CHAPTER V.

JOSEPH KINLEY'S LODGER.

HECTOR BROWNE and Joseph Kinley did not fall out about terms, so the lodger was received that evening.

It seemed as if something more than chance had led him to this spot; as if a much more subtle enemy of Kennedy than himself had guided his steps thither to keep his vengeance alive with the sight of the happiness that had been snatched from him.

He never reasoned with himself on the great difference there was between this marriage and his own-never heeded that, while Alice loved her husband as truly as he loved her, Margaret Dawson had never even professed to love him. He saw only their happiness, and persuaded him

self his own would have been as great but for Kennedy's baseness.

In the hazy August morning when he woke and heard Joseph at work in the garden, and Alice's light step about the house, he sprang from his bed as if some voice had urged him to be more speedy in his vengeance.

In the long sweet August evenings, when the moonlight threw the quivering jasmine shadows on the cottage walls, and the birds twittered as if they would never go to sleep-when the house was hot and the garden pleasant—he sat on the bench smoking, and watching the young people as they stood at the gate looking through the trees down upon the Alwy, or at the hill behind them, covered with golden bouquets of wheatsheaves.

By the hour he watched them and suffered, and every pang was added to Kennedy's account. It is strange that love so true and sweet should have nourished a hatred like his, and added to

its growth and strength; strange that everything evil in Hector's heart should thrive so fearfully in such a spot and among such people. Even Hector felt this, and would mutter to himself, as he sent whiffs of blue smoke into Joseph's lilies and roses, and listened to the nightingale's singing in the lane, "Truly, the devil has strange workshops.

Joseph Kinley had an immense respect for his lodger. His silence and occasional fits of impatience he attributed to his being absorbed in business. His knowledge on everything connected with ships was a source of unfailing wonder and admiration to the young man, who was radiant whenever he could get Hector to talk of his early voyages. As to the other men at Plugger's, he puzzled them greatly.

He so carefully veiled his mental habits from the world, that it was not easy for any one to penetrate to his mystery. He was seen generally to look involved in thought, tending towards

gloom; to change to a jovial expression when unexpectedly spoken to; to be in other respects undemonstrative in speaking to and acting with his fellow-workmen, till some slight annoyance that he felt as serious would stir him, and then he would be found to be roused quite unexpectedly into sudden and inexplicable fury, and for a brief while would rage like a madman, and no one feel safe near him. But such fits soon passed. With a sullen aspect he would, perhaps, then say a few words expressive, or meant to be expressive, of regret to the persons he had most outraged by his violence, and again resume his ordinary attitude of fixed, stolid impassibility.

One only clue could his comrades get to his state of mind, and that did not guide them far. If by chance any of them ever happened to let Hector know they were in possession of a newspaper-no matter what its date or what its country-they knew no rest till they had lent it to their ill-conditioned fellow-workman, who

always treated it in the same way—that is, put it into his pocket while they were present; kept it perhaps for a day or two, not being a very quick reader; then gave it back with as much warmth of tone in his thanks as he was ever known to use.

This particular trait of Hector's tastes or desires became so well known in the circle about him that at last he was rarely a day without receiving papers from one quarter or another.

August passed away, and the finest days of September. The tall hollyhocks began to open in Joseph's garden, and the apples to fall. Still Hector's reading and inquiries all came to nothing; and he began to get restless and eager for a change.

At last Joseph came in one wet evening from the town with a newspaper, which he gave to Hector, saying

"Gales gave me that for you;" and putting