was towards the Park together—1à ́sedates I'stayed there for a week last sumlooking couple; they might have been mer. The hotel was full of commercial married good fifteen years. She wore travellers. They joked with the waita bonnet and a veil arranged with great resses at dinner, and laughed, and told precision, and a cloak that made her stories in loud voices. But there is an look fashionable, mondvil e bin dood old château there, audra white and He realized that she had put on her empty church. And there are little best garments for him. 90HT fiacres in the market-placé.; I usell to - It seemed natural, and yet it drive to Tréport in one of thempland strange, to be walking beside her. As look at the sea, and back again and on usual, they did not talk much, and they into the forest for hours. There were almost forgot to look at the crocus endless roads through the forest. The beds. The twilight fell softly every driver used to turn half way round upon where. It seemed appropriate. J'sang his seat; and tell me stories about the of It's good not to see too clearly into king who planted the trees and how the distance, itinakes you feel as if France was republican (nów, and had you were drossing a great plain that no-kings at all, but still the forest res stretched on indefinitely, she said.mained. I remember feeling, one day The Park is wide enough to suggest as if the whole place were enchanted one in this light, and we might be go- and not à soul had walked there for a ing on and on to the sea, or the moún hundred years at least. And then, tains, or the world's, and "Oh, it is suddenly, we came to some.crOS$← lovely to walk over the green and roads; and at the corner of one of under the sky aud to breathe freely. then was a wooden sign-post on which Don't you often long to be a thousand was written oupu bon lait. It was miles from a town??o z ptĮ quite a shock,' she laughed ; but we went on and came to a farm. It had a cherry orchard; the fruit was hanging ripe and red, and a little girl went up a queer wooden ladder and gathered fruit aud-threw it down I caught it in my dress. It seemed as if the farm were the only habitation in the world; it was wonderful to be there, to have driven to it, to drive away along the endless forest roads again→ only, they were not endless. It was like waking up from a dream to sit at the table d'hôte again that night while the cons mercial travellers told their stories.? No," he answered, with a little smile. "You see, I am terribly matterof-fact. You are romantic.” [; - (** **Lam afraid so she gave a little sigh and Issame ashamed of it, as one is ashamed of many things after five-and-thirty... Don't you wish our bodies were as good for wear and tear as our souls? I Imagine some day not being able to walk, or only to drag yourself round a little garden; imags ine being old and wizened, and thought ridiculous for doing the things to which the irresponsible part of you goaded you on. If we had only been like And you were never lonely ?”. 192 birds, able to fly away into space, and A bird on the wing generally flies die at last alone on a topmost rock apart. How quickly we have come Oh, don't laugh at tue for talking non-honte !" you to buat sense," she went one I am very He went in to tea again. Marie sorry; perhaps my last body was a seemed to have expected him, for there bird's, for I resent this cumbersome were two cups put ready on the little oue so much. And then that so often table. Beside Miss Glenny's chair was! feels like a prison, and its little obliga her work. She took it up when the tea tions like fetters. to fo had been carried away, and he felt as Are you going to Normandy again if every time she pulled her needle out this year??? she drew his life a little closer into hers. I have not thought of it yet. you ever go to Eu ??? she asked.. No. Tell-ine about it.?1 " Did Do you really think of going to live in the country ??? "I don't know," she answered him. "Of course, you may like somedreamily, intent upon her work. body else better," he said; "or per"Sometimes I doubt if I have the cour-haps I am too dull and quiet, too age to get up and unmake this home neuralgic for you." She looked up and begin to make another. It is difficult to be much interested in things done only for oneself." quickly. There was a flush on her cheeks and a light in her brown eyes that made her look ten years younger. "There is no one else; and how could the neuralgia make a differ "For you?" She looked up won-ence ?" she asked reproachfully. deringly. - "I "Yes; for me," he answered. want to go away too. I am tired of everything except you. There is no one else in the world for me," he went on, in an odd, speculative voice that yet was trembling. "We both of us want to go away into the country, to make a new home why shouldn't we make it together? I can't see why there should be two homes any longer instead of one." He stopped. She did not say a word; but her cheeks were burning, and her eyes were full of tears, and the hands she had clasped together over her work trembled. For she had grown fond of the man before her; but he, though he was earnest enough, was not one whit like a lover. She couldn't tell for the life of her whether he was pleading for her love or suggesting that they should keep house together on a strictly platonic basis, without any radical change in their relationship. There had always been something very platonic about him. If she had thought about it, she would never have dreamt of expecting passion from him; but he did not appear to be offering her even its apology, sentiment. "Why should not we be together always, as we are on these quiet evenings?" he went on, and man and wife, instead of merely friends?" "And do you think He looked at her in an odd, unbelieving manner; then put his arm round her neck and kissed her cheek. "I almost think you care for me," he said. "I do," she cried. "I do! I never cared for any one else in my whole life. I didn't believe it was true, or that I could She stopped as if unable to go on. "My dear," he said slowly, "I don't understand why you should live all this time and then trouble yourself about me. But I am glad you do," he added. with almost a laugh. Now we will do our moving together." Miss Glenny sat over the fire for a long time that evening after he had gone down-stairs. It was very strange and unbelievable, she thought; but she "I have always been alone," she said in a low voice, looking down at her work; it would be so strange." He was silent for a moment, as if casting about in his mind what to say. Should you mind the strangeness?" felt happy, or, at any rate, content: "I don't know. It is so —— and yet lurking deep down in the bot "So what?" He took the work tom of her heart there was just a little from her lap, and put it on the basket disappointment. Perhaps it was only beside her, and pulled her gently that imagination and reality seldom towards him till she stood up and faced meet each other with satisfaction. III. to himself, he made no objection to it. Two or three months went by. They They agreed not to make definite arstared at their new experience of life a rangements for their future til after little blankly. The new relationship their marriage, which was, of course, sat upon them awkwardly, though to take place in the long vacation. neither would have allowed that it was They would stay at some quiet place so. And a sort of re-action seemed to in England, and make their plans at overtake them; as if, after being near leisure. She pleaded for a honeymoon together, they had naturally drawn abroad; but he told her that he was a apart. Mr. Falkland evidently felt bad sailor, and always avoided a crosshimself unfitted for the role of lover, ing when he could; moreover, that forand essayed it in a very mild degree. eign food disagreed with him, and that He was neuralgic, too, as was usual he required the long, monotonous holiwith him in the spring, and found day to brace him up for the winter's sleeping difficult without a sedative; work. So she cheerfully pulled down and this affected his nerves. He spent the castle in the air she had built with three or four evenings in the week up- thoughts of a honeymoon up the Rhine, stairs. On the other evenings she sat and agreed with Mr. Falkland that the and listened, and when half past nine country place in England would be o'clock struck walked up and down to very nice. keep off her disappointment. The next morning she knew perfectly that he would send up a letter by Snoxall, enquiring after her health, regretting that he had not been able to appear the night before, and asking her leave to do so that evening. She always sent back a happy little note that was like the chirp of a bird; and went through the day looking forward with quiet pleasure to the evening. Sometimes he dined with her; but not very often, for when he did the time dragged a little, and vaguely they both knew it. Moreover, he was a trifle dyspeptic, and found that some of the dishes Marie prepared with much joy for his delectation did not agree with him so well as the plain roast mutton and milk pudding that Snoxall knew to be the best and safest food for him. He did not tell her much about his position or his affairs—not that he had any wish to conceal them; but it was one of his theories that a man should know everything concerning a woman, but concerning himself be reticent. As time went on he showed himself a little fidgety, though he was always gentle and courteous. And he grew just a shade masterful in his manner, unconsciously perhaps ; asking her questions and advising her about the business details of her life; and into his advice and comments he put a little tone of authority that made her feel she was no longer a free woman. It would have been sweet enough if there had been compensations. It was sweet as it was at first; but gradually she learned, though she did not resent it, to feel just a little impatient; and the sense Their manner towards each other did of disappointment that had dawned on not change much with their relation- the first night of her engagement came ship. They called each other by their back. Once or twice she felt that he Christian names with a certain embar- was beginning to regard her as a rerassment on her side. When he arrived sponsibility; one he had taken upou he held her hand a little more expres- himself in a friendly fashion, yet acsively than formerly and occasionally cepted rather seriously. She thought it kissed her cheek, though this was by absurd to be so serious. Why couldn't no means a matter of course. It be- he love her, and laugh sometimes, and came one on parting, which perhaps be content? She was not old --- cershowed that in her society he warmed tainly not old for him. She was at an up a little. She sewed as industriously age at which many women are loved as ever; and, though he sometimes well. Besides, the number of her years wonderingly called it the eternal work would always be less than his, and if -- she were not very wise or intellectual | absurd that two lone people should she was pretty (with: pleasant vanity, each have a separate home when ́pue she knew it), and she was sweet and ‚bright ― the sort of woman many a man older than herself might have been foolish about, and for the foolishness she hungered and thirsted. She wanted to be told that he loved her, to be praised, and flattered a little bit, to be -called by the names that, other men, even middle-aged men, called the women: they cared for, though the -women too were middle-aged. wanted to do little services for him brighter inge to wait upon him, to make things for The day of the marriage drew near. him with her hands, to devise little The wedding was to be a very quiet surprises for him in her heart above one. They were to go back to the Gilall, 'to castle-build with him about thebertsons to lunch after the ceremony. future. But gradually all these long- Mrs. Gilbertson had insisted on this. ings and the unconscious hopes of taking some little credit to herself for which they were born died away, and there succeeded a restless feeling, an idea that while they sat between four walls it would always be the same. She thought of far-off places, and wished she could drag him to them then it would be different. But there he sat polite, discreet, and rather silent the man with whom was written the history of her future.A vision of what that future would probably be like grew upon herits monotony; its lack of freedom, of individuality; and (though she was far too loyal to own it even to herself) its dulness. would suffice. There were times when she felt that he looked at her a little ruefully; as though he had entered upon the present state of things too precipitately. She would have got up and set him free, but that her courage failed her and her compassion came in for she felt that, he must be more lonely than he realized. She meant to make his life, better- - he didn't know Sheit but it was going to be happier and n having brought them together. The Rey, John Barlow was coming up from his Dorsetshire vicarage to tie the knot. “Jack doesn't believe in matrimony, I fear," Mr. Falkland said; “but we are such old friends that I felt he ought to see me through." A "Yes," and, Miss Glenny looked up with the smile that had been rather rare lately; “I am glad he is to marry us. It will bind up your past with our future." He put his hand on hers for a moment, and looked at her affection ately. He was fond of her in his quiet way; but excitement was not, in him. Moreover, the coming change in his life bothered him a good deal-perplexed and worried him. He did not like changes; he was not used to them; he was shy of attempting new things. of experiments and sometimes he wondered why he had brought all this upon himself. He had thought of giv He talked to her about his work, sometimes; but his manner of doing so was different from that of the first days. It was done as if to educate her, or reluctantly, as if it bored him. Once or twice he hardly said a word during the whole evening; and she never dreamt that he felt ill and tired, for anything on her part that implieding up the Wargrave rooms and his this he treated coldly. She almost learnt to think that he was free from the aches and wearinesses to which all mortal flesh is heir-simply because he so seldom would own to any knowledge of them. Thus it was borne in upon her slowly that there was no ro- "I have got some trinkets for you," mance in this marriage, but that it he said that evening but I will, give would be almost of the nature of a them to you-afterwards. They be business arrangement, a matter of ex-longed to my mother. I only thought pediency undertaken because it seemed of them to-day, when I was in Laugh flat; but to think about a thing and to do it were different. He was essentially a contemplative man, and the thought that he was literally bringing about a revolution in his quiet life ap palled him,:: of ton's office looking over the settlement. nightmare to hiny. Mr. Barlow's talk Would you care to have[them 2.75L 1 did not make him feel more lively,H I should care for anything that you give me,” she answered;;, and of course] I shall value anything that was your mother's." "He pushed back her hair when he wished her good-night, and kissed her forehead. I 2. “ My poor hair," she said ruefully; I like it,"1/he; [said. You don't look very fit, old man,” he said. {[ $? Why did you do it ? You have got on well enough without a wife all these years. What possessed you to tie yourself up to one now? You will never be able to kick off your shoes and leave them on the hearthrug again.", You have not seen Margaret yet she is very sensible model I· It makes" Sensible! Then your meals, will me feel that we are n sober, sensible become a mere waste of time; you will couple, I am afraid it is no use have to talk at them, instead of readpretending that we are!young. Good- ing, Great mistake to marry a sensible night, dear. She was happier after woman. Better break it off while there that good-bye, than she had been for is yet time, and find a merely pretty some time..omnie od dz one you can snub into your own ways. Well, I am going to leave you now for the rest of the day. What time shall we meet this evening ?"hog Mr. Barlow arrived the morning before the marriage.root. "I thought we would dine together at the club." " I would rather come to the flat, and have our bit of food together there for the last time. It will be quieter.?? "All right," Mr. Falkland answered. I will telegraph, to Suoxall to be ready for us. Come early if you can. I should like to take you in to see Margaret.”dena y Em 66 "got? Well, sold, man, here's the executioner," [he; said, cheerily, when his friend met him at the station; and then he repented his words, for Mr. Falkland was-looking dreadfully ill. He had not slept for two or three nights; and all the previous one. he dad, lain awake realizing with ghastly clearness that, for the rest of his days he was going to be bound to a woman who sat on the other side of a fireplace sewing, and that his movements, if they were not to be controlled by her, must, at any rate, be guided by considerations for her. It made his spirits horrible. Nothing did him any good but smoking, and his smoking days were virtually coming to an end. There would be no...“ I think she would like to see you." more long, drowsy evenings by the open "Not to-day. She will have plenty window or in the winter, beside the to do, and I hope to know her well, in fire, with a damp ou the other side, and a book on his knee, and a pipe in his mouth. Then he discovered that, though she had a delightful smile, there was not much variety in her companionship. She was always and forever the same. There was no unexpectedness in her except in her longing to start off now and then to foreign lands; and this, he felt, was not a desirable peculiarity, since he preferred staying in his own country. It would all come right, be supposed; but last night, and this last day, the thought of the terrible togetherness of matrimony was like a No; not to-night, I shall only turn up just in time for dinner, and not fit to pay my respects to a lady. Besides, I want you to myself for the last hours of your existence worth mentioning." the future. Well, good-bye, old man. I wish you had been coming to Switzerland with me this autumn., A little climbing would have done you a world of good.”.... T " Mr. Falkland felt as he walked that never before had there been so dreary a bridegroom. Then it struck him that this depression was all caused by the accursed neuralgia and sleeplessness. A doctor might have put him to rights with a few tonics, sufficiently, at any rate, to make him a less dreary companion for the next fortnight. It might not be too late even |