be able to extend my visit to a creditable length if you are not there en tiers."

"I think that Miriam will enjoy your visit more without me."

"But I shall enjoy it less."

"Miriam's pleasures are few," said Ailie gravely, "and it was in order to give her pleasure that I asked you to come here to-day. You are not like yourself, Susan, or at least like your better self, in nourishing illwill against this poor child."

"Poor child!" Susan repeated in irony. Then she added, with a sudden revulsion of feeling, "Yet you are right, as you always are, Ailie, and words cannot say how I despise myself. Still, if you knew But I will go at once, as you wish it."

--

And not only because Ailie wished it, but because her voice had broken down, Susan hastily turned away, leaving Ailie to unravel, if she could, the clue to her various and perplexing moods.

Miriam was herself too little at ease to detect any traces of Susan's emotion. She wished to efface the uncomfortable impression left by their former interview, and she was resolved that Susan should not again have occasion to check what had seemed to be undue forwardness. Susan thought her timid and retiring manner more agreeable than her habitual self-possession, and she was also touched by her air of lassitude and ill-health. "Why, Ailie gave a tolerable report of you," she said,

"but I cannot say that you do much credit to her nursing."

"Miss Alison has been very kind," Miriam replied, with formality enough to disconcert Susan's good resolutions.

"Of course, it is some people's way," she said shortly, the inflection of her voice indicating that it was not her way just then.

There was a pause; it was evident that Miriam was in no danger of talking too much to-day, and that she waited for Susan to speak again, and Susan felt a perverse inclination to remain silent. However, she presently exerted herself to say, "I dare say the change to the Mains will do you good."

"Yes, thank you," said Miriam, very quietly, though her heart was beating fast. Now surely Susan would mention her cousin's letter. But she only went on to

"You must not accuse me, as Ailie does, of wiling your brother away, though we are very glad of his company. A horse and gun are the real attractions, and I don't wonder at it. He rides beautifully, and promises to be a good shot, Papa says, who has been much mortified that Roger should excel in no active sports."

Miriam smiled, and tried to feel gratified by her brother's attainments, but she listened with a divided attention. Still Susan talked on, of George, of Roger,

of her sisters' enjoyments of their week's holiday, and Miriam lacked courage to introduce the only subject which interested her. Susan prolonged her visit to the ten minutes which she hoped would satisfy Ailie, and they did not pass more slowly with her than with Miriam. Then she rose to take leave, saying hurriedly, "Oh! I forgot." But her natural truthfulness rejected the evasion and prompted a fresh beginning: "I intended to tell you that I heard from Leonard yesterday. He bade me tell you how much shocked he was to hear what had happened, and how much he has thought of you. But he will be here on Tuesday, to speak for himself."

She was gone before Miriam had found voice to speak. The knowledge that Leonard entered into her grief went far to lighten it, but she so craved to see the assurance of his sympathy, that she must have asked to see the letter, if Susan had lingered for a moment, even at the risk of incurring another rebuff. "She might have shown it to me unasked," she thought; "she might know how much I long for it. But she does not like nor understand me, and now I do not mind. He will be here on Tuesday, and then all will be well."

CHAPTER XIII.

Oh, she, that hath a heart of that fine frame
To pay this debt of love but to a brother,
How will she love, when the rich, golden shaft
Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else

That live in her!

TWELFTH NIGHT.

On the afternoon of the following day, Mrs. Mordaunt sent her carriage to convey Miriam to the Mains, and Roger and George Leigh were loitering before the door as it came up the approach.

"Is that your sister? I am curious to see her," said Roger.

And George answered with a half-laugh, "There is not much of her, and just now rather less than usual."

Roger did not smile, for he was touched by the first sight of Miriam's small, pale face, and pity gave place to admiration when the bright pink colour came flushing into her face, as soon as she perceived her brother. "Oh, George, were you waiting for me?"

"We have just come back from our ride," said George; and Roger almost wished that he had given himself credit for a larger share of fraternal affection than he possessed, when he saw the expression of languor and disappointment which crept over Miriam's face.

"Can you carry your sister upstairs? she is not strong enough to walk," said Miss Alison.

"I am indeed," said Miriam, as her brother made an incoherent reply, to the effect that he had never tried. But her foot had scarcely touched the ground, when the strength only lent to her by excitement, gave way, and she would have fallen, if Roger had not sprung forward, and caught her in his arms.

"I can carry her," he said, looking at Miss Alison; and since George evinced no desire to interfere with the privilege, Roger bore his slight burden up the stairs, and laid her down on the schoolroom sofa.

Miriam thanked him, but not warmly; feeling almost aggrieved by a solicitude which only served to mark the contrast with her brother's indifference. George had followed in her train; but he remained standing apart from her sofa, silent and unoccupied, while Roger busied himself in darkening the room and making other arrangements for Miriam's comfort. "That will do, thank you," she said, a little impatiently, and Ailie signed to him to leave the room. But she recalled George, who, disregarding Miriam's wistful looks, seemed to consider that he also was dismissed. "Will you stay with your sister?" she said, "I am going down to see Mrs. Mordaunt."

"Very well," George answered; "only I must have time to gather Susan's nosegay before dinner."

"You had better go now; I do not mind being alone," said Miriam, as soon as Miss Alison had left the room;