Miss Flyn had

her steps towards the school. taken all the rest, or rather, they had taken Miss Flyn, on a rock expedition after sea-weed, so that she was alone. Mrs Wood saw her coming, and, meeting her at the door, asked her to walk into the children's room. Miss Edgerton paid her bill, and was told that Susan had not much time

for work at present, having the whole school to attend to, now her mother had a lodger. Adela had not heard of the change. "And indeed, ma'am," said the good woman, "I was wishing you might come, for I thought perhaps you could help the young lady with some advice; she is ill, and lonely, Miss, and a stranger here, without any friends but myself, ma'am, if I may say as much. Indeed, Miss Edgerton, I think she would be glad of a visit from a lady like you." Mrs Wood had too much good feeling to reveal all she knew of Eleanor's affairs.

"If I could be of use, Mrs Wood, I should be most happy; but I am such a total stranger, it might seem like an intrusion."

She soon.

"I think not, Miss, but I will ask." returned, begging Miss Edgerton would follow her into the little sitting-room, and Adela did as requested.

Where had she seen some one before like the lady who rose on her entrance? Could it be? In that tiny cottage room, ill, and without friends? Yes, there was no mistaking, though the face was

so thin and pale,-the tall figure and the dark eyes, and "Eleanor Harcourt" was all she could utter.

A similar exclamation of surprise had escaped Eleanor's lips. Mrs Wood had mentioned no names, forgetting their ignorance of what she knew so well, and both were therefore alike unprepared for the surprise which awaited them.

"It is very curious," thought Mrs Wood, closing the door, "that the two ladies seem to know each other."

There were "stranger things than were dreamt of in her philosophy."

CHAPTER XI.

Divided Paths Meet.

"The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill,
A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort, to command;
And yet a spirit still, and bright

With something of an angel light."

-WORDSWORTH.

THE evening shadows had stolen on, and twilight

was settling over the grey sea, before the two friends were aware of the time they had spent in communicating and hearing the history of the past. Eleanor had heard of Mrs Edgerton's death, but not of the removal from town, and did not know what had become of her old companion, who on her side was perfectly ignorant concerning Eleanor's lot. That it was a brilliant one she had never doubted. The increasing darkness warned Adela that she must return home, and she rose to depart, saying, as she did so,

"I shall come again to-morrow, Eleanor, and

we may now be so much together, that there will be abundant time to hear all that remains untold."

"But shall you have leisure, Adela ?" It seemed to Eleanor that the life of which she had been hearing could only be passed in hard and constant work, and had conveyed to her mind an idea of excessive drudgery.

"Oh yes, I shall always be able to come and see you. I am not chained to my oar," added Adela merrily; "I am no galley slave, and have always time to cultivate my friends. You will not be lonely now, Eleanor, for all my children will want to come and see you when they hear of my adventure; and we shall bring Earl Grey to take you a drive, which I am sure will do you good. But really if I stay longer I shall be benighted, so good bye without one word more."

It

Eleanor stood at the little window watching the receding figure till it was no longer visible. seemed like a dream, to have heard the old kindly voice again, and almost impossible to think of its returning; almost as if the good had come for a moment, and vanished for ever, with the form that was each minute becoming more and more indistinct. She was roused from her reverie by the entrance of Mrs Wood, who brought her some lights, and was also full of anxiety to be told, how and when the ladies had formerly been acquainted. "To think now, Miss," said she, when Eleanor

had satisfied her curiosity by telling her Miss Edgerton was an old school-fellow; "to think how I was wishing for her to come, and you to be friends after all; and yet it ought not to surprise an old woman like me, to see the help sent to one who wanted it, just at the right time; and it is not every one who can be such a friend as Miss Edgerton. There are few young ladies or elderly ones either like her."

"And yet she has never been very rich, Mrs Wood, and has for years been looking after a set of children; how can she be able to do so much ?"

"Well, Miss, I've always observed, that they who do most are those who can do more; and as to the riches, it isn't so much the money that she gives, though for that matter she always seems to have some to spare when really wanted. No, ma'am, it's not that, but a great deal more; it's a kind word here, and a bit of encouragement there, a little praise if it's deserved, or comfort if there's trouble, and advice so kindly given, no one can take offence. Why, though she is only here in the summer months, yet you'll hear many a poor family say, it was a happy day when they first saw Miss Edgerton; that it was just like a sunbeam coming in at their dark door."

"Miss Edgerton seems to have no faults," replied Eleanor, her old spirit rising in her.

"Faults she has, Miss, like all of us, but it's hard to tell what they are, though indeed more