forbore to ask more, fearing an attack of illness might come on, and she be prevented following Stephen, which the next morning she was determined upon doing. This she told to Mrs. Prescott, who ot once promised she would be quiet; do anything, take anything, if Katherine would but say she would go to London, and start as early as possible.

likeness, and examined that. I even looked at myself in the glass to see was I much altered; then I looked over the girlish effusions, written when I was not more than sixteen or seventeen. I thought of Bernard more tenderly, because of his love for me, and remembering that he was now lying in his distant chamber still and cold, and that I had forever lost this faithful, enduring love, I shed the first real tears of sorrow for him. A shiver, too, ran through me at the And this assurance seeming to calm thought of being in the house of death, a Mrs. Prescott more than entreaties or vague fear at being alone, and with it the remonstrances, she became at once busy desire to get into bed as quickly as possi- about how Mrs. Labouchere had best ble; so hastily opening the letter, I read act? where she would go? what she it through- and through and through would do? until, everything settled, she -until I had no need to look at the took the composing draught her niece words, so stamped were they on my heart gave her, and Katherine, sitting quietly and brain. Whether I sat for only a few down, tried to realize all her aunt had minutes or an hour I cannot tell; but, all just told her. But the excitement and of a sudden, a flame seemed to fill the amazement had been too much; she my hand was empty, and I knew could not think she could only keep I had destroyed it." repeating"Stephen, Stephen."

"I will give you my word, aunt, to have no delay."

room

66

Destroyed what, aunt?" "The-the-his certificate of marriage. The woman was called Matilda Williams, and they were married at Hatfield. I have never forgotten that. Often when I am ill I get no rest, because I keep repeating those names over and over again."

"Was there no word of explanation, then?" said Katherine, fearing she was wandering away from the subject.

CHAPTER XXXII.

"IF I COULD SAY YES."

IN her anxiety to begin her journey, Mrs. Labouchere was ready to start a good hour before it was time to leave the house; but, having been assured that as the tide would not suit until a certain hour, she would only be kept waiting on the Hard, she sat down until the time for departure should arrive. It was a lovely morning, but its fresh beauties were all lost upon Katherine, whose one anxiety was that the water should be sufficiently calm to enable her to go to Dockmouth by water, and thereby save the train, which on the previous day had taken off Sir Stephen. She had ascertained from his man that he intended going on at once to Pamphillon.

"Oh, yes. He wrote to tell me that, in a moment of madness, to which my marriage drove him, he had allowed this woman to cajole him into a marriage, that he had a son, whom, for Stephen's sake, he would fain disown. But though he had made away with every other trace of his guilty folly, he said he could not destroy this, and by a crime cut himself off from me forever. Therefore, he had enclosed it to me enclosed it to me, a weak, helpless woman, who had not strength to resist such a temptation." And her sobs broke forth again, and her remorse and accusations made it impossible for Mrs. Labouchere to bring her back to anything like a settled detail. She managed to draw from her, how she knew who the child was with, Mr. Despard's offer, and that he had finally taken entire charge of him; but Mrs. Prescott would only just answer the question put to her, and then return at once to her She was busily intent upon her plans fears, her self-reproaches, and her agony when the door opened, and Leo Despard of dread lest Stephen should suffer for entered. Strive as she might, Katherine her guilt. Her excitement became so could not meet him in her usual way, and painful, that Mrs. Labouchere wisely he, noticing her agitation, said —

"You are certain of that, Fenton?" she asked.

"Oh yes, ma'am, for I heard master say to Captain Carthew, 'I shall just have time to see about that matter, and then catch the train to Pamphillon;' and so he would, ma'am, easily catch the fouro'clock express."

"In that case," thought Katherine, "I ought to be prepared to follow him there at once, and if I do not find him in Albemarle Street, that is what I'll do."

"I fear I startled you."

"No, not at all," she said, freeing her hand, which in his solicitude he was still holding, and then, unable to think of anything to say, she sat down. Leo could not but perceive that she was not quite her usual self, and he wondered what was the cause of her nervous manner.

"My apology for paying such an early visit must be this," he said, laying the skeins of silk before her.

"Oh, thank you! I had forgotten all about the silk; I am going to London." It was Leo who grew confused now. "To London!" he exclaimed with a blank look.

her hand, he was forced to trust to his eloquent speeches, which, strive as he would, sounded to him forced and time. For his life he could not remember the protestations and devotions which he had intended pouring forth, and he felt certain Mrs. Labouchere would think him awkward and stupid. -an anxiety he might have spared himself, for though his words fell upon Katherine's ears, she hardly heard them, so intent was she on her own motives and interests. When he paused, she knew he was waiting his answer, and as well as she could she endeavoured to tone down her refusal so that his self-love should not be deeply

"Yes, Sir Stephen went yesterday-wounded. about some business."

Should he make the offer now? Her visible agitation might be at parting with him, and this gave him fresh hope. It was no use hesitating; if he did, the chance might be lost. Going back to her with a face pale and troubled, he stammered out —

"I am so very sorry, Mr. Despard, I

Leo turned hastily away from the table had not the slightest idea of such a and walked towards the window. thing. Love and I parted company long ago. In my present position I assume the privilege of being able to enjoy the friendship of your sex, without the possi bility of anything else ever entering my mind. It would distress me beyond measure, if I thought I was the uninten tional means of giving you pain, or that - Ian end was to be put to our pleasant"intercourse. I really feel quite too old and out of date to inspire any one with a fresh love; besides which, I thought, or dreamed, or was told, that you were very much attached to Miss Carthew."

"This is SO unexpected . I never thought about your going away; and he sat down, half averting his face. "I know you will not listen to me," he began, in a hopeless voice. "I have no right to expect you should; but I cannot hide my love any longer. From the first moment I saw you, I have thought of nothing else night and day. I have striven against what you will call folly, but it has been useless, and now that you tell me that you are going from me, and I may, perhaps, never see you again Oh! I feel I shall go mad."

At Leo's first word of love, a haughty rebuke had risen to Katherine's lips, for her conscience told her that she had given him no encouragement to indulge in this presumptuous avowal; but she had hastily checked it. No, she must not offend him, nor be too hard in her refusal, for what influence might not his love give her? So she said somewhat confusedly

"Who could have told you that?"

"I cannot remember" (Katherine felt it would be too absurd to give an old boatman as her authority); "I only know that in some way I was under thatdelusion?"

'Yes, certainly a delusion. I admit that I went to Sharrows much more frequently before you came to Combe, and that I liked to talk to Miss Carthew; but she and I have known each other since we were children, and she perfectly understood the footing that existed between us. Sharrows is not the only house I have ceased to frequent, nor Miss Carthew's the only society I have given up, since you have been here. I have had but one thought-when I could see you; where, and how I could see you. spell seemed to bind me to this place. Night as well as day found me unable to tear myself away."

A

"Oh! pray hush, Mr. Despard, you must not say things of this kind to me." The tone the words were said in filled | Leo with triumph. He was certain that if such a woman as she was had no feel- "Why, you might have been taken up ing towards him, she would have made for a poacher!" said Katherine, trying him see at once, that she considered he to make light of what he was saying. had taken a liberty in addressing her. He felt success all but certain, and thought he could afford to be more demonstrative, but as Katherine drew away

"Ah, you are laughing at me," he exclaimed bitterly. "Well, I suppose that is all I deserve for boring you with my folly. I shall have time to eat my heart

out when you are gone," and he gave a
little nervous movement as if to try and
dismiss the subject for the present, say-
ing, "Are you going to drive?"
"No."

"What, going by boat! may I go with various mounds of sea-weed, heaped toyou?"

Mrs. Labouchere hesitated.

"On one condition,” she said, “that we are to be friends."

"If I could say yes," and he caught both her hands, and held them with a grasp which only escaped being painful, "how willingly I would; but do what we can, we cannot school our hearts, or if so, do you think I would have set mine upon the moon, for you are quite as far out of my reach;" (his penitent humility made Katherine, in spite of her secret knowledge, feel very kindly towards him) "if you will forget what I have said and let me be your slave, your servant, anything that will not banish me from your presence, and your mind?"

"That is not quite in obedience to my conditions."

"Yes it is. I promise you all the obedience you ask, only let me go with

you now."

Very well, and let me go also;" for he seemed to forget that he was still clasping her hands. He paused an instant, then tried to raise them to his lips, but Katherine resolutely drew them away, saying, as if she had not noticed his

movement

"I think it is time I got ready to

start."

in several cases from one top window to the other. Arrived on the beach, her situation was but little mended. Here she had to undergo the stolid criticism of the numerous urchins, who emerged from gether for manure. The idlers grouped about, nettled by her want of notice, continued to lounge unconcernedly by, and the only civility vouchsafed was by Mother Tapson, the keeper of a small inn known as "Jack Ashore," who, true to her motto, that "all was fish that comed to her net," came out to say

"If you likes to bring the lady in 'ere, Maister Despard, the parler bar's to yer service, sir."

"Why could not the boat have been ready!" Katherine asked impatiently, taking no heed of this polite offer. "I cannot think," said Leo: "Aw can't 'ee, sir?" snorted Mother Tapson. "I should ha' thought you might ha' knaw'd; why her bottom 'ed be stove in if her'd bin rin down afore you hove in sight. Wouldn't het, Jim ?” she shouted as old Jim stopped to raise his cap to the gentlefolks. Jim being far too wise to offer any opposition to a lady so notably clever with her hands and her tongue as Mother Tapson, though ignorant of the case in point, nodded assent. "Why where be you goin to, hey?" she added.

"To Winkle, to fetch Miss Hero back," said Jim, one eye still directed towards Mrs. Labouchere and Leo.

"Aw! her's comin home then. Bless her dear heart! She's a real lady, she is, and has often sot in my parler, and to serve her or the Cap'en I'd go down on my bended knees by night or by day, that She I would."

She did not return to the room until her maid stood there waiting to accompany her on her journey. Leo could but see that his companion was too preoccupied to care for much conversation. walked along so engaged with her busy thoughts, that each remark she made was an effort, and the people they passed on the way were quite unnoticed. What attention she could command she bestowed upon picking her steps along the steep street, down which they had to go to the

"Come, come," laughed one of the men lounging near, surveying her short, fat figure, you're raither broad in the beam, missis, for that sort o' game."

"Niver you mind that. What I says I sticks to, and so will many more here who knows where to go mumpin' on a banyan Hard below. day. There ain't nobody about here, "Don't speak to me," she said in an-gentle or simple, as is fit to tread in the swer to some remark Leo made, "I dare same shoe leather as Miss Hero, and I not breathe. What an atmosphere to live don't care a brass farden who hears me in!" and as the thought swept over her say so, neither;" and she gave a defiant that in future this was Stephen's sole in- look towards Mrs. Labouchere, which heritance, her heart sent out a fresh cry made Leo say for the sorrow he would have to bear. "Take no notice of her. These people She shrank from the rough, weather- are really not civilized. Come, Wallis," beaten looking men, the dark-eyed, bold-be called out, "lend Joe a hand with this faced women, who ran to the doors at the boat; it's high time we were off now; news of the gentrys'" advent, proclaimed and he gave his arm to Mrs. Labouchere,

"

trying to assist her over the rough, slip-straying back to the old days, when she pery stones with an assiduity which in-had been Stephen's world; to the time creased Mrs. Tapson's ire. "He's as when a word from her could influence and false-faced as two is that young Despard," guide him beyond all else. What a difshe said, "and before he and Miss Hero walks to church together, I hopes the say'll swaller 'un."

66

"Sir Stephen, he's the right mate for Miss Hero," said one of the bystanders. Ah, now you've got the stocking on the right leg," said Mother Tapson; "he is a likely gentleman. You should ha seed un yesterday a haulin' an hoistin' Mrs. Collins into the boat, as if her'd bin the port admiral's lady, and to me 'twas 'How de do, Mrs. Tapson, and good day to 'ee, Mrs. Tapson! Don't 'ee tell me! there's more good done by gentlefolks with a kind word or haction, than if they was to stand jawing about 'ee all day, and I for one says, God bless Sir Stephen, and prosper the day he comed to Mallett."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

AT PAMPHILLON.

ferent promise her life had given then! Surrounded by love, she would have laughed to scorn the supposition that a time would come when she would yearn after, and weary for, the faintest sign of that devotion which she then held so lightly. "Yes," she sighed, "out of my headstrong vanity sprang my misery: I took my fate into my own hands; I shaped my own destiny; and to punish me all my desires have been granted, and I am mocked by the very things I have thirsted after. I have cried out, 'If I were but rich, I should be happy;' I have said, So that I were Lady Prescott, I should have no care for aught else that might happen.' Rich I am, Lady Prescott I might be, but what now?" and she hid her face, because of the newly shaped desire which filled her heart, the desire to be Stephen Prescott's wife. "I may well feel humbled," she said after a time, "as daily I see, that little as I know of others, myself I know least of all." This taking her back to her recent mistake, made her

never knew until now how dear she is to me. I must try and in some way keep her secret from Stephen! he will never overlook or forget it." As she neared London, the task of breaking this unlooked-for trouble increased in magnitude, and every minute discovered some fresh difficulty, until, when the train reached Paddington, her anxiety had resolved itself into the words, "What shall I say to him?" and this she kept repeating during her drive to Albemarle Street, where she learnt that, after breakfast that morning, Sir Stephen had left, saying he was going down to his place, but that he should most likely return on Friday.

LEO accompanied Mrs. Labouchere to the station, and remained chatting with her until it was time for the train to start; then, after a somewhat confused and hur-sigh afresh for her aunt's sorrows. "I ried good-by, he walked moodily away, while she, sinking back in the carriage, gave a sigh of thankfulness that she was again alone, and free to indulge the thoughts which filled and troubled her. Step by step she went over the marvellous revelations of the last few hours, and so at variance did these seem with all she had been brought up to believe and to put faith in, that she was tempted to question whether she could be the same Katherine, who, up to that time, could have staked her existence, that not an event had eve. taken place in her aunt's life, with which she and Stephen were not thoroughly conversant; and here, suddenly, was brought to light a― a crime of which this timid, trustful woman was the secret perpetrator. "It will cut Stephen to the heart," she thought, as she wiped away the blinding tears. "If I could but save him from Pamphillon was a good three hours' knowing the worst! Nothing will be so journey from London; so, though the hard for him to bear as the knowledge of nine-o'clock train entailed rather early what his mother has done." Then, after rising, Katherine decided to go by it, and another reverie, she said to herself, "The the next morning nine o'clock found her feeling that Stephen loves her less, thinks commencing her journey. What an unless of her, will kill her. Oh! what can dertaking it now seemed! She began to I do? how can I spare them? Poor be filled with all sorts of anxiety and fear, aunt! poor Stephen! How strangely but she steadily determined to master our lives run! Longings granted when herself, so that her energies might be they have lost their value; wishes an- turned upon the story she was going to swered all too late." Her memory went tell. During the night she had made up

"To-morrow," she said to her maid, “I want you to do whatever business you have in town; I shall not require you to go to Pamphillon with me."

to afford the best protection against beat-pected yesterday." ing storms of wind and rain, from which "Thank you," and she went on to a the thick, stunted trees afforded little side entrance always kept open, and close shelter. And was this to be Stephen's to the housekeeper's apartment. Here home? Would he banish himself far she ascertained that Sir Stephen was in from society and civilization in such a the library, where he had been seeing