A Novel.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

“RECOMMENDED TO MERCY," "ZOE'S BRAND,"

SAMUEL TINSLEY,

10, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND.

1877.

(All Rights Reserved.)

251. d. 899

DONE IN THE DARK.

CHAPTER LX.

"Love is indestructible;

Its holy flame for ever burneth;

From Heaven it came, to Heaven returneth."

SOUTHEY.

Ivy, throughout such portions of the night as were for her wakeful ones, indulged in the hope that Colonel Donaldson's visit would be over, and Cecil's identity with the stranger either proved or disproved before the arrival of her lover; but in this she was fated to be disappointed. Almost before the day had fairly dawned, and when it was only reasonable for those about the premises whose doings would not exactly bear the sunlight, to conclude that decent folks would be in their beds, a car rattled up to the door, and Ivy, peering from behind the window curtain of her bedroom, was in time to see Arthur Cuthbert (probably moved

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thereto by compunction in that he had so ill timed his arrival) scanning the upper windows of the house curiously.

What could she, a creature of impulse, do, but show signs of life? She was not fully dressed, it is true, and the "doing" of her hair had not even been commenced; but the occasion was an exceptional one. No one save herself was, she believed, up, or even awake within the house, and there stood Arthur, (who had flown on the wings of love alias an outside jaunting car to greet her,) cold, tired, and in all probability ahungered. All these things considered (and the thinking them over scarcely occupied a minute) Ivy opened her window, softly it is true, but still with sufficient sound to attract the traveller's attention and cause him to look up. The morning air was fresh and still, and the window at which the bright vision appeared was such a little way removed from the ground, that although the laughing words, "Don't be shocked, it's only me!" were scarcely more than whispered, Arthur's ears caught them readily, and his impulsive reply (for he was taken aback and absolutely forgot the presence of the car-driver) of "You darling! if there is any way of getting in I will be with you in a moment," sent a thrill of joy-so

gladsome sounding were they, and so heart-inspired-through Ivy's breast.

With a bright smile and a wave of her hand she retreated from the window, and soon succeeded in rousing the sleepy household to a sense of their respective duties. By Peter (that "dacent inside boy" being in a state of uncleanly dishabille curious to witness) the "gintlm'n" was, with profuse apologies, conducted to the room that had been prepared for him, and there, after first announcing the fact that, until they met at breakfast, Arthur saw no more of his sweetheart, we will for the present leave him.

Ivy is combing her long red-brown hair at the glass, her sweet face more winsome even than is its wont, by reason of the joy within, and her thoughts, like the true woman that she is, full of the expediency of making herself attractive in Arthur's sight. Whilst she is thus engaged, Gussie, attired in a dressing-gown that had done some service in its day, and with a profusion of lustrous black hair hanging loose about her shoulders, enters (she being one of those women who consider that ceremony between near relations may be dispensed with) without knocking, and, seating herself near her sister, says: