Most women in whom the soul has anything like a chance of reaching the windows, are more or less beautiful in their best moments. Euphra’s best was when she was trying to fascinate. Then she was—fascinating. During the first morning that Hugh spent at Arnstead, she had probably been making up her mind whether, between her and Hugh, it was to be war to the knife, or fascination. The latter had carried the day, and was now carrying him. But had she calculated that fascination may re-act as well? Hugh’s heart bounded, like her Arab steed, as she uttered the words last recorded. He gave his chestnut the rein in his turn, to overtake her; but Fatima’s canter quickened into a gallop, and, inspirited by her companionship, and the fact that their heads were turned stablewards, Harry’s pony, one of the quickest of its race, laid itself to the ground, and kept up, taking three strides for Fatty’s two, so that Hugh never got within three lengths of them till they drew rein at the hall-door, where the grooms were waiting them. Euphra was off her mare in a moment, and had almost reached her own room before Hugh and Harry had crossed the hall. She came down to luncheon in a white muslin dress, with the smallest possible red spot in it; and, taking her place at the table, seemed to Hugh to have put off not only her riding habit, but the self that was in it as well; for she chatted away in the most unconcerned and easy manner possible, as if she had not been out of her room all the morning. She had ridden so hard, that she had left her last speech in the middle of the common, and its mood with it; and there seemed now no likelihood of either finding its way home. CHAPTER VII. THE PICTURE GALLERY. the house is crencled to and fro, And hath so queint waies for to go, For it is shapen as the mase is wrought. CHAUCER—Legend of Ariadne. Luncheon over, and Harry dismissed as usual to lie down, Miss Cameron said to Hugh: “You have never been over the old house yet, I believe, Mr. Sutherland. Would you not like to see it?” “I should indeed,” said Hugh. “It is what I have long hoped for, and have often been on the point of begging.” “Come, then; I will be your guide—if you will trust yourself with a madcap like me, in the solitudes of the old hive.” “Lead on to the family vaults, if you will,” said Hugh. “That might be possible, too, from below. We are not so very far from them. Even within the house there is an old chapel, and some monuments worth looking at. Shall we take it last?” “As you think best,” answered Hugh. She rose and rang the bell. When it was answered,