Faithful Margaret

tend his daughter, who brought a polite message from his lordship to Miss Blair, that an important en

oceeded to make her as comfortable as circumstances would permit, after which she ate a little, an

busy-eyed young woman, a coachman and groom in magnificent liveries of gray and bronze, appeared upon the scene. These were th

owed, and was forthwith ushered into the bed

ht have been killed by these rascally railway man

rnal embrace as indifferently as it was given. "I might have died ten time

which could not be avoided-sent Trewin in my place, and brought Sir Maurice Abercro

ith comfortable imperiousness that she must be ready to s

The result was as might have been expected, considering his lordship's wishes, a decision

er, for she submitted without further question, though

that solemn Miss Blair, if she would stay, than go ho

tenderly smoothed the hai

ir. Why, of course you must feel so-you have been up with me all night, and-good gracious

ht, flushed by a sudde

nds?" she asked, w

looking for some situation by whi

ke-but perhaps you are not qualified. A

years at a boardi

never was at school in all my life! I was kept with Aunt F

ith a bow, the consolida

ou to Miss Blair. She is the young lady who s

vanced and held

thank Miss Blair for her

ville Park instead of Madam Beneant, whom I am so tired of? She would be a more suitable companion than that chattering wid

Beneant has been my daughter's companion for a year and a half, but she is too old. Her salary wa

she had saved from death; her heart clung to her-how could she leave her? But again, would she be co

r her in Lady Juliana's co

-oh,

self back into the whirlpool which, gradually circling inward, would

you, Lady Juli

found the grand people all gone, after sh

the dying crimson of departed sunlight, the carriage arrived at its stately gates, and Ma

on her sofa, and Margaret was reading to her. My lady had taken her time to get over her railway fright, and had taxed her companion's strength co

No, give it to Miss Blair and

glanced at the seal, and withdrew her finger as if it had been

lady. "Are you tired of reading all the condolence tha

ret, "I cannot read this l

her face wit

g upon her elbows to possess herself of the letter,

name on the back, an

e him suffer, for being so derelict in his duty these last three wee

letter and retur

e so well informed about Captai

ng her in speechl

the writer concerning herself; she had feared she was found out

ie," she exclaimed, "if Capta

at casket, i

the casket and pl

things, but I don't like to be labelled 'out of the market,' so I do not wear it often; but it is my engagement ring-is it not mag

sped her han

is innocent bird! To fancy the terrible Captain

it," was all she

you have not told me how you came to know Ca

e was coming; she expecte

nd then listen to my explanati

, tore off the seal and beg

n. If I had been obedient to the injunctions of my hood-winked relative, Mrs. Brand, I would have married the clever adventuress, Miss Margaret Walsingham, who I firmly believe plotted to supplant me as she has done, and I would have thus shared the estate. But love, one thing held me back. I have pinned my faith in woman's purity to Juliana Ducie's sleeve, for I think, my child, you are about the best of your sex; and honor forbade me to retract my faith to you. So the future I offer you is this: Will you wait patiently

of angry tears. "Why should he expect such an unheard of thin

istened as

away and given up his lands to one whom he considered a greedy schemer; and he had flung himself

my lady gazed in astonishment as her quiet companion

o his engagement with you where meaner men have failed. Perhaps-who knows? yours may be the

cause?" demanded my lady. "What can Mi

companion, and rushed in a volcanic s

garet Wal

dy, after a stare of u

protegee of Mrs. Brand's unwise affection; but never think that I would accept the Brand estates when obtained in such a way, or that

u are here under t

win my bread, and did

doubtless revert to the rightful hei

th a bitter tide of crimson in her face, "have failed to fulfil the conditions of the will-that is

vanishing estates, and covered her f

e cried. "What do I want of a man

you," said Margaret, coming and taking her lady-love in her arms; "and he is a no

ate all this to my father, and when you hear his verdict. Please leave me now, like a dear girl; I am

s of untoward love, and walked about the gay grounds of Hau

nvalid room. My lady, in high spirits, was superintending, with gusto, her

and I am going to be introduced. I have heard that his wealth is enormous. His estates in the north of Ireland and west of Scotland are as rich as any in the three kingdoms. He has

see that day," said

, my papa laughed at the idea of a further continuance of that arrangement, and he has wri

u think your pride will carry you through this t

e a gorgeous race, as you may have observed by the magnificence of this summer res