garden that John had turned into a little paradise, in which he said I was to be Eve among the flowers, and he would take Adam's place, and do all the digging and delving.

"My mother thought that I was going for too much, but John said he could afford that I should have my own way in this fancy, and so the bay-windowed room was fitted up with pretty chintz curtains, and a carpet with a pattern of roses on it, and it looked as near like the drawing-room at the vicarage as John's money and my skilful fingers and taste could make it.

"I was proud enough of it, and had Sally Rufford and the miller down to see it. "Isn't it pretty ?" said I, "and the garden, too! John says it will be like living in paradise!"

"It will,' answered the miller; and then, after a little pause, he said, in a lower tone, 'With you!' and he gave a half sigh.

"And then I saw him look at Sally Rufford, and I knew, or thought I knew, that he was making comparisons between us, and that I came off the best; and it pleased me, and was a sweet salve to the sore feeling of revenge within me, which, though I knew it not, was the mainspring just then of all my actions, even of the love I bore to John. I was doing all in my power to make the miller feel that he had better have chosen me though I had not got a thousand pounds; and I was glad he should see I had more taste and spirit than Sally Rufford, who was meek as a mouse, and would live in the mill kitchen if he desired it. She did not care for fine clothes or fine furniture; indeed, before long, she did not seem to care for anything, for she caught a severe cold which laid her up for weeks, and nothing did her any good; so that I saw nothing of her, and scarce anything of the miller either for a long while; for he was very attentive to Sally, and always up at the farm.

"I had now no opportunity of showing off the fine things I was getting together for my wedding, which was to be on New Year's Day; for John said there was nothing like beginning the year well, and he could not do it better than by taking me to the home he had spared no pains or cost to make ready for me.

"Christmas was nigh, and Sally Rufford grew no better; in. deed, a whisper went round that she was worse-that consumption had taken hold of her, and she was not likely to see the spring again.

"I was sitting hemming a set of fine handkerchiefs in the house-room with my mother when a neighbour came in and told us this news; and all at once a thought came into my heart that made my face flush up as hot as if it had been a hot July day, instead of a frosty one in December.

"If Sally Rufford had been out of the way I might have

married the miller of Durford! At first I tried to put it away from me, but it kept coming up and up, and I began to wonder whether I had not been premature in getting engaged to John Christopher; and from that I began to draw comparisons between the house I was going to and the mill house, and I could not help acknowledging to myself that one was but half the size of the other, also that one was the master, the other but the master's man even yct, and, for all that I knew, ever might be.

"I was discontented, and when John came I hardly spoke a word; but he attributed it to my sorrow for the sad news of Sally Rufford, and was even more tender on account of it.

"If anyone need pity the master it's you and me, Nanny,' said he; for we know what he's losing all the light of life, and the joy of a cheerful home. I cannot be too thankful for your good health, my darling.'

"But the more he talked and tried to comfort me, the more silent I grew, and I went to bed with a heavy heart enough; but 'twas not for Sally Rufford, but for myself that I was taking thought. What a fool I had been! I might have known that a sickly-looking girl like that couldn't have lasted long, and I need not have been in such a hurry. Then, as if to console myself under the new grievance, I called to mind all the pleasant words and looks the miller had given, until at last I fairly began to think that John Christopher had been in my way, and had hurried on our marriage to be out of the miller's way before Sally Rufford's death. For who knew what might happen afterwards?

"Days went on. Christmas Day came, with its holly and mistletoe, and the crisp snow lying on the hedges and the roadside, and only the robin singing on the leafless branches, and the river frozen over, and the mill-wheel silent, as silent as the house at Farmer Rufford's, where now all knew that Sally lay dying.

"It was but a question of days now; and instead of my having pity for the sorrow of the family, I thought only of myself, and how but a hair's breadth had lain between me and the miller of Durford.

"It wanted but two days now to my wedding, and I felt chafed and vexed, as if tight chains were holding me down and curbing my ambition. But two days and I should have become the wife of John Christopher, and all my worldly hopes and schemes would become merged in his.

"It was a bright, clear day, and early in the afternoon he came to tell me that the house was all in order now, and to ask if I would come and have a last look at it before I became its mistress. I would have put him off notwithstanding the disappointed look that came into his face, but my mother said—

"Go and put on your bonnet, Nanny, the walk will do you good; you've been moping too much of late, and it's male you quite pale. You must think of yourself, and not be grieving like this over Sally Rufford.'

"If anything could have pricked my heart, her words might have done so; but they fell idly upon me. However, I put on my bonnet and shawl and went away with John Christopher through the quiet lanes, with the sun just beginning to fade away from them and the feathery branches of the great trees, a fairy sight to see against the evening sky. Many a time since I've thought of that walk, and how John spoke such words of love and of hope, that might have sent sunshine into any other heart than mine.

"With what pride he opened the garden-gate and led me through the trim garden, which, in spite of winter, gave promise of what it would be in summer! With what pride he opened the door and led me through each room, far better than anything I had any claim to expect; for I was a penniless girl, with no prospect of anything from my parents. The company-parlour, over which I had spent so much time and thought, was all in order, and a prettier room need not be desired.

"And here we shall live, my darling,' said John Christopher, after he had gone over every corner; and my whole life will be one long feeling of thankfuluess that you have cast in your lot with mine.'

He was so happy himself that he did not need for me to say much, and we walked home silently in the fading twilight. He said good-bye to me at our cottage-door; for he had to work at the mill that night, as the miller was at the Ruffords almost constantly

now.

"When John Christopher went away, I sat down before the fire and thought over all that had happened, and was likely to happen. in the next few weeks. How that I should be bound, and the miller of Durford would be free, and all the good luck I had dreamed of through my pretty face would be at an end for ever.

"Yet with it all came an odd sort of consolation that I should triumph over the miller for not having chosen me when he could have had me; for I felt convinced in my own heart that he was not insensible to me, in spite of his engagement to Sally Rufford. I should have my revenge!

"After ten I went up to my room, and as I entered it the cupboard-door, being a little ajar, showed me my white weddingdress, hanging with all its ribbons and trimmings. My aunt had chosen it for me at M, and it was quite fashionable, and a little too grand, my mother thought, for a poor man's daughter; but I had been pleased enough with it. Now it gave me quite a start,

as if I had seen a ghost, and I gave the door a push and shut the dress out of sight, for I felt as if I hated it. I was hot and flushed, and I opened the window and leaned out, looking over the snow. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the stars were shining out and the air was so frosty and still that I fancied I could hear the plash of the mill-wheel, though that was but my imagination, as it was not going. But still the sound was in my ears, and it seemed to say, Come, come!' and then I shut the window; but still I seemed to hear a voice, as if calling to me, 'Come, come!' and though I went downstairs and tried to settle to work, I could not. Mother,' said I, at last; I believe I'll go up to the farm and see how Sally is; it's but a step, and I shan't meet any

one.'

666

"It's rather late,' said my mother.

"Well,' I replied; if I feel timid when I get up there, I can step across to the mill, and John will walk home with me." Well, if you do that I don't so much mind,' she answered; 'but put on something warm, for the night's cold.'

666

"So I started off, but I did not get as far as Farmer Rufford's ; for as I was turning into the lane after crossing the field I saw a man coming towards me, walking very rapidly, with his hat off and his hair flying back in the moonlight.

"It was the miller of Durford. Pale enough he looked, and haggard, and as he came up to me I said suddenly

'Oh, what is it? is Sally?' and there I stopped.

"He started as I spoke.

"Is it you, Nanny?' said he; 'I was just thinking of

Sally is no worse,' he answered, and no better.'

"Then after a bit he spoke again :

"You're going to be married on New Year's Day, I hear, Nanny?'

"'Yes,' said I.

"And I haven't given you my present yet,' said he; 'I've not had heart enough to bring it to you.'

"I thought there was a patronising tone in his voice, and it put me up and made me say sharply

"John has given me everything I want-you need not trouble yourself.'

"I don't doubt it-he could not do less.'

"And his voice sounded so sad that I looked up, and in the clear moonlight I saw in the eyes that were fixed upon me a confirmation of all the vague fancies and wild imaginings that had haunted me

of late. The miller of Durford loved me; and before long Sally Rufford would not be between us-only my own marriage.

"Only my own marriage! Yes, I had brought myself to look upon it as an impediment, a drawback to all my ambitious hopes. "Then, all of a sudden, like a flash of lightning bringing out clear some hidden spot of darkness, came the thought, 'But I am not married yet. It came so bright and sudden that its vividness almost hurt me, and I gave a faint cry.

"Nanny' exclaimed the miller.

"But I could not answer; the suddeness of the revelation, or rather the knowledge of its certainty, had made me gasp as if I could not breathe; and in spite of the frosty night I felt as if I were going to faint, and I trembled so that I could hardly stand, and the miller put his arm round me to keep me from falling.

"Nanny, Nanny, what is it?' said he, in a tone full of tenderness; what is it distresses you? Oh, Nanny, if you have any trouble, any anxiety that I can hinder, tell me I would lay down my life for you.'

--

"I was sobbing convulsively, and yet, in spite of my agitation and half-terror, an exultant feeling was stirred within me as I felt the miller would not go unpunished through the marriage. Then he whispered again, too tenderly for me to hear without being

moved

"Nanny, darling, what is it?'

"And I laid my head against his shoulder and sobbed without. speaking. Half sorrow, half mortification, half triumph, all these feelings mingled, and yet a great feeling of joy was paramount over everthing.

"And there we stood for awhile in the moonlight, three nights before my wedding-day that was to be, and we forgot all upon earth but our two selves. He remembered not that his betrothed lay dying, whilst he was thinking of another love, and I remembered not John Christopher, nor my wedding-day, nor aught upon. earth, save the man who stood beside me.

"At last, as if a wave had rolled nearer and nearer to the shore till it had washed over our feet, and the cold water had startled us, we returned to a consciousness of our position. I started back and stood leaning against the gate-post. The miller stood motionless at a little distance; we neither of us looked at each other, but we knew each other's hearts now.

"After a minute or two I turned to go home instead of towards the Rufford's, for I seemed a traitor to myself and to the dying girl, and I felt that I could not go then.

May I walk home with you, Nanny ?' asked the miller, in a humble voice.