happily with somebody who is grand et beau et gai! Bah! You would never so much as let touch you with the tips of his fingers this insignificant Captain of cavalerie."

Oh! wicked, guilty little Mabel, aware of that terrible burden of a secret! "Not let him touch her with his fingers," and he had -kissed her! She put out all her selfcontrol with a mighty effort; yet, alas! into her creamy skin there stole, despite herself, a soft glow like the petals of an almond blossom; coming and passing imperceptibly. Madame's small eyes noted this by a momentary sparkle behind her dark eyelashes (far too dark these were to correspond with her hair). Then, with a desperate wish to end a discussion that seemed to profane the most sacred adytum of her pure young mind, the child forced her reluctant lips to speak again with steadi

ness.

"You believe, then, that people here will speak ill of me, because I ran out alone last

night, and so chanced to meet Captain Huntley?"

"Ah! dear child, I fear it. It is not what you did, but what they will think. Your only chance is to avoid him—always. Make light of his ugly features, and jeer a little; so they will think it all a mistake! And listen; you will be surprised, but we go with a party to Brimham Rocks to-day. I thought you seemed dull of late, and your father will be asleep all afternoon. This tiresome man will, unhappily, be of the party; but fear not, my child! You will show him he dare not boast nor laugh with his friends over

Mabel sprang up and stamped with a violence of impatience which made her own nerves tingle all over. It suddenly startled Madame into dropping a stitch, and sitting bolt upright.

"That will do !-that will do! I will be careful before these slandering, wicked people, for papa's sake! And as to what Cap

VOL. I.

с

tain Huntley thinks of me himself, whowho cares?"

shall

"Then go !-we understand each otherand put on your habit at once, for you ride!" as quickly retorted her stepmother with unusual excitement, while her face flushed dark red.

And Mabel went. Out from that torturechamber with a rush, and up the stairs; then flung herself with one leap upon the bed, burying her head in the pillows-grasping the quilt with small but nervous fingersshaking with a wild passion as she raved fiercely in half-stifled undertones.

"I hate her! I hate her! I hate her! Oh! Maud, if you were only here-oh! if I could only take back last night. Now they will all know it; and he will never care for me any more. Oh! Walter..."

Then even the stormy whispers died away into dumb cries in her heart against the wickedness of the world; against him for

cruelly forgetting how ignorant she was; for having so hurt her self-respect.

But at the last they were against herself ... against herself!

196

CHAPTER XI.

"It is the nature of the human disposition to hate him whom you have injured."-TACITUS.

A

ND downstairs, as soon as the door

closed upon the girl, Madame too was suddenly shaken by passion; roused to unrestrained action by the quick leaping of the usually treacherous, slow tide in her veins. It is true, she rose quietly to her feet, and looked once all around, with the wary suspicion of instinct or long habit. But then! —with one quick throw her knitting was flung right across the room; and in her turn. she pressed her long, thin foot on the ground with a prolonged hiss of anger.

"Ah, little wretch! Traitress of a dwarf!