, 1899-02-03

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ering all things, you have reason to be
aeeply grateful to Sir George. Why, then,
abuse him? Why, he
"Grateful! To Sir George! To your
fatherr' cries his wife, holly and quick.
..Freddy!" from his sister-in-law brings
him to a full stop for a moment.
DDo Won mean to tell me-" says he,
brought to bay, that you rave nothing to
thank Sir George for?" He is addressing
his wife.
.sNothing, nothing!" declares she, vehe-
mently. the remembrance of that last let
ter from her husbands father that still
lies. within reach of her view, lending a
suspicion of passion to her voice.
"Oh. my dear girl, conslder!" says Mr..
Monkton. lively reproach In his tone.
s.Has he not given you me, the best hus-
band in EuropeT'
"Ah. what 1t Is to be modest" says
Joyce. with her little quick, brilliant
laugh.
"Well, it's not true" says Mrs. Monk
ton. who has laughed also, In spite OF her,
self and the soreness at her heart. He
did not give you to me. You made me
that gift of your own free will. l have,
as | said before, nothing to thank him
FOR" .
al always think he must be a silly old
man." says Joyce, which seems to put a
Gtting termination to the conversation.
Mr.. Monkton rises from the table, and
MIS- wife rises, too.
"You are going to your studyT' asks
ahe. a little anxiously. He Is about to
say nc" to this, but a glance at her face
checks him.
ayes, come with me-" says he, instead,
answering the lovely silent appeal in her
eyes. That letter has no doubt distressed
her. She will be happier when she has
talked it over with him-they two alone.
HE will always have 1t In his power to
annoy me-" says she, quickly. THAT, per
haps," with a little burst of feeling, sis
why | can't forgive him. If | could for
get or grow Indifferent to 1t all, l should
not nave this hurt feeling in my heart
But he Is your father, and though he ii
the most unjust, the cruelest man oil
earth, l still hate to think he should re
gard me as he does"
''There is one thing, however, you for
get" says Mr.. Monkton, gravely. Il don
want to apologize for him, but Ilwoult
remind you that he has never seen you"
81 shall never go to England to SCI
lin. / shall stay in Ireland always. M.
own land; the land he despises, the Liant
whose people he detests because he know
nothing about them. 1t was one Of hi
chief objections to your marriage with m
that | was an Irish girlr'
Barbara" says Monkton, very gent,
but with a certain reproach, you almos
make me think that you regret our mar
riage."
mo, l DON'T quickly. "If I talke
forever, / shouldn't be able to make 70
think that. But" She turns to hir
and gazes at him through large eyes tina
are heavy with tears. II shall always b
sorry for one thing, and that is-that 20
FIRST met me where you did,"
"At your aunt's? Mrs. Burke's"
"She Is not my aunt" with a littl
frown Of distaste; ''she Is nothing to m
80 far as blood is concerned. Oh! Freddy!
She stops close to him and gives him
grief-stricken glance. Il wish my poe
father had been alive when first you sa'
me. That we could have met for the fri
time in the old home. 1t was shabby
faded"-her face paling now with intens
e~motion-"but you would have known
ouas that 1t had been a fine old place. an