anything about the family, lest I should learn
what I had come there to know.

I wandered about among the lanes where
we used to wander, hoping, dreading, longing,
oh, how intensely! At last I came upon
Loisette and her sister. I did not meet
them, but a turn of the road brought me in
sight of them, walking slowly before me.
Loisette, Loisette! Just as of old, the
undulating figure, the head now bent pensively, now
poised lightly on the white flexible throat, the
shining masses of hair coiled below the quiet
little black hat. O Loisette, Loisette! How
my heart went out to you! Loisette, my love!
Loisette, my darling!

I hastened my steps: I must see her once
more, must look into her eyes, must hear the
tones of her voice, let the cost be what it
would.

As I approached, she turned with a start, a
look half expectant, half alarmed; she felt who
was coming, and the blood rushed over face and
neck and brow. Mrs. Hamilton, following her
sister's movement, was the first to speak; she
came forward, both hands extended, with
joyous welcome; then Loisette greeted me with
shy kindness, passed to the other side of her
sister, and walked on silently: while Mrs.
Hamilton questioned me as to my travels, my
movements, my plans.

"You'll come and see us, you will promise?
I know you are a man of your word, and that if
you promise, you will keep your word. Come
and dine to-morrow, will you?"

I promised. I could not be more miserable
than I was, and I must learn all I wanted to
know. But I would not go to dinner; I
remembered too well the last time I had dined
there, so I said I would go in the morning.

When I entered the drawing-room, what
a rush of memories at sight of the familiar
place, of the two women sitting by the fire as
they had a year ago—all but I, apparently
unchanged!

I know not how it all came about, but in a
few minutes I found myself making one in the
circle as of old. I could not speak. Loisette,
too, was silent. Mrs. Hamilton talked for
us all.

Presently she glanced at the clock on the
mantelpiece. "Three already! You must
excuse me. Dear! I shall barely be in time to
meet Mrs. L. at the station. You won't go, or
I shall think you are offended. When shall we
see you again? Settle it with Loisette. Good-
bye. No, à revoir!" And she was gone, and
Loisette and I were sitting side by side,
silent.

Loisette was sitting, very pale and calm, looking
into the fire.

"Loisette!"

She gave an almost imperceptible start, her
colour rose slightly, and she turned her eyes on
me for a moment—I could not tell whether in
reproach or mere surprise—and then resumed
her gaze on the fire.

"Miss Vane—are you still Miss Vane?"

"Yes."

"When—how long——?" I could not find
words in which to put the question.

"When am I going to be married? you
would ask," she said, with a calm that was
almost rigid. "I am not going to be married.
I have been jilted."

"You jilted, Loisette!"

"Do you pity me? Don't. I am glad of
it; glad, at least, to be free; glad that I
have nothing to blame myself for, in obtaining
my freedom. Long before I gained it I felt we
had made a mistake, and while I was thinking
of how I might suggest the idea to—to him,
he cut the knot by marrying a half-caste damsel
with several lakhs of rupees. Though what sort
of a fortune that may be, I have not the faintest
conception." A faint gleam of the old sweet
archness came across her face.

I bent forward, looking with all my heart in
my eyes on the soft half-averted profile, watching
the conscious blood rising slowly. I laid
my hand on the little cold rigidly clasped
hands; I felt them relaxing; gently my arm
wound itself round her waist; her head
dropped on my shoulder, nestled there, and
was still.

So we sat, until the pony-carriage stopped at
the gate. Mrs. Hamilton came in in a somewhat
demonstrative manner. She glanced at Loisette,
then at me, and understood it all.

"So you bore my absence with what
equanimity you might!" she said, lifting her bright
face to mine, with a world of congratulation in
her eyes. "Now you'll stay to dinner."

Loisette turned and fled.

"God bless you, you dear woman!" I said.
"I never expected to be so glad to get rid of
you as I was an hour ago."

"And God bless you! It was you I wanted
for a brother all along. I always hated the
notion of Loisette marrying that man. Poor
child, she did not know her own heart, and was
persuaded into accepting him! If she had
listened to me, she would have thrown him over
long ago; but she was too conscientious while
she thought he loved her. Perhaps it's better
as it is? I will tell you something. She knows
there is no mistake this time."

Now ready, bound in cloth, price 5s. 6d.,
VOLUME THE SEVENTEENTH.

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