her crestfallen visitor; and, above all, for not having more closely cross-questioned Mrs. Wigswell. There was unquestionably some mystery connected with the couple thus strangely brought together.

Nothing more favourable than travel to the development of reverie. Before Colonel Larpent reached Lausanne, he had framed so many hundred romances connecting together the various branches of the Colston family and John Downing's cottage, that it was not wonderful he should think it worth while to despatch a private and confidential letter to his old acquaintance, Aldridge, the Lewes attorney, suggesting private inquiries concerning the parties.

CHAPTER XII.

She lies upon her pillow, pale,
And moans within her sleep:
Or wakeneth with a patient smile,
And striveth not to weep.

Рвостов.

Meanwhile, the removal of Mrs. Colston and her daughters to their new residence, was attended with fewer vexations than had been anticipated by any member of the family. To quit a large London house for a small one, is a mortifying thing. But to remove from London to the country, under any possible circumstances, creates so many novel interests, and ensures so many refreshing enjoyments, as to afford little leisure for regret. The spring was opening so deliciously, and the small but well-planted gardens at Langley Bank were so bright with lilacs and so peopled with nightingales, that the two girls, who had been long weaned from country pleasures, could scarcely

contain their delight. It was such a relief to escape from the cross-questioning of their fashionable circle-from the condolences of pretended friends-from the impotent advice of busy-bodies!

But, above all, both of them were sustained throughout the changes created by their change of fortunes, by the certainty of being unchangeably beloved. The reverse of fortune they had experienced, had stimulated rather than relaxed the courtship of those to whom, in their brighter days, they had been a little too apt to play the tyrant; and both Sir Henry Fletcher and Colonel Larpent were to come down and visit them, the moment they felt sufficiently settled in their new abode.

"Not that there is the least chance of Fletcher's waiting for that," whispered Cissy to her sister, as they were strolling together through the shrubberies, the evening after their arrival in Hertfordshire. "His impetuous temper will never submit to wait till he is summoned. We shall be sure to have him at Langley before any thing is in its place, or

we have a room ready to receive him. And there is really some excuse for a person's hurrying out of town in such weather. Summer has come before its time."

Sophia replied by a sober discussion of the capabilities of the cottage, and the possibility of adapting the few favourite articles of furniture they had retained, to their present wants. But though not altogether prepared to enlarge upon the lover-like impetuosity of Colonel Larpent, (who was ten years older than the affianced husband of Cecilia,) she felt convinced that many days would not elapse before he also found his way into Hertfordshire. A little disappointed that he had not accompanied Sir Henry to Bruton Street to see them off, she attributed his absence to his better knowledge of the world, than his wild Irish brother-in-law. Already a family man, he knew by experience the inconvenience of having strangers present in the hurry of leaving town for a journey; above all, of leaving, as they were doing, a house they were to see

no more.

Still, as the days passed on, and everything was arranged in their cheerful drawing-room, dining-room, and study, as though Langley Bank had known no other inmates than its present tenants, flowers disposed about the house, and Rover established on the hearthrug with the most dogged sense of proprietorship, even Sophia began to think that Colonel Larpent, if he did not come, might at least write to explain the cause of his absence.

For Sir Henry Fletcher was there. The joyous, warm-hearted Fletcher was nearly as much at home there as Rover. He had helped to move the furniture. He had helped to place the flowers. He had even helped to mow the lawn. It was even he who had found out a corner in the drawing-room for Mrs. Colston's arm-chair and work-table, secure from any influx of draughts, after all the rest of the party had given up the point. But for him, they should have disbelieved the possibility of their little meadow and orchard affording pasturage for a couple of cows, in addition to the pony which was to draw their