive me! but I would not have the least taint come near this wife
of mine. I could not bear to think of her holding intercourse with a
light woman--a woman false to her husband."

"I do not believe it. Caroline was foolish, she was never wicked.
Listen!--If this were true, how could she be laughing with our children
now? Oh! John--think--she has no children."

The deep pity passed from Ursula's heart to her husband's. John
clasped fondly the two hands