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BY FLORENCE MARRYAT, Author of ''Love's Conflict:' '' Mv Own Child;' " Iht Master Passion :' " Spiders of Society ;* etc, etc. MONTREAL: JOHN LOVELL & SON, 23 St. Nicholas Street. r^r Entered according to Act of Parliament in the year 1889, hf John Lovell &» Son, in the office of the Minister of Agnculture and Statiitict at OtUwa. 'Jm%- MOUNT EDEN. CHAPTER I. EVELYN. She was not a pretty girl by any manner of means, at all events at that period of her life. Her most striking features were a large and somewhat heavy nose, and a wide mouth. But her chin was firm and well moulded, and she had a. pair of large liquid eyes, set in a noble forehead. Her hair — of a reddish tinge, and of which she possessed an unusual quantity — ^was all pushed off her face in a most unbecoming fashion, and her plain, black dress was relieved by nothing more ornamental than a frill of common lace about the throat. Yet there was nothing ordinary about her, unless it were the look of extreme weariness with .which she surveyed the scene before her. It was evening, [at the close of one of the hottest days in July, and she was leaning with both elbows on the sill of her bedroom window, trying to inhale a breath of fresh air, and looking expectantly up the street as she did so. Such a bedroom as it was, too ! An attic at the very top of a dingy lodging- house in a back street of Liverpool, with a sloping roof that concentrated all the sun's rays, and made it like an oven at that time of the year. Whitewashed walls that offered no relief to the wearied eye ; a small iron bedstead, a strip of carpet, a common deal washstand and table — these composed the luxuries of Evelyn's sleeping apart- ment. In the ceiling was a trap-door that led out upon the roof of the house, and had been placed there in case of fire. Evelyn often looked at it, and wished she could get through and sit upon the house-top, and feel the air circling all around her. Once she had mounted on a chair and slipped the bolt and lifted the trap-door, but the dirt and f 4 MOUNT EDEN. dust had frightened her from venturing further, and she had never tried to open it again. As she looked out of her window now, and noted the begrimed pavement, strewn with orange peel and dirty pieces of paper ; watched the women, with their filthy children, standing in clusters of three and four at the corners of the street ; listened to the vendors crying shell-fish, garden roots, and decaying fruit and vegetables, and inhaled the various smells that saluted her nostrils, she drew back into the shelter of her humble room with a sensation of disgust. She had lived amongst such scenes for years past, but she had never grown accus- tomed to them. Liverpool, as it presented itself to her, was the most horrible place in all the world, and she would shut her eyes sometimes and try to recall the country scenes in which she had once dwelt. It was not so very long ago, after all, since she had been there ; though sometimes, in her desolation, it seemed ages. Evelyn was seventeen years old, and half that time she had lived where she now was, till the past had faded to a misty, far-off dream. On her window-sill there stood three stunted, unhappy-looking little plants — a verbena^ a scarlet geranium, and a musk. She had bought them as mere seedlings, and had carefully tended them ever since, and they had so far rewarded her care as to advance to maturity and blossom. Often, when she had a minute to spare, she would rub her fingers over the leaves of the verbena, or bury her nose in the scarlet geranium, and try and bring back some recollection of the place in which she had delighted long ago. The stream where the large blue forget-me-nots grew, and the fields laden with ripe corn, and the nut-bushes and wild briar roses that hung over the country road ; and she would long, with a feverish longing, to get away from her present surroundings, and be (if it were only a servant) in the fresh, cool country again. That is, she would have so longed, had it not been for one thing that bound her to Liverpool. As the remembrance of it arose, a faint color came into the girl's cheeks, and she hid her face in the| musk plant and geranium, that, like herself, were struggling^ for existence in the close, murky air of her bedrooni| window. " Evelyn ! "called a shrill voice from the narrow staircase. The girl started from her reverie. " Yes, Aunt Maria." MOUNT EDEN. ,er, and she ;d out of her nent, strewn watched the 1 clusters of itened to the ecaying fruit that saluted f her humble ived amongst grown accus- ;lf to her, was le would shut itry scenes in ery long ago, sometimes, in as seventeen here she now dream. On jappy-looking and a musk, had carefully rewarded her Often, when r fingers over in the scarlet llection of the The stream md the fields nd wild briar id she would ni her present irvant) in the ould have so boimd her to, , a faint color J srface in the| ere struggling^ her bedroom TOW staircase. " Where arc you ? What are you doing ? " Evelyn opened the door and confronted the questioner. " Nothing, aunt — that is, nothing in particular." " Good gracious me 1 " cried Miss Rayne, " you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Here am I, toiling morning, noon and night to keep a decent home above our heads, and you can sit down and do ' nothing in particular 1 ' " " it is only for the moment. I have been working, too," replied Evelyn, with a quiet dignity that always made her seem older than her aunt when it came to an argument between them. " I have made the pastry for to-morrow, and I have mended all Will's shirts," pointing to a heap of linen on the bed. " Will's shirts, indeed ! " exclaimed Miss Rayne, with a sniff. "Let Will find some one else to mend his shirts." " Oh, aunt, how can he, with the miserable salary that lUncle Caryll gives him ? " i " Well, he must ask for more pay, then. When Mr. ?Caryll begged me, as a favor, to take the lad into my Chouse, and board and lodge him for a pound a week, he ^didn't say anything about the mending of his linen. Will iftakes quite enough advantage of my kindness as it is. e's not my nephew, you must remember." "No, aunt, but he's my cousin." " Rubbish ! That doesn't oblige you to turn into his actotum. You are my own brother's child, and as such m bound to take an interest in you ; but except that our poor mother was one of them, these Carylls have no iaim on me. Indeed, I often wish I had kept out of their ay altogether." " Uncle Caryll doesn't trouble us much," said Evelyn, in low voice. " No, my dear ; that's just where it is. A man rolling in loney, without kith or kin, as you may say (except this lad and yourself), and he barely keeps him, and takes no more notice of you than if you were so much dirt. Why are all his favors (such as they are) to be conferred upon William Caryll ? What have you done that you should be left out ? You're quite as much his flesh and blood as your cousin. His sister's daughter is as near to him any day as his brother's son. And you're a Caryll, too, all over, whilst Will takes after his mother's family." " He hasn't done so much for Will, either," said the girl, as she folded up the shirts, preparatory to putting -.«* r (I 6 MOUNT EDEN. them away. '* He has made him a clerk in his counting- house, and gives him a pound a week for his clothes and pocket-money." " And pays me precisely the same sum for keeping him in food and lodging. It's disgraceful!" interposed Miss Rayne excitedly; "and some one ought to tell the old man so. Particularly — if what folks say is true — and he means to leave Mount Eden to Will." ** Aunt ! " cried Evelyn, dropping the shirts upon the bed again, '• is that really the case ? " " Well, my dear, it was told me in confidence, so you must be sure not to repeat it ; but Mr. Gamble was called in to witness your uncle's will the other day, and from a few words dropped by the lawyer, and from a few more he couldn't help seeing, he quite thinks Mr. Caryl! has nomi- nated your cousin his heir, instead of his son Hugh." " Poor Cousin Hugh. But is it ^uite — quite sure, auntie, that he will never be heard of again ? " " As sure as anything can be in this world. The poor boy ran away to sea, and was drowned by the upsetting of a boat in the surf in the Bay of Callao. His body was never found again. They say the boat must have hit him on the head as it turned over. It was a terrible shock at the time for your poor uncle, but it is five years and more since it occurred. Hugh would have been three-and- twenty had he lived ; but since he is gone, and we none of us can take our money away with us, it is only natural Mr. Caryll shpuld think of those who have a claim upon him." " I am so glad ! I hope it is true," said Evelyn, with a suspicious sound in her voice like tears. " How happy it will make poor Will. And he is so fit for the position, too. He hates work. He would always be miserable as a poor man." "Well, I've no patience with you, Evelyn," replied her aunt testily. ** Instead of being angry with your uncle for his injustice to yourself^ you can only think of the benefit | that will accrue to your cousin. And what has he done to deserve it more than you, I should like to know? " "Oh, he is a man, or he will be," said Evelyn, with her grave smile. " He will help Uncle Caryll in his business,| and, I daresay, take a deal of trouble off his hands. I; couldn't do that, you know ; and it is only fair that Will^ should have his reward. And uncle is not an old man.! (( (< iid MOUNT EDEN, He is not sixty. He may live for twenty years yet. Will [may have a long apprenticeship to serve before he comes [into Mount Eden." " Mount Eden, indeed," snorted Miss Rayne. ** It's sick- lening to think of that boy coming into Mount Eden. Why, [the porter's lodge would be too good for him." " Is it such a beautiful place as all that, Aunt Maria ? [ave you ever been there ? " " Once — in your father's lifetime, and then only for a day. kit it's the most beautiful place you ever saw, Evelyn. [ore like Paradise than anything else. It's rightly named. lut it should have come to you (or, at the least, the half )f it), and I'll maintain that to my dying day." ** To me ! O aunt, what nonsense t" cried Evelyn, with blush that deepened as slie heard the rattle of the front loor lock ; ** there's Will," she added, taking a step towards le stairs. But her aunt barred the way. '* Now, Evelyn," she said, " I am not going to let you )wer yourself by fussing over that boy till you've done )ur duty. Mr. Gamble is going to the theatre to-night, Jnd wants a nice little supper fetched against he comes ^ome. And Miss Fletcher says she can't eat Sarah's )ast, so you must make it for her yourself. I can't afford lose my lodgers through your running about after Will [aryll." Evelyn sighed, but made no remonstrance. " What am I to fetch for Mr. Gamble's supper, aunt ? " " Well, I should think half a pound of Bologna sausage, id a little salad, would be about the thing; or you jiight get him some fish, if it's cheap to-night, and potato ikes. Mr. Gamble likes fish for his supper, I know." " Eve ! " shouted a youthful voice from the dining-room )or; "Eve, where are you? Come down and give me \y tea ; I'm in a hurry." The girl made for the door. "Now, Evelyn, remember I depend on you for Mr. Gamble's supper and Miss Fletcher's toast." " I will attend to them both, auntie." " And no bacon for that boy's tea, mind. He's eaten lore than a pound of bacon in a couple of days. I never igreed, when I took him in for twenty shillings a week, to ind him in more than bread and butter." " But he is so hungry," remonstrated Evelyn, with her md on the door. rrr" MOUNT EDEN. " Let him ^o to his rich uncle, then, and ask for more money. It's not coming out of my pocket, I can tell you ] I don't like him well enough. No bacon, mind, and no cold meat. If he wants an egg he can have it, but my means will go no further. There he is calling again. I never heard anything like it in my life. One would think the whole house belonged to him, but he isn't at Mount Eden yet, and he'll have to find that out," said Miss Rayne indignantly, as she marched off to her own room. Evelyn dashed after her, and flew downstairs. In the back dining-room — the only apartment which their poverty permitted them to reserve for their own use — stood a young man— a lad, indeed, in years, being only twenty, but tall and upright as a dart, and handsome as a statue. His fair hair curled close to his head. He had bright, blue eyes, rather too pronounced and wide open, a delicate straight nose, with closed nostrils, a small mouth, with thin lips, a narrow jaw, and a pointed chin. Doubtless he was good looking, — unusually so, — but something in his expression deteriorated from his beauty. It lay partly in the shifting elance of the eyes, which never seemed to look one straight m the face, and partly in the weakness of the mouth, which was sufficiently open to show two very white teeth in front. But Evelyn Rayne saw none of these defects. For the last two years she had been thrown into daily intimate communion with her cousin. Will Caryll, and, in her eyes, he was simply perfection, though she had never let any one guess that she thought so. This serious, old-fashioned, and somewhat ordinary-looking girl had a depth of feeling in her unknown to her companions, who, whilst they twisted her to their own convenience, had no idea of the thoughts that sank deep into her mind, and took root and grew there. " I say, Eve, this is too bad ! " exclaimed young Caryll, as she entered the room. " Here am I waiting for my tea, and in a deuce of a hurry to get out again, and there's not a sign of it. Where's that fool Sarah ? Why hasn't she laid the cloth ? ;' " My dear Will, it is only just six o'clock, and you never have your tea till half-past. It shall be on the table in five minutes. Why are you in such a hurry to-night?" ** I'm going out." MOUNT EDEN. Evelyn's face fell. It was evident the news was a dis- appointment to her. " Oh 1 Then the best thing I can do is to go and help Sarah." '' Are my shirts ready ? " ** Yes. I laid them on my bed. Shall you want any- thing more " " Only a clean white tie. And I think there's a button oflf my new gloves." " Your ties are in the left-hand drawer, and I sewed the button on your gloves last week." " Thanks, that's a good girl. And now, do let me have imy tea. And, I say. Eve, is there anything to eat in the [house, — something substantial, I mean, — cold meat or bacon?" " I will manage it," she answered cheerfully, as she left the room. v It was more of an effort than some might imagine for her to answer cheerfully at that moment. She had been look- ing forward all day to her cousin's return, and to a pleasant ivening spent with him. For it was Saturday, and on >aturday Will Caryll received his weekly stipend, and ilways seemed in better spirits for it. He had not to get ip so early on the following morning, either, so it did not ||ignify how late he stayed up at night, and on Saturdays le had been used to take his cousin Evelyn for long strolls, Kding on the omnibus or street tram, into the surrounding :ountry, leaving dingy, smoI;y Liverpool far behind, and randering about all the summer evening with her upon his irm. These were the girl's happiest moments, — would prove, :rhaps, to be the happiest moments of all her life, — dthough she was unconscious why they were so. And »ow, Will was going out somewhere by h' .iself, and she mst find her Saturday evening's recreation in toasting [Miss Fletcher's bread, or catering for Mr. Gamble's sup- iper. But she did not grumble, even to herself. She heaved [more than one si^h as she prepared her cousin's tea-tray, [but even then she felt a certain pleasure in producing cop- pers from her own pocket and running round the comer to buy a few shrimps to make his meal mo-e palatable to him. And she sat down afterwards to peel them, whilst he ate, and would have asked no better fate than thus to minister Ito his wants for the remainder of her life. so MOUNT EDEN, CHAPTER II. love's young dream. Will Caryll was very reticent on the subject of where he was going that night. He ate his shrimps as fast as Evelyn could peel them, and chatted to her of the events of the past day, animadverting strongly on his uncle's meanness and strict surveillance^ which prevented a fellow ever having a moment to himself. ** And he's so beastly suspicious, too," he wound up with, " that he never believes a word one says. He asked me the other day where I dined, t nd I told him, and I found out afterwards that he'd actually been round to the place to learn if it was true. As if a fellow would tell a lie about a stupid thing like that ! " " O Will, that is horrible ! " said Evelyn, her grave eyes dilated with indignation. " I could not stand being sus- pected of an untruth. Didn't it make you very angry? Didn't you tell him you are too honorable and too much of a gentleman to sloop to a falsehood ? " •* My dear girl, it's no good telling the old fool anything. He wouldn't believe me if I did — he's as obstinate as a mule. The only way to deal with him is to get all you can, and do as little as you need." *• Oh, but that's not right," cried Evelyn. "Ah, well, well, you know what I mean. You musf^- stick up for yourself if you don't want to be put upon. I| plucked up courage the other day to ask the old gentleman ' for an increase of salary. He glared at me as if I had, offered to poison him. ' A pound a week is not much pay| for a fellow of my age. Uncle Roger,' said I. "*A pound a week, sir! What do you mean?' he I exclaimed. * I pay a pound a week to Miss Rayne fori your board and lodginc^, and that makes two pounds af week — one hundred and four pounds a year, — double whr you're worth." " I suggested he should pay the two pounds into my owni MOUNT EDEN, It is into my own] [hands, and let me provide for myself, but he wouldn't hear iof it. He said I shouldn't pay for my keep at all, then, and the bills would come back, into his hands. Did you ever hear of such an ogre, Eve ? I'm sick to death of it all. Sometimes I think I'll give him rotice, and look out for a situation for myself. I'd like to see his face when I [sent in my resignation." " No, no, Will ! you musn't do that," exclaimed Evelyn, [remembering what her aunt had told her. ** Try and be [patient, there's, a dear boy. Uncle Roger can do so much [for you if you keep good friends. It would be folly to [quarrel with him." " Of course he must do something for me. I am quite iware of that. Since Hugh is dead, I am the next heir, id ought to come in for everything when the old man Licks. So Pitman says." "Who is Pitman?" " The chief clerk. I believe he knows mor» than he will tell me, for he's very close. But, anyway, it seems a )eastly shame, if I'm to have all that money some day, — ifteen thousand a year. Pitman says, if it's a penny, — that I can't handle a little more of it now. A pound a reek ! Why, it hardly pays for my dinner ! And I have tailor's bill three yards long." " Oh, Will, however will you pay it ? " " I must leave it to pay itself, Eve. There's no way out )f it. And to see the piles of money that go through mcle's office every day ! " " But that has nothing to do with you, Will, no more Ithan if it were through the office of anybody else. It isn't rours." " I know that as well as you do, but it's a great tempta- tion." Evelyn looked at him wonderingly. Such a thing could fnever prove a temptation to her. "Well, I must be off," cried Will Caryll, as he bolted [the last shrimp. "Is there any hot water in my room?" " I will fetch it for you at once," she answered, as she [went downstairs. In a few minutes he was out of the house, banging the hall door after him as if he were glad to get free. He had good reason to keep his intentions a secret from his cousin. He knew that she would have reason to dis- la MOUNT EDEN, pute and oppose them. For he had two theatre tickets in his pocket, and he wanted to take a pretty milliner's girl (with whom he had scraped up a questionable acquaintance in the street) to the play. He was looking forward to posing as the '* masher swell " to " Emily," and impressing her with a sense of his importance in the commercial world. But when he arrived at the girl's residence, he found himself doomed to disappointment. Emily had been " one too many " for him. Some other fellow, older than Will Caryll, and probably with more money in his pocket, had already made his appearance on the scene, and the faithless milliner had left the house under his protec- tion. Will gnashed his teeth when the truth was rudely blurted out to him. There are times in the masculine career when it seems a terrible calamity to be too young, and one's youth presses on the brain like a barrier to liberty. This was one of them. Will tried to be easy on the matter, and to turn it off as a thing of no consequence, but he lamentably failed, and no one who saw him could have mistaken what he felt. But as he turned away with a care- less whistle, his cousin Evelyn came into his mind. The pretty milliner had failed him, but Eve would not do so, and there were the tickets in his pocket, burning into his very soul ; it wouM never do to waste them. So, half-an- hour later, just as Kvelyn Rayne returned home with Mr. Gamble's supper, she encountered Will Caryll on the door- step. " Will ! " she exclaimed, with pleased surprise ; " what brings you home so early ? " He could not tell the truth. He knew it would lower him in her eyes, and he was too conceited to wish to lose even the least modicum of admiration from anv one of the sex. So he temporised by asking her, with one of his sunny smiles, — " Cannot you guess ? " ** Indeed, I cannot." ** I went out to buy some tickets for the theatre. I want to take you there to-night to see * Human Nature.' Make haste and put on your things. We must start at once." Evelyn looked confounded. " O Will, why didn't you tell me of it before ? " Visions of tuckers she might have tacked in, and rib- ■*:,fi 'M MOUNT EDEN, «3 re tickets in lilliner's girl cquaintance forward to 1 impressing commercial isidence, he Emily had ellow, older ^^^^1 oney in his e scene, and ;SS| r his protec- .,4 dely blurted career when , and one's )erty. This the matter. H ince, but he could have with a care- mind. The ; - 1 not do so, .--k ling into his So, half-an- ■V ne with Mr. on the door- rise ; " what * ^^B would lower ■ "4 wish to lose m y one of the 'M of his sunny i itre. I want 1 ire.* Make ; J^ at once." 1 ;?" ■ in, and rib- B bons she might have ironed out, flashed on her imagina- tion, and almost melted her to tears. She felt she was not fit to go out to a place of amusement with Aim. " What's up now, Eve ? " he demanded. " O Will, do you think I shall look nice en /agh ? I have not been to the theatre for years — not since Mr. Gamble took auntie and me to the pantomime at the Rotunda. I have nothing to wear but my Sunday frock. And will Aunt Maria let me go ? I am half afraid she will say no !" " Cut in and ask her, then, and don't keep me waiting all night," retorted Will. " But it will be a shame, if she refuses. Why, you never have any amusement from one week's end to another. Tell her that Uncle Roger gave me the tickets, and desired that you should use one of them." " But did he ? I thought you said you bought them ? " returned Evelyn, regarding him with her grave, question- ing eyes. " So I did ; but uncle gave me the money, so it comes to the same thing." " Oh, and you said he was so mean ! " ** Well, a couple of tickets for the dress circle is no great gift. But make haste and get leave. Eve, or I shall go without you." Evelyn flew on the wings of the wind into the presence of her aunt. She was rosy with excitement, and her great eyes glowed like two stars. " Aunt Maria, uncle has sent two tickets for the theatre for Will and me. May I go ? " " Theatre tickets, child ! What theatre ? " " I don't know, but it's to see ' Human Nature.' May I go?" " Have you got Mr. Gamble's supper ? " " Yes, yes. Such a nice little lobster. Quite fresh, and only ninepence. And a beautiful lettuce and some water- cress." " And Miss Fletcher has had her tea ? " " O aunt, half-an-hour ago, and she said the toast was delicious." " Well, I really don't see why you shouldn't go, then, but you must come straight home afterwards. To think of Mr. Caryll sending you a ticket ! He may be going to remember his duty to you after all. Who knows ? " 14 MOUNT EDEN, Little did Evelyn Rayne care about her uncle remember- ing his duty to her at that moment. Her cousin filled up every crevice of her heart. The prospect of an evening spent with Will at the theatre in the present, was more attractive than the hope of any amount of revenue in the future. " Then I may go ? " she cried eagerly. " Yes, if your cousin promises to take proper care of you ; but don't yield to any of his persuasions, Evelyn. I haven't much faith in William Caryll. If he doesn't bring you straight home from the theatre, just jump into an omnibus and come back by yourself. Do you understand me ? " " Of course I do, auntie ; but Will will bring me straight home. Oh, how good it is of you to let me go." Her warm heart was overflowing with gratitude to every one who combined to afford her this simple pleasure. How much people lose who have the means to gratify all their inclinations. They exchange eagerness for indifference — enthusiasm for satiety — expectation for knowledge. They give up, in fact, all the zest of life for a languid trouble. Their riches have becom<; a punishment too hard to bear. " Auntie says I may go. Will." exclaimed Evelyn de- lightedly, as she rushed past him in the passage; "and I will not keep you ten minutes." When she came downstairs again, in her best dress and hat, and a muslin ^^//« tied carelessly about her throat, Will Caryll was pleased to approve of her appearance. " You don't look half bad when you're properly dressed, Eve," he observed, in a patronizing tone j " it's a shame Miss Rayne keeps you so shabby." " Don't say that. Will," she answered, as they turned out of the hall door and hurried on their way. " Auntie gives me as much as she can afford, and I can't tell you how sorry I am to be a burden to her. How I wish I were a boy, and could work for myself as you do. But I have had no education to speak of. I am utterly useless, except to help to look after the house." " That's the best thing a woman can do," said Will, "and, when you marry, you'll find the truth of it." A crimson wave of color surged up into Evelyn's face. " Marry ! Oh, I never shall do that. Will. I can't. Aunt Maria has kept me ever since I was a little child. My father died, and left nothing behind him, — absolutely 't ■■%%■ MOUNT EDEN, IS remember- in filled up an evening was more ^nue in the ;are of you; I haven't bring you an omnibus ndme?" me straight ide to every sure. How ify all their iifference — dge. They Liid trouble, rd to bear. Evelyn de- lt\ ''and I t dress and her throat, :arance. rly dressed, t's a shame ^ turned out Luntie gives ill you how ish I were But I have less, except said Will, it." elyn's face. 1. I can't, little child, -absolutely nothing, — except me and his debts, and she took me in to save me from the workhouse. It will be my duty to look after her when she is old, and cannot do so for herself." "That's rubbish — more than she has any right to expect," remarked Will laconically. " But we must look sharp. Eve, or we shall lose the first piece. Hi ! han- som ! " " Here you are, sir," replied the cabman, wheeling his horse round, and drawing up beside them. Evelyn could not believe her eyes. The most she had ever dreamt of was that her cousin would take her to the theatre in an omnibus or a tram. " Will," she whispered, in an awestruck tone, " did you mean it ? Won't it be very expensive ? " " Of course I meant it," he returned, laughing. " Do you want to walk all the way ? If it's a warm night we may stroll home again, but just now time is precious. To the Grand, cabby, and hurry up." " Oh, isn't it delightful ! " exclaimed Evelyn, as the horse set off at a swinging trot. " If I could always hire a han- som, I should never want to have a carriage." " You shall have both carriages and hansoms when I come into the Mount Eden property, Eve, for I shall never forget what friends we have been — the very best of friends, eh ? " he continued, as he pressed the hand he held in his. Evelyn was in a flutter of delight. Will had never been more affectionate in his manner, nor looked more handsome than he did that night, and she watched all he said and did with a proud feeling of pos- session. The only thing which disturbed her was the pro- bable expense of the hansom cab ; but Will seemed to have plenty of money in his pocket, and paid the fare when they arrived at their destination without any demur. Then they went into their seats — two of the best seats in the theatre — and for the next three hours the girl could think of nothing but the scene before her, and the actors who took part in it. Will did not seem as interested as she was. He had often been to ihe play, and the novelty of the thing was past for him. But he was very kind and attentive. He slipped out o'l his seat several times between the acts, coming back more demonstrative and affectionate after each absence, and pressing Evelyn to take coffee, and ices, and i6 MOUNT EDEN, \\ all sorts of things to which she was unaccustomed. But, as for her, she felt as if she had been transported to heaven. The drama enchanted her, but her cousin's kindness pleased her still more. Her large, soft eyes sought his gratefully, even whilst she modestly declined his offerings ; and his generosity delighted her so much, that she forgot to wonder where the money came from which he wished to throw about so freely. But when the evening's amusement was concluded — when the lights, were out and the curtain had dropped for the last time on the mimic world which had seemed so real to her — and they were walking back together, the fear that Will might be outstripping his means recurred to her. They had left the noisy traffic of the principal streets behind them by that time, and were treading the (comparatively speaking) quiet road which led to their home. " Will, dear," she said, a little timidly, " I am so much obliged to you for taking me out to-night. I have enjoyed myself beyond measure, but I am afraid it must have cost a lot of money. You must not be extravagant, you know, or you will make me miserable. Hasn't it made a great hole in your week's salary ? What will you do if you run short ? " " That's no affair of yours, my dear," he said gaily. ** All you have to do when I take you out is to enjoy yourself and look your best, and leave the rest to me. And you have been looking your best to-night. Eve. I was quite proud of you. I believe in a year or two that you'll be quite handsome. Your eyes are glorious, and when you are happy you get such a nice color." " O Will ! " she cried, blushing all over, " what nonsense you do talk. I can never be that^ and you must know it. But if you think I am — nice^ it is all I care for." The words came out with a burst, from the very bottom of her heart, but they conveyed no news to Will Caryll. There had been love passages between these two before — very innocent, but unmistakable. Nothing definite, perhaps, but warm looks, and soft whispers, and touches of the hands, that had left an indelible impression on the heart of Evelyn Rayne. And just now Will Caryll was moved as well. The time and the proximity — to say nothing of the wine he had imbibed at the theatre, and the real liking he enter- tained for his cousin — were having their effect upon the « iii MOUNT EDEN", «T young man, and likely to make him say a great deal more than he intended. " Think you nice I " he repeated, with a fervent pressure of the arm which was slipped within his own. ** I should think I did think you nice. Why, Eve, you're the very best girl in all the world to me ! What should I do without you? Who is it mends my linen, and looks after my meals, and makes me comfortable in every possible way, unless it is yourself? Do you suppose I don't know that? Why, I couldn't live a week with Miss Rayne and all her fidgety ways if you were not there. You're everything to me. Eve. But you shall have your reward some day. Some day, when I am rich and prosperous, and the owner of Mount Eden, you shall see that I have not forgotten what you have done for me." CHAPTER III. A FALLING STAR. ** But I don't want any reward," said the girl shyly ; '* I do It because — because — because — " " Because why ? " he demanded, looking down upon her riumphantly. " Because you are my cousin," she answered more firmly; \* and it is pleasant to wait on you. If relations cannot lelp each other, who will ? " Young Caryll did not like this general way of putting it. " That's all very fine, Eve, but you don't mean it. Uncle Loger is your relation as well as myself, but Cm sure you wouldn't care to wait upon him." " But I have never seen him. Will, except once — ^long igo — when poor mother took me to his house, and then I ras only a little thing of four. I can't even remember rhat he is like. Do tell me. I am anxious to know." " He's as ugly as sin," replied Will, knitting his handsome [brows, " and just as unpleasant. He's got a long, sallow [face, with bushy grey eyebrows, and eyes that seem to look [you straight through, like a hawk, and a mouth that snaps [together like a rat-trap. However, if he's going to leave [me Mount Eden I suppose I must put up with it all." MOUNT EDEN. " Will, dear," interposed the girl timidly, *' I wouldn't make too sure of that, if I were you. You would be so disappointed if it never came true ; and if uncle is so dis- agreeable and unpleasant, he might change his mind, and leave his money to some one else. Besides, Aunt Maria says it is not impossible he might marry again. Other men have done it at that age, and so many women would take him, just for his money. I have often thought myself, since Cousin Hugh was drowned, that uncle might think of taking a second wife." * Eve ! you have the most unpleasant way of looking at things sometimes. You generally manage to dash all a fellow's hopes to the ground." " Oh, no, Will ; don't say that. I only want to make you practical. For, supposing neither of these things came to pass, still Uncle Roger may live for a long, long time yet. He is only sixty, an^ that is not old for a man, you know. So I hope you will try not to think of, or depend in any way on. Mount Eden or the money until it is really yours." '* Why^ in heaven's name ? " he asked her, in an irri- table tone. '* Because I am so afraid it will make work more distaste- ful to you than it is. You don't love it too well. Will, already." " You are right. I hate it. But look here. Eve. What's the use of telling me not to think about it ? Who could help thinking of it ? There is no one else in all the world for the old miser to leave it to — except yon. " Eve burst out laughing. " O Will ! what nonsense. As if he would. But if he didj it would come to the same thing, for I should give it all to you. What good would it be to me without you ?" *' You dear girl ! " he answered, pressing her arm to his side. " It was just what I was going to say myself.^ We are Uncle Caryll's only relations. The property musl\ come to one or other of us two. He couldn't in decencyj leave it to a stranger. And whichever of us gets it, will| share it with the other. Is that a bargain ? " " Yes, yes, with all my heart," cried Eve. *' But there is only one way of doing it, my dear," con-j tinued Will, as they passed into the shadow of a leafyj square, "and that is by marrying each other. Will youf ■iCright and easy a short hour ago, and now a falling star leemed to have shot across her sky and left it dark again. '■^hat was the reason ? 26 MOUNT EDEN, CHAPTER IV. THE OATH. But, with the morning light the evening cloud dispersed. It was a bright, sunny Sunday, and Evelyn rose from her bed, happy and hopeful, and all eagerness to renew the pleasure of the night before. After which, it was disap- pointing to find that Will did not appear at breakfast, but had told Sarah to carry up a cup of tea to his room instead. She would not confess it to herself, but she wished he had been as anxious to see her again, under the new relation- ship they bore to one another, as sh« was to meet him. She mourned in silence, but JNTiss Rayne was loud in her denunciation of his indolence, and declared that Will Caryll always reminded her forcibly of the idle apprentice in Hogarth's picture, and she firmly believed he would come to the same bad end. " Lying in bed, indeed, and on a Sunday morning, just for all the world as if he were the Prince of Wales ! " she wrathfully exclaimed. "What next, I wonder? As if Sarah hadn't enough to do with getting ready the Sunday dinners, without running up and down stairs after him. You shouldn't have sent his tea up, Evelyn. If Mr. Will Caryll is too fine to come down to breakfast, let him go without it. I only wish his uncle could see him now." " Let us be thankful he can't," replied Evelyn, with a faint laugh. " Ah ! but he'll hear of it, though, as sure as my name's Maria Rayne. I won't stand any more of Master Will's nonsense. If he can't behave himself properly, let him go somewhere else. I'm sure the miserable sum he pays for his board and lodging won't be missed. I could let his room alone for the same price to-morrow." Evelyn left her seat, and put her arms round her aunt's neck. " I know you could, auntie, but Im sure you won't," she said coaxingly. " Will won't do it again, if you ask him ; MOUNT EDEN, id dispersed, ose from her to renew the it was disap- jreakfast, but room instead, wished he had new relation- to meet him. is loud in her ■ed that Will ile apprentice /ed he would morning, just Wales ! " she nder? As if iy the Sunday irs after him. If Mr. Will st, let him go him now." >elyn, with a as my name's Master Will's rly, let him go im he pays for could let his md her aunt's ou won't," she f you ask him ; and he is not fit to live by himself. He would get into all kinds of scrapes without you and me." " Ah ! there I believe you, Evelyn Rayne ; but I won't tand his airs for all that. And you must leave off spoiling im in the way you do. He would be a thousand times etter if you didn't coddle him. You make yourself a per- fect slave to him, and he thinks the whole household is to bllow suit ; but he's mistaken." " I won't send up his breakfast another time, auntie, ut it was only a cup of tea, and Mr. Gamble kept him up ate last night, and I thought perhaps his head ached." " What did Mr. Gamble want with him, Evelyn ? " " I don't know ; he didn't tell me." " He's been up to some mischief in the office, I'll warrant, ell, I'm glad they've found him out, and I hope they'll unish him. A sound whipping would do him all the good the world. But, bless me, it's past ten ! Go and put on ur things at once, Evelyn, or we shall be late for church." And so the storm in a tea-cup blew over. But Evelyn's Heart was not quite satisfied, even whilst praying for her ibsent young lover in the quiet church. It was very sweet be able to pray for him as her own possession, and her ce glowed as she thought that some day they would be neeling thus together side by side, and all the world would ow that they belonged to one another. But there was cloud hanging over her spirits, even whilst she prayed — undefinable shadow of coming evil, engendered partly iy the mysterious interview with Mr. Gamble, and partly Urom Will's own secrecy concerning it. But when Ihey returned from church to partake of their rly dinner of cold beef, and salad, and red-currant tart y the way, why does every British householder consider a point of religious etiquette to make himself miserable, ot to say unchristian, by eating cold beef on the first day f the week?), her slight fit of despondency evaporated, r Will was in the parlor, ready to receive them, looking esh and handsome in his Sunday suit. It is true that he still seemed a little gloomy — some would have said sulky. He kept somewhat apart from his onsin and Miss Rayne, apparently occupied in the perusal f a Sunday paper, but in reality chafing over the remem- ranee of the night before. Evelyn felt his altered manner, d was unhappy, but dared not attempt to comfort him. '% jft MOUNT EDEN. Miss Rayne put some pointed questions to him about Mr. Gamble and his uncle's message, and was almost told by Will, in his turn, to mind her own business. So the dinner passed very unsociably, and the early part of the afternoon ; and it was a relief to all concerned when young Caryll suddenly asked Evelyn to go with him for a walk. Her aunt gave a ready consent to the proposal ; she was glad to get rid of them. Will Caryll's manner made her angry, and Eve's evident sympathy with him irritated her. She told them to go by all means, and not to come back till they could make themselves agreeable. " Old cat ! " said Will, alluding to Miss Rayne, as they left the house together. "As if any one could make him- self agreeable, sitting opposite to such a sour face. It's enough to turn all one's milk of human kindness to vinegar." Eve did not reply. She was too loyal to join in a laugh against her aunt behind her back, but she dreaded lest the slightest reproof should increase the perturbation of Will's restless spirit. So they strolled away together rather silently, until they had left the crowded pavements behind them, and reached the road that led to the cemetery. This was a favorite Sunday evening walk of theirs, for both Evelyn's mother and Will's father lay buried there, amongst a whole family of Carylls. It seemed quite natural to them, on reaching it, to turn into the familiar path that led to their parents' graves, and it was not till they had arrived • there that Will made any allusion to the incident of the night before. But when' Evelyn had sat down on the flat stone that covered her mother's resting-place, and commenced to make a daisy chain from the daisies that grew in the grass | around it, he flung himself down on the ground by her side, and commenced, suddenly and passionately, — " How I wish I was dead and buried, Eve, with the whole lot of them ! " His words hurt Eve terribly. If he really meant what he said, it was evident her love had no power to smooth, over the annoyances of his daily life. And his, she felt, could make her contented under the bitterest trials. " Will, darling, how can you say such a dreadful thing ?j You don't think of tne^ nor of what I should feel if yourj wish came true." " Well, I don't suppose I shall ever be of much good toj MOUNT EDEN, 39 him about ; almost told ess. So the r part of the . when young 1 for a walk, sal ; she was ner made her irritated her. o come back Layne,as they Id make him- ur face. It's 3S to vinegar." oin in a laugh , eaded lest the ition of Will's gether rather iments behind netery. This eirs, for both here, amongst te natural to r path that led ey had arrived icident of the lat stone that ommenced to w in the grass nd by her side, Eve, with the ly meant what ver to smooth d his, she felt, 5t trials. Ireadful thing ?iS^ Id feel if yourj much good to lyou, Eve. It will be a jolly long time before I make an mdependence at this rate. And then to think of Uncle Loger being so mean as to set that old beast Gamble to haul le over the coals in that fashion, for a thing that wasn't ly fault any more than it was your's." She knew the confidence was coming now, and, like a rise woman (as her after life proved her to be) she would lot disturb it by a single word. She only drew nearer the jpot where he had flung himself impetuously down, and )assed her hand firmly and softly over his sunny hair, ^ith that touch his courage seemed to return to him. It mtained a power and reliability unknown to his weaker temperament, and he turned his cheek toward it grate- Illy. " You may as well know the whole truth. Eve," he con- pnued, though half-unwillingly, as though the tale were ling drawn magnetically from him, and against his will, ' for I know you are game, and won't tell. I have told you low stingy Uncle Roger is. I believe he counts every Vafer and steel pen that comes into the office. The beastly ;^ings are kept in my department — I mean the stationry llnd stamps, and such like ; and I have to give them out to ^%e other fellows as they're required, and keep an account pf them. Well, I believe I've been robbed. Somebody's Jeen prigging the paper and stamps when my back was irned, and my books don't tally with the expenditure — low can they ? — and so there's a row." fr'J " But why didn't you lock them up ? Is there no con- venience for such a purpose ? " demanded Eve practically. I* Has your desk no key ? " The idea of fraud was so foreign to her own nature, ||lrhich was as frank and open as the day, that she could ^conceive no other reason than carelessness for such an y^rror. Her questions — simple as they were — seemed to lake her cousin impatient. " How can I be always locking up ? " he exclaimed, in tfi tone of annoyance : " do you imagine we walk about the '^counting-house with the keys jingling in our pockets hke a lot of old women ? It's uncle's business to look after his :lerks, and keep them in better order. What right have khey to enter my desk ? Not that any one else would ever lave discovered the loss of a dozen miserable postage itamps." 30 MOUNT EDEN. " Was it only a dozen ? " asked Eve innocently. "A dozen — more or less. I know nothing about it. I've not even seen the books." "Will, dear," said the girl coaxingly, "you are sure you have not been careless with them yourself? '* For she remembered to have felt surprised a few weeks previously at the amount of postage stamps she had dis- covered lying in one of his drawers, at the bottom of his collars and handkerchiefs. She had wondered what he should have bought them for, for Will had few relations to correspond with, and, like all lads of his age, he detested letter writing. But she was quite unprepared for the man- 1 ner in which her suggestion was received. Will Caryll shook 8 his head free from her caressing gestures as though her if hand had stung him, and turned round upon her in a regular fury. " How dare you say such a thing as that? Do you take me for a thief? " he exclaimed. His angry face and voice frightened her, and she burst into tears. " No, no, of course not. O Will, how could you think so, even for a moment ? Oh, forgive me, dear. I only meant that, when things lie about in such profusion, we are all apt to imagine them of little consequence. Is it likely I could have meant anything worse than that ? " Will's face was very white and strained looking, but at the sight of her tears it relaxed, though slowly. "Whatever you may have meant. Eve, your words sounded very strange, and so would any one say who heard them. I have told you that I know nothing about it, and it's very hard \i you won't believe me." " But I do believe you, dear — dearest Will. I believe you as I do in heaven. I would die this moment in defence of your truth. I wish I had cut my tongue out before I had said those silly words," said Evelyn, still weeping. " Never mind. They are forgiven and forgotten," replied Will magnanimously, as he lifted his face to hers, and kissed her tears away. " I love to receive the assurance of your faith in me, Eve, for I may want your help to get me out of this scrape — indeed, I do want it, even now." " Then you have it, Will, before you ask for it," said Evelyn, as she dried her wet face. " Surely you know that. But what can I do for you ? " " First, give me another kiss. That's right. Husbands lold ^ilo fdr 1 ^pi <»1 t MOUNT EDEN. 3« even now. Lt. Husbands \ id wives should never quarrel, and you are almost my rife, you know. Eve, and anything I may ask you to do rou must remember is for vour husband that is to be. ^ill you, darling ? " Eve pressed closer to him, and laid her cheek upon his loulder. Her heart was too full to speak. I'm in an awful mess, my dear, and that's the fact. Fow, don't look so frightened. It's nothing out of the way, id only what was to be expected with the wretched salary receive. What fellow could dress and live on a pound a |eek ? It's impossible. Go where I will, I can't get a pnner under two shillings ; and this suit I have on cost iree pounds. And then there are my boots, and collars, id shirts, and a dozen small expenses. The man must a f'>ol who expects a pound a week to do all that. I ild you yesterday, you know, that I've got a pressing lilor's bill. They've threatened to send it in to my uncle the last six weeks, and I've kept them off and off, ^ping to screw up courage to ask the old miser to give an advance, just to keep them quiet, but this last isiness has spoilt everything. If Todson's bill is sent in the top of it, it will settle my hash to a certainty." ["I don't quite understand," said Eve, with knitted )WS. I" I mean that I shall get my dismissal, and then, perhaps, phall lose Mount Eden, and the money, and everything — (u into the bargain. Eve, for what chance shall we ever Lve of being mtirried if I am thrown out into the world [ain? You must help me, darling. You are such a ;ver girl. I am sure that you can manage it." i" But how, dear Will ? What can I do ? " '" Go and see Todson for me to-morrow morning, — I'll ^e you his address, — and coax him to let the bill stand rer till I'm a little straight again. Tell him I'm Uncle |aryll's heir, — he'll believe your word, though he won't line, — and that I'm bound to have lots of money before mg, and if they'll wait my time, I'll get everything I want rom them." X, "But suppose they won't wait, Will ? " * " They must, Eve, or I shall be ruined. They wait ther fellows' convenience ; why shouldn't they mine ? iirely you can make up a tale to satisfy them. They link I'm hoaxing them just to put off payment, but if you 3» MOUNT EDEN, corroborate my story, they will see there is truth in it. You can tell them we're engaged, if you like, too, juit to prove you know all about me." •;0h, no, Will! I couldn't do Ma/," replied Eve, shrinking from the idea, " and I don't think it would do any good either ; but I can only tell them we think you will be Uncle Caryll's heir, dear, because it's not certain, you know." " It is certain," returned the young man hotly ; " Pitman has seen the will, and in default of Hugh Caryll's turning up again, I inherit everything. That's why it seems so hard that uncle won't give me a decent salary now. He has thousands and thousands, and I, — his only brother's only son — have nothing. But it can't be helped, at all events for the present, and it's no good crying for the moon. But will you go and see Todson, Eve, the very first thing in the morning ? " "Yes; if you wish it," she said, sighing, "as soon as Aunt Maria will let me leave the house. But I have no hope of success. Will ; it is so unlikely they will listen to what a girl like myself may have to say." " You must make them listen ! You must talk in a tone ! of authority, and if they still insist upon sending the bill in to uncle, tell them he's gone abroad for an indefinite period, and so it will be of no earthly use. And if they won't hear reason, then, by Jove ! I'll intercept every letter that comes to the office till I get hold of theirs, for it shall never reach his hands, if I die for it." Eve was silent. Will's vehemence frightened her, and j all this subterfuge and fraud was so distasteful to her feel- ings, that she could only sit there shrinking, and sick at I heart. And yet she could not make up her mind to rebuke | his design, not just now at least, when he was in such, trouble, and had come to her for comfort. She would not I acquiesce in his determination, nor show approval of it, but she evinced her sympathy in his distress by gentle caresses and words of encouragement, and Will returned them both so freely, that, for the time being, they were perfectly happy, and forgot everything but their mutual affection. As the lengthening shadows warned them that it was time to go home again, Eve took the rose from her| belt, and laid it on her mother's grave. " Poor, dear mother," she said softly ; " I wonder if she| was ever as happy as I am now ? " MOUNT EDEN, 33 I wonder if she " You were very fond of your mother, Eve ? " " Oh, yes ; as fond as a little child who knows rothing death and separation can possibly be. I can remember >w, how I saw her lie on her couch, and grow weaker and iker day by day, and never thought that she was going leave me. How should I ? If any one had told me she dying, I shouldn't have known what the word meant. id then the last day came, and I was carried to her Bide to kiss her for the last time, and she kept on whis- ring, ' Come to me, my little Eve, come soon ! ' I shall rer, never forget it." 1^* And you want to see her again, I suppose ? " y*Want it, Will?" cried Evelyn, with eyes flashing mgh her tears ; " never a day passes but I think of ther and pray for our meeting. I didn't appreciate her Itilst she was here — my dear, sweet mother. I was too mg to know how sad and lonely my life would be ^hout her ; but when I meet her again I will tell her how )ved and missed her after she was gone. Sometimes, p," continued the girl, dropping her voice to a whisper, fancy — don't think me foolish or superstitious, dear, for |m not that — but sometimes, when you are all in bed and Sep, I fancy I hear my mother's voice, and feel her ith upon my cheek. Do you think it can be oniy :y ? It has come so often, and it makes me so glad to she may be there. If she can come back to earth, 1, who should she come to but myself? " Ah, if ! " replied the lad incredulously ; " but, you see, >ple don't come back. Eve ; and all the stories you hear )ut ghosts and apparitions are nonsensical lies." "Evelyn's face lowered. p I shouldn't like to believe that," she said ; " it would me of one of my greatest comforts." ' I am afraid you love your mother better than you do f, Eve." ["he suggestion roused her at once from her reverie. " Oh, no, no ! How can you say such a thing ? They such different loves ! I cannot even compare them. ' mother lived she would have been my comforter, and msellor, and friend ; but you. Will — you are my world /" [The fervor and solemnity of her tone, the bright, glow- face, that swam in excited tears, and the grasp she laid m his arm, all showed what Evelyn Rayne was made 2 i'l i ' f4 MOUNT EDEN, of, and startled Will Caryl!, in spite of his self-conceit! Hete was a character of which his had not even the power! to sound the depths, far less to understand and value. Itl was a loving tt'^xn^/i, notwithstanding her seventeen years! that clung to his arm and pledged a life's faith to him— «| pledge she would amply redeem. Will Caryll could not! quite understand her enthusiasm, nor had he the least ideal of the solemn vow her heart registered as her lips prol nounced the words, but he fully sympathized with the out I ward tokens of her affection which ministered to his lovtl of self. So he placed his hand firmly over hers, and lookedj her full in the eyes. " I believe you do love me, Eve. Then kneel down! here and swear, by your mother's memory, and all youij hopes of meeting her a^ain, that you will be faithful to mej and help me all your life long." " Oh ! that is easy." cried the girl, as she sank upon heil knees and clasped her hands together. " I swear it so} lemnly, by all my hopes of salvation." He knew that she was his now — his to the very end! Evelyn Rayne was not the so. i of girl to swear an oath and break it. His shallow nature could admire and lean upotj hers, even wnile he had no desire to emulate its virtues. " I think we had better go home now," he said, as h(| raised her and drew her arm within his own. " I seemW have learnt more about you, Eve, during these last fera days, than I ever did in my life before. I feel I can depen( upon you. I am sure that you will never desert me, nc turn against me, nor betray me, whatever I may do." ** I am glad of that," she answered simply. ** It is jua what I should wish you to feel." [ They had a peaceful evening after that, and apparentlj a happy one, but neither of them was at ease. Wl brooded over his coining interview with his uncle (for, course, he had never carried out his bragging determination to visit him with an explanation), and Eve pondered fearj fully over her visit to ♦^^he tailor She had promised to go and she should fulfil her promise, but she had no idea What she should say when she got there. She was ua early, as usual, the following morning to see Will off to hij ancle's office, but the cousins had no opportunity for Jjtivate conferende. All he could say, as Eve followed bin iiito the passage, under pretence of brushing the dust of MOUNT BDEN, 3S coat, was, *' Don't forget Todson, whatever you ^o I " id sht, looking up into the lad's perturbed countentacc, Mwered, " No, darling, no." . , ». She found great difficulty, however, in leaving the house ihout informing Miss Rayne of her destination. She js usually so frank and open in all her actions (having ^thing to conceal), that she lingered about for some wondering what valid excuse she could make going out. Luckily, however, for her enterprise, Miss me required some knitting yarn from a particular shop Liverpool, and told Evelyn, if she had nothing better to that she might go and fetch it. By which means she Ud herself, before the clock had struck twelve, sunding the threshold of the tailor's shop, and inquiring, in a ry shaky voice, if she could speak to Mr. Todson. An >rentice ushered her into a back room, where a pursy man, with a stout figure and a bland countenance, smiling and rubbing his hands together. And what can we do for you to-day. Miss ? " he com- iced deferentially; "ladies' ulsters— walking suits— ig-habits— " ^oor Eve, attired in a brown holland dress, that had nearly washed white, with a little black cape of the lion of five years before, and a straw hat of no fashion II, looked a very unlikely customer for any of the articles mtioned, unless, indeed, it were for an ulster to cover jier other deficiencies. ^No, thank you. I have not come to give an order," replied, blushing and stammering. " I wish to speak rou, Mr. Todson, about a bill — Mr. William Caryll's -that you have told him you will send in to his uncle, Roger Gary 11, of Water Street." *he tailor's face changed immediately. From a round, r, smiling countenance, it seemed to become elongated, >w, and sour. Oh, yes, indeed," he answered, in a dry, acrid voice, \r. William Caryll has been on our books for a long time ^nd a very long time — it is quite essential we should some steps to recover our money. It is altogether linst our rules to give credit. We have been indulgent fMr. William Caryll, hitherto, on account of his youth, there is a limit, even lo our patience. But perhaps have come to pay the account, Miss ? " f>i %. i II i i ' ; I 30 MOUNT EDEN. ''Oh, no. I wish I had/' said Eve, deeply blushing; " but I am sure you will get the money if you will be sol good as to wait a little longer. I am Mr. William Caryll'sl cousin, and I know all about my uncle's intentions respect] ing him. Will you let me tell you something about them ?| I think you will see the matter ia a difTerenf. light whenj you have heard what I have to say." Her voice was so sweet and earnest, and she looked soj interesting as she stood there, pleading her cousin's causj that Mr. Todson's sour face relaxed a little and, thoughj he still retained an expression of Spartan-like firmness, he fetched a chair, and, begging her to be seated, prepared toj listen to her story. CHAPTER V. THE BILL IS PAID. With some confusion and a great many blushes, Evj entered in details, telling the tailor that Will Caryll was hij uncle's nearest relation, and that it was almost certain thaj he would inherit his property, and be able to pay off fifti such bills with half-a-day's income. But that unluckl word almosty like the proverbial slip 'twixt the cup and th| lip, marred her eloquence, and as she falteringly proceeded her heart sunk to ^ ^w the look of incredulity that setthii down on Mr. Todson's countenance, and the sarcastij smile that curled about the corners of his mouth. " I wouldn't think of doubting your word. Miss," he sai(( as Evelyn concluded her statement ; " but you'll pardon for saying I've heard all this before. Mr. William Caryl future prospects may be very good — I've no doubt the< are, and I'm glad of it — but they have nothing whateve to do with his present liabilities. If he's going to be rich, why dpn'the ask the old gentleman to pay his bills?) ** Oh, Uncle Roger wouldn't do that, I'm afraid, mJ Todson, for he is very strict and particular, and my cousij would not dare tell him he was in debt, but if you woull wait a little longer — " " I can't wait any longer — I'm sorry. Miss, but I can] afford to do it. Fifty pounds is a large sum, and — " MOUNT EDEy, 37 *♦ Fi/ty founds /" interrupted Eve, with a look of hohror ; •* you don't mean to say that Will owes you fifty pounds ? " "Fifty pounds, eleven shillings and threepence," iiepeated Mr. Todson solemnly. "The account has been [running on now for over two years, and Mr. William Caryll knew ours to be a ready-money establishment when he began to deal here. I've let him off again and again, [Miss. He promised me immediate payment twelve months Igo. It's nonsense of him, as of anybody — begging your iJardon, Miss — asking me to wait, for money that mayn't some to him for the next twenty years, unless he can raise >mething on it now. Is it fair or just, Miss ? I put it to )u as a lady ! " " No," replied Evelyn sadly. ** It is neither fair nor |ust. But I suppose at the time he really hoped he should \t\. the money." " Hoping won't pay me," observed Mr. Todson, " and [see no way of being righted except laying the case before [r. Caryll, senior. He is a just and upright gentleman \M I hear), and won't see a tradesman defrauded of his le." " But you will ruin Will — I mean my cousin — if you do lat, Mr. Todson ; uncle will be so very angry. Perhaps will turn him straight out of the office, and then there KU be no chance of your getting your money at all." TThis contingency seemed to hav'e some influence on the ]lor. He screwed up his mouth, put his head on one le, like a crow looking at a bone, and considered for a >ment in silence. *' If you will only wait a week longer," continued Eve, "ling advantage of the situation, " I will try and see what \n be done. Give him one more week, Mr. Todson, and ien, if he cannot pay you, you must do what you think jht." [ " Very well. Miss," replied the tailor; "for your sake I ill make one more concession. M/ letter to Mr, Caryll, jnior, shall be kept back for a week, and if I don't hear >m you in that time, it will be sent in as first intended." " Thank you — thank you for your kindness, Mr. Todson, id I hope things will be comfortably settled in the course ' a few days," said Eve, as she left the shop. But the hope was a very faint one, and the .arther she ft Todson's behind her, the fainter it seemed to become^ MOUNT EDEN, |ifeither she nor Will had any money beyond a few shil- lings, and Miss Rayne would be as little likely to help in such a cause as Mr. Caryll himself. No ; they must not even tell Miss Rayne of what had occurred. She had taken in Will Caryll as a boarder because her straightened circumstances would not permit her to refuse such an offer, but she heartily disliked the lad, had done so from the beginning, and lost no opportunity of letting him see it. So Eve went home with a heart full of despair. , As soon as ever Will returned in the evening, he ran upstairs to inquire what success she had had with the tailor. Eve's room was at the very top of the house. It was not much more than an attic, with the drap-door (before alluded to) in the ceiling thatkd out upon the loof, but the girl was neat and tasteful, and had made the little apartment look like herself. On the cheaply-papered walls hung the photographs of her few friends, in frames of her own manufacture. Will Caryll's holding the place of honor as might be well expected. Her books and workbasket — her flowers, and a pet canary singing in a cage — all con- tributed lo mark the little chamber as her own, and no one entered it but those whom she invited there. " What news, Eve ? " exclaimed Will, as she turned to greet him. " What did old Todson say ? " " Not very good news, dear Will," she answered cheer- fully, " but better perhaps than we had a right to ex- pect." She then related exactly what had taken place between her and the tailor. Her story was followed by an ominous silence. " Don't fre*:, dear," she said, with an attempt at comfort, " Hope for the best. We have a whole week, you see, to think it over in. Surely we can do something in that time." " Hope for the best ! " he repeated bitterly ; " what best is there to hope for ? You've bungled the business, Eve ; I was afraid you would. You didn't lay it on thick enough, or the old brute would have been more amen- able." " Indeed, Will, I said all I could. I almost knelt to | him. But. he said he must have his money, and all the j respite I could get was a week." MOUNT EDEN. 99 "What's the good of a week?" continued her cousiil. " Where's the money to come from at the end of a week ? " He might just as well have made it this afternoon. I have no luck. Everything is against me. I wish that 1 was dead and buried." And then, to Eve's infinite dismay, he laid his head down upon the bed, and burst into tears. She had never seen |a man cry before. In her innocence, she thought they |taever did cry — not even when they were young and tender - and the sight filled her with terror lest Will should be ^^oing out of his mind. Oh, Will, Will ! don't do thrt. You break my heart. ^What is the matter with you ? " I cannot bear it," he cried passionately ; " it is too luch for any fellow to bear. I will kill myself. I will ^ut my throat, or take poison. It would be a thousand jfimes better than living like this." "But why should you say so. Will? Is there any fresh >uble ? Was uncle very angry with you ? " " Angry ! I shouldn't mind his anger. I'm used to it. le's always as cross as two sticks. But he insulted me. [e said I was responsible for his beastly postage stamps, pd he should deduct their value from my salary. I shall sceive nothing next Saturday, nor for several weeks to >me. They are going to cheat me out of my pay. And >w am I to live ? How am I to get my dinner, I should te to know? It is disgraceful. They ought to be shamed of themselves." And he relapsed into weak, childish tears, for which the prospect of his lost dinners were mostly responsible. " Nevermind, dearest," whispered the soothing, woman- voice, " I have a few shillings, you know, that I have irned for my Christmas cards, and I am owed several lore. You shall not go without your dinners, Will. / rill see to that. And. for the rest, you must try to be Ltient and economical till this horrid business is settled." But there's Todson's bill— you don't think of that. If (t reaches uncle's ears, he'll give me the sack, as sure as ,gun." Evelyn sighed heavily. " I tried so hard to persuade ..im not to send it into mcle at all," she said, " but he was obdurate. A week ras all the grace I could get out of him. And it is such m awful sum, Will— fifty pounds, eleven shillings arid 40 MOUNT EDEN, I threepence. I don't think everything Aunt Maria possesses would sell for as much." " What's the good of bothering over pounds, shillings and pence ? " grumbled Will impatiently. " 1 couldn't pay it if it were half the sum. But what we've got to do is to prevent its reaching Uncle Caryll's ears. You are stire he said a week, Eve ? " "•Yes, quite sure. He repeated it several times. He would wait one weekjonger, and if he did not hear from us by that time, he should send the bill straight to Water Street." " I win kill myself before the end of it ! " ciicd Will. "Don't you be surprised. Eve, if you miss me. Some night I shall not turn up as usual, and the next day you will hear that my body has been found floating in the canal. And then you can get another lover as soon as you hke, and walk out with him to the cemetery on Sunday even- ings instead of with me, and put a rose on my grave as you did last night on your mother's." Of course she wept, womanlike, over the terrible picture the weak fool beside her had conjured up, and extracted many a promise from him to do nothing rash, but trust to her love to help him out of the difficulty. Still, the days wore away very gloomily. Evelyn ransacked her brain to | think what she could do to help her cousin, but all her endeavors only resulted in the collection of a few shillings, "'^hich she tearfully made him accept. At last a grar.dl thought struck her. When first it occurred, sl.e put it| from her as though it had been sacrilege, but itc;.me back again and again, until she felt compelled to listen to the| inward voice that suggested it. Evelyn had ore posses- sion of value — a dressing-case, containing her dead mother's I jewellery. She hardly knew what it contained, siiil less of what intrinsic worth the ornaments might be. She had been allowed, on one or two occasions, to look at the contents of the dressing-case, but Miss Rayne always kept it in her own room. The jewels were Evelyn's, certainly, but they were far too valuable (so Miss Rayne said) to be entrusted to her care yet, and she should not have them until shel was married. So Eve had come to regard these oninmcntsj as sacred things — as part of her dead mother, indeed — andl the idea of selling them seemed horrible to her. Ar.d yet,| what was she to do ? Her dear mother had left them to MOUNT EDEN, [her for her pleasure, not her pain, and would not she have irted with them soon enough if her husband had been m. Rhe same predicament as poor Will. Evelyn felt sure she rould. It made her heart sore to think of the trinkets she id regarded as too good for her own use passing into the mds of strangers ; but if it were for Will, she would not lesitate for a moment. So, whilst Miss Rayne was busied the kitchen on the following morning, Eve lifted down dressing-case (of which she always kept the key) from ie top of the wardrobe, and carried it carefully into her |wn room. There she set it on the bed and unlocksed it, id revealed the contents. It was a cumbersome box — foe of the old-fashioned rosewood cases — filled with cut- iss scent bottles, and pomatum pots with plated tops ich as used to be much in reque^ as wedding presents longst the middle classes. This one was lined with irk-blue velvet, and had the scent of attar of roses and itilles clinging to it as though it were a shrine. Evelyn ted the tray reverentially, and took out the bracelets [at lay underneath. They were very commonplace, and no marketable value, but in her eyes they represented a fetle fortune. There was one formed of gold links like a >le chain, with a clasp in the shape of r heart, set with prk-glowing carbuncles ; and another li'.e a snake, with [uoises in its head, and tiny ruby eyes, and several lers of gold, and silver, and enamel, "^hen the rings in the drawer beneath— the Wcddmg ring Ith which she had alw iys hoped to be married some day ^rself, although people told her it would be unlucky, and |e engraved guard her poor mother had worn above it. id a beautiful half-hoop of emeralds, and a little finger- ig with a single diamond in it, and Uvo mourning rings It with pearls. Beside these, there, were four or live rooches and some earrings, and a gentleman's breast-pin r blue enamel, which she supposed had belonged to her ither. They looked very grand when they were all bid It on the bed, and Eve thought they must be worth quite ty pounds. She felt very much like crying when she lought of selling them. A grfcat lump rose in her throat she remembered that, once gone, they could never be >t back again, and that all her life she would have to smain without her dear mother's rings, and brooches, id bracelets, which she had so looked forward to wearing. 42 MOUNT EDEN, But it was for Will — to ease dear Will's heart and set his mipd at rest— -and to accomi^lish that Eve would have gone through a still greater sacrifice. So she put back the wedding ring, and a scent bottle and thimble, with one or two trifles of the least value into the dressing-case, and locked them up again, anu the rest of the trinkets she placed in her own drawer. She was not going to tell her Aunt Maria a word about the matter ; not, at least, until the good she contemplated had been accomplished, for, after all, they were her own trinkets, and she had a right ^0 do with them as she chose. So she put the dressing- case on the top of Miss Rayne's wardrobe again, where it was likely to remain undisturbed for any length of time. And then she returned, like a miser, to gloat over the treasures she had amassed in her own room. The greatest difficulty appeared to be how to dispose of them. The easiest way would have been to deliver them over to Will, but Eve had grave doubts whether her cousin was to be entirely trusted with articles of value; besides, she wanted to prepare a great surprise for him. If it was imperative that she should part with the most cherished treasoires she possessed, she wanted to be able to go and put the money they reaUzed into Will's lap, arid see the look of surprise, and pleasure, and gratitude with which he thanked her for the sacrifice she had made. She knew of a shop where she had often read in passing that old gold, and silver, and jewellery was bought or exchanged, and the first time she could do so, without suspicion, she crept out to the place and laid her little packet timidly upon the counter, ^be had dreamed grand dreams of the sum of money it would bring her. One hundred — even two hundred pounds, perhaps (for the worth of her mother's legacy was priceless in her eyes), and then, when she had paid Mr. Todson's bill, how proud she would be to make dear Will a hand- some present wherewith to tide over his difficulties. But her hopes were soon dissipated. A half-grown youth tossed over the contents of the packet in a superci- lious manner before he carried them to his employer (strange that those who live by sale and barter should always despise and treat with contumely such unfortunates as present anything to sell), who, having examined them muph in the same spirit, advanced to where poor Evelyn stoodi burning v/ith shame and anxiety. MOUNT EDEN 43 *' You wish to sell these trifles, Miss ? " " Yes, if you will buy them," replied Eve. " Well, they ain't of much value, you know," said the man, turning them over, with a shake of the head, and the sotto voce remark, " pal — try, pal — try ! " "Some of them are valuable, surely? The rings, for [instance." " Ah, well, the rings are not so bad. Well," tossing khem all together in a heap, '• what snail we say for the [Jot ? Six pounds ? " Evelyn's face fell. " Six pounds ! Oh, no 1 Why, I have often heard my [aunt say the emerald ring cost twenty-five. It was my [uncle's wedding present to my mother." " Perhaps — a long time ago. But the fashion's past, rou see. We pay for fashion. No one would buy that ing now. It's second-hand." " I will take them back, then," said Evelyn, with her Spirits down at zero, but with a certain dignity in her lanner. "Stop a little, Miss; don't be in such a hurry," replied the pawnbroker, who did not wish to lose the chance >f making a profitable bargain ; " if you really want to trt with the trinkets, I don't mind stretching a point, ^;id giving you ten pounds for them,* though I'm bound to Ve a loser by the transaction." But Evelyn's spirit was roused by that time. She was girl with any amount of spirit, though she had a humble fopinion of her own merits, and a heart that succumbed |fto affection like a reed shaken by the wind. She saw the [pawnbroker was taking advantage of her, and she refused to be cheated. " No," she replied firmly, laying her hand upon the packet, " I will not part with them for ten pounds. I am sorry you cannot give me more, but it would be of no use to me." " Come, now, Miss, I don't like to see you disappointed, so I'll make it fifteen, but that's the outside I can go. Take it or leave it; but it's my last word." Evelyn hesitated. Fifteen pounds was a good lump of money. If it would not defray Mr. Todson's bill, it might at least induce him to wait a little longer for the rest. And if anything terrible happened to Will, — like being turned lilli I i Nil 44 MOUNT EDEN, out of the office, — he would be sorely in need of money to help him to live till he procured another situation. Ii was always a comfort to feel one had some money to fall back upon, and — yes, she had decided. She would accept the pawnbroker's offer. " Very well," she said, in a trembling voice, " I will take fifteen pounds, though I am sure ihey are worth a great deal more." "I don't know where you'd get it, then," replied the man somewhat insolently, as he swept the bracelets, rings, and brooches carelessly into a drawer, and counted out fifteen sovereigns into Evelyn's hand. She felt very low-spirited as she left the shop, and remembered that she had parted with all the reminiscences that she possessed of her poor mother forever; but she had done what she believed to be right, and she w as not going to cry over it. Rather, she looked forward to the moment when she should lay her little offering at her cousin's feet, and feel repaid for everything by his love and gratitude. When she reached home again, she felt really glad she had had the courage to do as she had done, for no one seemed to sympathize with Will's troubles but herself. Miss Rayne said she had no patience with him — that it served him right to have his salary stopped, and she hoped it would teach him to be more careful for the future. Mr. Gamble, too, seemed to keep up the feud in Miss Rayne's breast against the lad, for he never spoke to him out of office hours, nor mentioned his name without some indication of distaste. He was tabooed by all but Eve, who did her utmost to make up to him for the coolness of the others. It was the last day but one of the prescribed week, and nothing had been done towards paying Mr. Todson's bill. Eve crept up to her cousin's side that even- ing in silent sympathy. She had the fifteen pounds in her pocket, but she would not venture to speak of them until ^11 other hope seemed over. " To-morrow will be Wednesday, Wfll," she whispered ; " what will you do ? " Young Caryll was leaning over the table, deep in the perusal of a newspaper. At her question he looked up. " About old Todson's bill, do you mean ? Don't worry yourself. // is paid. ^^ Eve almost screamed in surprise. MOUNT EDEN, 45 **PaidI Are you in earnest, Will? Who paid it? m did it happen ? Did uncle give you the money ? " "Don't talk so loud. I don't want the whole house to my private affairs. Uncle! Not exactly. As if it likely he would pay it. No, indeed, I paid it myself." <* But, Will, fifty pounds ! " gasped Evelyn -, " where did get the money ? " He grew unaccountably red, and bent his head again the paper. But she could see the red still, which nted to his very forehead, and flushed the white part- of his fair hair. * Where other fellows get money when they want it, e," he mumbled indistinctly. " FroR» the money- 4ers ! Fellows with expectations are always able to € a few ppunds. I was a fool not to think of it before." o know that the bill was settled, and the immediate er over, was a great relief, and yet Evelyn did not the manner of her cousin's speech. It was too jerky unnatural. It seemed as if something had been left -which he was afraid to say. It was not like himself, a moment she wondered if he had been drinking. ,* But won't you have to pay the money back again ? " ' demanded gravely. Hang it all, Eve," he said irritably, '• what a kill-joy are. Yes, of course I shall, in about a hundred years e, when uncle's dead, and I reign in his stead ; but not then, at all events. Anyway, Todson's paid, which is you need concern yourself about. And if you don't ieve me, there's the old brute's receipt." ' nd handing her the tailor's bill, he let her see the stamp signature affixed to it. velyn heaved a sigh, half of relief and half of fear. She s most thankful the immediate danger was over, but she aded a worse one in the future. Will was so thought- s ! He never seemed to live beyond the present. What ese money-lenders should press him for payment still re hardly than Mr. Todson had done ? As she handed back the receipt in silence, he seemed to guess at her spicions. " What are you so grave about. Eve ? " he asked ; " you n't look pleased even now. I thought you would be as d as myself." So I am. Will—very glad ; but I hope it is all right. 'lii,; , i'l< i mi.W' ■ li i' ! 4fr MOUNT EDEN, It seems so strange to be able to raise such a large sum of money so easily. Are you sure the men will wait till youj can pay them ? " " They must^ my dear. I'm not of age," he said airily;] but though he laughed and professed to be at his ease, she saw that his gaiety was forced, and could not join in it as she would otherwise have done ; and as soon as she ccn-| veniently could, she stole away to her own room. There, as she was emptying the pockets of her brownl holland dress, preparatory to going to bed, she came upon the little packet of sovereigns which she had placed there in readiness to put into Will's hand. She had almost for- gotten them till then. In her astonishment at hearing that! her cousin had no need of money, she had lost sight of the! sacrifice she had made to procure him some. And it had! been all in vain. She had sold her dead mother's trinkets j for a paltry sum of fifteen sovereigns, whilst Will had found no difficulty in raising fifty pounds. As Evelyns thought of it, and that she had done that which she never! could recall, her fortitude gave way, and she burst intof tears. CHAPTER VI. IN HIDING. Nothing of consequence occurred during the next few days, except that Will Caryll took to staying out late all night — a practice to which he had never been addicted! since he had lived in Miss Rayne's house. Aunt Mariaj grumbled considerably at the innovation. , She considered! him far too young to be trusted with a latch-key, neither didj she approve of Eve sitting up to let her cousin in. Invaijl did the girl represent that Will, at twenty, was of an age tcl require more amusement than was to be found in theiif dull little parlor, and that it was only natural that h{j should sometimes like lo go to the theatre, or join a smoking! concert or a bachelor's party. Miss Rayne considered thaf a chat with his cousin, or a game of draughts with herselfl ought to be sufficient recreation for any properly-conj stituted young man, and threatened more than once to ba MOVNT EDEtf, 49 . bolt the front door, and put out the lights, and lc|ive jl Caryll to sleep on the steps, if he felt so inclined. It somehow it always ended in Eve letting in the delin- tni, and receiving him, like the prodigal son in the nptures, with the best welcome at her command. She tted a little herself over his newly-developed love of |ug and late hours, yet she never told him so, but was lys ready with a smile of welcome to quietly unfasten door, so that Aunt Maria should not notice the time of return, and to serve him with such scraps of supper as had been able to put aside for him. Once or twice, rcver, to her horror and consternation, Will did not 1 quite himself on returning home. He always knew she was, but his speech was thick and altered, and he ibled about the passage, and insisted upon making a >e, notwithstanding all her entreaties to him to be silent. luch times his words and manners would be more free usual, and he would shock her modesty instead of Jting her compassion. Eve would hurry over her duties juickly as possible then, and run away to her own room reep in secret over the defalcations of her Kero. Yet, it all, she did not love him less. What true woman loved a man less for the sins that are not sinned ist herself ? There is such a strong tide of maternal ig welling up in every female breast, and ready to cast >ak of protection over the creature that has proved [self to be weaker than herself. The very ease with [ch their husbands and lovers sin, settas to be an extra itive for compassion from the wc men who love them. !y pity them so much for their frailty. They fancy they |st pity themselves so much that they need all the souragement they can give them to heal their wounded iity. It is only men who have ".?!ried women " the weaker In love anc hate they are incomparably the stronger ^sels of the two. Evelyn Rayne, smarting in sympathy with Will ^ryll's troubles, forgot to blame him for the injudicious " selfish means by which he sought to allay them. lut one evening — it was the following Saturday — she not believe he intended to come home at all. Miss ^yne sat nodding in her chair till twelve o'clock, and )n ordered her niece to lock up the house and follow her ^bed, threatening meanwhile to let Mr. Caryll know tie 4« MOUNT EDEN, \m\\ 1 first thing on Monday morning how shamefully his nephew was behaving. Eve prepared to obey. She knew that it was useless to remonstrate ; besides, her aunt had right on her side. It was thoughtless and cruel of Will to keep them up like this, night after night, when he knew how much they had to do during the day. So she fastened the house-bolts, and put up the chain, and extinguished the gas, and went quickly up to her own room. Not that she had any intention of going to bed. As soon as she had undressed, she put on her wrapper, and blew out Hie candle, and, opening her casement window, sat down in the moonlight to watch and wait till she should hear the familiar sound of Will's knuckles rapping against the hall door. But the hours f'.ragged on till one and two o'clock had sounded from a neighboring steeple, and still he did not come. Eve was v^xy weary. She had worked hard all day — for : much of the housekeeping and house cleaning fell to her share— and at last she could keep awake no longer. Little by little her aching eyelids closed, and her head drooped upon her breast, and she fell fast asleep. By-and-bye— j perhaps an hour afterwards — she waked suddenly and com- pletely, as people are apt to wake who have fallen asleep watching. She fancied she had heard a sound. It must have been Will at the front door. Eve started to her feet. Her first fear was that it might | have been repeated several times, and that her aunt hadj heard it too. But as she became fully conscious, she was suddenly made aware that she was not alone. Before her, in the moonlight, stood a tall figure. Eve sprang to her I feet with an exclamation of alarm. 7'he figure grasped her { by the arm. It was her Cousin Will. " Hush ! " he said, in a warning whisper. " Hush, Eve, | for God's sake, or I am lost ! " Then Eve's sense and courage came to her assistance. She took in the situation at a glance. Something terrible | had happened that required secrecy. She could notj imagine what it was, but discovery meant harm to Will, so j her first impulse led her to lock her bedroom door. Then she drew him to the farthest end of the room, and whis- pered, — " What is it ? Tell me quickly. How did you come here?" MOUNT EDEN, 49 le turned and pointed to the trap-door in the ceiling, ch she now perceived, for the fir?* ^ \o be open. f Through there ? By the roof ? ' ie nodded in reply. 'But wAy f What is the matter ? " ' I have been there all the afternoon, Eve. I came in It you were at dinner, and crept up to your room. I lidinff. Hasn't Gamble told you? The officers are ^hat officers ? " ..le officers of justice. Oh, Eve, I have a dreadful to tell you ; but it was not my fault — I assure you it >»t.» |rc was shivering now, as if with cold. Tell me everything," she whispered ; " I must hear it." e made him sit close beside her on the bed as she b, and placed her ear to his mouth. K) on," she said slowly ; " w/iaf havf you done f " Iwouldn't tell you," he commenced, half whimpering ; )uld have kept it from you before all the world, only re the only person who can save me. Eve." on," she repeated ; " don't keep me in suspense. n .• [ell, you know about old Todson's bill? I told you >rrowed the money! So I did, and I fully intended it back some day, only I didn't get it from the -lenders." 10 from, then ? " said Evelyn, in a strained voice. »11, I — I — borrowed it from the firm. Of course I [ask them, because it would have been no good ; but Sek I was sent into uncle's office, and his cheque- ras on the desk, and so — and so — " 9u forged his name /^' cried Evelyn, in a tone of ilous horror. » Jell, you can hardly call it * forging,' when the money )e all mine," said Will Caryll weakly ; "anyway, I ie the excessive sin of drawing a few weeks* salary mce, and so I passed the cheque into the bank, and \6. have been all right if it hadn't been for the con- interference of old Gamble." IS he found it out ? " cried Evelyn. iry body has found it out. The whole firm know it l^time. Old Gamble's the cashier, you know, and he 'I . il n 50 MOUNT EDEN. has a brother in the bank. What they saw about me to raise their suspicions I can't imagine, but this morning his brother sent for him, and they called in the passed cheques and picked out mine at once — at least so Sam Godwin, who's in the accountant's office, told me ; and then Gamble | came back, and had a long confab with Uncle Roger, and{ they sent out for a policeman. I didn't wait to hear any I more. I ran into the backyard and climbed over the waliJ and came home as fast as I could, and got out on the roof, and have stayed there ever since, and precious hot I fflive been, and hungry too, T can tell you. But has any oncl been after me yet. Eve ? Have the police made inquiries) here ? Does Miss Rayne kuv w anything about it ? " " No, no I no one has been — no one has said anything," she answered, in a low voice. "Then, perhaps, uncle is not going to prosecute me Perhaps he will refuse on account of the family name, and] of my being his heir ; eh. Eve ? " But Eve made no reply. " Why don't you speak to me ? " continued Will impaj tiently. " I don't think much of your affection if you can'f give a fellow a little comfort in his trouble." But she could not speak. She was weeping as if he heart would break. All the misery and the danger of tlir'^ crime of which her cousin had been guilty ir.ipicssed itset so forcibly upon her mind, that in imagination she alreadj saw him working out his sentence for felony in a convict] prison, and stamped for evermore with the indelible %i\ of shame ; and then the awful feeling of distaste toward him which it gave her — he^ whom a few short hours ago stj had been ready to regard as a model of all that was goa and lovable. She had felt herself edging away from side as he made his repulsive confession, until she remeo bered that he had sdlid she was his only friend, and loi and pity triumphed over her first disgust. But oh ! A sin and the shame of it ! She buried her face in the pillow, and wept convulsively. " Oh, Will ! " she sobbed, " how could you do it — \\ could you do it ? " " Hush ! don't make such a row," he exclaimed in alar " if you rouse the others, Eve, as sure as I am a man throw myself from this window and smash to pieces bef(j your ey«s. It's: cruel of you to make me run such a riskl this." MOUNT EDEN: fl Eve stifled her weeping by a powerful effort at once. •* I won't cry any more, Will, indeed 1 won't. But tell s, what do you intend to do ? " t*'I don't know. I've come to you to tell me. One Ing's certain, I must keep in hiding till the officers are jd of looking for me, and then I must get away some- iere. Is the punishment very hard for — for writing )ther person's name, Eve ? " ]t'8 transportation," she whispered, with white lips. ill Caryll turned deadly pale. But you'll help me— won't you, Eve? " he said trem- Sly. "You swore by your mother's grave that you d." I have not forgotten it. Will ; but you must give me to think. Do you believe the roof is safe ? If the should be searched, 1 should think the trap-door fd be the first place they would suspect." 'hen what am I to do ? " ^ie down on th bed and go to sleep, and leave me to he it out, Will. You will be quite safe, for I shall ^h by your side and wake you before the others are jing. And you may not have a bed to-morrow-night, [darling — there is no saying what may happen to pre- ^U — so take your rest whilst you can." made him take off his boots, and lie down in his is, and covered him as tenderly as though he had ^an infant. >h, Eve ! I don't know what I should do without you," limpered, as she kissed the tears off his face, and bid bless and keep him. And in a few minutes he had off to sleep, as if nothing had happened to disturb imbers ; whilst Eve sat by the open window, gazing ito the starry sky, with a heart full of dread and »r. What was to become of him ? That was the sole tion that filled her mind, and which she found it impos- [to answer. But here the budding powers of her brain themselves apparent. She reviewed her position, (collected her forces, and arranged her tactics as lodically as a general about to do battle with the foe. fwhat a foe it was she found herself arrayed against — tposure, which must ruin her cousin's career for ever is world, without hope or chance of remedy. As Eve tht of the crime he had committed, and the weakneM ■u I i ti iilii: ill iiji iliiliiii. 5^ *MOUNT EDEN. of which he had been guilty, she shuddered visibly, and felt as if she never wished to look on him again ; but the next moment the grand womanly compassion with which her breast was overflowing welled to the surface, and she longed! to take him in her arms like a little infant, and run far] away with him to a place of safety. But what she had to| do in this extremity was to act, and not to dream. When six o'clock struck on that Sunday morning, and thel little world of Liverpool began to stir, she went up tathej bed, and kissed the fair, flushed face of William Caryll intof consciousness. *' Will," bhe whispered, as he sprung up into a sittind posture, and stared about him, " it is morning — you wilj have to go into hiding again. But listen to me, dear, have been thinking all night what is best to be done, anij I have decided to go and speak to Uncle Caryll." " You won't tell him I am here ? " he cried, clutching he arm. " No, no ! How can you imagine such a thing. (I course I must behave as if I had heard nothing. But! will say you have not been home all night, and ask if knows the reason. Then he will tell me the story, andl shall learn exactly what he means to do. Until we kncj this. Will, I don't see how we can act for the best. PerhaJ Sam Godwin only said it to f-ighten you, and uncle doesrj intend to prosecute after all." A look of relief came into Will's face. " I shouldn't wonder. 1 was in such a funk I hard! understood what he said. What a clever girl you are, Ev) to think of it. But won't you be afraid to encounter Un(| Roger? He's an awful old bear." She sighed. " Yes, I am afraid — that is, a little — but if it is ned sary. Will, it must be done. And now, dear, you mustf back to the roof Aunt Maria is generally stirring aboj seven, and she might come up here. But put a wet toij inside your hat. Will, to keep the sun off your head, take a blanket to lie on. Perhaps you will be able to sId on the leads, and no one can see you from the strj because of the parapet. And I will bring you up whj can s.'.ve from breakfast without Aunt Maria seeing me. " Will she let you go to see Uncle Caryll, Eve ? lives at 24 BirkeLhead Square, ' MOUNT EDEN. 53 If course I shall say nothing to her about it ; but I think there will be any difficulty. She always lets to church by myself if I wish it, and I can pretend going with Louisa Marsh.*' k sighed again heavily. m, Will ! how I wish there was no need of pretence. js cut my heart so." lut there is, you see — great need — so it's no use sigh- irer'it," said Will, as he prepared to mount on a chair phmb through the trap-door ; " and mind you bring kme breakfast, Eve, for I'm positively starving." [will — you know I will. I would go without any my- mer than you should fast any longer. But lie close !ep quiet, Will, whatever you do." fastened the inner bolt of the trap-door as soon as disappeared through it, and washed and dressed in a tremendous hurry. She v/as in such a fright [ss Rayne should walk into her room and observe Ig unusual m its appearance. She shook up her ^ re-made it, and set everything in apple-pie order, [many a wistful glance meanwhile at the closed trap- lat hid her lover. Her aunt awaked, as she had iearlier than usual. Will Caryll's defalcations of the jfore had weighed upon her mi ad, and cut short her In a very little while her voice was heard call- Ihe stairs, — jlyn ! Evelyn ! Did that boy come home last « fidn't let him in, aunt," replied Eve, over the banis- ^ no one entered the house after I came to bed." Rayne mounted the staircai;e, as if to make sure, eneid the door of young Caryll's untehanted room. i disgraceful ! " she ejaculated ; " a lad of his age — knty in May — stopping out all night in this manner. \ has he been, I should like to know ? Such dis- )le proceedings are enough to give the house a bad But I shall write to Mr. Caryll on the subject. |he must put a stop to it, or William Caryll must go. ;r, Evelyn, you don't see it in the same light as I Jo see it in the same light, auntie," said Eve gravely, ik it is very wrong of Will, and you are quite right iding it." r llllli!il(!: II ^ i I ^' 54 MOUNT EDEN. " Well, well, child, you are always good and amehablj replied Miss Rayne mollified, " and I only wish your cou would tcke pattern by you. Don't worry about him more. He's safe enough, I'll lay. Bad money is sure! come back on one's hands. But come down ; run andf the breakfast ready. I'li talk to Mr. Gamble about I when he's had his — " "Aunt," said Evelyn, as they entered the kite together, " don't you think it would be better to leavej discussion of Will's behavior till to-morrow ? It can't a pleasant subject to Mr. Gamble, and this is Sunday, know, the day of peace and rest. Unless he begins! wouldn't bother Mr. Gamble about our own troubles! day." " Lor, child, you talk like an old woman of fifty ! ever, you're right for all that, and we should try to pij our worries on one side on Sunday. And I think I Gamble is going over to Waterloo, so I dare say I shou have had the opportunity. Don't take that loaf for \\ my dear. There's a staler one in the cupboard. Anj like a little boiled bread and milk myself. I've haJ toothache half the night ! I was nearly coming upsj to ask you to get me a poultice." Evelyn shuddered as she thought of the r k Will run, but Miss Rayne saw no change in her countenan| " I'm half afraid I sha'n't get to church this mor she went on presei. tly, " for they leave all ihe doon v/indows open this varm weather, and there's alwaij fear of a draught. Bu^ you can go as usual, of cj Evelyn, my dear." " Thank y9u, auntie." "And now, if the water boils, just make a cup oft me and yourself before you go on with the breakfast. | look very white, child ; do you feel ill ? " " Oh, no ; I am quite well — only a Httle tired with i up so late. But you shall have the tea in a few ml auntie." Miss Rayne walked away to dust the sitting-roon superintend Sarah's operations ; and Evelyn, havingc in her tea, poured her own share into a clean botti placed it in a drawer. " Take a cup yourself, child ! " called out Miss I from the front parlor ; " for you look as if It would) good." MOUNT EDEN, 5S I was really fond of her niece, although she considered i^duty to look strictly after her ; and she plied her so lly with food that morning, that Evelyn had a good ly to carry to her prisoner on the roof by the time |cnt up to put on her walking things, fill," she cried, when she had locked the door and ed the trap ; " my poor Will, here is your breakfast ; >w I am going as fast as I can to Uncle Caryll's, to fou back news of what he intends to do." dared not answer for fear of being heard from so he only nodded his head as he received the |of food and bottle of tea, and commenced at once lolish them. And Evelyn put on her Sunday ind hat and mantle, and set out tremblingly for her house. She had heard such terrible accounts of ^ryll that she pictured him to herself as some ogre, snap one's head off for the least word, and she sooner have faced a wild beast than dared him in But it was no time to think of her own fears, ifety and weli-doing were at stake, and it was im- ^iy necessary that she should find out how far the [re aware of his short-comings, and what they meant jjicerning them. Perhaps — if he would listen to might persuade her uncle to pardon him this time, him back into his office. But, even if he did so, \St\i in her heart that something had gone out of "lat could never be replaced there. CHAPTER VII. UNCLE ROGER. 24 Birkenhead Square was a large and imposing in appearance, but very dull. Eve thought, as ke m sight of it, that it looked more like a hospital rison than a private house, it had such begrimed Ity windows, shaded by wire blinds, and with no ftains or bright colors to make them homelike and As she glanced up, she wondered how any one med Mount Eden and such a lot of money could gloomy a place. Many other people besides S6 MOUNT EDEN, Eve had wondered the same, and called Mr. Roger Caryl stingy, and a miser, for sticking to commerce to ania| more wealth, when he could not spend what he posscsse already. But they did not understand the working of tli| merchant's heart. He, too, thought of Mount Eden, an how happy he had once been there, and how all the haj piness had vanished like a dream, and his soul sickenl as he remembered it. Liverpool, with its bustling, dir streets, and the dark office for day, and the dull, empti house for night time, suited him better now than all t| sunshine and the flowers of Mount Eden. He could be them better. They kept him brooding, but the oth would have driven him mad. For his was a sad life-histoj He had once been a poor clerk in a counting-house, poor to dream of marrying the woman of his choice, frJ whom he had been forced to part, with many tearg, in ori to accept a situation in the West Indies. But Fortune J unexpectedly smiled on him, and after several years' work and absence, he had returned home a rich man.j find his old love (contrary to the usual custom) both laj ful and free, and himself in a position to reward her lij ity. They had married, and for a while were perfectly haij Mr. Caryll's good luck continued. His shillings seeij to have the most marvellous faculty for turning themsei into pounds, and he moved from one house to anotj until he occupied a palatial residence in Liverpool, this time he had become the senior partner in the firq Caryll, Tyndal & Masters, timber merchants. There i only one thing wanting to complete his happiness-] heir to inherit his wealth. At last that came also. % they had given up all4iope of possessing such a bles^' a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Caryll, and in the pj tude of his pride and felioity, the father purchased j magnificent estate of Mount Eden in Hampshire, andf the house which now stood thereon. It was to be) marriage portion — so he used to say — of his beloved] His wife and he would continue to occupy it till! happy occasion, and then they would vacate in of their little Hugh. But when the Carylls seemel have reached the zenith of their happiness and sucj the tide of luck turned, and misfortune commenced toj in upon them instead. Is it not often so in this wor| MOUNT EDEN. J7 ippointment and trouble ? The cup that is raised to [lips is too often Ittce the cup of Tantahis — filled, but iffle our efforts to reach it. Mr. C^ryll's misfortunes m with the death of his wife. The faithful woman who [loved him throughout their hopeless separation died [ving birth to a still-born child, when Hugh was about years old. Mr. Caryll never recovered the shock. [last word and her last look had been for him, but the ibrance only added to his grief- Why had God taken the light of his eyes at one stroke, and spared the which became as dross in his sight without her? rent on living, it is true, but his existence had lost its [aim, and his only consolation lay in the nurture of his ion. He was still piling up riches. Each ship he jred brought him home a golden freight, and he had loney than he knew what to do with. Many women have been glad to step into the late Mrs. Caryll's ^biit the widower never dreamt of its being possible ry again. All was to be for Hugh. Hugh was to his father as head of the mercantile firm in Liver- jat bore their name, and Mr. Caryll determined to his son in all the duties of so responsible a position. |[is purpose he took the boy from school at sixteen )ld, and, moving from Mount Eden to Liverpool, ■ him in his counting-house. But Hugh had been >oiled. The routine, work, and close confinement ice chafed his nervous and excitable temperament ; led the free life he led in the country ; and, tempted le wild companions of his own age, he ran away to thout a word of warning, and broke his father's Not but what Mr. Caryll would have brought him !;ain at any cost and granted him his heart's desire ^the boy lived. But, before the merchant ship in 'le sailed came back to port, the news arrived that rilful Hugh had been drowned by the upsetting of a the surf in the Bay of Callao. I second blow at his affections completely prostrated 'Tr. Caryll. His face became lined and puckered, ire bent, and his hair white as snow. His speech [nner, too, were altered. He had always been a firm nded character, but he now degenerated into being jpd rough, which had made Will liken him to a bear. years of age he looked like an old man of eighty. li :i| ! ^8 MOUNT EDEN. Still, he remained cognisant of the duties dependant | him as the owner of so vast a property. His wife child were gone, but others remained to benefit by his sessions, and after a while he began to look about and inteiest himself more in his relations than he hitherto done. His family was a small one. He hadl a brother and a sister, — now both dead, — but each I left a child behind without any visible means of subsistei| His nephew, William Caryll, became Mr. Caryll's first( The lad's mother had married again, and moved intol country, and, after some difficulty, he found him in s( obscure situation in a draper's house in London, brought him up to Liverpool and put him in Hugh's in his office. And how Will Caryll had requited] uncle's kindness has already been told. There was sonlfething of heroic fortitude in the fej with which Evelyn Rayne approached the door of| house in Birkenhead Square. Her uncle was a straj to her. He had never even taken the trouble to ask I her since the day when she had paid him a visit, cliij to her mother's gown. On her own account she could have ventured into his presence, but fear for] made her as bold as a lion. So she mounted the steps that led to the melancholy-looking mansion, and] the hall-bell. A man-servant in plain clothes answerj He was an elderly man, and not at all smart, but he eminently respectable. He seemed very much surj to see Evelyn standing there, and he asked her sharply what she required. *' I want to see Mr. Caryll, please." ** You can't see him to-day ; it's Sunday." " I know that, but my business is very particular, you tell him that his niece, Miss Rayne, wishes to! to him?" " I'm sure I beg your pardon, Miss, Please \\\ and I'll tell Mr. Caryll you're here. But it's veryi he'll see any one on a Sunday." At this moment, however, a sharp, gruff voice cal J^ from the dining-room, — '^k "Who's that, Barnes?" And a sudden courage, born of despair, made Rayne start forward to the open door, exclaiming,- " it's I, Uncle Roger — Evelyn, your niece. Oh,^ me speak to you ! " MOUNT EDEN, 59 , Caryll was seated at his breakfast-table, looking very and unkempt. He was unshorn ; his white hair was about in some disorder; and he wore a dark-grey J dressing-gown. But as he caught sight of Evelyn L he leapt from his chair and grasped her by the arm, [ing her fixedly in the face the while. 1 you " he gasped — *' you are Evelyn Rayne — [ary's child ? " >," replied Evelyn, frightened at his manner ; "but angry with me, uncle, I have only come to speak tibr a moment." l;aryll relaxed his grasp, and tottered back to his [not angry, child," he answered, and then he covered with his hands, and muttered, "So like — so very not know whom she was like, unless it was her l^ier ; but she no longer felt afraid of her uncle. *^e she ventured to speak again. [will think it very strange my coming here, I am len you have never asked me, uncle ; but we are listress at home, and I came to you for informa- '^i\U sit down. What is it you have to say ?" i tooi- a chair, but Mr. Caryll did not look at her listened with his head leaning on his hand. as not been home since yesterday morning, untie and I sat up till twelve o'clock last night to , but he never came, and we are frightened. Can s where he is ? " he's not been home, hasn't he ? " remarked Mr. m behind the shelter of his hand. " He's afraid is face there, as well he may be ! Likely enough be heard of again, and lucky for him if he isn't." sir, what has he done ? " inquired Evelyn, with a face. " Is anything wrong, that you should speak ethat?" \g ! Everything's wrong. The boy's an ungrateful 1 1 feel ashamed to have befriended. I took him ng behind the counter of a button-shop in St. urchyard, and put him in a position in my office, might have risen to anything — anything; and he ted my goodness by first robbing the firm, and g from the consequences of his crime." .^1 MOUNT KDEN. " Oh, uncle, he didn't rob you, surely ? " cried Evelyn, " He did worse, Evelyn. He stole my cheques forged Liy name. He hasn't even cleverness enough to a good thief. He did tjie job so clumsily that a ct might have detected the fraud. But he will meet with deserts yet." " Will they send the detectives after him ? " asked girl, in a low voice of horror. '* Most certainly they will. The forged cheque was the hands of the police last night, and if to-day were Sunday, Master William Caryll would be in their handi^ this time. As it is, they must wait till to-morrow, they'll have him locked up by to-morrow night — you depend upon that." " But- oh, uncle, will you not spare him ? " cried Eve| leaving her seat and approaching Mr. Caryll's chair, is very young, you know, and this is his first offence. No, my dear, it is not his first offence. He has sti postage stamps and loose change over and over again] I hoped he would take >varning by what was said toj But this is far more serious. He has committed a felci " I can't think how he can have done it," said Ev with the tears in her eyes. *^ He must have been and I am sure he is sorry for it now. Oh, sir! uncle ! won't you let him off this time, and give hii riore chance ? Think how his whole future will be bl; if you prosecute him for this terrible offence." Mr. Caryll shoved his spectacles down upon his and peered at her curiously through them. " What's your interest in this young man ? " he aski Evelyn blushed like a rose. * He is my cousin," she answered, looking down/' a: has lived with us now for two years. It would be te." for botli Aunt M.iria and m^ 'i Will were to be ^^ prison — or transported. It would anect our name, ■i^ as yours, uncle." j^ " I know that ; but I can't cheat the law for nij^j* convenience. Besides, the matter is out of my hand < concerns the firm, and Messrs, Tyndal and Maste resolved to prosecute him on their own account, .^i young miscreant must be made un example cf, or wj have all the clerks in the office embezzling and forgi Evelyn did not answer him this time. She was w silently. .^-^ MOUNT EDEK. «I . " cried Evelyn] my cheques mess enough tol imsily that a cM ; will meet withf r him?" asked -ged cheque wasl i if to-day were! be in their hands] ill to-morrow, rownight-youi »• I'm sorry for you^ child — that is, if you like the lad," imed Mr. Caryll presently, " and if the matter had con- led myself alone, I might have granted your request. no one could save him from his just punishment now. have given him up to the law, r>nd the law must take its irse. There's no help for it." 'And when they find him, they will put him in prison," )ed Evelyn. Decidedly, and then transport him,'' replied Mr. rll ', " and, after all, I think it's the best thing they can for he'll never be any good in pjigland — you may take rord for that. Did Miss Rayne send you to me ? " To, sir. I came of myself." Jecause you thought I could save him ? " Jccause I thought you would tell me where he is, >> ell, I don't know, Evelyn, and I don't want to know. in Liverpool, he'll be in custody to-morrow, there's ubt of that. And I don't think he's worth crying ither. He'^: a sc^mp that's worth no honest girl's How old are you ? " venteen, sir." nd have you ever been to school ? " yes. Aunt Maria always sent me till last year. m I stay at home, and help her with the lodgers." d it's not very pleasant work, I expect ? " on't mind it, uncle. Auntie has been very good to t is my duty to help her as far as I can." at's a good girl. Well, dry your eyes and go home, n't waste any more tears over your Cousin William, s I may see your aunt and you, after a fsw days, ave no more time to talk to you now." taking up his Sunday papers, Mr Caryll buried his m view in them. ry well, uncle. Good morning," said Evelyn meekly, turned away. Aishe closed the door behind her, and stepped into the law lor '^^lali, s^e was ract by Barnes. uVe quite upset the master, Miss, I can hear it in e of his voice," he said, *' by your likeness to Master Well, you are like him, there's no denying it. / en such a likeness in my life," he continued, as he out at the front door. But Evelyn scarcely heeded looking down," a: It would be u* \jy{i were to be \ anect our name It n. the is out of my banc yndal and Maste own account. example cf, or v bezzling and forg' time. She was V « m 6a MOUNT EDEN. his remark. Her heart was too full of Will. She onlj| want<^d to get away somewhere, and think over what sii had heard. She would save him, she kept on repeating herself. Whatever ihe firm or the police might do, sli would save Will at the risk of her own life. The fir public square she came to, she walked in and sat down oJ a bench, and put her head down between her two handu and thought hard — hard. What was the best thing todoj Yet, when it was time to walk home to the two o'clocj dinner, she had arrived at no satisfactory conclusion. Bif when she handed up to Will the food she had managed i secrete for him, there was a little note in the parcel. " Dear Will," it ran, " keep up your spirits. I li turning over schemes in my mind for your escape, ard am sur*^ I shall succeed. I will tell you all to-night. — Evi Siie had an extra source of annoyance that afterncij from the fact of her aunt having become acquainted mi; the story of Will's wickedness through Mr. Gamble. Tl two had spent the whole morning in denunciation of i lad's conduct ; and Miss Rayne repeated it all as newsj her niece on her return home. But she was not satis with Evelyn's reception of it. " Upon my word, I have no patience with you," exclaimed at last. " Here am 1 telling you that we \i been harboring a young man no better than a .iiiirde| under our roof, and you look as stolid as if he'd di nothing at all. Why, we might al' have been mnrdei :j our beds. A lad who'll forge his master's name wo.. anything. But he doesn't enter viy doors again, Evt^ Rayne. If William Caryll comes knocking for admitta here, and you let him in, you'll both go out tcge Don't forget that. But he's loo cunning to try it. Gamble says he's most likely hiding in some of those j places near the river, and the police will have hiin enough by to-morrow evening. The young wretch." " Poor Will," said Evelyn softly. " Ah ! poor Will, indeed ! Poor Mr. Caryll, you irj who's lost fifty pounds and more by his wicked behaj but there, I believe you'd pity Will if he was hangirj the gallows. I've no patience with you, Evelyn, heart's a deal too soft to go through the world with it'll bring you to trouble yet. Are you going to afteri| church ? " I :'( MOUNT EDEN, ^ I" No, aunt. I'm tired, I'd rather stay at home pnd Y Ah, well ; read, or do anything rather than waste your thinking of that scamp," said Miss Rayne, as she left room. lut Evelyn thought of nothing else, and by night-time had matured her plans. When all the house was jep, and she ventured to let Will enter her room again [the trap door, she whispered to him what had occurred nng her interview with their uncl^. The lad's look of jeless despair was a picture. [it's all over," he gasped ; " they will trap me, as sure gun, and I shall be transported for life. Oh, Eve, shall I do ? What shall I do ? " [ush ! hush ! dear Will. Don't cry, or you will upset >rtitude as well. Listen to me, dear. / am going to rou ! " fou, Eve ! But how ? " will not be an agreeable thing to do, I know, but iust do it if you want to escape. You must put on a *my clothes." fonsense ; they will never fit me." will make them fit you. I have a dark winter suit in )x, and I am going to sit up all night and alter it. len you must change the color of your hair." pw can I do thai ? " ^u have often laughed at poor auntie for dyeing her air brown. It is lucky for you now that she does so. got the bottle out of her room, and I am going to ill over your head at once." put his hands up to shield his golden locks. 1, bother, I can't have that ; you'll spoil my hair ! " jllaimed, in his conceit. looked at him with pitiful surprise. id can you think of your hair at a moment like this ? tWill, if they take you they'll shave it all off." I^face length ,ned. right, then ; go ahead, and get it over. But what do next ? " proposal is this," she whispered, as she began to is hair with the brown dye ; " there are emigrant nng in the docks, Will, and two of them sail to- I have some money for you— fifteen pounds— II ii UOVNT BDEN. which I got by .elling my X^"'l'^"ltXl^^^^^''^\i ;^ bi.? pun «'»^be l-^)ZZ, down to the doc ioon as it is H^^> ^^^ Tu a eirl. to America.' -rot can yourself by r-tlXf i" 73 X come on board «<> '^"^^.t^:,! Hhink you will cJ " il(,_but if you play y°"L n ,1 a case like this « to r,' The great thuig, Will, m a ^^^^ j t/"- PeVet->'eV-revryt/«bein'hidingneJ Gamble r.ays '^ey al b«b«;y„ of walking abroad m river The" won t suspect j ^^ j,f,.a,d. i'ght: They think yo"7"JfK/:Wp. There are hTt^^ 1"wa1k?d%ow'f to the ciu^y. aj^/^n St^'-^r i,;s morn^^^^^^ S.' Vo« ^ i^> Tt wont cost you inuiv , ^^ voursell| rar;'Jne7ks yo" -y^t^;^ s^.t tieUeyJ your brother's out in New^o , ^ „eed,l ♦ni it was dry. , . „ i_ .. che continued presl "".."it's lucky y°"' Ji^VokmoreUke agirl. You'll ..because it makes you look mo ^^^^^^ j a prettier girl than I do wu , ,^ j) America, and put on y°"/„ °T" e it the right color. soon wear off your harr, and >eave 6^, j,^, "Tl -d better take my own rtin|gs '^ SupJ ..Oh no 1 that «°">^,^A;u send them after you,Vj any one saw them? »«« ' » . own name. toon as I safely can, ^^d es^ea > ^^^ ^^ | New York .C"f ."^/J" if^tae. Vnd, mean«h j r^:;y-%f ,r mJtt;. trinkets toi „;,^Tt^'s°:;Syd of you. upon my word, El MOUNT EDEN, %% Don't speak of it, Will ; I did it in hopes of gettins igh to satisfy Mr. Todson ; and at first, when I found had paid him, I felt sorry — but now I am very, very What should we have done in this strait without 5y?" "^hat, indeed? You have been my savior. Eve. I never forget it. What can I do to show my grati- «ie down on the bed, Will, and have a good sleep, kt I prepare your clothes. You have a trying day J you to-morrow. Get all the rest you can to-night." lay down, as he had done the night before, looking igely unlike himself with his altered hair, and was fast asleep. Eve drew out her work-basket and her winter [and sat down and stitched for several hours, lengthen- skirt, enlarging the band, and letting out the bodice ^her cousin's larger frame. By the time the day had 1, she had everything ready for him, with a few for change put up m a bundle, and the precious [•overeigns in a purse. And then, before she waked imbering youth, she knelt down beside him and up a prayer from her heart for his preservation. bearing up so bravely for his sake, that she did jw how deeply his danger and their approachirif [on were eating into her vAy soul. ke up, Will," she whispered presently, as she gently lim by the arm, " wake up. Five has just struck (own clock. I am going into the next room till ycu ihed and dressed yourself, and when you want me, fery softly on the wall, and I shall hear you and ick again." (Jipped out of the room without her, shoes as she Wd went into Will's empty apartment, whence sh» with a heart beating with fear, for any sounds of ice anic ngst the rest of the household. But all loothly. Will washed and dressed himself, and )r his tap upon the intervening wall brought Eve lin to find him struggling with the buttons of her put he was not so awkward as might have been 1 He had often posed as a woman for amateur lis, and knew something of the intricacies of a rardrobe. When he was fully equipped, he looked II i / f 66 MOUNT EDEN. very much what he professed to be. His delicate featu le»it themselves to his disguise, and his brown hair ef tually spoilt his likeness to Will Caryll. When he h placed a dark brown straw hat over his curls, he made very personable girl. " Oughtn't I to have a veil ? " he asked her. " No, Will, it would only rouse suspicion. Girls who out as emigrants don't wear veils. But pin this shai over your shoulders. I'm afraid it will be very warm, it hides your figure, and you will find it useful on bo; ship. And here^ is the money, dear, and some clean li in this bundle. And now, Will, it must be a bold stri for Hberty. I will go down first, to make sure that aui is still in bed, and then I will return for you." She wall downstairs as she spoke, passing her aunt's door, and thi of the lodgers, but everything was still as death. " Tl are all asleep," she said, on returning, " and you will take two minutes to descend the stairs, and I shall o^ the hall door for you at once. Walk boldly out, Will, get some breakfast at a cofifee-house before you go do\v the quay. I dare not give you any here, it would be dangerous." " All right," said Will Caryll, •' I am ready." But Hflfcie the girl's fortitude gave way, and she turn piteous face towards him. *' I must say good-byf to you here," she moaned. ' Will, my darling, shall we ever see one another again? The tears rushed to his eyes also. He folded Ev his arms, and they wept silently together. *' Of course we shall," he whispered presently ; " I be all right by-and-bye. Eve, and then I shall send mJ home for you to come out and join me. For you vjt forget that we are promised to each other — will you->^ that we are t6 be husband and wife ? " " Never — never," she sobbed. '* You are mine — as much as if I had married you, — I shall always consider that ; and if I don't come for years, I shall expect to find you waiting for mc shall for you. Will you swear to be faithful to me? " Oh, yes ! I swear it I " And if uncle comes round (as I daresay he will, al while) and sends for me home again, or if he dies leaves me Mount Eden, we are to share it together, ai we, Eve ? "' -til L MOUNT EDEN, «7 Yes, dear, but just now you must think only of your- and your safety. You will be careful, won't you, ? — and when you get work in America, you will keep very straight, for my sake as well as your own ? " f Of course I will, Eve! This has been all a beastly ike, I assure you. If it hadn't been for that interfer- [impertinent old brute Gamble, I should have paid it }ack again, and no one would have been the wiser." the last, and even in the crisis of his danger, Will |rll remained the same — obstinate, foolish, and self- fed — and yet Eve loved him. rod bless you ! God keep you, my darling ! " she I, as she kissed him again and again. " It would be to keep you longer — it' might imperil your safety. ^e a thousand more things to say to you, but they all to end up with God bless you. But you will write L Will, as soon as you have arrived in New York ? " Ml, yes ; of course I will write to you." [icn one more kiss, and let us part." parting kiss was exchanged very solemnly, and ive opened the bedroom door again and went down- Will Caryll treading with her, step by step, so that lescent sounded like that of one. As they passed Layne's door, they had a fright, ^e ! " she called from her bed, " is that you ? " BS, aunt," Eve replied, but she did not arrest her )S. lat are you up so early for ? " lave a headache. I couldn't sleep," returned her [who, with Will Caryll, by this time had gained the ?11, as you are up, make me a cup of tea, my dear. the toothache again, terribly." 11 right, auntie. You shall have it as soon as the I boils," said Ilvc, as with a face as white as death |he suspense she had gone through, she unbolted the oor, and threw it open to the morning air. The in which they lived was empty from one end to the fpointed silently to the pavement, as though to bid \o. He glanced about fearfully, on the look-out for teman. brave I " she whispered, " it is your only chance. II ! iii ill! II w'^ii 68 MOUNT EDEN, Go at once^ and get clear of this house as soon a*^ sible." And then he walked away, awkwardly enough, with bundle in his hand, and Eve gazed after him for a mom in agony, thinking that every one must detect his sex the first glance. But at last he turned the comer with one backward look, and she closed the door upon him, leant her head against it :'a a kind of dumb and hopel pain. "Eve! Eve!" called out Miss Rayne again; "m am I to have that tea ? " Eve started from her stupor. Had she been le there a minute or an hour ? She could not tell. But staggered to the kitchen and lit the fire, and put on kettle, and made the tea, and carried it up to her a room. All the excitement and the suspense were over now, the reaction was setting in. Eve hardly kn»w what thought, or hoped, or wished for as she stood by J Rayne's side, with the cup of tea in her hand. " Well ! you have been a time," grumbled Maria ; " I began to think you were making the wood the coals. And how white yoi look, too ! Have seen a ghost downstairs, or have you been out of youri all night ? I expect you lie awake reading trashy ncj and burning my candles, Evelyn Rayne, and I won't it, and so I warn you ! Now, tell me the truth. II have you been doing to yourself? " " Nothing, auntie. But I have such a queer feelii my head," " said the girl faintly, and the next minuti had fallen flat down on the floor, beside Miss Rai bed. " Good gracious I " exclaimed the old lady, as she the tea all over herself, and scrambled out of bed ttifl assistance, " Mercy on us ! If she hasn't fainted !" *r1 MOUNT EDEN, «9 CHAPTER VIII. AN IMMENSE SURPRISE. i she been lean a not tell. Buti fire, and put on! lit up to her an- e were over now,| trdly kn'^w what 5 she stood by K ,er hand. . " gruroDlea making the wood ok, tool Have L been out of yom reading trashy H yrne,andIwont me the truth. \ uch a queer feelii d the next minut! beside Miss Kai e old lady, as she ,bled out of bed ^ hasn't fainted 1 .YN did not hear the last of that unfortunate fainting If a long time, mingled with the subject of Will Caryll's lordinary disappearance. It rung in her ears for days "■ards. luch an anheard-of thing," Miss Rayne would exclaim, it you should faint. You've never fainted in your life that I ever heard of, and here, on the very day that gpod-for-nothing fellow, Will Caryil, disappears, lUSt needs tumble down by my bedside like a fine ith the vapors ; it is very annoying of you, Evelyn. ^t know what Sarah can have thought of it, ' Lor,* to me, ' here's Miss Eve fainted straight off, !r. William hasn't been in his bed all night.' Such :eful proceedings ! They really make me quite ted." very sorry, aunt," replied Evelyn, in a weak, low " but I told you the reason. I have been sitting ite at night the last week, and I was over tired." sitting up to let that young scamp in, so that, I I't hear of his misdoings ! You encouraged him, ,, in all his wickedness. I consider half his crimes be laid at your door." |, don't say that," cried the girl in tears. " I would Lved him from them at any cost, but I didn't know until it was too late." fell, don't cry, my dear, for he's not worth a single Didn't I always say that he reminded me of lOgirth's ' Idle Apprentice ? ' It might have been |a#n from Will Caryll. And where can he have hidden ^■^ all this time? That's what beats me. Mr. Gam- rs he can't be in Liverpool, for the police have id high and low, and went on board every ship in jks. But (as I said) what was the use of that, for I hadn't any money on Saturday morning, because me to lend him twopence." Ill' i I i'l III p*' i urn 'nl' III! II I II! ; ih 70 MOUNT EDEN. « What ships did they search ? " asked Evelyn breath- lessly. *• Lor, child, how can I tell you ? They haven't found him, more's the pity." *' Perhaps he has gone back to London, au itie." " How could he get to London without money ? Thai) fainting fit has dazed your brain, Evelyn Rayne. Unless,] indeed, he's pawned his clothes. I turned out his 100 thi^ morning, and I found nothing there but a few ol collars. He's taken his things with him — the ungratefi scamp ! " " Well, they'd be no use to us^ auntie," replied Evelyr^ who had them safely locked away in her box. "Perhaps not; but it shows he had it in his mind t: run away all along. He was prepared for this, the villai But a lad who could forge his master's name would prepared for anything. Mr. Gamble says the police a convinced he is not in Liverpool, neither can they he2 anything of him, so they are going to turn their attentk:^ to London. And they'll soon catch him there. Thcy'i|" got a full description of him, with his fine blue eyes, ai his curly, fair hair, and they won't be long running h down, /bet. And the sooner he's caught the better, s 1. Mr. Gamble said he'll be transported for it, and \{\ was hung, I shouldn't cry. He's no good in the wori and a deal better out of it." " Oh, aunt, aunt, you are very h rd on him," exclaim: Evelyn ; " can't you make some al'xowance for iiis yoi and his temptations ? He hr , been very wrong, I km that, but he will suffer bitterly for it all his life long." " And serve him '•ight too," replied Miss Rayne hot " Good gracious me, that I should live to hear my cv flesh and blood standing up for a forger ! Do you und stand what forgery is, Evelyn Rayne, and that your fi cousin, William Caryll, is no better than a common thief' " Oh, yes ! I understand it only too well. But wea< not judge of the extent of a sin until we know all circumstances attending it." " Oh, can't we ? That's your opinion, is it ? Bu: happen to have my own. And I'd like to see Will Ca: in prison to-morrow for defrauding such a good, k uncle as Mr. Caryll has been to him. And to think should have passed you over — his own sister's child MOUNT EDEN, 7» auitie. ' money ? Thai ayne. Unless! d out his rooiJ . but a few olJ Lthe ungratefij replied EvelyrI >ox. . , it in his mnid \ r this, the villaiij name would II ys the police a;| ler can they hei^ rn their attentu ci there. They' lie blue eyes, ai long running Iv rht the better, sj ed for it, and ifll [ood in the woiM ,n him/' exclaiin| xiice for his yor ery wrong, I Ki^'f his life long." ^ Miss Rayne hol^^ sre to hear my oJ ^r 1 Do you undW? 'and that your ^' 1 a common thiefj ,well. But wee il we know all' lion, is it? J^;t e to see Will Cai such a good, J. 1 And to thinkl m sister's child- c sake of an ungrateful scamp like that. Well, I hope 'II see the mistake he's made now. Better late than ,ver. Though, if you're going to take to fainting fits, velyn Raync, I don't know that he will gain much by the change. Fainting, indeed ! I never heard of such non- nse. / never faintca in my life, and I don't know by .at riglit you presumed to do so." *♦ I won't do it again, auntie, I promise you," said Eve nestly. " And it isn't pleasant either. 1 felt ill all day erwards." " Well, if you'll prevent it for the future, I've nothing re to say or the subject. But you frightened me, my r, that's the fact, and at my age such things tell." o ran on Miss Rayne under the excitement of young yll's misdeeds. And M( i*day, and Tuesday, and Wed- day i)asscd without any news being gained of him. lyn's heart was singing a hymn of gratitude the while, hich the refrain was, '' He is safe,'' for she had read in 1 paper of ihe departure of both the ** Anna Maria " the " Nuremberg Castle," so, in whichever vessel Will procured a berth, he had left Liverpool, and was on way to New York. The excitement and the dread of very kept her up for the first few days, but as the wore to its close, and she realized that Will was , and tb-re was no more immediate cause for fear, the f their separation, and the uncertainty of its duration, in upon her mind, and weighed her spirits to the very d. Everything seemed over. Even the clothes he ehind him had been packed in a parcel and secretly ^eycd to the luggage office, and booked for New York oras House in his name. And then all was gone, t the remembrance of his crime, and the knowledge it must be a long time before he could venture to show [face in England again. The reaction had a visible ^ipt, both on Evelyn's health and spirits. She mourned pfloss of her young lover as though he had been dead, the burdsn was all the heavier to bear, because she ashamed to confess its weight to anyone. But she thinner, and sallower, and more lanky, and her big, eyes looked like two burnt holes in a blanket in the t of her yellow face. She did not wo.'k less in the ime, but she went about her business languidly and trouble ; and crying half the night for her absent Will <*! MOUNT EDEN, ■ *^^ r o(T'i;r<; She was not ifl did not improve the sta e o affa.„. ^^^ J iomnered, but she became ^^y , t^^j. aunt insisted* rear" leave ^^.^^Vs^e of her health she al J her tating a walk &' «e saK ^^ tb| went straight to th« '^'^'"^''^'j-eh she had made therej „rave, and renew the vow wm^ ,j ^ome \M le faithful and t^-^'^^/'/rj however long it miBta] some day-she was ^"'« "^ *^''„id find her just the sJ as she returned h?,™;fnet at the doorstep by her a1 to the cemetery, she was met a ^^^j^^^ent. 1 Maria, in a great ='*« °f «w7,,y„. What a t.me y«l "Here you are at last, ^'"- J , thelact half-hol beetU I've been watchmg fo^,-^^^^^^ you toW " Oh, aunt, I am sorrj . i to stay out till tea-time. j^,, qf .« e-'i^'lj .'No, my dear, >' J ""» J"" f^/,,, do you think is i", tut I've a surprise for you her vo.ce Pt:S;r^mf af ^He^ ^ sheet. Could W,« I ^^fs^rguer%- ..Your Uncle Roge'^V^"'^ 'i" he" spirits sinking " ^^f ' " ^^fhefntervfewL' Birkenhead Square. remembered the i^^^y',^„ ,. 'aunt, you must be >nistaken ^^^ .^.^ jo.-j, .. Not at all. I ve seen nu / ^^^,^ ^^„, „^^ the honor to take a cup oUea wuh ^^ ^^ niake yourself tidy, ana coiuc , gi^c had ■«.;«— '""l^cV d'd °°' feT^v t fir "^ew of her u„cl,| agreeably disappointe'l by her 6^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ,|^_ was not afraid to ™f "■ " i° jq discuss poor WiUs«|r he should have <:o"',V taf 'Jt more about h.m »fcr« quencies, and try '° . ^™e° ^ „„ felt that sheh,ad;I| mysterious escape ^nd ^^.g/^mination under the fel not be subjected to a cross e ^^^^^^ ^^ ^m Syrrs:qi»^-rtif MOUNT EDEN. 73 quickly." ,, to see you. jpirits sinking ■nhead Square. W self, and he's dol:|e^ us Now, run mfli, as quickly as you rther. She had view of her uncle Only she drcade Idiscuss poor \ViU ore about himn^Vn. felt that she had a fcination under the - ,rkled under Mi • ^ hed her face and b. ittle parlor, l^v ement from dela). t. Roger Caryll, dressed in a complete suit of dark- frieze, was occupying their solitary arm-chair, and ing a cup of tea handed him by Miss Rayne. He very old and bent, but not so untidy as he had done own house, and his eyes kept on turning expectantly s the door, whilst he scarcely heard or listened to ning list of compliments with which his hostess was ining him. For Miss Rayne was hoping all sorts things from this unexpected visit, though she had dea in what it would really result. od evening, uncle," said Evelyn deferentially, as tered the room. was looking her very worst, poor child, with a pale d dark rims under her eyes, and clad in a stuffdress ugliest shade of brown. lloa! what's the matter? Have you been ill?" ed Mr. Caryll, peering at her through his spectacles, lyn has not been well this last week or two — far ' replied Miss Rayne ; " she wants change of air, I ,nd many things that I can't give her, Mr. Caryll, ust well know, however good my will may be." bought that since Mr. CaryJ was there, she might ut him in remembrance that he had a niece as well hew. urse — of course — naturally," he said, in answer ark, and then he turned to Evelyn. " Well, and poor Mary's child ? " ed she is ; and we've always considered her very oor dear mother," interposed Miss Rayne.* " She's Caryll, isn't she, sir?" d man's brow contracted with pain, but he forced |to look at the girl. ^^ he said, after a pause, "you are right. She is a ^Caryll. There was a time when I was very fond ter, Miss Rayne." |:ourse, sir, naturally. And I am sure poor Mary ' nd respected you to the last day of her life." h this girl had been a lad, that I might have put place of that young rascal who has just run away continued Mr. Caryll. " It seems hard he should e so. Miss Rayne, for I am a lonely man now, few relations left." shameful— disgraceful— the basest ingratitude ! " IK < 11 74 \rouNT ED en: evea Ttiaj t lo^'* exclaimed Miss Raync ; " and I hope he'll get his desertsj sir." "Yes, he will repent it more ihan I shall, you riay bel sure of that, for I never quite took to the lad. H lidn'l remind me of my brother a bit. Edward had da. and hair, like Mary and mysclt, and this girl here, lad William was the image of his mother. He di«./ likr a Caryll to me. However, he's gone, and t'l . en.l ol it. He will never be able to sI,oa his face in thj < • uii'r^ again." ■ What ! Never ? " cried Evelyn, startled out of he| rcsei'v.\ " Cci i ainly not — unless he wishes to be arrested for fo| gery. The warrant is out against him, 'and will be ivailJ ble at any time of his existence. But don't let us speak J him. I wish to forget that he ever lived, and if T coul take the name of Caryll from him I would. But I a:^^ growing an old man now, Miss Rayne, and these LrMl events have somewnat shaken me. I have tz?xi taiking;i| my partners about quitting the fivm. There i'' no necel sity for my remaining in business. I have more moiifl than I shall ever need, and I begin to feel my infirmitiel So I have decided to live for the future at my coun::' house. Perhaps you have heard that I have a place Hampshire called Mount Eden — " " Heard, Mr. Caryll ! " exclaimed Miss Rayne enthud astically, " who has not heard of Mount Eden ? And oncj sir, — years' ago — I had the honor to pay you a visit the with my poor brother, — Evelyn's father, — and I have alw spoken of it since as a perfect little paradise. Haven: Evelyn ? " " Yes, it's a fine place — a very fine place — but it's br shut up for a long time," said Mr. Carlyl, with a deep si. ,^ , "I have not had the courage to occupy it ; but I tli-.* ^*^ I am stronger now that my time is so nearly come. S '-^pWaiJ am going back there very shortly ; but it's too big a hi -^^J* for a lonely old man. I shall be lost there by myself, u-™*^ so I want to take this girl with me, if you make no ob'8^' tion. She seems a good sort of girl to me — sensible quiet — and she'll look after me, perhaps, and keep me ti pany, and make the house more cheerful. Would youj disposed to part with her? " Miss Rayne clasped her hands, and raised her eyes| gratitude. MOUNT EDEiW 1 get his deserts! 75 :idn'i evesl Thai tlo' •e's ill, you nay be lad. H "^" 1 had da. girl here. He di< i c, and t'l , his face in thij artled out of ht: ,e .irrested for foj nd will be avail; on'tletusspeaki ed, and if T cou] vould. But I a: le, and these k J| avc bc.-n talking:] 'here i'' no nect| have more moKJ eel tny infirmitkl Lire at ray counr^p I have a place iss Rayne enthtt Eden ? And onci y you a visit tk and I have ah; radise. Haven't Dlace — ^l>ut it's bi yl, with a deep 4 upy it ; but I '' ' nearly come m\ * Oh, Mr. Car/11, it's what I have frayed for ! I've rly broker* my heart seeing you lavish all your favors n tha*; wc thltss Will Caryll, whilst you didn't seem to e 1 thoaght for your own sister's child. And she's a d girl, too, though " say it ; she'll never requite you ingiatitude. I've brought her up since she was eight rs old, and k low every bit of her. And I feel proud, th.T you should have thought of her name. Evelyn, dear, ivhy don't you thank your good uncle for his erous offer ? " ut Evelyn was standing before them, dazed and be- ered. She had hardly understood Mr. Caryll's mean- until her aunt replied to it. But now t^ ' truth sud- y flashed ui)on her. She was to lea o e little e — dirty and dingy, but which had beei nei ^me for long years, and held all the sweet n.oi. '^rics of her love and her first grief, and her kii.u, fi gety aunt, had never really been harsh or unjust to .lei, and her er's grave, and the town where she ' ■! hoped to live ill returned to her — and to go to a scrange place, gst strange people, with this gruff old. uncle, of whom new nothing, except that he was Will's enemy — and a house where Will would never dare to come for r or relief. Oh, no, no ! she could not do it. t was her first impression, and she fell weeping on nt's neck and told her so. untie, I don't want to leave you. Let me stay here, t send me away from home." ss Rayne was horrified in her turn. She saw all Mr. ll's good intentions melting into thin air beneath this ■ateful rejoinder, and Evelyn left on her hands for Evelyn, I'm ashamed of you ! What will your uncle ik of such rudeness ? Home, indeed ! What home / >'c too bie a h 1^^^ yo^i find like Mount Eden ? And every comfort and tVprVbv mvselL ^HH^ '"^^ the bargain. Well, I never ! I believe you're 8^!il8E» t^ ^F" °^^t ^^ badly as your cousin, and ingratitude run in the blood." h, aunt, I am not ungrateful ! Please, sir, turnmg r uncle, " don't think so ; but I have lived with auntie I was a little child. She has been like a second ,er to me, and if I leave her now, who will help her the housekeeping and the lodgers, and look after her she grows old and feeble ? " there by my you make no o ■o me — sensible ps, and keep meal rful. Would you d raised her eyes! m 76 MOUNT BID EN. At this appeal Miss Rayne broke down herself, and evei Mr. Gary 11 appeared moved. " Oh, my dear, my dear," cried the former, throwini herself into a chair and rocking backwards and forward " you've been a comfort and a help to me, there's no deni ing it, and 1 shall miss you terribly. But it's for yoti good, Evelyn — it's for your good ! I might go any da; and I've nothing to leave behind me except these few oI( sticks, and you're too young, by a score of years, to ke a house like this by yourself So, though I shall feclt[| separation, especially at first, I shall be glad and hai)|)y;j think you're provided for, and I've no one but myself think of" Evelyn looked up, mystified, through her tears. " Do you mean you will really be happier without iii auntie ? " she said, in a voice of pain, " Well, no, my dear — not exactly that perhaps— i X more comfortable and easy with regard tc the future. A you needn't fret about the extra work, Evelyn, becaib you go to live with your uncle, I shall be able to kctjlti^ second servant, you know, and save myself from cw thing but the housekeeping. And then, when you c( «f^! to see me, once in a way, you will find I have all the i.if !t| time to attend to you, and hear what you may have say." \9i Evelyn stood by the table, silent and thoughtful, saw plainly now that her place would be preferable lO company. But " Well, what do you say ? " inquired I.er uncle prescr wifij *•■ Is it to be or not to be ? I don't want to take } o o ,*' Mount Eden against your will, but I think you will fin *f is to your advantage. You don't look strong, and ^jpK*j country air will do you good. Do you love the countrM^ " Oh, dearly," exclaimed the girl, brightening up ; ' '^ I have never seen it since my mother died. I love*tt|] flowers, and the trees, and the birds — and everythingfejpi only wanted to stay in Liverpool because it is my hoif "But it should never have been your home, Evca|^ Rayne; and it isn't a fit home for you," interrupted JJ aunt ; " nor have I been able, with my poverty, to you proper advantages, but Mr. Caryll will undersi that, and excuse it." "Certainly, Miss Rayne. I have been called a *i MOUNT EDEN, 11 herself, and ever] former, throwinl ids and forwards) e, there's no demj But it's for you night go any dajj cept these few oil ; of years, to keej igh I shall feci i . glad and happy 1 one but myself j 1 her tears, lappier without raj that perhaps-i i tc the future. A Evelyn, because i\ be able to keeil myself from cvc; len, when you co: d I have all the ia««| I know, and perhaps I deserve it ( for the cii cum- :cs of my life have been enough to harden me ), but le has ever said I am injust. If Evelyn decides to with me — " >h, sir, it is decided," interrupted Miss Rayne. " I Idn't let her refuse such a noble offer for all the < • fevertheless, she is old enough to know her own mind, will not take her away against her will ; but should [ecide to live with me, I am prepared to make it worth ^hile. I will engage myself to give her the advantages. fshing her education, and to provide for her main- :e after my death. In return, I ask for her compa- lip — that is all. If more follows, it must come spon- isly. I have outlived all my natural affections, and ithat love can neither be purchased nor cajoled. But think, from what I have seen of my niece, that she fuse me her duty." , she will love you, sir, dearly," exclaimed Miss with ready assurance. Evelyn was silent, felyn is not so sure of it," remarked Kr. Caryll lat vou may have IWgirl raised her soft eyes, dim with crying, to his and thoughtful, i be preferable lo >d 1-er uncle preser,- O., lon't feel as if I was sure of anything, uncle," she tiply ; " it is all such a wonderful surprise to me. m grateful for your kindness, — indeed I am, — and o to Mount Eden with you if you wish me to do t want to take yo »% ^ think you will ^^}^ ^l '-^ll t^u T 1..V Jrong. an(llpi«?Mr. Caryll; *' I more because you say so little," have lived long enough to lose all look strong, ""^rf^ r / /,■' * , -^ oulove the countn^to protestations. And if you will try to be happy, brightening up ; ,ther died. I Jove Is— and everything^ ecause it is my hor^Pl >n your home, r>J v, ' you," interrupted ith my poverty, to Caryll will undersi Ijr dteAr, I will try to make you so. Now, the weather is very warm, and I am feeling it, and am anxious to o I think of leaving Liverpool in about a week. I you haven't many preparations to make ? " sir, the poor child has next to nothing to pack up. never been fed nor clothed as befits one of your but it is not my fault. With such a limited in- t»» ive been called a mderstand that, madam," replied Mr. Caryll, ipatiently ; " and, of course, from this day all such 78 MOUNT EDEN, ' I iliii! ) i responsibility will fall to my share. He kind enough J get what Evelyn may require for her immediate usc,"tj continued, i)Utting a small packet into her hand, " and her be ready to accompany me to Mount Eden to-morro^ week. When she has been there a month or two she slu write and tell you how she likes it. And if it doesn't tun out according to her expectations, we'll think of son other plan for her. But if she loves a country life, I thin she will find plenty of things to interest her there." " I am sure she will," reiterated Aunt Maria. Mr. Caryll rose with some difficulty from his chair, an prepared to leave them. " I'm getting very stiff and old," he said, "and I thin it is about time I left off work. Well, Evelyn, my deal will you give me a kiss, and tell me you are not afraid I me?" ^ " Oh, no, uncle, I am not afraid of you, — not a bit, — and hope that I may be of use to you." "Be a comfort to me, my dear — that's what I wa:, most of all — a little comfort" said Mr. Caryll sighin; " Well, good evening, Miss Rayne, and let her be read! by the appointed time. I will write you particulars concerrj ing the time of starting." And with these words he hobbled away. As soon as thj door had closed after him, Miss Rayne examined the packtj he had left with her. " Oh, my dear," she cried, " it's twenty pounds ! Twend whole pounds to buy you frocks, and boots, and hats togj down to Mount Eden in ! How very, very generou| Why, you'll look like a queen. Evelyn, I wish I could se you appreciate your good luck." " I do appreciate it, auntie, in a measure, but it is toj new and sudden. I cannot reconcile myself to the idej yet. Yes, he is generous, certainly, but so are you. TwentJ pounds is not so much to Uncle Roger as twenty shilling would be to you. And yet you have kept me for nine lonj years. Oh, auntje, I cannot forget all in a minute hoj good you have been to me." And Evelyn's gra^^^eful tears overflowed a,gain. ** Well, my dear, you've repaid me over and over ; ani it's been a pleasure as well as a duty, so say no more abouj it. My poor brother wouldn't have rested in his grave iff hadn't promised him to look after his little daughter, m MOUNT EDBN. 19 —not a bit, — and is such a grand opening for you, Evelyn. If it tore heart in pieces to part with you, I couldn't reconcile it \h my conscience to keep you here. Why, your uncle f leave you Mount Kden and all his fortune. Why not ? ire's no one to stand between you, and he seems to have len quite a fancy to you. And if it ever comes to pass, u won't forget your old auntie, I know." r Never 1 never ! " cried Kvelyn, clinging to her. f* Well, that'll be better for me, you see, than ending days here. So you must try and look on it in that It, and think of the good you may be able to do to ers as well as yourself; and you'll soon see it is your ly to do all you can to please and sati.;fy your uncle." She i/i(/ think of it. Her thoughts flew for.vard to the [e when Will might return to England, homeless and iniless, and it might be her pride and pleasure to be to say to him, *' Come and share all my good things me." Indeed, the maintenance which Mr. Caryll promised to provide for her might prove the best and means to bring her and her absent cousin together Un. This prospect, together with the beautiful elasticity of a ithful temperament, and the curiosity which she could j help feeling with respect to her new life, soon dried gjwrelyn's tears, and when the day arrived for her to go with IMr. Caryll, her farewell greeting to her Aunt Maria, though ^1 of warm affection, had no ring of despair in it. CHAPTER IX. A LITTLE COMFORTER. [iss F WNE had not exaggerated when she called Mount ien a ittle paradise. Evelyn's first view of it made her )ld her breath with surprise. She had endured a long id dusty journey down from Liverpool to St. Mary Ottery, lich even the luxury of a first-class carriage, and the pile illustrated newspapers which Mr. Caryll had bought to Bguile the way, had had little power to mitigate the fatigue id inconvenienV:e of. It was far better when they veached it nearest station to Mount Eden, and found a handsome 8o MOUNT EDEN. barouche and pair of horses waiting for them. The cool and balmy air of an August evening in the country soon cooled Evelyn's feverish cheeks, and awakened her interest in the scenes around her. Mr. Gary 11 had told her nothing of what she might expect to see. He had been very silent all the journey, and she had been loo timid to address him witnout being spoken to, or to rouse him from his semi- sleepy condition. But now she could hardly keep her pleasurable feelings to herself. The road to Mount Eden lay through country lanes, enclosed on either side by hedges that flowered with the wild rose, and the bramble blossom, and the bind-weed. The pasture-lands were ankle deep in rich grass, on which dappled cows, and sheep, and young horses were luxuriat- ing. Every now and then a laborer going heme from work would pass the carriage with a respectful bow, and over the gates of the cottage gardens, gay with marigolds, and scarlet-runners, and holly-hocks, hung the little white- haired, sunburnt children, and shouted as they drove swiftly past. Evelyn's heart began to swell with various emotions. The pleasure of the present mingled with thei indelible memory of the past, till she hardly knew whether she should laugh or cry, and she wished her uncle would | speak to her, and turn her th rights into another direction. At last the carriage made a bold sweep, and turned into | the park-gates of Mount Eden. The lodge-keeper had heard the wheels long before they were in sight, and was holding open the gates in readiness for their entrance,! making profound curtsies the while, that were never noticed Then it was that Evelyn's breath seemed to stop with her surprise, and that she gasped with astonishment at what she saw. The park of Mount Eden was old, although the| house was comparatively new, for Mr. Caryll had purchased | the ground from a noble family, whose ancestral mansion! had been destroyed by fire. The ancient trees were inj their fullest glory. Oaks, chesnuts, beeches, elms, andi poj^lars vied with each other to form a leafy shelter that could not be surpassed, whilst from the tall ferns that grew about their roots, the spotted deer (startled by the unusual sound of wheels) rose up, and stared with their innocent, wondering eyes for a moment, before they leapt over all | intervening obstacles, and fled to a more secluded shelter. The blue speedwell, and scarlet pimpernel, and flowering! MOUNT EDEN. tl country lanes, wered with the ;he bind-weed. ;rass, on which 5 were luxuriat- cme from work bow, and over marigolds, and e little white- as they drove :11 with various tingled with the ^ knew whether ler uncle would lOther direction, and turned into dge-keeper had sight, and was their entrance, re never noticed stop with her shment at what d, although the 1 had purchased cestral mansion it trees were in ches, elms, and afy shelter that ferns that grew i by the unusual 1 their innocent, ey leapt over all ;ecluded shelter, jl, and flowering tss fringed the way, whilst here and there a blossoming lb made a spot of brightness amidst the pleasant im. [* Uncle I uncle ! " cried Evelyn, forgetting her shyness in delightful scene around her ; ** look at the little rabbits iree — four of them — jumping out of that yellow gorse id oh! what a beautiful bird ! Whatever is it? " she itinued, as a cock pheasant rose with a loud " whirr," displayed his glistening plumage of gold, and red, and iiwn. Ihe turned towards Mr. Gary 11 as she spoke, laying her td upon his arm ; but his head had sunk upon his breast, his face was almost hidden from view. Recollection too much for ^im. The sight of Mount Eden, with familiar paths, through which he had wandered with lead wife and his poor drowned boy, was cutting his jKQ^ted heart like a knife. At that moment he doubted the-wisdom of ever having returned to the place. Evelyn W|i||alarmed. She feared he must be ill. *'*^^re you not well, uncle } " she asked : " does your head^ ac^?" • ♦♦Not my head, child — my heart. But there, I must :e it off. I have no right to bring you here to share melancholy. Yes, it is a lovely place, Evelyn, and I will be able to rove through it as you choose. Nothing I harm you here. You will have plenty of room to play ,nd companions too. I mustn't cloud your young life use mine is gloomy." (But, uncle," said Eve timidly, " I have come to h^ your Ipanion. If I may walk with you and wait on you I not be dull. And I am too old to play^* she con- id, drawing herself up ; "I was seventeen last birth- Seventeen, he repeated sadly, gazing at her. " Seven- ? Yes, that is a great and responsible age, and I was ig to speak about playing. But how about the educa- , Evelyn ? We mustn't neglect that." p[ am afraid I am very ign "lant, uncle, and have a lot * 1. I know nothing about French or music. I can and cook, and clean, but auntie thought if I could do and read, and write, and cast up accounts, it would Inough for me. She never thought I should come to nt Mount Eden." 82 MOUNT EDEN. " Never mind, my dear," replied Mr. Caryll kindly, " You know the most useful things, after all, and the rest is easily managed. But here is the big house, as they call it about here. How do you like the look of your new home, Evelyn ? " " Oh, uncle, it is beautiful — magnificent ! I never sav; any house like it in my life before. And did you build i all yourself? " " Yes ; I built it myself," replied Mr. Caryll, with a; heavy sigh. How well he remembered what his wife — the love of hi: life — had said when she first saw the completed mansioii, and what plans for future happiness within its walls the; had laid together. And now his Marian was sleeping in tli| churchyard of St Mary Octery, and his son — the pride •' his old age — was food for the fishes in the P . ^ilian sea Oh, it was hard — bitterly hard — to have been made il sport of fate in such a remorseless manner. As he steppe from his carriage to enter the hall, where the servan: headed by Mrs. Wedderburn, the housekeeper, were ^va ing to receive him, Evelyn thought he looked much olc; and more decrepid than he had done in Liverpool, L that might have been only the effects of the long journiv, " Mrs. Wedderburn," he said, as the housekce[ advanced to assist him, " this is my niece, Miss Eve; Rayne — my poor sister's daughter, you may remember, who will live with me for the future at Mount Eden. seem to have forgotten the names and situations of rooms here — my mind is a little hazy on that point ; l you'll see that Miss Rayne has a nice one, and every attt *ft|t' tion, till I can arrange matters." " Certainly, Mr. Caryll ; and for yours ,ilf, you wo: prefer, perhaps, not to occupy the old suite ? " " Yes, yes, yes. Where else should I go? Where eiNftJibj should I go ? " he reiterated, in a dazed and uncer; *ltl manner. . E After which, Evelyn was scarcely surprised to hear; her uncle did not feel v/ell enough to come downst"0 again that evening, but would take some refreshment ii: , own room. ^^\ ''Poor dear gentleman," quoth Mrs. Wedderburn. as^' hovered about Evelyn's supper-table, and piled daintieij her plate, " he must feel coming back to this place terrl JMtiv m abs( ti <( u Caryll kindly, all, and the rest! ,use, as they callj ok of your new! MOUNT EDEN. 83 it ! I never saw did you build ir r. Caryll, with 2! so happy as they was here, he and the mistress, and so ting on th<^'r little son. It's hard for him to be left ne after alL" *• Poor uncle," acqu.'esced Evelyn compassionately. " Yes, must be a sad home-coming for him. And did you ow my aunt and my Cousin Hugh, Mrs. Wedderburn ? " " To be sure, my dear. I came to the big house when as first built, and saw your poor dear aunt carried out t. But X left soon after that to be married to Mr. dderburn, and didn't return here till the house Wi^ ty, so I hadn't seen Master Hugh since he was a baby. when they told me as he had been drownded, I cried \k a child myself. Such a bonnie little ln,d as he was. |i put me powerfully in mind of him. Miss." So uncle's sei'vant, Barnes, says. I suppose that is uncle took a flmcy to me. I never expected to come e at Mount Ilden." ell, it's a surprise to me, too. Miss ; though who has right to be remembered by him than his own sister's ? But we heard down here as Mr. Caryll had adopted . ,,, , . Edward's boy instead of Jiaster Hugh, and meant to the long journt} kave hnn all his money, same as if he had been his son. 1 the bousekeei Did you know him. Miss.? and is the young gentleman niece, Miss E^t likely to be here as well?" u may remember,- Evelyn blushed and stammered, but was loyal to her Ett Mount Eden, absent lover. nd situations of ^ Yes, of course, I know him. He is my first cousin, you on that point; I »ajtv, Mrs. Wedderburn, but I am sorry to say that uncle one and every attt ^®he have had a misunderstanding." ' ^ Lor ! that's a pity, now ; and •/ ith a place like Mount voun af, you wo'Jigt weighing m the balance. I hope it's nothing serious, /suite?" ■Pr- Caryll's a man of his word. But these boys will rl I eo? Where ePgneadstrong and mischievous at times, and I-daresay it \ „nrertW« soon blow over." e— the love of hii npleted mansior., hin its walls the- vas sleeping in tl son— the pridt ;he P ^ 'ilian sea re been made il er. Ashesteppt here the servan; ekeeper, were >\a. looked much oli in Liverpool ' dazed and uncert^ Evelyn was silent. MivDrised to hear " \ the young gentleman at Liverpool, Miss ? " said the to come downsuhou^keeper inquisitively. me refreshmentin ./^I'O' Mrs. Wedderburn, he has left, and I don't know me arheee he may be at present. And I don't think Uncle ,, ,^^^u..^ ' ^^.^ x-^'^^V^ ^^''"'^^ ^^^'°'^^' because he never men- rl ^ d daintie^HUl^^^ subject himself." Iif tn this place terrW^' ^^'^^" '- i/ «ome lose, others will win,'" replied Wedder- :k to this place ^ya^or.cularly ; " and there's no doubt that the more one 84 MOUNT EDEN. Jill I -I'll ^^M i! looks at you, the more you remind one of poor Masterl Hugh. So I hope you'll be a comfort to the master, Missj for the poor gentleman needs it." But from that day, though Evelyn's life was full of easel and luxury, it »vas very dull. At f.rst she thought shej could never be tired of roaming over the beautifull Hampshire hills, and through the rich pasture land and water meadows, or sitting, lost in the recesses i\ the park, listening to the sounds, and inhaling the scenij by which she was surrounded. But after a while she be came so accustomed to the monotony of her new life, th; she began to miss the variety of the old one. Coo^ii, dinners, and running messages, and mending clothes mr j^ii^ not be interesting, but it is more suitable employment f 9^ a gregarious animal than solitary brooding. And ^1: btfti Caryll shut himself up almost entirely in his own roor tigEiit The return to the scene of all his joys and disappointmer Eag had brought memory back in such a flood upon his mi: She as almost to overwhelm him, and he found himself qii: Aftsm unequal to the task which he had set himself to do. It Jiadr| true that he appeared at meals, but he was genera ili|f f< absorbed and melancholy during their progression, :. when sought solitude as soon as they were over. The ac; andJ; work of looking after his mercantUe interests had kept She ' his health and spirits far more thrn he had given it crc gov^i for, and with its cessation they both seemed to fail, iove< month after he returned to Mount Eden, he looke, and her large yes, shaded by dark lashes, looked out at Evelyn ly from a complexion of milk and rose ;. Her dress w. reVt of the day»«^d that she belonged to a high station m life, though ilrself And '^^ Mcnciennes lace and silk ribbons had suffered sadly ""^P of Will, and »i<^ontact with the long grass and low bushes of the ■^•L where he ^vas.^ft J^"^ ]^.Yc\yn saw nothing but the face--^.e charming, ahow long it wouklHt-l^^e face-that beamed on her like that of a little $6 MOUNT EDEN. gaia but soon She thftt^ '• Oh, you darling ! " she exclaimed. '' Where did yc; come from ? What is your name ? " " I'm Aggie, ard I've run away," reolied the little on with infantine glee. Evelyn forgot her own troubles at once. From the ni , ment she first saw little Agnes she conceived an afi[ecti;|!j; for her. "But where have you run from, my darling?" she sai holding out her arms. " Come nearer — don't be afraid me — and tell me where you live." " I'm not afraid," replied the child, ooldly drawing ck to her new friend, and gazing up into her face. "I Aggie, and I live over there," waving her hand in a vaj manner about her head. " But you mustn't cry ; : naughty. I'll kiss it all away." And, suiting the action to the word, the little one rai her rosy lips to her new friend's tear-stained face, a kissed it softly. Evelyn Rayne was affectionate and impulsive. E heart was hungering for love amidst all the luxury v which she was surrounded, and the child's sympathy touc- her deeply. She opened her arms suddenly, and cla?: her to her bosom with an intuition that they would I Cj each other. And the intuition proved to be corfect. her< soon found tha-t the little girl was Agnes Featherstone, Sh| only child of a rich banker and his wife, living at Feat: Mri* stone Hall, a place about a mile distant from Mount K How she had strayed away from her nurses, and foum: way into Mr. Caryll's park, was never plainly made kiic but Evelyn, after taking her up to the big house, had pleasure of restoring her to her parents, who were in tej at her loss, and never forgot the service rendered th and from that time scarcely a day passed that Evelyn not contrive to meet her little friend. J*'* Mrs. Featherstone was very pleased her daughter si: "^^o have the advantage of an older companion to look ^ and play with her, and Evelyn soon loved Agnes w:*^" devotion that could scarcely have been exceeded liad** ® been her own. Her heart was empty, and she ^'-52 with little Agnes Featherstone. It is unnecessary to dwell much longer on this, the" uneventful portion of her life. Under the able dirt** of Miss Middleton, she greatly improved in appear; \ MOUNT EDEN, 87 «' Where did yc| )lied the Uttle ow -e. From the ra;| ceived an affectk iarUng?" she sai| -don't be afraid .oldly drawing cl to her face. "1 ler hand in a vaj L mustn't cry; the little one rai ir-stained face, : manners, and accomplishments ; and two years after went to live at Mount Eden, one would hardly have ignized her as the half-grown, half-clothed, half-educated who had been little better than a servant in the ;e of Miss Rayne at Liverpool. But her life had been iry monotonous one. Her uncle had never rallied from Lpathetic condition into which he had fallen on return- ;o Mount Eden, and only changed it to become ahelp- aralytic, who was wheeled about the grounds of his more dead than alive, and apparently took no ;e of anything around him. :id all this time there had been no news received of J|r sort from WiUiam Caryll. From the time he had dis- l^jjlarcd from Liverpool, he had been as owg. dead to all iellfcad left behind him, and forgotten by all into the bar- f^gain, except the faithful heart of Evelyn Rayne. She had we|f| for his loss until the fountain of her tears was dry ; butl#ill she would not believe but that he would return SOlftftf'day to claim her as his own. When Evelyn was nineteen. Miss Middleton left her. She considered her pupil's education was finished, and thal^it was time she assumed her po" a-* '^n as head of her s household. But a very fs w weeks after this e had b ^en made,, the most unexpected event of our ■ne's life occurred to her. id impulsive. \ : all the luxury v d' s sympathy touc: iddenly, and clasft ;hat they would 1 Featherstone, S|w came down to breakfast one morning to be told by T^^ living at Fear Mr-ii Wedderburn that Mr. Caryll was no more. He had ^ t'from Mount K ^'^ found dead in his bed when his attendant went to mirses and fouiui «>«ic him. ' - - Evelyn received the news as any young girl would have ,e — with a terrible sense of horror and bereavement. would have sent at once for her Aunt Maria to keep company, but, alas ! poor Miss Rayne (who had IK plainly made k [he big house, had Its, who were in te: ervice rendered tb forward to that day as one in which Evelyn would (K that EvelyiiPP*P" lorwaru lo iiiai aay as one in wnicn iLveiyn wouia ^^^^ iot forget her) had joined the great majority six months • , , p-hter s!^^^*^^*' ^"^ ^"'^^ niece felt utterly alone, ed her ciaug ^^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^^ ^j^^ funeral, and the lawyers, and tl will ; iipanioi ^ ^^^ ^^.andjjibe heard, to her amazement, that instead of a lej?;acy, ded had*® ^^ ^^^ expected, she was left (failing the return of her )een excee .,,j:outJn Hugh) the sole inheritrix of that vast estate, with mpty, and she ^^ thousand a year to keep it up on. this theMB*'*^^ ^'^^ P*^^^ ^^""'^^ ^^^^ anything but elated or happy T d^^^he able direWR ^^^^ fortune. Whilst every one was congratulate [iproved in appeal II '' 'I ^ 1:1/ tt MOUNT EDEN, ing or envying her, she was wondering what she should do with such a responsibiUty upon her shoulders, or how she could ever make up her mind to live at Mount Eden alone, But once familiarized with the idea, another sprung up to give her courage for the task — the remembrance of the! vow that she and Will Caryll had mutually taken on tluT^ selves — that, whichever inherited Mount Eden, should share it with the other. From that moment the estate appeared to be no longer hers, but his ; and she wa^ looking after its interests and increasing its value, not fo: herself, but him. And so she lived and acted, ihough without a word o. token from the man she still believed in ; yet with full faitl^^j that time alone was needed to restore them to each olheil — until we meet her again. CHAPTER X. THE CAPTAIN AND VERNON. " I don't believe," said Captain Philip, as he stretchecw^ himself with more pleasure than prudence on the thyni:^" scented, moss-enamelled turf; '' I don't believe, if v were to search all England — or the world itself, for th matter — you could find a lovelier spot than Mount Edc: " I quite agree with you," replied John Vernon, as inhaled a deep draught of the fresh, exhilarating air, a his eye roved over an expanse of undulating hills i fertile pasture lands. It was spring. The trees had just assumed a mantle tender green, and the lilacs and laburnums were i" said Vernon, who considered the Salic law as a n't believe, n ) momm injury to the stronger sex. orld itself, tor tn ^ ^^.^j,, Pl^i,-p laughed. 4.1.0,^ Mount l^^oc «<(Your description hardly applies to Miss Rayne. In the ^rst place, she is a woman who has left her girlhood b^nd her. In the second, she is a very tall and dignified one." "Oh, I see ! An old maid." ** Hardly that eithei," returned the captain drily ; urnums were in .' ft^lgg Rayne was twenty-seven, I believe, on her last wth buttercup ' 'bjrthday. But she is quite equal to managing her own lbs skipped ana ^j'^gflairs, and wields her sceptre over Mount Eden royally." arning cry from 1 « Captain Philip," said the younger man, after a pause, behind each ^^°:«wi^you forgive me for saying something? This is a nd tiny lichens, ^^ |' tjeaittiful country and a charming estate. I can admire it open, innocent '^; ^g «»ch as you do, and after knocking about at sea for teiiRt three years, the rest and the change are but too pea, stood by the ^^^irfptful. Yet I could not endure it for always. I should nd curly head ^^"'^ll^the excitement and active work of our profession, be satiated w.thtl^— ' "i 4\ i b i 90 MOiWT EDEK. This peaceful, uneventful life would pall upon me, and cannot understand your having chucked up the service suddenly, to bury yoi;rscif down liere. John Vcinon wns a young fellow of perhnps two-aniij twenty, who had had but little experience of life. ltd not, therefore, strike him as a:iyi;iing strange that Capiai; Philip should busy himself in filling and lighting a pi] before he answered his observation. " My boy," h^; said, when he did speak, ** I never can for the service as you do. I entered it before I knew wl, I was cvboui, or" what lay before me, and I stayed in because there was no other opening for me. Butiiw never a profession to my taste." " And yet you were always (juoted to me as such an e cellent seaman, with a perfect knowledge of your dutit replied Vernon, in a t6ne of disappointment. " I tried to do my duty, Jack, whilst I remained in and probably, had this billet not been offered to mt. might have been in the merchant service to this day. } — but — well, I don't luind telling you, lad, that I v brought up in a higher social sphere, and that the iik atmosphere and surroundings of a seafa:in£ 'ife were iic to my taste. It is different with you. Jack. You coiiit a family of sailors, and, I daresay, your mother mixed y( first pap with salt water. You ate in your right eKn at sea, and you will go on till you reach the top of the tik I shall see you, if I live, with a ship or two of ycur {yf by-and-bye, whilst I am still checking the farrier's attdctt chandler's accounts f^ wo shall hear of a wedding at 'Mount Eden before our right eUnvp^tj^ ^^^^ j.^ ^^^^^ again."' he top of the u| Captain Philip colored ruddily through his bronzed wo of ^ ycur *^^|^n ; he had not yet lost the capacity to blush. Although '"arrier s a'^'^^^ll^- had held the rank of captain in the merchant service ^tng two voyages, he was not more than five-and-thirty, it would have been difficult to find a better-looking Idegroom for any girl about Mount Eden. ** I never car ore 1 knew wl I stayed in me. But ii ri iC as such an e of your dutic nl. I remained m offered to iv.i :o this day. 1 lad, that 1 v id that the ni' xclaimed Vcrr(| )us excitement i antial lenthtJj v^|^il j^j-kJ muscular, with a face from which the sunburn in Philip, I car:;; ' ' rhat little cott;.^ e in looking ai and iinvaritd have been a(( ies the differeiK| his pipe. " 1 Blount Eden. e,and I like to 1 f this vast esta| :h it is capable. posure was but partially removed, and a brown beard, pbfe and crisp, that lay upon his chest, Captain Philip '■a fine specimen of a powerful and well-built English- His nose was a trille heavy, perhaps, and his mouth, 5m the luxuriance of, his moustaches, was an unknown !l|re, but he had a pair of honest, kind, grey eyes, that " have redeemed a far plainer physiognomy. It was kindness that had made him ask this young fellow n down to spend his time on shore in Hampshire. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) o 1.0 1.1 >tt lU 12.2 S Hi ■" s; j^ 12.0 ii£ III ™ III— lin < 6" - ► k Sciences COTporation •'^ ^^ V 6^ 23 WIST MAIN STRHT WItSTIR.N.Y. USM (71«)t72-4S03 4t^ 93 MOUNT EDEN, He had been one of his apprentices during the last t«o| voyages he h'^d made, and Captain Philip knew that thel lad was an orphan, and had no home to go to during his| brief holiday. But he hardly thought that he would have brought himl so sternly to book for having become Miss Rayne's land-l agent ; a captain on board ship and a captain on shore are| two such very different things. " Let us stroll towards the stables, Jack," he said, as htl rose to his feet, more with a view to changing the converf sation than any other motive. " I have a word to say tol the coachman about his com bill. It takes a man's wholcl time to prevent these servants cheating. Their morall obliquity is remarkable. There are some articles, to| annex which you can no more convince them is robber than that they have no right to the warmth of the sunJ and others, ag^in, they would not touch if their live] depended on it." ** Does Miss Rayne keep many horses ? " demande Vernon. "Thirty, or so, with the farm horses. She could dol with less ; but she is very generous, as well as kind! hearted, and she is devoted to her animals. She woulil no more overwork a horse than she would a fellow-creatureJ And she is very decided into the bargain. It is of no usJ remonstrating with her against what she considers right] She will have her own way." " Well, she has nothing apparently to spend her monej on except her whims. It does seem so strange to me, woman having such ?3 fortune under her control. It doesnl seem right at all. How did she come by it ? " " In the usual way. She inherited under her late unclej will." "But was there no man to take it? Has she no relaj tives?" " Not in her generation — at least so I've heard — or noni at all events whom her uncle, Mr. Caryll, considered worthy to inherit his property. He was a rich merchani| and she was his sister's only child. She was mistress Mount Eden before she came of age." " But why hasn't she married ? " asked Vernon eagerli| " I don't know," replied Captain Philip laconically. " Isn't she engaged to be married ? " MOUNT ED£N. n les?" demande Has she no rela^ << I don't know/' repeated the captain. "How strange. I should have thought the fellows )uld have jumped 'at her, with all that money. Is she mdsome ? ' " You might not call her so, Jack." ** What, with fifteen thousand a year ! Why, / should link her handsome if she were as black as those African ifomen who used to come aboard to sell us porcupine tills and ostrich eggs off the Gold Coast. But, seriously, iptain Philip, what is she like ? " " She is tall and fair, and I believe she is considered >od-looking. She has very pleasant manners, but she is ive and serious for so young a woman. Sometimes I king she worries herself too much about the estate, and jls her responsibilities too deeply." " Oh, she'll be all right when she's married," exclaimed jfernon, to whom, as to most very young people, marriage )pearcd a panacea for every trouble. " What she wants a man to take all the responsibility off her hands, and ive her nothing to do but to enjoy herself. A woman's [ind is not equal to such a strain. The funny part of it is, It she's not been hooked long ago. What a berth it mid be to fall into," he concluded, with his eyes raised ivenwards. [Captain Philip turned upon his young friend unneces- rily sharply. ["Well, it won't be your chance to fall into it, my boy, you needn't take the trouble to look so ecstatic. mid Miss Rayne ever marry, which I think sometimes is far too sensible to do, she will probably ally her wealth \ the aristocracy. But she's wedded to Mount Eden, jast for the present." Does she live alone ? " Quite alone, except for her servants, and that cir- istance prohibits her receiving any guests at Mount sn, except an occasional lady friend, and she doesn't much for them. Little Miss Featherstone and she jrc the house pretty well to themselves." And who is Miss Featherstone ? " ' The only daughter and heiress of Mr. Andrew Feather- le, the banker, who lives in that big house over the hill featherstone Hall, they call it. Miss Featherstone is seventeen, and liiss Rayne has made a pet of her for 94 MOUNT EDEN. the last ten years. In fact, f don't think there's anybody in the world that she cares so muph for as for Agnes Featherstone. They are like sisters ; and when she is at home, Miss Agnes lives as much at Mount Eden as at the Hall. But the family havt spent t ii« winter in Italy, and! sometimes I fancy Miss Rayne has felt the separationl more than she will acknowledge. By Jove ! here shel comes." They had been strolling leisurely along a breezy bit oil upland, and then through a green lane, on their way to ihel stables, and had just turned into a copse at the foot of thel lower drive. Here the young fir trees and larches, crowned] with dark, gummy buds, and pale-green feathery sprays were beginning to put forth their delicate pink blossoms I and their. fallen leaves. Shorn by the winter's frost, formecj a nice warm bed for the blue and white violets, which grew in profusion at their roots. Vernon looked up at tlil captain's words, and saw a tall gracious woman advancing slowly to meet them, with her hands full of the fragraij blossoms. , She was at a sufficient distance for him to able to scrutinize her appearance without discourtesy, anj his first feeling was one of surprise to remember how coldi Captain Philip had spoken of her charms. Evelyn RayrJ was by this time seven-and-twenty, but her slight, gracefa figure made her look like a girl. Her dress was remaril ably plain. A grey woollen gown of some coarse, honiq spun fabric, tailor-mUde, but simple almost to severity, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a black ribbon twistei round it, and a pair of tan-colored driving gloves, completej her costume. But Vernon never looked at what she wori All he saw was a small head, crowned with a luxuriance ( chestnut hair, which spoke well for the physical health ( its owner; a broad, intellectual forehead, a mouth fulh firmness and sweetness combined, and a pair of lovej dark-blue eyes, large, long, and heavy-lidded, but withf very searching look in their Mediterranean depths. HJ beauty burst upon John Vernon like a revelation, thought he had never seen so truly handsome a woman | his life before. His ideas of female loveliness hitherto 1 been associated with the Fannies, and Lucies, and Lilj of his boyish days, and, later on, with the Mollies, aj Dollies, and Sukies of the docks and seaport towns ; never before had he been brought in contact with so nobj MOUNT EDEN, 9S )king a creature as Evelyn Rayne. Metaphysically making, he was at her feet in a moment ; and never after- ards, during the course of a long and eventful life, did 3hn Vernon ever think of his ideal of female excellence ithout recalling the vision of the mistress of Mount Eden, she advanced to meet them with bunches of blue and lite violets in her hands CHAPTER XI. BACHELOR S HALL. Good-morning, Captain Philip," she said, with a smile kd an inclination of her head, Ijut without offering him (r hand ; " I saw you coming over the three-cornered Itch, and waited to speak to you here." f* Good-morning, Miss Rayne, I hope you are quite II ? " responded the captain ; " I have been showing my mg friend, Mr. Vernon, who is staying at the cottage a few days, the view from Fern Hill, and he is as inncd with it as the rest of the world." LS Captain Philip indicated the presence and personality [John Vernon, Miss Rayne turned to him and bowed, very slightly. There was evidently just that under- iding between her land-agent and herself that there [uld be. She was perfectly at her ease with Captain jlip, but she was not familiar with him. They com- iicated freely and confidentially, but from different ics. She never forgot that she was the owner of Mount I, nor he that he was her servant. Each felt the >tation sometimes, perhaps, to approach each other on equal teriiis, but each resisted it. Some feeling, that still not repugnance, seemed to keep them apart. ips they both remembered the old adage about fami- ty breeding contempt. jl am glad that Mr. Vernon admires our scenery," said lyn, after a pause, " and it is a day to make everything its best. I wonder," she continued, turning on her to gaze at her fair domain, " I wonder if there is any Itry in the world where spring is more beautiful than igland?" MOUNT EDEN, " In America," commenced Vernon, with all the i fidence of a very young man, before the other sex taken to snubbing him ; " in the Western States of Americ Miss Rayne, the spring — " Miss Rayne turned upon him suddenly, with an takable look of displeasure in her eyes. " I know nothing of America," she said hurriedly, as buried her face in her flowers ; '* Captain Philip, I afraid we shall have to dismiss Roberts after all. Wils tells me he was the worse for liquor again last night." " I was on my way to the stables to inquire into it, Mij Rayne, and into a fresh error in his account. Just look that bill," replied Captain Philip, producing a long slipj paper from his waistcoat pocket. Miss Rayne ran her eye over it. "Absurd," she exclaimed; "forty bushels of oati Captain Philip, it cannot he forty. It is too ridiculous " It is written down forty, plain enough," he answeref "but he cannot have fairly used half the quantity. I; afraid there is nothing for it but dismissal. The man evidently take no warning." " We must go and see about it," said Miss Ra)^ promptly ; " and Frodsham has come over, too, abj Gadfly's sitrain. He says there is no cure but fireing. will ruin her marketable value, but anything is better th that the poor mare should suffer." " Why not turn her out to grass for a few months' re| and then sell her. Miss Rayne ? " " And let her pass into the hands of some one who woJ work her, ill or well, until she dropped ? No, thank yi Captain Philip. I don't want that sort of advice. Gael shall go into the pensioners' paddock first." " Why, it's crammed full already," cried Captain Phil| laughing. At that she laughed too. " Never mind, we'll devote a second paddock to dear old things, if necessary. But come to the stables noj and let us get this business over at once." She turned quickly, and, without another glance | Vernon, walked by Captain Philip's side. The captains that she expected him to accompany her alone. "Go back and wait for me at the cottage. Jack,"! called over his shoulder to the young man, who was q MOVNT EDEN, 97 unwillingly to obey. But he stopped for some ites first, gazing after the mistress of Mount Eden^and Bhing the eager, animated manner in which she was ussing some subject with her companion. He envied luck of his quondam " skipper," as he saw him walking imiliarly by her side, and no longer wondered that he Id have preferred to be her land-agent to knocking It amongst a lot of rough fellows at sea. At the same Jack Vernon had an uncomfortable feeling in his own I, and a conviction, though he could not say why, that »me way or other he had been unfortunate enough to |d Miss Rayne by mentioning America. And yet, how he possibly have done so ? As he strolled back to lin Philip's cottage, he ran over every little incident le past interview, in order to try and account for the is' curt manner towards him, but he could not think [single thing in which he had transgressed the rules of breeding ; unless, indeed, unknown to himself, his pbted admiration of her had been too apparent in his But women are not used, as a rule, to take offence lent admiration from the other sex, however unmis- )ly displaved. [few minutes' walk brought him to his friend's cottage, Miss Rayne had playfully nicknamed " Bachelor's ?tain Philip might have occupied a suite of rooms up big house if he had willed it. His predecessor had f so, and lived on the fat of the land ; and had the free f the servants, and carriages, and horses, as he chose ler them. But Captain Philip had been too long at ic said, to care to live in a crowd. He picked out an cottage on the estate, which had been occupied by tkeeper, and asked leave to inhabit it instead ; and 1 had first laughingly remonstrated with him for ^g himself uncomfortable, and then called him a re- I and given him leave to do exactly as he chose. And [he chose was to live there quite alone. He would yen have a servant to sleep in the house. One of the a from the farm came in each morning to set his rooms Its, and cook his dinner, after which &ne disappeared, ft Captain Philip to wait on himself for the remainder day. He preferred it— so he told John Vernon. lid he want with a servant twiddling her thumbs in i ^ MOUNT EDEN, the kitchen for half her time. He liked to feel that hj was master in his own house. There was not much to master of. Four small rooms constituted the extent Bachelor's Hall, but they were very comfortable. Misi Rayne had furnished them with good, substantial beds, at chairs, and tables from the big house, and Captain Phili| had decorated them with the curiosities he had collectei during his wanderings. The little sitting-room was illustrated diary of his voyages. Barbaric weapons an wild animals' skins were mingled with rare shells, and egg and feathers, and gleaming bits of ore, until it looked lili a museum. On one side cf the fireplace stood the captait) writing-table, which shut with a circular cover when not) use, and locked away his business papers from curious eyej and in the other, a wide arm-chair in which he was acci^ tomed to sit when work was over, and commune withi pipe. This habit of thinking and smoking had grown m Captain Philip whilst at sea. He had been noted tlid for his silent and reflective disposition ; and some pcoj had gone so far as to say it was not altogether natiira!! him, but that some cloud hung over the captain's j;:j which he would not even think cf in any company butt of his pipe. '* He was always a strange fellow," thought Jack Verrj as he gazed round at the orderly adornment of the room. " Who, to look at the arrangement of these trit | would imagine it had been done by a man who has \: used, for the best part of his life, to occupy a cabin, feet by six, decorated by a sea-chest and a swinging td Flowers, feathers and photographs. One might fancj was the work of a woman's hand. It's a sweet place," he continued, as he turned towards the open c^ ment, and a hanging branch of flowering clematis bru.'j across his face ; "a perfect romance in the shape of a] tage, but what on earth made the skipper settle hiirj down here? That's the puzzle to me. How canhes? the quiet and monotony? There's only one solution tj He's in love with Miss Rayne. Well, I don't wondef that." Feeling satisfied with the conclusion at which he| arrived, without taking into consideration the fact Captain Philip had probably accepted his present ?] tion withou* nths ago, and Miss Rayne has not been the same re without them." ronder she did not go too." too MOUNT EDEN. " How could she ? She has her estate to look after,] rejoined the captain quickly. " She could leave it safely in your hands, surely ? " ** Not entirely. You don't know how completely sn associates herself with the management of affairs. Shc] her own bailiff and steward, and ( I was going to addjfaj rier, but she really knows more about doctoring the sto than the village veterinary. She gave a ball to a horse i morning that the grooms dared not approach." " I don't like to see a woman do such unfeminine thine said Vernon sententiously. " Don't you ? " replied Captain Philip, in his dry waj " at any rate, Mount Eden would get on very badly with(^ Miss Rayne," " And now Yitrjidus achates has returned to her ? " "Yes, and most unexpectedly — at least to hersfj Miss Feathersone wishing, it seems, to give her friend! surprise, concealed the fact that they were on their home, and the first intimation Miss Rayne received i was by a note brought over by a groom to say Miss Ag would be with her this afternoon. If you had onlysj her, Jack 1 In five minutes, pleasure had transformed] into another creature. You would hardly have recogni^ her as the serious young lady you saw this morning, was dimpling all over with smiles, and as soon as the ic J Dressing work was over, she gave every one concerned oliday, with leave to drink Miss Agnes' health at: expense. It is pleasant to see her look so happy," eluded Captain Philip, in a musing way. "Well, it is incredible to me, one woman being sol of another," said John Vernon. " Is Miss Feathersij such a very fascinating young person ? " " Not at all, I should say, to an ordinary spectator, is just a simple, pretty, lovable girl ; but Miss Rayne] known her intimately for the last ten years, and there i doubt she is exceedingly fond of her. Sometimes I th^ said Captain Philip slowly, " that if no one should suj to claim it. Miss Rayne will leave Mount Eden to] Featherstone." " Why do you say if no one should start up to it ? " I thought the property was left to her uncondl ally? " So it is — to her and her heirs after her. But MOUNT EDEK. loi itc to look aflcT, not marry, or die intestate, there may be other rela- Ivcs of the late Mr. Caryll to \mi in a legal claim to the tropcrty. You know how many loopholes there are in law. [iss Rayne has told me that her late uncle had a nephew his brother, who would have inherited before herself he been living, and that no certain proofs have ever m received of his decease." "Then he may turn up any day and turn her out of fount Eden ? " exclaimed Vernon. ** Yes ; he certainly may turn up any day, but I don't ik he will turn Miss Rayiic out of Mount Eden," replied iptain Philip, after a pause. I" But surely she will marry," urged his companion. " It [quite unnatural to think of such a fine woman remain- single. I can't believe she makes all this fuss for the te of Miss P'eathcrstone only. Come, now, isn't there a »ther, or a cousin, or some one belonging to the fair les in the background? Your description of Miss ^yne's excitement at their return home sounds so much ^re like the anticiuation of meeting a lover than a female Id." le captain's brow lowered. jYou don't know what you're talking about," he an- 8d shortly ; " Miss Rayne is above all that sort of snse. She hasn't got a lover, and I don't believe she 5ver had one. She is a female anchorite, wedded to msiness and the management of her estate. She has at Mount Eden since she was seventeen, and those have been with her all the time tell me it has always the same. She never entertains, except in a hospit- friendly manner, and she never has any one to stay le house. As for young men— excepting when she a neighbor leave to beat the covers or to fish in the I never see one about the place. Lover I Non- I Miss Rayne has much more sense than you give Credit for." II right, captain," cried Vernon laughing, " no offence jt, and I hope none taken. I didn't undersand that Rayne was proof against all the weaknesses of her ling sex. Mount Eden is rightly* named. It is a lise ; and she is its Eve. But a solitary unmated Eve anomaly. Adam should, by rights, have been here ;t her." IM MOUNT EDEN. " Well, he isn't here, and what's more, we don't want him," replied the captain, as they rose from table and prepared! for their journey to Leighton. CHAPTER XII. AT THE BIG HOUSE. Meanwhile Evelyn — the same Evelyn we have knonl and yet so unlike what she was in her girlish days — wail roaming about the big house, restless and excited, in antil cipation of the promised meeting with Agnes Fcatherstontj It was not an ordinary affection which she felt for thii young girl. One could see that by the trembling eagcrnesi with which she changed her dress in anticipation of tkJ arrival of her friend ; by the nervous fingers that arrangd and re-arranged the ornaments about her sitting-ioom,aiij the repeated journeys she made backwards and forwarii to the window to see if there were any signs of Agne approach. How this love which had made all the happiness Evelyn's later years had sprung up from a frail seedling t a tree, whose sturdy growth could resist the shcck of ar earthly storm, was best known to the great Being wl sends us the affection of our fellow-creatures to keep r hearts from breaking under the rfflictions of the wor: But no two women could have been more dissimilar tith. in mind or body ; perhaps in that very fact lay the seen of the tie between them. Evelyn, tall, wcmanly, and coil manding, moving like a queen amongst her dependad and asking for neither advice nor support from any ocd and Agnes, a soft, loving, and somewhat simple girl, nevj sure of her own opinion, and ready to cling to the fi![ hand held out to her. But it was her very childishna that made Agnes so dear to her friend, who felt almost a mother when she held her in her arms. Evelyn never forgotten the day she first saw the pouting cherubj the fairy dell, and scarcely realized that Agnes was niu older now than she had been when she pressed her r(i| baby lips against her face, in an attempt to comfort From that time the younger girl had lived between the MOUNT EDEN. 103 don't want him." le and prepared! L we have Vnoml girlish days-wasi d excited, in anii^ ines Fcalherstont she felt for M •embling eagcrnesi Lnticipation of tkj gers that arrangtl r sitting-ioom,anj rards and forwarir ly signs of Agne the happiness |i, a frail seedling I it the shock of ar e great Being w^ satures to keep m :tions of the wori f ore dissimilar euh. \f fact lay the secrjj wcmanly,andcoi^ Tst her dependant port from any or, at simple girlnoi to cling to the fo er very childishn^ who felt almost' arms. Evelyn e pouting cherub at Agnes was m le pressed her ri ipt to comfort Ij ed between the msc and the Hall, and looked upon Evelyn as an elder Istcr. Indeed, it never seemed to enter either 6f their tads that they were not relations, and perhaps it had itcrcd Evelyn's (as Captain Philip had shrewdly sug- Wtcd), that, in the event of her not marrying, she might save Mount Eden to her little friend. But at this moment It mind was occupied solely by the thought of their mnion ; and, by the time that the carriage wheels from Peathcrstone Hall stopped before the portico, her cheeks ere burning, and her eyts beaming with excitement and ispense. Agnes did not wait to be announced, but, leaping >m the carriage, ran straight to the morning-room, where le knew that she should find her friend. As soon as the >ung women met, they flew into each other's arms, and V a few minutes nothing was to be heard but the sound of |eir repeated kissing, and a few low sobs of pleasure from jnes Fcatherstone. They separated at hist, but it was ^Iv to fly together again with another series of embracer ; lid then Evelyn drew Agnes gently towards a sofa, and down beside her, with her arm about her wairit. The irs were standing on both their faces as they turned to >k at one another. ['And so, my darling, I have got you back again at 1? " said Evelyn. " Oh, Agnes, this separation has been iry time for me. Whilst you have been dancing, and Knp, and going to operas and concerts, you nau^^Iity B, 1 have been hungering and thirsting for the si^ht of jr face and the sound of your voice. I did not realize very necessary you were to my happiness until we ted, Agnes." le younger girl looked troubled, and a little perplexed. Lnd do you suppose I have not felt it also, Evelyn ? !re has not been a day that I didi't want you, dcr.r. pleasures would have been doub'ed had you been re to share them with me. As it was, there always led something wanting in everything to me. Mamma at last that she was quite sick of hearing me say so." I'm afraid Mrs. Fcatherstone must have thought you Vt appreciate all the trouble she was taking on your mnt. But she doesn't know, even after all this time, much we love each other, darling. I have had no sure to speak of, worthy the name, since you left land. How many times Iiavo I longed to f,^o alicr you ! i ll>ll> w III I '.iimh W\i ; m 104 MOUNT EDEK and if you had not seemed to be enjoying yourself so thoroughly without me, I might have done so. But there, dear, I don't mean to reproach you. It was right and, natural that you should enjoy new sights and places. And j you have enjoyed yourself very much, haven't you,| Ar;nes ? " " Very much !" replied Miss Fcatherstonc, with a blush] that spread over her whole countenance. " Why, what is there to blush at, you silly child ? Bull let me have a good look at you, Agnes. What a prettyl dress ! — Paris fashions, I suppose ? You'll be turning the! heads of all the people in church next Sunday. But yourj dear little face is just the same, my darling. Paris has! been unable either to spoil or to improve that." It was a sweet face she was gazing into — almost h^\ sweet and pretty to be very intellectual or spiritual. Arr.csj Featherstone had not changed so very considerably sincel she had been a child. She still possessed the chilc^'s ccr.>[ plexion — clear, delicate, and with a peach-like bloom iipoi it, with large china-blue eyes, set wide apart in her whittf forehead, Si piquant nose, with small nostrils, a pair of lipj arched like a cupid's bow, and a dimpled chin. A face foj a parent to dote on, and a lover to rave about, but not J face to fly to for succor, counsel, or sympathy. Ilcl figure was small, rounded, and rather short, and her hai:| which retained the blonde tint of her childhood, ciirlef naturally all over her head. But in Evelyn's loving eye Agnes was perfection, both physically and mentallfj Though usually far-seeing and perspicuous, slie colJ detect no flaw in the beautiful girl whom she had maiij her pet and plaything for so many years. It would \\^ been a bold person indeed who would have ventured to saj a word against Agnes Featherstone in the presence Evelyn Raync. " No ; Paris nor any other place could ever spoil yoj my darling," she repeated fondly ; " and yet I hardly kiip my little Agnes in these fine feathers. I shall not 1 quite happy till I see you running about Mount Eden ag:| in a brown holland dress and a straw hat, and feel you all my own, as of yore. And what a lot you must have! tell me, dear ! "What long evenings we will spend togctli^ talking over all you have seen and heard during yo absence ! When will you come and stay with me, Agne MOUNT EDEN". los oying yourself so| ne so. But there, ^ It was risht and J and places. And ich, haven't you, stone, with a blush I 1 silly child ? But es. What a pretty ou'U be turning the Sunday. But your darling.^^ Pans has 3ve that. I iig into— almost U^\ 2r spiritual. Arrcl V considerably smct ssed the child's ccd •ach-like bloom iipoil ie apart .in her ^M nostrils, a pair of M ,ied chin. A face foi rave about, but not 4 or svmpathy. 1^ r short, and her hai;, her childhood, curkJ Evelyn's loving cyci iically and mental.| rspicuous, slic coufL xviiom she ^^Jf^ years. It would havf* d have ventured to sal e in the presence could ever spoil yo] - and yet I hardly kni thers. I shall not I bout Mount Eden agj what, and feel you a] a lot you must havei we will spend togct^j aid heard during y^ A stay with me, Agnei Tliy not remain at Mount Eden now you are lierc ? Mrs. featherstone will be too busy settling herself to rights to liss you for the next few days." Agnes' face palpably fell at the proposition, which in )rmcr days she would have gladly acceded to. " Oh, Evelyn, dear, I cannot possibly remain with you ^ -at least, not just yet. Mamma could not spare me, scause — because we are not quite alone. Papa has some fiends at the Hall," she said lamely. " Guests already ! and you only arrived last night I lat a nuisance for your mamma. How is that, Agnes ? " " They — at least I mean he — there is only one gentle- in — ciossed with us from Calais," stammered Agnes. "Some acquaintance you made abroad, I suppose. Is a foreigner ? " " No — that is, we did meet him abroad — in Florence, I ^nk — but he's not a foreigner, although lie has lived for long time in France and Italy, and looks very much like Italian. And he sings, Evelyn — oh, beautifully ! — and [aws, and paints, and plays the violin." V* How nice ! And what is his name, dear ? " f*Mr. Lyle — ^Jasper Lyle. Papa says it's a very good le, and he feels satisfied he comes of a good family, all his people are dead. He is the last of his race, it sad?" [He is like me, then, Agnes. I, too, have no living itions. Mr. Lyle and I should have a fellow feeling," imed Evelyn, smiling gravely. " Is he an old man ? " ' Oh, no, not at all ! About thirty, I think. But, tlyn— " I Well, darling?" II have something to tell you — something very serious important, and perhaps you will be angry with me be- I have not told it you before." [When have I ever been angry with you, Agnes?" said lyn, with fond reproach. |But I have always told you all my secrets, Evelyn — "^ the first of all — but I couldn't help this, dear, because mid have seemed so silly, before I was quite sure, and tely happened a fortnight ago ; though, of course, T ■^ see from his manner that it was coming, and it me awfully happy— and that is the reason that Mr. crossed over with us yesterday, and is going to stay ir.'i I fo6 MOUNT EDEN', **What IS it, A:;:ic5? Tell it me quick," exclaimed Evelyn, in a voice of pain. Agnes threw licrsclf on her friend's bosom, and hid her blushing face in her own curls. " Oh, Evelyn, you will never believe it, but I am engagea to be nrarried to him, and I do love him so." Those only — who have ever spent weeks or months in vain longing for the bodily presence of a friend whose absence took the best part of their life away, and then I found that that friend had been enjoying himself so well without them as to have almost forgotten their existence- can undf;rstand what Evelyn Rayne felt when Agnes Feathers tone told her she was engaged to be married No, there is one other who could have sympathized with| her. The mother, whose dearly-cherished child has taken the I most important step cf her existence, without asking fori either her counsel or her consent. Evelyn knew, ofl course, that she had no moral or legal right to expect to bel consulted in the matter, but the sting of disappointment! was just the same, and with the confession of her secret! Agnes seemed suddenly to have slipped out of hisr handsf At first, she could hardly believe that she had heard! aright. Agnes — her little sister — her child, almost — engaged tc be married to some stranger '.vhom she had never seen m heard of before ! It was incredible, and when she haii| recovered from her speechless surprice she said so. " Oh, Agnes 1 Engaged ! Going to be married ? Ancl you never told me. It is impossible." There was such a bitter sense of not having been treateJ as her love had the right to expect in her voice, that thq dullest person must have recognized it. "Oh, Evelyn, how could I?" answered Agnes, withoa raising her head. " Jasper — that is, Mr. Lyle — only spokj to papa a week ago, and then I thought it would bei much nicer to surprise you by coming home and tellin you myself. And if I had written to you about it, shouldn't have known what to say." " But you have never even mentioned Mr. Lyle's na to me, Agnes. How long have you known him ? " ** About six weeks or two months. We met him in Rod during the Carnival. The Spencers introduced him to ' -* MOUNT EDEN. 107 id he took such a fancy to me, Evelyn, that he has iveled with us ever since." "And Mr. Featherstone can actually consent to give^^« -his only child — to a man he has known for six weeks 1 low can he tell this Mr. Lyle will make you happy? lat can he know about his character or his disposition ? " lad Evelyn, with hasty suspicion of the unwelcome mger. " I conclude papa is satisfied," replied Agnes pouting, |or he would not have consented to my engagment. Any ic can see that Jasper is a gentleman, Evelyn, and he has ;n quite open about his money matters. He is not rich all; but what does that signify, when we have so much mey, and mamma says that papa will make everything rht for us." I** Then Mrs. Featherstone wishes it, Agnes? She is iy to give up her ewe-lamb to a stranger's care. She ;ms in a great hurry to get rid of you, dear," said relyn, rather bitterly. But Agnes was not- quick to \tcX sarcasm. [* Oh, no. It isn't that ; but mamma likes Jasper aw- she exclaimed, with schoolgirl slang, " and so will when you see him. He is so handsome, Evelyn. Tall slight, with lovely blue eyes and dark hair — such an Itial combination, mamma says — and such beautiful Is and feet. And he sings splendidly— he learnt in And he sketched all the places we stopped at for falbum." fAn Admirable Crichton, evidently," said Evelyn. It all the accomplishments in the world, Agnes, are ring compared to the one great question, — *Do you him ? '" jnes crimsoned like the heart of a rose, ivelyn, I do love him. I never loved anyone half so jh in my life before. And if anything happened to ' rate us now, I think that I should die." fThen I will learn to love him too, for your sake, feng, though he does threaten to take my little Agnes me," cried Miss Rayne, as she burst into tears, le ebullition was rather an uncommon one with her She had wept all her tears, as she thought, poor plong ago, and had hardened herself against the shocks unkind world. But the knowledge that Agnes MOUNT EDEN. . ' ineitone loved ^^^^^^S^T'^l"^^^, could Wlkc/raly again, "^^y should y,^ ^^^ ^^^^^ M lyl^ ^"" ""' '^^^f ;T? You don't want me to be a. "^TSung. never,-; -^.tgW --"^^^^ retwnedfo claim the M«™«f ' "i^^u. any o*" ""'"•'I -^ V^'hef tnf s-rfpr^a. wU a deter. J " But why not? i^o^ j' Mount Eden? Surel> noi| r.-ldVrvSa^r^arasaysyouougHtto.. -^tC^riudgesmefro^^^^^^^^ point, Agnes, and I »™ »f,^';;,°„d and feelings of a matl \ thiAk I have much mo e he m ^^ „y ,fc. The care of "»y P'Xence with it or myself. don't want any «terlerence ^^^jj^ Eye I) "But some one ^;''^°'°;„ew.born experience, " « whispered Agnes, out of her new ^^,^ .^ ^^ sweet l;:!^':ifthrtr»?o«yo«^-^-"^'°'^^", -J^rth^rm°aS^vW^^^^^^ *° 'rXCI 'uwUl never -me Y^V persisted \ "°rif^/ou only knew how nice U .s, pe j ^ttCh^aved a deep * ;, ,,,„,_ '« Why are you sighmg . " Well, my darhng ? ^^ve never mar^l . That there is a ^^^l^^^^^l^,,. fond of, and so Evelyn ; that there is some one > j MOUNT EDEN, MJ has prevented your marrying him. What is it, dear ? he unworthy of you ? " I never thought so," replied Miss Rayne. i'or the first time she felt as if she must confide in her J friend — she, who had never confided ii) any one before. U influence urged her on? The announcement of js' engagement seemed to have stirred up the memory ssages in her own life, which could only be smoothed by unburdening her mind of its secret. jThen there is some one ? " said Agnes eagerly. [There was some one," replied Evelyn, with a solemn in her sad eyes. |Is he dead ? " inquired her companion, in a tone of To, Agnes, no ! I am certain that he is not dead — Jthing in my heart tells me so,lDut in all the wide, wide i, I do not know where he may be now. My poor !" [s it long ago, Evelyn ? " It is as long ago as when I first came to Mount Eden, ts." [en years ; and you have not yet forgotten ? " |o, ana never shall forget. But, Agnes, remember I >u this in the strictest confidence — as one dear friend ther. I should have told you before had I thought ^u would understand my feelings. But now that you ifhat love is, you will be able to sympathize with me. fthink I want to run it down, dear. It must be the eautiful thing God gives us, — when it turns out well, it so seldom turns out well. Mine has been all from the beginning." Kll me about it, Evel>n," said Agnes, nestling close r* ♦ \ was my cousin. Will Caryll, darling. Before I came |unt Eden I lived in Liverpool with my aunt. Miss I, and when poor cousin Hugh was drowned at sea ^cle fetched Will down from London to fill his place counting-house, he put him to lodge with Aunt He was such a dear fellow, Agnes, and so fond of )urmg those happy years we were together, we were ^ble. We were very poor, you know, but I have sen so hapj)y as I was then, when I prepared all ism's meals for him. and kept his clothes in order, lid MOUNT EDEN, and thought myself more than repaid when Sundarl came and he took me out into the country and talked tol me of love. Oh, Agnes, I did not love — I worshippt\ him ! He was my all." " But, Evelyn,. why is he not here ? " " Ah, darling, that is the trouble of my life. He wa wilful and high-spirited, like many other young men, anij he offended uncle terribly. He was so angry with him tJ he turned him out of his office, and though I begged foj his forgiveness on my knees, he would not take him bad again. And then Will went to America — what chance v;i there left for him in England ? — and I have never heard \ him since." " Never heard of him since ! Didn't he write to you'l " No, dear ; he didn't even write. For ten years the| has been total silence between us. But he will come bad some day. I feel sure of that. It is all I am waiting forj to see Will again before I die." Miss Featherstone was silent. She was not a clever d but she had sufficient sense to wonder at her friend's erf dulity. To go on waiting for and expect'ng the return a lover who had not written for ten years, seemed a vej simple thing to do. And Jasper had sworn that if /J were separated, he should send her a letter every m After a pause she said timidly, — " And if he shouldn't come back, Evelyn — if— if-:^ should be dead ? " " He will come, dear — he is not dead," replied M Rayne confidently. " Have I not already told you tk have a conviction on the subject, too deep to be untd But I may not see him yet — not for many years. Tliti are reasons against it, but they will not last for ever, then we shall meet." " And be married," interposed Agnes. Evelyn shook her head dubiously. " I am not so sure of that, dear. Time works so changes. We may neither of us wish to marry by thetj we see each other again. But, however he may come \\ to me — poor or rich, sick or well, old or young — Will] find me the same — his true and faithful friend." "And if he should be faithless?" suggested Featherstone. " He will not be faithless," said Miss Rayne abrufl ** You do not know him, or you would not think it possil] MOUNT EDEN, sit ^Oh, Evelyn, what a heart you have,'* sighed Agnes. 1*0 hear you talk of Mr. Caryll makes me think I don't Mr. Lyle half enough." 'Your love has not been put to the test yet, Agnes. >uld it ever be, I am sure you, will prove true as gold, are in the sunshine of life now, dear, and I am afraid fiave been selfish in overshadowing it — even for a ient — with the cloud that darkens mine. Let us forget [nes. let us think of something else. I should have above all things, to keep you with me; but, of je, now that you have told me this grand piece of news, mot renew my request that you should stay." [But you will come to us instead, Evelyn ? " interposed Featherstone eagerly. " I am the bearer of an es- il message from mamma to ask you to dine at the this evening. And then you will see my Jasper," she " in a whisper, *' and understand how impossible it for me to help loving him." Tot to-night, my darling," said Evelyn in a voice of jC revival of l.cr own unfortunate attachment made irink, somehow, from witnessing the happiness of her I, yes, to-night," pleaded Agnes. |Miss Rayne was firm. -morrow, dear, or next day, but not to-night. I Trs. Featherstone sent me the invitation out of kind- l^ut I am sure she must be tired, and will be glad of lought you would be so anxious to see Mr. Lyle ? " Agnes. 'I am, dear ; but after all I have got you back again, It is the chief thing to me. I will dine with you to- r, if you particularly wish it, but for to-day — well, I nind confessing, my darling, that your news has |ipset me, and I should like to have a few hours in ^ reconcile myself to it. You have been so much \i Agnes, and for so many yer.rs, it is hard at first to f giving you up to any one else." 6s rose from the sofa and shook out her crumpled will make me begin to hate Mr. Lyle if you talk could come between us," she cried petulantly. if^ m ill MOUNT EDEN, " However, don't let us speak of him any more. There i a small box in the carriage, Evelyn, that I brought hon for you. Only a few marble ornaments from Italy, but j knew you would like them for your boudoir mantleshe Ask one of the servants to bring them in." And then the two young women unpacked the case i gether, and kissed over its contents, and interchang many a vow of loyal friendship. Yet, when Agnes Featho stone drove away from Mount Eden that afternoon, Eveljj Rayne felt as though she had gone from her, in the old swo sense, for ever. CHAPTER Xni. A CHANCE RESEMIJLANCE. For some time after, she stood at the window from whi she had watched Agnes' departure, wrapt m her of thoughts. What had induced her to mention the name of ll| Caryll, and divulge the secret which she had caiT| patiently and silently in her breast for so many years p2 Was it jealous pain at the news of Agnes' happiness :; had made her speak out so openly? She could not answer her own questions. She only that the reunion with her little friend had disturki wound which she hatd believed to be closed, and brou back the past in a flood of unhappy remembrance. Evelyn Rayne stood there, absorbed and alone, she the scenes of her dead life over again, and longed toreii them. She saw the first day on which Mr. Caryll I brought Will to her aunt's house, and bargained with] over the price of his board and lodging, and the amous money to be allowed for his washing. She had thoi^ him a hard and stingy man then — jtow she knew hei only wise and prudent. But Will had always conden him heartily — Will, with his tall, upright figure, and m bearing and winning smile — with his handsome face] merry manner ! How could her Aunt Maria have disf him as she did — her poor, faulty, but eminently char Will? I MOUNT EDEN, l«3 le smiled — unknown to herself — as she recalled the )y moments when she had slaved for him during his jcc, and watched for his return, and been amply re- Icd by a smile and a kiss from his handsome, self- ified mouth. And her brows were knil till the tears to her eyes, as she re-lived, i.i imagination, that ^rable night when he had hid his face in her lap, and tssed the crime of which he had been guilty. had shrunk from and despised him then. Her tand honest nature could not but despise dishonesty, (tception, and fraud ; but she had not let him see it. Ind worked for him still, even t the moment when pu;hed him out of the front door, dressed in her own ies,and sent him forth into the world to begin a new ler. How startlingly distinct appeared that moment to I still. As she gazed out of the window of Mount Eden leafy avenue, which led to the park, seemed to change Se insgnificant by-strect in Liverpool, as it looked on evenful morning — empty and silent from end to end, ;pt fori cat that was strolling homeward, and a caged that h,d wakened with the sun. And she^ watching Itching ww ith one hand shading her tear-blinded eyes lat figue which was Will, and yet not Will, dressed in •t yea's things, had slunk away like a thief (as he [from th> home that had sheltered him, on his road to farly cofj>e-house and the quay. And she had re- •d from he last look — alone for ever after ! But |gh he hadneither communicated with nor come back jr, his lastvords were ringing in her ears. ^^ou are nine, now, as much as if I had married -Eve ! I s,all always consider that, and if I don't back for ye^rs, I shall expect to find you waiting for I shall foi you. Will you swear to be faithful to id slje answerd solemnly,— \I swear it!*' |And if uncle coies round," her poor boy had added, -", leaves me Mom Eden, we are to share it together, id with that remider of a promise they had made to another on the ight of their betrothal, they had ited for ten long ^vlts. War, her Will alive or dead ? It was the thought tit had worried Eve by night and "4 MOUNT EDEN. by day ever since they parted. As soon as she had foun herself mistress of Mount £dcn, she had wanted to taij means to trace her cousin — to advertize for him in papers, or to place the matter in the hands of the detectji police ; but her trustees had warned her it would fraught with danger. Though Mr. Rog( r Caryll wasd^ the firm of Caryll, Tyndall & Masters still survived,^ either of the partners had a right to prose'.ute an oftnq committed against them all. So she had reluckinil relinquished the idea, and waited to see what time miglj bring her. And time (as yet) liad brought her — mthA And yet Evelyn felt sure that some day she and WiUwoJ meet aj^ain. If the thought that her youthful love; migij have died ever intruded itself upon her, she putita\v( resolutely. Were Will dead, she must have kiowni He had loved her so well. He would have come and tcj her that hope (for this world) was at an end. Codwot not have sundered them for ever on earth, withait per ting them a solitary farewell glimpse of on« anothd Will was not dead — she was sure of ///«// l)ut»he wasni quite so sure why he had not written to her Her oj solution of his silence was, that he still dread'd detectic and detention. Oh, if he only knew that hs uncle aJ aunt were both dead, and he might return to England w^f impunity ! For, after Mr. Caryll's death, ;nd her inta view with her trustees on the subj^ ct, Eve^n had fou: the forged cheques locked up in in iron safe, and b | retained them eter since. The firm might prosecute V now, if they considered it worth their wjile, but withcJ proofs they could do nothing to harm hire and she no j destroy the proofs directly there was any ianger. She(" not know why she had not destroyed the*i already ; unlej it were that she might some day havf the pleasure] seeing Will do so with his own hand So that he i safe from all the world but her, and sfer with jjier tlij with all the world. Her poor Willi How he must jive suffered. Hj gladly she would try to recompensrit to him as soonj he was found. Why had she not^dopted some mil private measures to trace his career and consulted peof who were familiar with his adopte(tountry? He was i a man to be passed over in a crox^- This idea threw! thoughts back to Captain PhiP> and his friend ]i Vernon. MOUNT EDEN. ««5 t as she had fouiL ad wanted to taij ize for him in tf idsofthedetect^ her it would' cr Caryllwasdtf still survived.^ rose'.ute an oftnd ic had reUicmriLl ee what time migl night her— «se cf on* anotW hat; but .he was rJ en to her. Herotj ill dreadd detectiJ r that hs uncle ai ;turn to England w death, ;nd her int: t EveVn had foe n iron safe, and b might prosecute V^ eir wlile, but wiihtj ti hiK and she w anyianger. Shec i thei^ already ; unld havf the pleasure! and- So that hew d jifer with tier tk ; Jive suffered. Hi s(it to him as soon ,t adopted some m rand consulted peoj :ountry? Hewasi' . This idea threw! and his friend Jo 'hey have both traveled," she thought to herself, yet I have never made use of their knowledge, or to extract any information from them. * How stupid re been. I wonder if they are at liberty this afternoon, [would dine with me? I will write and ask them. I low and unnerved, and a little company will do me I suppose the captain will answer, as usual, mless his friend persuades him to be sociable. [I '^an at least try." without further discussion with herself, Miss Rayne mn and scribbled a little note in pencil to Captain ^p, Mhich was put into his hands as he returned with Vtrnon from their ride to Leighton. It created a commotion in Bachelor's Hall. Evelyn had lently invited her land-agent to dine at her table he fir: t camo to Mount Eden, but he had been so itent m his refusals, that she had dropped the (esy of hte and it was more than six months since he kceived i similar invitation. He turned the note over >ver in hit hands, hardly knowing what to make of it. tiss Rayni asks you and me to dine at the big house I, Jack," 'le said, in a tone of surprise ; " what on for? Wh.M can she want with you or me ? " tell I supp»se she wants to see us. That is the conclusior," replied John Vernon laughing, lin Philip bought he detected gratified vanity in mg man's laigh, and turned upon him with sharp lon't think it'svery likely she can want to see yoUf she will deri-e much pleasure from listening to ep-sea yarns. Miss Rayne has a shuddering aver- \r everything comected with the sea. Your name is icluded in the invtation because you are staying at for's Hall. Nor on I imagine what she can have tome. We settle^ all our business this morning. sry strange." m't let us go," urgedVernon. " Indeed, captain, I prepared to appear in the presence of a ladv. I evening clothes to p\t on." lin Philip laughed. ining clothes, you jacknapes. You would make lyne stare if you did Anything of the sort. Do appose / have any eveniia clothes, and, if I had. \ \ MOUNT EDES. .K.m? Why Miss Raync never dressL that I would wear them? >^^^^^ ^^^ y^^^ ever wornl Fcatherstone will not »«,,"r^. had too much to say i evening. Miss Rayt.e *»"''' '^''"'Xd person. \H herto require the presence of any tnwr F ,^„a„ | ;:; that 1 think it >n"^t I'^^.f.^^t, l°h" M«s EayneL ialled unexpectedly at the b-gh" _^^^.j theawk.aJ felt comP«="<=r,:a so you are ^t^nrn^'iSr^nV^'' "'l convenience ? " observed y^^^^j^"^, j^ ;, tr^atrng me n|« .. Did I say so, Jafck ? ( J°"^H„^ever, t.me is gettH i r tSout-an -Sany me or ,o. r;^^^ f ^ °":.07 course I mean ^o f P°Xof'th^ig house, »i. the opportuni^ '.^.//^in^or.and .nee you th,„k:g little more of US cnarmiig p uniform will do— „ gxcliimed Captain Fr \:S' •' WhVdo y-otXpos: is^oing to look at, >\[,:. which .hey walked J tc;he^'«j'-t^^^^^ silently together, the c^'^;"^,^'tnttL°" <=°""^ ''", if the reason of M.ss Ra)ne ' 'n^ ^,, „t to see mo connection w.th a latent desire ^^^^^^^^ ^,y ,,„ ,,^,1 the good-looking young sa'wr w without any A '^'Shereceived them both krf^yj^b^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ A show of cordiality. They fou,.^^^^^^^^^ ^„ds J evidently been crying, for he y^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ j ^ „ and her face very pale^ ^countered each other, » emotion, as soon as they e i laughing apology- ^1 appearance, itj .?You will *mk, fron my g captam Pf4 have been worrymg my*» MOUNT EDF.y. 117 have only been having what we silly women call * a cry/ and which is the best remedy we know of for excitement ; for I have had such a great surprise — a surprise, as I am sure it will prove to be. My dear , Miss Featherstone, is going to be married." idecd ! Miss Rayne. I congratulate her and you. Featherstone will doubtless make an excellent don't know whether it is excellent, in the ordinary >tation of the term, but it appears to be essentially a [match, which is, after all, the chief thing. And I have stupid enough to let the news upset me, Captain I cannot bear to think of losing my little Agnes ISO many years. She could not spend the evening w«th pd so (as I feel wretchedly dull), I thought you two smen would be good enough to come and cheer me little. I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you le pleasure is all on our side, Miss Rayne. I am Vernon will agree with me in saying so." h ! Mr. Vernon," said Evelyn, turnmg to the younger rA am half afraid I owe you an apology. You began ime someth.ng about America, I think, this morning, head was so full of my poor Gadfly and my cheat- >ms, that I had no time to listen. You must let me /'for my rudeness this evening, for I should love to about the places you have visited." ras attired in a soft, clinging dress of fawn- colored ftre, relieved at the throat and wrists by lace ruffles, th a small bouquet of hothouse flowers in the belt iraist, and she smiled so sweetly at the young sailor poke, that he again thought her the most charm- lan he had ever seen, and grew so rosy and confused her glance, he could hardly stammer out an an- her words. must not judge of me as you see me when I am ting business," went on the mistress of Mount Eden ly, " for it always makes me abrupt and irritable. ^suppose women were ever meant to meddle in it, I sure it doesn't make them more amiable— does it. Phihp?" )n't think you would be content to leave it in my IMiss Rayne, or that of any maa." iiS MOUNT EDEN. " No, I should not ; no more than I could bear to still whilst anybody drove me. I should long to snatch i whip and reins from their hands, especially in case of emergency. But don't let us talk of business to-night. hope you admire the big house, Mr. Vernon? I am rath proud of its adornment, because it is nearly all due toi self. When I entered on its possession, it had little en but bare walls. My poor uncle was so disappointed ini his expectations, he had no heart to finish it." " It is very beautiful, and very tasteful," replied Venw looking round at the walls of the drawing-room, whij were hung with pictures. " Yes, but horribly new, like myself. Yet, like mys also (if I live long enough), it will some day be old— onH with this difference, that age will improve my house, not me," said Evelyn, with a laugh. " It is difficult to imagine anything having the power! improve ^^«," replied the young man gallantly, for whiij the captain looked as if he would like to give him a ta of the cat-o'-nine-tails. " Well, I had no right to expect to get Mount Edenj all," said Miss Rayne, with a sigh, " so I must be satisfi with it as it is. I do not come of an ancient family, yJ know. Captain Philip. I am one of that contemned eld — a nouveau ricfie. My uncle, Mr. Caiyll, made his xmi. by the sweat of his brow, and I inherited his earnings: ^ no merit of my own, but only because there was no else to do so." " No family was ancient at the beginning. You arei tined, perhaps, to be the founder of a long race, Ml Rayne," replied Captain Philip smiling. What a sudden gloom spread over her features, as thoni a cloud had overshadowed the sun. " I don't think so," she said sadly , and then, altering! manner, exclaimed, " but dinner is ready. Let us contiD our conversation in the dining-room. No, Captain Phil] I will not accept your arm — thanks — or I should be cm 'pelled to leave Mr. Vernon out in the cold. Let us al!| in together. It is so much less formal." And she tripp before them lightly to the dining-room. The big house was (as its mistress had affirmed) rati new, but it was also very comfortable and commodioj If there were no relics of the past about it, it possessf MOUNT EDEN, 119 r features, as thovi of its inconveniences, and the room they not entered [one of the largest and best in the building. The walls hung with good oil-paintings — several of them being lits of those that were gone ; the furniture was of •m carved oak ; the heavy curtains of Utrecht velvet, \x the floor was covert lin Philip burst out laughing. >rgive me, Miss Rayne. Don't think me rude, but buld be simple means, indeed. If you follow a clue \y friend Vernon's, you may end by relinquishing property to some one who has no claim upon it at all. id many people would like to personate ' Cousin We should have another claimant case crowding courts. Why, John Vernon here must have been clothes when your cousin ran away to sea." Rayne's face fell, course ! How siljy I am. I forgot how young Mr. is, and really imagined I might have gained a clue i dream." 122 MOUNT EDEK, ! ii " Your dream ! " echoed tlic captain. " Yes. I have often dreamt that my cousin was and came back to Mount Eden. I don't know whjl should, except that the story of his unliappy fate impress/ me as a child. But you laugh at my romantic ideas, C^ tain Philip, so I shall not tell you anything more ab them." " Well, I am quite sure that they will never prove ; thing more than ideas, or dreams. Miss Rayne, and I your friends can afford to laugh at them. Depend oii| that Cousin Hugh will never trouble you or any one in this world again." ** Poor fellow," said Evelyn softly, " don't let us tall| him any more. Tell me. of America, Mr. Vernon," i her voice fell to a sadder key as she spoke the vcj " have you been there often, and — and — did you meeti of your countrymen there ? I have heard there are English in America, and I have often wished to visit| myself. Tell me all you know. It seems to be suci wide — wide place, as if one might be quite lost out ihil What states did you visit ? Do you know New York!) " Better than the rest of America, Miss Rayne, beq I have made three voyages out to it and back again. the captain there and I once made a memoraHe tou! the Southern States, wh'ch lasted three months, h der he has never told you of all the adventures we \ through during that trip." "Captain Philip has never told me anything of his; life ; he keeps all the fun to himself," exclaimed \ Rayrte, with mock reproach. "He is so absorbdl drainage, and top-dressing, and chemical manures, he ( not stop to consider how dull I am up here at the| house all by myself." " I have nothing to tell, I assure you, Miss Ra)^ replied the captain earnestly. " My past life has beeEj stupid as myself. T am only fit for top-dressing chemical manures. The * fun ' exists in the vivid imaf tion of my young friend over there." " Why, captain, have you quite forgotten, then. colored belle who followed us all the way from Buffaij Oil City to ask for a lock of your hair? " said Jack' non laughing ; " and the lady at St. Louis, who declj she had been married to you in England, and you deserted her for somebody else ? " MOVirr EDEI7, iss in the vivid iin?| ic captain reddened under his sun-bumt skin, and llyn laughed. Fl am sure that must have been a case of mistaken Itity, Mr. Vernon," she said, for Captain Philip is a firmed bachelor. I don't believe he would go ten yards [of his way to see the prettiest girl in England." JAnd I am quite sure I wouldn't," replied the captain, re outgrown such folly long ago." |lf it's not rude. Captain Philip, might I ask what your BS ? " said Miss Rayne. [Forty," he answered, after a pause. ^orty I " she echoed, looking at him fixedly. *' Ini- iible ! " ^hy impossible ? " jcausc — because you don't look forty, or talk like it, ly thing," she returned. *erhaps you know best," he said, with an uneasy laugh, turned his face away from her scrutiny. lut we arc forgetting — America," continued Evelyn, [a pause. " Is it very wild down in those states ? Is for strangers ? Do they ever get roughly handled there — hurt, or wounded, or — or killed !'^ ftetty* replied Vernon, with a smile at her ignorance ; }d, more often than not. The slightest quarrel |;|s settled with a bowie-knife or a revolver. The and I once saw a man shot down like a dog for ig on another's toes in a crowd. Didn't we, captain ? " Rayne closed her eyes. tow horrible ! " she sighed. " People with quick l^rs must run a terrible risk out there." is generally short work with them, I can assure you, Rayne. It doesn't do to have a temper in the !»» Ind if any one were stranded there, unknown and less, would there be any chance, think you, of his kg so far away from civilization as to be unable to lunicate with those at home — to be cut off (as it from England, and lost in the wilds of America?" hesitating voice and nervous manner attracted both ;n's attention, lave you lost sight of a friend in America, Miss ' ? " demanded Vernon. colored like a rose. t24 MOUNT EDEN, " / / Oh, dear, no ! Who should / know on the oti side of the world? But a lady — an acquaintance of — hasn't heard from her — from \iQX son for such a longtij and she is uneasy about him, so I thought — " But here Evelyn stopi)ed short, unable to proo further with a subterfuge that was foreign to her nati Captain Philip's dark eyes watched her narrowly as i played with her dessert knife and fork, and scrutinized! painted flowers on her plate. '* She must indeed be uneasy," replied John Vernoi her remark, " for there are few places out there (if, ind(f any) where postal communication is unknown. Sti have heard of men gettmg up into the Rocky Mount and such like districts, where they have been unabkl write home for months together." " But this is a case o( years," said Evelyn mournfiilj ** Indeed ! I don't think I should expect, myself, t to see a man again who had not written home for yea There was a painful silence after the last remark, Captain Philip tried to divert by saying, — " Is it indiscreet, Miss Rayne, to ask you the nan Miss Featherstone's future husband? " Evdyn started from her reverie with nervous hastel " Oh, no ! Agnes made no secret of it. She camel here to-day, as proud as possible, to tell me all the| ticulars of her engagement. His name is Mr. Lr| Jasper Lyle." " Any profession ? " "No; at least she didn't say so. He seems to I lived the best part of his life abroad, so I suppose he be a man of independent means. But we didn't dil the prosaic part of the matter. We left that tc Featherstone. All I cared to hear was, that Agnes i:( happy, and Mr. Lyle (of course) perfection." '* You have not seen the gentleman yet, then ? " " No. Agnes coaxed me very hard to go back t] Hall with her to-day ; but I preferred to postpoDJ meeting till to-morrow. I thought it was too so intrude on Mrs. Featherstone's hospitality. But to-i I have pledged myself to dine there, and be introdu(| Mr. Lyle. Not that I feel at all inclined to welcon for taking my dear child away from me." " Is the wedding to be soon, Miss Rayne? " MOUS'T IWRN. 145 I heard nothing of that. I don't think the day is fixed and I hope (for my own sake) that it may not be for a time. But if we have quite finished, I want to shoinff the marbles Miss Featherstone brought me from le. They are lovely." le rest of the evening was spent in looking at and ;ussing the merits of the various possessions of the ^tress of Mount Eden ; but it was quite early, when the gentlemen bade her good-night, and strolled back Jther to Bachelor's Hall. Well, what kind of an evening have you spent, Jack ? " ided Captain Philip of his young friend. " Rather dull and quiet, I expect, for one of your excitable )erament ? " [Not at all, captain ; and all the more agreeable, laps, from the contrast to my usual life. But I can't ^hat picture out of my head. It is j<7 like somebody I I will get at the truth, if I think all night about iOh, bother the picture," exclaimed the captain. " If [like anybody else, what's the odds ? The boy's dead fone, and the picture is all that remains of him. But it strike you. Jack, that Miss Rayne seemed very lus for news about America ? I have seldom seen her :ited before. Do you think she can have had any ^le interest in putting those questions to you ? " sure I can't say, captain. Women are riddles to fl don't understand them But I wish I could iber whose eyes it is, of which that picture puts me rerfully in mind." CHAPTER XIV. AGNES' LOVER. [.E used to say that it was lucky Mr. Andrew Feather- I the banker, had only one child of his own, for the lof his family was legion. Like most men who have led wealth for themselves, he had a score of poor bs, who swooped down periodically, like a swarm of 7 vultures, upon Featherstone Hall, eager to pick up imbs that fell from the rich man's table. Some of ; {' If'! m6 MOUNT EDEN. them, indeed, had swooped to such advantage as torer fixtures at the Hall for life ; and strangers had occasiou j^ome difficulty in understanding how so many people wij different names came to be congregated under the saj roof. Thus Mr. Featherstone's half-brother, by a seco marriage of his mother, Mr. William Rastall, had beeiil permanent visitor at his house for ten years past ; \\\\ his wife's sister. Miss Macdonald, had lived with thJ ever since their wedding day. It was a favorite prcjcc:] Mrs. Featherstone's to marry her sister to her brother/ law, and get rid of them both at the same time ; butasj pair were incessantly wrangling, there did not seem tof much hope of a speedy consummation of her wisi regarding them. Miss Macdonald had brought in train Arthur Leyton, the deformed and orphaned sor| another sister, who had died in giving him birth, though the unfortunate boy was nov; old enough to gel school, he spent all his holidays at the Hall, and addecl • the complication of names whilst there. The FeaiiJ stones, pere ct mirej were not refined either by birtli| education. They were honest, and good, and bospitaj to a degree, but they were very vulgar. Evelyn R:j had called herself a nouveau riche^ but they had farttj claim to the title, for, stripped of their wealth, they m have lost all passport to society. Their daughter was different. Shex had been trainee a higher school than her parents, and received a be education, and was, in every sense of the word, a k; And much of this was due to the influence of Evt| Rayne, with whose refined and sensitive feelings AgnesJ been brought so continually in contact. But it musij be supposed, in consequence, that because she knewiij than her parents, and spoke and acted in a superior map to what they did, Agnes Featherstone looked down i:i them. That was the last teaching she would have recef from her friend Evelyn, or, indeed, from herownhearii she had inherited her father's and mother's kindly disj tion, and loved them as dearly as they did her. were, in fact, a most united and affectionate family, looked upon Evelyn Rayne as one of themselves. and Mrs. Featherstone, who were perfectly aware of i own shortcomings, had had an ambition ever since birth of their daughter to marry her to a gentleman. MOUNT EDEN, 197 I't care about his being rich. They had more than nigh money for themselves, and Agnes into the bargain. ily they wanted to make sure that their wealth would 1r into the proper channel, and raise their children's Idren into the society of which they only hung upon the rders. It was this idea that had made them give so ly a consent to Agnes' engagement to Jasper Lyle. It he was a gentleman of refinement and education, no who saw him could doubt, and if he was not possessed substantial means, Mr. Tcatherstone did not intend to le that an obstacle to the happiness of his daughter. Rastall and Miss Macdonald (who had kept house Jthcr at the Hall during the absence of its rightful icrs) were loud in their denunciations of the new lidate of the Featherstonc crumbs. Mr. Lyle was a jfar,. and an adventurer, and a fortune-hunter, and rthing that was bad in their eyes, and they had no ition in saying so — behind his back. ley wondered that the banker and his wife could be so to their own and their daughter's interests as to ftain his i)roi)osals for a minute. But Mr. Featherstonc Ifirm. " If it were for Agnes' happiness," he said, marriage should take i)lace if M*r. Lyle had not a coat back. If it were not so, he shouldn't have her if he millionaire." He had thrown the young people ;r — pcrhajjs a little imprudently — and they had ic attached to each other, and now nothing should Lte them except their own free will. He was not to break the heart of his only child for the sake of a )unds, shillings, and pence. So the pensioned (res had to beat a crestfallen retreat, and revenge ^Ives by pecking at each other. Featherstonc was right in one respect. It really |d as if Agney' heart was so bound up in Jasper Lyle, ps in herii, that it would be a matter of life and death karate them. Whetlier it is due to the climate, of the itic surroundings, or the greater opportunities for in- Irsc, is an open question ; but, certainly, love seems ike more deeply, and grow more quickly, in the Iphere of Italy and Spain than in the more prosaic paturc of England. And Jasper Lyle was the first ' intellect and culture with whom Agnes Feather- lad been brought in intimate communion. His store 138 MOUNT EDEN. of know ledge seemed in her eyes illimitable, and his metho of imparting it irresistible. He possessed, too, a face figure calculated to attract the fancy of any woman. H;| was tall and slight, almost to thinness ; but singularly fc; of grace. His face was long— what his would-be deirxj ' tors might have termed a " hatchet " face — but it seemedi harmonize perfectly with his pale complexion and langui eyes. He wore his hair, which was wavy, much lend than is usual with Englishmen, and his moulh and clij( were completely covered with a beard and moustaches. dark, silky beard, that had never known the barber's shed but been permitted to grow untouched, as Nature \vil!(f it. Had this beard been shorn off, it would have reveals a weak mouth and retreating chin that augured badly fj the happiness of any one whose faith deper.ded en owner; but the hair curled closely over it, like charij and hid a multitude of sins. Mr. Lyle's whole appcaraii(| aided by the cut of his clothes, was much like thatci foreigner, to which a distinct accent in his pronunciatij of English added peculiar force. He often spoke to; fiancke in French or Italian — a proceeding which oiilraf Miss Macdonald to such an extent, that, on first herd it, s'.e asked her sister, in her most sarcastic tones, if.i Lyle had left his organ and monkey behind him in 1:,' But good-natured Mrs. Featherstone was too happy in girl's happiness to take offence at the insult. She likic hear the young people talk to each other in French. \ vas TiOt jealous, though she did not understand one w they uttered. She was proud, rather, to think her Ap^ was so clever as to be able to converse with her lover foreign language ; and considered that the French ad imparted quite a distinguished air to the whole estabisj ment. And Mr. Lyle doted upon Agnes, and none the:j because she was the sole heiress to her father's nicij For he had not disguised the truth from Mr. Feathersta that he was a poor man. He was quite frank about] matter. He had a small income — about three hundred year — which had been sufficient to keep him abroad.l not at home, and that was the reason he gave for haij deserted England for so long. The good-hearted ba had admired his honesty, and promised him it shouldl no obstacle to his marriage. If Agnes loved him, it] MOUNT EDKN. 139 Sufficient. Agnes was to be made happy at any cost. Agnes v/.i;; in the seventh heaven. All she wanted ^, was to bring Mr. Lyle and her dear Evclvn together, gee them the best of friends. I You must love her," she kept on repeating, "is well do, JasiHT, for she is tlie dearest creature on the face le earth. There was never any one like her before — )d, and liVvcct, and true — and so clever into the bar- I shall be awfully disappointed if you and Evelyn lot the btv.t of friends." ^iens^ fiid j'>i'titi\'' said Lyle, smiling at her earnestness, lis MaJcmoisclle Rayne is so very charming, would )e safe ? Kh, you laugli at me ? You are not, then, of any danger ? But I shall want no friend but your- Lgnes. My little wife must be my best friend." >h, yes," ac(iuiesccd Agnes, with a blush, " I know Idarling ; but still I could never be happy if you did ^e Kvclyn. .She has been so good to me all my life innoftell you how good — and I hope that we shall [live far ajjart from one another. Dear, sweet Eve- )w is she like. Agnes, this c/i^cre amie of yours? " ?w is she like? You stupid fellow. What is she ')u mea'.j. Oh, tall and fair, with grey eyes and It hair. Aunt Sophy says she cannot see anything /n ; but she's a spiteful old thing, you know, and / rr perfectly beautiful." very clcvare to manage so large a property all by \' mused Mr. Lyle. has Captain Philip to help her." ■ who is the Capitaine Philip, petite ? A lover ? " |s laughed immoderately in her glee. hver ! I wish Evelyn could hear you. Why, he's land-agent and overseer — the man who takes all ible off her hands, you know." she must hrve lovers, this young lady who is so II and clevare, and, above all things, rich," argued ;ed she hasn't, then," cried Agnes. " She has always ^e her little sweetheart ; but now, I sMppose, she I that up. She mii^ht have lovers, I am .sure any of them if she chose — only " what, Agnes ? Finish the story." 5 tjo MOUNT EDEN. *' No, I must not. It is a secret. I promised notj tell." •* But to nte, chhie ? " " Not even to you, Jasper. It is Evelyn's secret, mine." " Suppose I guess it ? Tliis friend of yours had a IcJ once — ill days gone by — and she has not forgotten \\ But is it possible ? Does she speak to you of these days Agnes looked into his face astonished. '•Of what days, Jasper? Mas any one been teiii you ? " ■ " No, no. HoNV could they ! It is mere conjecid But given a lady — young, rich, and hnndsome, but \\\t\ admirers, and what is the inference ? A lover in the \ ground. That is all." ** How quick you are," said Agnes ndmiringly. ' ought to write novels. But I can tell you nothing, darling Evelyn will be here this evening, and then yoi:j see her for yourself." "And supposing I do not like her — this charming l':| of yours — what then, Agnes ? " The girl looked alarmed. " Oh, but you must — you will — you cannot help it,'! cried. "All I am afraid of, Jasoer, is, that you wili' her better than myself." He twined his long fingers fondly in her soft curls. " That would be impossible, , d. bien aimee Bi:t j„ some people, Agnes, I cannot ( what llie Englisl *get on.' I am not sympatica, and it is even of cards that your Mademoiselle Evelyn will not like va " I am sure she will," respcndtd Agnes, with ii| earnestness. " Why, it would sjoil all my happiri there was the slightest coolness 1 elwetn you two. ^ I should like best would be that we should all live :| same house together for the rest cf our lives." Mr. Lyle laughed at her eagerness, but the laugh vj entirely an easy one ; and an unbiassed spectato: d scene might have thought he was jealous of the iiiti exercised over his future wife by her female friird. conversation left its effects upon Agnes also. Ii iTiiC| feel nervous about the evening's introduction, aid qui vive to note what effect the first sight of Evelyn have upon her lover. As the time for Miss Rayne's ai MOUNT EDEN. 131 this chantiing f'i »ro.ichcd, ih'.' :,'irlisl» fi-^iirc, rol)C(l in some diaphanous, ly nuicrial, Hiticd bciwccn i!jc drawing-room and the U door, anxiouj to secure the fust word witli her friend. elyn was true to her lime The Hall did not keep Ihionabie liours any mure than the big house, and six lork was c:):i.iilercd (juite late enough for dinner. As liitlc omnibus thai brought her over stopped at the )r ( she had more ihan one grand carriage in her coach- ise. but she never used th'jm ), Agnes flew down the >8 to receive her. 'Oil, darling,' she exclaimed, "I have been waiting |ut here for nearly linlf an hour. I am so nervous, llyn, and so excited. Suppose, after all, you shouldn't him ? " [velyn (who was shaking out the folds of her black let dress and settling the lace about her throat and ts) stopped short in the operation to regard the girl's kd and eager face, fot like him, Agnes ! Are you speaking of Mr. Lyle ? " :'es. You love me, dear, but our tastes may not rs agree ; and — and — if you shouldn't think the same \q about Jasper, it will break my heart." Jou silly child ! What difference could it make to lappiness with your future husband ? But don't be Agnes," continued Evelyn gravely ; " I am bound to Jhe very best of anyone you love, for the sake of our ried affection." I, drawing the girl into her embrace, she kissed her As they disengaged themselves again, they saw a [standing beside them in the dusky hall. It was Mr. limself, who seemed to have caught the infection of anxiety, and wished to get the introduction to Miss over before they encountered the many eyes of \y in the drawing-room. I, here is Jasper," cried Agnes, with a gasp. " Jasper, I is my dear friend and sister, Evelyn Rayne. Don't " lal with her. Sliake hands at once, and let me feel )u are going to be friends." quite willing, for my part, to be the best of friends," [velyn cordially, as she extended her hand. Lyle took it, but for a moment he did not speak. le answered, with more decided French accent than i% • Ml 13* MOUNT EDEN. 1 ^ to make the acquaintance of ones .' I am happy, also' '° "^''^ ^ ' deal to Agnes." ^ ^ i^ at rest, and w l " That IS right. Now ^.^ j om," exclaimed Slj nroceed in state to the «^*'"f ;, j,, front oflia. Ctherstone as f « pf ^X^'o t^ink. . She haj Evelyn did not know quue ^ foreigner e. h« expected Agnes' fiance to be so ^_^^ ^^ ,^^y speech or appef ^"« .^Xt was due to his birthngl] could ever so far fo'^g«''^'';„Jncrasies of another mliJ to adopt the "''"f ".^^fextangeTgreetings with the] and as soon as she had «i'?l7|Ye,* again upon Mi iJ ofthe family, she turned her eyes g ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^J with the keenest ^""°f/„Ver weU A, or to «j her observation (as f,.Ta"n himself to the farihest J avoid it. for he had withdrawn Ji ^^ ^^ inteiested .«l tion of the room, ana P«>;f 1.;^, „ ^as fam (for tk pages of a book. ^. And there ^l^^,^. Featherston. befng) to leave him. for Mr. ana ^^^ ^fj„ ^ U naturally much to say to the ryomg ^ ^^ ^„ absence! and ^l^^.f^ At dnner however she fouv^ attention to wander, ^t ami , ^^ i\,t\t\\\ XUd --^f^ T:T.. oI Mr. Lyle. , Wha' '^ she could not k«^P ^"/(hat so attracted her? * in the man's appearance tnai ^^^^ „( i '^0 admire him-far from ^'; "er^^^^^^ . lover had been a S^^^^^^^rher taste. He lookedf was not manly ^-^o^g^ *° ur han a gentleman of the, Uke a poet or a tr°"badour «an a g ^^^^^ ^^^ J teenth century. A"d then his ny ^^ g^g^M talking rather repulsed "«'•,''" fancied there ^vas S fnd speak «k« .T' ronundarion. and that it4 affectation in Mr. Lyle s K°"^"^ had at last d.a^ rra^-oterS with^h^ KvV found her th have acquired so,deciaed an y°The"^pre istion seemed to confuse mm. H.| -fv^e:L';^o- •''^htris ^say, w -th^;^s '1 ^^f^ry-oVw^r/Se^abroad^P" MOUNT ED EM. »33 [I have lived there nearly all my liife," he answered, with face bent down upon his plate. [Well, you've got to turn into an Englishman again now, boy," exclaimed Mr. Featherstone cheerily, "for ima and I don't mean to let our little Agnes cross the inel without us. She's all we've got, you know, and I't spare her out of our sight." 'hen you shouldn't have consented to her marriage a gentleman that's half a foreigner," snapped Miss lonald. lut Mr. Ly^e nas promised not to separate us aom interposed Mrs. Featherstone. Purely," replied Mr. Lyle, " Agnes is English, and remain in her own country." Lnd you must become English too, you naughty boy," imed his fiance. " Do you know, Jasper, your pro- lation grows worse instead of better. I really think ire more French to-day than ever. Evelyn is staring ill her eyes at your accent. She never heard any- speak so badly before. Did you, Evelyn } " Rayne was indeed staring in ihe most unaccount* inner at the stranger. Her eyes seemed fixed in sction, and when Agnes' laughing questicn recalled iiherself, she turned them in a dazed manner ujDon V. ir friend does not like me. I had an intuition it so," whispered Mr. Lyle to his betrothed, under ^f the general conversation. isense, Jasper," replied Agnes with a look of pain. take fancies into your head. When you know better, you will acknowledge she is the last person a hasty judgment upon anyone. It is only your Ithat amuses her a little." rhether it was due to the presence of Mr. Lyle at 11 dinner-table or not, Miss Rayne had become |untably silent. There she sat, with her fair head with its wealth of chesnut hair, bent down upon te, holding commune with herself, or raising it only il a furtive glance across the table to where the It, side by side, talking in a low voice to one another. |k, talk, Evelyn ! " cried Agnes gaily, after a little "What has come to you this evening, darling? rho are generally so full of life. Have you nothing lo us after so long an absence ? " 134 MOUNT EDEN. "What shall I say? " exclaimed Evelyn, roushig hen at the challenge of licr friend. " You are the queen ofj feast, Agnes, and should lead the conversation. l| really very embarrassing to be ordered to say soracthJ Ma> I make it a question? Have you ever beeo] America, Mr. Lyle? " The query came as unexpectedly as a pistol shot, J spemed to startle everybody at table, and especially man to whom it was addressed. "What a funny idea," cried Agnes,, elevating her bra " of course he hasn't." "But why 'of course?'" persisted Miss Rayne^ journey is nothing now-a-days, and a traveler like I Lyle has probably made it more than once. And I aa terested in the States. I have relations there. Hej have met them. Have your wanderings led you soj Mr. Lyle?" , There was a tone in her voice that made Jasper I dread he knew not wimt, and forced him to raise hisj against his will. It was the first time Evelyn had •met his gaze, and the room seemed to go round wiiij as she encountered it. " I — have — not — been — to — America, mademoiselltj answered slowly, "Have you not V she asked again, wiihuut rem: her eyes /rom his. As they regarded each other thus. Mrs. Fcatheis saw til the .color die out of Miss Rayne's fresh ^^ leaving them of an ashy paleness. " Evelyn, my dear girl," she cried, rising and p:i round the table to her assistance, " what is the msj Are you ill ? " " I don't feel very well," said Evelyn, in a strangej " It is this sudden spring heat that always upseii With your permission, Mrs. Featherstone, I will leaj table and await your return in the drawing-room." " Let me go with you, darling ? " exclaimed rising from her seat. But Miss Rayne repulsed her attention v^ith a| gesture, that was almost one of dislike. " No, Agnes, don't worry me. I would rather bea she said, and then, (juickly aware of her injustice.! more sweetly. " Don't make a fuss about it, please] I am only a little faint. I shall be all right in a MOUNT EDEN. >35 r attention v^'ith a islike. I would rather bei re of her injustice,! uss about it, please] be all right in a Fi lut they insisted upon making a fuss over her, even to Aunt Sophy, for Evelyn was a general favorite le Hall. They had not the tact to perceive that she suffering from a mental, rather than a physical cause ; they opened the windows and ran for smelling-salts eau-de-cclogne, and hovered over her until every ser- in the establishment knew that Miss Rayne from the louse was *' taken worse." How our friends, with wcll- ling stupidity, torture is from time to time in like ler. They will not let us fight our own battles in ^d silence, and earn the right to say, " Alone I did it." pull the weapons we have unsheathed out of our very s, the visor from our features, the chain armor off our {t, and leave us, stripped and defenceless, in the face |e enemy. They cannot read the dumb, beseeching and the clasped hands we turn upon them ; hut tion, and comment, and advise, until the last poor sr is pulled down, and we stand revealed in all our less. slyn prayed and protested against the interference of !nds until she could resist no longer, and then pride to her assistance, and she sat down in her chair [declaring she was perfectly recovered, and detcr- |0 bear everything sooner than break up the family iis time Mr. Lyle had never once raised his eyes to fc, but kept them directed towards the window or tboard. 'Whilst every one else was hovering over doing all in their power to relieve her evident Is, he kept his seat, and looked the picture of dis- But they were too busy with her to notice hi'^ ►r. Although she insisted upon keeping her place ible, the incident that had occurred was so unusual, being anything but of the fainting order of lood, — that it cast a certain gloom over the re- ^ of the meal, and Mrs. Feathcrstone gave early >f a retreat to the drawing-room. As soon as she fthe dining-room behind her. Miss Rayne's lassitude kce to an eager excitement, which accorded strangely pale face and lustreless eyes. ir Mrs. Featherstone, do let me go home before the ien leave their wine. Indeed, I am not well. It is )le that T can sit out the remainder of the evening. me order my carriage, and go at once." Hi I 136 MOUNT EDEN, She was trembling all over as she spoke, as if she had J the ague, and Mrs. Featherstone feared she was goings be seriously ill. " Of course you shall do as you like, my dear ; biii| wish I could persuade you to stay here for the nig instead. The blue room is quite read/ for your recepikj Evelyn, and I don't think I ought to let you leave the H( until you are better, or have seen a doctor." " A doctor ! " laughed Miss Rayne. " Oh, nonsenij it's not a case for a doctor. I am only over-tired and ovj wrought. Spring is such a busy season on the farm, y know ; and I should not have come out at all this even except for Agnes, and — and — for you." "Well, well, dear, I won't try to gainsay your wish though your return will break up our pleasant evenij But you will come again soon, won't you, Evelyn? AgJ will never be satisfied till you have made the acquaintaij of Mr. Lyle, and I don't think you have exchanged a do;| words with him as yet." " Oh, yes, of course I must make the acquaintance! Mr. Lyle," cried Evelyn hysterically. It would neverl for him and me not to be friends — the very best of frierj But if you love me, let me go now — for I am really-| well." " Jasper shall call your carriage and see you into said Agnes, ready to propose anything that should take back into the presence of her lover. But Evelyn laid hand upon her arm. "•iV(?," she replied firmly, " I will have no one distiiilj I shall walk down to the stables and get into it myself! They did not oppose her decision, though Agnes insia upon walking down also, with her arm fondly thrown at] her friend's waist. Evelyn kissed her mechanically, \ bade her good-night as she mounted into her vehicle: as soon as she had passed through the drive gates; Featherstone Hall was left behind her, all her enforj calmness gave way, and she sunk back upon the cus in a storm of grief. MOUNT EDEN, 137 CHAPTER XV. THE PHOTOGRAPH. 5RY blank feeling fell upon the party at the Hall after ^lyn's departure. ignes was almost in tears (so concerned was she at the ivior of her friend), and Miss Macdonald declared had no belief in the statement that Evelyn was ill. had known her now for ten years, and when had she been taken ill in this mysterious and affected manner kre ? No ; her firm conviction was, that the poor girl [been so upset by the first view of Mr. Lyle, that she not restrain her feelings. This assertion made Agnes ler tears, and fire up with indignation. How dared Sophy say such a thing ! She was always making horrid insinuation against Jasper ; and it was only iy, because she had never been married herself, that )ted her words. fealousy, indeed ! * snorted Miss Macdonald. " If an )hwoman has plenty of money to give away she can pick up a needy foreigner to accept it. For my hate and distrust foreigners, and always have done id I have no doubt that Evelyn shares my opinion, terribly disappointed in your choice. That is my m of her refusal to spend the evening here." Lamma,[' appealed Agnes to her mother, " don't let [_Sophy insult Jasper behind his back in this manner. Lnow that he is as much English as we are, and it is " she should take a prejudice against him because he slight French accent. My darling Evelyn would be so unjust ; I am quite sure of that." ^elyn has always been the soul of honor," replied Featherstone, trying to smoothe matters ; " and, since lid she felt ill, I aiii certain she did so. And really, r, you are too sweeping in your strictures on Mr. I like his accent ; I think it is most distingue, and js has no objection to it,, no one else has any right to I ' »38 MOUNT EDEN, complain. Come, my dear, kiss your aunt, and let mcj you pleasant together. I can't abear to have quanelii in the house." " I'll tell you what / think," said Agnes, after a pan — "and that is, that it was the sight of my happiness upset poor Evelyn. Of course she couldn't say so, darling, but I saw her watching us at dinner with suckj look of pain in her eyes, and then I remembered someth she told me yesterday about her past life, \»hich musthaj made the contrast almost too hard to bear." " What was it, Agnes ? " asked her mother curiously, i " I can't tell you, mamma ; I promised Evelyn I woij tell no one. But you can understand it was the story disappointment in love ; and that is the reason she hasii married all these years. Poor, darling Evelyn ! it nd have raked it all up to see me so happy and proud] Jasper." " I dare say you're right, Agnes ; but I should thought Evelyn would have had more command ofl feelings. She has always appeared such a brave, determii woman to me. I can hardly imagine her giving way| love-sick fancies. But here come the gentlemen." Mr. Featherstone's first inquiry entering the roomi for his favorite, Evelyn. " Oh, papa, sh« has actually gone home. She felt sc| she couldn't stay any longer. Isn't it a disappointmeDi| cried Agnes. " I think it is more serious than that," said Mr. Featl stone anxiously. *' Evelyn Rayne is not a person tocJ plain without cause. She must be seriously ill. Ocfl you should have gone home with her." " I wanted her to stay here, but she wouldn't hear of] replied Mrs. Featherstone. " In fact, she was so m herself that we hardly knew her. She seemed to me od| point of bursting into tears, so I thought it kinder t( her have her own way." " You must send the first thing to-morrow morniii| hear how she is," said her husband ; " or I will ride) after breakfast, and make the inquiries myself. I shall be easy till I hear she is all right again. What shoulij do without the niistress of Mount Eden ? " Jasper Lyle had not joined in the general lamentatiij but, as a stranger, it was, of course, not expected of If MOUNT I'.DEX. »39 contrary, he seemed rather bored by the fuss made the visitor's departure. But as Mr. Featherstone the last remark, he raised his head. IS this Mademoiselle Rayne the real owner of the you call Mount Eden, then ? " he asked of his Ided father-in-law. ^es. She owns the entire property under the will of ite uncle, Mr. Caryll. It was an immense responsi- to lay upon the shoulders of so young a woman ; but rn has proved herself to be quite equal to it. She is queen amongst her tenants and farm laborers, and link there is no one like* her. And they are right. [assure you I have asked for, and thankfully received, a hint from Evelyn Rayne with respect to the man- &nt of my own acres. What do you say to the Women's Bill after that?" id she is clever, then 1 " said Lyle. ie is more than c!ever. She has a deep-thinking, :al head, worth two of that of most men, and she ^voted all her energies to her estate. Sometimes I fondered — " lat, papa ? " demanded Agnes. Ifcther she has not had some latent hope or idea in "tground to urge her to make such exertions. It Imost unnatural a woman should do it for herself iow what her hope has been," whispered Agnes to er ; but he turned his attention again to Mr. stone. • have consulted this young lady about your own ? " he said ; " is hers, then, the most valuable of * Has she the larger experience ? " ranker laughed. dear Lyle, if you nad ever seen Mount Eden, you k)t ask such a question. You might put my grounds Corner of it. It is a magnificent estate, and was jd, I believe, by the late Mr. Caryll from the Earl lere. It is worth fifteen thousand a year. Why, place is a pigmy beside it. And Miss Rayne has lolute and unconditional control of her property. ^ne of the richest heiresses in Great Britain." * there were no males in the family ? " Mr. Caryll lost his only son at sea, and this 140 MOUNT EDEN. girl \\iis the sole comfort of his declining years. She ricid deserved all he could give her, and he could not found one to fulfil the trust more nobly. She is a perfj angel of a woman, and we all love her dearly." Agnes and Mr. Lyle had withdrawn themselves distant sofa by this time, where their conversation coj not be overheard by the rest of the party. " I know what dear Evelyn is hoping for," reiterated J girl in his ear — " the return of some one who was vd dear to her — a cousin whom she was engaged to, aiid»j went to America. I mustn't tell you any more, becauj is a secret, but she says slie knows he is alive, and come back to her some day, and then — " " And then what ? " demanded her lover. " She will marry him of course, and give him Moil Eden, and they will be very, very happy. At least Ihn so," sighed Agnes, "because I am afraid she willneveij liajjpy until he does return." • " Do you really think a woman could remember ai for IS long as that — ten or eleven years ? " questioned) Lylc. " Oh, yes, Evelyn could. She is not like other wceJ Besides, she told me so herself only yesterday. Wk was telling her all about you, and how happy I an, r.iade her think of Will — poor darling ; and she told me whole story." " Ah ! he will be a lucky fellow when he does retu: remarked Mr. Lyle, as he rose from the sofa and went of the room. ^ Presently he came back with a photograph. j "Can you tell me who that is, Agnes? Have youepi seen the person before?" he said, as he placed it kf hand. She took it under the gas chandelier to examine it; perly. It represented a tall lad of eighteen or nineit with eyes that looked dark, set in a beaidless face, general look of extreme juvenility. " No," she replied, shaking her head, " never.'' " Are you sure ? " "Quite sure. Who is it? Any one about here] some one I met abroad? " " Some one about here, and some one, also, whoni| met abroad," he answered, smiling, as he took it again. " It represents myself." MOl'A'T KDES\ I4« You r exclaimed Agnes, making a dash at the photo- )h. '• Oh, Jasper, it is impossible. It is not a bit like . Do letmc see it again." No," replied Mr. Lyle, holding it beyond her reach, is not worth a second glance. I was only making a de experiment on you. An old friend who met me Foad declared I had altered so little he should have >wn mc anywhere, whilst I flatter myself I am not the le man I was a few years ago. I have made you the )irc, and I am satisfied. I am right, and my friend is )ng. I am very glad of it." ,, • • ' • But let mc keep the photograph," urged Agnes ; it is jresting to mc, Jasper. I like to know what you looked ' so many years before I knew you. I am jealous of tec years, dear. It seems as if I had been shut out from No. lio,' replied Lyle, " it is of no use. I do not wish tept ; it is too ugly. I don't know why it was not troycd long ago. I should be sorry to look like that Thereupon ensued an amicable quarrel between the fcrs ; Agnes Featherstone trying to regain possession of [photograph by force or strategem, and Jasper Lyle to it from her. At last she gave up the contest almost fully. It is too bad of you," she pouted ; " you might let me it, when I tell you it is of value to me. Why, Evelyn Ithe portraits of her cousins — especially Hugh — since were little babies, and she wouldn't part from them for „ie world." u^as she shown them, then, to you? " exclaimed Ja.'per Y^ quickly. iNot all, perhaps — but the oil paintings hang in the ng-room. Oh ! why did you do that ? " she cried, ^king off suddenly, as she saw him tear the p] Glograi)h ibeld in two, and fling the pie< es into the fire, which Ichilly spring evenings still rendered necessary ; " and fen I told you I wished to keep it." lAnd I said I did not wish you to do so," returned )er Lyle. • his little episode, combined with Evelyn's departure, ned to break up all the harmony of the evening, and party retired to rest at an earlier hour than usual. I^r. Lyle reached his room, he rang the bell. 143 MOUNT EDEN, > M '■ "Did you ring, sir?" inquired Ihe servant whol answered the summons. (By the way, why do servanti invariably ask // you rung, when they have come upstairs | because they heard the bell ? It appears to be " servants hall" etiquette to do so, but ii is very unnecessary.) " Yes," replied Lyle, *• I want you to call me early \bit, wovild z did not want he invited him V her estate; m either iin[ y cautiously, Lij he slipped kh; his eyes it seer er seen. lt^( irted by white , .> style of arch; \ b'.-^e with a la: ike appear anu ilberry trees, la\ terrace, with ba; On one side st :ealed from vie* full blossom J vl: i vegetable garo rved as a bound h was situated ;J , be seen from lile in the rear, d secluded as if no?, od behind thefe evidences of lut ded. , - , estate," he tho^:, , her own hands. ' jrvc to be killed s manner. Sherei ew it directly I nt that she retui d my presence a n the subject if It I never dreamt a boy and girl ^' But if she does,' are by this time of an intervitw. i^iffi^n events I'll try it. And in any case it would be neces- for I nuist secure her friendship and good services the Feathers tones. Suppose slic should betray me ? T/tat is impossible ! " t this moment, a kind of vision seem :d to pass before mental eyes, and silently repeat the word ** impossible ! " ly the picture of a young girl dressing him m her own hes, and pressing her money to the last farthing upon acceptance, and parting from him with straining eyes quivering lips, but brave to the last, for fear of a be- al. It made him shudder as he recalled it, and feel as had been guilty of treachery, but it relieved his mind. Evelyn who had been his salvation in the years gone ould not turn against him now. And he resolved to her courage and determination once more to the test, left his hiding-i)lace ( when he had satisfied himself the extent of the i)roperty had not been exaggerated ), and began to take his way back to Featherstone How small and mean everything about it appeared, parison with the statelier gm ideur of Mount Eden. It as if he despised the '* ribbon " floriculture, and the oung trees and bushes, and all the signs of a newly- ed wealth that lay about the Hall. He had thought nificent on his first arrival. Now, side by side with er estate — th? estate which should have been his — red superficial and tricky. He curled his lip with pt as he passed through the elaborately laid-out garden, with its white statues and urns, and its wire- rches of roses and clematis, into the breakfast-room, nine o'clock by this time, and all the family were led there, wondering why he did not join them. Jasper ! " cried Agnes, rising to receive hini, have you been ? We have sent up twice to your tell you that breakfast was ready." hn could have told you that I had gone for a walk >rning, Agnes. Your English hours rather upset its. In Italy we rise early, and seek the morning re the sun becomes too hot, and I do not know do with myself after the day breaks." ar me," said Mrs. Featherstone, '' if you had only , Mr. Lyle, I would have ordered breakfast to be d earlier on your account. You must not go out morning fasting." t^o MOUNT EDEK. •* And if you had told me, Jasper," added Agnes reproach- fully, " I would have gone too. I should love to take a morning walk with you. Shall you go out every morning ? " " I do not know, cherie, but I am at your service when- ever you command it. But suppose (now I am here) that you give me some breakfast. The air has made me hungry." " But where have you been ? " urged Agnes. Lyle shrugged his shoulders after the French fashion. " How can I tell you ? Every road is strange to me about here, and they all look the same. I walked through beautiful green fields, and by hedges of wild flowers, such as are to be found nowhere but in your happy England — that is all I know." . " But did you go to tiie right or the left after you turned out of the drive gates? " persisted Agnes. " Well, really," interposed Miss Macdonald, " I think it becomes quite indelicate, Agnes, to question a gentleman in that pertinacious manner. How do you know that Mr. Lyle has not his own reasons for keeping silence on the subject ? If he had wished for your interference he would have acquainted you with his design." " Oh, rubbish ! " cried Agnes irreverently; "what cap yoti know about it, Aunt Sophy. As if Jasper would ever have any secrets from 7ne. As if it can be of any conse- quence where he walked — excepting that I wish to know." : " You should go over to Mount Eden if you r/ant a nice morning walk," caid Mrs. Featherst(5ne ; " the approach through the park is beautiful, and there is a charming dell in the middle of it." " Fairy dell ! Oh, it's the loveliest little spot," said Agnes. " Jasper, you must let me take you there. It vvas there I first met my darling Evelyn, and she was crying." " Can the ov/ner of Mount Eden possibly have anything to cry for? " demanded Mr. Lyle. " Indeed she had ; though I was only a little child at the time, and knew nothing about it. But she was very unhappy when she first came to live with her uncle, and I don't thmk she ever liked him much. Who could ? He was such a nasty, grumpy old man." " You shouldn't say that, Agnes," remarked Mr. Feather- stone reprovingly. ** Mr. Caryll was a very unhappy andi disappointed man, and that is enough to m.ake people | seem (what you call) * grumpy.' " MOUNT EDEN, '47 reproaclv to take a norning?" /ice when- 1 here) that made me I fashion, inge to me ced through owers, such r England— r you turned [^ "I think it 'a gentleman now that Mr. ilence on the ;nce he would • ■ " what car er would ever of any conse- ish to know. our;antanice the approach charming dell le spot," said [there. It ^vas . was crying." [have anything Itle child at the she was very -r uncle, and 1 lo could ? He »dMr. Feather- unhappy and m-ake people! " Well, papa, he never made Evelyn happy ; and she couldn't love him because he had been so unjust and unkind to her Cousin Will." " A good-for-nothing rascal, who first forged his uncle's 'name and embezzled his money, and then bolted to America, or somewhere. I don't think Evelyn can have any sympathy with a fellow like that. She is too good and upright herself." " Evelyn never told me that her cousin had done anything wrmg,^' said Agnes, with solemn eyes. "She has never said a word against him, so perhaps she doesn't know it, or it may not be true." *' It is true," replied her father. " All Liverpool knew the story ; and if the young rascal hadn't got away, the firm would have prosecuted him for the offence. And I expect that Evelyn knows all about it into the bargain, but the boy was of her own blood, and so she hides his delin- quencies from the world. Quite right, too — Evelyn all over. She is nothing if she is not loyal." " Did you ever see the young man you speak of, Mr. Featherstone ? " aemanded Lyle quietly. " Never, riy dear Lyle, nor did I want to do so. He was only a junior clerk in Caryll's office, — a boy who ran errands and swept out the place, — and my wonder is how he ever had the assurance to commit such a crime. How- |ever, it has long since been forgotten, and Agnes should* [not rake up such unpleasant subjects." No one continued the conversation, and, as soon as treakfast was over, Lyle escaped to his own room. *' It is growing too warm for me," he thought. " My exist- ince is not forgotten, and Evelyn still speaks of me to itrangers. I must find out at once if she means to be my [riend or my enemy." And so he sat down and wrote a few lines to the mistress if Mount Eden, which he bribed a groom to carry over to ler in the course of the day. ,148 MOUNT EDEN, . CHAPTER XVI. A HOPE S FRUITION. Meanwhile, Evelyn Rayne had passed through a night full of restless and variable emotion. She hardly knew if she were miserable or happy. She felt as if she were being torn in pieces with the 'contention of her feelings, and the shock she had experienced had unsettled her reason. To have hoped, and prayed, and remembered, and trusted for ten long years, and then to have realized the fruition of her prayers in so startling and unexpected a manner. It was enough to make any woman feel as if she were going out of her mind. She sat on the side of her bed, with both hands pressed tightly against her throbbing head as she tried to disentangle and arrange her thoughts, and review the situation in which she found herself, wich some degree of calmness. Will was alive — that was the first truth with which she had to become familiar. He had not died (as she had so often feared) alone and friendless in some far off jungle, with no familiar face near him to soothe his last moments. He had lived, and apparently prospered, and he h '\— forgotten her ! What had he been doing al! this while? Where had he been hiding? How came he to appear before her without a word of warnii.g, in the garb of a gentleman — honored, flattered, and received as one of themselves into the bosom of the family of her most intimate friends ? Here a sudden revulsion of feeling took hold of her, i and she was ready to reverse all her former opinions, and to declare that she had been utterly mistaken. She must have been mistaken. She had been led away] by a chance resemblance. It couldn't be Will. Mr., Jasper Lyle— who had been reared in Italy until he had nearly forgotten his mother tongue, who ;vas a manf of means and education, who was engaged to te marriedl to Agnes Featherstone, and who had placed himself in| Evelyn's path without a shadow of distrust or fear— the MOUNT EDEN. 149 same person as I ". Cousin Will who had absconded from England, brandea with felony ? It was impossible. Why poor Will would have been afraid to put his foot within twenty miles of Mount Eden, until he knew it would be safe to do so. The. idea was too wild to be entertained for a moment. Then what was it that had so upset her, and filled her mind with sick misgivings that appeared incontrovertible ? One look from Mr. Lyle's eyes across tjie dinner-table. One look, during which his soul and hers had seemed to gaze at one another through open windows, and to reveal everything which the convention- alities of the world had hitherto concealed. One look, during which her little friend's fiance and the stranger- guest had entirely disappeared, and she stood alone with Will Gary 11 and the unforgotten past. That was what had made her head whirl and her brain spin, and sent her back to Mount Eden in a state bordering on delirium. But when she came seriously to xeview her feelings and their cause, her calmer reason made her doubt the justness of her decision. Perhaps the sight of Agnes' happiness, and the fact that it had made her speak of Will, may have conjured up a likeness that existed only in her own imagin- ation. For (when she came to consider it) Mr. Lyle was not a bit like her missing cousin — except in the eyes and nose, "t was true that she couldn't see his mouth, and his forciiead v/as pretty well concealed by the fashion in which he wore his long, wavy hair, and his figure would (unde;* any circumstances) have altered with the interven- ing years ; but would Will even have ventured to return to England without giving her warning of his intention? Evelyn had always believed he would come back some day. She had pictured receiving a letter written from some distant, foreign place telling how he had prospered (or Otherwise), and asking if it would be safe for him to show his face in Hampshire, and if he were sure of a welcome tliere. And she had meant to write him back — oh, such a lovingly reproachful letter, telling him of all that had occurred during his absence, and begging him to hasten home and share Mount Eden with her, for there was no feai;' of his crime being brought home to him then. Mr. Caryll had been the head of the firm whose monies the young miscreant had embezzled, and the forged cheques had been returned to his hands. He had retained them, 150 MOUNT EDEN, intending to hold them in terrofem over the head of his nephew m case he ever presumed to ask assistance of him again ; and when he died Evelyn had found them (as had been said) amongst his private papers. She had not destroyed them even then. She had dreamt — silly woman — of a happy moment when she might see her husband destroy them with his own hand, and fold her in a grateful embrace directly afterwards. As she recalled it, the hoi tears trickled from her eyes and ran through her clasped fingers. It was of no use fighting against her internal con- viction. If Mr. Lyle were not her Cousin Will, he was so like him that she felt as if she could never be easy in his presence again. Yet, though she had passed the night in arguing with herself, and trying to account for the delusion which seemed to have fastened or her, Evelyn rose as puzzled what to believe as when she retired to rest, and ill and harassed by the uncertainty. It was her usual custom to have her saddle horse brought to the door at nine o'clock each morning, and to ride round the farm and the premises in company with Captain Philip. These rides were a source of both pleasure and profit to her. They enabled her to become acquainted with every rood of her estate — to superintend the agricultural operations to the farthest extent of it, and to let her farm laborers and tenantry know that the eye of a master was over them at all times. And she greatly enjoyed the conversations she held with Captain Philip the while. Although her senses were keen, and she possessed remarkable powers of com- prehension and judgment, Evelyn was not too proud to learn, nor too conceited to be aware, that her land-agent knew a great deal more than herself So that these morn- ing rides, which took place with scarcely any intermission throughout the year, were looked forward to by both of them, and it was quite a subject of wonder when Miss Rayne sent her horse round to the stables again on this particular morning, with a message to Captain Philip that she was tired, and did not intend to accompany him. The Captain's face fell a couple of inches when the message was delivered. " Not going out ? " he repeated blankly to the groom in attendance ; " why, what's the matter with her? " " I don't know as there's anythink the matter with the niissus, sir," was the reply. *•' Only the maid says she feels tired-like, and don't want to ride on horseback." MOUNT EDEN, tS« " It's very strange — very unlike her," muttered the cap- tain, pulling his moustaches. " Why we were to have seen the men digging the new decoy this morning. Well," with a quickly-checked sigh, " I suppose I must go by my- self." And he turned his horse's head, and went very slowly and thoughtfully down the long drive. When he had quite disappeared, Evelyn was half sorry she had refused to accompany him. "After all," she thought, as she commenced to busy herself about the house, " thinking won't solve the mystery. I must wait the course of events. Most probably I have been frightening myself with a bogie of my own creation. I should have gone out with Captain Philip, and blown my absurd fancies away." She walked up to her private sitting-room, and, unlocking the drawer of an old marquetrie cabinet, turned out its contents into her lap. They were not very numerous, but they had been her dearest treasures for many years past. There were a dozen letters, perhaps, scrawled in an unformed, boyish handwriting, a battered fusee-box, a pair of soiled kid gloves, several bunches of dried flowers, and a couple of photographs. It was these last mementos of her cousin that Evelyn was in search of. One of them was a duplicate of the picture that Jasper Lyle had thrown into the fire at Featherstone Hall, and was as totally unlike his present appearance as anything could well be. Taken by a third-rate photographer, and at an age when a lad seldom displays any of the characteristics of feature and expression that change with his growth, and individu- alize his fuller manhood, it bore no resemblance whatever to Mr. Lyle, and Evelyn smiled as she held it in her hand. " Yes, that is my own dear Will," she thought, " just as he looked before he yielded to that terrible temptation, and drove all the courage and manliness out of his face. But how could I have ever imagined that Mr. Lyle resembled him ? I have been dreaming. They are not in the least alike." The smile actually came back to her lips, and the light to her eyes, as she scanned the photograph, and after she had regarded it earnestly for several minutes, she kissed it and everything else in the drawer. " His dear gloves ! " she murmured. " I remember the 152 MOUNT EDEN. Wk \^rf day he put them on, and how I scolded him for buying such an extravagant color as lavender. And his poor, liticle, battered fusee-case, which he forgot to take with him ! Poor darling, he was too frightened to think of anything but his chances of escape on that terrible night. Ah, Will," with a heavy sigh, " how happ> we might have been for all these years, had you only been more strong." She took up the other photograph, which represented her cousin at an earliei* age, with his head held down, and his eyes looking up, but threw it from her quickly. Some- thing in the attitude and expression (though taken some years before the other) reminded her of Mr. Lyle, when they had gazed in each other's eyes the night before. " I am growing nervous ngain," she said, with a faint laugh. "This is too much of a good thing. I shall fancy I see uncle's ghost walk into ihe room next, or something equally sensible. I must shake myself together, and repress my too vivid imagination with some hard work." She locked the drawer, with its contents, as she spoke, and rose to leave the room. But on the threshold her maid, Anna, confronted her with a sealed letter. " From the 'All, Miss," she said, with Arcadian simpli- city, as she delivered it. Evelyn turned it over with a trembling' hand. It was not from Agnes, nor from any one with whose writing she was familiar. " Who brought this ? " she demanded nervously. "One of the Featherstone helpers. Miss. The foreign gentleman, Mr. Lyle, gave it to him, and he was to wait for an answer." "Very good, Anna. You can leave me. I will ring when my answer is ready," replied Evelyn, in jerky, discon- nected sentences, as she walked away from the servant's observation. But as soon as the door had closed upon Anna, she tore the letter open vehemently. What did it contain of good or ill for her ? Here was, at least, she felt, the contradic- tion or confirmation of her suspicions, and she must know the truth at once. The first word told hel" all. " I see that you have recognized me, and feel that my future lies in your hands. When can I see you, and explain everything ? Grant me an early interview, and, for the sake of the past, keep silence until we have met. I have so much to tell you and to ask your pity for." MOUNT EDEN, 153 buying 5 poor, th him I ny thing i,\Vill," een for resented iwn, and Some- en some le, when re. \ a faint all fancy DHiething d repress he spoke, shold her in simpli- It was riting she le IS foreign to wait will ring ,y, discon- servant's I, she tore in of good :ontradic- lust know i\ that my id explain [d, for the I have That was all — no address and no signature, but he knew she would need neither to convince her of his individuality. As Evelyn read the words and saw the arguments with which sjie had tried to combat her own conviction of the truth crumble into dust before them, she was conscious of only one thing — that she must see him face to face, and learn everything he had to tell her. She stumbled like a woman walking in her sleep to her writing-table, and scrib- bling on a sheet of paper," This afternoon, at three o'clock," she put it in an envelope, sealed and addressed it to Mr. Jasper Lyle, and rang the bell for Anna. " Her J is my answer," she said calmly ; " send the groom back tc the Hall with it at once, and tell him to deliver it without delay to Mr. Lyle. And should any one else ask for me, Anna, this morning say that I am busy, and cannot be disturbed ; and do not come back yourself unless I ring for you." She watched the maid take the note, and when she had disappeared, she rose and deliberately locked the door after her, and then, flinging herself down upon the sofa, she fell into an abandonment of grief. All her sophistries, her arguments, her self-deception were of no avail now. She knew for a fact that she had not been mistaken, and that her lover, William Caryll, and she had actually stood face to face again ; that the trembling criminal whom she had assisted to evade the law had ventured to return into the very jaws of the lion — no longer trembling nor dependent, but holding up his head as though he were entitled to universal respect, as the future husband of Agnes Feather- stone. Evelyn was a faithful and loving woman, but she was also a very proud one, and Agnes was one of the deepest affections of her life. She possessed the courage which would have made her spurn all the conventionalities of the world, to unite her own lot with that of a man who was known to be guilty, so long as he had remained true to her. But when she thought of her pure and innocent Agnes, who was almost a child in years and experience, being linked for life (unknowingly) to :\ forger, all her sense of right and justice rose up to prevent it. Will Caryll creeping back to her feet for forgiveness (however long the silence and separation that lay between them), would have been welcomed like the prodigal son in the Scriptures, and laden with the best gifts her means could afford him. But »54 MOUNT EDEN. Jasper Lyle, taking advantage of the ignorance of her friends to become the betrothed of their daughter ; pre- suming (with that disgraceful past behind him) to link his pretended name with one that had n^^ver been dishonored, and to flaunt his undeserved hai)pincss and prosperity in her face — that was quite another thing. Every W( man will understand the feelings of burning indignation and mortified pride with which Evelyn recalled such facts. They dried up her tears to their very source, and made her ashamed that she had given way to Ihem. What was needed now was courage and action ; not weak sentiment for an unworthy past. She had thought she should need hours of solitude to brace he'-self fur the proposed inter- view, ^ut as the truth forced itself on her consideration, she determined thr.t Will Caryll, or Jasper Lyle, or what- ever he chose tc call himself, should never guess now how many tears she had shed during his ibsence, but meet her as a judge to whom he was bound to give an account of himself. Anna, who had informed the parlor-maid that the mistress's head '* seeuicd very bad, and she didn^t think as how she'd come down to luncheon," was surprised to see her descend at the sound of the gong, serene and com- posed as usual, and attired with more than the attention she ordinarily bestowed upon her toilet. It is true that she didn't make a hearty meal, and that more than once, as her rebellious thoughts flew backward, her lip quivered, and she was forced to swallow some obstacle that seemed to have risen in her throat, but she sternly repressed all symptoms of emotion, and compelled herself to take what she considered necessary to maintain her fortitude. When the meal was over she returned to the room that held the marquetrie cabinet, and directed Anna, when Mr. Lyle arrived, to show him up there. And then she stood, a tall, graceful figure, robed in black silk, gazing from th ?. window that looked out upon the park, ws-tching for the advent of Wiii Caryll. • When she saw him from a long distance off, riding slowly up the avenue, she turned very white, and shuddered. The shock of discovery that Will had actually returned was over, but now came the pain of standing face to face with him, with the full knowledge that it was he. For a moment, a spark of the old tenderness revived in Evelyn's breast, and she felt as if she were about to meet her lover ; MOUNT EDEN. ^5S of her ir ; pre- link his onored, )erity in wcman ion and h facts. id made /'r.at was entiment uld need ed inter- deralion, or wbat- now how meet her ccount of naid that dn't think rprised to and corn- attention true that an once, quivered, It seemed ressed all Itake what ie. When It held the Mr Lyle od, a tall, ?. window advent of [ng slowly uiddered. returned Ice to face \e. For a Evelyn's \er lover; but with the next recollection poured back upon her like a flood, and she was conscious only of the fact that Jasper Lyle had dared to aspire to the hand of Agnes Featherstone. At that thought she commenced to walk rapidly np and down the room, as though to try and walk off her indigna- tion, lest, before his mouth was opened, she should have said words she could never recall. She was still in rapid motion when Anna announced Mr. Lyle, and her cousin entered the room. He looked very humble and crestfallen as she first caught sight of him, but as soon as the door had closed behind him and they were alone, he plucked up courage and advanced towards her. " Eve ! " he exclaimed, holding out both his hands, " my dear cousin Eve, and so you actually knew me ! You found me out — " But Evelyn bid not make any attempt to grasp the prof- fered hands. She stood still where she had been when he entered — her handsome face and figure relieved by the dark background of the marque trie cabinet. " Yes," she answered, looking him full in the face, " I have found you out, Will ; and my only wonder is, how you can ever have expected to hide yourself from me under the flimsy veil of dyed hair, an assumed name, and false antecedents." " I never thought we should be brought in contact. Eve. It was not till I arrived in Harhpshire that I learned that Featherstone Hall and Mount Eden were M'ithin a stone's throw of each other, and that my friends were so intimate with you. When I did hear it, I hoped that the length of time we have been separated, and the alteration in my speech and appearance, were sufficient to permit me to pass as a stranger with you until the time came for a con- fession of the truth, for I had no intention of concealing my identity from you for ever, Eve. I should have made mystlf known to you, by-and-bye, but 1 did not imagine your sight would be so keen." " Or ijiy memory so retentive/' she replied sarcastically ; *' I can understand that. You judged me by yourself, but you were mistaken, Will, and now that further disguise between us is useless, I must have an explanation from you. How long is it since you returned from America, and why do I find you masquerading under an assumed name at Featherstone Hall? " 156 MOUNT EDEN. William Caryll began to resent liis cousin's manner towards him. He had always been of a weak and irritable disposition, that carped ::giiri.->i authority or fault-finding, and, half forgetful of the past, he was fool enough to lose sight of his danger in thr present, so he asked her, sulkily, what business it was of jicrs. " \\.is my business, as I will soon prove to you," returned Evelyn spiritedly. " Do you suppose I am going to be a party to your deception? To meet my cousin, knowing who he is, and what he is — in the house of my most inti. mat'j friends, day after day, and pretend to think he is a stranger? You don't know mc yet, Will Caryll, or you would not have asked me that question." ** Do you mean to say you will betray me ? " he cried in alarm. ** I do not know yet what I shall do. Will. I have not made up my mind. I am wa ling to hear, first, what account you can ^ive me of you'-self. For ten years you have kept total silence between us. Now, I must know all— (?///" And Kvelyn clenduMl her teeth together as she spoke. " I will tell you all — everything," he rejoined deprecat- iiigly ; " I will nut conceal a single fact from you, if you will only stand my friend. V(jii ought to be my friend, Evelyn, not only for the sake of the past, but because you can afford to be so, for, if it hadn't been for that cursed piece of boyish stupidity of mine, you would not be tlie owner of this magnificent place to-day". You j/nist know that, ai^d I think you owe me something for having helped you to It." " I am not aware that T have ever proved less than your friend," replied Evelyn, as she bit her quivering lip. " Had I not done so, you would not be sianding before me now." ' That is just it!" he exclaimed, taking advantage of her evident emotion. " You were so fond of me, dear, and helped me so kindly in the days gone by, that I feel sure you will not do less for me in the present." Evelyn cast him one look of disdain from he" superb eyes, and motioned him to a scat. " Sit down," she said, " and tell me ail the truth. We can settle nothing till I am in full possession of it." " But may I not tell you first," he pleaded, " how glad I am to see you ? Vou mustn't think I had forgotten you, MOrxr EDEN. 157 Eve, or anything you did for mc ; l)Ut I little thought we should ever meet ag..in, and I hardly recognized you at the first glance. Vou liave altered tremendously. You are so — so very much improved. You are quite a handsome woman, Eve, but I always prophesied you would be, didn't 1?" Her lip curled. " I really don't remember, Will, and it is of little conse- quence if you did. Hut this has nothing to do with tlie matter in hand. How is it that I have found you at Fea- therstone Hall ? " " You want to know," he replied, looking and feeling very small, " why and how I am here, and call myself Jasper f.yle instead of William Caryll ? It is very simple, and easily told. When I went out to America, ten years ago, I worke^ at anything and everything, so long as it put bread in my mouth. I was a porter, a bootblack, and a waiter by turns. I sold tickets, at a skating rink, and chopi)ed wood for the winter, until, after a year or so, chance took me down to the Southern States, where I be- came the personal attendant of a planter called Lyle. He was very rich, very old, and a great invalid. He found I had been born and brought up to be something better than a servan \ and he took a fancy for me, and treated me as a friend and companion. I lived with him for three years, and then he died, and left me five thousand pounds. 1 purchased an .n .luity with it — adopted his name — and went to Italy, where I have lived ever since, not knowing how far it might be safe for me to return to England. That is the whole of the story." "And you never wrote me one line," said Evelyn rejjroachfully. "You left me to suppose that you were dead, or in want and poverty, whilst you were living the life of a gentleman in Italy. You have not shown much rnnsideration for my feelings, Will." " Well/' he answered uneasily, " what would you have liad me do? How was I to know you would care to hear from mc ? I had left Kngland under a cloud, and I thought the best thing was to let the matter die out. Letters are very dangerous, you know. I could never tell into whose hands they might fall, nor (with so vindictive an old fellow as Uncle Roger) what might not be the consequence of their miscarriage. I believe, if I had escaped to heaven, he would have tried to hunt me out of it again." ^ ^ 158 MOUNT EDEN, " You are wrong ! " cried Evelyn ; *♦ Uncle Roger was neither mean nor revengeful. I think he behaved most generously to you, Will. It was the firm that decided to prosecute you, and the firm still exists. Poor uncle never said an unjust word against you to the day of his death. I am witness to that." " But he never le't me anything," said Will Caryll. ** He gave you the whole of this valuable estate without a thought of me, who was just as much related to him as you were. He might have halved it whilst he was about it. I consider it was a great injustice, and that I have every right to execrate his memory." Evelyn bit her lip again to prevent uttering the retort that rose to her tongue. " He had a right to do what he thought fit with his own," she said, after a pause, " and he did it of hi^ free will. I had no idea, till the will was read, that I should inherit more than a mere maintenance. But to return to the old subject. If you wislied to preserve your incognito, what on earth made you venture so near to Mount Eden? Surely you had heard of Uncle Roger's death, and that I reigned here in his stead? " "You know the reason," he replied moodily. " I met the Featherstones in Rome, and became engaged to Agnes. For some time no allusion was made to you or Mount Eden. When it was, it was too late for me to draw back on that account, or lo refuse to accompany them to the Hall. So I trusted to your not recognizing me, or at all events till my position should be assured amongst them; as it soon will be now." " What do you mean by your position being assured amongst them ? " demanded Evelyn coldly. " I mean until after my marriage, which will take place in a few weeks. Agnes and I are much attached to one another, and love will not brook much delay, so we expect to be able to coax the old people to let the wedding take place in July. And after that, you see, all danger will be over for me, for Mr. Featherstone would do anything sooner than let a shadow of blame rest on his daughter's husband." He spoke lightly of his approaching happiness, as if no word or thought of love had ever passed between him and the woman he was addressing. But Evelyn's mind was MOUNT EDEN, l|9 I his own," ee will. I lid inherit to the old rnito, what int Eden? and that 1 IT. " I met dto Agnes. or Mount draw back hem to the le, or at all jngst them, ng assured take place :hed to one o we expect dding take jger will be .0 anything daughter's fixed on the scared criminal she had helped at the risk of licr own safety to escape the hands of justice, and his effrontery (or his forgetfulncss) fanned the desire for revenge that had arisen inrhcr breast. " And do you suppose," she exclaimed, advancing upon him with eyes of fire, "do you imagine for a moment that I intend to stand by quietly and see you marry Agnes Featherstone without making one sign — shcy who is my dearest friend — the creature I love best in all the world — and you — a forger? " " Hush 1 hush ! " he cried in alarm, " it is not true. It was all a mistake. I told you so. I never did it. It was a malicious lie. There are no proofs." " There are proofs, Will Caryll, and / hold them. The cheques to which you .'orged Uncle Roger's name were returned to him after your departure, and he retained them. The firm wished to prosecute you, but in deference to his name (and perhaps to his wishes, I cannot tell) they gave up their intention. But he kept the proofs of your felony, and, after his death, they fell into my hands, and I have them still. I have but to send them to Messrs. Tyn- dal & Masters, with the information of your return, to have you arrested for forgery. And before you shall marry Agnes Featherstone, / will do so." , William Caryll turned white with fear. " But you will not," he pleaded ; '* you could never be so cruel. Eve." " How could I justify myself in acting otherwise? " she retorted. " Will, you don't know what Agnes is to me. For years past (ever since you left me) she has been my greatest comfort and my greatest pleasure. I have loved her above every earthly thing. I do s# still. She has been like an idolized child or younger sister to me. I have thought of her, and worked for her. I have even dreamt sometimes (since there seems no chance now of our Cousin Hugh ever turning up again) of making her the inheritress of this property, when I have to leave it behind me. And do you think I will see her thrown away upon you; leave Mount Eden to her children and yours? Never. I will burn it to the ground with my own hands first." She was grand in her outraged love and her care for her young friend, and the man cowered before her. He saw that his fate lay in her hands^ and he could not think at l6o MOUNT EDEN. first what arguments to use in order to avert it. Then sudden'y he thought of her former love for him — of her present love for Agnes. Surely these were weapons that should not miss their mark, and he was cowardly enough to use them. " You have forgotten, then," he said slowly, " the protes- tations of affection you made for me in the days gone by, Eve j ihe vows you registered to stand my friend forever? If I remember rightly, you sen led that promise by an apped to God over your dead mother's grave. You seem to think very lightly of such things. And we even agreed, I think, that whichever of us came into Mount Eden was to share it with the other. Yoa have got it all, Eve, and yet you are not satisfied — yet you would grudge me my little prospect of comfort. You are sadly altered from vvhat you were in the clden days." " Don't speak of them," she answered, in a muffled voice. " But I must speak of them," he said, thinking he had gained an advantage over her. " You have blamed nie for not having written to you. It was not from want of affection, Eve. I know that, in the hurry of departure, I promised to do so, but when I came to reflect, I recognized the danger l should run, and saw that the indulgence of my, inclinations might cast me back 'ipon your hands — a criminal — and then you would suffer as well as myself. And so I determined to bear my burden alone, and leave you to a happier existence. And my plan has succeeded, Eve. You are wealthy and prosperous, and can afford to be generous. Leave me that which can neither harm nor benefit you — my benefactor's name, and the hand of Agnes Featherstone." " Never!'' shif repeated vehemently; "I grudge you nothing except that, Will. If you are independent, and (comparatively speaking) able to hold up your head amongst your fellow-men, I am glad of it, for your sake. But I will be no party to deception. I will not be called upon to extend the hand of fellovvship ^o Jasper Lyle, when I know him to be William Caryll. You must give up Agnes. It is my sole condition of silence." " I cannot give her up," he replied despondently ; what excuse can I offer for breaking off my engagement } The girl loves me, and her family approve of the marriage. To draw back now would be an act of dishonor." MOUNT EDEN, .# i6i f*H "it would V far more dishonorable to marry her with- out telling her ihe truth. And if you tell her the truth she will be the ^.rsi o dismiss you. Take your choice, Will, but my mi -id is made up." " You tvill betray my secret ? " "I wil not let Agnes Featherstone marry my cousin, believing him to be an honorable and upright man. I have already \ old you so. I should be as bad as you are if I agreed t< it." '* Th^ .1 all my hopes of happiness are over," said Will Caryll pitterly ; "and it is your hand that has crushed them, /£ve. Oh, how altered you have become since the old djys, when we were friends together ! Is it possible you a.' |e the same girl whose chief aim in life was to secure my hi ppiness ? Do you remember the scoldings you used to ge^from your aunt for working and watching for me ; and h^'W you use*d to brave her anger to make me com- fortably? Have you forgotten the Sunday evenings we spent ^^Iking about the cemetery and talking of the time when wV should live together ? And those last miserable days, EV5, when you were so good and kind to me, and dressed n.e in,your own clothes, and we were too frightened and unhay py even to laugh at the figure of fun I cut in them ? Hi ve you forgotten all this ? " Ah ! she i\ad not forgotten it — far from it. She had been keeping up bravely until then, — indignation and resentment ha;ang given her courage, — but when Will spoke of the ol^' days, and she remembered how she had valued his affection, and how much she had counted on its endurance, her fortitude broke down, and she burst sud- denly into tears. The sound was as grateful to Will Caryll's ears as that of rain after drought. He saw she had not ceased to love him, and that her opposition had arisen from wounded feeling. What if he wielded the weapon so unexpectedly put into his hands ? If all hope of winning Agnes Feather- stone was to be wrested from him, why should he not take advantage of his cousin's evident fidelity, and claim the old promise of her hand in marriage ? Thoughts of the Mount Eden property flashed through his mind at the same moment, and made the transfer of his affections seem to be the most natural thing in the world,, and as soon as Evelyn began to cry, he rushed to her and seized her hand* m l62 MOUNT EDEN (( " Ah ! " he exclaimed, with all his old fervor, " you remember as well as myself? You can still weep (as I do) for the happy days in which we were all in all to one another. Ah, Eve, is it possible your love has lived like this — through silence, and separation, and despair? My dear, dear Eve ! How often have I pictured our re-union ; and blamed my folly for thinking it possible you could be faithful to me for so long. But it is actually true. Vou love mc still. Do you think that if I had believed so, 1 should ever have engaged myself to Agnes Featherstone — that any woman could have taken the place of my first young love ? Oh, no, no ! I thought you must be mar- ried long ago, and I flew to the first arms that opened to comfort me. But now that I know the happy truth — that I can assure you that my heart beats in unison v/ith yours, and you have never been forgotten by ipe — let us renew those youthful vows. Eve, and pledge ourselves to a life- long constancy." He had poured this speech out so rapidly, kneeling by the side of the chair on which she had thrown herself, that Eve listened for awhile in silent astonishment, too thunderstruck to stem the torrent of his words. But as he concluded, and looked up into her face for sympathy, she rose from her seat, and gazed at him with unspeakable contempt. " You ask me that," she cried ; *' not only to become a participator in your deceit, but to break my darling's heart into the bargain — to be untrue to her whom (1 have told you) I love better than myself? Why you must be mad, or think me so. Take you back — you, who have been false to me — who would be false now to Agnes Featherstone, and separate myself from her and from my own esteem for ever ? My God ! what can men thirk that women are made of? But you waste your time, Will Caryll. You are no longer mine, and you shall never be hers. Make what excuse you like for it, but break off your engagement with Agnes, and leave the Hall within a reasonable time, or I shall inform Mr. Featherstone of your true name and history." '* You never loved me. It has all been a mistake," he said sulkily. *' No woman who had ever cared for a man could deliberately effect his ruin." ** J did love you," she answered mournfully, " and I am MOUNT EDEN, k63 not sure that I do not love you still, but no affection can live that is not founded on esteem. And if I do not effect your ruin (as you call it), I must prevent that of my dearest friend. And there is no choice, in my eyes, between the two. So now yoii know my final decision." " I will defy you yet," he returned angrily. "I don't believe you have any proofs against me. You only said so to make me succumb to your wishes." " I will show you whether I have spoken the truth or not," said Evelyn, as she unlocked a drawer of the mar- que trie cabinet, and took out a packet of papers. " There are your forged cheques," she continued, holding them towards him — "one for ten pounds, one for fifteen, and one for twenty-five ; and all of them endorsed in Uncle Roger's handwriting, with the word * forgery.* Now, do you believe me ? " He ma ie a snatch at the papers, but she was too quick for him. *' I thought you would try that game," she said quietly, as she re-locked them into the drawer, " and I was pre- pared for it, you see. But it would have done you no good, Will. I shall never use those proofs against you ; but you shall not marry Agnes Featherstone." " Curse you," he muttered between his teeth, " it will be war to the knife between us now. But I will deny my own identity. I will swear that you are utterly mistaken — that you are a mad woman, and it will rest with you to prove your sanity. Not a soul in England could recognize me but yourself." *' I have your photographs and your handwriting, and I know that your hair is dyed. I don't think there would be much trouble in proving you to be William Caryll," said Evelyn, as she moved away again to the window. He saw that the game was played out between them now. He had entreated, and denied, and dared her, and it had ended in a signal defeat. There was nothing left but to accept what terms she might choose to dictate to him. •' Very well," he said, with assumed humility, " I am in your hands. Eve, and if you are determined to rob my miserable life of its last chance of happiness, you must do so. But give me a few days' respite. I can't go and blurt out the wretched truth without any preparation. Will you give me a week to think what will be best to do for Agnes and myself? " 164 MOUNT EDEN. " Yes," she answered slowly, " I will give you a week, and at the end of that time you must speak, or I shall." He bowed his head and approached the door, and she rung the bell for him to be shown out of her house. And so these two met and parted, who had once thought to pass their lives together. CHAPTER XVn. COUNSELLOR PHILIP. Even when Will Caryll was fairly gone, Evelyn Rayne managed to preserve her equanimity. Naturally she was a soft-hearted and yielding woman in matters of the affec- tions, but in this instance she seemed turned to stone. Directly her spirit showed the least sign of icienting — when she recalled the terrible blight of sin that had fallen on her cousin's boyhood, and the abject look of misery and humiliation with which he had left her presence — then the remembrance of her love for him, and of the mutual vows which they had exchanged, rose up to crush her feelings of compassion, and make her judge him only as an impostor, who aspired to become the husband of Agnes Featherstone. Her dear, sweet Agnes ! — her innocent, unsuspecting child, with the pouting lips and the golden hair ! Coul'^ she stand quietly by and see her married to a criminal whom she believed to be an honorable man ? It was imposfible ! Duty, as well as affection, urgea her on to the task she had set herself, and she was determined to perform it to the bitter end. How far jealousy and disap- pointment biased her decision, Evelyn did not stop to inquire of herself. She was but a woman after all — a very admirable and lovable woman with more than the average powers of her sex, but still with many of its weaknesses. Had Will Caryll returned to England faithful to herself, and eager to consummate their love by marriage (even though under an assumed personaHty), his former de- lir"iuencies would have proved no obstacle in her eyes. He would have appeared a martyr, intead of a felon. She would have shielded and guarded him as she had done in MOUNT ED EN. i6s yn Rayne ly she was the affec- [ to stone, ing — ^when d fallen on misery and ; — then the Litual vows ler feelings ^nly as an d of Agnes the days gone by, and made terms for him with his former employers, if she had lost every farthing she possessed to accomplish her object. She would have burned the proofs she I.eld of his forgery on a bonfire of congratulation and rejoicing, and stood by his side^ with hei strong hand clasped in his, and defied the world to blame her or to accuse him. Will Caryll little knew what he had lost in losing Eve- lyn Rayne. But, under present circumstances, it would have been impossible to make her believe that she would have acted otherwise. All her faith in her own species was shaken to the centre. She hardly thought of Will Caryll as untrue to herself. She remembered only that he was false to Agnes and the world, and, as Agnc^' friend, it was her bounden duty to expose him. She did not in- dulge in any more sentiment. Will CaryU's appeal to their former affection for each other ( which proved how little he really cared for his Jiance ) had dried her tears at their source, and left her hardened, miserable, and reckless. She even seemed more cheerful durin^j the remainder of the day than usual. She was not still one moment. She ran when she need only have v/alked, and she laughed when a smile would have answered the purpose equally well. She i-.'f'e out with Captain Philip in the afternoon, and stood, unti: the hour for labor was over, watching the ex- cavation of a decoy. The captain hardly recognized her under this new aspect. He had always considered her to be too grave for so young a woman. But she might have been seventeen again that day, instead of twenty-seven, by the rapidity with which she chattered, and the irrelevance of her remarks. He found his own thoughts wandering from the business they had in hand, whilst he tried to puz- zle out the meaning of this sudden transformation. Evelyn, with an intuition that was natural to her, and especially where Captain Philip was concerned, guessed what he was thinking of, and the discovery seemed to make her spirits flag. Without warning she drooped, and became silent ; and, after a few vain efforts to resume her former cheerful- ness, confessed herself to be tired, and turned her horse's head in the direction of home. But neither one phase of feeling nor the other deceived her companion. " Now, what is wrong with her ? " he thought, as, with 14 i66 MOUNT EDEN. . knitted brows and rapid step, he took his own way back tq Bachelor's Hall. " This is not her ordinary equable beha- vior. Something must have occurred to worry her. Can it be the projected wedding of Ajnes Featherstone ? I heard that foreign-looking fellow had called on her this afternoon. Perhaps she fears he will not make her little friend happy. And yet — and yet — much as I believe in her powers of affection, Evelyn's evident disturbance went even beyond Mie interests of friendship. How I wish she would confide in me. How I wish I could console her." C-^utain Philip had no one but his pipe to trust his secrets ^.o by that time, for John Vernon had been obliged to rejoin his ship, and once more he reigned alone in Bachelor's Hall. So much the better, he said to himself, for his life was a scaled book, into which he desired no one to pry. As he settled himself in his arm-chair that evening, with his books on the table beside him, and his beloved pipe in his mouth, he unlocked his desk, and drew thence two or three photographs of Miss Rayne, with which, from time to time, she had presented him. No one who had seen Captain Philip at that moment would have believed he was the same practical, hardworking, and appa- rently stolid agent of Mount Eden, who had made himself known, for miles round, as the possessor of one of the longest heads and the coolest brains in the country. His muscular frame positively trembled as he took the pieces of cardboard in his hands, and his grey eyes were dimmed with moisture. " Evelyn," he whispered softly, two or three times in re- petition, as though he loved to hear his own voice speak her name ; *' Evelyn, if you only knew how I long to fill up the void I can discern in your life. But I have put it out of mv reach for ever. To tell her now what I should have told her long ago, would seem like takmg an unfair advantage of my power. No ! I must win you first, my darling," he co^'^tinued, pressing the picture to his bearded mouth, " if I can do so — and then — and then^f that happy day should ever come — But, bah ! what a fool I am ! " he exclaimed finally, as he locked her photographs away again, " What should ever make her think of me in any other light but that in which I have placed myself— as her land-agent and overseer ? She has never given me a word or look to say that she regards me otherwise. No; MOUNT EDEN. 167 God bless her ! whatever may happen she will never be ta blame. Only — how much I should like to know what dis- turbed her this afternoon, and whether it was connected with the visit of Mr. Jasper Lyle. But, after all, it is no business of mine, and I am only indulging in idle curiosity by thinking of it ; and, in any other man, I should call it d — d impertinence." But though he took up a book of new travels, and tried hard to fix his mind upon it. Captain Philip found it waste time to read that evening, and, opening the door of his little cottage, he strode out into the balmy night air, with his pipe between his teeth, and his head bare, and wan- dered away as far as the plantation of larch and fir-trees, which he was traversing with young Vernon when they first met Evelyn Rayne. The night was still as death — so still that even the nightingales, that began to sing a if^w flute-like notes every now and then, stopped short as though alarmed at the sound of their own voices, and the faint crying of the speckled frogs, and the whizz and whirr of the night moths, could be heard distinctly. Caj tain Philip paced on thoughtfully — the soft moss and summer herbage yielding like a carpet beneath his feet, and giving no notice of his advance. But his quick ear, ever on the alert for poachers and trespassers on Mouiit Eden, pre- sently detected the sound of a footstep down the lower drive^ and ouick as lightning, he flew after and overtook it. •' Oh ! Captain Philip ! " cried the voice of Evelyn Rayne. " How you startled me ! " ^^ Miss Rayne /" he exclaimed in astonishment. " You here, and alone ! " "And why not. Captain Philip?" she replied, in a would-be lively tone ; but he detected the sound of tears in her voice, nevertheless. " Surely I can take a stroll in my own grounds without attendance ? Suppose I were to accuse you of the same impropriety — what then? You seem to enjoy the night air as much as I do, and you h^ve not even a hat on, so you are worse than I am." But for all her assumed levity, he could hear she had been weeping, and her frame trembled as she leant against a tree. "You must^now what I mean " he answered gravely ; 1 68 MOUNT EDEN. " the dew is falling heavily — your dress is quite damp, and although these are your own grounds, they are too exten- sive to be traversed by a young lady, unprotected, at ten o'clock at night. Do you know, when I first detected your footstep, I thought it might be that of a poacher ? " " It is lucky you were not carrying a gun. Captain Philip. You might have shot me down." " I hope I am not quite so rash as that. Miss Rayne ; but I wish that, for your part, you would be more prudent. Do let me persuade you to r tu.n to the house." 'I shall get po h,; .in," . -^^ -aid frr tfully, ^or he was touching her wound, iHough "naware to himself. "But you will get n, > Miss Rayne. Forgive me for saying that I think I uuden ■nd something of the feel- ing that led you abroad to-night (akhough I have no notion whence it arises). I have felt it myself — that restlessness of spirit — and can sympathize with it. But you are too delicate to attempt to walk it off." " I am not delicate," she returned defiantly. " I am as hard as nails. Nothing will ever kill me but old age. I suppose it is due to my bringing up. It has been all hard throughout. I have had no friends, no advisers, no guides. I have been thrown on myself for sympathy and counsel, and—" And here, as though to prove her hardness, Miss Rayne broke down, and began to cry. Captain Philip took her hand (but most respectfully), and placed it on his arm. " Come home," he said soothingly ; " you have been overwrought to-day. Let me take you back to the big house." His allusion se'femed to bring back some remembrance that bhaced her up. She let her hand rest where he bad placed it, and began to step out firmly towards^home. Her tears dried up again, and her proud spirit began to ques- tion how she could have been so weak as to betray herself. " How very foolish you must think me," she said, when she could command her voice. " It is not often I am so weak, is it? But I am over tired to-day, and a little worried, and — and — / am a woman, which accounts for everything." '• I could see you were not yourself this afternoon. You should have gone straight to bed, and sought relief in rest," MOUNT F.r>F..V. 169 ^rgive me ,f the feel- no notion ;stlessness III are too Id age. 1 en all hard , no guides. id counsel, loon. lief in rest, said Captain Philip gently. " You know you need never attend to buijiness unless you feel inclineJ. / am always ready and v illing to take the whole responsibility of it on my own sh Iders." " I belie^ you would wcrk yourself to d-ath if I would allow you," 1 *plied Ev( ^n, c^nd then she acked suddenly, — " Captai.' Ph'"'.' >, have you a mother or sisters ? " The cap. ..n itemed quite taken aback. The mistress '•^ Moi nt Eden had r vc. asked him a single question concerning his family affairs before. " No, Miss Rayne," he stammered, " I am not so fortunate. My poor mother died when I was quite an infant, and I never had any sisters." " Neither hrd I. It is sad to feel so much alone, isn't it?" " It is sad. But what made you ask me that question ? " " I will answer you frankly. You are so good and kind, Captain Philip, I thought that if you had sisters like your- self, I ^hcvld like to know them — to make them my friends. I have so f w female friends," said Evelyn, with a sigh ; " I seem to have no one to go to for advice in a dilemma." ** Pardon me for saying so, but do you consider women are the best friends for women — as a rule ? " "Unless one is married, yes. But I shall never be married," replied Evelyn. " It is early days to determine that, Miss Rayne. We shall see you following Miss Featherstone's example yet." She started violently. " Ah I don't mention it, please. I cannot tell you how hateful the notion is to me." And then she seemed to take a sudden resolve, such a resolve as comes to one sometimes in solitude and dark- ness, and loqks quite different then frpm what it would do in the glare of day. She resolved to make Captain Philip her friend, and ask his advice, without confessing she was doing so — Captain Philip, to whom she had never shown anything but bare politeness yet. But then she had needed nothing more herself. " Captain Philip," she commenced, without further pre- amble, " how far do you consider the privileges of fric/id- ship should go. ? " "I should consider the privileges of a true friendship illimitable,, Miss Rayne." mv\ 170 MOUNT EDEN. " Even to the wrecking of your friend's happiness ? *' " If it were for your friend's good, yes. But which of us can determine what is for good or for evil in this world? The very thing which looks the worst thing possible in our eyes may he the prc-destined means to a right en9. That is where the difficulty comes in. Too many of us are apt to arrogate to ourselves the privileges of the Creator under the name of duty, which only stands for self-grati- fication." " On those grounds one should never interfere in any- thing, Captain Philip. One should stand by and see a fellow-creature down without holding out a hand ? " " Oh, no. The opportunity to save is there, therefore it should be taken advantage of." *' Then if one of my acquaintances had engaged a servant •whom I knew to be a thief, should I not be justified in telling the truth about him ? " " Certainly, if he had not left off being a thief." The spontaneous twitch upon his arm made Captain Phili]) aware that something in his reply had touched her. *• If he had not left off being a thief ^'^ she repeated slowly. " But surely he might relapse ? " '' He might. But isn't it a part of our duty to hope the best for our fellow-creatures, Miss Rayne, and does any one stand firmly without having had a few falls ? A con- firmed thief is a different thing. But I should be sorry to place an obstacle in the way of the reformation of any man who had sinned once— or even twice. We cannot measure the temptation any more than the repentance. The Almighty, who weighs both, will not condemn us for erring t>n the side of mercy." *' Thank you," replied Evelyn, after a pause. " You are a good man, Captain Philip, and you have gj^ven me some- thing to think of. ^he — the servant I spoke of tells me he| has repented, and perhaps I am bound to believe him." " If you refuse to believe him on your own authority,! and he never regains the position he has lost, his downfailj will certainly be laid (in a measure) at your door." , "But if he robs my friend?" suggested Evelyn, in a| trembling voice. " Cannot you caution your friend without betraying the! (dependence placed on yourself? Cannot you open herj eyes (of course it is a lady — a man would never do such a! MOUNT EDEN, I7t stupid thing as to engage a servant without good references) to the advisability of inquiring into his past life and character, and leave her to judge for herself? If, after that, she wilfully shuts her eyes to his possible short- comings, I should consider your responsibility in the matter had ceased. Has the lady applied to you for the man's character ? '' " Oh, no. I have nothing to do with it. She does not know I ever knew him." " Then take my advice and leave them alone, Miss Rayne. No good ever came in this world of interfering, and it generally ends by both parties turning round against you. Your friend won't be in the least bit obliged, — you. may depend on that, — and the man will ])robably take to poaching your preserves. Time enough to speak when you're ask'ed to do so." " I believe you're right," said Evelyn, as they reached a side door of the big house, " and 1 have been worrying myself too much about a trifle." "You have too sensitive a conscience," he repHed, as she shook hands with him. *' Nothing of the sort. Captain Philip ; but I. have been worried." " I kno7u you have been worried," he replied sympatheti- cally, as he left her. " But all the same," he said to him- self, as he walked back to Bachelor's Hall, you have not deceived me, Evelyn Rayne. No man-servant's peccadilloes have had the power to shake your proud spirit in this way. It had something to do with Miss Featherstone's marriage. I am sure of that ; else, why should her question have so immediately followed her expression of distaste at my mention of it? Can she have met this Jasper Lyle before, and under different circumstances ? It is hardly probable. He is not the sort of man, with his half-foreign ways, to be easily forgotten ; and he is evidently a stranger to every- body about here. And whilst at Liverpool, living in obscurity with her aunt, she was not in a position to make acquaintances. But there's a mystery somewhere, though I haven't got to the bottom of it yet. But if it is to worry her, or make her unhappy, I will — / u73 '* Why, all on account of Mr. Jasper Lyle, of course. Haven't 1 told you ? Dear, dear ! my poor brain is whirling so, I hardly know if I'm on my head or my heels. Well, my dear Evelyn, you know how we all liked him (and do, for the matter of that), and how the wedding day was almost fixed, as you may say, and now he's going away." Evelyn became silent. " Do you hear me, my dear ? Actually going back to Italy without any warning or reasonable excuse, and without fixing any time for his return. Of course Mr. Featherstone he's quite put out about it, and says the engagement had better be broken off altogether, and poor Agnes is in hysterics, and I feel so ill you might knock me down with a feather." " But, dear Mrs. Featherstone, I don't quite understand. Surely Mr. — Mr. — Lyle must have given some reason for his abrupt departure ? It must be family matters, or money matters, or something of importance that lakes him from England at such a moment. He must have told Mr. Fea- therstone something about it. It would be so extraordinary -so uncalled for else." " My dear, he told papa Nothing, except that it was imperative he should leave us, and when he was asked why and for how long, he stuttered and stammered, and said he would write and tell us everything on getting back to Italy. And I believe he has told our poor Agnes that his health won't permit him to live in England, or some such rubbish, and she is breaking her heart over it. Such a shock for the poor child, you know, when she was just thinking about ordering her trousseau." " It would be a terrible shock, but we must hope to avert it," replied Evelyn, as she hurried away to put on her walking costume ; and all the time she was doing it her heart kept on asking, '' Hiat shall I do? What shall I do?" " Dear Mrs. Featherstone," she said when they found themselves driving to the Hall together, "do tell me the truth. Does Mr. Featherstone know anything of Mr. Lyle's antecedents ? Did he ascertain how he had been living during his residence in Italy ? Agnes is such a prize, you know, in every respect, that one cannot be too careful that her prospective husband should have none but the most honorable motives in seeking her hand in marriage." 174 MOUNT EDEN. m " Oh, you're quite right, my dear, and very sensible, and see things just as you should do. We always say at the Hall, * If j'-ou want real sound advice, go to Evelyn Rayne for it.' But we weren't quite so careless as you seem to think. "Vve met Mr. Jasper Lylc first at the house of our mutual friends, the Spencers, and you know how very particular Mrs. Spencer (being second cousin, once re- moved, to Lord Courtley) is concerning whom she admits to her evening parties. And when we saw how taken Mr. Lyle became with our Agnes, papa made all sorts of inquiries about him of Mr. Spencer, and he told us that his friends. Sir Andrew and Lady Marsden, had known Mr. Lyleyi7r years, and that he was a most estimable young man, who, though poor, had lived a thoroughly respectable and quiet life, never gambling, or drinking or running into debt, but behaving like a gentleman in every respect. And papa thinks nothing of his want of money, you know, Evelyn, since we have plenty for them both, and only want our Agnes to be happy in her own way. A.nd then — when we thought everything was going so smooth — to have this terrible upset. It's most trying, my dear, I can assure you." " There is no need of assurance, dear Mrs. Feathei- one, I can understand your feelings thoroughly," said Evelyn. " But may there not be some mistake in the matter ? Mr. Lyle is so much of a foreigner, he may not have been able to explain himself properly to Mr. Featherstone. It may be his health, or his private affairs, that compel him to return to Italy for a while, and he may have every intention of a speedy return. Don't you think you are all looking at the matter in rather too serious a light ? " "There now!" exclaimed Mrs. Featherstone, with the intensest admiration, " I said to papa that it was ten to one but what you'd put everything right for us. You're a wonderful yourg woman, Evelyn Rayne. Talk of grey heads on green shoulders ' Why, you might be sixty to hear yen talk. I shouldn't wonder (as you say) if we've all made a mesr, of it. Papa's no hand at French, no more thcT" myself; and Agnes has been in such a state ever since she heard that Mr. Lyle is going away, that I don't believe she's been able to understand anything. But you must get at the truth of it for us, Evelyn, and then, if the young man only wants to run home for a while to settle his affairs. MOUNT EDEN, tii why, we mi'st put the wedding off for a month, and nobody will be the worse for that." " No, indeed," replied Evelyn, with affected cheerfulness, as the carriage stopped at Featherstone Hall, and she ran upstairs to Agnes' bedroom. If (she kept on repeating to herself), if Agnes' affections were really so deeply involved, and Will /lai/ tried to live down the evil past by ;i virtuous and honorable manhood — why, she would bid him stay on and fear nothing more from her. Captain Philip had said that we should never be condemned for erring on the side of mercy. When she reached Agnes' room, she found the silly little girl as desi)airing as though her lover had been stretched out in his coffin, and ready for the grave. She sobbed in Evelyn's arms for some time so bitterly as to be quite unable to speak, and when the passionate outburst had somewhat subsided, her words were scarcely coherent. " But what is all this terrible fuss about, my Agnes? " inquired Evelyn, in her soft, rich voice. " Has Mr. Lyle deserted you for some other woman, or is he so ill that the doctors have given up all hope of his recovery? " '• No, no," sobbed Agnes, from the shelter of her friend's bosom; "but he is going back to Italy at once, and I feel certain I shall never see him again." " But surely that is rating your lover's fidelity at a very low standard, Agnes. Has Mr. Lyle intimated in any way that he has no intention of returning ? " " Oh, no. He has said nothing about that. Only it is imperative that he should go away for a while. Nothing that we can say or do will alter his determination. And, Evelyn, I have a premonition that it is /or ever. Some- thing will happen to prevent our meeting again. It was too good to last. No one is permitted long to be so happy in this world as I have been." She had been so happy^ poor child, and it was the hand of her dearest friend that had pulled that happiness down. " My dear, sweet Agnes,'' cried Evelyn, *' do you love Mr. Lyle so much as all that? Would parting from him now destroy all your happiness in this world ? " " Oh, Evelyn, how can you ask me such a question? My happiness is bound up in him. If we are to part for ever I shall die. If he were tj prove faithless to me, I should take my own life." ''4\ 176 MOUNT EDEA'. "It is wrong to speak like that, Agnes. No man is worthy of so much confidence. They are all faulty, remem- ber, and apt to succumb to temptation. Don't think too much of Mr. Lyle, or any man, or you may live to be bitterly disappointed." " And yet you think of and trust your Cousin Will ! " re- turned Agnes innocently. " You told me, Evelyn, that you were sure he would never be untrue to you, and you were waiting in perfect faith and confidence for him to come back again and claim you. Didn't you, now ? And mayn't I think as much of Jasper as you do of Will ? " Evelyn's sweet blue eyes were suddenly dimmed with tears. Yes, it was true. How much she had thought of Will ! And now — But pride drove her tears back to their source, and Agnes never saw them fall. " Yes, dear," said her friend gently, " you can thmk just as much of Jasper as I do of Will. I will not dispute that. Only, if this separation is to give you so much pain, and fill you with such mournful forebodings, can it not be avoided ? " " Jasper says not, Evelyn. He told papa that the most important business called him abroad, and that it was impossible to say how long it might keep him there. That is the miserable part of it." " Suppose / were to speak to Mr. Lyle, Agnes ? I have a good business head, and may be able to advise him. He is so ignorant of English laws and customs, he may not be aware that his business (whatever it may be) can be exe- cuted quite as well by writing as by word of mouth." Agnes brightened up immediately. " Oh yes, Evelyn, do. You always set everything right. The first thing I did when I heard this horri'ole news was to ask them to send for you. And you can tell Jasper what / can't," she added blushing, " that if he 7nust go to Italy, it would be much better for him to wait, and take me with him ; and then we should have a happy trip together, instead of a miserable separation." "And you are quite sure, then, my darling, that your' heart will never change ? " said Evelyn anxiously, " and that, if after your marriage you found out that Mr. Lyle was not all you had believed him to be — if you heard he had been wild and reckless, and even wicked, in his youth — still you think that you could continue to love him, and MOUNT EDEN. 177 pilyhim, and console him for a'l he may have gone through, and never remember that he w?s less a hero than you believe him to be now ? " She wars so thoroughly in earnest, she made the shallower nature earnest too. '•'■ Indeed — indeed I would, Evelyn," replied Agnes, her big eyes full of solemn truth. *' I love him so dearly, that if I heard he had been a murderer^ it could only make me love him more. Nothing could hurt me now, except to part from him." "Then you shan't part from him, my darling," said Evelyn determinedly ; but then, seeing the look of surprise which Agnes fixed upon her, she mitigated the force of her words. " I mean that I will speak to Mr. Lyle myself, and point out to him that he has incurred a duty, by engaging himse -O you, which forbids his leaving England, if it is to be the cause of so much unhappiness. His Italian business can doubtless be arranged quite as well after marriage as before. And now, darling, you will not cry any more, will you? I don't know my pretty Agnes with these red eyes and swollen features. Get up and bathe your face, and change your dress, and let Mr. Lyle see you fresh and smiling v/hen you meet again. Wher^ shall I find him, Agnes? I want to put you out of your suspense at once." " I don't know, dear Evelyn. He has seemed very miserable all yesterday and to-day, and I think, after his talk with papa, he went out into the garden." '' Then I will go and look for him there," said Eve'yn, as she left the room. But her heart beat very fast as she did so. " Never mind, never mind," she said to herself, as she trampled down her feelings, " it must be done. It ought to be done (I am sure Captain Philip would say so), and the sooner it is over the better. Matters have gone too fiir with my poor little Agnes. I hardly thought she cared so much, and at all costs she shall be happy. And he too — this may be the turning point of his existence. Have I the right (as Captain Philip said) to arrogate to myself the privilege of the Almighty, and decide when, and to what limit, a pardon should be extended to the guilty? He has suffered enough, perhaps, and if he has been untrue to me, how could I hope (after all) tv cope against the fascinations ):'.,l ',!!!! [4 1 ll.W! ' ' Ki 1 i li li ill- 1 ,f«l t78 MOUNT ED EX. of my little Agnes ? But if — //it had only been so^v, c^ • else than her ! " She went all round the garden, with her brave firm hand pressed tightly against her aching heart, before she found him, and then the faint perfume of his cigar alone directed her to the sequestered seat where he had thrown himself, full length, in the plenitude of his disappointment. As her apparition burst upon his view, Will Caryll sprung from his seat with an expression almost of fear, ** Eve ! " he exclaimed, " I have kept my promise ; indeed I have. I am going to leave England again, andyi^r everT " Hush, Will," --he answered warningly, *' we must learn to address each other more formally, for some one might overhear us." " What does it signify ? " he Fuiid, in a ton^ of despair, as he sunk back upon the garden scat. " I have told you I am going. If they knew everything now, it would not make much difference." " Yes, it would," said Evelyn, biting her lip, as his attitude recalled the weak-minded youth of old to her, " for I have come to tell you that you must yemain and marry Agnes Featherstone. It is too late to draw back now. I see that plainly, and that her health and happiness will suffer if her engagement to you is broken off." " But if you are determined to bet/ay me — " he began sheepishly. " Did I ever betray you yet. Will ? '* she answered, with calm reproach. " Can you recall oiie instance in which I played you false, or did not do my uttermost to further your purpose ? " *' But you said you would yesterday. Eve. You swore that if / did not speak, you would. And so I thought that the easiest plan for me would be to clear out altogether." She stood before him, with her ha^id still pressed against her throbbing heart, and her sad fyes turned resolutely away. " You must make some allowant;es for yesterday," she aniiVvored slov/ly ; "you took me by surprise, and I spoke hastily. Afjncs is very, very dear to me, and I rank her happinei; : above my own. When I thought that you would wr jck 't. T 'Oii^. you to go. Now that I see that it is bound up )r yrivrs. i teil y^.u to :^tly, and, from this moment, you bhal' fx^ Jasper Lyle to me. and I will do my utmost to forge i til 'i you were ever- -Will Caryll." MOUNT EDEN. 179 He leapt up then, and tried to seize her hand, but she prevented him sternly. '• Remember who you are,'' she said, — " the affianced husband of my friend. Have I not just warned you that we must not only forget, but utterly erase the past ? Therein lies your only safety, for I have spoken of my cousin Will Caryll to Agn. s, and a very little want of care might raise her suspicions of you. Your future is in your own hands now. Make it as noble and free from blame as the past should have been." " But what ex ('use can I offer Mr. Featherstone for changing my int^iuions ? " asked Will Caryll, involuntarily leaning on her, as of old. " Surely Agnes' misery at the idea of parting with you would be sufficient excuse for anything. Say you have given up the idea of leaving England on her account. It will be perfectly true. And go now, Vv^ill, as quickly as you can, and tell the poor girl of your decision, or she will make herself ill with weeping." " Eve !" he exclaimed, "how can I thank you for your generosity — your forbearance ? I have always loved you — no time, nor distance, nor silence could tear my heart or memory from those unforgotten days, when — " " Oh, hush, hush ! " she said, in a voice of the keenest pain, " never speak of them again. They are dead and gone days. The cousin I knew then has vanished for ever. From this day, you must be to me Mr. Jasper Lyle only, and I to you your wife's nearest and most faithful friend. Go to her, Mr. Lyle, go at once, and — depend securely upon mc l'' '• You will come with me ? " he said. *•' No ; she will not need me now. I will see her by-and- bye," replied Evelyn, as she waved him from her presence. But when she had watched him enter the Hall, she turned her footsteps resolutely away, and walked across the fields to the big house again. l8o MOUNT EDEN, CHAPTER XVIII. BY THE SAD SEA WAVES. Within twelve hours of this interview, peace and content- ment once more reigned at Featherstone Hall. Mr. Lyle had informed his future father-in-law that ( in considera- tion of Agnes' objection to his departure ) he had given up the idea of re-visiting Italy ( at all events for the pre- sent )> and the old man had expressed himself as well pleased with his decision. Mr. Featherstone had not been looking well lately — age, combined with the cares of business, and the constant journeys he was obliged to make backwards and forwards CO his bank, was beginning to tell upon a naturally weak constitution, and he had grown greyer and more wrinkled than his years would justify. The little annoyance which had arisen consequent on Jasper Lyle's proposal had wor- ried him far more than it was worth, and he hailed the announcement that his Agnes would have no more need to make herself unhappy. '• That 's right, that is right," he said, when the news was conveyed to him ; " what is the use cf causing more anxiety and misery in this world than life naturally brings us? Let the wedding go on, my boy. The day that Agnes is married, I shall settle twenty thousand pounds on her, and I want to see her comfortably provided for, and happy with the man she loves, as soon as possible. Everything in this world is so unccrrtain. It is folly not to grasp at the goods the gods provide us before they pass beyond our reach." *' I trust Agnes will never pass beyond mine, Mr. Fea- therstone," said Jasper Lyle. ** No, no, I have no fear of it. She is good, and true as steel, and will make you a loving and faithful wife. But I should like the wedding to take place as soon as possible, and then you can take her to Italy if vou see fit to da so." MOUNT EDEN. i8i The welcome intelligence soon spread through tlie Ue course of nature she sometimes felt a little languid or uneasy, she l;;id her own simple remedies for such trifles, and would have laughed at the idea of con- sulting a medical man. She had, therefore, not seen Dr. Wilton for some time past, although he had been in con- stant attendance on her Uncle Roger for the two last years of his life, and she looked upon him as an intimate friend. He was very much concerned, therefore, when he received her note, asking him to call at Mount Eden, and posted off to answer it as quickly as his numerous engage- ments would permit. But as she came forward to greet him, with an outstretched hand. Dr. Wilton could not dis- cern anything wiong in her appearance. "Why, how is this?" he exclaimed cheerily. " You're not ill. I'd take mv oath of that. Then who is it ? Le brave Capitaine Philip ? " *' Not that /know of," replied Evelyn smiling ; ** but I did not send for you to talk, but to listen. Now sit down MOUNT EDEN, 183 there, like a good man, and let me explain my little dilem- ma to you." She had been battling hard with her memory, and her doubts, and her scruples during tlic last few days, but she was not going lo let him see it. She forced herself to smile, and to speak lightly, and to carry things off with a high hand whilst he was there ; and she managed to deceive him completely. Dr. Wilton was a clever practitioner, and could have detected a feverish eye or a failing pulse in a minute. But ho had no power to discern the symp- toms of an aching heart against t!ie determination of the woman who bore it. " I really een ? " replied Evelyn, with a sigh ; " sometimes I think that I was born old — " " Well, well, my dear," said the doctor, who had guessed from the first that her restlessness was due to some mental disturbance, "please yourself, and come back to us re- freshed in mind and body. And now, how is my friend Captain Philip?" '* I did not know he was a friend of yours, doctor. I wish I might have the privilege of calling him so. I con- sider Cantain Philip a most remarkable, as well as estimable, man." *' If you are the head of Mount Eden Miss Rayne. he is the very soul of it." *'I uite agree with you. No one knows better than myself 'low hard he has worked to improve the property— nor how well he has succeeded." " Has it never struck you as strange that so gifted a man should occupy so laborious a position ? for Captain Philip's conversation has sometimes positively startled me. He has seen so much, and observed so keenly, that he is a perfect encyclopaedia of knowledge ; but, doubtless, you have remarked it as well as myself." " No," she answered musingly ; " he seldom talks to me except upon farm matters, and even about those he is not very communicative. I have always looked upon Captain Philip as a reserved and silent man." " Indeed ! that is strange. But you can see he is a gentleman, and, I should say, a man cf family." " Oh, yes. But he is only my land-agent, you see. We seldom meet, except on business.' " His mode of life, too, is so uncommon," pursued the doctor — " to shut himself up in that tiny cottage, with his Looks and his pipe. It is like no one else. I'd lay any- thing I possess that that man has a secret in his past life that has made him turn hermit from the world." " But not a disgraceful one. I would pledge my life on that^^ exclaimed Evelyn with sudden energy. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 lAilli 125 lit ■40 Ui& p IJ^ 1^ < 6" ► Hiotographic Sdences Corporation ^ ^^ ^, ■'S' V <^ ^. 33 WIST MAIN STRIIT WIISTIR,N.Y. 14SM (716) •72-4903 v\ k,jO MOUNT EDEN: " Dear mc, no ' I hope # didn't intimate it," replied Dr. Wilton, " for it is the very furthest thing from my thoughts. The secret may be connected with others, perhaps, — wijLh a scandal, or a misfortune, or a loss, — but still it is there, Jlnd if I heard to-morrow that Philip was a duke, I shouldn't be in the least degree surprised." ' ** More likely a martyr," said Evelyn. " His is just the nature, I should imagine, to iacrifice itself. But I hojjc he i5 happy now." " I am sure it would make him happy to listen to your championsliip. Miss Rayne, for he has a very high opinion of you. But I think you might draw him a little more out of his shell, and, perhaps, infuse a little more brightness into his existence. He is a devourer of books, and an occasional loan from your library would doubtless be very acceptable to him." " I am sure Captain Philip is welcome to borrow any- thing from Mount Eden; he ought to know that by this time," replied Evelyn, with some dignity, as though she did not quite like Dr. Wilton teaching her her duty tc v. ards her land-agent. "True, but he is (as you observed just now) a reserved and silent man, and not likely to intrude his wishes on your consideration. From what his present mode of living may be a change, of course I cannot say, but I am sure that it is a change, and an unexpected one, and that Cap- tain Philip's reserve covers, perhaps, a great sorrow. He is not of a subdued and silent disposition by nature ; I could swear to that. Those grey eyes of his could sparkle with merriment, and I should like to see them do so." " So should I," replied Miss Rayne. And from that day she evinced a much gi eater interest and curiosity in Captain Philip, and often fciind herself speculating on his probable perplexities, and wordering, in a vague manner, if .anything happened to l.ciself. what would become of him in the future, and if he would ever take as much interest in another property as he did in Mount Eden. When she told him, in confidence, that she was about to leave home for a time, and wished her departure to be kept a secret till she was gone, it would not have been extraor- dinary, even on a land-agent's part, to have displayed a little surprise for, in all Mie time that they had worked MOUNT EDEN, 1S7 together, Miss Rayne had never slept a night away from Mount Eden before. Yet Captain Philip did nothing of the kind. He listened with respectful attention to all she had to say, and then he asked her quietly, — " Shall you remain away till after harvest ? " " Till after harvest,^' stammered Evelyn, taken aback — ** I don't know — I am not sure — it will depend entirely upon circumstances." " I hope you will feel that you are entirely at liberty, and that Mount Eden is as safe m my hands as it would be in your own," replied Captain Philip. " Of course I shall send you daily reports of all that is going on here, and you will be able to judge how far, or for what length of time, we may be able to get on without you." '* I have no fear of that, Captain Philip, and my absence may be a very short one. But I want change sadly, — Dr. Wilton agreed with me at once on that score, — and as a stitch in time saves nine, the sooner I am off the better. And you understand, Captain Philip, why I do not confide my intention to the Feathers tones beforehand. They are so good, and no fond of me, they would make such a fuss to find out the why and the wherefore, that they would torture me to death." She spoke so petulantly, and she looked so harassed, that Captain Philip's heart for once got the better of his head. " You are not ill?" he cried, in a tone of anxiety. Evelyn's eyes turned on him with grave surprise. He misinterpreted the look for one of offence. " Forgive me, Miss Raync," he continued, coloring scarlet, " but you must know that your health and life are dear to all your — your — dependants. What would Mount Eden do without its mistress ? " But his words, instead of offending her, appeared to have raised her spirits. " Very well, indeed," she answered brightly, *' if it could only retain its overseer. Frankly, my dear friend, I am not ill in body, but I am very much harassed in my mind, and I am going away in order to have a little fight all by myself. Now, are you satisfied ? Believe me that I have told this to no one but you — that I don't think (somehow) that I could tell it to any one but you. But I know that it is .safe, and that you will respect my confidence." He raised the hand she extended to him to his lips, but I88 MOUNT EDEN, he did not answer her. Both felt that no answer was needed. A few days after, Evelyn left Mount Eden, accompanied only by her maid Anna, and took her way to London, whence she despatched a letter, with a magnifice;it wedding present, to her dear little friend Agnes. The present — a parure of pearls — excited general admiration, but the contents of the letter raised a hue and cry. That Evelyn Rayne should have left home without giving them any intimation of the fact, was incredible to the Featherstones, who had shared her every thought for so many years past, and the enclosed note from Dr. Wilton, advising the step which she had taken, only increased their consternation. The first thing they did was to summon and question the doctor ; the next to drive over to Mount Eden and see if they could get any satisfaction out of Captain Philip. But neither interview left them much the wiser. Dr. Wilton reiterated his simple statement that he considered Miss Rayne would be all the better for a little sea-air, and Captain Philip professed to know nothing of the matter. They had not even the con- solation of writing Evelyn crossed sheets of reproach or entreaty, for she had said in her letter that she would be moving about for some time, but would let them know as soon as she was settled. Agnes wept copiously at the idea of being married without her bosom friend, and even wanted to put off her wedding on that account, but Mr, Feather- stone would not allow of any postponement. One would have thought, to hear the banker talk of it, that he was al- most anxious to get rid of his only child. Any way,- the pre- parations went on, and but one i)erson of them all guessed the real reason that the mistress of Mount Eden had found her strength unequal to the ceremony. That one was Jasper Lyle ; and as he wandered about the gardens of Feather- stone Hall, puffing at his cigarette, and remembered the grander beauties of Mount Eden, and the love of Evelyn Rayne, he gnawed his silky moustaches with rage against himself for having been such a blind fool as to let the woman and the acres slip out of his hands as he had done. Meanwhile Evelyn, having found her way down to the Cornish coast, and settled herself and Anna in a weird- looking house, hanging over a cliff at Penzance, set to work determinedly to root that image from her heart, which (more from custom than from her knowledge of its worth) seemed to have imbedded itself there. Day after MorxT r.DF.X. 189 day she wandered on the lonely beach, or sal on the rocks, watching the grand and restless ocean, — nowhere more grand or more restless than on the coast of Cornwall, — and arguing herself out of any remnant of feeling she might en- tertain for William Caryll. And to a woman of Evelyn's temperament, this was an easier task than some might imagine, for she could not love where she did not esteem. For years past she had been cherishing the memory of — not Will Caryll — but an ideal raised by her fancy from a half-forgotten dream, and now, when she saw him as he was, — fickle, shallow, and avaricious, — she shrunk from herself for having been so weak as to have bent her soul before him. It was herself whom she despised, not him. " Is that the thing," she asked her heart, " which you have been cherishing and weeping over, and remaining faithful to, through good report and evil report, for ten long years-— to which you would have given Mount Eden to be squandered, or neglected, or made ducks and drakes of — this false-tongued, effeminate sham^ who can be content to marry an honest girl under an assumed name, and without telling her of his disgraceful antecedents ? Oh, my poor Agnes ! God grant that, whatever he is, he may have the grace to make you happy, to whom he will owe everything he possesses. " I wonder if I have done right or wrong in following Captain Philip's advice, and would he have advised me as he did had he known the whole truth ? I wish I had con- fided everything to him. I am sure he would have beeh true to the trust ; and yet, how could I have betrayed poor Will ? That would have made me almost as bad as him- self. He may be truly repentant, — heaven grant he is, — and my denunciation of his past might have cast him on the world again — hardened and reckless. But I wish he had not proft sed to love me still. I could have forgiven his infidelity to me much sooner than that. For how can he love us both at the same time ? And who could help loving my sweet, pure-hearted Agnes ? He would indeed be a villain if he 'could be untrue to her. No; I will not believe so badly of poor Will. He is weak and foolish, and not entirely sincere, — a contemptible character viewed by the light of my experience, — and one which I feel amazed to think I can ever have considered worthy of my affection. Still, I did love him, and love is sacred even 190 MOUNT EDEK. when in ashes. But I thank God, who has opened my eyes to see him as he is, and given tne strength to batile with myself, and cast him out of my heart for ever. Only — for Agnes' sake — I must make the best of him I can. and, for the sake of the past, I must try and secure his future. And the tirst step must be to annihilate the memory of Will Caryll for ever. That is why I feel I have done wisely to come down here and commune with myself. I should have been afraid to attend the wedding. A thou- sand impulses and fears might have upset me and made me betray myself, not one of which is love. The barb may be extracted, but the wound is sore still, and, until it is quite healed, it is better not to make too sure of myself. So, whatever my darling girl may think, I shall remain here till it is all over, and then, whilst they are on their honeymoon trip, I shall have time to grow strong and brave again, and be able to thank God for my deliverance." She was strong and brave to be able to argue with her- self on her weakness, and resolutely stamp it out ; but the strongest natures are ever the most diffident of their own powers, and their modesty is the very weapon with which they conquer. Perhaps the part of the trial she was under- going that Evelyn felt the most, was having to break the news to Agnes that it was impossible for her to be one of her bridesmaids, or even to be present at her wedding. She was compelled to excuse herself on the score of ill health, although she felt very guilty in doing so ; but in reality it was not a falsehood, for doubt, and anxiety, and suspense had left her far from well. The marriage was fixed for the tenth of August, and on that morning Evelyn wandered far away upon the cliffs, walking fast, and won- dering why her heart should be beating in such an irregu- lar, jerky manner all the while. She would not look at her watch for fear of ascertaining just when the. ceremony was taking place, but as she saw the boatmen and fishermen returning from their work, and knew that it must have struck twelve o'clock, she threw herself down on the thyme- scented turf, and dedicated a few tears td the for-ever-van- ished memory of the past. She could not know ( strong-hearted woman as she was) how hard it is to detach one's self from an old love, until she had passed through the ordeal. . The knowledge of the worthlessness of the object of our MOUNT EDEN, 191 affections does not always accomplish it. We may despise ourselves for having loved so poor a creature, but still we can weep for our own folly and degradation ; in fact, people weep for thcmsehes far oftener than they do for others. How intensely selfish is our mourning for the dead. It is invariably on account of the pleasure we have lost, of the solace we miss, of the happiness they afforded m; never because they have changed for the worse, or because we think they mourn and grieve for what they have left behind. So with an unfaithful love ; the sorest wound inflicted is to our mortified vanity, which cannot bear to see itself sup- planted ; therefore, to a sensible man or woman, it should be the lightest affliction of all. Those few tears completed Evelyn's cure. They watered the grave of her early attachment, from which the ghost of Will Caryll, as he had been^ never rose again. When she had risen from her prostrate attitude and dried her tears, through which a little prayer of gratitude had found its way to heaven, she walked back to her temporary home with a light step, although she knew that the bells of St. Mary Ottery must be clashing out the announcement that Jasper I.yle and Agnes Featherstone were one. And her heart was light as well as her step. The suspense was over. The insurmountable barrier had been raised between them, and she felt that her cure was complete. Thence- forward, whatever she might be called upon to do to for- ward the interests of Jasper Lyle, she could never again associate him with the pitiful lover of her girlish days, Will Caryll. Indeed, she earnestly wished, for the man's own sake, to be able to dissever them. She wanted to respect Agnes' husband, and know that he was worthy of her. And now Evelyn felt that she could sit down, with a clear con- science, and try to find out the best points about him. She quite astonished her maid Anna by the volubility with which she discussed the grand event of the day, and the eagerness with which she announced her intention of returning to Mount Eden during the following week. She had seemed so listless and melancholy up to that period, Anna could not imagine what had worked such a change in her mistress — puzzle herself as she would. But our maids do not know everything about us, though they would fain persuade themselves that they do, and I9» MOL'Xr EDEN, \diXcn make strange blunders, and work incalculable mis- chief, by piecing the wronp ends of the puzzle together. Still, there are some things, thank God, which remain secrets between ourselves and Him. CHAPTER XIX. A GREAT SHOCK. Evelyn descended to breakfast on the following morning, animated and cheerful. With the knowledge that Jaspei Lyle and his wife had left Hampshire, she experienced a great longing to return to it. Mount Eden, with its fields golden unto harvest, and its orchards laacn with ripe fruit, appeared fairer in her eyes than it had ever done before, and she knew she should be restless until she was once more on the spot to superintend everything. " How wicked I have been," she thought to herself, as she stood at the window of her sitting-room^ and looked out upon the foaming waves that dashed incessantly against the crag-bound coast — " how wrong to cherish such a rebellious spirit when I have so many mercies and so much pleasure left to me still. I, who was only a penniless orphan, without friends or prospects, hardly better than a maid-of-all-work (though that wasn't pcor Aunt Maria's fault), the possessor of Mount Eden, with such a variety of interests to keep me occupied and happy from year's end to year's end. And how I love every stone upon the place. My beautiful Mount Eden ! It would break my heart, I think, to give it up now even to a man I cartd for. I love it from January to December — when it is laden with hoar-frost, or heavy with verdure — from the moment the first pale green buds break out upon the trees, to when they lie, brown and shrivelled, on the garden path. Every tender lamb and tiny chick ihat comes with the spring seem to appeal to my heart as if it 'was part of myself, and I am obliged to steel that heart against loving them for fear the pain of their unnatural fate should be too much for me. And then my darling horses, and my lovely dun and dappled milkers ; my wealth of summer flowers and autumn fruits ; my fair pasture lands aiid my MOV NT EDEN, "93 hat Jaspci xpcrienccd 1, with its laacn with i ever done itil she was ) herself, as and looked .ntly against rish such a md so much a penniless etter than a .unt Maria's |ch a variety from year's e upon the Id break my lan I cartd len it is laden the moment Ihe trees, to ^arden path. ,es with the 'was part of ,ainst loving te should be ses, and my of summer ,nds aiid my noble paik. II jw can I be sufnciently thankful for all the benefits which have been showered on me — for all the interests my life contains ? I am an ungrateful beast to have forgotten it for so long. An as for poor Will, it must be almost punishment enougli for him to see what he has lost without making him suffer more. I am glad — yes, I am glad now that I did not prevent his marrying Agnes. She will raise and purify his life, and wash the bitterness from his memory ; and I shall be always within reach to warn him should he show any signs of relapse. But he will not — I am sure of that. He would not run so terrible a risk again. Captain Philip's advice was sound, and good, and merciful. How I wish 1 were competent to attain his standard." She finished off her reverie with a deep sigh, in the midst of which she was startled by hearing Anna exclaim, in rather an agitated voice, — " If you please, Miss, Captain Philip is here, and wants to speak to you." Evelyn came down irom cloudland at once. A thousand tjrrors rur.hed into her mind. Mount Eden had been destroyed by fire — her favorite hunter had dropped down (lead — burglars had broken into the big house, and stolen all her property— anything and everything but the right thing, combined to make her face turn grey with fright. '* Captain Philip, Anna! What on earth can bring Captain Philip down to Cornwall? " " Oh, don't look like that Miss, please. It's nothing particular, you may be sure. Perhaps the Captain's come to tell you about the wedding yesterday." The color returned to Evelyn's face, and a smile broke over it. " W^hy, of course, Anna, that must be it. Show the captain up at once, please." And in her relief from the greater dread, she overlooked jthe fact of how improbable it was that her overseer should I forsake his trust in order to give her the details of Miss Featherstone's wedding. She had hardly known how glad siie should be to see I Captain Philip again, but as he entered the room and advanced to greet her, she flushed to the roots of her hair I with pleasure, and he colored almost as much as she did. " Oh, Captain Philip, this is most unexpected," she said, 7 . »94 MOUNT EDEN, as they shook hands ; " and I was just thinking of you, and dear old Mount Eden. When did you arrive ? " " I have only just arrived, Miss Rayne. I have been traveling all night." She arched her eyebrows. ** Indeed ! You have come to tell me about my darling child's wedding, of course. Well, how did it go off? Was everything right, and did you send over all the white flowers to be found in our conservatories ? " " I executed all your orders. Miss Rayne, to the letter. Both the Hall and the church were a mass of flowers, and everybody said it was the prettiest wedding that had ever been seen in St. Mary Ottery. I need not tell you that the bride looked lovely," "Ah, my sweet Agnes," interposed Evelyn, her eyes over-brimming with tears of affection : •* she could not fail to do that:' " And after the breakfast, at which there were upwards of a hundred guests, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Lyle left lor Teignmouth, in Devonshire, whore they are to spend the honeymoon." " But, Captain Philip," cried Evelyn suddenly, laying her hand upon his arm, '* you did not come all the way down here to tell me this ? " " No, Miss Rayne, I have a graver motive for seeking you." "" Oh, tell it me quickly, for mercy's sake. Something is wrong at Mount Eden ? " '* You are mistaken. Everything at Mount Eden is as | right as it can be." Evelyn turned deathly pale. " It isn't Agnes," she muttered,*—** or — or — him." "No; but it concerns them nearly. Miss Rayne, you I Imust prepare yourself for a shock. It is in order to save you as far as possible that I started off at once to anticipate the newspapers." " Tell it me at once," she whispered. " Mr. Featherstone has left us." " MVf Featherstone ! and on his daughter's wedding] day ! How terrible. Who will break it to her? " ** I promised Mrs. Featherstone to see Mrs. Lyle beforel I returned. I shall go on to Teignmouth with as little] delay as possible." MorxT /:di:.\\ »W ) ihe letter, lowers, and it had ever ell you that r— him." ss Rayne, youi order to save! :e to anticipatQ " But, Captain Philip, it must have been awfully sudden. When did if occur? " *' It was awfully sudden. He appeared quite well at the breakfast, but after the bride and bridegroom had left the Hall, he locked himself up in his room in order (as he said) to answer some important letters, and by six o'clock it was all over." '* Heart disease ? " said Evelyn, in a low voice. " No, Miss Ravne." • "What, then?'" ♦' You will hardly believe it, but he destroyed himself !'^ Evelyn gave vent to a loud ejaculation, and leant heavily against the table. " Are you faint ? Shall I call your maid ? " said Cap- tain Philip anxiously. " No, no, I shall be all right in a mmute," gasped Evelyn, with wide-open, horror-stricken eyes. •* Destroyed him- self ! It is incredible. Mr. Featherstone destroyed him- self! Oh, Captain Philip, are you sure you are not mistaken ? " "I wish I were. Miss Rayne; but it is, unfortunately, too true. I was the first person out of the house that poor Mrs. Featherstone sent for. I had not returned home half-an-hour. Of course I went back at once, and despatched the carriage for Dr. Wilton. But it was a mere matter of form. I knew that as soon as I sr.w the corpse. He had shot himselt right through the brain. The roof of his head was blown off." " Ah ! Captain Philip, how horrible ! — ^how horrible ! " exclaimed Evelyn, closing her eyes at the sight her imagination had conjured up. " But what motive can he have had for such an act ? " ' That is about the saddest part of the story, Miss Rayne. Mr. F,eatherstone left a letter behind him to explain his motives. It appears that the bank in which all his interests were placed has approached a crisis which it cannot possibly tide over, and everything will be swamped with it. Poor Mrs Featherstone is left without ia farthing, and the Hall (with the property on which it I stands) is already mortgaged up to the elbow." " Oh, how selfish, how cruel, how cowardly of him ! " I cried Evelyn, with flashing eyes, "to leave a helpless woman to struggle alone against the tide which has over- 196 MOUNT EPEN. whelmed himself. If everything is gone, there was noilhp^r else to lose. Why did he cast, his courage and his honor after it? This was the moment to have buckled on his armor, and gone to work afresh to keep brend in the mouth of the wife who was dependent on hiin. I have always respected Mr. Featherstonc — I can respect him no longer. How I wish that heaven had taken him long ago." "Can you make no allowance, Miss Rayne, for a wtnk brain, turned by the shock pf such a discovery ? " " I don't know. 1 think that true and disinlercsted love would keep the brain cool and the courage strong for the sake of those who trusted to it. Could yon do si:ch a cowardly thing, under any circumstances, as to take your own life. Captain Philip ? " " I think not, for I have had more than one ttmptation to do so. Miss Rayne. But neither could you. We possess energy of character, and an incentive to aetion is like a trumpet call to arms with us. But all people arc not con- stituted alike, and God only knows how our poor fritnd may have struggled and fought before he was overccn-.e." Evelyn went up to her overseer, and clasped his hand. " You are a good man. Captain Philip," she said, with moist eyes, "and I thank you for the lessons that you teach me. And now, you must take lunch with me before you start." " No, thank you. Miss Rayne. I breakfasted as I came along, and must make my journey home by way of Teign- mouth as soon as possible." " But you cannot go till the train does, and I don't think there is another before two o'clock. That will just give Anna time to pack my things." "Are you coming with me?" he asked quickly, in a tone of pleasurable anticipation. " Not to Teignmouth," she answered, with a slight shud- der. " No, I couldn't go there. It would seem like intrud- ing on their privacy ; and dear Agnes would not feel the , sad news less from my lips than she will do from yours. I couldn't stay with her, you see. But I shall go at once to poor Mrs. Featherstone. She loves me, and I shall be a comfort to her, I know — and her only one. Agnes has| her husband." "Mrs. Featherstone will welcome you as an angel ofj mercy. Your name was the first she called upon when shc[ understood the extent of her misfortune." Morxr /w/'ix. »97 rested love ong for ihe do sv.ch a 3 take your t imitation \Vc possess ion is like a arc not con- poor fritnd i overccn-.e." ,ed his hand, he said, with lat you teach le before you ed as 1 came ^vay of Teign- I don't think kvill just give quickly, in a a slight shud- em like intrud- hd not feel the ffrom yours. M [all go at once id I shall be a \t. Agnes has las an angel lupon when she " Ah ! why didn't you tell mc that before ? " said Kve- lyn reproachfully. "Hut there — you knew, of course, that my first act would be to return to her." " I knew that you would do exactly what seemed best to you, and that, therefore, it would be best," replied Captain Philip, as he turned away. Early in the afternoon they were both in the train again, though bound in different directions, and before nightfall Evelyn was in the arms of Mrs. Fcatherstone. Their meeting was necessarily a very painful one. The mistress of the Hall had been used to regard Kvelyn as a second daughter, and to lean on her counsel and advice. In one sense it was a comfort to see her, but the occasion made all comfort seem void. The Hall looked more mournful than houses usually do under the influence of the shadow of death. The signs of the late wedding festivities, still hanging about it, formed a melancholy contrast to the shuttered windows and the subdued voices, whilst the knowledge ( which seemed to have permeated the house- hold ) that all the luxury around them would pass away as soon as the corpse was carried over the threshold, served to increase the gloom. Mr. Rastall and Miss Macdonald, and the unfortunate little nephew ( who happened to be home for his holidays ) moved about like criminals doomed to die. They were indeed down in their luck. Under ordinary circumstances, they might have hoped to be remembered ( if ever so slightly) in their brother-in-law's will, but they knew that the bankrupt suicide had had no power to leave them anything. They were so hopeless and so forlorn during that week of waiting, that they were almost driven to feel kindly towards each other, and to wonder whether their combined forces might not result in a successful effort to keep the wolf from the door. Captain Philip returned to Mount Eden the following day. The bride had naturally been terribly upset, and the bridegroom had looked aghast at the dreadful news of which he had been the unwilling bearer ; but, according to Mrs. Featherstone's express wishes, they had decided not to return to the Hall till the inquest was over. " I did not break the whole extent of the misfortune to them," said Captain Philip, in relating the story to Evelyn Rayne, "because it seemed too terrible to blight the first days of their married life with the prospect of poverty,'as *H 198 MOUNT EDEN. well as the certainty of death. But Mr. Jasper Lyle will have to * jump around * a bit now, if he wisl.es to keep his wife in the position of a lady. I'm afraid three hundred a year won't go far towards it. Mr. Featherstone has behaved cruelly all round, Miss Rayne. I couldn't help agreeing with you on that score when I saw those two young people. Why ,did he let the marriage go on — the marriage on which he had promised Mr. Lyle to settle twenty thousand pounds — when he must have known he had no more power of doing so than I have ? " " Perhaps he was anxious ( knowing what was before them ) to secure his daughter's happiness at any cost," replied Evelyn gravely. *• He loved Agnes devotedly. She was his idol. He must have suffered terribly in think- ing of her. " " Well, married people have been * happy on three hundred a year before now, and doubtless may be again. But I should be sorry to try the experiment with Mr. Lvle. Why didn't Mr. Featherstone leave it to his honor? Then we should have known what stuff he is made of. As it is now, he has a right to consider he has btcn cheated." " Oh, I don't think W — I mean, I don't think — at least, I sincerely hopf; Mr. Lyle would never prove so ungrateful as that," said }>elyn lamely; " you don't allow his love for my darling Agnes to weigh in the scale at all, Captain Philip." " Oh, doubtless he loves her, — I don't see how he could well help doing so just at present. Miss Rayne, — but you don't need me to remind you that courtship and marriage are two very different things, and that no man likes to lose twenty thousand pounds. It will put Mr. Lyle's love for his wife to the test, — there's no doubt of that, — and I for one shall be very glad to see it turn up trumps." Evelyn had expected that the poor little bride would return home in a very grave and melancholy mocd, but she was quite unprepared to see how white and drawn her face had become in one short week ( which should have been so happy), and to hear the cry of despair with which she threw herself into her arms. " Agnes, Agnes ! " she exclaimed, " try to control your- self for your poor mother's sake. She has so much to bear, remember. You have your husband's love to support you, buf she is left alone in the world. This is the time when I MOUNT EDEN, ■99 Lyle will to keep hundred stone has Idn't help those two o on — the e 10 settle Icnown he was before any cost," devotedly. )ly in thinV- y on three ay be again. ith Mr. Lvle. .onor? Then of. As it IS cheated." Link-at least so ungraietul lUow his love all, Captain io control your- to much to bear, Ito support you, ' the time when you must prove your affection for her by teaching her how to be brave." "But, Evelyn," exclaimed Agnes, gazing up into her friend's face with terror-stricken eyes, " what does mamma mean by saying we are beggars ? Surely papa was very rich. He said he should settle twenty thousand povnds on me on my welding day. Shall I have to give it up to mamma.? " A faint feeling of disappointment passed through Evelyn's mind. She could not believe that Agnes was mercenary, and yet, what tcfit had the poor child ever had till now by which to try the metal that she was made of ? Evelyn would have kept the news of her father's bankruptcy from her till after the funeral, but Mrs. Fcatherstone had evidently disclosed it, and there was no use in attempting further deception. ^ " You can never be a beggar, my darling," she said, as she stroked the girl's sunny hair ; '• Mr. Lyle has an income of his own, and, though it is small, it is enough to live upon." But Agnes pushed the loving hand away almost l)i-u:3quely, as she looked up again. " Three hundred a year ! " she exclaimed contemptuously. "As if any one could live upon that ! Evelyn, you must tc!l me the truth. Wliere is papa's money gone? Where is my twenty thousand pounds ? How are we going to live in the future ? " •* Oh, Agnes, darling ! I would like to have kept this extra trouble from you for a little while, but perhaps it is better you should know the worst at once. Your father's bank failed, dear, and every shilling he possessed went with it. It was because he could not bear the shame and the misery of it all that he was rash enough to take his own life. Don't blame him, dear. Pity him and pray for him ; be must have suffered so much before he acted as he did." But Agnes was silent as though she had been turned to stone. " We are beggars," she muttered at last — " poor mamma and I — beggars indeed." " Mrs. Feathcrstonc has received a verv kind letter from a sister of hers in Edinburgh," said Evelyn, trying to speak more cheerfully. " From Aunt Graham, I suppose ? " interposed Agnes. „l 300 MOUNT EDEN. " Yes, from Mrs. Graham, — that was the name, — asking her and Miss Macdonald to go and make their home at Langbrae as soon as the funeral is ov jr, and I think your mamma has accepted the offer. She must leave the Hall, you know, Agnes dear, and everything in it ; and lo find herself amongst her own relations will be the greatest solace she could receive." " And we shall have nothing, then — noihing^^ repeated Agnes. " Oh, my darling, don't say that. You will have your husband, and if his income is not si:flficient for your need, he has two strong arms to work for you. Indeed, Agnrs, except for the terrible loss of your poor father, I don't think you are to be pitied." " Let me go and tell Jasper," said Mrs. Lyle, as she un- twined herself in an indifferent manner from Evelyn's arms. " He knows no more of this than I did, and 1 dread lo think what he will say when he hears it.'' And she left the room with such a pitiful and woe-begone expression on her countenance, as made Evelyn fear that she cared more for the loss of the money than she did for the death of her father. As soon as the funeral was over, there was obliged to be a discussion of ways and means (for the creditors would not permit the unfortunate family to remain at Fcatherstone Hall one day lo.iger thrn uas necessary), and then the truth cui^e out. Mrs. Feather- stone and Miss Macdonald were tc seek an asylum with their sister, who had also invited the invalid nephew lo her house until some arrangement could be made for him, and Mr. Rastall was to go to a distant relative, who picmised him employment on his farm, but the bride and bridegio(m seemed unable to form any plans for themselves. Jasper Lyle, whose brow was lowering and gloomy, confessed himself unable to meet any present expenses. He had anticipated a considerr.Me portion of his annual allowance to pay for his wedding journey, and had fi.lly expected to receive the fulfilment of his father-in-law's promise on his return. "He told me" (he said) "before ever I proposed for| Agnes, that he was prepared to settle twenty thousand] pounds on her. He repeated it afterv/ards. I never could have afforded to marry her otherwise, ar.d I consider that I have been shi.mcfully taken in and defrauded, and] any other man would say the same." " That hastily A speak of presence Whatever keep it to " Thanl have wishi stances un of all nerv( Lyie tur moment sh he was Won "I don't "whatrighi you are Mis "Andhej "Perhaps ^^}^t famil in is unforti everybody e solicitors wh (under the cii property." "Not the attendance ; Mr. Feathek separate settll "Andlshf good-hearted [ sooner than J ,"0h,Evel3 "^^^"^gmg to hei But Evelynl ner bosom „" Well, thei, iJasper Lyle, \\ lo escape ; " ] money to pay of is to return ?'ng took plad intentions, I si Fe about re-ii MOUNT EDEN. 20t egone r that lid for \ over, means family n was alber- n with to her m, and Icmised giodn Jasper Infesscd e had |owance ;cted to on his " That may be, sir," exclaimed Captaiii Philip, stepping hastily forward, " but you must not, and you shall not, speak of the late Mr. Feathcrstone in such terms in the presence of his widow and his daughter and his friends. Whatever your disappointment may be, you will please to keep it to yourself here and noTv ! " " Thank you. Captain Philip ; that is just what I should have wished to say," added Evelyn, for the cruel circum- stances under which she had met him again had robbed her of all nervousness in the presence of her cousin. Lyle turned and looked at her as she spoke, and for a moment she saw Will Caryll before her, with the ugly frown he was wont to bestow on her outspoken candor. " I don't know," he said., addressing Captain Philip, " what right you have, sir, to call me to order. I believe you are Miss Rayne's overseer — " " And her friend and adviser," interposed Evelyn. " Perhaps, but not mine, and as I happen to be related to the family, I consider I may choose my own words. This unfortunate affair has put mo in a hole as well as everybody else, and I should like to ascertain from the solicitors whether Mr. Featherstono's daughter has not (under the circumstances) some claim upon her late father's property." " Not the slightest, sir," replied one of the lawyers in attendance ; " no one has any claim except the creditors. Mr. Featherstone not having (unfortunately) made any separate settlement upon his wife." " And I should have given it up if he had," sobbed the I good-hearted widow. " I would have gone out charring sooner than have kept money that was due to others." " Oh, Evelyn, darling, isn't it all miserable ? " cried Agnes, I clinging to her friend. But Evelyn's only reply was to clasp her still closer to [her bosom. " Well, then, it's a deuced awkward confession," said I Jasper Lyle, with a glance round the room as if he wanted to escape ; " but I've nowhere to take my wife to, and no money to pay for her expenses. The only plan I can think of is to return to Italy (as I wished to do before the wed- ding took place, and if I had been allowed to carry out my jintentions, I should have been saved all this' bother), and [see about re-investing my capital in England. I am doing 302 MOUNT EDEN. nothing with it there, and meanwhile, Mrs. Fcatherstone, I suppose there is no objection to your daughter remaining with you ? " " But she can't remain with me, Mr. Lyle. How can you ask such a thing, when you hUve heard that I myself have to live upon charity? It is unreasonable of you.'* " Oh, Jasper, darling, take me to Italy with you. Don't leave me behind," cried Agnes, as she flew to her husband's arms. But his threatened perplexities had driven the Xovtr pro tern, from Jasper Lyle's mind. He had always been more ready to be made love to than to make love, and he put his young wife's arms away almost roughly. " Don't worry me, Agnes, just now, when every nerve is on the rack. Give me time to think, for God's sake. How can I afford to take you on such an expensive journey ? I have barely enough coin to land myself there. I was never placed in such an awkward dilemma before." Agnes began to sob bitterly, when Evelyn approached them. ** Mr. Lyle," she began, in her soft rich voice, ** do not perplex yourself further. Leave Agnes with me. You know how very doar she is to me — of the care I shall take of her, and that she has been almost as much at home at Mount Eden as she has been here. Agnes, darling, will it not be best ? Trust yourself to me, and leave your hus- band unencumbered. He will not be absent very long, and when he has settled his money matters, and returned to England, we can arrange something for your future. My dear little sister, — my almost child, — come back to Mount Eden with me, and see what we can do to make the time pass until Mr. Lyle rejoins you." " Oh, Evelyn, that is just Jike you. It will be the very thing," said Mrs. Featherstone. "I shall be at ease now. I could trust her with you for ever" added Jasper Lyle, as he clasped Miss Rayne's hand with rather too palpable a pressure. " And what does Agnes say ? " inquired Evelyn gently. "Oh take me home, Evelyn — take me home. I don't know what to say or think. Everything around me seems as black as ink, and I feel as if I should never be happy again. But let me go with you. I shall have rest there. Let me go with you." Soth( having r cognizai: his depa: returned she Was ' home, sh knew tha the tears crept dov her librai was this 1 But a ; thought ol think of n( and the c friends. ^ blue sky w queen abo the poor rested her < herself up was wafted could be sei " Captaii feehng so U " Has M her. " I have sleep. Thi Philip." " Sadder prove the t< What do yo " Don't a " For her Evelyn st ^."For >J., inend for y\ being interel " Only as i difficult to will return MOUNT EDEN, 903 So the next day, Mr. Jasper Lyle (though not without having received a suspiciously thick envelope, without the cognizanceof the others, from Miss Rayne's hands) took his departure for Italy, and the poor little mourning bride returned to Mount Eden with her friend. Exhausted as she was with grief at parting from her husband and her home, she was thankful to seek repose, and, as soon as she knew that she had fallen to sleep, like a tired child, with the tears yet undried upon her rose-leaf cheeks, Evelyn crept downstairs, and stood at the open French window of her library, looking out upon the night. How different was this home coming from the one she had anticipated ! But a few days back she had been revelling in the thought of seeing Mount Eden again. And now she could think of nothing but the sad scenes she had passed through, and the change that had fallen on the fortunes of her friends. And yet how peaceful it all looked. The dark- blue sky was studded with stars, the moon sailed like a queen above the tree tops, and everything was as still as the poor suicide sleeping in the graveyard. Evelyn rested her cheek upon the lintel of the door-post, and gave herself up to thought. Presently the perfume of a cigar was wafted on the night air, and then the illuminated tip could be seen approaching though the darkness. " Captain Philip," she exclaimed, "is that you? I was feeling so lonely all by myself." " Has Mrs. Lyle left you ? " he said, stopping beside her. " I have left her, dear child, for she has cried herself to sleep. This is a sad ending to her honeymoon. Captain Philip." " Sadder than one can express. I told you this would prove the test of Mr. Jasper Lyle's affection for his wife. What do you think of it now, Miss Rayne ! " " Don't ask me. I want so much to hope the best." " For her, or for — him T' . Evelyn started. " For her^ of course. Hasn't she been my dearest friend for years past ? Why should you suspect me of being interested in — him ? " "Only as her husband; and, as matters are now, it is difficult to separate their interests. Do you believe he will return ? " ! 204 MOCAT EDKX. " Captain Philip, what are you dreaming of? Not return to Agnes — to my poor child ! He could not be so base. I am quite angry with you for the suspicion." •' I am sorry to have made you angry but I only asked for your opinion. / don't think he «////," CHAPTER XX. SETTLED AT MOUNT EDEN. Evelyn Ravne had affected to ridicule Captain Philip's belief concerning Jasper Lyle, and yet, as the days went on, her mind recurred to it again and again. His behavior was certainly not that of an ardent lover, nor did he seem in any particular hurry to return to England. His first letter, announcing his arrival in Florence, was followed by ihe silence of a week, during which Agnes moped and refused to eat, and nearly fretted herself to death wondering what could be the reason she heard nothing further om her recreant bridegroom. But the answers to her implo* ing and impassioned letters were few and far between, and seldom contained any reference to his money affairs, or to ihe subject that lay nearest his wife's heart. At last, indignant for Agnes' sake, and dreading she scarcely knew what from her former experience of her cousin's shifty character, Evelyn took it upon herself to write to Lyle, and upbraid him for his prolonged absence. She said nothing of her intention to others, but she used her pen freely in Agnes' cause. It was by her own forbearance (and, perhaps, guilty silence) that Jasper Lyle stood in the position of husband to her dearest friend, and she would not stand by quietly and see her heart broken by his palpable neglect. Besides, all the neighbors were commenting on his extraordinary behavior, and she almost commanded him, by the pcwer she held over him, to come to Mount Eden without any further delay. She wound up her letter in these words : — " If you have deceived us with regard to your supposed income, and have no money with which to pay your journey back again, you must know you have but to apply to me to get what is necessary, i would sooner part with MOCyr EDEN. aos thousands than see my darling girl fret as she is doing now. I enclose you notes for twenty pounds, and beg you will return as soon as you receive it, or I will not answer for the consequences to her health. All arrangements with regard to your future can be made on your arrival." The consequence of this epistle, with the promises it contained, was that in another week Mr. Jasper Lyle, apparently as affectionate as any wife could desire, was holding Agnes in his arms again, and raising the poor foolish girl to a seventh heaven of delight. It had not been difficult for him to read between the lines of his cousin's letter. *• It's all right," he thought, with a sneer at her supposed weakness; ** Eve cares for me still, — there's no doubt of • that, — and it's the best consolation I could have for having let her and Mount Eden slip through my fingers. ' You must know you have but to apply to me to get what is necessary' That's it. A little judicious treatment, and I shall as good as share her income, and certainly come in for half the comforts of Mount Eden. And so I ought, for Eve is standing in my shoes, and she knows it. I don't think it will be difficult to persuade her to let us stay on there — what with her love for Agnes, and her old/^«- chant for my unworthy self, and if I can get her to give me the place of that fellow Philip, I don't see why we shouldn't turn into a regular happy family." And so he came back posl-haste to try his chance. His wife was naturally delighted to welcome him. She loved him with all a girl's first infatuation, and had no suspicion that he had deceived her upon any point. His poverty she had known before she married him. It was only her poor father who had been to blame in the transaction, and his part in it they had best not remember. Her husband had returned to her. That was enough, and (for the first few days) all that she knew or cared for. But the mistress of Mount Eden, though perfectly cour- teous and kind, did not welcome him with the same enthu- siasm, and 'Jasper Lyle soon perceived it. The best suit of rooms was prepared for his wife and himself, the ser- vants treated them with the utmost deference, and all the luxuries with which Mount Eden abounded were placed at their disposal. But yet Evelyn, while she lavished ca- resses and words of endearment on Agnes, seemed always io6 MOUNT EDEN. grave when she addressed her husband. Mr. Lyie felt he must put this right. His wife's affection was nothing to him compared to Evelyn's goodwill. The one meant money ; the other was rather a nuisance than otherwise. So, one evening, when Agnes was safe in bed, he descended to the library, where he knew that Evelyn was in the habit of sitting up and reading long after the household had retired to rest. She started slightly as she saw him enter the room, but her thoughts flew immediately to Agnes. " Anything the matter ? Does Agnes want me ? " she exclaimed. *' Agnes is fast asleep," replied Jasper Lyle, taking the chair next her ; " so, I believe, is everybody else, except you and me." " And why have you come here, then ? " He regarded her with a smile of incredulity. " My dear Eve, is it necessary to ask ? Are we not cousins — almost brother and sister ? Is it not natural I should li? e sometimes to speak to you out of earshot of the prying ai i curious ? " Evelyn bit her lip, and looked annoyed. " I thought," she answered, " that we had come to an agreement to drop the subject of our relationship — that, from the moment of your marriage, you were to be to me oi-'.y Jasper Lyle, and I — your wife's most intimate friend ? " " And so we are — before strangers. But blood is thicker than water, Eve, and surely we need not keep up the farce when we are alone." " Excepting that every lapse from our self-imposed for- mality is another risk for you. You cannot be too careful. Will. Your being my poor Agnes' husband will have no power to save you from the consequences of your crime if you lay yourself open to discovery. It will only drag her down with yourself." " Don't be hard. Eve. I have lost so much (take it altogether) that I don't seem to mind what happens to me next." "Surely you care for your wife?" cried 'Eve indig- nantly. " Yes, yes, of course ; but you care for her far more than I do, and that is her best safeguard. You know I couldn't have married her, or any one who had not a set- tlement. Say what you will, Eve, this marriage has been MOUNT EDEN, Hon a cruel disappointment to me, as well as an injury to her. How am I to support her ? That is the question." " You must work^ as other men have done before you," replied Evelyn ; " my Agnes is we]l worth working for." ** But in what capacity ? When it comes to baptismal certificates, and credentials, and all that sort of flummery, where shall I ^tand ? " " Will," said Eve presently, " since you are here, tell me the truth. Have you any income at all ? You told me when first we met, that your employer had left you five thousand pounds, and that you had bought an annuity with it, but somehow I never quite Y ^lieved the story. Have you three hundred a year or not ? " He fidgeted about his chair for some minutes before he could find an answer. Then he said : — " It was three thousand pounds I mentioned, was it not ? " " No ; it was five thousand," replied Evelyn determin- ately, " and you declared you drew three hundred a year from it. Is it the case ? I insist upon hearing the truth from you." " Well, Eve, whatever you may have imagined," he said at last, " it was not as much as five thousand. It was deposited in the bank of Florence, and at the time I pro- posed to Agnes I fully intended to get a good investment for it. But, what with the expenses antecedent to my marriage, and the trip to Teignmouth, and — and — subse- quent necessity for ready cash, I — I — " Evelyn rose suddenly from her seat, and walked up to the mantelpiece. "You mean," she said indignantly, **that you have nothing ? " " My dear Eve, you were always good at guessing, and that is really the truth. Unfortunate devil that I am — / have nothing. I trusted to the fine promises of my father- in-law, and this is the end of it. Agnes and I are penni- less." " My poor Agnes. My poor darling. Reared in every luxury," murmured Evelyn, " how will she bear the life before her ? " " And if I hadn't been a poor weak fool, listening to evil counsel and unable to resi-^^t the first temptation offered to me, I might have had Mount Eden to lay at her feet to- day," continued Jasper Lyle. ao8 MOUNT EDEK. But it was doubtful if Miss Rayne heard him. "Will," she exclaimed, turning round upon him, "you must work. It is imperative." "I know th?S Eve, and I am willing enough, but what can I do? You know thft obstacles that lie in my path." ** We will overcome them," she hastily replied. •* You are still young. You must begin life afresh, and I will exert my influence to the uttermost to procure you employ- ment suited to your ability. And till I am successful, you and Agnes must look upon Mount Eden as your heme. I cannot — I will not let my darling girl go forth into a world she has never yet encountered till you have prepared & home for her." This was just what he had wished for — board and lodging free at Mount Eden until the day he could get something equivalent. And he resolved that day should be long in coming. " My dear Eve," he ventured to say, as he drew near to he» and tried to take her hand, " how good you are. You have not quite forgotten your poor, graceless cousin, what- ever you may think, no more than he has ever forgotten you. Agnes and I will accept your hospitality for a little while, till I have had time to look around me, and consider what is best to be done. I have been thinking ever since I ascertained the miserably low state of my exchequer, that —that—" " Well?" said Evelyn, in a voice that was almost harsh, and certainly constrained. ." That, perhaps you might find me work to do upon Mount Eden. I am not proud, you know, and you seem to employ a good many fellows of different sorts on the estate. That chap Philips (or whatever his name is), for instance. I dare say you pay him a big salary. Why shouldn't you let me do his work for you ? I'll be bound I could do it just as well, and at about half the expense." Evelyn turned eyes of calm contempt upon him " Are you suggesting that I should send Captain Philip away. Will, and put you in his vacant shoes ? Do you know what Captain Philip does for me — that he is my right hand (or rather, I should say, my head), and not only directs the whole of the farming operations. bt;it receives my rents and pays my laborers, and is, in tact, the osten- sible landlord of Mount Eden ? " MOUNT EDEN, 909 " And why shouldn't / be so ? " demanded Jasper Lylc. But he had gone a step too far. " \o\\ forget,'' said Evelyn coldly, " that such a situation can only be held by a man who bears a strictly upright character. lam sorry for you," she continued, seeins his look of shame. " I know such truths are hard to bear, but you should be wiser than to provoke them. And I have not the least intention of parting with Captain Philip's services, even (or you.'* " I suppose you will always throw it in my teeth," he murmured, and then she feared she had been cruel. " No, Will ; don't say that. But you would not be competent to fill Captain Philip's place under any circum- stances ; besides, my people are all used to him. But I will think about giving you employment on Mount Eden. I will consult Captain Philip on tii*^ subject, and see what I can do. Meanwhile, you must make yourself and Agnes happy here, and believe how heartily welcome you are to any- thing I may possess." "I knew you would say that if ever we came together again," he said, with an attempt to fondle her ; " I felt, Eve, that you would never quite forget the time when we swore that, whichever got Mount Eden should share it with the other — the time when we fully believed we should enjoy it together as man and wife. These were happy days. I would to God they could come over again." " Mr. Lyle," said Evelyn calmly, " I have been betrayed once or twice this evening into addressing you by the old name, because it is very difficult to shake off the habits of one's youth, but it must be for the last time — indeed, after to-night, I must decline to speak to you alone. We entered into that compact, you may remember, when I consented you should marry Agnes. The time you speak of is as dead as you wish your identity to be, and I have nothing in common with Jasper Lyle, except as it relates to my dearest friend. If I can do anything for you in the future, it will be done for /ter sake, not for yours ; and the return I exact from you is, that you shall never again attempt to speak to me alone, nor to call me by my Chris- tian name, nor to betray, in any way, that you have ever known me, except as Miss Rayne of Mount Eden." " You are cruel to me," he whispered. '* I am not cruel — I am only just. Nothing shoul4y nor ito MOUNT EDEiW will pass between us hut what Agnes may hear ; and 1 put it to you if you will improve your position by forcing mc to let her know who you are, and what you are." " I know that I am at your mercy, Eve — I mean Miss Rayne" he answered bitterly ; ** and that you can dictate what terms you choose." " I am glad you know it, and those are the only terms on which you can remain at Mount Eden. You must de- cide whether they are worth your acceptance ; and now, I am going to bed. I am glad you have been open with me, and if lean ameliorate your condition, I will. Good-night." She passed from the room without even touching his hand as she spoke, and notwithstanding his effrontery, Jasper Lyle felt small. The next day, when Evelyn and Captain Philip had ridden round the farm and outlying cattle sheds, she turned to him somewhat abruptly, and said, — ** Have we any particular work to do this morning, Cap- tain Philip?" " I think not. Miss Rayne, unless you wish to superin- tend the drainage of the Long Acre." , " But the men are only excavating to-day. It will be time enough to look them up in the afternoon — and I have something particular to talk to you about. Can you spare an hour to ride along the St. Ottery Road with me ? " Captain Philip flushed up to his bronzed forehead with pleasure. " You know. Miss Rayne, that my time is yours." " All right, then. Let us be off. I am going to consult you. Captain Philip, as a friend, and as a friend I trust you will set me right where I am wrong. I had a most unplea- sant conversation with Mr. Lyle last night. His prolonged absence in Italy rather raised my suspicions, and in answer to a point blank question which I put to him regarding his means of keeping Agnes, he was obliged to confess that he has nothing!" *' An adventurer — I thought as much," said her com- panion. "I admire him for one thing," resumed Evelyn. ** I don't think he married his wife under false pretences. I remember Agnes telling me, when she announced her engagement, that her lover had no fortune, but that her father had said that should make no difference, as he had MOUNT EDEN, til plenty for both. He also promised to settle twenty thou- sand pounds on her on her wedding day, and the deed was actually drawn up, and ready for signature, when Mr. Fcathcrstone destroyed himself. So that, when Mr. Lyle talks as if ht were the injured party, I cannot quite disagree with him." " Perhaps not. At the same time, no man of spirit would consent to be entirely dependent on his wife. He would follow a profession of his own, however small the l)rocccds of it might be. Under the circumstances, I can- not understand Mr. Featherstone giving his daughter to a man without a farthing." •* Mr. Featherstone believed Mr. Lyle to have three hundred a year. I think I have told you the same story." " And has he not, then. Miss Rayne ? " " I am afraid so. He stammered and stuttered a great deal over the confession last night, but finally admitted that his money is all gone. I suppose that, in the prospect of his marriage, and relying on Mr. Featherstone's promises, he has been entrenching on his principal." '• It must have been a grand principal," laughed Captain Philip. " I expect it w.is only a thousand or two," replied Eve- lyn ; ** but that is nothing to the purpose now. The ques- tion is, Captain PhiHp, how is he to support his wife ? It is cruelly hard on her, who has never known what it is to have a wish ungratified since she was born. But Mr. Lyle seems willing to work, and has, indeed, applied to me for employment. Can we give him anything to do on Mount Eden ? " Captain Philip turned his whole body round in his saddle to regard her. " You mean, Miss Rayne, can we make anything for Mr. Lyle to do?" " Well, yes. But it comes to the same thing." " Not quite. In tlie first place, what can he do ? " " I don't know. Anvthing, I suppose, than an ordinary man could do." " Would you like him to take my place ? Shall I turn out? " demanded Captain Philip. Evelyn flashed one look at him from her speaking eyes, but answered quickly, — '' You are not an ordinary man, Captain Philip, and J[ liiiiij ii 212 MOUNT EDEN. don't know what I said to call for your remark. But, of course, you were only jesting. But could not Mr. Lyle relieve you of some of your work, — you do far too much, you know, — and so give you more time for yourself? " " Miss Rayne," said the overseer, " you honored me, on commencing this conversation, by saying you wished to consult me as a friend. As a friend, then, may I ask if you know anything more of Mr. Lyle than that he is Miss Featherstone's husband ? Do you know anything of his former life or antecedents ? " Evelyn changed color. She wa'; not used to telling false- hoods, and this was a difficult thrust to parry. She was compelled to resort to evasion. " Isn't it enough for me to know that he is Agnes' hus- band, and wants money to support her ? " ** Not quite — if you intend to trust him with money of your own. Forgive me for speaking plainly, but you must consider the interests of Mount Eden. Honestly, I have never quite liked or trusted Mr. Lyle. He does not ap- pear to me open or at his ease ; and I strongly suspect there is something in the background he does not care to allude to. Sometimes I have even thought that he does not go by his own name." Evelyn started, and Captain Philip noticed it. "What makes you think so?" she deu- mded breath- lessly ; " has he ever betrayed himself — I mean, has he ever said anything to justify your opinion ? " " No ; it is only an idea, and I may be wrong, but I have seen all sorts of people in my time. Miss Rayne, and have become very 'cute. I notice that Mr. Lyle never refers to his family or his past life. He seems to be an unit in the world, and that is unusual in a bridegroom." " Oh, never mind his family nor his past life," ciied Eve- lyn, almost fretfully. " He is Agnes' husband — nothing can undo that, nor the necessity that he should work for her. Do try and make a place for him. Captain Philip— a mere honorary appointment, if you like. I have promised they shall stay on at Mount Eden till he has a home to lake my dear girl to, and — " " You have promised they shall live at Mount Eden ? " exclaimed the overseer interrupting her in his surprioC. " Yes. Why not ? How could I have acted otherwise ? Oh, Captain Philip, you don't understand me ! I care MOUNT EDEN. 313 nothing about Mr. Lyle. I don't trust him, perhaps, any more than you do. I — I — wish, in fact, he had never come here. But — think of my Agnes, and how long she Ites been my most loving friend. There is nothing in this world I care for as 1 do for her. How can I let her leave mo for a man who has no money to support her on — who has not, as I believe, the capability to make money? He was always shifty — I mean," said Evelyn, quickly correcting herself, " I can see his has been an unreliable character from boyhood." " Oh ! " replied Captain Philip dubiously, '* you're * cuter ' than I am, Miss Rayne." *• Never mind what I am \ but tell me if ( loving my darling girl as I do ) I could let her leave Mount Eden now ? When I first came here with Uncle Roger, a heart- sick, friendless girl, — as penniless as she is now, — her parents were like a father and mother to me, and gave me their daughter for a sister. That is ten years ago, and never once, till this terrible calamity fell on their house, did they fail to show me sympathy, and kindness, and hos- pitality. Tell me. Captain Philip, could I do less for their child now — could I refuse to share my plenty with her, or to afford her the shelter of my roof? " " No ; you could not. I fully admit that," replied Cap- tain PhiHp. " And how can I do so without admitting her husband to the same advantages ? So — for Agnes' sake — you see we must find something to employ him at Mount Eden." " Very well. Miss Rayne, it shall be done. You had better give him a place under me, and I can employ him to overlook the mechanical labor — such as draining, and stacking, and storing — whilst I am busy with the building leases and landlord's rents." " Thank you. Captain Philip. You always help me out of a difficulty. There are other reasons, which I cannot tell you, which make me glad to be able to oblige Mr. Lyle. And, indeed, I consider it part of my responsibility as a landowner to help those who are less fortunate than myself." " Then you act up to your principles nobly, Miss Rayne. No one can complain of your being backward to help the needy. Your tenantry say they never had so generous a landlord before." •»4 MOUNT EDEN, " I am glad of it," replied Evelyn. " I only hope, if my Cousin Hugh ever comes back to claim Mount Eden, that ht will not call me to account for wasting the property." " How curious it seems to hear you so often allude to the idea of this fabulous cousin turning up again, Miss Rayne. One would think you wanted him t© do so." " Well, I couldn't be sorry — it would be too unnatural ; and I daresay he would let me live in a little comer of Mount Eden still. Uncle used to say he was such a dear, generous-hearted boy." " I think it is great waste of time even speculating on the chances of a drowned man appearing to, bother you," said Captain Philip, with a shrug of the shoulder. "But do you know I often do," replied Evelyn eagerly. " I dream, sometimes, that he has come back, and that I am so pleased. Perhaps I shouldn't be in reality, but still I should be thankful tliat the real heir had come into his birthright, and I think poor dear uncle would see it, and be thankful too." ** Had you no other cousins, beside Hugh Caryll, Miss Rayne ? " asked Captain Philip. Evelyn started again. Was it possible that her over- seer could suspect the truth ? But she managed to laugh as she replied, — "Several ; but they mostly died young, and I lived at Liverpool, away from the rest of the family." " I have heard your late uncle's clerk, Mr. Gamble, men- tion a William Caryll, who once expected to inherit Mount Eden." *' Oh, yes," replied Evelyn hurriedly, with a face of scarlet, " I had a cousin William, but he was unfortunate, and — and — we never speak of him. Captain Philip, this is a lovely bit of turf. Let us have a canter, and blow all our disagreeable thoughts away." » And so she broke off the conversation, and gave him no further opportunity to refer to her Cousin William. That evening she disclosed to Mr. Lyle, in the presence of his wife, what she intended to do for them both. You may be sure she made no favor of her benefits. On the contrary, she mentioned the situation as one that required filling, and the handsome salary she had decided to ^qive with it, as a mere nominal remuneration for Mr. Lyiv»*s services. Both husband and wife were very grateful to MOUNT EDEN. lis her — he, perhaps, the more so of the two, as he knew how little he deserved her kindness, and how much he stood in need of her assistance. Agnes, who knew nothing of the value of money, nor the difficulty of making it, thought much more of the pleasure of living with her friend than of anything else. "Oh, my darling Evelyn," she cried, as she flung herself into her arms, " to live always with you, and at Mount Eden ! Could anything be more delightful ? Isn't it what I have always longed for? Used I not to cry, when a child, every time the servant appeared to fetch me home ; and wasn't it the greatest treat in the world to be allowed to stop and sleep with you ? And now I shall be able to see you every day. Oh, I am pleased ! And, Jasper, you are a darling clever thing to be able to look after Mount Eden for her. I declare I feel almost glad we were cheated out of that settlement." " Not quite that, my darling," said Evelyn, as she pressed the sweet face against her bosom and thanked God silently for giving her the power to shield it from the sharp sting of poverty; " I would make you independent of me to-mor- row if I could ; but since that cannot be, we will be thank- ful that ( whatever has been taken from us ) we still have each other. '^ And Jasper Lyle, regarding them, wondered if, when Evelyn alluded to her losses, she was thinking of him. CHAPTER XXI. THE MARQUETRIE CABINET. « Jasper Lyle was duly established in the position that had been made for him, and the weeks went on. But before the harvest had been garnered in, Evelyn was forced to acknowledge that she had taken a responsibility on herself that bid fair to yield more pain than pleasure. All her love for Agnes, and her strong desire to shield her from the hard knocks of the world, could not shut her eyes to the fact that Mr. Lyle was an element of discord, hitherto unknown on her peaceful and well-ordered estate. Complaint afte, complaint reached her ears, not only of liis indolenoe, bat 2l6 MOUNT EDEK. his insolence, which neither tenants nor laborers would put up with. He walked about Mount Eden, indeed, as if he were the lord of the soil, and people were beginning to ask who was this insolent upstart, and what Miss Rayne was about to allow him to usurp her rightful authority. If he were set to superintend the excavation of a drain, he walked away before the work was half over, leaving the men to their own devices. If he sauntered for an hour into the harvest-field, he found the heat and the fatigue too much for him, and finished the afternoon upon the sofa, in company with his cigar and a novel. Evelyn had gener- ously told him to select which animal he liked best in her stables, to be kept for his especial use ; but he chose to ride all of them by turn, and, being no horseman, he usually lamed or over-heated them, and once he was thrown, to the stablemen's intense delight. ," It's wicked^ Miss, the way Mr. Lyle 'ammers 'em along th0 road, as if 'osses was made of iron," the head groom remarked deprecatingly to Evelyn, who loved her horses like friends, and would indignantly resolve to tell Jasper he should never ride any of them again. But, somehow, when the opportunity occurred, she never seemed to have the courage to do so. She could not for- get who he was, nor that they had sworn to share Mount Eden together. That was the secret of her forbearance. But Captain Philip never carried any stories of Jasper Lyle to Miss Rayne. He knew she heard them, but he would not be the one to tell them to her. In the first place, he did not quite feel as if he could trust himself — he hated the man too much. In the second, he was sure the arrangement would never last, byt he preferred it should come to a close through the means of others. So he stood tilohoto- •ew in )u are Lt you d." eceive s wife, to take e bit of , Caryll and sat es, and )u won't pies." and that (id I will yle. It n." is face, d child, breast. '• Oh, remem- mingled Lnie loof, tnew not distress you will to-night, and you much to " Years and years ago, but what of that ? You can see very plainly that Miss Evelyn doesn't love me to-day, Why, she is positively rude sometimes. It was a boy and girl attachment, which never would have come to anything. We were too young even to know what love meant. It was all rubbish, and forgotten long ago." " Evelyn hadn't forgotten i^ She told me (before she saw you) that all she was waiting for before she died was to see her Cousin Will again, that she was sure that he would come back to her, and that when he did, whether he was rich or poor, sick or well, he would find her r»s she had ever been — his true and faithful friend. Oh, is it possible that you can be him ? " " It is possible, my dear. It is the fact. But you mustn't think any more of anything Eve may have said about me. It was all talk. You see I did come back, and she doesn't love me — in fact, I think she has grown rather to dislike me now than otherwise." " Oh, no ; she is always kind and good. See how she lets us live with her at Mount Eden. Jasper, does she /inow you are her cousin? When did she find it out? " "Directly she saw me, you little goose. Don't you remember her leaving the Hall the first evening we met there ? And then I paid her a visit at ]^ount Eden, and we had it out ; and she promised to respect my incognito^ and keep my secret. But something has liaDpcned lately, Agnes, which is likely to make me throw off my disguise, and then I should have been obliged to tell you everything." '^ Oh, tell it me now — I am so anxious to hear it," said his wife. " It is incomprehensible to me. Why did you drop your real name, and pretend you had never known E/elyn before ? I should have thought the first place you would have rushed to would have been Mount Eden, to see such a darling cousin, and tell her you were alive and well. How could you pretend you had never even heard her name ? " ' Agnes, my dear, that is a very long story, that cannot be told in a minute, and the first dinner bell has rung; Dress yourself now and come downstairs, and you shall hear everything this evening, I promise you." " Oh, Jasper, as if I could go down to dinner with this dreadful news half told. Why, I am sliaking all over with anxiety and fear. How could I look my darling Evelyn in mHRR 338 MOUNT EDEN. Mtit face ? Her Cousin Will my husband ! I cannot believe it. It is too awful to be true." "And would you have iiic hers, then, instead? Don't you Icve me, Agnes? " asked Lyle, in his tenderest voice. " Oh, Jasper, you know I do, and I could not give you up to any woman — not even her.^^ " Nor would she take me as a gift, Agnes. She has got fill over that long ago. Now, lie down on ihe sofa, my darling, and I will send you up your dinner, and join you as soon as ever I can afterwards ; and then, Agnes, you shall know all" "Don't let Evelyn come to me," cried Agnes, hiding her face " Not yet, I could not bear it." " No one shall come but myself. / will bring up your dinner. And remember, Agnes, tliis is a profound secret, and you must not breathe a word of what I have told you to any one." " Not even to Evelyn ? " " Not till I give you leave. You promise me, Agnes?" ** I promise you,'* she said, as she hid her face from view again. CHAPTER XXII. THE RIGHTFUL HEIR. Jasper Lyle had a motive for deferring the relation of his adventures till after dinner. He wanted time to decide how much of them he had better tell, and how much leave untold. He didn't want to startle Agnes too much at first, and forgery is an ugly word. If he made her shrink txom him, she would fly to Evelyn for consolation, and it Avas his object to detach her as much as possible from her early friend. There was no doubt that war was brewing In the distance between his cousin and himself, and his wife must be on his side. And if he was ever to bring forward a claim to Mount Eden, it must be by a daring and complete denial of having committed the forgery, a.:d by defying his opponents to produce any proofs of it. Therefore, the only plan was to commence from that moment, and present himself to Agnes as a martyr instead of a that naea] direc stain little wishc dinne theb< ings c had b the fir ble on and si that Y« and un have tc table, I: the rem go. H to her. He Si * hero a a crimin affronter destructi inches ta he was a in saying he had p: of his ha with whic his blue e ^ found i to alter t May be re iove, cont liverpool, continued locks were his face Ic strangers s "^y prone MOUNT EDEN. 229 I't :e. ou jot my ^ou you ling (TOUT cret, you les?" from lanng bf it. that instead of a eriminal. He was thinking so deeply all dinner time that he was very silent, and Evelyn was glad when the meal was concluded. She bad proposed to go up* to Agnes directly she heard she was not well enough to come down- stairs, but Jasper had declined the offer. His wife was a little overtired and hysterical, he said, and particularly wished to see no one but himself. And he had taken the dinner tray from the servant's hands, and carried it up to the bedroom, whilst Evelyn sat still at the table, with feel- ings of mortified pride knd resentment. How different it had been a short time ago. Then she would have been the first person whom Agnes would have asked for in trou- ble or sickness. But everything in her life seemed changed, and she realized (as so many have done before her) that where a husband's authority steps in (however new and untried it may be), all other affections and interests have to take a back seat. Mt. Lyle returned to the dinner- table, but it was only to ask his hostess to excuse him for the remainder of the meal, and she was too glad to let him go. His company was iX all times more pain than pleasure to her. He sauntered back into his wife's room as if he had bee4 a hero about to relate the story of his victories, rather than a criminal to confess his crime. He had gained a lot of effrontery since he had lived at Mount Eden, and the destruction of the forged cheques had made him stand two inches taller. He felt so safe that he had begun to believe he was an injured m?7,n, and would experience no difficulty in saying so. He was not so handsome at this period as he had promised to be. Doubtless the change in the color of his hair had something to do with it. The fair curls with which he had started in life had accorded well with his blue eyes and delicate complexion. It will generally be found a dangerous experiment, with regard to beauty, to alter the natural coloring matter of the hair. But it may be remembered that when Evelyn Rayne, actuated by love, contrived so cleverly for her cousin's escape from Liverpool, she dyed his hair brown, and Will Caryll had continued the practice, from a sense of prudenee, until his locks were nearly black. This unnatural combination made his face look very pale, and his eyes washed out, and strangers seldom found the charms in him that Agnes did. They pronounced him " foreign," and " queer-looking," and 230 MOUNT EDEN. considered he was unhealthy. But he had a finely-devel- oped, tall, and upright figure, as indeed all the Carylls had, and his little wife thought him perfection. She was still gazing at his photographs as he re-entered her room. "Jasper, if you hadn't told me it was so, I never should have imagined these portraits were taken of you. How you must have altered since you were a boy." " I have altered in more ways than one, Agnes. I was a happy, hopeful youth when I sat for these photographs, and now I am a broken down and disappointed man — more than that, darling, a most wronged and injured man." « "Oh, my dearest," cried the girl, clasping her arms about him, " who is it that has wronged you ? I have always felt you were unhappy, Jasper. It was my great wish to comfort you that first drew me to you. But I thought it might be perhaps because you had lost all your friends, and had no companionship to cheer you. But injury^ darling ! I never dreamt of that." " And I wouid not have told you of it, Agnes, even now, excepting that, for the first time, there seems a glimmer of hope that my wrongs may be redressed. You see how poor I am, my darling. Even the miserable pittance I married you on has slipped out of my hands, and I am compelled to work almost like a laborer in order to pro- vide you with a home. You consider it very generous of my Cousin Evelyn to let us live at Mount Eden, Agnes — " ** Oh, so it is, Jasper. What should we have done without her help ? Poor mamma could not assist us. I believe we should have starved." * " I know those are your sentiments, and it is because I have been so loath to destroy them, and to hurt your feel- ings, that I have not set you right before. What would you say, Agnes, if I told you that, instead of being pen- sioners On Evelyn Rayne's bounty, she ahould be living upon ours — that /am the rightful owner of Mount Eden, and my cousin is only an usurper? " Agnes didn't know what to say. She stared at her hus- band for a minute, as if she thought he had gone mad, and then she grew deadly pale, and murmured — " It cannot be true ! " "It is true," replied Jasper fiercely — " true as there is a God in heaven. You and I are the rightful possessors of this wor wouJ injur did. how ( must Eden you k Only, band's "Ja everyti slight!) "It'j I was a but I w And if, blame u rememb side ) of faults, tempere Mount I "Jasp not bear " Well a rich lA and he h was the Mrs. I^yle grew as red as a rose. " But that happened so long ago, Jasper. Surely Evelyn must have got over it by this time ? " "Did it appear to you as if she ^and never did. Besides, I have not K)rgiven her the tricic shf played in carting me off to America, and it will be a long time before I do. If I show her any forbearance when I have established my claim to the property, it will be out of respect to my uncle's memory and not for her own sake. I can tell you that." Agnes did not plead for her early friend this time. Nothing changes the current of a woman's feelings towards one of her own sex so effectually, as the knowled|^ that she has tried to come between her and the man she Iovoq. For the first time in her life, Agnes Lyle felt hard and cold when she thought of Evelyn Rayne. '* Jasper," she said presently, in a weary little voice, as if all the surprise and pain she had gone through had tired her, " why did you change your name ? " "For the same reason that I went abroad — because Evelyn persuaded me that I stood in danger of the law." " But when you saw the mistake you had made, — when you met me, — why didn't you marry me under your own name ? " " It was too late then, Agnes. To have resumed the name of William Caryll would have excited so much curiosity that I could not have satisfied. Besides, I was not aware of the position in which I stood with regard to Mount Eden. I did not know I had any legal claim to the property." " And how do you know now ? " " I have consulted a lawyer on the subject, and — and — I have ascertained also that the forged cheques which the clerk I told you of uttered have been destroyed, so that it is quite impossible that my cousin can put a spoke in my wheel by bringing of that old shoulder against me." "Then you will call yourself by your own name now, surely ? " " Very soon I shall, dear. And till that time, I must beg of you, Agnes, to be completely silent on this subject. Not a word or a hint, mind, to Evelyn or any one. We must work in the dark awhile before we can bring every- thing to the light. And I hope you will not let what I have told you make any difference in your behavior towards my cousin, or I shall be sorry that I confided in you. Let !!Wi tmnimm • ': *38 MOLWr EDEK. everything go on the same whihit I carry out my plans, and some day you will see yourself the mistress of Mount Eden." ** I will try," said A^nes, in a low voice. " And now, my darling, will you go to bed ? You look very weary, and I want to go out and have my cigar — and Eve will be thinking it strange if I remain away from her much longer." " She will be trying to make love to you again," said Agnes, in a tone of injury, as she buried her face in the sofa cushion. " But she will fail," answered her husband q:aily, as he kissed her and left the room. " But though she was wounded, and jealous, and unhappy, the last words the poor girl kept repeating before she cried herself to sleep, were, " Oh, Evelyn, Evelyn. I never thought Evelyn could be untrue to me. However am I to meet her again ? " CHAPTER XXni. THE STOLEN PROOFS. But though Jasper Lyle made every excuse for his wife on the score of ill-health and fatigue, and though Agnes herself tried hard to behave in all things as she had done before, it was impossible, as the days went on, that Evelyn Rayne should not distinguish a visible alteration in her little friend's manner towards her. Had she not known Agnes all her life ? You might as well expect a tender mother not to perceive when her child's kiss becomes less frequent and less fond, or when her confidence is with- drawn from her, and stilted questions and answers take the place of free and spontaneous intercourse. There were moments, indeed, when Agnes was herself again, when she forgot everything except that Evelyn had never been other- wise than good and true to her. But then the remembrance Ci{ Jasper's story would intervene to cloud her brow and check her flow of words. It was impossible that such a btory should not exert a powerful influence over his wife's mind. • He had blended truth and falsehood together so MorxT rnr-y. cilnnitiL'lv, that Mvolvii herself would have been astonished to hear his version of the past, and puzzled to say which facts he had perverted, and which related as they had occurred. And to Agnes—who still loved him and believed in him — it had natural!)^ made him appear as a victim of circumstances who called for her deepest commiseration and sympathy. The idea of turning Evelyn from her home had been a terrible one to her until she heard that P^velyn had poached on her preserves, and tried to alienate her husband's affections from her. That is a crime that no woman will forgive — even in her best and dearest friend. And so it came to pass that these two — who had been all the world to one another, until Jasper Lyle stepped in be- tween them — drifted imperceptibly but surely apart, until they hardly exchanged anything but the merest common- places. To Evelyn, this change came as a very bitter trouble. Agnes had been her idol, and to see her turn from her to the company of others, or seek refuge in silence when they were thrown togethe , made her heart ache with pain. She guessed that ii was due to Jasper Lyle's influ- ence, but that made it all the harder to bear, as under no circumstances would she have dreamt of inferfiHTing between a husband and his wife. She tried to overcome it at first by increased caresses and sundry little votive offerings. 2m\. when she found that Agnes stirred uneasily when she kissed her^, and left her presents lying about the drawing- room, she dropped all further attempts to alter the existing state of affairs. Evelyn Rayne was a very proud woman in the best sense of the word. She was not too proud to do the meanest office on earth in exchange for a kind smile or a grateful word, but she was far too proud to lay herself down as a door-mat for people to wipe their feet upon. She would not stoop to ask Agnes (who had never kept anything from her before) for the reason of her coldness. She knew it was undeserved, as far as she was concerned, and she trusted to time to make her friend see the truth for herself. But meanwhile, her heart was very heavy, and the color seemed to have faded from her life. Captain Philip knew she was in trouble. Often when he was talking to her of reaping, or carrying, or stacking, he could see that her thoughts were far away ; and some- times such a heavy sigh would burst from her bosom, as he had seldom heard her give vent to before. Had he cared MiM mm 240 MOUNT ED£X. for her less, he might have spoken to her on the subject, but his great love made him timid, and he did not dare to mention it, far less to express the deep sympathy which he felt. But he showed it, nevertheless, by becoming absent- mirded as well as herself, and being obliged to bring back hi': thoughts, with a jerk^ to the matter in hand. " You have never spoken to me, Captain Philip," she uaid one day, abruptly, " of Mr. Lyle. What do you think of him from a business point of view? Is he perfectly satisfactory? Does he carry out your orders efficiently? " " I wish you wouldn't ask me, Miss Rayne. I know that Mr. Lyle is a friend of yours, and vou place me in a very unpleasant position." " But I consider it necess«iry that I should know. I wish to befriend Mr. Lyle and his wife, but not to the (detriment of Mount Eden. You must be aware of that, rie^e tell me plainly if Mr. Lyle is injuring my property, — by neglect or otherwise, — because a great many com^ plaints have reached me concerning him." " If you compel me to speak. Miss Rayne, I am afraid you will find t'nit I corroborate most of the complaints. I not only find Mr. Lyle very unsatisfactory from a business point of view (in fact, worse than useless), but I consider him to be a dangerous factor on the estate. His indolence sets a bad example to his inferiors, and his conversation is likely to end by inciting them to discontent and rebellion." " Does he associate, then, on terms of equality with nay tenants and laborers ? '* " Very nearly so. He is constantly to be seen in the tap- room of the * Green Man,* hob-nobbing with such men as MuUins and Barker — neither of them bearing too good a character in their own class." " I must put a stop to it. It is going too far," said Evelyn, with knitted brows. " There is another thing, Miss Rayne, that I hardly know if I have a right to mention to you, and yet I feel I should not be acting as your friend, or rather, I should say, as yoin: faithful servant — " Evelyn turned her eyes upon him. * Why should you try to amend that sentence. Captain Philip ? You are my friend. I am well aware of it. Some- times I think," she added sadly, " you are the only friend I have." ■■^-.^ MOUAT edea; ^^^nyy^J^X> <^''P''"-'> Philip (r^,^.,^ **' ^^^f^^^o^r^!"' 'o. a habit oJ^fe^K^ 3^/no„„, bought-.. Recommenced andthe "Oh, Miss rL, ^'^' ^°%- feithful serva7h\5°''°^'> '•^ Wn« Wu^^J '^i"^' "^J , Nei.he/:;?^em sAot T "^-^'^ 4^' "^ '"*'<^' , "A foolish report that v ''"'l'°'P'>««n"y. Mr. Lyle's jokerth, *" '""'radictedrbut // i'.*°°'«- you know what thi^ '°°"" ''^ stops them th. k '' °"« o' „.|_, g thp detnment or discoo^'^e *f ^ '° "-'ieve fMr. Lyie 4= ^ v " *"P*- ■^I honestlvr believe ,V . ''^wyn, reaefeed my ear<5 T I J commenced with h.m itr^ » hint ofVuch r ^"^ ""^ "-^P^-'f^n tmT^ y"" ^"^ „, „ such a scandal before Mr lyk a^ '^^^Jf/^s nerer " No one! e^ceptC/r ^"^^^ ''^ '^^^e ? " '^''' '' "° ««« [ ' ^P' ^y Cousin Hui?h Oh r- ^^- ^^' Captain Phi%^ 34^ MOUNT EDEN. you can't think how much I wish sometimes that he had never died. It is a cruel kindness to leave so much respon- sibility on the shoulders of a woman. The back is not fitted for the burden." "Yours has proved itself to be eminently fitted, Miss Rayne. You mustn't lose heart because an ungrateful fool does not know how to value your kindness to him." "But this involves more than you think for, Captain Philip. It is a case on which I should have sound advice — and yet — it is so hard to Icnow what to do for the best." " If I can help you — " he began, but she shook her head. " No one can help me just now. But if I find that I cannot manage matters by myself, I promise that I will apply to no friend before you." " I thank you so much," he answered, in a low voice, and then Evelyn left him to return to the big house. She was burning with indignation at what she had heard, and determined to let Will Caryll plainly understand the only conditions on which he could retain his position at Mount Eden. To spread such a scandal about her, and sow disaffection and distrust amongst her tenantry ! What could he be thinking of ? Had he suddenly gone mad ? To depose her could not reinstate himself whilst she retained the forged cheques to hold over his head, it was all a puzzle to her. She could make neither head nor tail of it. But she was resolved to come to an explanation with her cousin at the earliest opportunity. When dinner was ended, and she found licrself in the drawing-room with Agnes and her husband, it seemed a favorable time. They had sat through an uncomfortable meal, none of them appearing to have much to say to the other, and it was a relief to Evelyn to be able to take up her needlework, and feel that she was free to talk. "Mr. Lyle," she commenced gravely, " I must ask you to listen to me for a few minutes. I understand you are still in the habit of spending your afternoons at the * Green Man,* and that it deteriorates (as it inevitably must do) from your dignity as my steward. I must beg you to discon- tinue the custom. It is not the first time (as yon know) that I have been obliged to speak to you on the subject." Jasper Lyle's manner to the mistress of Mount Eden had become far more jaunty and familiar of late, and now there seem reph'e "I the su Eve poTver " to se GTsntJen to cros ^ Green kards w enough the footi foreguJs and I de< Captain . miagine, , this conv< J speak si remair wit one oi ..le , ''.Oh, y furtively s "^gnes crer . " From 1 ^« the same to nic. I credit you you on aJJ chattering. "And wh A rumc tenure, and "VVeJJ>» " Well I " said so, sir, ?ni the legal ^^"itest shad ;;But.,jpp JJo you uate?" , MOUNT EDEN r^^Sj^^i:^^^' bu. .. «.e Had no 1 nave, at lpfl'°«'- ^-nployer " she ,V^ pntleman Jrki„^° „"d .'S^ '^^ °f 4 estate' 'l^l,' 'g^'I."'^ threshofd "f'i'tw ^"ir^'^-descended ° WMd/h'"" "'^■' S™;,?.^''' ""-^ ^°" """St be good this conversation with vo„ f ^i ^H*^ ^ have not started ft'-^ve./smiHny^^^.e"^^^^^^^^ J-P" I-y'e. . ./™"i "lis unworthy hahif ^c ^^ , ''^"^ ''^nd in his m the same grave tone " w l^""''"' '"^""'"wd EveL - 'o me. I cL„ot Sve ?f """^^ "P '^ g^«« annoyaS credu you with a X^^r^ort :^^''^' fr°.» ^ourse^^ rtt:?4'..^-^--<^ '•' ^-■''"-iiiiitrw^^^^^^^^ "At^'oftrt'ltM^l'inquiredLyle. ' . tenure, and that t1 ere a°iot^°""f .^''^'-■» <"> «■> uncertain ::^;: "^ -'^ ca?eL°sfy" '='"'^'"' 'o "-e esta'te'?'" »id so, sir, yTwt^h '"'''«"^"«J'. "if you have ?m 'he legal owner onhe pronen"''"!; J°" '"'°'- that I " n^ i^i-'^sing 1 doji't know if ? wu . i uate? " »^s"^t me ? What n^ould you insin- «4* MOUNT EDEN, She spoke more cautiously than she would have done otherwise^ because she had no idea that Jasper had confided the secret of his identity to his wife, and she feared to raise her curiosity. "That you hold the estate only as next-of-kin, Miss Rayne, and that there is a nearer relative to the late Mr. Caryll still in the land of the living." Evelyn could not believe her ears. Was it possible he could have the audacity to advance a forger's claim to the estate? But she remembered the presence of his wife/and answered calmly, — " You are mistaken. My late uncle had only two male he.rs, and they are both dead— one in reality ; the other in law." " That is what I have my doubts about," said Lyle. ** Then your doubts shall soon be cleared up," she answered, rising. " I will go and write to my solicitor at once to come down here to-morrow and convince you of the truth of my assertion. I will not permit such hurtful rumors to be spread about Mount Eden without being refuted. There is not a soul on earth to dare to dispute my right to it." ** Not even your cousin. Will Caryll ? " he exclaimed impudently. His impudence made Evelyn forget everything but itself. " My Cousin Will /" she repeated. " What ! a forger 1 " But now it was Agnes' turn to exhibit her prowess, and she sprung forward in her husband's defence like a bantam hen with ruffled feathers. " How dare you call him a forger ? " she cried indignantly. " You know it is not true. You know it was the other fellow did it, and the blame was falsely put on Jasper. And now you would keep his estate from him, and everything. Oh ! it is too bad." Evelyn turned to the speaker in unmitigated surprise. ** What are you talking of, Agnes ? " she said. " What can you know about all this ? We were speaking of my cousin, Will Caryll." " And I know that Jasper is Will Caryll," replied Agnes. <* My husband has told me everything — how you made him go out to America, so that you might get Mount Edei., and how angry yoii were when you heard he was. going to MOUNT EDEN a4S id se iss Ir. he the ind [lale ;rin she or at 3U of irtful seing spute Limed but rerV and intam cried 1 it was )Ut on him, rise. What of my Lgnes. lehim Ede»t, )ing to marry me, and how you got him here, so that fou might make love to him, and — " " Stop ! " cried Evelyn, in a voice of stem auihority^^ " stop at once, Agnes. I refuse to listen to another wiHrd. If your husband has been base enough to |;ive yov this version of his unhappy story, you must believe hhn or not, as you choose. But I will not hear it repeated, amd ht knows it to be untrue." " I know no such thing," interposed Jasper, braving it out. " If I committed forgery (as you assert), wliere ».re the proofs ? " ** You know where they are. You have seen thon." " I know you showed mc some papers, whidi yon sdid were the forged cheques, but I had only your w<»cd lor it." * ** Only my word ? " said Evelyn, with a look of scorn. *• Just so ; which proves nothing." " Do you wish your wife to see them, then ? Do )«ou want her to be a participator in your shame ? " " If you have them, by all means produce thcK!. It is because I know you cannot have them that I desire yowr word to be put to the test." " Very good, then. Agnes shall be convinced that I have spoken the truth. Come with me to my ^v«te room.'* But as they were going there together, she tamed ftiid appealed to her cousin. " Oh, Will ! have pity upon her. She is so young, so innocent. I would have hidden the whole stoiy from -her for ever if I could. Think how foolish you are — how this proceeding will ruin the prospects of both of ||rou.. Be warned in time. Come back and let us talk quietly over the matter, and take up the position I have accorded yotf in Mount Eden." " No, it is too late for such flummery now. Yoiu have heard what Agnes says. You told her a lot about our former history, and I have supplied the rest. Now ahe must judge for herself which is right and which is wr6ng. Lead on, please, to your sitting-room, and let us see these famous forgeries that are to ruin me for ever." " As you will, then," she said, with a sigh, as she opened the door of her room. It was night, but a tall silver lamp on the centre tublc. i^6 MOUNT EDEN, '^i.r 'f ■' cast a soft light upon all the surrounding objects. Evelyn fetched her keys from the bedroom, and going up to the marquetrie cabinet, unlocked the drawer in which she had deposited the dishonored cheques. 1^ contained only the soiled gloves and battered fusee-case. She turned the articles over several times, as though searching, for some- thing else, and ther:, with a look of consternation, she unlocked all the drawers in succession, and ransacked them thoroughly, whilst Will Caryjl stood by with a smile upon his face. " Well ! " he ejaculated presently, " how much longer do you indend to keep us waiting? Where arc these evidences of my criminality ? " " Gone /" sh? gasped. " It seems incredible, but they are gone ! " • " You mean they never were there ? " he sneered. She turned upon him furiously. " How iiare you doubt my word, wnen you know, as well as I do, that" they 7vere there, and that you saw them? But I have guessed the truth. You are a thief. Will Caryll, ks well as a forger, andyoti have stolen them /*' ** Oh, Jasper," exclaimed Agnes, flying to his arms, " how can you let her speak to you like that ? How dare you say he is a thief," she continued, stamping her foot with impotent rage at Evelyn ; " this is your mean revenge because he didn't marry you instead of me ! Arid I loved you so, Evelyn — I loved you so." Here she began to sob violently, but '. Evelyn only showed her emotion by her trembling lips and quivering nostrils. " And I have loved you too, Agnes, God knows ! " she replied solemnly, " but you cannot hold by this man and by me at the same time. One of us you must let go. And that one must not be your husband, so I suppose that we must part. But I do not think I have deserved this treatment from either of you." She -rose as she spoke, and, locking .her cabinet, prepared to leave the room. But as she moved Jn sad and dignified silence towards the door, a great sense broke on Agnes Lyle of all the years of love during which Evelyn had treated her like a spoiled and petted child. Who else — not even her father and mother, nor yet her husband — had been so long-suffering and patient with her — so true MOUA'T EDEK. HT ilyn ihe had the the )me- she eked imile mger these ; they IS well them? "aryll, arms, y; dare er foot Evenge loved \ only vering she an and et go. se that led this ibinet, lad and loke on >elyn Iho else lisband [so true and faithful — as this dear friend of her childhood? The idea of separation from her was terrible, and on the impulse of the moment she ran after her, crying. " Oh, Evelyn, Evelyn, do not go ! We cannot do without you." .. . V . But Evelyn's powers of endurance for that evening; were at an end. " Don't touch me ! Don't speak to me ! " she exclaimed, as she flew down the staircase, "for I feel as if I was going mad." Shj rushed through the hall, and out into the open air as she spoke, whilst the sobs which !,hc could no longer restrain burst from, her laboring bosom. She had recovered from the first shock of learning Will Caryll's infidelity, and schooled herself to believe they must pass, through life as acquaintances only ; for the man who was not worthy to become her husband Evelyn would never make her friend. But that Agnes could turn against her, and suspect her of such unworthy motives for befriending them in their misfortune, was a trouble she had never contemplaited being called upon to bear. It was the end of September, and, though the days continued bright and warm, and the harvest moon rode like a queen in heaven, the nights were too chilly for any prudent person to venture out in them without an extra wrap. But Evelyn walked on unheedingly, whilst the wind- blew her chestnut hair into disorder, and ruffled it like an aureole about her burning and excited face. " Agnes to think me so base, so wicked, so mean," she thought, " as to offer them Mount Eden for a home as a cover for my own unworthy designs ! How could she think so ? How could Will have the heart to lead her to believe it, when he knows what she and I have been to one another? Oh, I hate him !" she cried suddenly, "/" hate him ! He must be bad all through. Wasn't it enough to spoil my life without spoiling my darling's also, and gmdging us the consolation we found in one another's love ? And those cheques, too. He must have stolen them. He has destroyed them, and on his success has built up a groundless hope ofousting me from Mount Eden. Can he do it, I wonder?" she went on feverishly, with both bands pressed to her burning head. " I don't believe it; and yet the law has so many loopholes. I ought to M MOUNT EHEK. Jwivc advice ; but if Will's ideas are erroneous, and he is atll? in jeopardy, my confiding his design to a solicitor might bfing transportation down upon his luckless head. Ahd fcow terrible that would be for my poor girl, who never would have spoken to me as she did to-night if he had '^ot instigated her to do so. How I wish I had a true and sensible fnend to whom I could go, without a shadow of fear, and tell everything." Her steps had carried her in the direction of Bachelor's Hall, and her heart told her that here was a friend whom she might trust, if need be, without stint, but some anaccount- a?>te feelings made her shrink from consulting him. How prett) and cosy the little cottage looked as she came in .sight of it. TliC latticed windows w%re thrown wide open to the air, and the light of the lamp within threw the deli- cate tracery of hanging leaf, and bud, and blossom, that itll over them like veils of verdure, into strong significance. The air was redolent with the odor of late mignonette an*^ rfMrfS, still shedding their perfume around, and carnations ind geran'uras, of which Captain Philip always planted a deep border to encircle ^is little domicile. Evelyn looked up, and heaved a long breath as she (^w rica* to Bachelor's Hall. For many months past, her over- sell had interested her far more than she had acknow- ledged \o herself, though she had been conscious of a feel- ing of fsar lest he should become more necessary to her than was convenif.nt. For he might leave her any day (she had argued), and then, how dilficult she should find it to replace hitn. She did not intend to pass the cottage. When she had reached a certain point, she thought she would turn back, and walk the other way. But as she came within haiiof the lighted windows, she glanced at then for one sight of Cji^tain Philip. She expecxed to see him (as she hiicilten done before) bent over his books by the lamplight, m Eliminating in his arm-chair, with his pipe in his mouth. But vfiief^ she had drawn suflTiciently near to command iUst interior, she perceived the captain (to her amazement) Skr(^ched over the table in an attitude of dv^spair, with his face hidden in his hands. In a moment Evelyn Rayne had ibr|fOtten her own trouble, and thought only of his. Hur- rying on with noiseless footstep, and without reflecting that iihe might intrude u^on a sacred sorrow, she stood upon anxious '•'Ind yet, as , should oveiseer Sheti to—' Her v( " Inde "Hovel fact, I lo parting, -, '' I unc ofabette ties and MOUNT EDEN. Mk the threshold of the cottage door, and said softly, but in a voice of the deepest concern, — ''Captain Philip! Captain Philip! What is i^ matter ? " The overseer, whose thoughts had been far avay ia soinf cloudland of hopeless conjecture, started to his feet Ut \^ heard the words, and stared |it the vision in his doorway. Then remembrance poured back upon him, and hie rtaiised who it was who had come like an angel to cheer his cUrk- ness, and glowed scarlet with the recognition. " Miss Rayne ! " he exciairaed ; '■*■ what has broHgfat you here ? Do you requir# me ? Won't you walk in ? '' Evelyn had always a strong sense of the ridiculous ready to be roused in her. " Do you think I »irrow, Captain Philip ? Well, I'll risk it, if only to learn what aMiae ne find you thus. Don't tell me you are in trouble too, for the air reeks with it," and she sunk down upon a chai^ hi a despondent attitude as she spoke. " If the air reeks with it," he said gently, " I canaot expect to miss my share, but I am sorry you caught me ia a discontented mood. Miss Hayne. You may be sure I thought that I was quite alone." "And I had no intention of disturbmg your privacy, believe me. But why are you discontented, Captain Philip ? Is it anything to do with Mount Eden ? " she ashed anxiously. '* Indeed, it has nothing to do with Mount Eden ; aod yet, as I sat here this evening, I was thinking whether I should not be wiser to ask you to look out for anoth.'? ovctsesr." She turned pale in a moment. ""Another overseer ? Then you wish to leave us — to — to—' Her voice faltered. She coud not proceed. "Indeed, and indeed I do not," he replied earnestly; " I love Mount Eden and everything connected with it — in fact, I love it all so much, it tears my heart to think d parting, and yet, Miss Rayne — " " I understand you," she said ; " you have had the o^ of a better situation — a position more fitted to your abili- ties and education; but if there is anything I caa do to 'A i! I IH aso MOUNT KDEX. induce you to remain — if 1 can increase your salary, or make you more comfortnblc, or — " ' " Do not mention it, Miss Rayne. Your kind heart is leading you astray. ^ have had no such offer as you refer to. I want no more money than I receive. I am quite comfortable and happy here — " "Then why do you want to leave us ? " " Because — because — there is such a thing as being too happy in a situation — of becoming so much at home that it is death to tear one's self away, and if the end ccmes, What then? " he said, in a low voice. Evelyn was gazing up at him as he spoke, with eyes of entreaty. "If that is all," she exclaimed, "don't leave me, for God's sake, for I am so unhappy." And with that, she lowered her face in her hands, and burst into tears. Captain Philip bent over her, and said hurriedly, — • ** Don't do that, Miss Rayne, You torture me. I will never leave you if you do not wi.sh it. I will live and die here if I can be of any service to you. If the thought cf my going distresses you, dismiss it from your mind at once. T will remain if my own heart dies under the pro- cess." But she was weeping so unrestrainedly that she did not notice his words. • " Will you not tell me, in your turn," he rontinued, "what is the reason of your grief? I have seen, for some time past, that you are far more unhappy than circum- stances warranted you to be ; and I strongly suspect that it is connected with the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Lyle at Mount Eden. Don't look so astonished. Do you think I have so little interest in you as not to notice the varia- tion in your words and looks ? You do me a great injus- tice if that is. the case." " I know that you have been always kind and good, Captain Philip, and I believe you to be a true friend. As I walked along to-night, I was longing to be able to con- fide my troubles to just such a friend as you could be." " And is that impossible ? Do not think me presiim])- tuous, Miss Rayne, but if the counsel or assistance of a man can help you out of your difficulty, trust me without fear. I will respect your confidence as if it were my own. Has Evely " Hoi ''Not ^uess \v( if it i.s I should n His h; and she through "If I know ho becomin£j with dou anxiety, i the wide the centr( •' Yes, and aim ( Philip pa MOUNT EDEN, 251 or t is efer uite ! too that mes, es of , for , and I will id die ght cf nd at e pro- id not inued, some 1 re lim- it that ^yle at think Ivaria- injus- good, As con- |e." Isump- laman It fear. Has this man hcer* insulting you? Has he presumed, on your •affection for his wife, to overstep the limits of your forbear- ance ? " " Something very like it," she said hesitatingly ; " and you may suppose how unhappy it made me, for Agnes' sake. Oh, Captain Philip, 1 am afraid that will turn out a most unfortunate marriage. I would do anything to save my poor girl from the consequences of her imp»"'-Jence, but Mr. Lyle will end by setting her against me also." " You mean he has begun to do so ? " " I mean he has begun to do so," she repeated, relapsing into tears. Captain Philip paced up and down the little room. " Villain I scoundrel! coward!" he muttered. "And to what purpose ? He only cuts his own throat by doing, so. Miss Rayne," he: continued, turning suddenly towards her, " you have honored me by calling me your friend. Let me prove myself to be so by speaking to you without reser- vation. You h'ave known this man Lyle before. I guessed it the first time I saw you together. What is the secret between you ? I know it can be nothing dishonoring to yourself, but it may be the means of ultimate injury to you. Why do you keep him at Mount Eden ? Is it entirely for Mrs. Lyle's sake, or for his own?" Evelyn looked up at him with an expression of alarm. " How di'' vou find it out? How much do you know ? ** '^ Nothing I lit what I have told you, and that is only guess work. But I am certain there is more behind, and if it is turned into a mean^. of annoyance to you, you should not keep it to yourself. His hand was grasping the arm of her chair as he spoke, and she laid hers gently upon it. The contact thrilled him through and through. " If I dared confide in you," she whispered, " yoii don't know how gladly I would sh;ire the burden which is becoming too heavy for me to bear alone. I am distracted with doubt and suspense. I cannot sleep for fear and: anxiety, and I feel so completely and utterly alone. In all the wide word, I don't know one creature to "whom I form, the centre of existence." •' Yes, there is one, Evelyn, for whom you are the end and aim of everything, and that is myself,^' cried Captain Philip passionately. "Oh, forgive me if I am 'too pre- \ 1* i|i MOrXT F.DF.S'. lumptuous in saying this ; but use me as you will, for I tkHttt be your servant only to the last day of my life." " Yow-^you — " gasped Evelyn, with a face of crimson ; '* you care lor me like this, Captain Philip ? " " I care for you like that — ^just like that. I would be content to die if \ might only see you happy and at rest without roe — conient to live, even without hope, if my dying iv»a)d came you any pistin." " You love me like— like that ? " she reiterated, as if the idea were too astonishing for her to grasp. '* Yes, I love you, Evelyn ; and if to say it is to part us (or ever, I must say it just this once. I have loved you from the first day we met. But don't imagine I have cherished any wild hopes concerning you. I know my love is hope- ** But haw do you know it ? " she interrupted him, with 8 tender smile. Captain Philip sprung back as if he had been shot. " My God I it is not possible," he exclaimed, " that jroii have conceived any mterest in me ? Speak, Evelyn, m mercy. Do not keep me in this miserable suspense." She clawed his hand tighter, and drew him nearer to h^ eksir. '• Don't go," she whispered. " Stay on and take care of Mount Eden and of me,'' CHAPTER XXIV. PHILTP THE COMFORTER. He sunk on his knees beside her, and threw his arms about her waist, and gazed in her glowing face for a few moments tin silence, and then he said, in an agitated voice, — " J>ettr woman, — so trusting, because you are yourself so worthy of all trust, — how can you say those sweet words X& me, of whom you know nothing, except that I have been ail bonest and faithful steward." " And is that nothing t'' " A great deal for Mount Eden, perhaps, but nothing, EvelyB, for yaur husband. I hold the position of your inferior— ^f one of the people. I may have risen from the giUter. How can you tell ? " MOUXT EDEK. aS3 on ; dbc rest ying if the irt us from ished hope- , with '* that velyn, ense." ,rer to :are of about )ments lourself words ^e been )thing, |f your )m the ** Since you have risen, that is all that concerns me. I think people make far too much fuss about the differences of birth and station. Besides, I am of no birth myself. My family were all merchants. That is only one grade above tradesmen in the social scale." *' But you are rich, dearest. You have Mount Eden. And I have nothing — I am a beggar." ** You have me^' said Evelyn shyly ; " and Mount Eden and I are one." " But what will the world say to your marrying your overseer — your servant ? Will it not be of opinion that you have lowered yourself by raising me? " Evelyn laughed merrily at the idea. " Of course it w'll, Captain Philip. When did the world ever say anything that was kind, or generous, or soothing to one's feeling ? It would not be the world if it did. But surely you and I are above its petty malice — its sneers and its sarcasm. It is not happy itself, and it cannot bear to see others happy. But if you think that I can make you so " — she added timidly. ''If I think! Do I think," he exclaimed fervently, *' that God is truth, or heaven happiness ? It would be heaven to me to call you wife, Evelyn." '' Then you shall do so," she said quietly, and Captain Philip stooped over her and took her hands in his, and bent his head down till his moufh rested on her own, and they had exchanged their first kiss. Neither of them spoke for some minutes afterwards. They felt that their newly- confessed love had received its baptism. ** I have so little to tell you of myself," he said, when that long pause was broken, " except what you already know. My actual birth is not inferior to your own, — I can vouch for so much, — but my early life passed at sea laid the foundation of a rough-and-ready manhood. I need not tell you, my dearest, who have known me so intimately, that I am anything but a courtier. A rather sad and lonely boy- hood soured me too soon, and a sea life threw me on my own resources for companionship. So I grew reserved and somewhat morose, and looked for friends only in my books and my pipe, un;ll I met your own sweet self, and you changed earth into a paradise for me." " What made you leave the sea ? " asked Evelyn. " It had always been an uncongenial life to me, although t**tejta,. -■"itgi»-Tri-.a .teAw 254 MOUNT ED EM. I prospered in it. And then certain news concerning my family reached me from England, and I determined to return Iiomi and test the truth of it, and one thing grew froM another, till I resolved to settle on land again, and applied for the vacant situation on Mount Eden. Do you remembe? the day I came down from London to see you, Evelyn, and the conversation we held in the library? " "Quite well. I thought you very nice, though rather b'-usque, and I made you stay to dinner. And in the evening we rode over the estate together, and — " " I fell in love with you." " Ivtot so soon as thaty surely ? " *' Quite as soon as that, I think. I thought you the most practical, sensible, clear-headed woman I had ever met in my life." *' Oh, that doesn't sound nice at all. Was that all you thought ? " ** No, indeed. I thought a great deal more than I dare tell you, even now. If you think all my admiration of you is founded on your business quaUties, you are very much mis- taken. But you arc a wonian above the incense of flattery. You will not need to be told everything. You will see it for yourself, as you will read my love for you, darling, from day to diiy." " And you mine," she murmured, v/ith her hand in his. " And now, dear Evelyn, since we have settled this happy matter (ah, how little I thought a few hours back, darling, that life v/ould ever look so bright to me again ! ), won't you tell me what it is concerning this fellow Lyle that so d'stresses you? Is, it in consequence of the rumors I told you of this afternoon ? You are surely not so foolish as to believe it possible that your claim to these estates could ever be disputed. If yoii are, you may take my word for it that the man lies. Your footing here is as secure as if you had purchased the land with your own money." Evelyn began to look perturbed again. The allusion to Jasper Lyle had revived her former doubts and fears — doubts and fears which she felt now that she was bound to communicate to the man ^he had accepted for her hus- band, and who. would share her disappointment if she lost her fortune and esta:tes. " I quite forgot that, Captain Philip," she said, *' and you should have heard it first. I ought not to have accepted yoi to; smi << wer fish who the hims and like name appr( Hii ''I "but begin are no ''It any pc "It hand i heard ^\\t you "Th« . "Yes there." "Ih: He triec cheques Caryll d " I hei " You "Hec Were on for three I'oom), ar dressed I ^Q'ff Yorl " Wher " T had and real 12 MOUNT EDEN. your o,T;r until T \,^a ,„,^ *" 'o r^jSign Mount Edt'"" ^°" °^ "- "sk I run of having fif as to hamper you S.^k""; """^ <^°"ld I be so seV name, and cllf ^t" Ho^eyt;: c7"^ "''^^ '° ^^^^'Z appropriate." "''J""""" Cot, or something equallv ., ;'.»°f ^"se made her rmile " but ft°^ %Kaf roVffi r h ris V she answered begm my storv, will it hurt v^ ''"°''' »"• But beforeT «re not the firs,' „," 4 ,vhom r"!-^ ""k "^ '" ''^^ "'a'^ou It would hun me much m^ ^ '2^*" «"ngaged ? "^ hand in i^s^L.^then^K^ ^f^'j-l^'-e said, slipping her heard me mention I had iJl*' •'^''^"'een- You h-ve •he younger of the tto t C^^rwi " ' "^ -g^^ed-^o •' ?es W ?r ''''" •« America? ^"- • there ''' ' ^ '"""" ""'^^^ 'old you the reason h <,T. ' M^ reason he went He triertrembl'lTyfefr ^^- ^^^leand others cheques were stopped at JhL^^°?''""'^'«'^ "ame, bunhe "'l hf/^''S'f"^-^'^"dta'neve?bee„''h' i"^? ^""^m I helped h,m to escape justice rM\ •^"^. °f since." _i'i'»did! How?" ' '-''P'am Philip." " He came back to me in I,;. . ■' were on his track, and T h H • """' ^' ''«»"ng the police for three days (the trap dooT„°f '^' '°of of the housl room), and at the end of ?h , ° " ''''^"^^ from mv bed dressed him in a s^ltofny' ,XV ^'f "^ ""--d" •' I had a little mo ,' t'°",? '''^'^ '^'^ P««age > " . -nd realized sufficij.u'f^r l^:^r""^<^^<^ ^€^y 95^ MOUNT EDEN, ** Ohy you plucky girl. And it was all for notliing. You have never heard from him again ? " ** No, I never heard from him again," she echoed mourn- fully. " I suppose he died out there, poor fellow." ** No, Captain Philip, he did not die. He is in Fflgiand. He is Jasper Lyle," she said, in a low voice. " Jasper Lyle ! Good heavens ! " cried Captain Philip, leapmg from his seat ; " William Caryll at Mount Eden — William Caryll the husband of Agnes Featherstone ! and, Evelyn," in a tone of the deepest distress, " (fo you love him stilt V " Oh, no, no. What can you think of me to ask such a question — I, who have just plighted my troth to yourself? Captain Philip, I did not believe you could do me such an injustice." " Forgive me, dearest. It was only a momentary, jealous fear. Of course you do not love him. But wlien did you find him out ? " ** Directly I met him at the Featherstones. He has con- tinued to dye his hair, and acquired a foreign accent, but I detected him through it all. I was very angry at first, Captain Philip. I rebuked him sharply for his inftdelity to me, and threatened him with exposure. Bur when I came to reflect, I resolved, for Agnes' sake, to let the past bury itself." " But how did he dare to show his face (disgufsed or not) in England ? Are there no proofs of his criminality ? What became of the forged cheques ? " "/hold them — ^no, I mean I held them, and when I met Will Caryll, I showed them to him in proof of my assertion." •*And then you destroyed them, I suppose? That would be just like you." • •'For once you are wrong, Captj^in Phil^. I did not destroy them, but— he has stolen thftm from jn/e.". " Stolen them ! Is it possible ? " " It is the fact I /&«lat tinc'e past I ask tun it' "I clencj again. as SOD It was is not my po( ''Ml would reserve you wil Mount suffered "But afternoo me to til "We this mati ^or vou, 2 " Yes, «s you th MOUNT EDEN. t^at al] these rumor, i, , ' '^^ '^^^r to hfmseJf? ^, 'Jlf ^P^ead about Mount Ed.n ,^ impossible, fmpossihle f » He could not be Lrh ' ? . ""^P^^^^^ Captain Ph.r clenched°eeth"' " rT '° •'^''" "'^d Captain Ph.T ■ . Ihis ,s the man I al'J'/tt """7"" '"■^^'i !'' ^ " ■•» not wZhl^e " '""r"'^' I lovedi/orvVi r * *^:«*'»- 258 MOUNT EDEN. me, and that, for the sake of the past, I have no wish to revenge myself upon her husband." ** I will respect your wishes to the smallest particular, and observe the utmost secrecy with regard to what you have told me. But William Caryll caji only be effectually convinced of the impudence of his pretensions through a legal opinion, therefore you must let me confide the case to a solicitor. Shall it be yours — or mine ? " " Have you a solicitor? " she asked innocently. " I have. One who knows me well, arid has been "^^ch a friend to me for years that I shall lose no time in intro- ducing him to you. I will run up to town and see him the first thing in the morning — that is, if 1 can be spared." '' No, you can't be spared," she said affectionately. , He pressed her closely to him as he answered, — ' •** You cannot think how my blood boils to think of the outrage to which your feelings have been subjected, nor how I long to chastise the offender. Bat you loved him once, P>elyn, and so we will deal as leniently with him as wc can." " Wc can pfford to do it," «he said, "because we are so happy." '■'■ Arc you happy? " " So much so, that I don't believe I ever knew the me.?,ning of the word until this evening. But it is growing late. It is past nine o'clock. Captain Philip, you must '.et me go." *' Not until you call me something better than Cap ;ain Philip," he answered, as they passed out into the night, and stood in the shadow of the cottage eaves together. He was holding her in his arms, and she turned her head and laid her soft cheek against his own. " Love, let me go," she whispered, and then he loosed his hold reluctantly, and watched her figure flitting through the semi-darkness till it was lost to view. MOUNT EDEN. •m loosed lining CHAPTER XXV. THE OWNER OF MOUNT EDEN. When Jasper Lyle saw his Cousin Evelyn fly from his wife's caress and his own presence, and heard the unmistak- able anguish with which she exclaimed, " Don't touch me I Don't speak to me ! for I feel as if 1 was going mad,'* he smiled with inward satisfaction, and thought that the game was won. He mistook her horror at his ingratitude for fear, her pain at Agnes' unexpected accusation, for sorrow at the idea of losing her property. He had no mere power of gauging the depths of her affections or feelings now, than he had had in the days gone by. All the women from whom he had gathered Iiis expe- rience cf the sex put together, had not possessed one-half the love or virtue of th^ woman he had deserted and tried to injure. But his selfish, shallow nature was unable to cvpprv.ciate it. As he had been blind to the greatness of her heart, and the am.ount of the sacrifices she had made for him in the d lys of their youth, so was her nature a sealed book to him in the present. Even Agnes, with her small mind, understood it better than he did. • She was awed by Evelyn's sudden departure and agonized cry It sounded like a wail of despair to her — like the last farewell cf some poor soul bent on self- destruction, and she crept up to her husband's side with a face full cf fear, and said, — " Oh, Jasper, what will she do to herself? Hadn't you better go after her and bring her back again ? Suppose — suppose, she should really be going mad? " T.Ir. Lyle laughed at his wife's simplicity. " I should rather think she m, my dear — mad as the hare of March. The prospect of losing Mount Eden is enough to drive any one out of their senses. But don't you sce^ A^nes, that the way in which Evelyn has taken the news only proves that I am right? The non-production of ^6o MOUNT EDEN. those blessed proqfs clears every obstacle from my path. She sees it for herself." " But, Jasper, " said Agnes timidly, " you didn't really take them — did you ? " Mr. Lyle's indignation was sublime to witness. " I am surprised at your asking such a question, Agnes. You must be aware that no gentleman would be capable of doing such a thing. I very much doubt if the forged cheques were ever in her possession." ^^ * TJut Evelyn seemed so sure of it." '* It was her policy to seem sure. When she saw that my suspicions had been roused with regard to the legality of her claims, she had no resource but to brave it out. Do you suppose that, if she had thought me in the wrong, she would have given way to that burst of temper and run off in that extraordinary fashio.i. She is a very clever woman, mind you, and has not been in possession of Mount Eden for ten years without ascertaining the exact grounds on which she holds her property. I heard that fellow Philip say, the other day, that her solicitor declares she is almost as good a lawyer as himself. Had she been sure that I could, by no possibility, dispute the possession of Mount Eden with her, she would have done battle to the end. Her rapid disappearance off the field has pleased me more than anything else could have done. We are all right now, little woman, and I shall see you the mistress of Mount Eden before many months are over your head." But Agnes seemed anything but " all right." The influence of the old days was upon her again, the remem- brance of Evelyn's love was overbalancing every other consideration, and she hated herself for the words she had said, for the wicked accusation she had made against her dearest friend. That Jasper had asserted it was true was nothing to her now. Even if it were true, I'he was ready to fpiglve it. She felt in Ihis extremity that what she wanted, above all other things, was the assurance of Evelyn's affection. Oh, Jasper, please don't speak of it. If it ever comes to pass (which I hope it never will), it will only make mestiH more miserable than I am. I told you so before. How could I bear to take her place, — my darling Evelyn. — and reign in her stead. It would be impossible. Nothing should make me consent to it." MOUNT EDEN, 261 ith. illy nes. ieof rged that rality Do g, she Lin off Dinan, Eden ids on Philip almost ; that I Mount he end. e more ,11 right ress of ad." I" The rtmem- |y other Vds she I against las true I'he was lat ^'hat Vance of loincs t» roe still How and Jothing Vv Jasper Lyle regarded his wife with looks of aslonishmenl, mingled with contempt. " Here's a pretty thing," he exclaimed. " After having been the most unlucky devil in the world for the last ten years, my fortune seems about to change, and my wife (the woman who will benefit by it most) is the one to turn round and say she wouldn't accept it. Why, you must be mad. Right is right, and if it's my right to own Mount Eden, you ought to rejoice at it. Hasn't P2ve enjoyed it for ten years? Isn't it fair I should have my turn? And now you want to pose as a martyr instead of going down on your knees and thanking God He ever put it into my head to marry you. Pshaw, it is positively sickening." But Agnes seemed quite indifferent to his sarcasm. " If this really comes to pass," she pleaded, ''wouldn't it be possible to share the money and estate with Evelyn — that we should have half, and she half? It seems so hard that, when she has considered it her owi ft r so many years, and taken such trouble to improve it, s le should be <:alled upon to give it all up. Plalf is more than we have ever expected to get, JaspA*. Surely wc can do so much." " No such thing," he responded angrily. " If the place is mine, it's mine altogether. Indeed, I am not sure that I couldn't call upon my cousin to refund what she has spent during her period of possession. I have heard of such things. At any rale, I am sure I could claim the interest." Agnes' blue eyes dilated with dismay. *' But I thought Evelyn and you had agreed that which- ever inherited Mount Eden was to share it with the other? Didn't you tell me so yesterday, when I said it v/as generous of her to let us live here ? " ■:ir Juyle looked awkwardly conscious. ; .. "Well, yes, " he answered, " there was 2iTi agreement of that sort between us, /;/ case we married each other. i think Eve was the one to propose il. I fancy she :w;apted to bind me down to marry >!er. But you see I ' dicjn'^ and so it becomes null and void. Don't look so jqrestifiallen, Agnes. I'm not going to turn my cousin out ^ to starve, if that is what you imagine. I should make her ^ng-liowance, of course, arid she could go and live with your mother, or— " i'^-w "Oh, couldn't she liv6 whh^/j," interrupted Agnes, a6a MOUNT EDEN. " and let everything go on as it lias doive? Mount Eden wouldn't seeai the same i.>lace wiihout Evelyn ; in fact, all the pleasure of my life would go with her." " That's not very complimentary to me, I must say," replied her husband; ''however, don't cry about it, for nothing's settled yet, remember. I'm rather sorry, now I come to think of it, Agnes, that 1 showed my hand so openly to Eve to-night, b^ ca.Mse it is sure to lead to un- pleasantness betwt. .n \\- . inJ if the case is a long time settling (as I, icse dib< "Ucil wiii cases generally are), it may be awkward our '•er-.'^.Mvin _ here during its progression. However, there's one L.ing I ^e said for it. If I have a good case, I shall find no ditticiilty in raising money and we can go abroad whilst it is pending, and enjoy ourselves a great deal more than we can do whilst I have to work like a laborer on the estate." But no prospect seemed fair in Agnes' eyes. " How I wish you had never mentioned anything about it," she said, with a heavy sigh ; " and still more, that I had kept silence on the subject. Will Evelyn ever forgive me, I wonder? And the worst ^f it is, that 1 don't believe it. I only said it out of temper. If Evelyn has shown you attention since we came here, it has only been out of kind- ness. I am sure she would never be so false to me as to make love to my husband." " Very well, have it your own way," replied Jasper carelessly. " You appear to me to be all on the opposite side, but understand me plainly, Agnes, your feelings will never stand in the way of my getting my rights. But there is no need for you to plead Evelyn's cause in this ridicu- lous fashion to me. It is not likely I should ever let my own cousin want the necessaries of life ; indeed, I am not at all sure that I should not keep her at Mount Eden. But it's a great deal too soon to discuss the advisability of such a scheme. Most likely Eve will marry, and have a home of her own. I fancy she would have done so long ago if it hadn't been for my unworthy self. And now, as my lady does not seem inclined to honor us with her com- pany again this evening, I think we had better retire to our own room." " I wonder where she is, and what she is doing," said Agnes, as she walked to the window, and gazed out upon the night. " It is so dark, Jasper, and so chilly, and si e had nothing over her head or shoulders." MOUNT EDEN, 265 en all for ^v 1 I so un- ime [nay lion, ve a and jlves work ibout hat I )rgive elieve n you ■ kind- ; as to i» said upon id sle " How can you t»*Il ? She r.iost Hkely picked up a wrap in the hall. Eve is used to take these late rambles about the park. I !.ave met her out ris late as ten o'clock." " How shall we meet hei to-morrow ? What will she say J us? " murmured A^Mies. " Nothing at all, if .she is a wise woman," replied Jasper ; " but if th^ re ... any renewal of the discussion, I shall go over to St. Mary Ottery at once, and sec Dickson on the subject. Otherwise, there is no hurry about the matter, and next week, when I go to town, will do." " Oh, put it off a little while, Jasper, darling," said / ,;:'"*' coaxingly, as she hung about her husband ; "there i." f little happiness in this world. Don't disturb it un' it . absolutely necessary." *' All right, little one ; but it must depend upon t!K a/ Eve takes it/' returned Lyle, who, like most shaDc v-pated people, was absurdly sanguine of success in ev. '.'ang, and seemed to make quite sure that Mount Eden would eventually be his own. He spent the reniainder of the evening in his wife'^s room, telling her how he should alter this, and build up that, and improve the other, when the estate came into his hands, and especially how the very first thing he should do would be to kick the overseer out of the place. " I hate that brute Philip," he said, *' and have done so from the beginning. I believe he has what they call in Italy * the evil eye,' He always looks as if he suspected one of being a thief, or a murderer, or something. I can't understand what makes Eve think so much of the cad. She trusts everything in his hands as if it were his own. She can't have got up a flirtation with her overseer, eh, Agnes? What a lark if she had ! It would greatly sim- plify matters for us, though, for there would be no question then of either of them staying at Mount Eden. Don't you agree with me, dear? " Bat poor little tired-out Agnes was past agreeinT vvith anybody. She had wept till her eyes were inflamed, ;. .J her head ached, and was still catching her breath, as she lay on her pi' low, like a child that has sobbed itself to sleep. So, after another cigar or two, Jasper Lyle thought fit to follow her example. Both husband ar'^ wife felt rather sheepish as they descended to the breakfast-table the following morning. Agnes (who had never met Eve- I \ 964 MOUNT EDEN. lyn ypt without a hearty embrace) hardly knew whether she dared approach her, and was agreeably surprised when her friend came forward and saUited her just as usual, and spoke in a cheerful voice, as if nothing had happened between them. She was a little cool to Jasper, it is true, but still it was nothing remarkable ; and as the meal pro- ceeded, both the Lyles regarded her with furtive amaze- ment, for Evelyn was not only cheerful — she was positively radiant — although, with her native kind-heartedness, her spirits were occasionally toned down by the thought of the disappointment in store for her companions. For Cap- tain Philip had assured her that her position was safe, and. she knew he would not have said so without good cause. Agnes glanced up at her timidly every now and then, iintil she began to question if the scene of the night before had not been a hornd dream. She thought Evelyn looked younger and handsomer than she had ever seen her do before. Her soft cheeks were tinged with pink-^-her eyes were deep and glowing — in everything she did was a kind of fluttering joy, as if she were not quite certain her- self if it were real or assumed. " Will you drive this morning, Agnes ? " she inquired, as they rose from table. "Yes — if you are going," replied Agnes, overcome by her kindness. " I am not going to-day, my dear, but that need make no difference to you. I have some important matters to arrange and think over, and I wish to be alone. Will you go?" Agnes longed to tell her what was in her heart, and to implore her forgiveness for what had occurred ; but, with all Evelyn's courtesy, there was the slightest infusion of formality that made the words die upon Mrs. Lyle's tongue, whilst she stammered out an affirmative instead. " And for myself. Miss Rayne, I suppose I had better beat up the stackers at the Lower Farm ? " said Jasppr, with an assumption of being completely at his ease. " As you please, Mr. Lyle," replied Evelyn gravely, and then she returned to Agnes. *' I suppose I had better tell you that there will be a couple of gentlemen to dinner this evening, as you may like to make a little difference in your toilet." , At another time Agnes would Itftire been all eagerness to MOC/jyr EDEN, Jearn the names of fh« * *** yet, when she c,^me to Mwni f -^^^ ^^""J'ar with it AnA ?*";,, i',?*™»'»" ■'» lis « 1;",, "■ ™"« ™ 366 MOUNT EDEN. the right to some one to direct her actions for the future^ 'J'he warm blood rushed to her face as she remembered what had passed between them the night before, and changed the current of her whole life. Captain Philip had started for London by the first train that morning to see his solicitor, Mr. Cireville, and had promised to bring him back to Mount Julcn in time for dinner. He was not a man to let the grass grow under his feet. Once convinced that Jasper l.yle was persecuting Evelyn Rayne, and he would not let him stay under her roof one hour longer than was necessary. 'J'o think that any one should presume to speak slightingly of or to the woman for whom he would consider it too little to lay down his life, had stung Philip's brave heart to the quick. Kvclyn was brave, too, but he knew well how much Of a woman's love of i)rotection lay beneath that bravery. He had watched the anxious eyes droop, and the sweet lips quiver, and the whole face grow fearful and discomposed when some difficulty presented itself with which a woman's moral strength was hardly fit to cope, and he had longed at such moments to fold her in his arms, and promise to shield her from all annoyances in the future. And now he had won the right to share her troubles and battle with her difficulties, and his heart was dancing with irrepressible gladness as he journeyed to London in her cause, and hers was glowing with satisfied content at home. Nothing could ever seerri hard, or a subject for anxiety to her again,, for he would be by her side to relieve her of all trouble, and take the burden on his own shoulders, She felt almost as shy as a girl of eighteen as she dressed herself that afternoon to meet her lover and his friend. Yet something; in her nature made her shrink from making an alteration in her usual dinner dress of black cashmere, lest he should think that she imagined that her appearance could make any difference in her to his eyes. So she descended to her drawing-room a little before the usual time, looking just a.s. she did every day, excepting for some extra color in her glowing face, and a bunch of Malmaison carnations at her breast. The travelers were very punctual. She had sent the carriage to meet them at St. Mary Ottery, and before she had been down three minutes, they were in tne room beside her, Captain Philip grasping her hands with a pressure that MOUNT EDEN, %tt •e. ed nd ain I ad for his ling her a\at the lay lick. df a He : lips osed iTan's ;edat se to owhe fh her sible hers thing gain^ uble, Imost that thing: on in ^ould make o her liist as her It her the she Reside that said, ** You arc mine I — you are mine /" whilst he strove coherently to introduce the white-haired stranger who accompanied him as his ** best friend, Mr. Grevillc." Mr. Greville regarded his blushing hostess with greater earnest- ness than is usually accorded on a first introduction, and it made her blush the more. *' Forgive me, my dear young lady," he said, as he ob- served her embarrassment, •' if I gaze at your features with more interest than is consistent with our slight acquaint- anceship. J3ut I have heard so much and so often of Miss Rayne of Mount Kden, from this boy here," laying his hand on Philip's shoulder, *' that I feel as if I already were your friend. Will you be vexed if I say that he has told me everything, and that I have come down prepared to offer you both my heartiest congratulations ? " '* Thank you," she said softly ; •' we feel that they are due." •' More so than you think for now, Miss Rayne. I have known Philip ever since he was in knickerbockers ; I have watched his career during the period he has served at Mount Eden, and he is worthy of your highest esteem. I can say no more." "And that is too much, Mr. Grevillc," cried Captain Philip laughing. " Hold hard, do ! You are making me blush now." **Wcll, I will say no more at present, but before Miss Rayne wishes me good-night, she will acknowledge I have said less than the truih." But here the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. and Mrs. Lyle, further introductions were gone through, Jasper scowled when he saw that the overseer was to be one of the dinner guests, and his manner towards that gentleman was hardly civil, but CajHain Philip took no notice of it. Eve, n perceived, from the keen glance which he threw at her cousin, that Mr. Greville had been made acquainted with the f Miiily history, and she wondered what decision he and her future husband had arrived at concern- ing Jasper, and what measures they intended to take with regard to him. But she made up her mind that she must possess her soul in i)atience until the morning. Dinner was on the table. Thi:5 was no time for business, and, indeed, sho felt glad to think that poor Jasper would have a few hours' respite. The disappointment would be hard ? 268 MOUNT EDEX enough for him when it came. Meanwhile, she woiili be hap^Dy. She could not fail to be so. She had got her handsouia lover back again, sitting next to her at the table, and sh3 need ♦^roiible her head about nothing further. The matter was off her hands. Had he noi said he would settle it all for her ? They were a merry jjart y that evening, notwithstanding that Mr. Lyle felt himself lowered by sit- ting down to dinner with the overseer. Mr. Greville proved to be a most agreeable and talkative companion. Captain Philip was brimming over with happiness, Evelyn was softly and genuinely content, and poor little penitent Agnes, seeing her friend's evident pleasure, took heart of grace to believe herself forgiven, and looked pleased as well. They were dining in the same room in which Vernon and Captain Philip had once sat with Evelyn, and which held so many portraits of her dead Cousin Hugh. The little lawyer seemed very inquisitive upon the subject, and would have the history of each separate picture in turn. " A fine, handsome boy, evidently," he observed ; *' what a pity he was lost — what an affliction for his parents, and yet, had he survived, you wouldn't be sitting at the head of the table at this moment. Miss Rayne, and dispensing your hospitalities in such a graceful manner. I wonu r what you would say if the door were to open at this moment and Cousin Hugh walk in to claim his own ? " At this question Jasper Lyle smiled sarcastically, as much as to say, " Her (ortitude may be put to a similar test before long ; " and Captain Philip gazed eagerly in Evelyn's face, as though he would read there if she valued her property above himself. " What should I say, Mr. Greville ? " she answered smiling ; " I should welcome him back with all the warmth of which I am capable, for the sake of his dear father, who was so good to me. I have often said (haven't I, Captain Philip ? ) thf-t I should never be surprised to see Cc^isin Hugh turn up again." " Vou have, indeed ; and I have often replied that I couldn't imagine how n sensible woman could entertain ^ach an absurd idea." jo\ --yvh aor ?n-^^ .nil— it. Jo noh f' But all your protestations have not knocked it out of my head," she answered merrily. ,_,.;, "Yet I'm afraid it would be the cause of serious annoy- ance: tp, yqu.^.. ly^iss Rayne, all the sasae," persisted. Mr. MOUA-7' EDEa; 269. OreviJle « Cou * R 269 i^othe?'^" ""I: ^ he.ghte„edciw^r.f;"" Mr. Grevilie,- " otner ways that I doi't thini, V ■' ^""' '""i so haDov am a b,t of a philosopher as "^ l '"""''^ g"eve long '^'^f toldyo,,." '^' ''^ '^^'•''"Ps Captain Philip- has '.tJ^ ! 'c;\s,i ¥f''= ~"5;f I don't believe u f » 1 • to his feet with :ro"th. "'■'■"""^^ J-'^i'- Lyie, springing Grevi,re': Zii:°\o''tt 'ZtT''"'?''' ■'■>." -id Mr want of manner? at the dinne Ihf 1°'^"'' «cuse you tress of Mo.?;n Ed "'' "^jf,'"";'^ '""-d towards the mis- I'ps twitched nervously W h. f°'''" ''^'y P'l'e, and her '' Bravo r"e"rt7",f' 'T-^"^" ="" ca'elr''r»'" ^''■''P' ;'Mydearyou,';gtd;%'^J::i"^^ir'''"^"o his feet yc, so lamely, but your Cousin h','''?=''''"S «''« news ,o sTde If:,"'' ^"^ '° P™ve my wofds^M,\^\^^="!y ^etur^ed siae at the present moment J .? ' ^'^^ *>« ^'ts by your seer, Captain Philip." ™^'"' '" '^e person of your over- '.er^;!tra.fT;rt'r*s"^ '" rj"">' -"o -s ga.-„, ,, -on of feeling w'::' too "^reTt" 1"^ ""^l'^- ' ^"'r^vul cnmson as she had bee? ii.-. ,'""■• ^^t she grew »<: grasped his like a vice " '^"'"^ ^^°''' «nd hef hind Cousin //i/p-A /" of 1 ,^ " Ves, darling, yo„; rou;in''HT?""f<^ incredulously the less for that ^ill ,o " KvelynT" " ^°" ^°"'' '°^« »« 270 MOUNT ED EN, " But how — when — I cannot understand," she faltered, in a low voice. " Let me explain for him," said Mr. Greville. " When Hugh was picked up after that accident at Callao by a Spanish vessel, he did not care to let his father know that he was alive. He never intended to return home again," and he was afraid of being fetched home if he disclosed his whereabouts. So he went on serving in the merchant service until the news reached him accidentally that Mr. Caryll was dead, and had left the estate behind him. Then Hugh came home to me, and proved his identity, and I told him how the land lay, and that Mount Eden (in default of his existence) was in the hands of one of his cousins. He meant to put in his claim for it, but he thought he'd come down first and have a look about him ; and after that I heard no more of his pretensions, nor would he let me mention his name." *' How could I have had the heart to turn you out, Evelyn ? " said Captain Philip. " Besides, I was very soon presumptuous enough to conceive a hope that some day you might take me in instead." " And you are my Cousin Hugh ? " said Evelyn won- deringly. " How strange it seems. I shall have to begin to know you all over again." " I am your cousin, Hugh Philip Caryll, Evelyn, and sometimes I have wondered that you did not guess it ; we have seemed, whilst talking, to sail so very close to the wind." ** Oh, no. It never crossed my mind, although we so often spoke of him. How should it, when I believed that he was dead ? But now I know what it is that has always made your face seem half familiar to me — perhaps too, what has made my Cousin Hugh come to me so often in my dreams. Oh, how happy poor uncle would have been to see this day." '* And so Mount Eden will not change hands after all," exclaimed Mr. Greville gleefully. " A charming arrange- ment, ,Mr. Lyle, is it not, sir ? " " Oh, charming, charming ! " replied Jasper Lyle, who was glaring with dismay at the sudden disappearance of all his prospects ; " nothing could be more so, and, from what I hear and see, 1 conclude I am to congratulate Miss Rayne on her engagement to her consin? " " Exactly so," said Hugh Caryll ; '* but Miss Rayne hau * '\\ ^^ --»-. ,e.e. .0 ..„, ,;, - A^'^s. o„ the other sT' ^?" >'°" forgive „e>" ,oI,h H ^"^ SO nii.senlih. ^- ^ -im so rrinrj r cobbed ■»^ci ac once to fold „,e ,veenf„. •, ■ -^ ,'; My own dear sifter",,, ,- '"""« 8'^' '" her to form vc '/'/,« ^'■'ter, she whisDernr? a .i "ei.eve the., th^- cSe^';:::!/-, ^^ '^'>- yot/cIlVt J-I"gJi/' sh- 0"iy one dro]) nf 1 •!. '" '^^''' i^nVate >^^ together, "V dt't 4':=;:^'^' '>- 4am ? '• ' ^'"-' «°- ^^'"» U'.li irill there be „ vn ''''■'■ ^'= "'^^ 'o one s L uf '^"^ °f "'e i>^^-e l^een ,alk^°",;"'-^'"%'one ano^hef/- )r'>--'' obstacle ^^''••" I propose ,^ '/'e matter over to-davP """''""' ^ year on Mrs I We , ' "'<' ^''°"'d settle fiv r'^"' ''"^ 'Hie snrvives ifr v, ^'^«« '« her husband ' "'"^'^<^ '•' them very comL, \ /" '"^"'"e "-'U I e s ,^ '"''" ''«'h honestly, Evel " f l''r. '" "'e land of hi"?^'"'" '° ''ee,, thaninEnS"' ir^n''"'^ "'«y will l',/'^?P"°» ^ and ;^usa,.d.o!ldferes^,^ '•% dearest von f ""'?"' "PO" yot, as they can SeT of tl? 'r^' '>'"' Sve? h ""■ '^f-^^^ <='°-iy to his hear • "^ -P-.ed. as hT^ressed her "tHE END. THE BREAT r 0^ h-^IS.fy, r-. An Invaluable Food FOR Invalids JlConvalesce ts. : BECAUEtE :• Easily Digested Ity th» WEAKEST STOMACH. -o » e e • Usefal in domestic economy for making delicious Beef Tea enriching Gravies and Soupa. THE KEY TO HEALTH unlocks all the cloeged secretions of the Stotuach, Livsr, Bowels and Blood, carrying ofiT all humors and impurities from the entire system,correcting Acid- ity, and curing Biliousness, Dyspepsia. Sick flead- ache, Constipation, Rheumatism, Dropsy, Dry Skin, Dizeiness, Jaundice, Heartburn, Nervous ,nd General Debility, Salt Rheum, Erysipelas, 'Scrofula, etc. It purifies and eradicates from the Blood all poisonous humors, from a commoa PinOple to the worst Scrofulous Sore. IT • m «d sconomy BeefTea i boups. unlocks h, Liver, lors and ngAcid- ck flead- (sy, Dry NervouB I from tbft 1 common.