Norah down-stairs again. Not many words were exchanged between them; for Colonel Oliphant was possibly warned by Ellen's low and tremulous assent to his hope that she was pleased with Brighton, that silence would be more merciful. For some time the talk was solely carried on by Captain Aymer: he had so many inquiries to make after his little friends Dora and Lucy, and his old friend, nurse; he was so amused with Phil, and so sure that the bracing air of Brighton must soon restore the roses to Willy's cheeks, that there was no scope for more general conversation. But Norah, cutting short some anecdote in illustration of the baby's precocity, presently remarked: "Though these children are an interesting subject to you and me, I am afraid that the company at large is less edified. Cannot you start a fresh topic, Colonel Oliphant ?'

'I shall be very happy,' he replied. "The weather is the easiest transition. Shall I take a gloomy or a cheerful view—rejoice in the heat, or complain of the dust?'

'Try something more original,' rejoined Norah: 'I want an object of thrilling interest, a revolution, or a war, or a ministerial crisis, at the very least.'

Colonel Oliphant replied in the same bantering tone; and now that Ellen was sure that his attention was diverted, she ventured to look up, less for the sake of gratifying her curiosity, than from the consciousness that she should incur Norah's ridicule if she should be unable to recognise her neighbour at dinner on a future occasion. The

passing glance did not tend to reassure her: Colonel Oliphant's expression, when his features were in repose, was grave, and almost severe, and his smile was alarmingly satirical. Even in his courteous attention to her wants at dinner, she detected or imagined a latent sarcasm; for he was too much at ease ever to have experienced the misery of shyness, and could only construe her silence into hopeless stupidity. She ate nothing, but played with the corner of her handkerchief, and wished, or almost wished, herself once more at Rose Cottage.

In the interval after dinner, before the gentlemen appeared, her sufferings were less intense. Mrs. Aymer kindly provided her with a piece of tapestry work, which was a great resource, and she had so much to say to Norah that Ellen could breathe freely, and even make one or two voluntary remarks. But it was only a brief respite; for as soon as Captain Aymer came in, he took a chair beside her, and his attentions were even more oppressive than those of his brotherin-law, for he would exact a reply, happily unconscious of the terror with which Ellen regarded the sound of her own voice; and her misery reached its climax when he asked whether she could sing. Her appealing glance brought Norah to her assistance.

'You forget the precedence due to years, Captain Aymer. No one has asked me to sing.'

'I hope you will not wait to be asked,' said Captain Aymer, as he started up to open the

piano. 'I know your powers of old, and it will be a new delight to Hugh.'

Hugh did his admiration very well, and Norah's

Ellen forgot her emdown her work, sat

singing was worthy of it. barrassment, and laying happy and at ease, with her beautiful head bent forward, until Colonel Oliphant remarked that he was sure she must understand what she appreciated so well. Instantly shrinking back, Ellen made an incoherent reply, while Colonel Oliphant returned to his arm-chair on the other side of the table. He did his part in cloaking the two ladies when they took leave, but did not interfere with Captain Aymer's privilege of escorting them home.

'That is a beautiful girl,' said Mrs. Aymer, when he returned to the drawing-room.

'Yes, a very beautiful statue,' replied Hugh, yawning. 'It is a pity that she does not share your little friend's vivacity.'

Ellen expected an opinion of the like nature from Norah, and she was agreeably surprised to hear that she had looked very nice, which was all her sister-in-law could require on her first introduction to society. 'Incredible as it may appear,' Norah added, 'I was shy once, though it did not last long. Good night, dear; this is doubtful enjoyment at present, but I mean you to be very happy in due time.'

CAPTAD

CHAPTER V.

Tell me, where is fancy bred,
Or in the heart, or in the head,
How begot, how nourished?

It is engender'd in the eyes,
With gazing fed; and fancy dies

In the cradle where it lies.

Merchant of Venice.

APTAIN AYMER'S intentions of carrying off the whole party to breakfast at No. 39 were frustrated; for early as he appeared on the following morning, Ellen had already made the tea, and Phil was intent on toasting a muffin for his own eating. 'However,' Captain Aymer said, 'as I am here, we had better make up our plans for the day.'

'My mind is made up,' said Phil, coming up from the kitchen with his muffin nicely poised upon a fork. 'It is so long since I have had a ride, that I think I can submit to mount your Brown Jess, though she is an arrant old slug.'

'Very well,' said Captain Aymer, meekly, 'you are quite welcome to her, but perhaps Hugh's chesnut will suit you better; and as he is going out yachting with some of his fine friends, I dare say you can have her. He has a quiet pony, too,

which Mrs. Aymer sometimes rides, if either of the ladies are inclined to join the party.'

'My riding days are over,' said Norah, and your's, I am afraid, have scarcely begun, have they, Ellen? I should not like you to make your first attempt with Phil for a squire.'

'But I am not at all afraid,' said Ellen, eagerly. 'When I was staying with Uncle William, three years ago, I used to ride with Louis, and I liked it very much.'

'Not to mention your experience in donkeys,' added Phil. You must know, Captain Aymer, that my four maiden aunts keep an ass among them, which they take it by turns to ride.'

Nonsense, Phil,' said his mother. Cannot you go down and toast a muffin for me?'

The boy made one of the remarkable grimaces which always signalised an act of obedience, and disappeared, but put his head in again, to remark that Captain Aymer must not suppose that he relinquished his claim to Brown Jess until he had inspected and approved of the Colonel's animal.'

'I can vouch for the pony's temper,' said Captain Aymer, and I will be of the party and take every care of Miss Kerr. And Mrs. Aymer's riding equipments are entirely at her service.'

Norah's consent was not long withheld after a glance at Ellen's eager and wistful face. 'Riding was the thing in the world she liked,' she said; and the energy and daring which might be lacking in other points, were fully called forth by her love of the exercise. That happy visit to her uncle's parsonage, when she and her sailor cousin had spent whole days in scampering over