is a long time to be away. Though, I fear, I | mentary sentimentality, and become his usual myself have been almost as long without see- witty, cheerful, agreeable self. ing the whole family together." "Are they all together now ?"-Agatha felt an irresistible desire to ask questions. "I believe so; at least my father and my three unmarried sisters. Old bachelors and old maids are plentiful in the Harper family. We are all stiff-necked animals; we eschew even gilded harness." Agatha's cheek glowed with anger at this supposed benevolent warning to herself. "I dare say your sisters are very happy, nevertheless; marriage is not always a 'holy estate,'" said she, carelessly. "But there was some other Dorsetshire lady whom Mr. Harper told me of. Who is Anne Valery?" Major Frederick Harper actually started, and the deep sensitive color, which not even his forty years and his long worldly experience could quite keep down, rose in his handsome face. Elderly-Anne Valery elderly! By heavens, no!" (And the excited Major used the solitary asseveration which clung to him, the last trace of his brief military experience.) "Anne Valery old! Not a day older than myself! We were companions as boy and girl, young man and young woman, until-stayten-fifteen years ago. Fifteen years! Ah, yes-I suppose she would be considered elderly now." After this burst, Major Harper sank into one of his cloudy moods. At last he said, in a confidential and rather sentimental tone, "Miss Valery is an excellent lady-an old friend of our family; but she and I have not met for many years. Circumstances necessitated our parting." "Circumstances!" Agatha guessed the truth, or fancied she did; and her wrathful pride was up again. More trophies of the illustrious Frederick's unwilling slaughters-more heart's blood dyeing the wheels of this unconscious Juggernaut of female devotees! Yet there he sat, looking so pathetically regretful, as if he felt himself the blameless, helpless instrument of fate to work the sentimental woe of all womankind! Agatha was absolutely dumb with indignation. She was a little unjust, even were he erring. It is often a great misfortune, but it is no blame to a good man that good women-more than one--have loved him; if, as all noble men do, he hides the humiliation or sorrow of their love sacredly in his own heart, and makes no boast of it. Of this nobility of character, rare indeed, yet not unknown or impossible-Frederick Harper just fell short. Kind, clever, and amusing he might be, but he was a man not sufficiently great to be humble. No more was said on the mysterious topic of Miss Anne Valery. Agatha was too angry; and the subject seemed painful to Major Harper. Though he did what was not his habit especially with female friends, he endeavored, instead of encouraging, to throw off his mo Miss Bowen, even in her tenderest inclinings towards her guardian, had at times thought him a little too talkative-a little too much of the brilliant man of the world. Now, in her bitterness against him, his gaiety was positively offensive to her. She rose, and proposed that they should quit her own private room for the general drawing-room of the family. The Iansons were all there, even the Doctor being prone to linger in his dull home for the pleasure of Major Harper's delightful company. There was another, too, the unexpected sight of whom made both Agatha and her companion start. As she and the Major entered, there arose almost like an apparition from his seat in the window recess, the tall, slight figure of Nathanael. "N. L. Where on earth have you dropped from? What a very extraordinary fellow you are!" cried the elder brother. "Perhaps unwelcome also!" said the quiet voice. "Unwelcome-never, my dear boy! Only next time do be a little more confidential. Here have I been telling a whole string of apparent fibs about your movements-have I not, Miss Bowen? Do you not consider this brother of mine the most eccentric creature in the world?" Agatha looked up, and met the young man's eyes. Their expression could not be mistaken; they were lover's eyes-such as never in her life she had met before. They seemed constraining her to do what out of pity or mechanical impulse she at once did--silently to hold out her hand. Nathanael took it with his usual manner. There was no other greeting on his part or hers. Immediately afterwards he slipped away to the very farthest corner of the room. This It would be hard to say whether Agatha felt relieved or disappointed at his behaviour; but surprised she most certainly was. was not the sort of "lover's meeting" of girlish imaginings; nor was he the sort of lover, so perfectly unobtrusive, self-restrained, and coldly calm. She was glad she had not been at the pains to write the romanticallypitiful, tender refusal, which she had concocted sentence by sentence in her deeplytouched heart, during that first wakeful night. He did not seem half miserable enough to need such wondrous compassion. Freed in measure from constraint, she became her own natural self, as women rarely indeed never are in the presence of those they love, or of those by whom they believe themselves loved. Neither unpleasant consciousness rested heavily on Agatha now; her demeanor was therefore very sweet, candid, and altogether pleasing. Major Harper even forgot his benevolent precautions on Miss Bowen's account, and tried to render himself as agreeable as heretofore, talking away at a tremendous rate, and with most admirable eloquence, while his brother sat silent in a corner. The contrast between them never was so strong. But once or twice Agatha, wearied out with laughing and listening, stole a look towards the figure that she felt was sitting there; and encountered the only sign Nathanael gave,— the unmistakeable "lover's eyes." They seemed to pierce into her heart and make it quiver-not exactly with tenderness, but with the strange controlling sense by which the love of a strong nature, reticent, and selfpossessed even in its utmost passion-at times appears to enfold a woman. And any true affection, whether of lover or friend, to those who have never known it and are unconsciously pining for lack of it, comes at first like water in a thirsty land. Miss Bowen's frank gaiety died slowly away, and she fell into more than one long reverie, which did not escape the benign notice of her guardian. He grew serious, and made an attempt to remove from her his own dangerous proximity. "Come, N. L., it is time we vanished. You have never told me the least fragment of news from home-that is, from Kingcombe." "You were too much engaged, brother. But we have plenty of time." "Yes-oh yes," responded the other, mechanically.' "Any messages for me?" "My father says he hopes to see you this autumn at Kingcombe. He is growing an old man now." Ah, indeed!--An admirable man is my father, Miss Bowen. Quite a gentleman of the old school; but peculiar-rather peculiar. Well, what else, Nathanael ?" "Elizabeth, since Emily's death, seems to have longed after you very much.-You were the next oldest, you know, and she fancies you were always very like Emily. She says it is so long since you have been to Kingcombe.' Kingcombe; is that the place your father lives at ?" said Mrs. Ianson, who took a pa-seen them all elsewhere occasionally." tronising interest in the young man. "It is such a dull place. Besides, I have "What a pretty name! Were you aware of it, Miss Bowen ?" Agatha, for her life, could not help changing color as she answered "Yes," knowing perfectly well who was watching her the while, and that he and she were thinking of the same thing, namely, the brief note whose date was her only information as to the family residence of the Harpers. Kingcombe is as pretty as its name," observed the elder brother. "A name more peculiar than at first seems. It was given by a loyal Harper during the Protectorate. It had been St. Mary's Abbey, but he with pretended sanctimoniousness changed the name, and called it Kingcombe Holm; as a gentle hint from the Dorsetshire coast to Prince Charles over the water. Ah! a clever fellow was my great great grandfather, Geoffrey Harper!" All laughed at the anecdote, and the Iansons looked with additional respect on the man who thus carelessly counted his grandfathers up to the Commonwealth. But Mrs. Ianson's curiosity penetrated even to the Harper's of Queen Victoria's day. "I am sure we can't let you two gentlemen away so early. If you have family matters to talk over, suppose we send you for half an hour to Miss Bowen's drawing-room; or, if they are not secrets, pray discuss them here. I am sure we are all greatly interested; are we not, Miss Bowen ?" Agatha made some unintelligible answer. She thought Nathanael's quick eyes darted from her to Mrs. Ianson and back again, as if to judge whether, young-lady-like, she had told his secret to all her female friends. But there was something in Agatha's countenance which marked her out as that rare character, a woman who can hold her tongue-even in a love affair. After a minute she looked at Mr. Harper gravely, kindly, as if to say, "You need not fear-I have not betrayed you;" and meet "All but Elizabeth; and you know, unless Perhaps at Eulalie's wedding, which I told you of? 'True-true. Eulalie is the youngest Miss Harper, as we should explain to our kind friends here-whom I hope we are not boring very much with our family reminiscences. And Eulalie, contrary to the usual custom of the Harpers, is actually going to be married. To a clergyman, is he not, N. L. ?—Late curate of Kingcombe parish?" "No-of Anne Valery's parish. By the way, you have not yet asked a single question about Anne Valery." 66 The Major's aspect visibly changed. In all the years of his acquaintance with the world he had not yet learnt the convenient art of being a physiognomical hypocrite. Well, never mind-I ask a dozen questions now. How could I forgot so excellent a friend of the family?" "She is, indeed," said Nathanael, earnestly, while a glow of pleasure or enthusiasm dyed his pale features, and he even ceased his close watch over Agatha. "Though I was such a boy when I left, I find I have kept a true memory of Anne Valery. She is just the woman I always pictured her, from my own remembrance, and from Uncle Brian's chance allusions; though, in general, it was little enough he said of England or home. I was quite surprised to hear from Elizabeth what a strong friendship used to exist between Uncle Brian, yourself, and Anne Valery." Major Harper's restlessness increased. "Really, we are indulging our friends with our whole genealogy-uncles, aunts, and collateral branches included-which cannot be very interesting to Mrs. and Miss Ianson, or even to Miss Bowen, however kindly she may be disposed towards the Harper family." The Iansons here made polite disclaimers, | locked, though that was needless, since there but Agatha said nothing. Immediately after- was no welcome or unwelcome friendship wards, Nathanael's conversation likewise ebb- likely to intrude on her utter solitude,-she ed into silence. gave way to a woman's wounded pride. Added to this, was the terror that seizes a helpless young creature, who, all supports taken away, is at last set face to face with the cruel world, without even the steadfastness given by a strong sorrow. If she had really loved Frederick Harper, perhaps her condition would have been more endurable than now. The next time Agatha heard him speak was in answer to a sudden question of his brother's, as to what had made him return to London so unexpectedly? "I thought you would have stayed at least three months." No," he said, in a low tone, "by that time I shall be far enough away." "Why so ?" "From circumstances which have lately arisen"-he did not look at Agatha, but she felt his meaning "I fear I must return to America at once." He said no more, for his brother asked no more questions. But the tidings jarred painfully on Agatha's mind. At length, above the storm of passion there seemed floating a small still voice, just as if the spirit of him who she knew was always thinking of her, then spoke to her spirit, with the wondrous communication that has often happened in dreams, or waking, between two, one of whom deeply loved. A communication which appears both possible and credible to those who have felt any strong human attachment, especially that one which for the sake of its object seems able to cross the bounds of distance, time, life, or eternity. He was then going away, this man of so gentle, true and noble nature-this, the only man who loved her, and whom, while she thought of rejecting, she had still hoped to retain as an honoured and dear friend. He was going away, and she might never see him more. She felt grieved, and her lonely, unloved position rose up before her in more bit-stance to any one. terness and more fear than it was wont to do. She became as thoughtful and silent as Nathanael himself. Mr. Harper never attempted to address her or attract her attention during all that strange, long evening, which comprised in itself so many conflicting states of feeling. Almost the only word this very eccentric lover said to her was in a whisper, just as his hand touched hers in bidding good-by. "As I am leaving England so soon, may I come here again to-morrow?" 'No, not to-morrow;" and then, her kind heart repenting of the evident pain she gave, she added, "Well, the day after to-morrow, if you like. But Whatever that forbidding “but” was meant to hint, Nathanael did not stay to hear. He was gone in a moment. However, that night a chance word of Mrs. Ianson's did more for the suit of the unloved, or only half-loved lover, than he himself ever dreamed of. "Well," said that lady, with a sly, matronly smile, as, showing more attention than usual, she lighted Agatha's candle for bed-"well, my dear Miss Bowen, is the wedding to be at my house ?" "What wedding?" "Oh, you know; you know! I have guessed it a long while, but to-night-surely, I may congratulate you? Never was there a more charming man than Major Harper." Agatha looked furious. "Has he then""told you the lie he told to Emma"-she was about to say, but luckily checked herself. "Has he then been so premature as to say we were engaged?" "No! oh, of course not. But the thing is as plain as light." "You are mistaken, Mrs. Ianson. He is one of my very kindest friends; but I have never had the slightest intention of marrying Major Harper." With that she took her candle, and walked slowly to her own room. There, with her door It was a thing that neither then or afterwards could she ever account for, and years elapsed before she mentioned the circumBut while she lay weeping across her bed, Agatha seemed to hear distinctly, just as if it had been a voice gliding past the window, half-mixing with the wind that was then rising, the words: แ "I love you! No man will ever love you like me.' That night, before she slept, her determination was taken. CHAPTER V. NEXT morning Miss Bowen astonished every one, and excited once more Mrs. Ianson's incredulous smile, by openly desiring the servaut, who waited, to take a message for her to Major Harper's. It was to the effect that she wished immediately to see that gentleman, could he make it convenient to visit her. The message was given by her very distinctly, and with most creditable calmness, considering that the destinies of her whole life hung on the sentence. Major Harper appeared, and was shown into Miss Bowen's drawing-room. She was not there, and the Major waited rather uneasily for several minutes, unaware that half of that time she had been standing without, her hand on the lock of the door. But her tremulousness was that of natural emotion, not of fluctuating purpose. No physiognomist studying Agatha's mouth and chin would doubt the fact, that though rather slow to will-when she had once willed, scarcely anything had power to shake her resolution. She went in at last, and bade Major Harper good morning. "I have sent for you," she said, “to talk over a little business.” "Business!"-And the hesitation and discomfort which seemed to arise in him at the mere mention of the word, again were visible in Major Harper. "Not trust business-something quite different," said Agatha, scarcely able to help smiling at the alarm of her guardian. "Then anything you like, my dear Miss Bowen; I have nothing in the world to do today. That stupid brother of mine is worse company than none at all. He said he had letters to write to Kingcombe, and vanished up stairs. The rude fellow! cellent fellow too." "God bless my soul !" stammered out Major Harper, completely thrown off his guard by surprise. A very awkward pause ensued, until, his natural good feeling conquering any other, he said, not without emotion, The But he is an ex-fact of your consulting me shows that this offer is--is not without interest to you. May I ask-is it likely--that I shall have to congratulate you?" "So you have always said. He appears to love his home, and be much beloved there. Is it so ?" "Most certainly. Already they know him better than they do me, and care for him more; though he has been away for fifteen years. But then he has kept up a constant correspondence with them; while I, tossing about in the world-ah! I have had a hard life. Miss Bowen!" "Yes." He rose up slowly, and walked to the window. Whether his sensations were merely those of wounded vanity, or whether he had liked her better than he himself acknowledged, certain it was that Major Frederick Harper was a good deal moved-so much so, that he succeeded in Concealing it. He came back, very kind, subdued, and tender, sat down by her side, and took her hand. "You will not wonder that I am somewhat He looked so sad, that Agatha felt sorry for him. But his melancholy moods had less power to touch her than of old. His gaiety so quickly and invariably returned, that her surprised-nay, affected-by these sudden tidbelief in the reality of his grief was some-ings, viewing you as I have always done in the what shaken. light of a younger sister-or-or a daughter. Your happiness must naturally be very dear to me." She paused a little, and then recurred again, indifferently as it were, to Nathanael--the one person in his family of whom Major Harper always spoke gladly and warmly. You seem to have a great love for your younger brother. Is he then so noble a character ?" "What do you call a noble character, my dear young lady?" The half-jesting, half-patronising manner irritated Agatha; but she answered boldly: 'A man honest in his principles, faithful to his word; just, generous, and honorable." "What a category of qualities! How interested young ladies are in a pale, thin boy! Well then"-seeing that Agatha looked serious-" well then, I declare to Heaven that, even according to your high-flown definitions, he is as noble a lad as ever breathed. I can find no fault in him, except that, as I said, he is such a mere boy. Are you satisfied? Did you want to try if I were indeed a heartless, unbrotherly, good-for-nothing fellow, as you appear to think me sometimes ?" No," said Agatha briefly, noticing with something like scorn, the Major's instinctive assumption that her questions must have some near or remote reference to himself, while he never once guessed their real motive. That answered, she changed the conversation. After half an hour's chat, Major Harper delicately alluded to the supposed business on which she had wished to see him, though in a tone that showed him to be rather doubtful whether it existed at all. "Thank you, murmured Agatha; and the tears came into her eyes. She felt that she had been somewhat harsh to him; but she felt, too, with great thankfulness, that despite this softening compunction, her heart was free and firm. She had great liking, but no love, for Major Harper. "I trust the-the gentleman you allude to, is likely to make you happy?" "Yes," returned Agatha, for she could only speak in monosyllables. "Is he-as your friend and guardian I may ask that question-is he of good standing in the world, and in a position to maintain you comfortably.?" "I do not know-I have never thought about that," she cried restlessly. "All I know is, that he loves me—that I honor him--that he would take me- -""out of this misery," she was about to say, but stopped, feeling that both the thought and its expression were unworthy Nathanael's future wife, and unfit to be heard by Nathanael's brother. "That he would take me," repeated she, firmly, "into a contented and happy home, where I should be made a better woman than I am, and live a life more worthy of myself and of him." "You must then esteem him very highly ?" "I do-more than any man I ever knew." The Major winced slightly, but quickly recovered himself. "That is, I believe, the feeling with which every woman ought to marry. He who wins and deserves such an attachment is"--and he sighed-" is a happy man!-Happier, perhaps, than those who have remained single." Again, there ensued a pause, until Major Harper broke it by saying: "There is one more question-the last of all-which, after the confidence you have shown me, I may venture to ask: do I know this gen Agatha colored, and her heart quailed a little, as any girl's would, in having to speak so openly of things which usually reach young maidens softly murmured amidst the confessions of first love, or revealed by tender parents with blessings and tears. Life's earliest and best romance came to her with all its bloom worn away--all its sacredness and mystery set aside. For a moment she felt this hard. "I wished to inform you of something near-tleman ?" ly concerning me, which, as the guardian appointed by my father, it is right you should know. I have had"--here she tried to make her lips say the words without faltering-"I have had an offer of marriage." Agatha replied by putting into his hands his brother's letter. The moment she had done so she felt remorse for having betrayed her lover's confidence by letting any eyes save her own rest on his tender words. Had she loved him as he her, she could not have done so; and even now a painful sensation smote her. But it was too late. Major Harper's eyes had merely skimmed down the page to the signature, when he threw it from him. crying out vehemently: "Impossible! Agatha marry NathanaelNathanael marry Agatha !-He is a boy, a very child! What can he be thinking of? Send his letter back-tell him it is utter nonsense! Upon my soul it is!" Major Harper was very shortsighted and inconsiderate when he gave way to this burst of vexation before any woman-still more before such a woman as Agatha. She let him go on without interruption, but she lifted the letter from the floor, refolded it, and held it tenderly-more tenderly than she had ever until now felt towards it or its writer. Something of the grave sweetness belonging to the tie of an affianced wife began to cast its shadow over her heart. "Major Harper, when you have quite done speaking, perhaps you will sit down and hear what I have to say." Struck by her manner, he obeyed, entreating her pardon likewise, for he was a true gentleman, and felt that he had acted very wrong. "But surely," he began-until, looking at her, something convinced him that his arguments were useless. He stretched out his hand again for the letter, but with a slight gesture which expreso much, Agatha withheld it. After a pause, he said, meekly enough, as if thoroughly overcome by circumcumstances," So, it is quite true? You really love my brother?" "I honor him, as I said, more than I do any man." "And love him--are you sure you love him?" "No one," she answered, deeply blushing"no one but himself has a right to receive the answer to that question." 66 True, true. Pardon me once more. But I am so startled, absolutely shocked. My brother Nathanael-he that was a baby when I was a grown man-he to marry-marrying you too-and I Well; I suppose I am really growing into a miserable, useless old bachelor. I have thrown away my life; I shall be the last apple left on the tree-and a tolerably withered one too. But no matter. The world shall see the sunny half of me to the last." He laughed rather tremulously at his own bitter jest, and after a brief silence, recovered his accustomed manner. ፡፡ Well, such things must be, and I, though a bachelor myself, have no right to forbid marriages. Allow me to congratulate you. Of course you have answered this letter? My brother knows his happiness?" "He knows nothing; but I wished that he should do so to-day, after I had spoken to you. It was a respect I felt to be your due, to form no engagement of this kind without your knowledge." | to have your approval in all things-chiefly in this. Is it so? He offered his hand, saying, "God bless you," with a quivering lip. He even muttered "my child;" as though he felt how old he was growing, and how he had let all life's happiness slip by, until it was just that he should no longer claim it, but be content to see young people rejoicing in their youth. After a pause, he added, "Now, shall I go and fetch my brother?" "No," replied Agatha, "send for him, and do you stay here." "As you please," said Major Harper, a good deal surprised at this very original way of conducting a love affair. After courteously offering to withdraw himself to the diningroom, which Agatha declined, he sat and waited with her during the few minutes that elapsed before his brother appeared. Nathanael looked much agitated; his boyish face seemed to have grown years older since the preceding night. He paused at the door, and glanced with suspicion on his brother and Miss Bowen. "You sent for me, Frederick?" "It was I who sent for you," said Agatha. And then, steadfastly regarding him whom she had tacitly accepted as her husband, the guide and ruler of her whole life-her selfpossession failed. A great timidity, almost amounting to terror, came over her. Vaguely she felt the want of something unknownsomething which in the whirl of her destiny she could grasp and hold by, sure that she held fast to the right. It was the one emotion, neither regard, liking, honor, or esteem, yet including and surpassing all-the love, strong, pure love, without which it is so dangerous, often so fatal, for a woman to marry. Agatha, never having known this feeling, could scarcely be said to have sacrificed it; at least not consciously. But even while she believed she was doing right in accepting the man who loved her, and whom she could make so happy, she trembled. Major Harper sat looking out of the window in an uncomfortable silence, which he evidently knew not how to break. It was a very awkward and somewhat ridiculous position for all three. Nathanael was the first to rise out of it. Slowly his features settled into a composure, and the strong earnest purpose of his soul gave him both dignity and calmness, even though all hope had evidently died. He looked steadily at his brother, avoiding Agatha. "Frederick, I think I understand now. She has been telling you all." "It was right she should. Her father left her in my care. She wishes you to learn her decision in my presence," said Major Harper, unwittingly taking a new and even respectful tone to the younger brother, whom he was wont to call that boy.' "Thank you," he said, in a low voice. what she decides." "You have been good and kind to me," con- Despite his firmness, the words were uttertinued Agatha, a little touched, "and I wished slowly and with a great struggle. |