She could only fall on her knees, and commit him to God.

for

"Well, my dear, here you are! 'Ow do you feel, now you're up? I can't say much your looks. Can you, Mr. Barber ?" "Hum," said Mr. Barber, glancing at Gabrielle, with a professional eye: "Looks are deceitful, ain't they, Miss Wynn? Let's feel your pulse."

Gabrielle extended her wrist which he held for some time, after the usual pulsefeeling fashion. This done, he again said, "Hum:" a meditative "Hum."

"You've not been feeling very strong lately ?"

"Not very."

"A slight cough, my wife said, I think. "Yes."

"We must see if we can't fatten you up, No fasting allowed here, Mrs. Bar

a bit.

ber? The kitchen physic is your department, you know."

"Yes, I know, and I shall see to it, you may depend," replied Mrs. Barber, with compressed lips and a nod: "Bless me, Gabrielle! Upon my word! 'Ow like you're getting to your mother!".

"Am I? But she was so pretty, I thought," said Gabrielle, in all simplicity.

"Yes I don't mean that you come up to her. Though you're by no means bad-looking, my love, yourself. But it's a look, just a look, which has come over you: and lor' me, Mr. Barber! how strong it is !"

She shook her head as she spoke, and darted a quick glance at her husband. His countenance, however-doctor like-was utterly impenetrable.

"I'll look at Miss Wynn again, if she'll allow me, and question her a little more closely. Just now, I must be off. Plenty

of time for all! We shan't let her We shan't let her go in a

hurry, now we've got her; shall we, Mrs. Barber?-My dear- —?"

He beckoned to his wife; who followed him from the room: and Gabrielle heard them whispering on the other side of the door. Mrs. Barber shortly returned alone, with a glass of wine and a biscuit. These she placed before Gabrielle, and sat down, in solemn silence, to her work.

"Ow long have you been in this delicate state, my dear?" she inquired, presently. "Am I in a delicate state? I did not know it. A cough always makes me weak. Never mind it, now. I want you to tell me all the changes in Eversfield-past, present, and future. So please begin."

Mrs. Barber, never averse to a gossip, did begin. And not only had she plenty to tell, but plenty also to ask. She displayed an inexhaustible interest in the Farnley ménage:

making minute inquiries as to the number of servants, their wages, the "style of living," the amount of "company kept;" and, last not least, as to the personal habits of every one of the Gordons.

"I was mentioning you, Gabrielle, to our rector, one day, and he seemed. to have heard great things of your cousin James. He said that he had written an exceedingly clever book. I suppose you know all about it ?"

"Oh yes."

She went off into a dream, over the "Four Essays," and the evening when she saw it first, and her talk with James. Then passed to the lecture, and Mr. Savill, and her little congratulatory burst-and thought how he had pressed her hand, and had said, "Thank you, Gabrielle," and how his tone had thrilled through her

"Good gracious me, my dear Gabrielle!

'Ow h'absent you are! When do you mean to answer?"

"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Barber. Were you speaking? I am very rude."

"Oh no, my love. I know you and your ways, or ought to! I merely asked: Was Mr. Gordon engaged?"

"No, he is not," replied Gabrielle, in a tone meant to discourage further questioning.

But Mrs. Barber did not understand

tones.

"Lor me! You don't say so. What a catch! And so 'andsome too! I saw him, when he came to your poor father's funeral, and I shall never forget him, I'm sure. Mrs. Simpson saw him too, and she and me have often said what a splendid-looking fellow he Such eyes! and such a presence! And such a nose! Goodness gracious, Gabrielle! if I had been you, I should have

was.