rose mountains prominent against the heavens, and Dublin stretched out before him, rearing towards the sky its steeples, and towers, and crosses, like the holy city that it is, inhabited by a great-hearted people who are pleasing to God. He read none of the uninteresting work before him, for that cruel separation from him by Madeleine was chiefly in his thoughts; the wound inflicted was not healing so very soon, the peace of mind not so suddenly restored. He said indeed to himself, in his own forgiving way, that she had acted as might be expected from a sensible woman who looked pre-eminently to her own interests, before what is called love should be allowed to come in for its share of attentionthough her conduct certainly was any thing but considerate. But of one thing he was positively sure now, that she never loved him as he would be loved, or she could not have treated him as she did. He was one who could make many allowances, and he did make them. He removed some reproaches against her, lurking in his heart. And before he left the library later on, in order to return to his home at the other side of the city, he had forgiven her for ever; and this he was enabled to accomplish in one of those precious moments when a greater, clearer knowledge broke in upon him of his own utter nothingness, and of his dependence, not upon her, but entirely upon God for true happiness-precious moments assuredly, when it is given us to discover something of our actual selves-moments which are as beacons we pass by on our life's journey, while we watch on deck, glancing by turns at our ropes and prow, and the delicate sails that waft us farther and farther, and are anxious about how we are holding the helm; in other words, this wayward will of ours, which is the only thing, after all, we can call our ownwhich, if left to itself, goodness knows where it will send us, but let it be obedient to the pilotage of God, and we are sure to come to the right port when the voyage is over. He arrived home at six o'clock in a cheerful mood, after that inward act of charity performed in the library, and—perhaps partly owing to his charity-with the good appetite, which the servant, opening swiftly the street door,-she knew his knock well, and it made her heart spring up towards him, and her step nimble,―merrily hoped he had. CHAPTER XI. THE TRIUMPH OF ORANMORE. "Sweet Emma Moreland of yonder town 'And have you lost your heart ?' she said; "Sweet Emma Moreland spoke to me : TENNYSON. A YEAR, sad and slow for Madeleine Leyne, went by; and once during that longest twelvemonth yet lived through by her she spoke to him accidentally, when travelling home alone, towards the latter end of September, after paying a month's visit to some County Wicklow friends residing beyond the picturesque locality of Powerscourt, and who, at the private request of her mother, induced her to try the change of air, for she was any thing but well physically. On the homeward journey the train stopped at an intermediate station, and into the carriage occupied by her, who should come but Noel! He saw her at once; he turned his head aside immediately, and looked out of the window; he made even an attempt to get out and take a seat elsewhere, but generally the train, like the time and the tide, waits for no man; so he was obliged to remain where he was and "bear it." Eagerly Madeleine devoured him with her eyes, noticing the changes in his appearance, which was not much changed, with the exception of a determined expression in his contented face. Yes, it was contented; and that spirit of deep content visible therein filled Madeleine with some surprise. It would not be untrue to say that she resented it a little when she saw it; but then she did not understand its cause, although Mary, without a moment's delay, would have perfectly understood it. Had Noel once during the journey glanced round and confronted her, there is no saying how different hereafter would have been the lot of these two; for he would have observed her repentant tears flowing rapidly, and the sight of them would have sent him smiling to her side, with his willing hand stretched out to take back hers in forgiveness again. However, he resolutely refrained from observing her in the least after the first momentary glance whereby he clearly recognized her, though her veil was then down, which she lifted afterwards, in order to feed her eyes the better upon him. When the train arrived in Kings town, where Mrs. Leyne and Mary were spending a few weeks at the hotel, and who were not on the lookout for Madeleine, not expecting her so early, though aware that she would arrive some time to-day, Madeleine left the carriage, and a crowd being upon the platform Noel disappeared from her view. It was raining so heavily that all the cabs were engaged when Madeleine went in search of one. She was obliged to re-enter the terminus and wait, either until the rain was over, or until the cabs came back. She had not a long delay, for, in less than a minute, a familiar voice behind her made her start and turn quickly around. heard it, and she knew the sound full well." "She "Fortunately I was at the door in time to secure a cab, which, of course, is at your disposal." It was Noel who spoke. "Thank you very much, but perhaps you are in a hurry, and I can wait. Thank you, I will wait." It was owing alone to her sensitive desire not to inconvenience him in the slightest she pronounced that "will" so emphatically and decidedly. "Then you will not allow me to offer it to you?" "No," she answered, tremulously, and raised her splendid eyes, with a fire burning within them, which escaped his notice, for with his own glance withdrawn, he lifted his hat the least coldly, and left her. She often after that day looked into the law columns of the daily newspapers to see whether his name |