glistening on her hair, and what Mrs Chiley called "a lovely colour." If there was one thing in the world more than another which contented Lucilla, it was to be appealed to and called upon for active service. It did her heart good to take the management of incapable people, and arrange all their affairs for them, and solve all their difficulties. Such an office was more in her way than all the Archdeacons in the world. "I saw you knew him the moment I looked at you," said Lucilla. "I have seen other people look _like that_ when he appeared. Who is he, for goodness' sake? I know quite well, of course, who he is, in the ordinary way; but do tell me what has he done to make people look like that whenever he appears?" Mrs Mortimer did not directly answer this question--she fixed her mind upon one part of it, like an unreasonable woman, and repeated "Other people?" with a kind of interrogative gasp. "Oh, it was only a gentleman," said Lucilla, with rapid intelligence; and then there was a little pause. "He has been here for six weeks," Miss Marjoribanks continued; "you must have heard of him; indeed, you would have heard him preach if you had not gone off after these Dissenters. Did you really never know that he was here till to-day?" "I did not think of him being Archdeacon--he was only a curate when I used to know him," said poor Mrs Mortimer, with a sigh. "Tell me all about it," said Lucilla, with ingenuous sympathy; and she drew her chair close to that of her friend, and took her hand in a protecting, encouraging way. "You know, whatever you like to say, that it is quite safe with me." "If you are sure you do not mind," said the poor widow. "Oh, yes, I have heard what people have been saying about him and--and you, Lucilla; and if I had known, I would have shut myself up--I would have gone away for ever and ever--I would----" "My dear," said Miss Marjoribanks, with a little severity, "I thought you knew me better. If I had been thinking of that sort of thing, I never need have come home at all; and when you know how kind papa has been about the drawing-room and everything. Say what you were going to say, and never think of me." "Ah, Lucilla, I have had my life," said the trembling woman, whose agitation was coming to a climax--"I have had it, and done with it; and you have been so good to me; and if, after all, I was to stand between you and--and--and--anybody----" But here Mrs Mortimer broke down, and could say no more. To be sure, she did not faint this time any more than she did on the first occasion when she made Miss Marjoribanks's acquaintance; but Lucilla thought it best, as then, to make her lie down on the sofa, and keep her quite quiet, and hasten Mary Jane with the cup of tea.