Linton already knows it, and thinks it well not to trust the tale to a letter. He was ever so discreet. He is to bring him home with him. I long for the hour."

Three weeks later: "To-day we have received the intelligence that Mr. Seaton has suddenly arrived in England with his grand-daughter. We have written to beg their company as a favour."

"I have been surprised, almost startled, into an act of rudeness, and Mr. Lovel stands convicted of it. I refrained from exclaiming, but he uttered at once his admiration. I upbraided Mr. Seaton afterwards for not advising us beforehand of the beauty of his grand-daughter. She is unlike any one I ever saw. I can compare her to nothing but one of her own rosecoloured Ceylon pearls, she is so perfectly faultless. For answer he gave me none, only smiling significantly. I gathered

from this smile that his silence had been premeditated.

"I pray God that the little lovely thing may prove as beautiful in the spirit as in the flesh. At the present it is scarcely fair to judge. She is affectionate, unselfish, you can see that in every action. She has no accomplishments, and Mr. Seaton allows her education has been limited, though it was the best he could obtain for her. He is a fine old man himself, bronzed much beyond anyone I ever saw. They mean to take rooms in Miss Theen's house, who, now she has lost her mother, is so lonely she is glad to let part of it."

"I am surprised to see how completely Rose and Mr. Seaton have settled themselves in Clover Cottage."

Why not, Lady?' he answered to my remark; 'I mean to die here.'

"I murmured something about Miss Theen.

"Ah,' said he, with his peculiar significant smile, 'shortly I shall have the whole of Miss Theen's house.' He had

discovered that which no one about us had yet observed, that our agent, Mr. Clifford, intends persuading Miss Theen to migrate to his house. Mr. Seaton is a peculiar man, with a sagacity I should think rarely at fault.

"I can fancy that from Rose's birth, perceiving the promise of her exquisite and peculiar loveliness, he has planned a scheme in his head, never losing sight of it for a day. And I can foresee that he will succeed. My little Rose, you are to be my daughter. The man with the indomitable spirit has willed it, and it will be done. Her grace, gentleness, and beauty are just what Linton will most admire. And if she is not clever, she is loving and warm-hearted.

"She is marvellously pretty, her complexion like the delicate pink cameo shell, and the features cut out with a faultless and unerring chisel from its fairest part. She has hands and feet like little gems,

and her hair of pale brown hangs about her little face like a soft cloud. She is made to be petted, kissed, and doted on. And out of the large heart that I know my Linton possesses, what a store of love he can shower upon her! Gracious God, how I thank Thee! Ere we leave him, my son may be in possession of a heart that will console him for the loss of his mother, and obtain the friendship and love of a brother, to replace that of his father. We could desire no more for him. How warmly he writes of his new friend! My Ferdy' he styles him now, so he has given him all his heart. I have followed Mr. Seaton's plan, and said but little of the lovely Rose. In a few weeks now we

shall all meet. I am curious to see him who owes his life to my Linton."

"We have just returned from Clover Cottage,- Mr. Lovel and I find our steps continually turning that way, -he is gallantly making love by proxy for his son, to

the little Ceylon pearl. She is nestling surely and permanently in my heart. I begin to chafe at Linton's delay, prompted by young Ferdinand Home; he is cruising now amid the Western Isles. Some one may hear of

our little beauty, and

my son has seen her.

besiege her heart ere

Though we possess

but few neighbours, and cannot boast of a populous vicinity, the rumour of beauty gathers the crowd together from afar. Such is the power of it-though scarcely acknowledged by the beauty-worshippers. I will nevertheless trust all to Mr. Seaton; he has guarded his treasure so long for one purpose, and is not likely to be less vigilant at the moment of fruition.

"He smiled his peculiar smile to-day, as he watched Mr. Lovel petting the little thing with all the love of a doting father; and he is too shrewd not to perceive how we love to look at her, and never part with her until we fix the hour to meet again.

"I have said she is not clever,-but