your brother's faults. And it is morbid to fancy you ought to suffer all your life, and perhaps make another suffer too, for his wrong-doing."

Duke relapsed into silence. He seemed to forget where he was, and sat like a man in a dream, his thoughts far away from his surroundings.

Vinny watched him smiling, and presently she said, "Well what do you think of Elsie?"

"Oh," he said rousing himself with an effort, “I think she is a different being. And yet if I may say it, I think I prefer the quiet sleepy Elsie of old."

"You mustn't tell Elsie that. She has the greatest contempt for herself, as she was a year ago."

"Is she living with you altogether?"

"For the present. My husband has become accustomed to her and likes her. She has brought a bright young atmosphere into the house. I should miss her very much if she were to leave us."

"You must expect that one day." "I suppose so."

Then Duke rose, and took his leave, and Vinny, with a little tired sigh, went back to the drawing-room.

She found Elsie alone with a young fellow, Cyril Delamere by name, and upon her entrance Elsie rose, confused and blushing, from her seat.

Cyril stepped quickly forward. He was a tall, handsome young barrister, more popular in society than in his profession, and he had been a constant visitor at the house for the past few months. Vinny had been a little anxious about his evident admiration for her young sister. She knew his family expected him to marry well, and though of a good old county family themselves, they

were forced to think more of money than of birth. Two of their daughters had married wealthy city men. There were three others still unmarried, and Cyril was the only son. She had cautioned Elsie as gently as she dared against him, as she had felt that Cyril was too much a man of the world to mean anything serious.

Now as he came to meet her, she knew that she had been mistaken.

"Mrs. Stanton, will you welcome me as a brother-inlaw? Your sister has listened to me at last."

Vinny tried to throw warmth into her congratulations, but she was too taken aback to say much, and Elsie came to her rescue.

"Never mind, Vinny. It is a surprise, isn't it? But Cyril and I know we shall have your good wishes."

Elsie looked flushed and radiant, and Vinny could only kiss her, murmuring:

"Indeed I hope you will be happy together."

But late that evening, she had a talk with Cyril alone, and asked him if his parents had any knowledge of the step he was taking.

"You are not either of you wealthy," she said with a little smile; "but I suppose it is too late for me to make any objections. As I stand in a mother's stead to Elsie, may I ask what your prospects are?"

Cyril treated the matter lightly. He told her he was a free agent, and had enough means of his own to support a wife.

"We shall not set up an establishment in Grosvenor Square, but Elsie is not ambitious, and is content with what I can give her. My parents will be told at once. I could hardly tell them before I had spoken to your

sister. I was not quite so presuming as to forestall her answer, for I know I haven't much to recommend me beyond a fair share of brains. I am hoping to rise in my profession, and shall be a Q.C. by-and-by. I shall go home to-morrow, and then I hope, as my mother is an invalid, your sister will be kind enough to go and stay with her for a few days."

Elsie's fate seemed settled, and Vinny wisely made the best of it. She wrote a long letter to Olive, and Elsie did the same, which letters were naturally a great surprise.

Life at the Farm had gone on very quietly for the last week or two, and then one day Baker appeared with her astounding news.

Olive listened with intense quietness to the account of Cora's identity being discovered; but after Baker had gone, she put on her hat and set off along the country roads, to get away from everybody. After the long struggle, the news stunned and bewildered her. She could hardly take it in; and her first feeling was one of wonder why she had been allowed to suffer so. She walked on rapidly, not heeding the gathering dusk, for her heart was in a tumult. At last, coming to an old stone bridge, it took her back in thought to that spring morning so long ago in Blackenbury, and leaning her head against it she burst into a passion of tears. They did her good. Her thoughts and feelings had been so restrained by her indomitable pride, that it now seemed the greatest relief to her to let them run on unchecked. At last she murmured, "It is no longer sin to think of him."

And then with an effort she pulled herself together,

and with tearful happy eyes retraced her steps homewards through the gloom. A fancy took her when she reached the Farm, to go out into the old walled kitchen garden. It was there that she had wrestled in the first agony of her trouble; it was there that she had received the grace and strength to carry her burden with resignation and cheerfulness.

The garden lay in silence; the fruit trees on the wall extended their snow-white blossoms along it, lightening the dark shadows, and refreshing the evening air with their fragrant scent. It was a still sweet time, when the birds' voices were hushed in sleep, and the dew wrapped the plants and flowers in its soft reviving embrace. Olive walked there with a glow in her heart that glorified her surroundings. She lifted up her small proud head with a gesture of freedom and relief. As she gazed up into the infinite blue, studded with shining stars, she seemed to have a fresh realisation of her insignificance, and of the wonderful protecting love of her Creator. The words came to her:

"Lo these are parts of His ways, but how little a portion is heard of Him."

CHAPTER XXVI

A DISAPPOINTMENT

Be patient! Time will reinstate

Thy health and fortunes.-Longfellow.

ELSIE'S engagement was a great source of interest to Olive at this time. She was talking over it with Osmond, when he said:

"His Grace seems going about town. They have mentioned him once or twice. I wonder he hasn't been over to see us. We are such old friends."

The same thought had struck Olive, only she could not have put it into words. No one but herself, knew how, as every morning dawned, she said in her heart, "He may come to-day." She was still hoping and waiting, and knew from Osmond's tone that he was feeling a little hurt about it.

"He has been very busy," she suggested.

"Not too busy to attend one of Vinny's afternoon gatherings."

"He may have had business in town. must remember he is not really well yet.

Besides we

Baker told

me the doctor is very anxious that he should not overdo it."

“I should think a quiet ride over here would be less fatiguing than knocking about town."

"He hasn't forgotten you, Diogenes. Think of what he must have to do, and all that has happened at the Court. Cora disappearing, and the agent, and all Sir