"And then?" It was Ursula who spoke as the woman paused again. "And then I heard that he my husband. was looking for me, and it come on me with a sort of shock. I couldn't think why he should want to know anything about me- unless it was that he had a sort of hankering after me as I had after him." The woman's voice had sunk very low; it ceased altogether for a moment, then went on, slow and faltering.

The woman was almost panting in | was ou me. her excitement. She drove her teeth year ago." into her lip, and went ou more quietly : "It didn't come so bad, not at first, not all at once. I went on taking it more and more, bit by bit, and by and by I began to take it without anybody knowing; but I didn't know how I'd got used to it, I didn't know how strong it was till it was stronger than me. I strove against it, I did strive; and I'd keep right sometimes for weeks together; but it was always no use in the end, it was always the same thing over again, and at last he said he couldn't do with me no longer. I didn't blame him; I don't blame him now. I know what a drunken woman's like, and I don't blame him."

'I did what I could," said Sir Rudolph in a low voice. His eyes sought Ursula's. "I tried everything. I bore with it till I could bear it no longer."

"There were times when I didn't care for him nor anything. times when I forgot him altogether; but in between there'd be days when I'd long after him with a sort of sore longing; and I thought—perhaps he might be the same as me.

Still silence in the room. Sir Rudolph, turned away from his wife, looked steadily at the winter scene outside..

"He behaved honorable," said Bertha. "He was ready to make me an "It wasn't so, I know now, and I allowance and let me live for nothing don't blame him. I see now it was like a lady. But I didn't want it. | different for me. But because of that, When we got back to England and II thought I'd have another try, and I found he couldn't put up with me no did, and I kept on; and it's a year ago longer I run away and hid myself, and and I haven't broke out since then. I then I went from bad to worse till I didn't think till I'd started to come nearly died. I was in the Infirmary a here as how it might be that the reason long time, and I've been in prison of him inquiring about me might be many a time. The police got to know that he wanted to find out if I was me well, and they was hard on me. Idead, so as he might marry another was always violent when I was like woman; I didn't think of it till the that." houses was all behind me and I was She paused a moment, but Sir Ru-alone on the road; and then it came to dolph and Ursula were both silent, and me sudden. At first I was minded to presently she went on speaking. turn back, and then I was minded all the more to go on."

"I'd keep straight sometimes for weeks. I've done it for as much as two months, but I'd always give way in the end. I'd get a place, perhaps, or I'd go out working by the day. I was always able to turn my hand to anything, but it never lasted; and sometimes I've been in the streets all night for want of the price of a lodging. The doctor said I was bound to kill myself if I went on with drinking, and I minded what he said when I was sober; and I didn't care for that, no more than anything else, when the fit

Bertha Leith paused again. For a moment her eyes met the eyes of Ursula Dale; then were dropped once more.

"I didn't know what a fine place it was he lived in, and I began to be frightened when they told me in the villages along the road what a rich man he was, and how it was a wonder he didn't take a wife; and I knew then he hadn't said nothing about me. after I got here and saw where he lived and heard the people talk, I knew it'd

And

You've done wrong to me as well as me to you."

"You are right; and I have sinned very grievously against you." "It's true then?"

from here, and it is a large enough | drink.
town for you to be unnoticed. Take
rooms at the George Hotel and buy
such things as you require. In two
days I will come for you, and bring you
back here as my wife. This will do to
go on with."

Bertha Leith said nothing, nor did she take the note from his hand; she only looked at him, with a pleading, half-frightened look.

"It is the best plan I can think of for you," he said; "for myself I do not care. But the servants will wonder less and respect you more, if you come with boxes; you will not be recognized as the same woman who came here to-day."

He still held the note out towards her she shrank back. r;

"Don't give me money," she said, or at least, not so much; give me only just enough to take me to Where was it you said I was to go?" Hillgate if the plau suits you. "To take me to Hillgate. I don't want money; I couldn't do with it. You don't know - but if I was there, in a town, with all that money, and knowing I could get what I wanted, I can't say—but it's a hard thing to get the better of, is drink; and I don't want, I don't want to go back; and least of all with your money."

For a moment Sir Rudolph hesitated, and a curious expression passed over his face; then he put the note into his pocket.

"How much shall I give you?" he asked.

"There's the train, and I must have a little when I get there; a sovereign."

Sir Rudolph gave her the money. "I'd better be going," she said, and moved a few steps towards the door; but suddenly she turned and came close to her husband.

"What right had you," she said, "to make love to that girl, not knowing whether I was dead or alive?"

"I have never spoken a single word of love to her."

"But you love her, and it's a sin; the Bible says so; it's as much a sin as

"It's quite true; I love her with all my strength." Sir Rudolph spoke with pitiless intensity; the woman's eyes grew fierce.

"I hate her," she said. "If it wasn't for that, I might have gone away and left you in peace. I'm not fit to live in this grand house, and I shouldn't ever get used to the ways of it; but I can't, I can't. I can't go and leave you and her to be glad I'm gone ; I'll take my place and be mistress here, because I hate her."

"Hate me; she has done you no harm."

"She loves you."

"She doesn't love me." It was Sir Rudolph's turn to lose his self-command; there was a ring of pain in his voice as he spoke.

"She does love you. I don't know ? "

Do you think

Sir Rudolph did not answer for a minute; he passed his hand over his face; he did not look at his wife when he spoke.

"Go now," he said. "In two days I will come and fetch you."

Bertha Leith passed quietly out of the room; and Sir Rudolph, when he was quite sure that he was alone, sat down and hid his face in his hands.

CHAPTER X.

BERTHA LEITH crossed the large hall and found herself outside in the garden without having met anybody; and, mechanically, she took her way back to the woods where on the previous evening she had wandered wet and helpless. Then she had been a trespasser, a tramp, with no right to deviate from the public path; now she was mistress of the woods and of all the fields and park land that lay within the fences of Aldenfold House. The thought did not define itself in her mind, yet was dimly there; not in a form of pride or joy or comfort, but in mockery; telling her that her gain was

"It's along of you," she said; “because he loves you."

A rush of color swept over the girl's face. "I didn't know," she said in a low voice. Bertha gave "You'll tell

"You didn't know?" a feeble, mocking laugh. me next, perhaps, you didn't know you was in love with him?”

Ursula did not answer. The color had gone from her face now; her lips were compressed.

only further loss, and her success worse | cloak she wore, and kneeling down
than failure. Stung to a pitch of wild again, spread it over the prostrate fig-
excitement, she walked at first, uncon- ure. She was about to rise, when once
scious of the effort of walking; but more the woman opened her eyes.
when she had gone a little way, she
began to find it strangely difficult to
keep moving; a sick, faint feeling that
had overpowered her when she had
first tried to get up that morning came
over her again; her limbs seemed to
be made of lead; her head swam. She
struggled on, catching at the trees as
she passed; but at last the effort of
moving, of standing even, became too
much for her; she sank down upon the
frozen ground, and leaned her head
against the trunk of a tree. She closed
her eyes;
she was half unconscious;
she did not hear footsteps that came
nearer and nearer, that paused sud-
denly and ceased; it was only when
warm hands touched her hands, and a
voice spoke again, that at last she
opened her eyes. "Are you ill?" said
the voice; are you ill?" but she did
not understand the words, she only
heard the sound of the voice, dimly, as
though it had been a long way off. It
seemed nearer when she opened her
eyes; and a face was very near her
own face the face of Ursula Dale.

66

The sight of it startled Bertha into sudden consciousness; she sat upright and said:

"Why have you come here? Don't
you know that I hate you?”

"You have no cause to hate me."
"You mean because you took my
part, because you told him he ought to
give me another try."

"I mean because I never meant to
do you any harm.”

"But you did harm me; you did; it's along of you that it's no good; if it hadn't of been for you – But I'll stay, I'll have my rights, I'll

The head sank back; the eyes closed; a moaning cry of pain came from the woman's lips.

"Can you deny it?" Bertha went on; her voice rose high and quavering. "Can you deny as you love him ?”

The downcast eyes were raised and looked steadily into the mocking ones before them.

"No." Then, as the jeering laugh broke out again, the girl went on steadily, though her voice trembled a little : "It was not my fault; I did not know it till to-day; and I did not know - of you.”

The

"But now that you know?" mockery on the haggard face had given place to something that was almost triumph. "You are ashamed ?"

Ursula's eyes dropped. "Yes, I am ashamed."

"I'm glad," said the woman. "I'm glad, because of all I've had to suffer."

Then the girl's voice, that had been low and subdued hitherto, rose strong and full.

"Do you think you are the only one to suffer?"

But Bertha did not answer; her face had grown paler, her eyes were half closed. Ursula rose to her feet, and ran quickly towards the house.

CHAPTER XI.

IN the dining-room of Aldenfold "You are ill," said Ursula ; "I will House luncheon was going on. Sir go for help." Rudolph Leith had come in rather She rose to her feet and stood irreso-late; he looked tired, and after apololute; she hesitated to leave the woman gizing to his guests for his tardy apalone; and yet, unaided, she could not pearance, he hardly spoke. But his help her. She took off the fur-lined silence was unnoticed; everybody else

was in good spirits, and there was no a cutlet into many little pieces without lack of talking. putting one of them into her mouth. When there was a pause she looked up and said:

"Has anybody seen Ursula this morning?" asked Mrs. Dale in a momentary pause in the conversation. "I believe she came to see Sir Ru"I've seen nothing of her since break-dolph on business. I happened to go fast; and I can't think where she can into the library while she was there, have goue to." and that was how I recognized her "I when I saw her in the wood. I don't know what is the matter with her, but she seemed very ill. Captain Shaen, will you please pass me the mustard ?"

"I saw her," said Sir Rudolph. believe she she went out."

"Oh, I know she went out; I was wondering where she went to."

Just then the dining-room door opened, and Ursula came in; her face was aglow, and she was panting after her run through the keen air.

"Mustard with mutton cutlet, Miss Dale?"

"Why not?" said Ursula, who had "Sir Rudolph," she said, "the no idea what she was supposed to be woman that was here this morning-eating. she's ill-in the woods."

Sir Rudolph rose and crossed the room to where she stood. "What is it?" he said. "Do you know what is the matter?"

"No; but she's very ill, I'm sure; she's not able to move, and she's unconscious, or almost unconscious."

"Because it shows a depraved palate. It's as badin its way as a craving for drink."

"Oh no!" Ursula spoke in quick horror; then, recollecting herself, she tried to laugh. "Comparisons-did you never learn manners from a copybook, Captain Shaen ???

Sir Rudolph turned to the butler. "But, Miss Dale," said an elderly "Craddock, tell Mrs. Bunce to get a lady with beak-like nose, "is the the bedroom ready at once."

“One of the servants' rooms, I suppose, Sir Rudolph ? "

"No, one of the best rooms. Fetch my brandy flask; it's full; and come with me.' "" Sir Rudolph turned and faced his guests. "You will all excuse me, I'm sure. Mrs. Dale, you will see that your daughter has a good lunch ; she looks tired; she wants looking after."

He left the room, and the talking, interrupted for a few minutes, went on again as briskly as ever; a great deal of it now consisted of questions addressed to Ursula.

"Who is she, Ursula ?" "Where did you find her?" "What is the matter with her?" "What sort of a woman is she?" "Does she seem like a lady or a common woman?" "How did you know it was the same one that came to see Sir Rudolph this morning?" Those and many other questions of the kind poured down upon the girl from all quarters, as, seated by her mother's side, she divided

person a lady?"

"I don't know."

"But Sir Rudolph said she was to have one of the best rooms; I heard him say so."

"Then I suppose she must be." There was a touch of sarcasm in Ursula's voice, but her questioner did not notice it; she seemed to be entirely satisfied with the logic contained in the remark.

"Yes, I suppose she must be," she repeated. "Dear me what a sad thing!"

At this point Mrs. Dale rose from the table, and the party broke up into ones and twos and threes. Ursula went into the morning-room, which was generally deserted in the afternoon, and taking a book, sat down before the fire. Once Miss Kinglake came in, and asked her if she would not go out, saying that she and several others were going to walk to a pond at a little distance, on the chance of finding the ice strong enough for skating; but Ursula excused herself on the plea that