"Remember, sir, that I have been away

until the other day."

"But you

and Lilla have been writing

letters to each other?"

"I assure you she never mentioned it in any of her letters."

But did you hear of it since you came back?"

Oh, yes," said Mountiford, now driven "I heard of it since I came

into a corner.

back."

"That she had this—this—bla—'

"This lover," said my cousin.

"But most

girls have, you know, sir. I was only surprised to find that she hadn't two or three."

"You are insolent," said his father. "Ring the bell, sir."

Sarah came knocking at my bedroom door. I bade her come in.

Oh, miss, you're wanted in the library at once! Mr. Duchesne is there; an' Sir John;

VOL. II.

F

he is looking awful angry; an' Captain Crawdour is there! an' Lukins is sent for my lady."

I rose from my bed, and wiped off the traces of my tears preparatory to descending.

Oh, miss, miss!" said Sarah, half crying, "sure you won't have nothing to say to Mr. Duchesne, a man as the very servants can't bear the sight of."

"No fear, Sarah," I said, almost smiling at the earnestness of her partizanship; "I dare say this is the last time Mr. Duchesne will come to the Hall to see me."

"Ah! Miss-Miss Lilla. Oh, excuse me, miss, but you won't give up that sweet young gentleman."

"Don't mind him, Sarah, you are not supposed to know anything about him. Remember, it would only get you into trouble."

"Oh, I don't care for nothing as they can do to me!" said Sarah, stoutly. "Joe Todd has

saved a bit of money now, an' we starts for ourselves at Easter."

"I am very glad to hear it, Sarah."

"So I don't care if they gives me notice to-morrow. An' I speaks my mind,—yes, if Mrs. Lukins herself was a list'nen' at the doorsaid Sarah, raising her voice, evidently with the suspicion that my aunt's waiting-maid was lingering somewhere within earshot of our council. "An' I says as it's a sin an' a shame to treat a young lady so; an' for a scum, that even cook said, as she see him a-comin' in from the top attic winder, as she would like to wring his neck with her own hands."

I felt sorry that it had not been in cook's power to carry out her amiable desire; but I took the will for the deed, and felt infinitely obliged to her for her good wishes.

CHAPTER V.

A BATTLE AND A VICTORY.

AGAIN I was in the library. Facing my uncle this time, to whom Lady Crawdour was protesting innocence, ignorance, and unbelief; while Mr. Duchesne bit his nails, and looked at me with an expression of mingled angry mortification and triumphant malice; and Mountiford, standing behind his father's chair, made signals, unseen by the other three, that I should keep my pecker up and never say die.

"Oh, it is quite impossible!" said Lady Crawdour. Indeed, Mr. Duchesne, you must be mistaken. And I'm sure I've done every earthly thing I could; and I never heard a word about this before. I don't believe it at all; and it couldn't go on without my knowing it. And it was only yesterday she was speaking so sensibly, saying she had quite made up her mind to

marry you, Mr. Duchesne, and expected to be so happy; didn't you Lilla? Speak, my dear, and relieve your uncle's mind."

"No, aunt," I replied. "I did not say that I intended to marry Mr. Duchesne, or that I ever could expect to be happy with him.”

"O you deceitful girl!" cried Lady Crawdour. "O Mountiford, you heard her?"

"No, mother!" said Mountiford; “I didn't hear anything."

You're a fool," said Sir John Crawdour, politely, to his wife. "It was left to you to look after her, and settle this—and you haven't done it; and she's been playing her old game all along, and humbugging you.'

"I never pretended I would marry Mr. Duchesne," I said. "I told aunt all along I wouldn't."

"Hold your tongue, you hussy," said my uncle. (Wasn't his language coarse for an English gentleman ?) And don't speak until