me, I think I have loved you always; and I can imagine no greater happiness," she concluded softly, "than that of being your wife," and her voice lingered caressingly over the last words.

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"My darling!" Cyril cried, touched by the softened tone and the tender words, "I pray that you may always think so. We will try, Cicely, what a grand and beautiful thing we can make of life together."

And so with joyful pride on his part, and clinging girlish tenderness on hers-all her little mannerisms and affectations for once thrown asidethey parted: he to return with a lightened heart to Anne Square-lightened partly by the thought that come what might of it, the deed was done, and his future decided for him; and she to await in anxiety her father's return.

Miss Stevens and her sister were both in the drawing-room when Cyril returned from his visit to Bute Street.

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Well, Cyril," Betty asked, inquiringly, "will Thursday suit her, because we really ought to begin. to make our arrangements?"

"I am very sorry, Betty," replied Mr Stevens, apologetically, "but I really quite forgot to ask her." "What a useful messenger you are!" Betty laughed. Yesterday I sent you to Miss Mainwaring on important business, and then your conversation was of such an interesting nature that you forgot what you went for; and to-day you go to quite a different place, and I suppose the same excuse holds good!" In an instant that little line that his sisters knew

so well straightened itself out across Cyril's forehead.

"I do not understand what you mean by your insinuations about Miss Mainwaring."

"An evil conscience," Betty interposed, under her breath," for I have insinuated nothing."

"As to Cicely Arbuthnot-"

And then, without one word more, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, expressing his feelings merely by the way in which he slammed the door after him.

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Cicely?" repeated Miss Stevens, interrogatively, looking towards her sister, and nodding her head as she spoke.

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'Oh, Betty, do you really think so?" asked Nan. "Yes, Nan. What with the crossness, and the Cicely, and the slamming of the door, I should say there is not a doubt of it. In the halls of our ancestors the artful Cicely will shortly reign. Alas for my prophetic soul!"

"I wish he had told us," said affectionate little Nan; "however, I daresay he will to-morrow."

"Never fear, Nan; to-morrow the state visit will be paid, and we shall be told all about it, and be called upon to sympathise."

"And with which of the two will you sympathise, Betty?" and Nan laughed.

"That is a difficult question to answer," replied Betty, taking off her glasses; "but looking into the future in my present prophetic manner, and considering at the same time my intimate acquaintance with Cyril in the past, I should say, strange

as it may appear, that a great deal of sympathy may yet safely be reserved for Cicely Arbuthnot!"

Late on the evening of the same day Jessie Arbuthnot was awoke out of her sleep, as she had been once before, and not so very long ago either, by a white figure entering her room: "Jessie, wake up!" it cried, throwing itself on its knees by the bedside.

"Is that you?" questioned Jessie, sleepily.

"Yes, it is I, Cicely. Oh, Jessie, do wake up!" as Jessie showed unmistakable signs of dropping off to sleep again; "I must tell you."

"Well?"

"Father has come back, and has said 'Yes;' and oh, dear Jessie, I was so happy that I could not go to bed without telling some one!"

"I'm so glad," said Jessie; and she kissed her sister affectionately; "at least, I mean if you are glad I'm glad. But don't you think," began Jessie, who was now wide awake.

"No; I think nothing that begins with 'but,' interrupted Cicely, rising from her knees. "Good night;" and motherless Cicely went back to her own room disappointed-chilled; for it is disappointing, especially when we are young, to make a great step in life, to experience some, what is to us great joy or sorrow, and to have no one to whose ready sympathy we may turn, knowing of a certainty they will surely be glad or sorry with us.

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CHAPTER XIV.

I THAT LOVED, AND YOU THAT LIKED.

"Woman,-and still the sad burden is woman."

"YES; Miss Mainwaring was at home, and disengaged, and would be very glad to see Miss Stevens."

So Miss Stevens passed from the dusky world outside, into the lighted hall, where a man had once paused to admire a bright head and a pair of brown eyes that he had now won for his own; up the steep, old-fashioned stairs, and into the drawing-room, where was seated the calm, beautiful woman, whose love he had first desired, in the days before Cicely Arbuthnot bewitched him, and stole away his heart.

"I must apologise for calling at such an hour," said Elizabeth, holding out her hand-"nine o'clock! But really, I think it is time the final arrangements were made about Thursday; and in the present state of the household, I can prevail upon no one to listen to the practical part of a picnic-namely, the food. No; at present it is all love, and green

trees, and the--what I should call-et-cetera part of it."

Miss Mainwaring smiled. "Dear Miss Stevens, please do not make excuses for coming to cheer up my loneliness. I am really so glad to see you. We will have a cup of tea, and you will find me a most reasonable person; and between us, I think we shall arrange everything to our mutual satisfaction.”

"That sounds restful," said Elizabeth; "now I am going to take off my hat, and make myself quite at home, as you see, and then, with a sheet of paper and a pencil, I daresay I shall be able to make out a list of what we shall require. It is a great help to thought to have no children running in and out and disturbing me with suggestions."

Miss Mainwaring placed paper and pencil before her friend in silence.

"Nan used to do all these things," Betty said, as she began to write; "but since she was engaged!" and Betty shrugged her shoulders.

'Yes, it must be rather a trial for you," assented Miss Mainwaring. "You used to be so much together, and however fond a girl may be of her sister, it is impossible to prevent, once she is engaged, the man coming between them."

"I believe," said Betty, as she began her list, "if Mr Fullerton did not call every morning and say Nan might eat her dinner, if she liked, she would starve! But as every one else is so preoccupied at present with these weighty matters, it devolves upon me to see that they have enough to eat and drink."