as I had frustrated others. Alas, alas! why is this tongue so harsh?-- why does this face so belie the idea of human kindness? I did but enrage and madden him; he felt but the reckless impulse to destroy the life that then stood between himself and the objects to which he had pledged his own self-destruction. I thought I should die by his hand. I did not quail. Ah! the ghastly change that came over his face--the one glance of amaze and superstitious horror; his arm obeyed him not; his strength, his limbs, forsook him; he fell at my feet--one side of him stricken dead! Hist! that is his voice--pardon me!" and Arabella flitted from the room, leaving the door ajar. A feeble Voice, like the treble of an infirm old man, came painfully to Caroline's ear. "I want to turn; help me. Why am I left alone? It is cruel to leave me so--cruel!" In the softest tones to which that harsh voice could be tuned, the grim woman apologised and soothed. "You gave me leave, Jasper dear. You said it would be a relief to you to have her pardon as well as theirs." "Whose pardon?" asked the voice querulously. "Caroline Lyndsay's--Lady Montfort's." "Nonsense! What did I ever do against her? Oh--ah! I remember now. Don't let me have it over again. Yes--she pardons me, I suppose! Get me my broth, and don't be long!" Arabella came back, closing the door; and while she busied herself with that precious saucepan on the hob--to which the Marchioness of Montfort had become a very secondary object--she said, looking towards Caroline from under her iron-grey ringlets: "You heard--he misses me! He can't bear me out of his sight now--me, me! You heard!" Meekly Lady Montfort advanced, bringing in her hand the tray with the broth-basin. "Yes, I heard! I must not keep you; but let me help while I stay." So the broth was poured forth and prepared, and with it Arabella disappeared. She returned in a few minutes, beckoned to Caroline, and said in a low voice: "Come in--say you forgive him! Oh, you need not fear him; a babe could not fear him now!" Caroline followed Arabella into the sick-room. No untidiness there; all so carefully, thoughtfully arranged. A pleasant room, too--with windows looking full on the sunniest side of the Vale of Health; the hearth so cheerily clear, swept so clean--the very ashes out of sight; flowers-- costly exotics--on the table, on the mantelpiece; the couch drawn towards the window; and on that couch, in the gay rich dressing-gown of former days, warm coverlets heaped on the feet, snow-white pillows propping the head, lay what at first seemed a vague, undistinguishable mass--lay what, as the step advanced, and the eye became more accurately searching, grew into Jasper Losely.