"No bad news, old fellow, I hope ?" Mr. Vivian said hastily.

“Oh! no, thanks-not at all. Only some one has come a long way to see me, on business, and is at the hotel waiting for me now. I am very sorry, but if will excuse me

you

"Certainly, certainly-by all means. Shall you join us at the theatre ?"

"I will if I possibly can; but”

"All right, my dear fellow; don't put yourself out for us. If you can, you know, we shall be very glad; if not, never mind."

"I will send word, at all events," said Guy, hastily. "I do not know until I get to the hotel. Good-bye."

"Au revoir, I hope," said Milly softly, as Guy went out.

He ran down stairs and out into the street in a perfect fever, and, jumping into

L 2

a cab, bade the man drive quickly to the Hôtel Westminster.

"If Adrian had only not come," he reflected. "Of all the infernal pieces of luck I ever had, this is about the worst! Of course he'll make something out of it, and I shall never hear the last of it. I don't mind for myself; but that poor little thing-what, in the name of Heaven, shall I do with her ?" And just then the fiâcre clattered into the courtyard. The first person he saw was Captain Charteris leaning against the door with a cigar in his mouth.

"How are you, Guy, old fellow ?" he said, as Guy jumped out.

"All right, old boy, thanks. Just pay this fellow, will you ?"

"I haven't a farthing of French money. I say, Guy, this is hot haste! I never saw you so eager about a petticoat before."

"For God's sake hold your tongue, Adrian. You don't understand; I will explain everything presently."

"I tried to make myself agreeable, but your little beauty was deucedly sulky. I couldn't get a word out of her."

"You've seen her ?" exclaimed Guy, angrily. "Then I think you'd have shown better taste if you had kept out of the way."

My dear fellow! how was I to know? I went naturally and innocently to your sitting-room, little expecting to find it so charmingly occupied, and

Guy waited for no more, but hurried past his brother, and ran upstairs. He turned the handle of the door and went in. A slight figure came towards him, came tremulously, hesitatingly, and then fell at his feet with a low sob.

66

Forgive me, Monsieur !" uttered a little piteous, wailing voice.

"Dolores! my dear child! why have you come," cried the young man, quickly, stooping to raise her; but she resisted his effort, and kept her face turned away from him.

"Dolores!" he repeated, surprised and pained, still holding her hands, but not trying any longer to lift her from her crouching posture.

"Oh! Monsieur, I could not help it!" and tears came in floods now; "you went away, and left me without a word. I could not help it. I should have died without and I have followed you-you

you,

will not send me away?"

He lifted her up in his arms with gentle force, and placed her on the sofa; then he sat down beside her, taking her hand.

66

My little one," he said with great tenderness, "you have done yourself a great wrong.'

"I do not mind," cried the child excited

near you,

ly. "What is it to me, if I can only be and see you smile on me sometimes. Oh, Monsieur !-Sir Guy! you won't send me away, you will let me be your servant-your slave-anything, only to stay with you."

A sharp pang went through the young man's heart. He felt as if he had done this innocent child some grievous wrong.

"Does Marcelline know you have come ?" he asked her, still holding her trembling hands, and speaking in the same kind voice. "Oh no," she cried in a terrified whisper. "Marcelline knew nothing of my coming. You won't send me back to her ?"

"Tell me, my child," he said softly, "how did you come without her knowing ?"

"I knew she would be for two hours at the market to-day, and I planned it all last night. I took a Napoleon from her