pain, and she cast a glance full of reproach and anguish at her only child. She thought she had been betrayed. She thought that, for the lover's sake, who was dearer than father or mother, her own nursling had forfeited her trust. The bitterness of her look was such that Pamela, utterly innocent as she was, sank before it. She did not know what she had done. She did not understand what her mother meant; but she shrank back among the curtains as if she had been really guilty, and it brought to a climax her sense of utter confusion and dismay.

"I will tell you what the case is," Mrs Preston added quickly, the colour coming back to her cheek. "I am not in very good health, as you see, but I have something very important to do before I die. It concerns the comfort of my child. So far as I am involved, it would not matter-for I shall not live long," she added, with a certain plaintive tremor of self-pity in her voice. "It is all for Pamela, sirthough Pamela But lately I grew frightened, and thought myself worse; and I told them-I told her-that if I was no better next Tuesday, they were to send for you. I would not trouble you if I were well enough myself. It was in case I should not be able; and I thought of asking your help. I suppose it was their curiosity. Curiosity is not a sin; but— they say I am not worse-they say I am even a little

better. So I will not trouble you, Mr Hardcastle. By that time I shall be able for what I have to do."

"You must not be too sure of that," said the Rector; and he meant it kindly, though the words had but a doubtful sound; "and you must not think I am prying or intrusive. I was not sent for; but I understood-that-I might be of use. It is not giving me trouble. If there is anything I can do for you-if you have no friends"

"We shall soon have plenty of friends," said Mrs Preston, quickly, with a certain mocking tone in her voice-" plenty of friends. We have not had many hitherto; but all that will soon change. Yes, I shall be able for what I have to do. I feel quite sure of it. You have done me a great deal of good. After it is done," she said, with that desolate look which Pamela felt to the bottom of her heart, but could not understand, "there will be time enough to be ill, and to die too, if God pleases. I will not mind it much when I leave her with many friends."

"Mamma!" cried Pamela, with a mingled appeal and reproach; but though she bent over the bed she could not catch her mother's eyes.

"It is true," said Mrs Preston. "I was like to break my heart when I thought how old I was, and

that I might die and leave you without anybody to care for you; but now you will have many friends -plenty of friends. And it don't so much matter." She ended with such a sigh as moved even the heart of the Rector, and touched Mrs Swayne, who was not of a very sympathetic disposition, to tears.

"You must not talk of leaving your child without a protector," said Mr Hardcastle-"if you knew what it was to have a motherless girl to bring up, you would not speak of it lightly. That is my case. My poor little Fanny was left motherless when she was only ten. There is no misfortune like it to a girl. Nobody knows how to manage a young creature but a mother. I feel it every day of my life," said the Rector, with a sigh. It was very very different from Mrs Preston's sigh. There was neither depth in it nor despair, like that which breathed in hers. Still, its superficial sadness was pathetic to the women who listened. They believed in him in consequence, more perhaps than he believed in himself, and even Mrs Swayne was affected against her will.

"Miss Fanny has got them as is father and mother both in one," she said; "but bless you, sir, she ain't always like this. It's sickness as does it. One as is more fond of her child, nor prouder of her child, nor more content to live and see her 'appy, don't

exist, when she's in her ordinary. And now, as the Rector has come hisself, and as comfort's at hand, you'll pluck up a spirit, that's what you'll do. Miss Pamela, who's as good as gold, don't think of nothing but a-nursing and a-looking after her poor dear mamma; and if so be as you'd make good use o' your time, and take the Rector's advice"

Mrs Preston closed her lips tight, as if she was afraid that some words would come through against her will, and faced them all with an obstinate resolution, shaking her head as her only answer. She faced them half seated on her bed, rising from among her pillows as if they were all arrayed against her, and she alone to keep her own part. Her secret was hers, and she would confide it to nobody; and already, in the shock of this intrusion, it seemed to her as if the languid life had been stirred in her veins, and her forces were mustering to her heart to meet the emergency. When she had made this demonstration, she came down from those heights of determination and responded to the Rector's claim for sympathy as he knew well every woman would respond. A girl is the better of her mother," she said, "even when she don't think it. Many a one is ungrateful, but we are not to look for gratitude. Yes, I know a mother is still something in this world. Pamela, you'll remember some day what

want a friend

Mr Hardcastle said; and if Miss Fanny should ever But I am getting a little tired. Good-bye, Mr Hardcastle; perhaps you will come and see me again. And after a while, when I have done what I have to do—____”

"Good-bye," said the Rector, after waiting vainly for the close of the sentence; and he rose up and took his leave, feeling that he had been dismissed, and had no right to stay longer. "If you should still want assistance—though I hope you will be better, as you expect"

Mrs Preston waved her hand in reply, and he went down-stairs much confused, not knowing what to make of it. The talk he had with Mrs Swayne in the passage threw but little light on the matter. Mrs Swayne explained that they were poor; that she thought there was "something between" Miss Pamela and Mr John; that she herself had essayed strenuously to keep the young people apart, knowing that nothing but harm would come of it; but that it was only lately, very lately, that Mrs Preston had seemed to be of her opinion. A week ago she had shut the door upon the young man, and fallen ill immediately after. “And all this talk o' something to do has begun since that," she added; "she's never had nothing to do as long as she's been here. There's a bit of a pension as is paid regular, and