then. In proportion to the tumult of excited joy which had filled him was his despair and self-reproach.

Hero's voice recalled him to the present moment.

"I am afraid that papa or Betsy may have seen the boat," she said, "and if so they might come down wondering what had become of me."

Leo made no further attempt at remonstrance. He took both her hands in his, and stood looking at her with eyes full of a sorrow that seemed then to rob his future of all light.

"Good-bye, Leo. We have both something to forgive. Forgive me, Leo;" and here the tears which had stood in her eyes burst forth unchecked, " as I forgive you; and God bless you and make you very happy."

But Leo made no answer. All at once he

seemed choking; then a great sob came, which forced him to let go Hero's hands and cover his face from her view, and when, his passion spent, some minutes later he raised his head, he found himself alone.

CHAPTER XIII.

"Fool, of thyself speak well: fool, do not flatter.
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale."

Richard III.

WHEN, some time later, Leo returned to

the cottage, Aunt Lydia asked him

whom he had seen at Winkle.

"I did not go to Winkle."

"Not go, my dear!" exclaimed the old lady.

"No. I don't feel at all the thing; my head aches, and it is quite an effort to speak."

"Oh dear, oh dear! it's just what I thought," said Aunt Lydia plaintively. "All this excitement has been too much

for you, Leo. I told Mrs. Prescott that you seemed very harassed and worried, and she said she did not wonder at it. Poor thing! she is so altered, Leo-quite an old woman -and the way she clings to her niece is positively painful."

"Her niece?"

"Yes; Mrs. Labouchere is back again; she came back this morning. She has been in London with Sir There, I always forget he is Mr. Prescott-and oh, my dear boy, it cuts me to the heart to feel there is no Leo Despard;" and the poor old soul stopped to brush away her tears.

"Who told you she had been with Mr. Prescott ?"

"Mrs. Prescott did; she said her niece had been her greatest comfort, for directly she heard what had taken place she went straight off to London, to see of what use she could be to her cousin; so, depend on

it, she had a heavy heart when you saw her off by the train."

Simple, unsuspecting Aunt Lydia was but a poor observer, or she must have noticed the change in Leo's face. He had deceived himself, then, and Mrs. Labouchere had refused him, knowing who and what he was. This accounted for her agitation-this was the meaning of that indescribable something in her manner which he had set down to a struggle between love and pride. Oh! how he cursed his folly as he pictured the whole scene being rehearsed for Sir Stephen's benefit!

"Both Mrs. Prescott and Mrs. Labouchere spoke very nicely of you," Aunt Lydia continued.

"Did they?"

"Yes; and I hope you won't be angry, Leo; but after what you said, as an opening was given me, I thought it was best to