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YAWAS THIS HER FATHER [

own room, she flung herself upon her bed she was overwrought, over-excited, and her

dismay found vent in ready tears, @ htoof

childish, heartbroken sobbing.

What should she do? What should she do? Who was he? What was he? And the Peytons were coming to call! i

Then, the fit of crying over, and heing a child still, and simple in her ways, she knelt heside the bed, and prayed for strength to do her duty. When Mrs. Montresor came 10 seck her nearly an hour Iater, she was sitting calmly by the window.

“Vou should have come down, Ellinor,” she said, busying herscll about the room s “yvour father was disappointed.”

“T was very tired, dear Monty.Toam sorry.”

There was @ quict, constrained tone - the young voice that was new to i, NMurs, Montresor was @ good woman, but ol coarser stufl than her charge. She went over to her side. ' Tut, dear child ~don’t fret -he has kind cyes— yvou must take care of him ,,vfifgoo,c-)oo ~he's o prinee compared to many @ man I've seen feted for half the money.”

Ellinor drew back a hittle.

“ It is time to dress for dinner,” she sad

STRANLD W AGAZLINT.

“ 1 mustn't vex my facher by being late. Is he gone to his room?”

[nstinet had to her her lesson. There was a burden she must stoop to carry, but to the world she must walk up- rizht.

With curious consis- teney she chose the handsomest dinner dress i her wardrobe for her toilette 1 one which she had put aside as unfitting her years. The tram and bhodice were of grey velvet, falling open 1n ront over a petticoat of brocade and old lace. Indeed, 1t was better suited for a woman of forty ; but, when her maid had gathered her hair into a tight knot on the top of her little head, and she had fastened a orcat hunch of roses her bosom, she looked a quaint and damty lady, and moved with a newly horn dignity pretty tosce. She glanced ather- sclf in the picr-glass. “ Had it been different,” she thought, 1 could have put on my white cown. [ could have remained young. Now I see why he cducated mes T must make it up to him.”

e was waiting for her in the Targe drawimg- room ; not in cvening dress, but wearing a loose black coat and white waistcoat. tle tooked at her with pride, almost with awe, as, her head held high, she swept into the roon. The dinner passed off better than she had hoped. She noted that he was cautious and quick of observation. Te watched her and Mrs, Montresor from bencath Ias o ceyehids, and followed their Tead 3 also he talked htde.

Mrs. Montresor was right in her predic- tion that the county would call. Before M. Rawdon had heen a fortnight at Firholt the carriages began to roll up the drive with considerable frequency. Ellinor took her line, She was a little on the defensive, dignificd, very quict, defying erticism. In the davtime she dressed with marked plaim- ness, i the evenines with marked splendour, 1t was wonderful where the gl had Jearnt that she could no tonger afford to be childish,

Among the first comers were the Peytons g

revealed