way, though it would be true; and I will not offer to take Mrs. Howard's place,-that would be out of the question; but you must let me know if I can ever be of any use to you. I dare say you go about amongst the poor people. Your dear mother always did," she said, with a change of tone which made Blanche's heart thrill, though she could not trust herself at that moment to answer the allusion. "I go sometimes," was all she replied,

Lady Charlton drew near and kissed her tenderly. "You shall let me go with you; I shall like it. It will seem that the old times are come back-quitewhen I look at you," she added, gazing in Blanche's face with a sad smile.

Blanche returned the kiss, and, unfastening a brooch which she always wore, showed a miniature, exquisitely painted. "Will you tell me if it is like?" she said. "I have been afraid to ask papa."

Lady Charlton took the brooch in her hand, and turned to the light. She was looking at it attentively, and Blanche, leaning over her, was waiting with great interest for her opinion. Lord Rutherford came to the window. Blanche, by a kind of instinct, took the brooch hastily from her aunt; but not before the earl had remarked it.

"A new trinket, Blanche?" he exclaimed, cheerfully. "Let me see.”

Blanche's hand shook, and the brooch fell to the ground. The earl stooped to pick it up. There was a silence of some moments.

Lady Charlton said, "It is very like," and held out her hand for it.

"The carriage is waiting," was all Lord Rutherford's reply.

He walked away, and Lady Charlton, as she returned the brooch to Blanche, said, “You shall talk to me, my love: it is not a subject for him."

CHAPTER XIV.

THE first determination which Blanche formed the next day was that she would go to the parsonage early. The disappointment of the preceding afternoon had vexed her considerably, and she was resolved not to run the risk of another refusal. She would go herself and make the request, and then it could not, she hoped, be denied.

The subject was mentioned casually at breakfast. Blanche began to feel herself sufficiently at home with her aunt and cousins to leave them to themselves, and said she should go to the rectory the first thing, and engage Eleanor for the day; "and we will walk, if you like it, in the afternoon," she added, addressing Lady Charlton. "I must

the village."

go

into

"Must! my love," exclaimed the earl quickly. "Who says must to you

?"

"I say it to myself," replied Blanche, smiling: "it is not an imperative must; only my aunt said she would like to go with me sometimes; and—” "Yes, my dear, certainly," interposed Lady Charl

ton;

"of all things I shall like to accompany you; but to-day, I rather think, I have an engagement. A great friend of mine, Mrs. Cuthbert Grey, is staying in this neighbourhood, and I promised to go and see her when I came here. She is on a visit to the Donningtons. I think I had better take advantage of the fair weather. Ady, what do you say?"

Adelaide answered carelessly that, if it must be, she supposed it had better be; but that Maude would

do just as well as herself. "I shall go with Blanche this morning, if I may," she continued. she continued.

“Blanche, you will take me to the rectory; I delight in walking the first thing after breakfast."

"Immensely intimate," said Maude, in her cold sepulchral tone; "the civility must be for Mr. Wentworth: you don't know any one else."

"You will stay at home, Ady," interrupted Lady Charlton, glancing quickly at the earl; but he was now engrossed in the newspaper, and knew nothing that was passing.

Blanche was puzzled for an instant, but took the matter simply, and assured them that ceremony with the Wentworths would be quite unnecessary. They met every day. If Adelaide liked to go, she might do so easily.

"She will stay at home, my dear," repeated Lady Charlton, decidedly; and of course the question was supposed to be settled.

But Blanche stood at the green gate of the rectory, and was trying to open it, when she heard some one behind her say, laughingly, "Where there is a will there is a way, Blanche. Did you never hear that before? An exceedingly romantic spot this for a parsonage, I must say.

Blanche was silent from surprise.

"I can open the gate, I dare say," continued Adelaide; "or-look, there is Mr. Wentworth."

Blanche was excessively annoyed, and answered coolly, that she would not trouble Mr. Wentworth ; she should leave a message for Eleanor, and go back.

"When you have come on purpose to see her? I am sure you will not do anything of the kind: you could not be so capricious. Mr. Wentworthand as the gentleman drew near, Adelaide held out her hand with the ease of an old acquaintance. "How very strange! Where did you drop from?"

Mr. Wentworth reciprocated the surprise, expressed a due amount of pleasure, and threw open the gate. Adelaide waited for her cousin to go forward; but Blanche paused resolutely. "Thank you," she said, addressing Mr. Wentworth, "but I am afraid I must return now. Since we have met you, perhaps you will do me the favour to deliver a message to Eleanor. I want her very much to spend the day with me, and to come as early as possible. Mrs. Wentworth is quite well, I hope?"

"Quite, thank you; but surely, indeed, Lady Blanche, you must not go back without seeing my mother; she will be vexed if you don't; you have given yourself so much trouble."

Only a pleasant walk," replied Blanche. "Pray say to Mrs. Wentworth how sorry we were she could not dine with us yesterday. Good morning." She bowed, and turned away; but Adelaide was already within the gate. Such a bewitching rose she had seen!-amongst the briers,-nearly hidden it was,Mr. Wentworth must give it her.

Mr. Wentworth plunged into the thicket, and Adelaide still advanced. Blanche could not let her go on alone, for the next moment she would be in front of the house: and so she was; and not only before the house, but before the whole family party, who were talking together on the lawn. Blanche had nothing to do but to go up to them, and introduce her cousin and apologize; though the apology was a difficulty, for her gentle spirit was very considerably roused.

Setting aside the neglect of Lady Charlton's wishes, Adelaide was unquestionably rude to herself, and Blanche had never experienced rudeness before. Mrs. Wentworth received the excuse for the intrusion politely, but without any cordiality; and even Elea