substantial mailed form, with knightly spurs, and cross-hilted sword, it would seem but natural, here. The distant sound of the organ warned her that the service was about to begin, and she was soon kneeling in the quiet nook she usually occupied. The next morning they left A----. "The last journey I made by rail-road was with you to Carrington," said Kate to Winter. She was looking a little pale, and a certain anxious nervousness made her tremble in every limb; but she kept up very cheerfully. They were standing on the platform at the railway station, waiting for the train, which, starting from some newer and more important place, only gave a few hurried, breathless moments to poor old anti-locomotive A----. The Colonel was looking a shade more elegant even than usual, in a large cloak, which hung gracefully round his tall, erect form. There was their luggage all ticketed and piled up, all of home that could be packed into trunks; and Kate felt singularly desolate at the idea of being thus, for the first time, without any sanctuary, however humble, to which, as to an ark, she might retreat, when the fountains of the great deep, of sorrow or of disappointment, were broken up; and Mrs. Winter was there with a well-packed basket of sandwiches, and wine and water; but poor Gilpin had been so unwell since his imprudent visit to the Priory, that he had been obliged to leave the Winters to do the parting honours, alone, to their valued friends. Nor can we omit to mention Mrs. O'Toole, who, in a black silk bonnet, snowy cap, and substantial cloth cloak, albeit it was early June, looked the very model of a respectable old family-servant; over one arm hung Miss Vernon's shawl, and, in her left hand, she carried a blue band-box, containing divers and sundry articles thrust into it, at the last moment, and secured by a red silk handkerchief. "Yes," returned Winter, in reply to Kate's observation, "we were a merry trio; but we little anticipated the adventure you contrived to get up." "It was all very curious," said Kate, with a sigh, as her thoughts flew back to that pleasant evening, and its still pleasanter _dénouément_. A shrill, piercing whistle! The porters stood, not to their arms, but to their trunks. "Up-train coming," said one of them, warningly, to our little party. "Now then, don't be in a hurry, Colonel--get the tickets all right," said Winter; and the huge, hissing, relentless monster of an engine, rushed panting by the platform. "Do you get in and settle yourselves, Colonel; Mrs. O'Toole and I will see to the luggage." The Colonel obeyed; but Kate stood by the carriage door. Winter soon bustled back, and in more than usually husky tones, observed-- "All right--there goes the bell."