that he wished to say a word to Sir
Andrew in private. I presume he gave the
baronet the benefit of his guess as to the
nature of Lowndes's interest in this matter,
and that he pointed out what a golden
solution to the difficult question, What was
to become of the young lady now? such a
marriage as this would be. Sir Andrew's
shrewdness, unassisted, would hardly have
prepared him to receive without surprise
the confidence that was made to him later
in the evening. For Lowndes felt driven
by John Miles's words to avow himself in
a way that he had never dreamt of doing
when he entered the house.

"After the things Mr. Miles thought fit
to say, Sir Andrew, it is due to myself and
to you, that I should speak."

"My dear Mr. Cartaret," said Sir
Andrew, blandly, "I assure you I don't attach
the smallest importance to the lies that
fellow chose to utter."

"They were not altogether lies, Sir
Andrew.  I dare say he heard that gossip, and
I want to explain it to you. I am sorry to
say, I have been a loose fish——"

"Oh, we all have—all have in our time!
what of that? Wild oats, eh?" but the
baronet had gathered unto himself, in the
course of years, such a harvest of respectability,
that it was hard to believe in the
crop to which he referred.

"The fact is, I admire Miss Pomeroy
more than any girl I have ever seen. I
have never thought of marriage, to tell you
the honest truth, till now. And I certainly
should not have spoken to you on the
subject at present, feeling as I do, quite
ignorant of what her sentiments towards
me are, but that I have been in a measure
forced into this, as you see. After what
has been said, I wish you to understand,
Sir Andrew, that my hope is, sooner or
later, to persuade Miss Pomeroy to become
my wife."

Sir Andrew held out his hand.

"Spoken like a gentleman, Mr. Cartaret.
I can only say that Lady Herriesson and
I wish you every success with this very
wilful girl. Her conduct, which has been
the cause of such grief to Lady Herriesson,
could hardly have justified us, I candidly
own, in expecting her to make so excellent
a match; but she is so eccentric, one doesn't
know what she may do. She refused one
of the greatest matches in the county just
before she went off. No arguing with her as
—obstinate as a mule! However, now,
I should hope, in fact I have little doubt,
she will see the necessity, in the position in
which she has placed herself, of—of—
accepting you."

Lowndes could hardly help smiling,
thoroughly in earnest though he was.

"No, Sir Andrew. It is because I feel
sure she will not accept me from necessity,
that I mean to ask her. I propose to go to
Salisbury to-morrow."

Sir Andrew warmly approved of "striking
the iron while it is hot," as he called it. The
baronet was to follow him the next morning;
it being judged wiser that Lowndes
should have his interview with Maud
before her step-father's arrival. None of the
party from the great house were at church
that morning. In the afternoon the dog-
cart drove Lowndes to the station, to meet
the only Sunday up-train.

MR. DICKENS'S NEW WORK.
Just Published, PRICE ONE SHILLING,
PART FIVE OF
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
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