"Not go, Margaret? What is this?"

Simply that I am a free agent, James. I know it is the custom for women to obey the men of their family. I cannot comply with this custom on the present occasion, my dear brother," she said, calmly.

James looked surprised. "True," he said, "I am neither your husband nor your father, and you are of age. I fear I spoke "

"As men think they have a right to speak to women who belong to them," interrupted Margaret, smiling. "It is the fault of your education."

"Then you resist my will?" asked her brother, sharply.

Certainly I do! Don't look at me so, dear James. You are unhappy enough without being angry with your own sister Maggie."

woman.

My own sister Maggie never talked of the rights of She was true to her sex!-a dear, sweet girl! She has grown philosophical and independent, and disdains control and persuasion. She will remain with those who insult and malign her brother. He has no authority over her. Then, good-bye! We will not quarrel, Margaret. Life is becoming cold and desolate. I will go abroad, and forget

myself."

He stood with a hand outstretched; pale, and with subdued anger. Margaret put aside his arm, and laid her own hands on his shoulders, looking with streaming eyes into his face. She could not speak. Her brother's heart softened in a few moments-he folded her in his arms, bent his proud head, and wept.

"I am almost mad with misery," he said; "forgive my harshness!"

She embraced him tenderly, and said: "Listen to me, my beloved brother. I cannot leave Miss Price-she may be in her last illness. Lady Geraldine comes here to-night; she is ill too, and asks for my company and attention. Above all, Arundel fears that he is going to have another attack, and he talks of coming here."

"But, Margaret, it is not your business to nurse him! You ought rather to leave directly. You know what has been said already."

I know that Mr. Morton, who has calumniated you to Lord Merle, and, I fear, has poisoned his marriage joy, has set afloat calumnies about me; but I trust you do not credit them."

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Certainly not, my dear child-I know that you and Arundel love each other like brother and sister. Don't suppose for a moment I ever fancied you were likely to fall in love with one so much above you in rank-so entirely cut off, as I know he holds himself, from woman's love. It is not what I think, but what slanderous tongues say, that you, a young unmarried woman, must heed."

"Must I?

And Margaret smiled sadly. "What will the slanderous tongues say if I leave Miss Price and Lady Geraldine to die?"

"Ah! Lady Geraldine? Is she--?"

"She is doomed-Dr. Wynn has told me so. It is a secret. I have promised him to go this autumn to Madeira.'

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Why did you not say so before?"

"You gave me no time. Besides, I fear she will not survive the summer. This marriage will kill her!-in spite of her will. You stare! Love is blind and egotistic. You have not seen that she loves Merle as you love her sister. There! -go and think over that, and spare some pity for her." "Good God, Margaret! This is dreadful!"

"It is very common, my dear brother. Lady Geraldine will not die of love, but of pulmonary disease-only a little sooner, because of this suppressed passion. She could not have married if her passion had been requited-Dr. Wynn would have prevented it."

"Margaret! I don't understand you! You speak so coolly -as if you had no feeling."

"Do I?" she said, quietly. "I am used to think of this, and I have to act; I cannot give way to the grief I feel-at least, not to-day. This is one of my busy days," she said,

trying to smile; but her lip quivered, and her cheek was white.

"You are ill, my dear sister," said James, now first forgetting himself completely, and thinking of her and what she had told him. "You cannot be busy to-day-you need repose."

"Not yet not yet!" she said, recovering herself with an effort. "I am glad to have seen you, James. You do well to go abroad-but I cannot go. Get some one to go with you. Ask William Grey-he wants to travel."

"I will think of it. Tell me now what occupies you so much."

"I-I-I cannot talk any more. I must compose myselfsome one may come. Sit down and read these letters. There! -you may read all three. I can trust you; and you will cease to ask me why I continue at Carleton Castle just now in opposition to your wish."

She put the letters into his hand, and while he read them, she set open the door of the oratory, and walked slowly to and fro in the cheerful conservatory.

Her soft, slow step was at last stayed beside the fountain, and she was absorbed in pity for James and Lady Alice, when the former stood beside her with the letters in his hand.

"Thank you, my dearest sister," he said. "I have been very selfish! I see it clearly. We are all of us unhappyeven the bride!" He paused awhile, and Margaret's fulltoned voice spoke these words distinctly :

"We have all our allotted suffering; but it comes not by chance!"

At that moment a voice called "Miss Hastings !—Miss Hastings!-Will you come to Miss Price? She is awake, and asks for you."

"I am coming," she replied. Then, turning to her brother, she said: “Of course, after what has passed between you and Frank, you will not sleep in his house?"

"No; I go to the Rectory; and as you expect Lady Geraldine and Arundel, I will not stay. I would rather not see

them, to-day at least. So, farewell, Margaret! Forgive my harsh words and my selfishness!"

They embraced, and so parted; Margaret going up the new staircase from the conservatory to the countess's rooms, on her way to Miss Price, and James across the park, to his old home-the Rectory.

CHAPTER VI.

INSANITY AND CONSUMPTION.

A WEEK or so after the date of the last chapter, Margaret, Miss Price, and Lady Geraldine were together in the oak parlour. The two last lay on sofas, the former sat in the window-seat sketching. They had been silent for some time, and Margaret thought her companions were asleep. Under this impression she gave way to a fit of musing-or rather to a train of thought. The pencil stopped its busy movement, and was pressed against her lips; and her eyes were fixed on some distant object that they did not see. In this attitude she remained a long time—until the tears gathered in her eyes, and her cheek became pale from intensity of thought. Suddenly she started, for a hand touched her arm, and the face of Lady Geraldine, lovely, with the brilliancy of consumption, looked into hers.

"What are you thinking of ?" she whispered (for Miss Price was asleep). "You look as if you were facing a host of troubles."

“Do I?" said Margaret, smiling faintly, as she resumed her drawing.

"You do," replied Lady Geraldine, taking a seat on the cushion beside her, and passing an arm round Magaret's waist. "This is the first quiet leisure we have had since I came; and I feel well enough to talk now. So, while good. Miss Price takes her siesta, talk to me, Margaret."

"Talk? About what?" asked Margaret, sketching away vigorously.

"About that same host of troubles you were facing just now. That deer looks like a cow, Margaret!—You are drawing badly."

"Talking will not mend troubles, lady mine! That deer is a cow, and I am drawing as well as ever I can." "What odious perversity and reserve! Conceited, too, like all artists! Don't you think that sky is green enough? Go on. It will be a wonderful production! Such efforts to work when you feel idle are praiseworthy.

'Great is the glory, for the strife is hard.'

There! there don't neglect your drawing to look at me! I am better-quite lively, as you see. Now, tell me why do we not see Mr. William Grey? He has not called since I came. Why don't he come ?"

"Because he can't be in two countries at once, I suppose. He went to Germany last week."

"Oh! May one ask why you sent him to Germany ?" "I?

He did not consult me."

"It is your fault, Margaret, that that excellent, large young man is wandering an exile! Confess now!"

"I really can confess nothing!" replied Margaret, turning round with a smile, and looking Lady Geraldine in the face. "No. The fact is, my brother James was unwell. Dr.

ordered him to travel for a short time before he went to the North, and he asked William Grey to go with him. They went the day after you arrived. I had a letter from James to-day. He is busy with the manufactures in the Netherlands, and is enchanted with the pictures."

Lady Geraldine's face became grave at the sound of James Hastings' name. She said nothing, and Margaret went on with her drawing in silence.

At length Lady Geraldine spoke. "In less than a month Alice and Frank will be in England again! Will they be altered, think you ?"