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"Ah!" I murmured to myself, as I impulse to draw near Mary, and soothe away pressed my lips on her mouth, trembling as her disappointment. Very quietly I passed it was with girlish eagerness, you will in and out of the room, superintending varinever ask for love, and be denied." There ous domestic arrangements which, from my I was a kind of sadness, but no bitterness, no step-mother's illness, devolved on me. All thought of envy, in my mind; I felt too proudly secure in my own happiness. "What do you say, Bertha?" asked the timid voice.

"I say, dear," I replied, as I turned to leave the room," that you are one of those blessed creatures whom it is impossible to help loving. Thank God for it, child." And I left her.

the while, Mary lay on her sofa, with drooped head and sorrowful eyes, absently turning over the pages of a book; my father leaned back in his easy-chair, utterly absorbed by his newspaper; and Geoffrey still stood by the window, and plucked the honeysuckle branch nearly bare.

I went up again to visit the invalid; when I returned to the breakfast room, Mr. and Mrs. Lester were there.

Mrs. Lester kindly expressed her regret at my inability to return with them, and, of course, her concern at its cause.

I murmured some indefinite reply to her civilities. I was straining my ears to catch the conversation of the three gentlemen.

The next morning came. It was a bright day, and when Mary and Geoffrey appeared, they seemed in keeping with the day, so full of joyous life were they both. For myself I was unquiet, disturbed, I knew not why. The serenity of the previous day was gone; and, without being able to fix on any tangible "The extreme beauty of the weather," Mr. cause, I felt restless, and almost anxious. I Lester was formally saying, "offers a favorable thought it accounted for when my father opportunity for excursions about F—, and entered the breakfast room, and stated that the pilchard fishing began yesterday. As Mrs. Warburton was so unwell as to be un-your father's son, Mr. Latimer, I was anxious able to leave her bed, desiring me to go and to have you as a guest; and I cannot but see her. think, under all the circumstances, this present time is the very best adapted for my having that pleasure.'

a.

I did so, and found my step-mother-always prone to magnify passing disorders in herself or others languidly settling herself as thorough invalid, and declaring that she should not attempt to rise that day, she felt herself so ill.

"And so, Bertha," said she, "you have a very good excuse for not going to F- - with Miss Lester, which no doubt you will be glad of. Of course, no one could think of your leaving home while I am in such a state. The giddiness in my head is intolerable." Reach me that smelling-bottle."

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"You are all kindness, sir," said Geoffrey; and his eyes, wandering about the room while he spoke, fixed on me. He came to my

side.

"Dear Bertha," he whispered, "I scarcely like leaving you, even for a few days. What do you say? Should you like me to stay?"

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No, no," I returned, in perfect sincerity; pray go; you cannot refuse so cordial an offer."

As I left the room, and returned down Yet after all, it was with a pang that I stairs, I wondered within myself whether it heard him decisively accept Mr. Lester's inwas disappointment or relief that I felt vitation, and prepare to leave with them. fluttering perturbedly in my heart; but I But I thought the pang was natural enough. could not determine whether I was glad or For a long time the world had seemed darker sorry that I was not going to leave home. I to me when he was absent. Nay, the very felt sorry when, directly I reappeared, Mary called piteously on me to reassure her. "Mr. Warburton says you won't be able to go with me to-day. O Bertha, say he is wrong!"

"I am grieved," I said, "but Mrs. Warburton wishes me to remain, and of course I cannot think of leaving her."

look of a room was altered by his entering or leaving it. It never occurred to me to wonder that all his reluctance in leaving was on my account; and if it had, I should only have seen in it his unselfish tenderness to me, as I do now.

"If I were not a poor, helpless, lame little thing," said Mary, as she clung to me, before entering the carriage, "I would not leave you, Bertha, in the midst of sickness and trouble. No, that I would n't."

Nothing could be said to this. There was a blank silence. I could see Mary's eyes grow lustrous with tears, which to her came as readily as to a child. And I saw She glanced with a kind of indignant reGeoffrey, who had been standing by, turn proach, at Geoffrey, who stood at the carriage quickly to the open window, and commence door waiting to assist her into it. I could pulling the leaves from the honeysuckle not bear that any one should, for a moment, branches that twined about the walls. judge hardly of him.

I was a strange girl, always. I felt no

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Good-by, Mary," cried my father, as he lifted her to her seat in the carriage. "You carry off one visitor with you, at any rate. Make yourself very agreeable, Geoffrey, to make up for the defalcation of the other.

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let you stay with me," said I, smiling: "then have here a note pleading the request you would be obliged to go. And I assure Mary. you I should do so. I am much better with- He took from the breast-pocket of his coat out anybody." a tiny epistle, on which he looked for a minute before he gave it out of his hands into mine. I opened it, and read it. With a great effort I succeeded in composing myself sufficiently to comprehend its contents-an earnest and affectionate appeal to me and to my father and step-mother, to let Mary fetch me the next day in the little carriage, and drive me back to F. There was a postscript, in which she said "We have planned an excursion to show Mr. Latimer Castle, on the day after to-morrow, and no one will enjoy it if you are not with us. When I had finished reading the note, I laid it on the table beside me.

"I cannot hope to do that," said Geoffrey, as he bade me farewell, adding, in a lower tone, "take care of yourself, dear Bertha. I shall think about you. I shall be anxious, but I shall see you again soon.

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He pressed my hand, bent his frank, loving gaze on my face, and sprang into the carriage, repeating—"I shall see you again

soon."

And I went back into the house, and with the sound of the departing carriage wheels grinding in my cars, I tried to still the disquietude throbbing in my breast, by dreaming over that last look, and the earnest affection of his last words.

Blessed are they that are beloved, for they possess a power almost divine of creating happiness! What else but that little look, those few words, could have sent such a tide of joy thrilling through me, as drowned for the time even the dreary pain of parting, and made the house less desolate the utter weariness and blankness of the day that was to go by without him less insupportable?

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May I read it?" asked Geoffrey, hesitat ingly; and, on my assent, he took up the dainty little sheet of paper, and began to de- cipher the delicate Italian handwriting, bending his head lowly over it. When he came to the postscript he smiled, and seemed to examine very curiously some of the words.

"She was going to write Geoffrey,'" cried he, at last, and altered it into Mr. Latimer.' Ah! the child - the child!"

I thought it strange that he should notice the circumstance. I had not. But I did not at the time observe the strange tone in which he murmured the last words, while he carefully refolded the note, smoothed it and peered at the device upon the seal; and he still kept it in his hand, I remember, while he went on talking.

"Should you not like to come and stay with her? It would make her so happy; she is thoroughly in love with you, Bertha. She won't be repulsed, even if you could repulse her, which I know you can't. I wish you would come."

"It does not rest with me," I answered.

"She wants you so much," he continued, abstractedly, and without appearing to notice what I said; "and not only that I want you," he cried, suddenly, raising his head, and looking at me. "O, Bertha, I have so much to say to you

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- so much".

So, so the bird 's flown back to his old nest!" cried my father, entering the room, newspaper in hand. "Do they treat you so ill at F- that you can't stand another night of it? I protest you look pale and thin! Do they starve you limit your diet to pilchard soup and potato pasties? Order up something luxuriously edible, Bertha, to revive his sinking energies. Come, have you anything to say, or is your organ of speech fam, ished to death, and have you infected Bertha with dumbness?"

"If it were so," answered Geoffrey, with a loud laugh that startled me, "I am sure you would infect us both back again into the ca

pability of talking. Dear sir," he added, while he cordially grasped his hand, "I need not ask how you are. When you grow loquacious we may be sure all is well. I begin to hope you will accede to the petition I come charged with.'

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But my father shook his head, and would not listen to the proposed plan. More from habit than affection, for, alus! only child of his dead wife though I was, I had never succeeded in endearing myself to him; he was always averse to my leaving home; and hitherto his humor, in this respect, had harmoniously chimed in with my own. But I felt it hard now, and harder yet when Geoffrey, after fruitlessly arguing the point on all sides, and being invariably met with the same quiet but positive shake of the head, rang the bell for his horse, and took leave.

On the fourth day, Mrs. Warburton left her room for the first time, and in the afternoon my father drove her out to see some friends who lived some miles away. Left to myself, I took a book, and hurried down the cliff to my favorite haunt among the rocks. Vividly do I remember the sunshiny glory of that September afternoon, the golden transparency of the air, the peculiar clearness of the sea, which, near shore, appeared one mass of liquid emerald, save where the rocks cast their quaint shadows, like frowns, upon its still surface. The brown, jagged line of coast, stretching boldly out on either hand, the curved bay of Fsmiling in the distance, with the gray ruin of the castle on its own steep cliff, sternly outlined against the soft blue sky-all is impressed on my mind more keenly than anything I can now see with bodiYou outdo the very stones," ," he said,ly vision. I recollect the aromatic odor which with a vexed laugh. "Cornish rocks are not rose from the beach, the choughs clustering 80 firmly fixed as your Cornish will. They here and there on the cliffs - and one shinmove, some of them—but you! -I defy any ing-sailed little fishing boat, which the lazy power to make you swerve one millionth part breeze scarce caused to move on the quiet of an inch from your equilibrium of stiff, stern sea. I have forgotten nothing. opposition and refusal, Good-by, Bertha !" then, in a subdued tone "I shall come again very soon — very soon. I wish much to have a long talk, and -shall I carry any message to Mary?" My father caught the last words, and prevented any reply

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My love to little Mary," he cried, "and I say, Geoffrey, don't you flirt with her. I take a great interest in Mary Lester, and I won't have her peace of mind disturbed for all the gay, young fellows in Christendom.'

I sat down on my throne, so high up among the labyrinth of rocks that less accustomed feet than mine would have found it difficult to -and penetrate thereto. I felt safely alone solitude was felicity to me then. I folded my hands on my lup, gazed out into the broad ocean, and floated forth into the yet broader sea of my happy thoughts.

It might have been hours - or only minutes that had elapsed, when the stillness was broken by another sound than the drowsy music of the ebbing tide. A voice, the very echo of which made my heart leap, called on my name.

"Bertha Bertha! are you here? Answer, "if you are.

Flirt with her!"-muttered Geoffrey, with a rising color, and then he pressed my hand with nervous vehemence, and was gone. "He seems to be in a marvellous hurry, remarked my father. "I wonder if the pilchard fishing is the real attraction. Don't go, Bertha; here's a speech I want you to read to me; it's in small print, and the light is failing. Take it to the window, and throw out your voice, that I may hear every word."

Three days passed, and I saw nothing of Geoffrey; nor did we hear anything from F. Looking back on those three days, it seems to me that I passed them in a kind of dream, mechanically fulfilling the duties of the time, and wilfully blinding myself to all that might have awakened me from my trance. I was a girl-I had never known what love was, till now. I had never known what absence was, till now. And, moreover, I had all my life been wont, not to subdue my feelings, but only to conceal them; and only God, who sees into the hearts that he created, knows how a hidden passion, a hidden anguish, multiplies and dilates in the dark silence of its prison.

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What was it that choked the answer ere it passed my lips? It may have been fate that held me silent- motionless. Another voice, low, and very sweet, spoke next.

"I am quite tired, climbing these terrible precipices. Let me sit down a while - may

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-will be my friend as

"Ah, Geoffrey !" it was Mary spoke next | hope she will love me— “shall I wake presently? This sunshine, you say.' and this emerald sea, and the cloudless sky, it is like what I have seen in dreams only" there was a hesitating pause, and then the voice grew trembling and low- "I should never have dreamed you -you loved me.” "Why not? Do you only dream of what you desire?"

She was silent.

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lored Bertha.'

"What could make you think so? Bertha is my dear friend, my sister. It is so differont."

"I am ignorant-inexperienced-I could not detect the difference. And you do love her very much, you own it. I could almost be jealous, though I love her myself. I am a foolish little thing. Tell me you love me the best!"

"The best! There is no room for positives and comparatives in the world you occupy, Mary; you fill it all. It is with another and distinct being, it seems to me, that I care for the few others I know and love. Rest easy, little jealous heart! You have a realin to yourself it is all your own, and can never belong to any one beside."

"Never, never? Are you quite sure? I were to die

"Hush!"

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"It is so strange. I wonder if Bertha knew --"

"Dear Bertha! To think that the first evening you spent at Cliffe she had to coax me into coming to talk with you, Mary! I did not like strangers, and I was cross and cold, and resolved to find you disagreeable. Ah! what an age seems passed since then."

"Yes."

"She will, she will, for my sake, as well as for yours, Mary! I was near telling her all the other evening when I was here. I so yearned to confide in her what I had not then told even to you. But some interruption occurred, and afterwards I was glad I had said nothing. For in case I had found thatdid not love me -I could not have endured that even Bertha should have known "Ah, don't look so stern, Geoffrey! You frighten me."

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Am I so terrible?" he rejoined, with a light laugh. Well, then, we will think of the happiness it will be now, when I tell Bertha, and lead you to her kind arms-"

Somehow, the next words floated from me. It was as if a great tide of roaring waters rushed up into my brain, and drowned all sense for a time. Upon this dull blank consciousness slowly broke. Piercing the hollow murmur yet resounding in my ears came a voice gradually growing more distant. They were going:

"Let me hold your hand, darling. I must guide you over these rocks. Take care, child, take care!"

And then, nothing disturbed the stillness. The waves sang on, the little pebbles glittered in the sunshine, the silver-sailed boat nodded to its shadow in the glassy sea, and I stood gazing in a kind of wonder at my hands, all torn and bleeding, where I had clutched fierce hold of the sharply-pointed rocks beside which I had been standing.

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At the shrubbery gate stood a servant watching for me. She told me that Miss Lester and Mr. Latimer had been waiting for me all the afternoon - that they were now in the drawing room at tea. I passed through the garden, crossed the lawn, and stood for a moment at the open window before entering. My father and my step-mother were there with them. Mary was leaning back in a great arm-chair-Geoffrey seated opposite to her his eyes restlessly wandering about the room, yet ever returning to her face. A pale, fragile face it was, with the drooped eyes, and the long tresses of fair hair floating round it. There was a trembling consciousness in the quivering mouth-in the downcast eyes. I did not dare look longer on her

"It makes me very happy to know that Bertha and you will love one another. She is so good, so noble! The true, earnest char--I stepped into the room. acter of a woman I would choose from all others to be the friend of my-my wife."

There was a silence. How merrily the waves sang, us they dashed on the rocks, and how the sunshine glared, reflected in the emerald sea! Then chimed in again the soft girlish voice:

"I shall be glad when Bertha knows.

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"Ah, Bertha!" Geoffrey sprang to my side, and clasped my hand; and Mary timidly stole up, and tried to wind her arms round me. Go all of you! away, I cried, releasing myself with a loud laugh; "don't you see I'm wounded, and must be delicately handled?" I held out my hands in testimony. "This comes of climbing rocks in a hurry."

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"Did you fall-did you hurt yourself?" | wonder we did not see you," he continued, anxiously asked Geoffrey. addressing me, "since you were there. called you - we hunted for you. You must have wandered very far."

"Yes- both!-I should like some tea," I added, passing to the tea-table, and sitting beside my step-mother.

"Poor thing-I dare say it has shaken you," observed she, ever compassionate to physical ailments.

Shaken her- Bertha!" repeated my father. "Stuff! I defy any amount of tumble to ruffle Bertha's equanimity. She's a thorough Cornish woman. bred among the cliffs and rocks of our rough coast, till she 's almost rock herself. Ar'n't you, Bertha ?" Quite, sir."

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"Not quite," said Geoffrey, seating himself beside me. "Ah, those poor little hands how terribly they have been cut by the cruel rocks! Why don't you bind them up, Bertha?"

"Ah, let me - let me!" cried Mary. She knelt down at my feet, and drew forth her delicate little cambric handkerchief, and gently took hold of my hand. I held my breath-I might have borne it, only I saw the look of his eyes as they were fixed on her. I snatched the hand away, and drew back my chair from her as she leaned against it. She would have fallen forwards, but that Geoffrey's arm was quick to support her, and to ruise her to her feet.

"Dear Bertha, did I hurt you?" she inquired and she would persist in hovering round me, looking at me with her affectionate eyes- while he watched her, and loved her more, I knew, for her care of ine.

"I cannot bear to be touched," I answered; "I am afraid I must forfeit my character of being perfect flint after all-for you see this casualty has somewhat disordered my nerves."

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"Yes,"
," I replied, briefly, "I had."

"I am afraid you are tired," he pursued, in a lower tone, "and yet I do so wish that we may have one of our happy twilight loiterings up and down the shrubbery walk this evening. Will you, Bertha?"

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No, I cannot I am weary," I said. My own voice smote strangely on my ear, it was so harsh. But he did not notice it-for Mary was speaking to him.

"Mrs. Warburton has no objection - she may come."

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"Ah, Bertha, will you come back with us this evening?" said Geoffrey, with great animation; "that will be better still. Will you come?"

"It is impossible," said I, still quietly; "I cannot leave home."

I had to meet the entreaties of Mary - the anxious remonstrances of Geoffrey. At length they left me, and talked apart together. It was about me, I knew. He was uneasy about me -thought that my confinement to the house during Mrs. Warburton's illness had been too much for me. He said so, when he came up to me again.

"And I have been thinking that you ought to have some one to take care of you, dear Bertha; and if you do not feel well enough to leave home, Mary shall stay here with you, and nurse you. She wishes to do so."

I yet retained enough of reason to keep calm in order to prevent that plan's accomplishment. I had half anticipated it-I dreaded that I might presently encourage it -and then! No, I dared not have her left with me. So I whispered to Geoffrey that he must not propose such a scheme that it would ruffle my step-mother to have an unpremeditated guest in the house that evening that it could not be.

Nerves!" growled my father; "the first
time I ever heard the words from your lips.
Don't you take to nerves, for mercy's sake!"
"There is no fear of that," cried I, laugh-
ing; "and pray don't let any one alarm
themselves about me," I added, looking"
mockingly on the anxious faces of Geoffrey
and Mary.
I am perfectly able to take care
of myself, wounded though I am. I ought to
apologize for occupying so much of your time
and attention."

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Us! The word stung me into fury, and I could not trust myself to speak. "I so regret,' 59 said the polite, equable tones of my step-mother, as she turned to her guests," that we should all have been out when you came. You must have waited here some hours. Such a pity!"

"Ah, poor Bertha!" he said tenderly; dear Bertha! Some day she shall be better cared for."

His pity-his tenderness- - maddened me. I started from my seat, and went out into the cool evening air. Mary followed me.

"See, the moon is rising!" cried I, merrily. "Did you ever see the moon rise over the sea from our rocks, down there? Our beautiful rocks!"

"No-let us go there and watch it. Papa and mamma won't be here with the carriage for a whole hour yet, and your papa is going to carry off Mr. Latimer to look at some horses. And I love the rocks. don't you?" "Ay-the happy, beautiful rocks!"" "Come, then, I know the way." "We went down to the shore to look for ran on before; I followed slowly, vaguely Bertha among the rocks," said Geoffrey; "Ifeeling that the air was pleasant and cool to

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