The old man regarded the younger steadily,

and then said,

66

You mean that you love your ward?" "Yes. Now let me go in peace.'

Hold, young man; what if your ward loves you?”

It seemed to Frank Mordaunt as if some impossible cup were being held to his lips. His voice was not like his own as he answered,

"I must not suppose it; she is too young, too beautiful."

"Don't be a fool, Mordaunt !

Before you

ask me to let you go in peace, permit me to warn you that if you carry out your present intentions, you are taking our ward's peace away with you."

A long silence followed this, and many conflicting thoughts passed through Frank Mordaunt's mind. At last he looked in the kindly face of his friend, and holding out his hand said,

"I must see Laura, and have time to reflect. If it is as you suppose, I shall have to thank you for saving me from useless misery."

CHAPTER XXVI.

WHEN that engagement was announced, when aspiring younger sons of noble families, and sundry men of solid possessions saw the prize slip from them, it made a great stir. It seemed hardly fair of those Mordaunts to tantalize the eager world with the seemingly open-to-competition appearance of the lovely and wealthy countess, when all the time they meant to keep her for themselves! No one for an instant allowed that there was a possibility of the thing having been unexpected; and the people most concerned were so extremely happy as to be indifferent to the buzz society made about the matter; and it was very pleasant to Violet to feel that all the trifling attentions other people had vied with each other in showing were now conceded to her chosen future husband.

When Jessie received a letter with the news

her delight was unmixed. She had always supposed that Violet would marry some one entirely unknown to them all, and that they perhaps would not care for; now, Frank Mordaunt was a general favourite, and nothing could be better.

The sailor brother, Bob, came home just before Glenmore was re-opened to receive its owner back from London. He was strong and well, and had just received his rank as lieu

tenant.

Bob," said Jessie, "the countess is going to be married."

"I'm jolly glad of that!"

Why?"

Because it saves me from what would otherwise have been inevitable,-falling in love with her myself."

"Rather hopeless, that, my son!" said his mother, smiling.

"Oh, you don't know; perhaps if she hadn't liked the other fellow she would have taken a

fancy to me! Guardians wouldn't, though, so it's best as it is. There are some nice girls out in Jamaica !"

Bob, I won't hear of a West Indian

daughter," said Mrs. Clayton; and then added, looking at her watch, "It is time Alick was here; I hope he has not missed the train."

A quick step on the gravel, and then the eldest son sprang in at the open window and greeted them all round. It was not his first meeting with Bob since his arrival, for the latter had called at his office passing through London.

Dinner was at seven, and in the gloaming the brothers strolled together through some meadows near, and smoked their pipes as they talked. Bob, Alick had noticed at dinner, was not so bright as of yore. His merry talking was the same, but in repose his face had not the old easy, careless look. To Mrs. Clayton this had been apparent since her sailor son's return, and not liking to question him, she had looked for Alick's home-coming as the most probable means of Bob's unburdening himself, although her heart was sorely puzzled as to anything that could have gone wrong, when to every one her son's career seemed exceptionally prosperous.

I say, Bob, old chap, what's ?"

up

Oh, nothing!—what do you mean?" but Bob did not turn to look in his brother's face.

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folks wanted to give food and clothes to poor children, there's plenty 'ere as would take 'em."

"I 'eard tell," said the old widow woman, who had joined them, "as there's thousands of men and their families starving up in Lunnon; there ain't no work to be got."

"An' they don't git their wages there, whether there's work or not," added the last speaker's son, with a good stare at the thriftless wives of the two men he had just passed sauntering down the street, pipes in their mouths and hands in their fustian jackets. "For my part, I don't sleep no wuss at nights for knowing some starvin' kids is bein' fed!"

No lack of charity was there at Glenmore, in spite of a few unthankful voices; indeed, there were people of much kindness of heart and considerable experience who said the countess did too much for her people, and rendered the labourers on neighbouring estates discontented. With an honesty and singleness of purpose which did her honour, Violet consulted her guardians at once when these rumours reached her, and submitted to have some of her pet relief fund cut down by them.