that go as you are, you cannot; you are not fit to be

seen.

The command opened an avenue for escape, which was embraced only too gladly. Coleman, however, already bustling about, collecting, folding, and by no means inclined for hair-dressing, needed all the sight of the patient, pale face, to prevent an outburst of remonstrance.

"Lor', Miss Kate," she cried, moved to pity. "Do tell! you're ill now, aren't you? Whatever is the matter? Is it the railway? or," confidentially, "are you afraid of the sea? I would go with you by train, Miss, that I would," continued she, with a brisk thought for herself, since she hated steamboats and smells, as she had already told James. 'Do say now; shall I go and see about it?"

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But the overture was not accepted, and the dark plait was fastened up again, and all stray locks brushed smoothly down, without any excuse being offered for the heavy eyes and sorrowful brow they shaded. Even a second friendly offer that of "drops "-was declined.

"We are off," said Marjorie, coming in. Rupert goes with mamma and me, and mamma says will you follow with Coleman when you are ready. There is no need to hurry, but mamma insists on going now. Coleman, will you go to her? Oh, Kate, do just look me over. Am I all right? Have I got everything? Will you look round after we are gone?"

That, her sister thought, might be left to the maid. As soon as the sounds of departure died away, she rose, resolved to return to the deserted sitting-room, to be away from the coming and going of the attendants, and to have another few minutes' breathing-space in which to drop the mask. It might be long ere she could snatch another moment's solitude, and the strain on every faculty which must be persevered in for many hours to come was terrible to think of. She would not think. But at least she would be alone; and alone, might dare to be herself. She hurried across the passage.

Oh the relief! ing indulged in it.

Yet the next moment she repented hav

The place where he had sat, from which she had every little while met his eye, whence his kind voice had seemed in every syllable to intercede for mercy on her behalf,—for an end to be put to the senseless persecution of her unfeeling sister,-oh, it was too much!

She threw herself half out of the open window,—it had a balcony, and was many stories high, so she could not be spied upon, and gave way at last.

Tears gushed from her eyes, sobs burst from her lips. Her very hands were drenched, her face disfigured, within a few short minutes. Were she to die for it, she could not now restrain the pent-up sluice which had broken loose and overleapt all barriers at last. It seemed as if every additional second made her less able to acquire that hold upon herself which she well knew it was so terribly necessary must be regained almost immediately,-for in her sharpest anguish recollection was not obscured, but was loud in caution and remonstrance.

All was vain.

Το

She struggled for breath as well as for self-control. expose herself to the vulgar curiosity of men and maid servants was not to be thought of; she must be able to move when summoned,-have strength to walk down-stairs without exciting observation, and steadiness of speech wherewith to answer questions, and give orders if need be, without her voice betraying her.

That there had been tears, might be seen-she supposed must be seen, but at least a check must be put upon the tempest which was rending every fibre.

And she could put none.

The power was not there. Again and again she strove to clear her face, wiping away as fast as it rose the blinding stream that threatened to become a torrent, -again and again she put forth her little hands to grasp supports which should enable her to steady the feeble limbs, whose trembling increased momentarily,-but all energy of will seemed failing, resolution was of no avail, and she was at her very worst when the door opened.

It was not Coleman,-it was a man's step, and so far well. It was probably some one come to take away the dinner things; and since, in that case, no demands needed to be made upon her, she could keep her position, with her back turned to the table and the door. She drew a breath, and tried to let it escape gently, and she crumpled up in her hand the handkerchief, which was soaked through. It was possible that nothing unusual might be noticed.

The man came nearer, but no clatter of dishes nor moving of chairs followed; he walked straight up behind the breath

less figure in the window,—she had but a moment's time for consciousness of whom it must be, and the next he was holding her to his heart.

"My Kate!-my Kate!"

She was locked in arms that could have been none other than a lover's; and yet so dizzy and blind was she, and so confusing and bewildering was the transition from that anguish, which had been almost insupportable, to this deliverance, which was scarce comprehensible, that the wellnigh broken-hearted girl could only lay down her head upon his breast, and feel as if, in closing her eyes there, she could be willing to open them no more on earth.

He seemed to understand; for some minutes she was suffered to feel only the strain of that mute embrace, and to dwell upon the solitary expression which had preceded it; and it was she herself who first attempted to break the spell which seemed to hold them both.

She struggled feebly to free herself.

"Stay a moment, Kate. There. It is past, all past. Hush, lie still. I will not let you go. My darling," in her ear, "mine, at last, and for ever. I have you, and will keep you, and none shall ever come between us more."

"Rupert,-Rupert

"Don't speak, Kate. Don't rise, and don't speak. I know all that you would say."

"I" she tried for more, but none came.

"You wish to tell me you are all my own, don't you? Yes? I know it must be 'yes.' That is the only word I will listen to just now. Kate, I am yours, yours only, yours wholly, yours till death. My first, my last, my only love. Now, have you anything to say, Kate? If

not, be quiet and still. There are yet a few minutes before we need go. I have found my time at last."

She was indeed scarcely capable of releasing herself had she wished it; and she could not wish it. Her sobbing lips, her streaming eyes, were better where they were, her quivering frame needed all the support he gave it.

And since he was obeyed, since she proved herself amenable to the authority of her captor, he could show himself an indulgent one. He did not command her to be silent, and at the same instant implore her to speak. He did not bid her lie still, and change her position every minute. He held her close, and was himself motionless and mute, while the labouring breath came and went, by slow degrees, more evenly; and the shuddering sighs that had at first escaped, one by one sank away. A gentle relaxation stole over the whole exhausted system, there was a long pause, a calm,it seemed almost as if she had passed out of the death-struggle into the haven beyond.

At length,—and indeed the only wonder was how they had been so long without interruption,-messengers burst in excited and indignant.

"Miss Kate, I thought you had been down-oh, Captain Evelyn," said Coleman, with a sudden change of tone; "I -I beg your pardon, sir," for Evelyn had barely time to loose the form he held, ere they were detected behind the window-curtain. "I-I'm sure," stammered the maid, fairly aghast at what she had discovered, "I did not know where Miss Kate was, and have hunted her up and down, for they told me she was outside, and her ladyship has been gone full twenty minutes, and Miss Kate and I was to follow her immediately!"

"No fears. I have arranged to have due warning if the boat is ready to start sooner than she was expected to be." But, sir! Sooner! It's nine o'clock now."

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"Is it? We may as well go then. Take my arm, dear," the last words not being for Coleman, we may be sure. "Can you walk now?" bending over his charge as the maid disappeared.

"That's right. No one is here to notice. You must face the world for a few minutes, dearest: try to mind as little as you can; it will not be for long. I know how brave you can be."

As they drove down to the Docks, he strove to divert her attention, and make self-command less of an effort, by keeping up a vigorous though desultory commentary on the objects of interest they passed, renewing the subjects started an hour before with Marjorie, but now with what different feelings! As he talked, leaning over her to point hither and thither, and ever turning round to draw forth the low responses which met with such earnest and immediate attention, he could pour love and consolation into her eyes, which had nothing to do with the long-winded, prosaic explanations.

Those were for the benefit of the third person, who discreetly gave the two opposite only the side and back view of her straw-bonnet, being to all appearance engrossed with outdoor objects. It is to be hoped she benefited by the dissertation, for it did not do Kate much good.

It kept her quiet, however, and enabled her, perhaps, to bear better than she might otherwise have done, her sudden load of happiness. This might have been almost too great, its touch might have been too nearly that of pain, had she been altogether able at once to realise it.

As it was, she hardly knew where she went, or what she was doing. All consciousness of the past and future was engulfed in the strange present,—all other emotions lost in one. Every touch of Evelyn's hand, every fond gaze and impassioned murmur, carried a kind of soothing ecstasy to her heart-not the most subtle movement, nor the faintest inflection of tenderness, passed unmarked,—but to all besides she was insensible, inaccessible,—she could neither see nor feel beyond his presence.

Not for a moment did he quit her.

Servants and baggage might find their own way from the place where the fly drew up to the side-dock where the little steamer was already puffing out her smoke preparatory to the start, he would have nothing to do with either.

-

Coleman paid the driver, well aware of what she was about, and followed, without a word, the direction taken by Evelyn through the racketing scene, though it was perhaps as ill-advised a path as could well have been chosen. Coleman was a woman of wisdom, and she had made up her mind that she would like to stay at Carnochan.

At length, however, her spirit did rebel on finding herself