Long was the drive, and slippery the road, even as Jem had foretold; Miss Martin was tired, and vexed and fidgetty, but little did she know how every delay in their progress was felt by her imprisoned leader. As hour after hour passed slowly away, and no one approached her place of confinement, and the fire went out for want of coals, and the long wick of the candle grew gigantic for want of snuffers, Margaret's feelings of impatience and irritation became almost insupportable. In all her adventures it had never yet happened to her to be restrained to a few feet square without the power of escape, and she felt more and more convinced every minute that she should make a most indifferent martyr. At the same time, a sensation of absurdity made it impossible to feel seriously exasperated. "It is all my own fault," thought Margaret, " poor comfort though that may be: and what makes it worse, I have been outwitted. Well, henceforth, straight paths for me! I have had masquerading enough: and yet on the whole, I cannot regret what I have done. I have learnt more in this month than in my whole previous life, and more I trust, than I shall ever quite forget." She walked to the window and looked out, or rather up, for the lower panes were whitened, but from the upper ones she could see the bright starry heavens, in all the beauty of a clear frosty night. Miss Armadale felt as if she had never appreciated that beauty before and gazed and gazed again, till her high heart melted, and her eyes filled with tears, and her soul

lifted itself in prayer. Yes, she had begun to look on those far radiant worlds, not as a spectacle to admire, but as a shrine in which to praise; the yearning void in her desires which nothing earthly could fill, was being filled by slow but sure degrees, with that for which it was created: drop by drop, she scarcely knew how, the dew of religious peace had come down on her awakened spirit, making the tender herb push forth and grow, and the green blade lift its head. She felt not now that sinking depression in which Mary Leyden had found her, for the time in which her accident had kept her to her room, had been well and seriously employed, and having discovered the secret of religious strength, she could boldly look her weakness in the face.

As Miss Armadale watched the heavens, Alfred's Christmas song came floating back to her ears ; and that passage in particular which had gone like a spear to her heart.

"To give with both hands liberally-to love with the whole heart fervently-to press onward, onward still, in the pathway of joyful obedience—bringing heart, and soul, and strength, and intellect, as offerings to the Bridegroom's table; and drinking here on earth of the cup of felicity that shall crown the marriage supper of the Lamb !"

And, as she repeated the words, her head bowed itself, and her knees bent, and she was engaged in

fervent prayer... when a sound fell on her ear that thrilled her with the deepest awe.

It was the bell of the church-tower, chiming out the old year.

She had heard that sound often... but never upon her knees.

CHAPTER X.

"Albeit thus masked, Madam, I love the truth."
TENNYSON.

HAT in the world can be going on?" said Mrs. Crawford, as the carriage stopped," the whole house are sitting up, I do believe."

The door was no sooner opened, than Nelson appeared, with a look of anxious concern: the hall was full of servants, and a buzz of voices made its way out into the frosty air. The party alighted, and Nelson seized his mother's arm. "Come in here, mother! I thought you never would come home. Come in, Miss Armadale,-for heaven's sake come in!"

They did so, in much astonishment at this reception; and found candles lighted in the dining-room, where Uncle Sym and his nieces were waiting. Theodosia advanced to meet them with a flushed cheek and a sparkling eye.

"What is the matter?" burst from every lip. She shook her head with ominous gravity. "Is it Esther? is she ill?" cried Miss Martin.

"She is not ill, Miss Armadale," said Theodosia, "but what I have to tell, concerns both her and yourself.

Miss Martin started, and turned so pale, that Mrs. Crawford entreated her daughter to say quickly all she had to say.

"If you will all sit down," said Theodosia, gravely, "I will send for the young lady, and tell you in her presence. It is a case in which Papa must decide."

Mr. Crawford, who was half asleep, rubbed his eyes, and put on his spectacles. Miss Martin, trembling with nervousness, sat down, with Ferdinand leaning on the back of her chair. Everybody looked excited

and curious.

66

Shipton !" said Theodosia," fetch Miss Esther." "Thank you," said Nelson, "I am going to do that; give me the key, Mrs. Shipton. It will be trying enough for the young lady to face so many people, without being dragged in by the servants, like a criminal." And, without waiting for any remonstrance, he hastened to carry out his purpose.

"Whatever she may have done," thought he, as he turned the key in the lock, "I cannot see the good of bolting her into this pigeon-hole: but that's just the spiteful way women serve each other. I only hope she wont be crying;-if she is, what on earth am I to do? I would rather face a mad bull any day, than a pretty girl in tears." He opened the door very softly, and peeped in. Miss Armadale, who was by