Well, he might bestow it upon her anonymously, and then contrive an accidental meeting with her. He might---- Hark! Carriage-wheels rolling over the gravelled path, and stopping before the hall-door. Mark sprang to his feet. It must be Flora returned. It was Flora and Hal too. He met them in the hall, both entering in with grave faces and soft step. And the temptation? It had been triumphed over. Hal had battled with it manfully; but love and passion, and fears of losing so dear a treasure, had fastened upon honour, and all but strangled it. In his dire extremity, Hal called upon Flora, and unfolded the conflict going on within his heart to her view. He asked her for counsel and for argument to combat the incentives tugging at his heart-strings, urging him to do with her free consent what Colonel Mires had sought to do without it. She could only weep and tremble; and alas!--for she, too, could not bear to think that they must part for ever--leave in his hands the momentous decision. His honour was, however, of stubborn material; it continued its exertion in spite of the formidable antagonists it had to contend with, and there stepped to its aid at an opportune moment the remembrance of the wound inflicted on old Wilton by Chewkle. Hal at once broke to Flora the event of the morning. It saved them both. They continued their journey to Harleydale, scarce a word passing between them. When at the Hall they met Mark, Flora flung herself upon her brother’s neck, and sobbed--from more causes than one. “Be not alarmed, Flo’, dear,” whispered Mark; “the surgeon says there is no danger. He only wants good nursing; you will do all that, I know.” Flora almost sank to the earth. “If I had left him!” she thought, and, only waving her hand to Hal, tottered to her father’s room. “If I had induced her to fly with me,” thought Hal, and instinctively smote his breast. Mark wrung his hand warmly. “You have saved her,” he said; “from whom?” “Mires,” replied Hal, laconically. “And from myself,” he might have added. Mark started in astonishment. “From him?” he ejaculated. Then he said--“No matter whom--she is back safe again. You are pale and fagged; you must have some rest. I will hear you recount what has passed after you have risen in the morning.” They separated; for Hal was only too glad to be alone--too glad to have the opportunity of making his acknowledgments of joy at having conquered his great temptation. And when he flung himself exhausted on his bed, Mark returned to his father’s room to find there Flora upon her knees in prayer, and ruthful, though silent, self-upbraiding. CHAPTER X.--HOW LOTTE FULFILLED HER TRUST. Among the faithless faithful only she, Among innumerable false, unmoved, Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, Her loyalty she kept, her love, her zeal: Nor number nor example with her wrought,