little girl who comes in after dinner, and has fruit at dessert!' So she ran on, trying vainly to forget the shock that she had inflicted on me, in talking nursery nonsense to the child.

Recovering my composure in some degree, I did my best to second the effort that she had made. My quieter thoughts suggested that she might well be self-deceived in believing the horrible spectacle presented to her in the vision to be an actual reflection of the truth. In common justice towards Miss Dunross, I ought surely not to accept the conviction of her deformity on no better evidence than the evidence of a dream? Reasonable as it undoubtedly was, this view left certain doubts still lingering in my mind. The child's instinct soon discovered that her mother and I were playfellows who felt no genuine enjoyment of the game. She dismissed her make-believe guests without

ceremony, and went back with her doll to the favourite play-ground on which I had met her the landing outside the door. No persuasion on her mother's part or on mine, succeeded in luring her back to us. We were left together, to face each other as best we might with the forbidden subject of Miss Dunross between us.

CHAPTER X.

'LOVE AND MONEY.

FEELING the embarrassment of the moment most painfully on her side, Mrs. Van Brandt spoke first.

6

6

You have said nothing to me about yourself,' she began. Is your life a happier one than it was when we last met?'

'I cannot honestly say that it is,' I answered.

6

Is there any prospect of your being married?'

6

My prospect of being married still rests

with you.'

'Don't say that!' she exclaimed, with

an entreating look at me.

"Don't spoil my

pleasure in seeing you again, by speaking of what can never be! Have you still to be told how it is that you find me here alone with my child?'

I forced myself to mention Van Brandt's name, rather than hear it pass her lips.

'I have been told that Mr. Van Brandt is in prison for debt,' I said. And I saw for

myself last night that he had left you helpless.'

'He left me the little money he had with him when he was arrested,' she rejoined sadly. His cruel creditors are more to blame than he is for the poverty that has fallen on us.'

Even this negative defence of Van Brandt stung me to the quick.

'I ought to have spoken more guardedly of him,' I said bitterly. I ought to have remembered that a woman can forgive al

most any wrong that a man can inflict on her-when he is the man whom she loves.'

She put her hand on my mouth, and stopped me before I could say any more.

How can you speak so cruelly to me?' she asked. You know-to my shame I confessed it to you the last time we met― you know that my heart, in secret, is all yours. What "wrong" are you talking of? Is it the wrong I suffered when Van Brandt married me, with a wife living at the time (and living still)? Do you think I can ever forget the great misfortune of my life-the misfortune that has made me unworthy of you? It is no fault of mine-God knowsbut it is not the less true that I am not married, and that the little darling who is playing out there with her doll is my child. you talk of my being your wife-knowing that!'

And

The child accepts me as her second