Mr. Snapson tossed off another glass of wine in infinite relief.

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My dear Albert," he said, recovering himself by a great effort, "instead of blaming Mr. Seymour, you ought to be most thankful to him for preventing you from running such a terrible risk."

"I don't believe there would have been the least danger, papa," returned Herbert, carelessly; "besides—"

"You should consider others as well as yourself, my dear," interposed Mrs. Snapson, gravely, her motherly anxieties aroused at the idea of the havoc which this dread disease might create in her nursery. "To put the best construction upon your conduct, it was very thoughtless."

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Why, what harm?" began Albert, surprised at the unwonted severity of her manner.

"Great harm!" she

exclaimed, energetically; "you might have been the cause of your little sister's death!"

"O mamma!" he said, looking completely awed, “do you think so?"

"What is the use of reminding him of that?" asked Mr. Snapson, glancing reproachfully at his wife.

"Because, whatever your opinion may be," she replied with an irrepressible burst of indignant feeling, "I consider their lives quite as valuable as his!"

The red flush of anger spread itself over Mr. Snapson's countenance as she spoke thus; but apparently he thought it better to allow it to pass without comment, for he offered no reply.

Albert, however, who always took everything quite literally, promptly responded,

"Of course they are, mamma; we all know that."

"Do we?" said Arabella, in a low-breathed aside to Henry; "I don't for one!"

"Come, Arabella, we will adjourn to the drawing-room," remarked Mrs. Snapson, assuming her most dignified deportment; "we can hear the remainder of Albert's account some other time." And whatever might have been the young lady's own wishes, she was obliged to submit to her mother's decision.

After they were gone, Mr. Snapson again reverted to the subject, and questioned his son closely regarding Herbert's motive for wishing to deter him from entering Mortice's dwelling.

When he had satisfied himself on this point, and extracted a promise-which Albert gave with extreme reluctance that he would make no further effort to visit the infected neighbourhood, he leant his elbow upon the back of one of the chairs, and continued for a considerable time pondering deeply.

At length he left the table, but instead of following Henry and Albert into the drawing-room, whither they had already repaired, he took up his hat, and sauntered into the park.

For a few minutes he wandered about in a vague and purposeless sort of way, scarcely knowing what path to take. Then he strode hastily forward until he reached the palings which divided the grounds of his cwn mansion from Herbert's humble abode; and, applying a key to one of the nearest entrance-gates, he found himself in his neighbour's garden.

The-hall door was wide open, and Herbert stood on the threshold.

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CHAPTER LIX.

MYSTERY.

Peace, brother! be not over-exquisite

To cast the fashion of uncertain evils;

For grant they be so, while they rest unknown,
What need a man forestall his day of grief,
And run to meet what he would most avoid?
Or if they be but false alarms of fear,
How bitter is such self-delusion!"

Comus.

"No accidents are so unlucky but that the prudent may draw some advantage from them; nor are there any so lucky but that the imprudent may turn to their prejudice." ROCHEFOUCAULD.

"You were going out," said Mr. Snapson, hesitating to enter. "An hour hence will do quite as well," replied the young man, as he laid down his hat, and led the way to the drawing-room.

"I am afraid my young friend has been entertaining you with a lamentable account of my unceremonious treatment of him this morning," continued Herbert, seeing that Mr. Snapson seemed in an unusally silent humour; "I never saw him so angry before."

"The very thing I wish to allude to," observed the gentleman, rousing himself, and speaking quickly and earnestly; "I feel utterly incapable of expressing my gratitude to you for preventing him from running the risk of taking that terrible fever; " and he shuddered visibly.

"I simply did what you would do for me, were our positions reversed," rejoined Herbert, lightly; "I might have discovered a gentler method of effecting my purpose," he added, smiling at the remembrance of the morning's scene, "had there been time; but as it was, I felt quite justified in taking active measures to keep him out of harm's way."

"Indeed, you were perfectly right," eagerly responded Mr. Snapson; "perfectly right," he repeated; "it is impossible to say what direful consequences your promptitude may have averted."

Herbert did not exactly approve of this doctrine; but before he could reply, Mr. Snapson asked,—

"Is the child very ill?"

"Yes; I fear there is little hope of his recovery; two of his sisters are also laid up."

"What-with the fever?"

Herbert bent his head in token of assent.

Mr. Snapson looked troubled.

"Have you heard of any other cases?" he anxiously inquired.

"A few, but they are less dangerous."

"Do you think the disease is likely to spread? was Mr. Snapson's next uneasy question.

"I trust not," said Herbert; "the weather is favourable, and—but,

after all," he proceeded in a changed tone, as it for the first time occurred to him that Mr. Snapson's concern arose solely from his anxiety regarding his own family, "there is little use in speculating on these subjects."

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'Surely it is our duty to use every lawful means of preserving our own life and the lives of those connected with us?"

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Undoubtedly," returned Herbert, seriously; "still, we know that the manner, time, and place of our death are all unalterably fixed; and, therefore, no effort of ours can ward off the final stroke when it comes.'

"Are you a fatalist?" questioned Mr. Snapson, gazing at him in evident astonishment.

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By no means; I simply believe what the Bible tells me."

"I should imagine that this principle, if generally adopted, would lead to much unjustifiable rashness and presumption-I mean in the way of adventuring one's self into danger."

"Would it not, on the other hand, have the effect of delivering us from great and unnecessary solicitude about the future?" inquired Herbert, quietly.

Well, it may be so," answered Mr. Snapson, in a tone of very doubtful acquiescence.

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Regarding Albert, however," resumed Herbert, thoughtfully, "I am quite aware of the expediency of taking every precaution

"I think I ought to remove him from the neighbourhood for a short time," quickly interrupted the anxious father, with a slight constriction of his firm lip; "so long as he remains here he will go about as

usual."

"Yes, I suppose so," said Herbert, rather hesitatingly.

"Would it be possible for me to induce you to accompany us for a few weeks to our town house?" asked Mr. Snapson, with marked cordiality.

"You are very kind," returned Herbert, smiling frankly; "but I could not possibly leave home just now."

"Albert would be so delighted," observed the other, in a pursuasory

tone.

"Thank you," replied Herbert, mildly, but firmly; "for my own part, I shall miss him greatly; still I feel that it is my duty to remain where I am. 99

Seeing him thus resolved, Mr. Snapson ceased to urge him further, though he certainly wondered at his decision.

After a momentary pause, during which that gentleman appeared a little confused, he suddenly observed,

"I seem to be forgetting the object of my visit."

"Had you any particular motive for calling?" asked Herbert, as he stopped.

"You may, perhaps, remember," continued Mr. Snapson, looking more and more embarrassed, "that a month or two since I refused an application which you made me through your servant, in respect to a vacant spot of ground situated midway between this and Colton. Since then I have come to the conclusion that, if you still wish to erect a place of worship there, I will withdraw the objections I formerly made to your doing so; only, however, on the express understanding" (this was added with unusual graciousness) "that instead of purchasing it, as you at first proposed, I shall be permitted the honour

of freely bestowing it for the purpose, and also have an opportunity of contributing towards the necessary funds for erecting the building."

"Excuse me," said Herbert, as soon as his astonishment would allow him to speak. "You must be mistaken; I never commissioned any one to address you on such a subject."

Mr. Snapson eyed him incredulously.

"By whose request, then," he asked, slowly emphasising his words, "did the person calling himself James Gordon apply to me for permission to build a small church or chapel upon my property?"

'James Gordon!" cried Herbert, in manifest doubt and bewilderment. "Are you sure it was him?"

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Quite. He made me a fair offer for the land; and, though he may not actually have said so, he certainly gave me plainly to understand that it was for you he acted."

"It is very extraordinary!" replied Herbert, after a moment's serious thought; "I can't deny having often wished that something of the kind could be attempted; but so far from authorising Gordon to purchase land, I dismissed the very idea as impracticable, without mentioning it to any one. Indeed, to be frank with you," he added ingenuously, "my means are too slender to justify me in commencing such an expensive undertaking; otherwise, I would most gratefully accept your kind offer."

"What could that man's motive be in coming to me!" ejaculated Mr. Snapson, scarcely knowing whether to feel most bewildered or annoyed at the strange position into which he had unwittingly thrust himself.

"We will ask him," replied Herbert, stretching out his hand and pulling the bell. "I cannot account for it."

"Will you request Mr. Gordon to step here?" he said to the servant who answered his summons.

Then, turning to Mr. Snapson, who appeared greatly astonished, he explained,

"I ought to tell you that, although Gordon thinks proper to call himself my servant, he is, in reality, nothing of the kind."

"Indeed!" returned Mr. Snapson, in unfeigned amazement. "He has, in fact, sufficient property of his own to render him quite independent of any help I could afford him; and merely resides here, and assists me with his help and advice, out of the purest and most devoted affection for myself."

"He must be a rara avis indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Snapson, a sceptical smile curving his lips.

"He is certainly a most original character," answered Herbert, smiling slightly; "but here he comes!"

"James," he observed, instantly resuming his gravity, "I have sent for you to unravel a little mystery, which neither Mr. Snapson nor myself can understand.”

"What is it, sir?" asked Gordon, standing respectfully before them.

"It would appear that some time ago Mr. Snapson was applied to regarding the purchase of a certain piece of land belonging to him." "Yes, sir," he said, without the slightest change of countenance, though he kept his eyes steadily fixed upon the young man's lips.

"But as Mr. Snapson disapproved of the purpose for which this land was to be set apart, he declined to dispose of it."

"Yes, sir," said Gordon again, as calmly and carelessly as if he had nothing whatever to do with the matter.

"Need I say that it was you who asked for the land, James?" returned Herbert, pointedly.

"And led me to infer that Mr. Seymour had authorised you to do so," dryly interpolated Mr. Snapson.

"What could have been your meaning, my friend?" asked Herbert, kindly; "you know how ridiculous it would be for me to talk of building a church!"

"The chief difficulty consists in obtaining a suitable spot of ground," murmured Gordon, still trying to maintain a cool and unembarrassed air.

"That difficulty I hoped to obviate by offering Mr. Seymour the land you spoke of," remarked Mr. Snapson, bending on him a look of earnest scrutiny.

Gordon started forward a step, while an imperceptible smile skirted over his lips; but, speedily checking himself, he inquired in a quiet, business-like tone,

May I conclude that you are now satisfied with the terms I offered, and consent

"I never objected to your terms, sir?" exclaimed Mr. Snapson, somewhat shortly.

Here Herbert interposed.

'My dear James," he said, remonstratingly; "you seem to forget the land is not everything. Supposing, for instance, we were to accept Mr. Snapson's generous proposal, what then?"

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Then, sir, we would begin to build at once," returned he other. with energy.

"And the funds, where would they come from?" inquired Herbert, unable to repress a smile at this Utopian scheme.

Well, sir," he answered (stooping to pick up some imaginary article from the carpet), "I did not apply to Mr. Snapson for the ground, until I was sure of having sufficient money to pay for it, and also to defray the expense of erecting the building."

Herbert looked grave, almost troubled, as he asked,"But where, James-from whom- "and stopped.

"I understand, sir," said Gordon, hurriedly; "but I am not at liberty to tell you the names of those who have subscribed the most largely on this occasion, as it was their earnest wish that the matter should be kept a secret from you until after the laying of the foundation-stone. That is why I applied to you, sir,” turning to Mr. Snapson, "without my master's knowledge.”

"I see," assented the manufacturer, in a tone of good-humoured condescension; "had I been aware of this, I need not have divulged your secret."

"Sooner or later it must have been known," returned Gordon, glancing wistfully at Herbert, who had fallen into a silent reverie.

"At all events you understand that the land is ready for you whenever you choose to claim it," remarked Mr. Snapson, with a complacent bend of his head.

Thank you, sir; we shall be glad to do so without delay," was James Gordon's matter-of-fact answer.

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Very good," said the other, after surveying him from head to foot in a serio-comic manner; "I will be happy also to put my name