Out he

with the air of an offended queen. went-but drew her after him; clasping her wrist so firmly, that she could not have escaped, without a struggle: which, for Gabrielle's sake, she forewent, and, in a highly dignified manner, allowed herself to follow in his train.

Then, setting her back against the closed door, she regarded him with a stony stare, and inquired what he wanted.

"Tell me at once, if you please; and be

quick about it. I must go back to Gabrielle."

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66

Cissy, what is the matter with Gabrielle?"

"Oh! Is that all? You would like to

know, I daresay; you were always inquisitive. But I shan't tell you. So leave my wrist alone."

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Cissy, I must know."

Must, indeed! Are you Mr. Godfrey, that you should come in this lofty manner, and demand to hear Gabrielle's secrets?

And all this time, she may be fainting! Do get away to The Featherstone, James! how can you be so ungentlemanlike? Let me go, I say."

And Cissy, wrenching her wrist free: a matter of little difficulty,-for James perceived that he should gain nothing by detaining it rushed back into the school-room, taking the precaution to lock the door behind her.

Gabrielle was quiet now; the tears had ceased. "Oh, did he see?" she asked languidly, as Cissy resumed her place.

"Yes, he did and serve him right!" muttered Cissy, under her breath.

66

'Never mind, darling," she said aloud; "don't trouble yourself about him."

"But did he see ?"

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Well, of course he saw;" replied Cissy, coaxingly : "But what then? He could not know____""

Here she stopped; feeling that, to use a vulgar expression; she was "putting her foot in it."

"What did he say?"

"Oh dear! what dreadful pertinacity !"

he got into a desperate state, dragged me out of the room-just see my wrist!" said Cissy, in a parenthesis: displaying a very pretty white wrist, on which the faintest possible tinge of red was fast becoming invisible :-" and asked what was the matter with Gabrielle? said he Must know, or some such nonsense and glared like a tiger-or what is the creature? However, I told him there was no Must in the case, and . . Etc., Etc. Now, Gabrielle, go to sleep."

:

"What else did you tell him ?"

"Oh, Gabrielle! Gabrielle! what shall I do? Well! if you will be obstinate-I inquired which was unnecessary, for of

:

course I knew: whether he were Mr. Godfrey."

Oh, Cissy! why did you say that? I wish you hadn't !"

But the wish was not very strong. And he had been "in a desperate state;" had said that he "Must know." He cared for her still, then, a little. Perhaps-oh per

haps some day, all might come right!

And as she lay back in her chair, resigning herself to her fatigue, there was more of peace in Gabrielle's heart, than she had known for weeks.

"Now you must have some wine. I'll get some myself, from the housekeeper's room; that Wilcox mayn't see your eyes. Lie still. I shall be back in a moment."

Away flew Cissy. But she was not back

in a moment; or in many moments. The housekeeper was upstairs; the wine was under lock and key; and a considerable delay ensued. thoroughly exhausted, dropped asleep the tears still wet upon her cheeks.

And meanwhile, Gabrielle,

:

James was hanging about, restlessly, in the hall pausing sometimes before a window, sometimes before a statue; but seeing nothing. He had been in a hurry, when he entered the school-room; and, in fact, his horse was, at this moment, waiting, saddled and bridled, at the foot of the steps. Both horse and hurry, however, were forgotten

now.

Presently, the suspense became intolerable. He returned to the school-room; opened the door. Cissy was gone, Gabrielle asleep; he entered with hushed tread, walked to her side, and, half sitting, half leaning, on the table near her, gazed. And as he gazed,