What a noble creature she will look when she heads the doctor's table!'

"In the meantime the doctor was chaffing Maud, telling her she must give up her lesson books for a while, and run about in the meadows to get some colour into her cheeks. Maud tried to laugh as usual, but the tears came instead. The doctor prevented her getting snubbed for being so 'very foolish' (as she had been incessantly in the last day or two), by addressing Selina across the table. It was a mere common-place remark-something about had she been out for a ride the last week or two, and then, as if he could contain himself no longer, he turned to Mr Henderson, and said,

"By the

from town.'

way, I have brought some news with me

"What's that, doctor?' said the Squire, helping himself to grapes. 'We are glad of any news in this deadly lively place.'

"I think it will astonish you a little,' he answered gravely. 'I am going to be married.'

"You, doctor? you going to be married?' said the Squire, in tones of unfeigned surprise, while Mrs Henderson exclaimed (gulping down a huge sob of maternal mortification-O! the agony of that moment), and to whom pray?'

"Ah! now you must guess,' said the doctor, who, having got over the hardest bit of ground, felt inclined

to take the rest more easily. 'Come, now, can no one guess who it is?'

"What is she like?' asked Maud, timidly.

66 6

Plain, but pleasing,' replied the doctor, remembering Maud's words overheard in the wilderness, and they seemed to roll from his lips in deep, round, joy

ous tones.

"'O, I know!' exclaimed Maud, now all animation. 'It's my own dear, darling Miss Stace!'

"Maud, child, hold your tongue!' broke from Mrs Henderson, in harsh grating tones. The agony of the news was in itself sufficient without bringing in that name.

“True, quite true, my fair prophetess!' exclaimed the doctor, eagerly. 'It is your Miss Stace; but mine too, you know now, Maud; will you mind my going into partnership with you?' and the doctor looked playfully at Maud's sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks.

"Dr Brown, you are surely joking,' said the Squire, hardly able to hide his mortification, for he had of late learnt to look upon matters, as regarded Selina's future prospects, very much in the same light as his wife did. 'You cannot mean what you say?'

"And why not, sir?' said the doctor, earnestly, with a touch of dignity in his tones. 'Do you think I am utterly unworthy of the great honour Miss Stace has conferred upon me, in accepting me as her husband? Or do you consider my prospects and position

are such as to prevent my being able to offer that lady a home at all suitable to her position as a perfect gentlewoman?'

"Come, my dears, let us go,' said Mrs Henderson, rising, and trying to put on one of her blandest smiles. Let us go and leave the doctor and papa to talk over the good news. Indeed, doctor,' she addedbut there was a great deal of suppressed irony in her voice-'We do really most heartily congratulate you upon your choice.'

"You are a dear, dear doctor!' said Maud, with eyes brimming over. 'Didn't I say you thought more of worth than beauty? I am so glad you are going to have my Miss Stace! O, I am so happy!' and Maud ran away to prevent herself crying outright.

"And so Miss Millicent Stace, not Miss Selina Henderson, was destined to become Mrs Octavius Reginald Brown. Soon Moorfield Lodge received its mistress, and although it is many years ago now, the doctor often reminds Maud of the conversation he overheard in the wilderness, and assures her that the best thing he ever did in his life, was when he acted upon her prophetic suggestion, and chose a wife—

Plain but Pleasing.

RESPICE FINEM."

Now and then, during the reading of the story, a grave look had crossed the doctor's face, which Grace

(who was sitting opposite to him) had noticed and wondered at, but it soon gave way to an expression of comic amusement and evident enjoyment. Shouts of applause greeted the conclusion of the tale, which had taken the doctor a little more than half an hour to read. The Squire wanted to know who the author was, that they might crown him or her with laurels, but the girls shook their heads and protested it wouldn't be fair to tell, while the boys kept strict silence upon the matter. Privately, the doctor thought Mattie, and Minnie, and Jonas, had each had a share in it, but as guessing was not allowed he wisely forbore questioning.

More music and singing followed, then the Squire dived into the bag, and brought out a crumpled looking packet, with a large ink blot on the back; this was a comic story, well written in short terse sentences, narrating the adventures of a dancing bear, who was troubled with a conscience—a commodity his master and exhibitor evidently did not possess it excited much laughter. Mrs Sullivan made the next selection, and her choice fell upon a ghost story, very cleverly told. Supper was announced just as it was concluded, and thus ended, for that evening, the novel and very entertaining game of— "Literary Frolic."

CHAPTER VII.

66

THE WINTON FAMILY.

I know the hand that is guiding me
Through the shadow to the light,
And I know that all betiding me
Is meted out aright.

"I know that the thorny path I tread

Is ruled by a golden line,

And I know that the darker life's tangled thread,

The richer the deep design."

IT was February, and bright, genial weather, such as we often get in that month at Hastings. The intensity of December and January but increased the appreciation of all for the soft sunshine and balmy air; and invalids, closely kept to their two rooms during the last few weeks, watching wearily for brighter days, when the doctor should say those magic words, “Yes, you may go out for a little while; a turn or two by the sea a day like this can do you no harm," were literally basking in the sunshine, while wheeled about in Bath chairs, or driving slowly up and down the parade before Robertson Terrace or Eversfield Place.