He had not the splendid gifts which nature had bestowed upon Julian Winstanley. By the side of her father, even in the eyes of Ella, the bright halo which surrounded her lover would seem somewhat to pale. The young man even appeared to feel this, in some degree, himself. He always, yet with a certain grace, took the second place, when in her father's presence. Ella loved her father, and seemed to like that it should be so. "Oh, my sister! oh, my friend! what--what shall we do? Oh, misery! misery! what is to become of us all?" Clementina's eyes were swimming with tears; but she would not give way. In passive endurance she excelled her sister. She held her arms clapped closely round her; whilst Ella poured a torrent of tears upon her bosom. "My father! my beautiful, clever, indulgent father, that I was so proud of--that I loved so--who spared nothing upon either of us--alas! alas! how little, little did I guess whence the money came!" Clementina trembled and shivered as her sister poured forth these passionate lamentations; but she neither wept nor spoke for some time. At last she said: "Ella, I have been uneasy about things for some time. We are young, and we have not much experience in the ways of the world; but since our poor mother died, and I have had in some degree to manage the house, I have been every day becoming more uncomfortable." "You have?" said Ella, lifting up her head: "and you never told me!" "Why should I have told you? why should I have disturbed your dream of happiness, my dear Ella? Besides, I hoped that it concerned me alone--that things might hold on a little while longer--at least, till you were provided for, and safe." "Safe! and what was to become of you?" "I did not much think of that. I had a firm friend, I knew, in you, Ella; and then, lately, since mamma's death; since you have been engaged to dear Lionel, and I have been much alone, I have thought of old things--old things that good Matty used to talk about. I have been endeavoring to look beyond myself, and this world; and it has strengthened me." "You are an excellent creature, Cle.!" She shook her head. "But, my father! what is to be done? Can any thing be done?" "No, my love. I fear nothing can be done." "He loves me!" said Ella, raising up her head again, her eyes beaming with a new hope. "I will try--I will venture. It is perhaps great presumption in a child; but my father loves me, and I love him...." Again Clementina shook her head.