"But perhaps they may think that a merchant is no fitting match for you," he suggested. "I am nothing but a plain merchant, and my I people have been in the same business for four generations. As far as wealth goes I might perhaps satisfy your people, but for the rest I am but a prosaic fellow, with neither noble blood, nor the brain of a genius, nor anything out of the common." "It will be enough for my mother that we love each other," she said shyly. "And your uncle?" "It will be enough for him that you are upright and honourable--enough that you are yourself, Sigismund." They were sitting now in a little sheltered recess clipped out of the yew- trees. When that softly spoken "Sigismund" fell from her lips, Zaluski caught her in his arms and kissed her again and again. "I have led such a lonely life," he said after a few minutes, during which their talk had baffled my comprehension. "All my people died while I was still a boy." "Then who brought you up?" she inquired. "An uncle of mine, the head of our firm in St. Petersburg. He was very good to me, but he had children of his own, and of course I could not be to him as one of them. I have had many friends and much kindness shown to me, but love!--none till to-day." And then again they fell into the talk which I could not fathom. And so I left them in their brief happiness, for my time of idleness was over, and I was ordered to attend Mrs. Milton-Cleave without a moment's delay. MY FOURTH STAGE Oh, the little more, and how much it is! R. BROWING. Mrs. Milton-Cleave had one weakness--she was possessed by an inordinate desire for influence. This made her always eagerly anxious to be interesting both in her conversation and in her letters, and to this end she exerted herself with unwearying activity. She liked influencing Mr. Blackthorne, and spared no pains on him that afternoon; and indeed the curate was a good deal flattered by her friendship, and considered her one of the most clever and charming women he had ever met. Sigismund and Gertrude returned to the ordinary world just as Mrs. Milton- Cleave was saying good-bye to the hostess. She glanced at them searchingly. "Good-bye, Gertrude," she said a little coldly. "Did you win at tennis?" "Indeed we did," said Gertrude, smiling. "We came off with flying colours. It was a love set."