"I own this puzzles me," said Evelyn. "People seldom do ill without motive; but here was no interest.

"I am equally embarrassed," said Tremaine.

That the reader may not be embarrassed too, I must request him to go back with me to that last conversation between Evelyn and Watson, two mornings after Tremaine's departure from Woodington, in which Watson had protested that the Frenchman had been ordered over to Evelyn Hall, by his master.

This was strictly the truth; but because he was ordered, it by no means follows that he obeyed. In fact, this prince of valets was much too great a man to allow any business, even of a master, to interfere with his own convenience or pleasures, and much too good a Frenchman not to have a little affair of gallantry of his own on hand, exactly at the mo ment when this order was given. Strictly to obey, and wait at Evelyn Hall till letters were written, and then ride post to Ferrybridge, would 'overthrow all his plans, and prevent a promised meeting with the very silly but blooming daughter of a neighbouring farmer. From the orders issued, too, it was perhaps the only meeting he could ever enjoy with his Helen; and the flesh and blood of a Frenchman could not withstand the temptation held out to him of hoped for success, in preference to the performance of so

trifling a duty as delivering a letter. As to con sequences, it was only to take a verbal compliment to his master that his letters were received, and as he had resolved to quit a place so little congenial to his tastes, he calculated, (and was not wrong) that, by giving instant warning, he should be out of reach even of enquiry, long before his neglect could be discovered. Accordingly, he gave his few remaining hours to his assignation with his fair one, instead of dancing attendance at Evelyn Hall; and as to the letters, after an abortive attempt to read them, to guard against accidents he threw them into the fire. He then, in conformity with his plan, on joining his master, persisted in asseverating that no answer, farther than compliments, was returned.

This, as we have seen, was critical to the fate of Tremaine, to the health of Georgina, and the happiness of all. For we have hinted how Tremaine had shaped his application. He had indeed made Georgina the arbitress of his conduct. He had told her that he would either continue within the pale and protection of his happiness, as he called the precinct of Evelyn Hall,-where he would do his utmost, with the assistance of her father, to work out those opinions on which his all of happiness depended, but which even such a reward should never make him forfeit his sincerity, in professing without conviction; or he would leave the neighbourhood, and

even the kingdom itself, if she preferred it, or thought it would conduce most to the recovery of her own serenity, which he grieved, he said, to think he had

invaded. Only, added he, with perhaps a too cautious and prophetic fear for his own nerves, "if the last should be your decision, and you really wish me not to see you more, do not harrow me or yourself with reasons. Your silence alone I shall too well comprehend, and no answer will be the most decisive one I can receive."

The consequences of all this are known, and it forms only one more proof, though a very special one, offe

'What great events from trivial causes spring.'

CHAP. VII.

THE LOIRE.

"At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans."

SHAKSPEARE.

ON Evelyn's return to the fishing-house, it required infinitely less penetration than belonged to Georgina, to perceive that there was some interest in the Chateau de St. Jules, which her father, in

general so confiding, was careful to conceal from her. But that he should propose staying longer; set all his wits and servants to work in making the house, both inside and out, more comfortable for his invalid; and even resolve to take a journey or two himself to Orleans, to make purchases for that purpose-all this did not surprize her. It fell in very well with the little taste for adventure we have commemorated; and she was so delighted herself with her window overhanging the stream, if only to sit quiet and listen to the leaping of the trout in a hot morning, that their staying there seemed the most natural thing in the world. A very few articles from a menuisier of Orleans, brought by water to the very door of the fishing-house, made her feel quite at home, and she was so soothed by the whole pastoral scene, that she had no wish to move.

Still she could not account for her father's frequent long absences, during the two or three mornings that afterwards ran on, and always, as he said, at the chateau, or at Orleans itself. It was in vain he explained that it was no longer quite the empty house he at first thought it-that he had found a library and pictures, and loved the style of it more and more. Her own wish to visit it was always opposed, on the ground that she was too weak to mount the hill; a reason, alas! but too well founded, but on that very account, a rea

son also for Evelyn's not leaving her so much alone.

་

Never was a good father so puzzled to allay curiosity, or parry questions from a daughter he loved. He objected to all fraud, even that not over piously called pious. Yet, if ever it could be justified, it was surely here. The greatest, the deepest interest, in fact, occupied him; and to gain a little, a very little time before he could resolve whether he should carry Tremaine to his daughter, seemed of the very utmost consequence to his heart's best in

terest.

It may be supposed that his joy on meeting his friend was not so absorbing as to be free from a mixture of anxiety about the great point. In fact, it was uppermost with him, and mingled itself, though tacitly, with every feeling that guided him, and every word he uttered. To restore Tremaine and Georgina to one another's presence, yet still forbid their minds from mixing, seemed not only cruel, but in the highest degree dangerous..

On the first day, therefore, he did all he could to evade Tremaine's ardent wish to wait upon Georgina; and the state of her health furnished him with but too good a reason to prevail. On the second, having resolved to go to Orleans to provide for their various little wants, he insisted upon his friend's doing the honours of the city, with which he was well acquainted.