grief. And yet not so lonely as you were, since your longing to regain your brother has been satisfied.'

'Yes,' said Miriam, shivering, 'satisfied like the Israelites' longing for flesh to eat.'

'We will not talk of it now; you are not strong enough to bear any allusion to that terrible story. You have been very ill.'

'Yes; one night I thought that I should not get well, but though I used to fancy that I should be glad to die, it was not so. Partly because I did not feel that I was ready, and partly--'

'Well?' said Leonard breathlessly, for he divined the admission which faltered on Miriam's lips. She hid her face, and whispered, And partly because I knew that you would care.'

'Thank you,' Leonard said, in a voice no less unsteady than her own. Then he drew down one of the small, trembling hands, and went on more boldly: 'Look up, my child, and hear my confession. My life has been idle, trivial, self-seeking; only within these few weeks have I known what it is to live for another-for you. Can you, will let me love you ?'

you,

Shy and startled, Miriam only attempted to withdraw her hand, and Leonard waited in vain for a reply. It is all I seek,' he said presently. 'I am unhappily in no position to claim you for my own; and you are so young, and life as yet so untried, that I have no right to fetter you by any promise.'

You do not trust me,' said Miriam reproachfully, a reproach which brought a glow of exultation into Leonard's face.

'I do trust you utterly. Only say that you will be mine, and nothing shall come between us.'

'Nothing can come between us,' said Miriam steadfastly, and with the singular composure ever called forth by circumstances in which others would have been overwhelmed by embarrassment.

Nothing, now that you have given me the right to claim you. It may be years before I am able to do so; but you will be patient, will you not, my darling? It is just that I should reap the conse quences of having frittered away my time and means, yet it seems hard that you should suffer for my folly. You will bear as well as you can to live on in your uncongenial home.'

'It will seem different now,' Miriam answered. 'But we must tell Uncle Ralph.'

'If you wish it, dear,' said Leonard, in a tone which made his own disinclination sufficiently evident.

'I don't wish it in the least-it will be very disagreeable. Only I suppose he has a right to know, as I am under his care. And I believe that Mamma

would have thought it right.'

'Yes,' said Leonard, after a moment's thought; 'it is right; but how disagreeable I think you scarcely know. They will say that I have no right to entangle you in an indefinite engagement--that you are too young to know your own mind-that I have been hasty and inconsiderate.'

'I do not mind. At least,' Miriam added, 'perhaps I may mind at the time; but it can make no difference in the end.'

'Then the confession shall be made at once, or

at least to-morrow morning. I think I shall speak to Aunt Helen first, for Uncle Ralph and my uncle proper are equally alarming, and they are both approachable through her.'

It was time that they should arrive at this conclusion, for the door opened to admit the schoolroom party, who looked surprised to find Leonard there. He attempted a laughing explanation of the intrusion, and effected his escape, leaving Miriam happily impervious to all curious glances.

140

CHAPTER XIV.

Young men, in the conduct and manage of actions, embrace more than they can hold; stir more than they can quiet; fly to the end without consideration of the means and degrees.... Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period.

'I

BACON.

AM glad to find you alone,' said Leonard, as he entered his aunt's room on the following morning: 'I wanted to have a talk with you.'

'And I am quite anxious to hear your news,' said Mrs. Mordaunt, welcoming him with a pleased face. As I was saying to John just now, you have been in such an odd, inconsequent humour both last night and this morning, that we have hardly heard anything.'

'About the shooting party,' said Leonard indifferently, as he sauntered to the window, 'there is not much to be said. It was very like other parties, and I was bored, and wished myself here all the while.—There goes young Leigh across the lawn: what a handsome fellow he is!'

'Yes, but there is no meaning in his face. You will laugh, I dare say, when I say that I would much

rather look at Roger's sturdy, expressive countenance.'

'No, Aunt Helen, I respect maternal prejudices too much to laugh at them; not that I have any personal experience of the same. I wonder whether it will be incumbent on me to pay the usual formal visit to Lawes Castle, this year. I shall put it off till Christmas, at all events.'

'You ought to do what is right, my dear.'

'Of course,' rejoined Leonard, with one of his light, scornful laughs; 'all that is right—and proper -your favourite word. It is my sense of right and propriety which has brought me here now. I have come to make a confession.'

'I am very much flattered,' Mrs. Mordaunt answered quickly; ‘I like you to confide in me, and yet I cannot help wishing that you did not make me the medium of all your scrapes. It seems to annoy John, who fancies that I encourage you in them.'

'Poor maligned Aunt Helen! I can testify to a tithe of the good advice you have given me: I have forgotten the rest, and only wish that I had profited by any of it. However, this confidence does not relate to money matters; it is much more in your line. Now, cannot you guess ?'

'My dear Leo!' exclaimed Mrs. Mordaunt, changing colour, you are not going to tell me that you are in love with—'

'With whom?' Leonard asked, laughing, as his aunt stopped short, and caught up the word which had almost escaped her lips. I thought I might trust to your woman's instinct to divine.'