continued the Earl, as he perceived the schoolboy sympathy of the former kindling fast, "I have indeed undeserved, bitter foes."

" I thought so, poor Ned; I knew it."

"The devil you did," he ejaculated, as if in racking suspense; then fixed his eyes upon Morgan, as if he dreaded asking a question, yet was impatient to do so.

" I was confident it must be so, from your manner at the great dinner."

"My manner!-I was cautious to perfection. Who observed - who dared communicate to you-"

"Stop, stop, my lord," said Morgan, gravely, " you are off your temper, now. I do not covet your mysteries, nor wish to be a spy in your house: no one has told me anything; but your own unsettled, unhappy visage, spoke to my best feelings (and could I doubt the index?) that all was wrong within."

"And was that all, really, now? Is there no evasive reserve in your explanation? Are you not in Belnovine's confidence, and conspiring with him to "

The door was hastily slammed - the Earl was left alone. Gazing at Morgan's vacated chair, he rubbed his eyes, and wondered what he could have said to drive his old friend so rudely away, and with such an angry vehemence too. "Well," he said inwardly, "I must remember these Indians are tenacious, and bring home savage sparks of fire with them : I must be more careful." And after a long rumination as to what he ought to do or say, if Morgan should question him on one point, which was a floodgate of dread whenever it arose to haunt his mind, he wrote such an epistle to his friend as he intended should make him safe in every way.

CHAPTER XIV.

Ah, gentlemen, the time of life is short;
To spend that shortness basely, 'twere too long;
Though life did ride upon the dial's point,
Still ending at the arrival of an hour.

Henry IV.

LADY BELNOVINE joined the breakfasttable one morning, having a curiosity to see Morgan without restraint, or the fear of being laughed at for talking to him freely.

Morgan was very attentive to her, and made her almost die with laughing by his remarks on her female friends: all their ways were commented upon with good-humour, but with sincerity; and she began to feel as Lord Darmaya did, a wonder how it was that Morgan almost kept her in fear of his observation. Why should she mind a person wholly hors du combat? But a word of praise, or a keen glance, would affect her malgré tout.

"Where is your little girl, my lady-my young friend Edward's child?" said Morgan, one day.

The cup she was lifting to her lips trembled in her hands, and Lord Belnovine looked half amazed? "My little girl! Who told you of her? Who could talk to you on my affairs?" "Where is she?" Morgan pursued; "I should like to go and see her. Poor dear I nursed her father many times on this knee. His mother was my first cousin."

Lord and Lady Belnovine looked astounded : -" Your first cousin!"

"Yes, my first cousin ; so I have a claim to be introduced to my relation."

The Countess bit her lips, and turned alternately red and pale, in strong emotion. Lord Belnovine said:

"Why, Morgan, the case is this: Lord Darmaya, as you know, disapproved the alliance," (Morgan nodded assent,) " and Lord Darmaya will not see the child again, as yet;" (Morgan nodded ;) "and therefore the Countess must submit to Ellen's being, for the present, left in a distant part of England with a friend."

Morgan waited for information as to where

Ellen was to be found: silence ensued. " And where may that be?" he again inquired impressively. Still no answer was returned: and the Countess getting up, said: "I must go; papa is waiting for me:" and with "Good b'ye, Mr. Morgan-au revoir," left the room.

Lord Belnovine was evidently confused and agitated.

" Forgive me, my lord," said Morgan, “but I must find out this little relative of mine.. I have a great desire to see her before I sail for India again."

"There, Morgan," said Lord Belnovine, “I am afraid I cannot gratify you; for Lord Darmaya would never forgive me did I tell you her hiding-place. He has, on my honour, refused every supplication from both his daughter and myself, to have the little girl brought to us: he is peremptorily decided on that point. The scenes between him and Maria have been painful; it is a forbidden topic. Ellen is well, I should hope, and happy." And putting out his hand to Morgan, he continued: "My good friend, be quite sure I will, when I can, be her