NEVER FORGOTTEN.

PART THE SECOND.
CHAPTER XXIX. A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD.

YOUNG BRETT had got up once more to London,
and had driven from the train to his lodgings,
and from his lodgings straight to Alfred-place.
He was delighted to see Miss Manuel once
more, and almost gambolled round her like
a faithful terrier, as he was. "I am so glad
to see you again," he said, "and to see you so
well. Our colonel has given me a month. Some
of our fellows were making a jolly party to go
over and see the French at Châlons, and the
colonel wished me to be with them, but I begged
hard to come here, and I am so glad, dear Miss
Manuel."

She was quite touched at this friendly interest.
"You are a good dear boy," she said. "You
have been true to me all through—yes, all
through, and I never shall forget it—never!"

There was a little falter in her voice, and
Young Brett darted away from the subject
obstreperously.

"The worst is," he said, wistfully, "I am so
stupid, I am getting so stupid—I am not clever
at doing things. I don't know the way. But
now, dear Miss Manuel, here I am. I want to
be trained. It will be a charity and a kindness
to use me, it will indeed; just to send me about,
you know, of messages, and that sort of thing.
I delight in the excitement, 'pon my word I do!"

Miss Manuel smiled on him. "I have given
you enough work for this year, after that Welsh
expedition."

"Well," said he, "I don't think I managed
that so badly. 'Jove! when I came down first I
thought there was a regular mystery, but it
turned out very pleasantly. Even that, however,
I can take no credit for, for it was really an
accident. By the way, that Carter," and Young
Brett began to grow hot, and colour at the
mention of the name, "what has become of him?
I never told you the things he said—though,
indeed, I ought not to mention it now."

Her eyes glittered. "I know what he said to
you as well as if I was standing by and listening.
I know what vile things he could say aud do.
But his time is shortening." She got up and
began to walk. "There are people on his track.
It is too soon to tell you everything; but this I
will say, that though it seems long since our
darling left us, still no one has been sleeping,
nor have we forgotten this vile cruel heart, who
helped to send her so early to her grave. I am
weak, I know, and only a woman, but trust me.
I have said it should be Never Forgotten, nor
has it! And I tell you now all is nearly ready,
and the moment is fast drawing on!"

For the first time she looked steadily at Young
Brett for enthusiasm and eagerness, but instead,
she saw blank dismay and a sort of hopeless
grief. This youth showed everything in his face.
"You don't tell me this, Miss Manuel," he said,
imploringly. "O no! Why, this is what he
said, and dared to say of you."

"He did!" she said, triumphantly. "Ah!
then he has instinct already of what is coming.
But he shan't escape. Never! Neither he, nor
that other, the real murderer, nor the real
murderer's wife! We can reach them all, are reaching
them, and shall overtake them in a very little
time! You can help me still, as you have helped
me so well."

Again she gave him that triumphant look,
expecting encouragement. But Young Brett's eyes
were on the ground, and there was a sore wounded
expression in his face.

"O then it is true, it is all true!" he said,
mournfully. "O, Miss Manuel, I could not
have believed this! And it has come like a
blow upon me. I told him to his lace that
it was all false and indeed I wish it had been all
false."

"What," said Miss Manuel, "and would you
iiave me sit down quietly and submit? I should
have died a year ago if I had. Are there laws
and punishments to meet crimes like this? No.
We must take it into our own hands, and punish
for ourselves."

"But you don't mean it," said Young Brett,
in a sort of agony. "No, I know you don't.
It is so dreadful to think of. And the poor girl,
who has done no harm in the world, and done us
no harm. O, there is something shocking in it.
And you who are so noble, and so much above us
all, and whom I would do anything in the wide
world for, to have such an idea, I can't believe
it."

Miss Manuel looked at him scornfully. "Are