Humph, my fair cousin; so that is the reason why your ladyship deigns to receive me so coldly," returned Guy, smiling mischievously. "Well, if I cared to evade your question, I could well do so. I have been in town-that is, at the Westend-some six hours, two of which were spent at Lansdowne House; and I have been six weeks in a place not fit to mention in aristocratic ears, but certainly not twelve miles from London."

"I thought so," came in disdainful tones from Beatrix. "Besides

"Besides what?

"You were seen-
"How shocking!"

Don't spare my feelings."

"There is nothing to laugh at, Guy. Colonel Delaire came in and told us one day he had met you."

"Indeed! Was it in the Seven Dials or Camden Town?" "He did not mention the locality. He said you had your old shooting-coat on-I wish you would let me burn it-and looked rather as though you had fallen into the hands of the Philistines."

"My dear Beatrix, you know poor Frank was only laughing -you did look so shocked."

"Never mind, Aunt Celia; don't trouble yourself to apologize for me. Trichy knows I am a sad fellow-always in the hands of some Philistines or other; but it was mean of the colonel to show me up at headquarters."

"He thought we should be so pleased, dear Guy!"

"What! at hearing I was in the hands of the Philistines. For shame, Aunt Celia !"

"I wish you would not go on joking, Guy. You know mamma is dreadfully tired."

"That means I am to be silent, and that you are to go to bed, auntie; what a capital policeman you would make, Trichy, your very tone would make people 'move on.'"

Miss Tressilian moved away somewhat displeased; it was never her way to retort on an impertinence; she held herself aloof quite stiffly, while Guy interchanged an affectionate good-night with his elder relative. Neither did she seem to see him till he took the seat opposite to her, and deliberately helped himself to some coffee.

"Where is Charlie ?" he asked, suddenly.

"At the opera; he will be in by and by." "All right; I will look in on him to-morrow. stay now, I suppose ?"

I must not

"That's as you please. Mrs. Vivian will be down directly." "How many tame cats do you keep about the house?" asked her cousin, mischievously.

"Mrs. Vivian is a friend," returned Beatrix, in her most repressive voice. "She is in trouble, poor thing! and it came into my head to-night that perhaps mamma might make it worth her while to stay on as Edith's governess.'

"Edith has a governess, has she not?"

'Oh, yes-Miss Elliott; but she is going."

Indeed," observed Guy, in the very driest of tones.

"Yes, she will not do at all. She will insist on having her own way in everything, and spoils Edith dreadfully."

"Edith seemed very happy, and much stronger in health, I thought."

"Ah, Mentone did us all good, mamma especially. Don't say a word to her about Miss Elliott's going, please. She is dreadfully infatuated on the subject, and I have had difficulty enough to make her see things properly. Miss Elliott is just the deceptive sort of person that can creep into any one's good graces."

"She has not crept into yours," muttered Guy.

"No, because I have perception enough to read her truly. I never knew any one more unfit for a governess; she and Edith waste half their time in childish romps."

"So much the better," was the gruff answer.

"And then she is so ill tempered-a perfect little fury when provoked."

Guy shrugged his shoulders. "Under no provocation, I suppose?"

Beatrix bit her lip. "You are so tiresome, Guy; there is no talking to you.'

"Confess, Trichy, you are a little hard on her."

No answer.

"And so the poor little thing must go?"

"If you cannot find anything more interesting to talk about, I shall leave you, Guy."

"Not before Mrs. Vivian comes, I hope. look to-night, Trichy, with all those green

How nice you waves, and puf

C

fings, and white water-lilies. If I were an artist I would paint you as Undine."

"Or any other soulless being, I suppose," returned Beatrix, who, for some reason or other, was in an evident ill humor. "Ah, Undine got her soul afterwards; so will you, when you have an Huldbrand of your own. By the by, what's this between you and Frank Delaire?"

Beatrix flushed up to her temples, and turned away. "Ah, Undine, have I caught you?"

"Hush! here is Mrs. Vivian at last," as a brisk little widow, with dark restless eyes, and very airily attired, made her entrance. "You have been long enough making your appearance, Susan."

"I have been with dear Mrs. Tressilian. This is your cousin, Mr. Chichester-Oh, yes, I remember him." But Guy, who was subject to sudden sympathies and antipathies, replied very curtly to the lady's effusive greeting.

"I suppose it is no use waiting for Charlie any longer; he has gone in to supper somewhere," he observed, looking at his watch. "I have only ten minutes to spare, and you are tired, Beatrix."

"Not in the least. You know we are late people," was the careless answer, but she followed him into the outer room notwithstanding. On the threshold he stopped and took her hands.

"You had better tell me all about it," he said, with pleasant peremptoriness.

"About what?" But the tell-tale color began to rise again. "About Frank Delaire. Are you engaged to him, Trichy?" "I don't see what right you have to ask me that question," she replied, trying hard to resume her former cold manner. "What right! Am I not a man and a cousin?"

"I don't see what that has to do with it."

"Don't you?"

"I may choose to keep my own counsel." "Well done, Undine.'

"Besides," trying to disengage herself, "I cannot see how my affairs can possibly interest you."

"It is sufficient interest to me to know that an honest fellow's constancy is to be rewarded by my pretty cousin's hand." "Pshaw! pray allow me to go back to Mrs. Vivian."

"Unhand me, sir; that was what you meant. There, you are free-only suffer me to make the remark that you are in a singularly unapproachable mood to-night."

A sudden glitter as of tears sprang to Beatrix Tressilian's eyes.

"Because I am too proud to repose confidence where none is returned. Why should you consider you have the right to question me about Frank, when you refuse to answer a single question of mine?"

"Frank! Now I am sure I have to congratulate you." "Don't. I hate congratulations."

"But is it really so, Trichy?"

"I suppose so," in a half-proud, half-melancholy voice. "Dear Beatrix, I am so glad," replied her cousin, affectionately. "Frank Delaire is a capital fellow, and

"And what?"

"He will have an awfully pretty wife." But Beatrix drew back with almost a defiant gesture.

"Don't, Guy. I will not have you say that."

Why should I not say it?"

"Because I don't know! what are my looks to you? There, let us change the subject."

"With all my heart. Good-night, Trichy."

"Good-night. I suppose," catching her breath quickly, and not looking at him-"I suppose you are not rid of the old delusion yet, Guy?"

A quick contraction of the brow and a look of pain before Guy Chichester answered, "No, nor ever shall be ;" and then somewhat abruptly he bade his cousin good-night.

CHAPTER III.

A HEADACHE AND A MYSTERY.

AFTER that, Mr. Chichester seemed to have taken up his bode at Lansdowne House.

Miss Elliott soon became aware of the fact; his visit was a sad hindrance to Edith's studies. True, he never again invaded the school-room, but Edith was sent for perpetually to bear him company in all sorts of walking and driving expeditions. Edith must go with them to the Royal Academy, or to some water-color exhibition; she accompanied them to concerts or morning visits to the various studios of his artist friends. Cousin Guy would not hear an excuse or word of remonstrance; no party of pleasure was formed without her. Why should not the child be amused as well as they? The governess wondered what Miss Tressilian thought of it.

Miss Tressilian said very little to any one at this time. She swept past the governess once or twice, looking prouder and sterner than ever. Dym saw her once standing in the embrasure of one of the hall windows, looking out with a very dissatisfied face, just after Mr. Chichester had ridden away with his little cousin from the door. Edith looked back and waved her hand to her sister, but Beatrix vouchsafed no response. The child looked a pretty picture in her blue habit, with her fair hair streaming down in the sunlight. She laughed aloud with delight as her white pony curveted and champed at his bit.

"What wonderful manes you both have!" observed her cousin, smiling. "Does Miss Elliott groom yours?"

"No; Caroline, of course. Is she not a beauty, my pretty Fanchette? Trichy, you had better have come with us, it is such a lovely day."

Beatrix turned away without vouchsafing an answer, and Miss Elliott was struck by the lowering look of discontent on her face as she slowly ascended the stairs.

Dym gained a curious insight into things by and by; the