shame. As it was, she was only a little agreeably astonished, and stood by for a few minutes, listening.

The Admiral entered into conversation at once in a bluff, hearty, off-hand way, whose openness seemed to guarantee, "Here he is! I'll answer for him! Simple old sailor, very friendly, true and honest to the backbone, and as guiltless of machination as a baby.” The Admiral had hoped to have had the honour of waiting on Mr Smith before, felt quite ashamed to meet him anywhere but in his own house for the first time; but he must look it over, must consider old fellow's infirmities; no longer in his prime as Mr Smith was, and had been fairly tied at home by the leg.

Gout and rheumatism was his mixture, sometimes stronger of the one, sometimes of the other.

Capital doctor, Dr Hunt. Mr Smith had not yet had occasion for his services. Hoped it would be long before he had. Doctors were like Mother Carey's chickens, only to be seen in foul weather. Had a friend who was asked the other day for his doctor's name, and couldn't tell, for he hadn't consulted one for fifteen years? That was the sort of man to live with, and get an appetite for your meals. However, he must say for Hunt, that whenever he came to Fulton he stayed to dinner, and took his port like any other Christian.

Well-ah-fine open weather. The meet was at Fulton on Monday, would Mr Smith join them at breakfast?

He didn't hunt? Ah-but he might ride to the meet-would be very happy to see him; and Miss Fulton and the ladies would show him the old ruins afterwards.

Mr Smith thought he might ride to the meet; and, if he did, would certainly avail himself of the Admiral's hospitality. Miss Fulton had next to endorse the invitation, which her brother loudly informed her of.

She did it cordially; and he felt that he had now, at least, thrown out one grappling-iron. The ruins would do for Monday; and though he had been rather staggered by the not hunting, he was able presently to reflect that even that might turn out to his advantage. Brothers-in-law

who don't hunt can't spend their money on hunters; and if there were no expensive taste to run away with the fortune, why, it was a thousand times the better. He would be able thus to indulge the few moderate desires of his dear

Cornelia's brother; and he could give Corny the hint whenever he wanted anything. Corny was a good soul, and, by George! it was time she had a husband; but he must take care how anything of that sort got to her ears.

He knew better than to start her on her high horse. No, no; all he had to do was to get Smith to Fulton, and manage the business himself.

As they departed, he took care to say, "See you on Monday, then?"

And Mr Smith replied, that he certainly hoped so.

When Monday came, however, all had changed. The weather was no longer soft and gently dull; there was heavy rain, and no break in the clouds gave hope of anything better. It was not the sort of morning on which one cares to rise betimes, and ride eight miles to breakfast at another man's house. It was not a day for ruins, or anything else. Miss Fulton must wait.

He reflected that he was going out to dinner, and concluded to take his other meals at home.

CHAPTER IX.

THE WOMAN WHO OUGHT NOT TO BECOME HIS WIFE.

ALTHOUGH the Tolletons had made a great deal of their family bereavement as a reason for there being no dinnerparty, it may be doubted whether, in any case, they would have been able to give one. As may have been gathered, they found some difficulty in collecting their neighbours when they wished to entertain.

But

In asking Mr Smith, it is true, they much preferred having him alone, or with the simple addition of Philip Wellwood, with whom they stood on no ceremony. when they had wanted to have a dinner-party-and they had been very desirous indeed of giving one a few months previously for reasons which have no place here, they had had such difficulty in getting it up, that in the end it had collapsed altogether.

The Fultons had made it clear they would not come.

The Deanes, an easy-going father and mother, whose two sons cajoled or coerced them into a tolerable degree of intimacy at Freelands, were away from home. Mr and Miss Gray had accepted, and drawn back, offering a very shilly-shally excuse. And Mrs Rodney lost a relation the day the invitation was sent her. There was nobody left but the Hunts.

But the Hunts had been met so often at Freelands, by the people who were wanted for the dinner-party, that Helen had declared it was impossible they should be the only others present again. It would have an odd appearance. It could not be done.

That party, accordingly, had fallen to the ground, and it would have been perilous to attempt another.

"I really don't know that we could have managed one," said Helen, "unless we had got the Deanes. If they had come, and had had some people with them, it might have done; but there is no one else just now. After all, poor grandmamma's dying is not so very inopportune; it saves so much trouble."

"And will really be far pleasanter," said Lily, thinking of the dinner-party, though it sounded as if she meant a disrespectful allusion. "Come and make preparations now," added she.

When the preparations began, Corker knew at once that it was Miss Tolleton's party.

Helen never went into the kitchen on ordinary occasions, leaving the housekeeping department to Carry, who had a turn for it. On this day, however, she accompanied her sister, and took an interest in the bill of fare. She even engaged to find a special receipt for the cook, and did it. She wished the wild ducks dressed in a particular way. Men, she knew, loved wild duck.

The gardener had next a visit. She chose the plants for the table herself; and then snipped off every available blossom in the greenhouse, before his angry eyes. The last bunch of grapes was ordered to be sent in; and when the young lady lamented so feelingly that there was not one of each colour, Maclaren felt sure there was something in the wind.

The sisters dressed the flower-glasses in companythat they always did themselves; but Lily was

sur

prised to see her sister lay aside several small and choice blossoms.

"You can't make them bouquets when they aren't staying in the house," said she.

66

They won't find fault with them on that account, Lily.” "But they will have them of their own."

"So they will! I never recollected that. Well, but a thought strikes me; I shall make them all the same.'

Helen would not tell her thought. She laughed, and nodded, and said they must wait for it. The thought was, however, that if Mr Smith should come with a flower in his button-hole, she would show him the way to dispose of it.

Lily stood by and watched her sister, and laughed at her. Helen was not making the correct old gentleman's bouquet at all. The correct old gentleman's bouquet was large and gorgeous-not particularly fragrant, and quickly strung together. But Helen had taken the last sprig of verbena, and the one small velvety geranium, for Mr Smith; and Philip was to be put off with the rose.

66

Philip will find it out, you may be sure," said she. "Here, let me make his. I daresay I could scrape together something better than that out of the greenhouse. And you might have given him the heliotrope when you know he is so fond of it. It's lost on the drawing-room table. Give me the scissors."

"It scents the room," said her sister, handing a thick empty stalk, while her eyes were fixed on the tiny bunch she held in her left hand.

"Scissors," said Lily, impatiently. "I'll see what I can do for him; but I think he might have that."

66 Well, if you cannot get anything else, you may take it. There now, what do you think? That little bit of white makes it perfect. It's too good for him."

"Give it to Philip, then. He won't appreciate it, and Philip would. Guardsmen always do. They know better about these things than any other men."

"Indeed I shan't," said Helen, thinking in her heart that she had wasted too many bouquets on Philip already. "I have made it for Mr Smith, and he shall have it. And you are quite wrong about his not appreciating, Lily; I tell you what, I don't believe anything escapes him."

"You said it was too good yourself."

"I was only laughing. I wouldn't give him a poor thing for the world. One has a feeling that he has been

accustomed to the best."

Lily looked at the scissors dubiously. "Now, mind," added her sister, with decision, "that you don't take the heliotrope, unless you really and truly cannot get anything else. I am sure that rose would have done very well; a rose is a great rarity at this time of year.”

66 А

"Not one like that," said Lily, contemptuously. poor washed-out China bud! I should be ashamed to offer it to him, and I don't believe he would wear it, either."

"He would have to wear it."

"Would he? I don't think Philip knows what it is to 'have.' Certainly, he sometimes treats us rather cavalierly, don't you think? I daresay he is the same to

every one."

One of Helen's bitter sensations passed through her as Lily spoke. She felt sure that he was not the same to every one; that others too presumed upon-upon what? Was it upon their being motherless, unprotected girls, or upon anything about themselves which invited freedom? It gave her a passing qualm, and her thoughts turned to Mr Smith with a new satisfaction. She was resolved that he, at least, should never find her too familiar.

When the two guests arrived, the ladies were all in the drawing-room, and Mr Tolleton received them in the hall.

The sisters were dressed alike, as usual; but as usual it was on the eldest chiefly that the dress was remarkable. She wore a white silk, short and plain in front, but flowing far behind; the open square showing her neck was edged with soft lace; and over the left shoulder was passed a black silk scarf, tied at the waist in a large bow. So far, all three were alike; but Miss Tolleton had seen when she was out several bunches of red arbutus berries, which she had plucked, and wreathed among her dark coils, instead of any other ornament. There were only two bunches ripe, and Helen took them both; not meaning to be selfish, but without a thought.

Lily had asked for one, and her sister had replied that in that case Carry alone must go without, and besides it