so fully did he realize the horrors of the fate to which this man's wife in her blind faith was hurrying. "Do not think me ungrateful, dear friend," she continued. "I cannot tell you how in my heart of hearts the truest gratitude dwells for all that you have done. Christie! brother! I am again in terrible distress. This once more, you will be my help and stay?" She approached and took his hand, raising it to her lips, feeling startled that it was so icily cold. But the next moment a change came over him, his sternness seemed to melt, his old manner to come back, as he said gently, "Then we shall pack up just sufficient necessaries for our voyage, Julie and I; and everything else must be sold. I shall realize enough to pay our pasage from my furniture." "Oh, yes, certainly," said Bayle quickly; "and you will have to spare." "And the ship; what am I to do? Oh! here is Sir Gordon, he will know." There was the tap of the ebony cane upon the pavement, a well-known knock, and, looking very wrinkled and careworn, Sir Gordon came in, glancing suspiciously from one to the other. "You know that you have only to speak and I shall do all you wish ; but let us sit down, and talk calmly and dispassionately about this letter. There I will be only the true candid friend. I do not attempt to fight against your present feeling; I "Not the time to call, perhaps. I'm only ask you to wait, to give the matter not Bayle here; but I've not had a wink quiet consideration for a few days. It of sleep all night, thinking of that conseems impertinent of me to speak of rash-founded letter, and so I came up at once ness; but before you decide to give up your little home me. "Hush!" said Mrs. Hallam firmly; and the bright light in her daughter's eyes died out. "Do not speak to me like this. No consideration, no time could change Christie Bayle, think for a moment. For twelve long years I have been pray. ing for this letter; from my heart I felt it hopeless to expect my husband's pardon. Now the letter has come, you ask me to wait to consider to give up this plan to refuse to obey these commands. Of what kind do you think my love for my husband?" Bayle drew a long breath, and remained silent for quite a minute, while Julia watched him with a strange wrinkling of her broad, fair brow. The silence was painful, but at last he broke it, speaking as if the question had been that moment put. "As of the love of a true wife. Yes, I will help you to the end. Tell me what you wish me to do?" Julia turned away her face, for the tears were falling softly down her cheeks, but they were not seen by the other occupants of the room. "I knew I could count upon you," said Mrs. Hallam eagerly, and as if in hot haste. "I know it will be a bitter pang to part from where I have spent these - yes, happy years; but it is our duty, and I will not waste an hour. I am only a helpless woman, Mr. Bayle, so I must look to you." you can. to tell you, my dears, that it's all con- "And so you are going?" he said tenderly. She gave him one quick look and then said, "Yes. It is my father's wish." Bayle gazed down at her sweet face, then wildly about the room, as memories of hundreds of happy lessons and conversations flowed back. Then his lips tightened, his brow smoothed, and he said in a cold, hard way, "The path of duty seems difficult at times, Julie, but we must tramp it without hesitating.' "And you, too, will help me?" Mrs. Hallam said aloud. 66 Any way, in anything,” said Sir Gordon sadly. "I would sail you both over in my yacht, but it would be madness to expose you to the risk. Yes; I'll do the best I can to get you a passage in a good ship. Yes-yes- yes! I'll do my best." He looked at Bayle in a troubled way, but found no sympathy in the cold, stern face that seemed to be unchanged when | away at both of Christie Bayle's hands they left together an hour later, each for some moments before he became pledged to do his best to expatriate two aware of Millicent Hallam's presence. tender women, and so send them to what "Only to think!" he cried; "but come was then a wilderness of misery — and 'No," said Bayle firmly; "they would never part, because he has ordered her to bring their child." "Yes; I saw that. Ah, Bayle, it's a bad business; but we must make the best of it. Confound it all! why am I worry ing myself about other people's troubles? Here am I, an old man, with plenty of money and nothing to do but take care of myself and make myself happy, and live as long as I can. I say, why am I pes. tered with other people's troubles?" Bayle smiled sadly, and laid one hand upon that which rested upon his arm. MILLICENT HALLAM was closely veiled as she descended from the coach at the inn door, while Julia's handsome young face was free for the knot of gossips of the little town to notice, as they clustered about as of old to see who came in the coach and who were going on. A quiet, drab-looking man had just handed a basket to the guard and was turning away, when he caught sight of Julia's face and stopped suddenly. "Bless my soul, Mrs. Hallam! Oh! I beg your pardon," he stammered; "I thought-why, it must be Miss - and Mr. Bayle, I - I really I — ” He could not speak. The tears stood in his eyes, and he stood there shaking | along." "We are going up to the doctor's," said Bayle. "Yes, yes, you shall; but pray come into my place only for a minute. My wife will be so-so very pleased to see - ah, my dear, how you have grown!" James Thickens had become aware that his eccentric behavior was exciting attention, so he hurried the visitors up to his house. "Your people are quite well, Mrs. Hallam,” he said, hardly noticing that there was a curious distance in her manner to. wards him. "They're not expecting you, for the doctor was in the bank this morn. ing, and he would have been sure to tell me." Mrs. Hallam could not speak. She had felt so strengthened by tribulation, so hardened by trouble, that she had told herself that she could visit King's Castor and her old home without emotion; but as she alighted from the coach, the sight of the place and their house brought back so vividly the troubles of the past and her misery as Robert Hallam's wife, that her knees trembled, and, but for Julia's arm, she could hardly have gone on. 'Be brave," whispered a voice at her ear as Thickens prattled on. "This is not like you." She darted a grateful look through her veil at Christie Bayle, almost wondering at the same time that he should have noticed her emotion. Once she glanced back towards their old house; and her heart gave a throb as she saw that there was a painted board upon the front, which could only mean one thing - that it was to let. All feeling of distance and coldness was chased away as Thickens opened the door and led them in to where a plump, pleas ant-looking, little, elderly lady was sitting busily knitting, and so changed from the Miss Heathery they all had known that Bayle gazed at her wonderingly. The plump little body started up excitedly and then dropped back in her chair, turning white and then red. She gasped, and pressed her hands upon her sides, and then looked up helplessly. 66 Why, don't you know who it is?" cried Thickens with boisterous hospitality in his tones. "Know? Yes, James, I know; but what a turn it has given me! My dear my darling!-ah, I— I—I—I am so glad to see you again." The little woman had recovered herself and had caught Mrs. Hallam to her breast, rocking her to and fro and clinging to her so affectionately that Millicent's tears began to flow. Bayle turned aside, moved by the warmth of the faithful little woman's affection, when he felt a dig in his side from an elbow. "Come and have a look at my goldfish, Mr. Bayle," said a husky voice; and with true delicacy Thickens hurried him out, and along his rose path to where the gold and silver fish were basking in the spring afternoon sun. "Let them have their cry out together," he whispered. "My little woman quite worships Mrs. Hallam. There isn't a day but she talks about her, and I'd promised to take her up to town this summer to see her again.” Meantime little Mrs. Thickens had left Mrs. Hallam, to make wet spots all over Julia's cheeks as she kissed and fondled her. "My beautiful darling," she sobbed; "and grown so like-oh, so like and -and-oh! if I had only known." "Hi! Gorringe, here's that shack Hallam's wife come down. Quick! dost ta hear?" Bayle had stayed behind with Thickens to allow his travelling companion to go to the cottage alone, or these words might not have been uttered. And as they appeared to come hissing through the air, Millicent Hallam seemed to realize more and more how Bayle had been their protector, and how she had done wisely in fleeing from the little town, where every flaw in a man's life was noted and remembered to the end. "How dare he!" cried Julia indig nantly; and her young eyes flashed. Mother, we ought not to have come down here." Hush, my child!" said Mrs. Hallam softly; "who are we that we cannot bear patiently a few revolting words? If we were guilty, there would be a sting left." The episode was forgotten as they passed out of the town, and along the pleasant road, nearer and nearer to the sweet old home. For Millicent Hallam's breath came more quickly. She threw back her veil; her eyes brightened, and her pale cheeks flushed. There it all was, unchanged. The great hedges, the yews, the shrubs, and the pleasant rose and creeper-covered cottage, with its glittering windows, and door be neath the rustic porch, open as if to give them welcome. The reception was so strange, the little lady's ways so droll, that, in spite of the weariness of her journey and the trouble hanging over her young life, Julia had felt amused; but the next moment she was clinging to little Mrs. Thickens, warmly returning her embrace and feeling a girl- "Yes, yes, yes!" cried Julia eagerly, ish delight in the affectionate caresses and her voice sounding full of excitement; showered upon her by her mother's sim-"I am beginning to remember it all again ple old friend. so well. I know, yes the gate fastening inside. I'll undo it. Up this path, and grandpapa used to be busy there by his frames round past the big green hedge, where grandmamma's seat used to be, so that she could watch him while he was at work. And I used to run — and, oh yes, yes, there! Grandpa ! grandpa ! here we are." The stay was but short, for Millicent Hallam was trembling to see her old home and those she loved once more. How little changed all seemed! A dozen years had worked no alterations. The old shops, the old houses, just the same. Yes, there was one change; Mr. Gemp sitting at his door, not standing, and with movement left apparently in one part only - his head, which turned towards them, with a fixed look, as they went down the street, and turned and followed them till they were out of sight. How I recollect it all!" whispered Julia, as she held her mother's arm. "That old man who used to make Thisbe so cross. Walk more quickly, mamma, he is calling out our name to some one." It was true; and, as the words seemed to pursue them, Julia uttered an angry ejaculation, as she heard a sob escape from her mother's breast. Had the past twelve years dropped away? Millicent Hallam asked herself, as, seeing all dimly through a veil of tears, she heard Julia's words, excited, broken, with all a child's surging excitement and delight, as she ran from her side, across the little lawn to where that grey little old lady sat beneath the yew hedge, to swoop down upon her, folding her in one quick caress, and then, before she had recovered from her surprise, darting away, and off the path, over the newly dug ground, to where that grey old gentleman dropped the hoe with which he was drawing a furrow for his summer marrowfats. The twelve years had dropped from | mother, dear mother, your words seemed Julia's mind for the time, and, a child so strange; they almost break my heart." once more, she was clinging to and kissing "Hearts do not break, Julie," said Mrs. the old man, with whom she returned to Hallam softly. "They can bear so much, where her mother was kneeling, locked in my darling, so much." Mrs. Luttrell's arms. "The dear, dear, dear old place!" cried Julia, with childlike ecstasy. "Grandpa, grandma, we've come down to stay, and we must never leave you again." "But you spoke as if you never thought to see this dear old place again." "Did I, my child?" said Mrs. Hallam dreamily, as she gazed wistfully round. "Well, who knows? who knows? Life cannot be all joy, and we must be prede-pared for change." She stopped, trembling, her beautiful eyes dilated, and a feeling of chilling spair clutching at her heart, as her mother turned her ghastly face towards her, and her name seemed to float to her ears and away into the distance, in a cry that was like the wail of a stricken desolate heart. "Julia!" "Mother, dearest mother, forgive me!" she cried, as she threw herself upon her knees, sobbing as if her heart would break. "I did not think; I had forgotten all.” CHAPTER VIII. JULIA SEEMS STRANGE. IT was as if that forlorn cry uttered by Millicent Hallam pervaded their visit to the old home. It was a happy reunion, but how full of pain! Joy and sorrow were hand in hand. It was life in its greatest truth. The sweet, peaceful old home, with its garden in the early livery of spring; the fragrance of the opening leaves; the delicious odor of the earth, after the soft rain that had fallen in the night; the early flowers, all so bright, in the clear country air, to those who had been pent up in town; while clear-ringing, and each tuned to that wondrous pitch that thrills the heart in early spring, there were the notes of the birds. Millicent Hallam's eyes closed, as she stood in that garden, clasping her child's hand in hers, and listening to each lovetuned call. The thrush that; now soft, mellow, and so sweet that the tears came, there was the blackbird's pipe. Then again, from overhead, that pleasant little sharp "pink, pink," of the chaffinch, followed by its musical treble, as of liquid gems falling quickly into glass. While far above in the clear blue sky, softened by the distance, came the lark's song, a song she had not listened to for a dozen years. "And we must go, mother, away that place?" "Yes," said Mrs. Hallam sternly, and she drew herself up, and seemed as if she were trying to harden her heart against the weakness of her child. It had been a painful meeting, over which Mrs. Luttrell had broken down, while the old doctor had stood with quiv. ering lip. "I can't say a word, my child. I could only beg and pray of you to stay," he had said. "And tear and wring my heart anew, dear father," Millicent had said in return with many a tender caress. Then the old people had pleaded that Julia might remain; and there had been another painful scene, and the night of their coming had been indeed a mingling of joy and sorrow. Bayle had been up to sit with them for a short time in the evening; but with kindly delicacy he had left soon, and at iast sleep had given some relief to the sorrow-stricken hearts in the old home. Then had come the glorious spring morning, and stealing through the garden, mother and child had felt their hearts lifted by the mysterious influence of the budding year, till all over, like a cloud, came Millicent's farewell to the home she would never see again. Prophetic and true or the false imag inings of a sorrow-charged brain? Who could say? The stay was to be but short, for they returned that night by the coach which passed through, as it had gone on passing since that night when the agonized wife had sat watching for the news from the assize town. "It will be better so," Millicent Hallam had said. "It will be less painful to my dear ones in the old home, and Julie. "For the last time, for the last time, Christie Bayle, I could not bear this strain good-bye, dear home, good-bye!" "Mother!" "Did I speak?" said Millicent, starting. "Speak?" cried Julia excitedly. "Oh, for long. We must finish and away. He is waiting for us now." About midday, Bayle came up to the cottage, quiet and grave as ever, but with a smile for Julia, as she hurried to meet "Always," said Mrs. Hallam, smiling; "Yes, yes," she said quickly. will stay here?” 66 "You Certainly," he said gravely. vous manner. "And I may go with you, dear?" pleaded Julia. "No; I must go alone," said her mother in a strained, imperious tone. Stay here." For answer, Julia shrank back, but only for a moment. Then her arms were round her mother's neck, and she kissed her, saying, "Remember Mr. Bayle's advice, dear. Come back soon." Mrs. Hallam kissed her tenderly, nodded, and hurried into the house. CHAPTER IX. THE STRANGE QUEST. "SHE be going to look over the owd house again, Gorringe," shouted Gemp, as he watched the dark veiled figure. "You mark my words; they're a-coming back, and he'll be keeping bank; and the sooner thou teks out thy money the bet ter." There was a strange echo in the place that made a shudder run through Millicent Hallam's frame as she turned the key; but she had nerved herself to her task, and though hands and brow were damp, she did not hesitate, but went in. A quick glance told her that a couple of score pairs of eyes were watching her movements, but for that she was prepared, and, taking out the key, she inserted it in the inside of the lock, closed the door, and slipped one of the rusty bolts. "I must be firm," she muttered as she glanced round the empty hall, shuddering as she recalled the scene on that night, and seeming to see once more the crowd the fire her husband struggling for his life. where Julia used to play. "I will not think," she cried, stamping her foot, and placing her hands to her eyes, as if to shut out the terrible recollections; and an echo ran through the Ten minutes later, as Julia was seated place, and seemed to run from room to in the little old drawing-room at the tink-room and die away in the great attic ling old square piano, and Bayle was leaning forward watching her hands, with his arms resting upon his knees thinking. thinking of the boyish curate who, in that very place, had told of his first passion, and then gone heart-broken away, there was a quick step on the gravel, and he turned to see the dark graceful figure of the woman he had loved, her face closely veiled, and her travelling satchel upon her arm, pass through the gate, which closed with a sharp click. "To stand face to face with the ghosts of her early married life," he said in a low voice. "Heaven be merciful and soften thou her fate." He started, for as but a short time since Julia had heard her mother's audible thoughts she had now heard his; and she was standing before him, pale and with her hands clasped as she looked in his care-lined face. "Julia-my child!" he said, wonderingly. "I cannot bear it I cannot bear it," she cried, bursting into a passionate fit of sobbing; and she fled from the room. No; she had not come to stand face to face with the ghosts of past memories: she had driven them away. She did not go into the old panelled dining-room, where she had watched for such long hours for her husband's return, neither did she turn the handle to enter the melancholy cobweb-hung drawing-room, or note that the papers in the chambers were soiled and faded and different, and that the damp made some hang in festoons from the corners, and other pieces fold right over and peel down from the wall. No; she paused for none of these; but as if moved by some strong impulse ran right up to the top of the house, and stood in the great attic lumber-room, brightly lit by a skylight, and a dormer at the farther end. Then, with her heart beating quickly, she took from her bosom the portion she had cut from Hallam's letter, and read it in a low hoarse voice. "Go to Castor if you have left there, | and get possession of the old house for a 1 www. |