came, she put it back into her desk. Ever since she parted with the knife, its place had been occupied by the card. Locking her desk, she put it away, and went to prepare for her daily walk with her father. Her pleasant, cheerful manner, always did him good, and he generally returned in much better spirits than when he went out: she always did her very best to amuse him. After the walk, she sat down to needlework for the rest of the evening, excepting only the half-hour spent in singing some of Mrs. Stourton's favourite songs.

The place in which they were staying had few attractions; but it certainly had one great merit, it agreed surprisingly well with the whole party, and Katie had not looked so well for years.

CHAPTER XXVI.

"Much of the ability to do good is in the disposition to do it."

ADY Vaux had had a house in town for

the season, and she had enjoyed the pleasure of more of her son's society than usual, a circumstance of which she had been careful to make the most. She was really both fond and proud of him, and was very anxious he should assume a more prominent position than he had hitherto done.

She was most desirous that he should find a wife; and she had proposed various young ladies to him as eligible, some because they had large fortunes, others on account of their beauty, some because they were of high rank, and one or two who possessed all three of these desirable qualifications. She had the satisfaction of seeing him dance and even converse with some of them; and she had fully made up her mind that he had fixed on Lady Magnolia Beauchamp, who was precisely the daughter-in-law she would like him to have. He went off with Lord Forfar to Russia, however,

without having brought matters to a conclusion, which Lady Vaux thought a great pity.

His sisters doubted his really caring for Lady Magnolia, and mentioned many little circumstances, and brought forward various arguments as proofs of the correctness of their judgment in the matter; all which was rather aggravating to Lady Vaux, who was determined to have no doubts at all.

They said they believed his new duties in parliament engrossed so much of his attention, that he had not been able to spare half the amount required to secure for himself the possession of so admired a young lady as Lady Magnolia was on all hands admitted to be.

"Why, mamma," said Miss Vaux, "only consider what I saw with my own eyes two nights before Greville left England. You remember we were at the Duchess of Mountberry's. Well, I was close to them both at one time, and he saw she was not dancing, and he not only did not ask her to dance, but did not even speak to her, and—”

"Why, my dear!" exclaimed Lady Vaux, "it was on that very evening that I was so especially struck with his manner towards her. I did not know he had arrived, when I suddenly saw him dart across the room to speak to her: they said a few words; she looked charmed, and then in two minutes more they were whirling round the room in a valse, a dance which, as you all know, he hates. He had just come from the House, and

she was the very first person,he danced with. I was particularly struck by it, because I thought he would be naturally feeling tired after such a long debate as there had been that evening: of course, as for some unaccountable reason he did not intend to propose before he went to Russia, he from motives of delicacy did not like to be too marked in his attentions, and you know what peculiarly chivalrous notions he has on those subjects. I have not the slightest doubt as to the state of his feelings towards her. My only doubt is, whether his confidence in himself, in his position, in his worth, is not insufficient to give him courage to speak. He is so good and so superior in every way, that I must say it is a trial to me to see how very little he appreciates himself. There is no man in England with whom Lady Magnolia ought to be more proud to ally herself, if he would but believe it."

"Well, mamma, there is time yet, you know," said one of her daughters.

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Yes, dear, you are right; and I hope we shall all show Magnolia how ready we are to receive her among us. I shall take care she shall not forget him during his absence."

Immediately on his return from Russia Mr. Stratton went to Stratton Park, where his mother and sisters, and Sir John Vaux, and a large party whom Lady Vaux had with her son's permission invited, were already assembled, and among them were Lady Beauchamp and her beautiful daughter. The

county races and a grand race ball occupied the attention of the party during the following week, and the neighbourhood was in consequence very gay.

At length Northcourt House was again inhabited, and one of the first people to call there after the family had returned was Mr. Stratton. The servant answered his inquiries for Lady North and Sir Roger by saying neither were at home, and Mr. Stratton next inquired for Miss Stourton.

"Miss Stourton ?" said the butler, who had only been a week in the house.

"Yes, Miss Stourton, the-the-What is the name of the governess?"

"Oh! I beg your pardon, sir, that is not her name. She is a German lady, Miss Kücken, or something like it, is her name, but I can't pronounce it."

Mr. Stratton turned his horse's head from the door, and rode slowly across the park. He looked unusually grave. Very slowly he rode up the long lane leading to the farm where Miss Edge had once lodged. When he reached the four cross roads he paused. Then he turned to the right, and finally stopped at the gate of the farm-house, and inquired of Mrs. Archer, who was in her garden, whether Miss Edge had been there lately.

"Yes, sir, she was here for a fortnight last month."

"And how is she now?" he asked.

"Oh! quite strong, sir; so different from what