her white hands; but no tear did she shed, so strong was her indignation at her cousin's heartless brutality. After some little time, she heard a gentle tap at the glass door which opened into the garden, and, looking up, she saw the kindly face of the old Rector.

"My dearest girl," he cried as he entered the room, and seizing her by both hands kissed her on the forehead "my dearest girl, I have only this moment heard of the shameless invasion to which you have been subjected, and I came to offer you the shelter of the Rectory, and to see whether in any way I could be of any help and comfort to you. God bless you, my bairn, and be your support, for He is a very Present Help in trouble. Bear up, my child, as becomes the sister of one with whose fame all England is ringing."

The girl, who, during her interview with her cousin, had sat motionless as a statue, now shook like an aspen leaf, and falling into the old man's arms, she sobbed aloud. The Rector laid her gently down upon a sofa, but did not try to restrain her tears. Presently he kneeled down beside her, and said a few prayers which he deemed suitable to the occasion. This soothed her wounded spirit, and she was soon able to talk calmly and cheerfully

to the old and faithful friend who had baptised her, and had been her spiritual father from childhood upwards, and whom, after her brothers and her father, she had loved more than anyone in the world.

Mr. Elthorne, it is proper to mention here, was Evelyn's guardian, and, as one of her father's executors, was fully acquainted with the business matters of the family. He knew that Evelyn would have a bare £200 a-year to live upon, and the furniture of her own boudoir, ante-chamber, and bedroom, which had been her mother's; for it had been a fad of the late Mr. Manwaring to make as many things as possible heirlooms, and these, of course, would now become the property of Mr. Tresham Potts.

When the Rector heard what had passed between Evelyn and her cousin, his indignation knew no bounds, and he expressed a wish, which he certainly felt, that his peaceful profession did not admit of his administering the personal chastisement which Mr. Potts so richly deserved. As Evelyn's guardian, however, he claimed the right to expostulate with him upon the indecency of his conduct, and to try to get him to forego his intention of remaining at the Manor, until such time as she

was able to form plans for her future life, and to secure a new home. To this, however, Evelyn would not consent, asserting that the effort to entertain her cousin, who, after all, was within the letter of the law, would brace her up, and be of service in accustoming her to the new state of affairs which her brother Lionel's death had entailed upon her.

After a long and consoling talk, Mr. Elthorne took his leave, having first extracted from Evelyn a promise to come to the Rectory at the end of the time allotted for her remaining at the Manor, and he promised that Lucy would be to her as a sister, and that she would meet with the affection of a mother from his at present invalid and bedridden wife.

YVELYN felt much comforted by the Rector's M visit and kindness, but she was not allowed to remain long alone, for the ringing of the doorbell speedily announced the arrival of Mr. Merivale, the family lawyer. This gentleman, also, expressed great indignation at the conduct of Mr. Tresham Potts, but he could see no remedy for it, for the property was undoubtedly entailed upon him on the failure of the male issue of the late owner.

After some conversation-"I don't want to rip up old sores, my dear Miss Manwaring," said the old man, in sympathising tones, "but I want to ask you a curious question, and that is, are you quite sure your brother Wilfred is no longer alive?"

"Yes," answered Evelyn, after a pause, "I fear there is no doubt that such is the case. Remember how, after his innocence was proved, we advertised for him in every paper, and offered rewards for any information about him, but all in vain. And then think how circumstantial were the reports that he had embarked in that poor ship which went down in the Atlantic. Yes, I fear there cannot be a shadow of a doubt that such is the case. And yet," added she, "my foolish heart sometimes tells me he is alive; but then, if so, why does he not write, for surely he must have seen some of the advertisements. And now, Mr. Merivale, don't think me gone out of my wits when I tell you I dreamed the other night he was alive and well, and then I awoke, oh! so happy! Why should I have felt happy if he is dead ?"

"I am afraid, my dear young lady," responded Mr. Merivale, "that you must not build upon 'the baseless fabric of a vision;' and I really don't know why I asked you the question. 'There's no fool like an old fool,' you will say. And now I must tell you, as a lawyer, that I don't see how you can refuse to give up possession of the place to this snobbish cousin of yours, and his vulgar