to gain time. Meanwhile Rachel came in to kindle the fire, which was soon effected by thrusting a red- hot poker between the bars of the grate, where the fuel was already disposed for ignition. She honoured me with another of her hard, inhospitable looks in departing, but, little moved thereby, I went on talking; and setting a chair for Mrs Graham on one side of the hearth and one for myself on the other, I ventured to sit down, though half suspecting she would rather see me go.

In a little while we both relapsed into silence, and continued for several minutes gazing abstractedly into the fire--she intent upon her own sad thoughts, and I reflecting how delightful it would be to be seated thus beside her with no other presence to restrain our intercourse--not even that of Arthur, our mutual friend, without whom we had never met before--if only I could venture to speak my mind, and disburden my full heart of the feelings that had so long oppressed it, and witch it now struggled to retain, with an effort that it seemed impossible to continue much longer,--and revolving the pros and cons for opening my heart to her there and then, and imploring a return of affection, the permission to regard her thenceforth as my own, and the right and the power to defend her from the calumnies of malicious tongues. On the one hand, I felt a new-born confidence in my powers of persuasion--a strong conviction that my own fervour of spirit would grant me eloquence--that my very determination--the absolute necessity for succeeding that I felt--must win me what I sought; while on the other, I feared to lose the ground I had already gained with so much toil and skill, and destroy all future hope by one rash effort, when time and patience might have won success. It was like setting my life upon the cast of a die; and yet I was ready to resolve upon the attempt. At any rate I would entreat the explanation she had half promised to give me before: I would demand the reason of this hateful barrier, this mysterious impediment to my happiness and, as I trusted, to her own.

But while I considered in what manner I could best frame my request, my companion wakened from her reverie with a scarcely audible sigh, and looking towards the window where the blood-red harvest moon, just rising over one of the grim, fantastic ever-greens, was shining in upon us, said,--

`Gilbert, it is getting late.'

`I see,' said I. `You want me to go,I suppose.'

`I think you ought. If my kind neighbours get to know of this visit--as no doubt they will--they will not turn it much to my advantage'

It was with what the vicar would doubtless have called a savage sort of a smile that she said this.

`Let them turn it as they will,' said I. `What are their thoughts to you or me, so long as we are satisfied with ourselves--and each other. Let them go to the deuce with their vile constructions and their lying inventions!'

This outburst brought a flush of colour to her face.

`You have heard, then, what they say of me?'

`I heard some detestable falsehoods; but none but fools would credit them for a moment, Helen, so don't let them trouble you.'

`I did not think Mr Millward a fool, and he believes it all; but however little you may value the opinions of those about you--however little you may esteem them as individuals, it is not pleasant to be looked upon as a liar and a hypocrite, to be thought to practice what you abhor, and to encourage the vices you would discountenance, to find your good intentions frustrated, and your hands crippled by your supposed unworthiness, and to bring disgrace on the principles you profess.'

`True; and if I, by my thoughtlessness and selfish disregard to appearances, have at all assisted to expose you to these evils, let me entreat you not only to pardon me, but to enable me to make reparation; authorize