newspapers tell us of her being at great minute to decide on what to do: follow me houses and in fine company, but we know now along this path, and I'll place you in your ambush. You'll not leave it till I come." no more." "Of course she's happy then. When she was a child, she would only play with us if we made her a queen; and though we often tried to rebel, - we were great levellers in our way, she always kept us down, and whether we liked it or not, we had to admit the sovereignty." "Your sister" younger he did not call her Nelly -"was not of this mould?" "Not a bit of it; she was the peacemaker, always on the side of the weak, and although she was a delicate child, she'd fight against oppression with the passion of a tigress. Wasn't it strange ?" said he after a pause. "There we were, five of us, treated and reared exactly alike; in carly life certainly there were no distinctions made, nor any favouritism practised. We were of the same race and blood, and yet no two of us were alike. Temple had perhaps some sort of resemblance to Marion, but he had not her bold daring spirit. Where she was courageous, he'd have been crafty. Whatever good there was amongst us, Nelly had it." Another and longer pause now succeeded. "I say, George," cried Jack at last, "how do you mean to break it to the girls that I'm here? I take it, poor Nelly's nerves must have suffered sorely of late. Is she likely to stand a shock without injury?" "It is exactly what I am trying to resolve this moment. Flushed with the walk, and cheered by the fresh air, you don't look sickly now." 66 Ah, my dear fellow, that's not the worst of it. It is the sight of me as recalling my fallen fortune, that's what I fear for her; her last good-by to me was blended with joy at my promotion-I was going to take up my command! She has never seen me since my disgrace." "Don't call it that, Jack; we all know there is no other blame attaches to you than rashness." "When rashness can make a man forget his condition, it's bad enough; but I'll not go back to these things. Tell me how I am to meet her." "Perhaps it would be best I should first see Julia, and tell her you are here. I always like to ask her advice. " "I know that of old," said Jack with a faint smile. 66 I'll leave you in the summer-house at the end of the garden there, till I speak with Julia." "What a lovely spot this seems, it beats Castello hollow! " "So we say every day. We all declare we'd like to pass our lives here." "Let me be one of the party, and I'll say nothing against the project," said Jack, as he brushed through a hedge of sweet-briar, and descended a little slope, at the foot of which a shady summer-house stood guardian over a well. "Remember now," cried he, "not to tax my patience too far. I'll give you ten minutes, but I won't wait twenty." L'Estrange lost no time in hastening back to the house. Julia, he heard, was giving orders about the room for the stranger, and he found her actively engaged in the preparation. For whom am I taking all this trouble, George?" said she, as he entered. Guess, Julia, guess! Whom would you say was best worth it?" 66 66 "Not Mr. Cutbill,-whom Nelly fixed on, -not Sir Marcus Cluff, whose name occurred to myself, not even the Pretender, Count Pracontal; and now I believe I have exhausted the category of possible guests.” "Not any of these," said he, drawing her his side. • Where is Nelly?" to 66 66 66 She went down to gather some roses." "Not in the lower garden, I hope?" cried he, eagerly. "Wherever she could find them bestbut why not there? and what do you mean by all this mystery ?" 66 "Go and fetch her here at once," cried he. If she should see him suddenly, the shock might do her great harm.” "See whom? see whom?" exclaimed she wildly. "Don't torture me this way!" 64 Jack, her brother, Jack Bramleigh." And he proceeded to tell how he had found him, and in what condition; but she heard nothing of it all, for she had sunk down on a seat, and sat sobbing with her hands over her face; then suddenly wiping the tears away, she rose up, and while her voice trembled with each word, she said "Is he changed, George? is he greatly changed?" Changed! yes, for he has been ill, and gone through all manner of hardships, and now he is dressed like a Montenegro chief, for we could get no other clothes, so that you'll scarcely know him." 66 "Let us find Nelly at once," said she, moving towards the door. Come, George, come," and she was down the stairs, and "Not very long I hope?" across the hall, and out of the door, before "Not an instant; she never requires a he could follow her. In her agitated man ner, and rapid expression, it was evident she | this. I say, George, have you any friends was endeavouring to subdue the deep emo- of influence at Naples? I wish I could get tion of her heart, and by seeming to be oc- my old companion his liberty." cupied to suppress the signs of that blended joy and sorrow which rack the nature more fatally than downright misery. 66 See, George, look there!" cried she wildly, as she pointed down a straight alley, at the top of which they were standing. "There they are. Nelly has her arm round him. They have met, and it is all over;" and so saying, she hid her face on her brother's shoulder, and sobbed heavily; meanwhile the others came slowly forward, too much engaged with each other to notice those in front of them. CHAPTER LVIII. THE VILLA LIFE. Ir is not, at this the eleventh hour of my story, I can stop to dwell on the life of the villa at Cattaro, though I am free to own it was about the sunniest bit of landscape our long journey has offered us. 66 George has gone to write to Agustus," said Nelly; "but if Lord Culduff could answer your purpose, I'd ask Marion to interest him in the matter." "There's a dear good girl, do write a line to Marion; tell her it's the greatest favour she could bestow on me. The poor fellow is a political criminal; he only shot at the king I believe, and where they do that every week or so, it's hard to make it a capital offence. I'll give you his name and his number when I go into the house." "The post leaves early," said she, rising. "I must do this at once." "Wait till I have finished this corner of my netting, and I'll go with you," said Julia. "I say No to that," cried Jack. "I'm not going to be left alone here. If that's the way you treat a distinguished guest, the sooner he takes his leave the better. Stay where you are, Miss Julia." "But I shall have no work, Master Jack. My net will be finished in a few minutes." "Make cigarettes for me then. There's the bag," said he lazily. "I declare our Bohemianism progresses famously," said she, half tartly. "What do you think of this proposal, Nelly?" The question came late, however, for Nelly was already on her way to the house. 66 "Don't go, that's a good girl; don't leave me here to my own thoughts—they're not over jolly, I promise you, when I'm all alone." Why, it's your good spirits that amaze me," replied she. "I don't remember seeing you so cheerful or so merry long ago, as you are now." Seated or lying on the grass, under the shade of a broad-leaved figtree, they listened to Jack's adventures, told with a quaint humour, of which they who knew him well could appreciate every shade and tint. In his days of prosperous fortune it was rare to hear him speak of himself: the routine life he led seemed to develop little or nothing of his real nature; but now, dependent as he was altogether on intrinsic qualities for whatever estimation he might obtain, owing nothing to station, it was remarkable how his character had widened and expanded, how his sympathies with his fellow-men had increased. Though nothing could be farther "You mean that I wasn't so happy when from his nature than any mawkish sen- I had more reason to be so? but what if I timentality, there was that show of trustful-were to tell you out of what a sad heart this ness, that degree of hopeful belief in the world at large, which occasionally led Julia to banter him on his optimism, and this, be it said passingly, was the only show of freedom between them; their manner to each other from the moment they met being marked by a studied reserve on each side. "And surely, Prince," said she, calling him by the title which, in honour of his dress, they had given him, "surely you must have met some charming creatures at the galleys. All the good qualities of human nature were not reserved for the cockpit or the steerage, or whatever it is." 66 Ay, even at the galleys they wern't all bad, though it's not exactly the sort of a place men grow better in. I had a capital old fellow as comrade, and, I take shame to say, I ought to have thought of him before joy comes; how every day I say to myself, This is to be the last of it.' Not," said he, in a bolder voice, that I want to think about myself; this terrible disaster that has befallen my family is infinitely worse than anything that could attach to me. Even yet I cannot bring myself to believe this great smash." She made no answer; and he went on: "I can't make out if Nelly herself believes it. You all wear such cheerful faces, it's not easy to understand in what spirit you take this reverse." "I think that your return has recompensed Nelly for everything." "She was always the best of us; it's no great praise that same; but I mean— - but it's no matter what I mean, for you are laughing at me already." was in thinking how little all your casualties | outspoken sailor condescends to speak to have changed you." "For that matter I suspect we may compliment or condemn each other, whichever it be, on equal terms." 66 her." "Well, he's pretty sure to get the worst of it," muttered he. "Poor Jack," said Nelly, caressingly. And for all that he likes the ill treatment better than all the flatteries he meets elsewhere." So at last I have got you to say a civil" thing to me; you tell me I am the same delightful fascinating creature you knew me long ago." "I said nothing about fascinations," said he, sternly. "Not directly, of course. Your tact and delicacy were proof against such indiscretion, but you know you meant it." "I'll tell you what I know: I know that I never saw a girl except yourself who liked to pain-ay, to torture those who cared for her; who would infinitely rather indulge her mood of mockery than than "Pray finish. It's not every day I have the fortune to hear such candour. Tell me what it is that I postpone to my love of sarcasm ?" me. "I've done. I've been very rude to you, and I ask your pardon. I was not very polished in my best days, and I take it my late schooling has not done much to improve When I was coming here, I swore an oath to myself that, no matter what you'd say to me, I'd not lose temper, nor make a resentful answer to anything; and now I see I've forgotten all my good intentions, and the best thing I can do is to ask you to forgive me, and go my ways." I'm not offended," said she, calmly, without raising her eyes. "I suppose if the balance were struck between us, I did more to provoke you than you did to wound me." "What is this I hear about being provoked and wounded?" cried Nelly, coming up to where they sat. "That shrug of his shoulders does not say so," said Julia, laughing. “Come," I cried she, with a merry voice, "let us do something more worthy of this delicious morning; let us have a walk up the mountain; we can have shade all the way." "What's that little dome; there above the trees ?" asked Jack. "That's the campanile of our little chapel. I'll fetch the key, and we'll go and visit it. We've not been to see it yet." "But George would like to come with us." And so saying Julia hastened away to find him. "Oh, Nelly, I love her better than ever, and she scorns me even more," said he, as he hid his head on his sister's shoulder. "My poor, dear Jack; how little you know her! You never sorrowed over your last parting as she did. We have had all of us great reverses. They, as well as ourselves; and that spirit of Julia's - there is another name for it than mockery - has carried her through her troubles better than a more pretentious philosophy." "But she is not even friendly with me, Nelly. None of you make me feel what I have sunk to as she does." "There again you are unjust 66 'Right or wrong I'll bear it no longer. "I only wait now till Gusty comes back. I want to shake his hand once more, and then, girl, you have seen the last of me." Before Nelly could reply, Julia and her "Your brother and I have been quarrell-brother had joined them. ing, that's all. We thought it the pleasantest way to pass the time till you came back; and we have succeeded to perfection." "I declare, Julia, this is too bad," cried Nelly. "Here's news," said George, showing a letter. Augustus will be with us to-morrow; he only writes a few lines to say, 'I have nothing particularly cheering to report, and it will all bear keeping. I mean to be at home on Wednesday next. I am all impatience to see Jack; the thought of meeting him more than repays me my reverses here. Give him my love.-A. BRAMLEIGH.” We shall have plenty to do to prepare for his arrival," said Julia; "we must postpone our visit to the chapel. Would this illustrious prince condescend to help us to move tables and chests of drawers?" Jack threw a very significant glance towards Nelly, as though to say, "She is at the old game." Jack says he is going to leave us," said Nelly, as her eyes filled up. 66 But why?" cried George. "But why?" echoed Julia. "Haven't I given proof enough," said Jack, with a faint laugh, "that. I'm not what Miss Julia there calls a very logical animal; that when I get a wayward fancy in my head I follow it as faithfully as if it was a strong conviction. Well now, one of these moments has come to me; and thinking, besides, that this pleasant sort of life here is not exactly the best preparation for a rougher kind of existence, I have made up my mind to slip my cable after I've seen Gusty." 66 Well, then, let us profit by the short time left us," said Julia, quietly. "Come and help me in the house. I shall want you, too, George." "You must do without me, Julia; I have only just discovered a letter in my pocket, with the seal unbroken, that I ought to have answered at least a fortnight ago. It is from Sir Marcus Cluff," said he, in a whisper, "making me an offer of the vicarage at Hoxton." "What a kind fellow." "Who's a kind fellow ?" asked Jack. "A certain gentleman, who made me the flattering proposal to become his wife and nurse, and who now offers to make George his chaplain." 66 "It rains good luck here," said Jack, with a half bitter smile; 'why won't it drift a little in my direction? By the way, Nelly, what about the letter I asked you to write to Marion?" "It is written. I only want to fill in the name of the person; you told me to keep a blank for it." I'll go and fetch my pocket-book," said he, and broke away at once, and hastened towards the house. A VERY BRIEF DREAM. JULIA was seldom happier then when engaged in preparing for a coming guest. There was a blended romance and fuss about it all that she liked. She liked to employ her fancy in devising innumerable little details, she liked the active occupation itself, and she liked best of all that storied web of thought in which she connected the expected one with all that was to greet him. How he would be pleased with this, what he would think of that? Would he leave that chair or that table where she had placed it? Would he like that seat in the window, and the view down the glen, as she hoped he might? Would the new-comer, in fact, fall into the same train of thought and mind as she had who herself planned and executed all around him? Thus thinking was it that, with the aid of a stout Dalmatian peasant-girl, she busied herself with preparations for Augustus Bramleigh's arrival. She knew all his caprices about the room he liked to occupy. How he hated much furniture, and loved space and freedom; how he liked a soft and tempered light, and that the view from his window should range over some quiet secluded bit of landscape, rather than take in what recalled life and movement and the haunts of men. She was almost proud of the way she saw into people's natures by the small dropping preferences they evinced for this or that, and had an intense pleasure in meeting the coming fancy. At the present moment, too, she was glad to busy herself in any mode rather than dwell on the thoughts that the first interval of rest would be sure to bring before her. She saw that Jack Bramleigh was displeased with her, and, though not without some misgivings, she was vexed that he alone of all should resent the capricious moods of a temper resolutely determined to take the sunniest path in existence, and make the smaller worries of life but matter for banter. "He mistakes me altogether," said she aloud, but speaking to herself, “if he imagines that I'm in love with poverty and all 66 its straits; but I'm not going to cry over | hair and fanned her to heavy slumber-at them for all that They may change me in first, dreamless slumber, the price of actual many ways. I can't help that. Want is fatigue. an ugly old hag, and one cannot sit opposite Jack Bramleigh, who had been wanderher without catching a look of her features; ing about alone, doing his best to think but she'll not subdue my courage, nor make over himself and his future, but not making me afraid to meet her eye. Here, Gretch- any remarkable progress in the act, had at en, help me with this great chest of drawers. length turned into the house, strolling from We must get rid of it out of this, wher-room to room, half unconsciously, half ever it goes." It was a long and weary struck by the vastness and extent of the task, and tired their strength to the last building. Chance at last led him along the limit; and Julia threw herself into a deep-corridor which ended in this chamber, and cushioned chair when it was over, and he entered, gazing carelessly around him, sighed heavily. Have you a sweet- till suddenly he thought he heard the deepheart, Gretchen?" she asked, just to drawn breathing of one in heavy sleep. He lead the girl to talk, and relieve the op- drew nigh, and saw it was Julia. The arm pression that she felt would steal over her. on which her head lay hung listlessly down, Yes, Gretchen had a sweet-heart, and he and her hand was half hid in the masses of was a fisherman, and he had a fourth share her luxuriant hair. Noiselessly, stealthily, bragotza;" and when he had saved Jack crept to her feet, and crouched down enough to buy out two of his comrades he upon the floor, seeming to drink in her long was to marry her; and Gretchen was very breathings with an ecstacy of delight. Oh, fond, and very hopeful, and very proud of what a moment was that! Through how her lover, and altogether took a very pleas- many years of life was it to pass; the one ant view of life, though it was all of it bright thread of gold in the dark tissue of in expectancy. Then Gretchen asked if the existence? As such he knew it; so he signorina had not a sweetheart, and Julia, felt it; and to this end he treasured up after a pause and it was a pause in which every trait and every feature of the scene. her colour came and went said "No!" "It is all that I shall soon have to look And Gretchen drew nigh, and stared at her back upon," thought he; and yet to be thus with her great hazel eyes, and read in her near her seemed a bliss of perfect ecstasy. now pale face that the "No" she had uttered had its own deep meaning; for Gretchen, though a mere peasant, humble and illiterate, was a woman, and had a woman's sensibility under all that outward rugged in a 66 ness. More than an hour passed over, and he was still there, not daring to move lest he should awake her. At last he thought her lips seemed to murmur something. He bent down close-so close that he felt her breath on his face. Yes, she was dreaming "Why do you look at me so, Gretchen?"-dreaming, too, of long ago; for he hears asked Julia. Ah, signorina," sighed she, "I am sorry I am very sorry! It is a sad thing not to be loved." "So it is, Gretty; but every day is not as nice and balmy and fresh as this, and yet we live on, and, taking one with the other, find life pretty enjoyable, after all." The casuistry of her speech made no convert. How could it? it had not any weight with herself. The girl shook her head mournfully and gazed at her with sad eyes, but not speaking a word. "I thought, signorina," said she, at last, " that the handsome prince her mutter the names of places near where they had lived in Ireland. It was of some party of pleasure she was dreaming-her dropping words indicated so much; and at last she said, "No, no; not Lisconnor; Jack doesn't like Lisconnor." Oh, how he blessed her for the words; and bending down, too, he touched the heavy curl of her hair with his lips. Some passing shock startled her, and she awoke with a start and a faint cry. "Where am I?" she cried; what is this?" and she stared at him with her wide full glance, while her features expressed terror and bewilderment. "Don't be frightened, dearest. You are safe, and at home with those who love you." "And how are you here? how came you here?" asked she, still terrified. "Go to your dinner, Gretchen. You are late already," said Julia, sharply, and the girl withdrew, abashed and downcast. When thus alone, Julia sat down, wearied by her late exertions. She leaned her head on the arm of the chair, and fell fast asleep. The soft summer wind that came tempered "I know nothing of it all," muttered she. through the window-blinds played with her" I suppose I was dreaming. I fancied I "I was strolling listlessly about, and chance led me here. I saw you asleep in that chair, and I lay down at your feet till you should awake." |