ploying a professional spy for the expedition

to Goodnesbridge.

When Mr Garbold and the solicitor came into the room, they were debating the proposal of the former, that he should go to Mr Chobham and demand an explanation from him. The solicitor opposed the planbegging that he might first endeavour to bring his client to reason, which he declared he did not doubt his ability to do. But Garbold persisted, and, in the end, they both set forth together, in the same carriage, though the attorney first made the stipulation that they should separate when within a short distance of Chobham's house, and then advance upon him, each independently. After some hours, Mr Garbold returned to Goodnesbridge, with the amazing intelligence that Chobham had departed to Buxton! The lawyer had gone in pur

suit of him; and Garbold would have at once done the same, had he not thought it his duty first to see me, in order to inform me of what had taken place, and so prevent the news being irregularly or injudiciously carried to the ears of Helena.

Mr Garbold brought back with him Helena's maid, who in her turn brought a quantity of things necessary for the comfort of her mistress. Soon afterwards a celebrated surgeon arrived from London. He had been summoned the day before by Garbold; but we were surprised to hear that his attendance had been also desired by the considerate Mr Chobham. The skill of the celebrated surgeon, and the assiduity of the experienced maid, soon had a good effect on poor Mrs Chobham's condition.

But the greatest improvement was observed shortly after my excellent mother's

arrival upon the scene. She, I believe would have hastened to perform any bidding of mine, even had it been on behalf of a stranger; but directly she had learnt from my message that she was required to assist Helena Chobham, she had flown to the spot on the wings of a double love and anxiety-for she had a greater fondness for Helena than for any other woman of her acquaintance. I knew this, but was yet astonished to see the extraordinary selfdenial, patience, and care which my mother displayed. She immediately dismissed the village nurse, and astounded the local doctor by asking him "how he could have had so little chivalry as to have employed such a disgusting, tipsy old woman?" At the same time, she herself took her post at Helena's side, and scarcely quitted it for

a moment.

The patient soon grew decidedly better, and was at last able to be removed in safety to my mother's house. To her own home, or rather to that of her husband, she declared she would never return. She had received from Chobham, while she was still at Goodnesbridge, a letter, which she had instantly destroyed. I cannot say what the contents of it were. I believe, however, that he wrote from Buxton, and expressed a hope that she had recovered from her injuries. An informal separation having thus come about, an improvement may be said to have taken place in the affairs of Helena Chobham.

CHAPTER IX.

In order to make a reasonable advance in this history, I will now leap over two years of my life. As to what had taken place during that interval, I need only say that I had become very popular in my regiment, and had been given the nickname of "Barbara." I believe the cause of my popularity was, that in my habits, tastes, and general opinions I resembled the majority of my companions, who had been, moreover, specially delighted with me for having broken my own collar-bone and my poor brown horse's back at one and the same time.

I was now a lieutenant in the troop of