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pleasure to my probable inclination, should those very unlikely circumstances occur, but does not control or tie me in any way."

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No, madam, though a man of strong passions, Mr, Dalton was a Christian; he could not suppose that you would require controlling, to do what he points out; but he might naturally think that the scorn of Christendom would follow your neglect of his appeal.

Meredith's dark eye was now flashing ; his strongly marked countenance agitated and working. Mrs. De Snobyn gazed on him as if fascinated, as he quickly paced the room, all his nervous tremors banished as if by magic. These, indeed, seemed, spite of her self-possession, to be stealing over her; but she controlled herself strongly and shortly resumed.

"As I said before, Mr. Meredith, I can give much license to a disappointed man; and I do assure you, that I feel deeply for you and Mrs. Meredith. But, much as I

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should delight to meet your wishes in all respects, were it in my power-it is not in my power. I have other most paramount claims. I have five children just rising into manhood and womanhood. I were less than woman-I were unworthy the name of mother-undeserving the blessing of children, did I not make their interest the first object of my care. Besides, as I before intimated, you are arguing on false premises. Mr. Dalton only sanctioned any application to me on the plea of his daughter's being in want of bread."

"And on that plea I come: Emily is in want of bread, or that she has not yet wanted it, has been owing entirely, exclusively, to the charity of a stranger. Mrs. de Snobyn, I have not means to buy her a loaf,"

"Impossible, sir," said Mrs. de Snobyn, rising with a calm contemptuous smile, this is too much. Mr. Dalton has been

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dead hardly a week it is impossible his only child can be destitute by this time."

"His only child was destitute some time before her father's death, and was indebted to an humble stranger for the food she ate. Mrs. de Snobyn, beware what you do, for on the word of a Christian clergyman, I am telling you merely the truth."

Again he stood facing her, not tremulous and agitated, but firm as a rock, strengthened by his own impressive adjuration, and looking firmly, fixedly on her face, as if he would scan her very soul.

And she, again she raised her eyes to his face, and again she shrank before his gaze. The nervous tremor which had from time to time assailed her, seemed now to overpower her. Hastily and with shaking fingers she drew from her reticule a little Russia leather case, and extracting a note from it, she laid it on his hand, saying with a choked and indistinct utterance.

"This interview is too harassing, let us

end it."

And hastily quitted the room.

At the same moment Meredith, snatching up his hat, rushed from the apartment by another door, and hastily made his way to the entrance-hall, where he was stopped by a grasp on his coat-lap, and the words

in a tremulous voice:

"Sir-sir-please, sir-Mr. Meredithsir-how's my dear young lady?" It was the old butler.

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"Ill, Harvey-very ill-God bless you, Harvey."

And he shook his hand warmly, and hurried away before the old man's reply had passed his feeble lips.

"And God bless you, sir, and her, for many and many a day, in spite of all that's come and gone."

CHAPTER XII.

THE visit of Mr. Meredith to Mrs. de Snobyn, was an unfailing theme of comment and conversation amongst her young people at home, though Mrs. de Snobyn herself did not appear fond of recurring to the subject, and never encouraged them in dwelling on it. This indeed is not surprising. However firm and unimpeachable her legal claim to the wealth she had so unexpectedly obtained, and however the claims of her own large family might jus

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