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spend the rest of

my

life in peace, such peace as is still left for me-be contented with my promise that if ever I could be induced to think of a second marriage-no one but you should-"

"And you will try to love me, Eleanor ?— you will at least try?-you will forget my harshness-my violence? Dearest Eleanor, say you will forget all but my love-that deep, long-stifled love, which must be my best I cannot live without you, Eleanor !

excuse.

Say that

you

will forgive the way in which I

have been obliged to woo you

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"I will try," said Lady Thornbury, and she fell back, half fainting.

He covered her cold hand with kisses-he laid her gently on the sofa, and bent forward, as though he would have kissed her forehead, but drew back as he saw the large tears which gathered on the long eye-lashes, and the expression of deep anguish which was imprinted there in too legible characters.

"Good bye, my dearest-my only love," he whispered, and pressing once more the hand he held so lifeless and cold in his own, he left her.

Maude Ferne listened with an anxious heart for some sign of what was passing in the drawing room, during that long tête-à-tête from which she had been excluded. She established herself at the window in the breakfast room, which commanded a view of the hall door, and waited patiently until the carriage drove up which was to take Mr. Ferris to the station. A few minutes it waited, but not long, before Maude from her post of observation had the satisfaction of seeing him enter it and drive off.

Most fervently did she hope that it might be long before he again darkened the doors of Woodside Manor with his unwelcome pre

sence.

A proud feeling of triumph filled the heart of James Ferris as he drove away; he knew

that he had won the prize for which he had striven, for he felt that having gone so far, the rest was now merely a matter of time.

He was conscious that the fatal power he possessed over Eleanor had made him the master of her fate; he knew that proud and sensitive spirit would never bear the public exposure which he had threatened

Occasionally, it is true, the flush of shame dyed his brow, and he felt inclined to loathe himself for the part he was playing: he, the upright, honourable man, whose integrity had always been his pride-he-to lend himself to such a scheme-he, to sell his honour in this way.

He felt during that journey back to Ashwell like a guilty man, who fears every passing stranger suspects him, and reads his guilt in his countenance; he dared scarcely raise his eyes to look any one in the face, and his nervous agitation was at times almost painful. The thoughts, however, of the fair prize he

had won, or hoped to win, soon restored him to composure. He had been playing a desperate game; he had trusted greatly to Lady Thornbury's inexperience, and to her alarm at first discovering that he knew her secret, and not a little to the fact that she had no one whom she would venture to consult upon such a subject.

So far all had answered his expectations. He doubted not in the vanity of his heart that in time he should win her love by his devotion, by the constancy which had borne so many trials. As he mused on these things the prospect grew brighter and brighter before him, and before he reached Ashwell, his busy mind had settled upon many alterations to be made at Woodside Manor, when he should be the master there.

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CHAPTER II.

For my heart was hot and restless,

And

my life was full of care,

And the burden laid upon me,

Seemed greater than I could bear.

LONGFELLOW.

THE two or three weeks spent at Woodside Manor before the departure of the trio on their northern tour was passed by Lady Thornbury in a state of great nervous excitement; so much had the dread of seeing Mr. Ferris again, taken possession of her mind, that Maude could scarcely prevail upon her to leave the house, and all her efforts were required to induce her ever to drive beyond the park.

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