Hardy did not believe all that Captain Rutherford amused himself with hinting.

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'No," said Mary, frankly, “I believe my own eyes more than another's words."

"I thank you a thousand times. I might have trusted to your kindness, but you looked grave-may I ask why?"

Mary was the most straightforward of her sex, and she answered, "I saw that you were annoyed, and I was doubting whether I should set your mind at rest.”

"Doubting! how could

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you hesitate? How could I know that my opinion was of such consequence?"

A thousand passionate assurances rushed to Edward's lips, but he had the prudence to restrain them, and only said in a low voice:

"Will you promise me to believe for the future that there is nothing I value so much as your good opinion."

The words had little in them, but the manner had much, and Mary answered for

once evasively.

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My good opinion matters little but I am sure you will always deserve it."

This assurance, and Mary's kind manner, caused Edward to return home in much greater charity with Captain Rutherford, who had been the unwilling means of procuring him such indications of regard, than that young officer's conduct would have seemed likely to call forth.

Mr. Marshall, we have seen, had been favourable to Edward Johnson from the first, and had always entertained the idea of taking him into partnership. The energy and judgment displayed by the young man on the occasion of the strike, and the obligation under which Mr. Marshall felt himself placed, determined him to take this step at once. With him, however, to determine was one thing, to execute another, and he put off from day to day the consultation with his lawyer, which was necessary before the matter could be finally arranged.

Meanwhile Edward had no intimation of what was proposed in his favour, and the weeks that followed the strike were, perhaps, among the most painful he had ever passed in his life.

Captain Rutherford remained at Allerton much longer than Edward thought necessary, and during his stay, he made himself so acceptable by his gaiety and goodhumour, both to Mr. Hardy and to Miss. Jane, that he received a cordial and general invitation to come back as soon and as often as he pleased. Of this invitation he was not slow to avail himself; he found Mr. Hardy's comfortable house much pleasanter than his quarters at H—, and, without admiring Mary seriously, he found her much more attractive than any of the young ladies he met elsewhere.

Edward could not quite make up his mind as to the degree of value to be attached to Captain Rutherford's attentions to Mary, he had a flirting devoted manner to

Mr.

all women, and there did not appear to be much real seriousness on this occasion. Hardy, however, evidently thought otherwise, and as evidently was disposed to encourage whatever inclination there might be.

It was more difficult to interpret Mary's feelings. She had a simple frank manner towards everybody, and she had lived too little in society to be afflicted with that unquiet sensitiveness on the score of propriety, which arises from the constant fear of being talked about. She never thought of being admired, and seemed quite unconscious of Captain Rutherford's attempts to be complimentary. There was a quiet self-possession in her way of listening, that baffled while it attracted him.

Still Edward thought, and Mary owned freely, that her opinion of their guest had risen since she knew him better. He was not free from the affectation so prevalent in these days, and so unnecessary, which induces young men to deny any good feeling

they may happen to possess. In spite of this and his habitual carelessness, he was occasionally betrayed into speaking seriously, and showing that there were good qualities beneath the surface, which only wanted fair play. Mary was one of those persons in whom every one feels impelled to confide, and who by a sort of moral alchemy, discover or create some portion of gold even in the basest natures. Accordingly Captain Rutherford appeared in his best colours whenever he was within the range of her influence. A little incident, which occurred during one of his visits, tended also to place him in a favourable light. He had been as usual laughing at Edward, who after some time left the room evidently annoyed, when Miss Marshall, who was present, and who always followed Captain Rutherford's lead to the best of her abilities, exclaimed:

"I never saw any one grow so disagreeable as Mr. Johnson does. There is no