ing effect upon his mind; he felt constrained in all that he did.

From the Count von der Goerde, who was still staying at his son's country seat, he had once heard, and he had politely answered the letter, without entering into any of the circumstances that had occurred during his last visit to the castle, to which the Count alluded from report. Johannes wished to let his connexion with his patrons rest for a time. Soon, however, matters occurred which obliged him to visit Lord Arthur. The communications of the doctor, to whose care he had consigned Maria, had set his mind at rest. Now, suddenly, he received the announcement that he must come without delay if he wished to find her alive. One of those colds which one is accustomed to blame, when a long lingering illness takes a sudden and speedy end, had laid her low, and the doctor saw no hope of recovery. All repugnance of personal feeling gives way before the solemnity of death.

On his way to Scotland Johannes went round by Lord Arthur's seat.

Arthur received him alone in his room. The Count had just gone out; and Johannes felt glad that, without being impolite, he could take his

departure, and not wait for his return. There was little time before the train started from a neighbouring station.

6

The nobleman was deeply affected at all that he heard. Johannes withheld nothing that Maria had confessed to him.

'She has confidence in you,' said Arthur; upon me she dared not, and could not hope; I shall never see her again.'

A bitter smile passed over Johannes' face. He now related his own history, briefly, and with powerful touches.

Arthur sat and listened, his father would have said, as though he were hearing some fatal tragedy; he grew very serious at the force of such feelings; but he felt now that a man was sitting here beside him whom he could neither use nor patronise. He had, however, a feeling as if just this very man were nearer to him than any other a man whom he could not do without; whom he had truly followed in thought so long as he had known him. Johannes sat grandly

before him.

When he took his leave, Lord Arthur said: 'We shall meet again; I need not tell you that there is a chair always for you at my fireside, at

any hour and under all circumstances. If you have an advantage over me in many things, you must not grudge me what fortune has given me.' The lips, usually so cold, smiled almost tenderly, and they parted with a warm pressure of the hand.

CHAPTER X.

REST.

SHE was lying in a small whitewashed room; the sunlight, which fell through the ivy-wreathed window, was playing on her face. She was lying on the little bed, which the good housewife had covered with fresh linen. Her hands were folded, and she held in her fingers a white iris blossom; her dark hair was twisted in plaits round her head, as though she had taken trouble to adorn herself for death. Lips and cheeks were like faded white roses.

The priest, to whom she confessed, sat by the side of the bed, telling his beads; he bent his head as Johannes entered, and pointed to the slumberer.

Johannes turned to the physician, that he might tell him the history of the last few nights and days. The fever had come on again violently during the last night; a flickering before the end; the last remnant of strength was being consumed.

It is sad,' said the priest, turning to the others in the room, what ideas and dreams occupy the mind of this dying woman. She will be a flower, she says; she is now passing to profound repose; the flower is floating on a still, clear water; never again will it hear rude voices, never more anger and dispute; no faces, disturbed with wickedness; no wrinkled brows; no evil laughter; no one will be there to cast upon her a glance which can make her afraid. From heaven and earth beautiful angels are coming and shaking dew from their wings; and on this the flower will live for thousands and thousands of years, always blooming; and the water is always calm, and the holy virgin is standing on the sun in the sky. You understand,' said the priest, that our religion cannot allow a human being to lose these last precious moments. If her life has been sinful, she should die in sanctity and repentance.'

Johannes begged of the spiritual adviser not to encroach upon the power of mercy, but to leave the sick woman alone till she should desire his help.

He went in and took the chair at the head of

the dying woman. She opened her eyes, and when she saw him she took his hand and pressed it between her own; and the faded flower she