Year: 1865

with pleasure and anticipation. She cared
not who thought her looking well, if Louis
Manlcy did not she had somehow learnt to
value his approval very highly. This last
slight attention augured for the evening"
and she descended to the tea room, her eyes
spark ling lncrrily. and bright glow on her
unually.p pale cheek.


The tea was over, and the dancing began,
but still there was no Louis Manley to be
seen. The belle of the evening soon found
her engagement card nearly filled, but Louis
| Manley's name was not on the list.
SO frequently had she danced that it was
not until late that she went into the adjoin-
ing room. She stood at the door, and look
| ing in, saw at the further end Louis Manley
hanging over the back of ladys chair,
paying her the most familiar and marked
attention. 1t was enough for ELISE she
made some excuse to her partner and re-
turned to the ballroom without going any
further; all her pleasure for the night was
ut an end.


| The guests went to the supper room in
parties. Amongst the last was ELISE she
was cross and i'll at ease too conscious to
ask any one who the lady was, and too vexed
with herself to venture near them again
She knew Mr.. Manley did not care for dane
| ing so it was not so very strange that he
had kept himself aloof


The supper over, Elise slipped away un-
seen, and managed to get into small con
servatory that opened by glass door into
| the library where the refreshments were laid.
! The room being brilliantly lighted, and the
conservatory dark, ELISE amused herself by
watching the couples as they sauntcred in
and out, perfectly aware that though she
could see them they could not sec her.
AT last she saw Louis Manley enter with
the lady on his arm, and very handsome
couple they were-a fact that even Elise
could not deny


They sat themselves Just under the mis-
tletoe, and with burning Indignation ELISE
saw Louis Manley playfully tap his fair com
panion on the shoulder, and trifle with her
| long curls; while she chattcd and laughed,
quite unconcerned. Then they both looked
at the mistletoe, and seemed to be engaged
in an argument as to its utility.


"Ah T. thought Elise, with all your
scdateness, Mr. Manley, you would like to
have aiken advantage of the mistletoe; but
never mind, you are disappointed.


She had scarcely said as much to herself,
break off a sprig of the mistletoe, hold it
over the lady S head, and kiss her.


With burning cheek, and an exclamation
that nearly betrayed her, Elise turned away,
and at the same time snatchng the camela
from her hair, she tore it in pieces Then
she recollected that she had no right to be
angry, that Mr. Manlcy had done nothing
that could by any means be construed into
particular attentions, and that this no doubt
cleared up the mystery of his great steadi-
ness, and his never by any chance flirting
He was engaged, beyond doubt. But how
came the lady there on this evening, when
she had written every invitation herself?


Mortified pride was for time uppermost.
That she, ELISE Efhngham, should have
fallen in love with her father 5 articled pupil
given her heart to an engaged man,
was dreadful; and tears, angry, burning
tears, started into her eyes. Then she stood.
and looked out on the stars, as most love
lorn damsels are apt to do, raising kind OF
comfort from the consideration that she was
a martyr. She positively managed to make
herself thoroughly unhappy, for there GER
tainly had been a something in Louis Man
| ley's manner, that had spoken of more than
friendship, though he had been anything
but forward in his attentions


While Elise was thus standing, lost in
her anything but pleasant musings, she was
startled by hearing her own name spoken
close beside her, and turning round found
herself face to face with Louis Manlcy.


Annoyed beyond measure, she would have
given anything to escape but it was rmp0s-
sible, and she did her best to brave it out !;
though fully conscious that there remained
traces Of tears on her face, and that the scat
tered leaves of the camellia were by her side
to tell their own tale


Il am feeling tired and heated, Mr..
Manley," she began, in tolcrably compos-
ed manner. Are you looking for any one?'


"Ycs, he replied your mamma sent
me to look for you, Miss Effingham you
have been missing so long. VIII you not
allow me to get you some retreshment? 1T
you are warm, you are scarcely wise to re-
main in this draught."


Elise thought that the best thing she
could do was to comply, and accordingly took
his protfered arm. She saw him cast look
of surprise and inquiry towards the broken
flower, and felt maddened at the impetuous
folly which had caused her to destroy it, at
the same time fully alive to the necessity of
arousing herself to avoid anything like an
exhibition of her real feelings.


Louis led her to the supper room, and
they We're soon seated just where Elise had
! seen the strange tableau enacted She did
her best to talk in her usually lively strain,
but her sallies were little too sarcastic tc
pass current.


WI 4ldiiiCJ Iclptu iCl W Il SiuoS vi NihCi
but made no effort to eniven the converse
ton. ELISE had no doubt that he was think
: ing what rude foolish girl she was to de-
stroy his really thoughtful present She
emptied her glass as quickly as possible, and
L. managed to eat biscuit, and then she pro-
posed joining the rest of the party.
"No, please not yet" said her partner,
with look that few hours ago would have
made Elise happy, whereas it now only
made her long to end a tete-a-tete which was
every moment becoming more and more
embarrassing


''No, Elise, you must not 60" he con
tinued in u constrained voice 'Whorc
have you kept yourself all the evening? |
have not caught a glimpse of you
!, Elise felt angry, fancying that somehow
t he had guessed her secret and was trfiing
with her, and replied very tastily, Il am
t quite at loss to know what you mean, Mr..
Manley; you must be aware that your at
tentions have been confined to the one who
t doubtless has the best right to receive them.
"Nay, Miss Efingham, that is rather :
t severe speech, and | am sure that you vii


not get any one to coincide with you, re
E piled Louis, speaking as though she hao
meant joke.


ELISE saw this, and tried to carry on the