By-and-by he drew her aside, and whispered, that she must remember he was her father's oldest friend, and be candid with him. Did they need anything? His note-book was ready in his hand, and Eve saw his eager fingers in it.

'No,' she replied, hastily; 'nothing as yet— she would tell him when they did.'

Eve

The discussion was warm, but short. prevailed, for the present. Mordaunt must not take alms as long as it could be prevented. Mr. Sackville drew nearer to the bed again and gazed.

'Jane could not come,' he said, 'for Mr. Carisbroke was not well.'

A slight curl of Eve's lip; she did not think Miss Desborough had hurried to be of use. 'She did not know till last night of all this; neither did I,' Mr. Sackville said.

you not send for me, Eve?'

'Why did

Eve's cheek flushed-in all her excitement and sorrow she had forgotten that she had given no intimation of their trials to any one but Sir Mark.

'No slight matter would keep Jane away, but Mr. Carisbroke has had a paralytic seizure -not severe, but in its nature too alarming to

admit of her absenting herself for a moment. Here is a note for you from her.' And so Mr. Sackville went down again to wait till the physician arrived.

Eve did not open the note then; and in the interim strange feelings swelled her heart. The physician came; and she went out and sat down on the top step of the stairs, anxiously expecting his report. She opened Jane's letter, and something fell upon her lap.

'DEAREST EVE,-I have but just heard of it all, and would be with you instantly were it not for my duties here. Long since your cousin promised that if ever his health failed him, mine should be the right to help him. I claim it now, when he must need it. Say nothing even to me, Eve, about it, but use it for his benefit.'

Eve looked at the enclosure; she was frightened at the amount What should she do? Dared she accept it? Dared she, on the other hand, reject what would procure for him so many comforts? And yet and yet-Oh! Jane, Jane-what can the poor girl give compared with what is in your power?

She is still sitting there, with her head bent upon her knees, and her hands clasping that letter, when Sir Mark comes into the house and descries her. But this time she does not know that he has arrived. She is first startled from her reverie by the step of the kind doctor.

He brings her stronger hopes of recovery, and proposes, but now rather timidly, some arrangements for the invalid's ease; some measures for his relief, which he yet fears are rather too costly for their finances. But Eve, hesitating no longer, with a sudden reaction exults in her new possession, and begs him to lose no time in ordering whatever he considers might be beneficial.

Hope soon strengthens in everybody's mind. Before long there is no doubt of Mordaunt's recovery, only it is so very slow. Sudden as the attack was, the seeds of illness had long been sown-he is left in a sad state of prostration.

He is too weak for a considerable time to be able to think. He lies there and looks at Eve tenderly as she hovers round him, ministering to every want. He sees that she is thinner and paler, but scarcely understands the cause;

only he feels the constant love and solicitude, as the blind man feels the sunshine. Nothing is wanting which can tempt his appetite or charm his senses. As yet he does not ask how these things are procured. Sir Mark sends flowers, and fruit, and game, and Mordaunt hears of it, and is thankful. He cannot yet reflect that time has passed, and the vacant post must ere this have been filled up. It is thought better that Sir Mark should not see him; but he comes often, sometimes only to the gate, to which Eve runs down all gratitude and smiles, to say that he is better, and ‘thank you for all your kindness, Sir Mark.'

But there is one person for whom Mordaunt does not ask, and yet Eve fancies that the wistful glance, when the door opens, is for her. Morning, noon, and night, Eve thinks that question will come, but it does not. One afternoon, just at dusk, when he was decidedly better, and she had been reading to him, but had paused for want of light, there sounded a soft, low Eve,' from the sofa.

'Eve, was I delirious as well as insensible?'
Only one night,' she faltered.

'Doubtless I spoke wildly of much ?'
She hesitated.

'Your utterance was so very indistinct, and my senses so bewildered-no one else was there.'

He put out his hand and took hers gently, trying to scan her features, but the shadow on them was too deep.

'My secrets are safe with you, little one?'

She gave no answer, except a hurried pressure of those thin fingers, and then they were silent.

It was on the morrow that she was at length summoned to meet Jane. She had not time to look or speak before she was in her arms, and heard her murmur of thanksgiving and prayer. And then she collected all her resolution and returned to Mordaunt, to say calmly

'Mr. Carisbroke is much better now, Mordaunt. I did not like to tell you how ill he has been; but he is recovering, and Jane has come to see you.'

When she looked up from the wraps she was adjusting over his feet, she saw how bright was the expression of his eyes.

meeting was not very agitated.

And yet the

True, his

breathing was short and quick, and his sentences broken; but then he was so weak.