Ella felt herself gently pulled from behind, and, yielding to the pressure, she mechanically did what her relative did by design—namely, backed, as from a presentation at Court, out of their host's presence.

Overcome by contending emotions, some of them serious enough, but the very seriousness of which by the strong sense of contrast heightened the absurdity of her position, no sooner had the door closed behind her than Ella broke into a little laugh, which had at least as much of hysterics as of mirth in it.

'Hush! hush!' cried Miss Burt earnestly.

'But, my dear aunt, it was so very funny, that giving me his hand to kiss, and our going out of the room backwards.'

'Still, my dear, when you are as old as I am,' replied her companion gravely, 'you will have learnt that kindness and delicacy are much too rare in this world-no matter by what weaknesses they may be accompaniedto afford a subject of ridicule. The man you have just seen is one of the noblest and most generous of created beings.

It does seem

strange, no doubt,' she added, very gently. 'I do not blame you for thinking him a little mad; but, oh! my dear, if all the sane people had but half his virtues, this earth would be far more like heaven. But walls have ears in this house. Come in here, my darling, where we shall be always quite private, and I'll tell you all about him.'

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CHAPTER XXXIV.

A REVELATION.

"WHAT a lovely little room!' was Ella's first exclamation on being introduced to an apartment the beauty of which compelled her admiration, consumed though she was with curiosity to learn the history of her mysterious host;

you don't mean to say that I may always sit with you alone.'

'You may when you wish me to come and see you,' returned Miss Burt, all sign of distress. swept from her pleasant face, and replaced by that best of expressions, the sense of having given pleasure to another; it is your own private snuggery, my dear, and no one else's.'

Mine! what, this lovely sitting room!' She looked round with delight upon the wellfilled bookcases that lined the walls, the fresh

flowers upon the table, and the piano with its

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layers of music books. Oh, how can I thank you enough, Aunt Hester?'

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'You can thank me best,' answered the other, with glistening eyes, by being happy here; only remember it is not I to whom you are indebted. I have only had the arrangement of matters.'

'Yes, but with what forethought and kindness you have arranged them! This is the outlook'-she pointed to the window, which, though it had the park for a foreground, commanded a side view of the village churchyard -'which of all others in this world I should have preferred. While sitting here, I can still fancy myself near my dear father.'

'That, however, was not the reason why I placed you here,' observed the other. Her tone was so peculiar that Ella looked at her in some amazement. That is, my dear,' continued her aunt, very gently, it was no portion of my plan for your happiness to keep alive in your mind any sad memories. I chose the room because it has a north aspect, which is most

suitable for painting, and a little bird has told me that you are an artist.'

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The little bird must have had a very flattering note,' replied Ella, smiling: but if locality and surroundings make the artist, I ought to be a credit to the profession. It is a bower for a princess. What lovely flowers, and what beautiful books! Why have they all a coronet upon them?'

'It is not a coronet, my dear, it is a crown,' returned Miss Burt, with a gravity that seemed quite out of proportion with the rectification of so slight an error; and that forms a portion of what I have now to tell you. Did you ever hear the story of the infant Stuart of St. Rosalie ? '

'Never.'

'Well, briefly, there are some who maintain that the Young Pretender as he was called, Charles Edward'-she hung for a moment on these two words—' left behind him a legal heir, by his wife, the Princess Louisa Maximiliana de Stolberg. This child is said to have been brought to England, where he grew up and