that seem made to look good-humoured, and that you instinctively associate with an old maid's monotonous existence with the nursing of sick relations and the care of whimpering children.

Mrs. Jephson had now been for several years a wife, and in the enjoyment of the creature comforts conferred upon her by the always satisfactory balance at her husband's bankers, she had probably, in some slight degree, consoled herself for her adoption of the plebeian name for which she had sacrificed her own.

But Miss Graham, the proud, discontented, and ambitious younger sister, was still, be it remembered, on her promotion, and on her nature had bestowed her gifts with a less niggardly hand. She was very cold in manner, and with most who knew her she was decidedly unpopular; but she had her redeeming points, for she was clever and well read, and possibly had her education been less exclusively worldly, the heart-which it is to be sup

posed we all in some infinitesimal degree possess might have shown itself outside the hard-baked crust of conventional and fashionable rules.

To these two ladies Fletcher bowed down with servile worship, nor was his homage altogether set at nought-for was he not one of the givers of the good things to which they in common with other friends had been invited? And was not Raynham Fletcher, greatly as the fine ladies looked down upon this pretentious personage, a useful servant, in more ways than many amongst them would have been quite willing to acknowledge?

They asked him questions audibly enough concerning those three unknown women, and Susan retired humbled and abashed from their bold scrutiny; for though she thought herself courageous, she was but a craven thing at heart, and shrank from public notice.

Aylmer was by her side, and strove, in his calm, gentlemanly way, to hide from her their cold, unwomanly scrutiny, and save her from

the mortification of being made to feel that she was being treated with contempt.

To Margaret it was all one that they were not at home' in that fine company,' for she had only eyes for him who leant behind her chair, and whispered poisoned words of flattery to her ear. Heart and soul were his to work upon-his, then and for ever! And this he knew full well, as, seemingly regardless of the heartless set around him, he drew sweet music from the touching instrument that with his bold, careless hand he dared to play on!

Susan looked on and wondered; for to her. the conduct of the man seemed utterly incomprehensible. If he could value her sweet friend so highly now, that he could set at nought the silent sneers of all that goodly companie,' why had he for long months past neglected and forsaken her? Why was it too, that towards their unobtrusive party he showed such high respect? To Miss Llewellen he was especially most gracious, and

tried sometimes, although it must be owned in vain, to make her comprehend a portion of the language which others spoke around her.

To Susan he remarked, when he perceived that for the moment Colonel Aylmer had left the place which throughout the day he had occupied by the young girl's side,—

I hope you're not fatigued, Miss Brigham. Drummond, my dear fellow, don't talk her quite to death. Young ladies from the country cannot stand such a rapid flow of brilliant conversation.'

I only said,' suggested Drummond, 'what a bore it is, it always blows except when one wants it to. Why, now, couldn't it have the sense to let us have a breeze to-day?'

There was some reason for Kit Drummond's remonstrance against the weather arrangements of the hour, for a heavy dullness had settled on the atmosphere, and gathering clouds of a leaden gray were gradually replacing the fleecy snow-like heaps of vapour

which in the clear blue sky had seemed an hour ago so lovely.

For a time no notice was taken of the evidently gathering tempest; but at last the gentlemen, curious concerning the unusual darkness, issued forth to examine the condition of the sky: and one or two of their number, who had money on the race, remained to speculate on the proceedings of the yachts.

The ladies-whose numbers had been increased by others who had assembled at that place of general rendezvous, being hushed and rather nervous in the anticipation of a gathering tempest--left the sumptuous luncheon table, and adjourning to the drawingroom, clustered together near the windows, whilst Miss Graham, who was evidently the esprit fort of the party, took advantage of the absence of the gentlemen, and addressed Susan with unceremonious, but arrogant familiarity.

Do you live at Cowes?' she asked, star