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would break. I was wicked and ungrateful indeed when I called myself friendless, since you and they, not to mention my best of friends here,' and she laid her hand caressingly on Mrs. Wallace's shoulder, 'have treated me. with a kindness far beyond my deserts.'

'There we all differ from you,' said the Doctor, confidently. The general impression, and at Clover Cottage particularly, is that Fate has treated you very hardly. However, there are brighter days in store for you, and I trust I shall live to see them before I sing my Nunc Dimittis. You entrust me, then, as I understand, with all your "good-byes?"""

If you will be so very good, Doctor, as to undertake them, yes; but I must, of course, acknowledge in writing the kind intentions of these good people,' here she pointed to the subscription list, independently, that is, of Mr. Aird.'

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'Not a bit of it,' exclaimed the Doctor, sharply. I'll just tell them that you "decline with thanks." It is not true kindness that dictates their sort of benevolence. We were in two

minds, Mr. Aird and I, that is, whether we should ever let you hear of it; only he thought it might be the means of affording you material assistance without laying you under what you might mistake for a personal obligation. No, no; you shall not write a line. They would frame and glaze your acknowledgment of their trumpery offer, and boast of the favour they had done the grand-daughter of the Earl of Boroughby as long as they lived. It's like publishing a book by subscription; by which, for every bonâ fide purchaser, you are saddled with fifty patrons at five shillings a head.'

But they must not think me ungracious, Doctor,' pleaded Ella, smiling at the other's vehemence.

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'If they do, it will be their own fault, my dear Miss Ella. I'll be as polite' he was about to say as your dear father,' but stopped himself just in time, and added‘as a Frenchman,' instead.

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Here there was a knock at the door. Now, if that's Mrs. Armytage,' muttered the Doctor, 'sooner than let her come in and patronise this

unhappy girl I'll throw the woman downstairs.'

It was not, however, Mrs. Armytage, but Mrs. Trant, with a visiting card in her hand. 'If you please, Miss Josceline, this lady has called and wishes to see you on very particular business.'

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'A lady?' exclaimed Ella; there must be some mistake. What lady?'

'Miss Burt of Barton Castle.'

CHAPTER XXXII.

MISS BURT.

It might well be supposed that after refusing, on the score of physical disability, to see her friends, Ella might have excused herself from receiving a visit from a stranger. Something, however she scarcely knew what-impelled her to make an exception in favour of Miss Burt, whose name she at once recognised as having been so sympathising a spectator at her father's funeral; she owed her something, at all events, for that mark of respect and anything that had just now connection with the dead man had force with her. The message Mrs. Trant had brought, that the lady had very particular business with her, no doubt also aroused her interest. In such a case as hers, to find anyone associated with

her lonely lot in any way was a matter of grave importance.

Since the interview seemed to promise to be of a private character, the Doctor and Mrs. Wallace had withdrawn, leaving Ella alone, pale and fragile-looking, but by no means embarrassed (for sorrow conquers shyness), to await her visitor. Of the lady whom Mrs. Trant presently ushered into her presence she could at first only remark that she was tall and slight, and dressed in almost as deep mourning as herself. It was not until the landlady had withdrawn that she raised her veil and disclosed a face of singular beauty. She was not, however, a young woman, nor were her good looks of the kind we are wont to associate with youth; her delicate features bore the traces of sorrow of a far earlier date than that which now possessed them. For the moment, indeed, though her blue eyes were full of tears, one would have said that pity rather than sorrow held the chief place with her, to judge from the tenderness with which she addressed her young companion.