Year: 1867

per was implacable. She could not be
pleased, because her pleasure was in
finding fault and having always wor-
ried her attendants till they became
trenzled under the strain and flew in
her face, she hated every one who ap.
preached her from the conviction that
the feeling was mutual. This ban did
not, indeed, extend to her sou, for him
she idolized. Alfred Rushworth was
now twenty-five, and had just taken
possession of bis patrimony, after spend
ing five years iD travelling round the
world. | had seen him as he was pass
ing through the town and he turned to
look at me. And this fred my ambi-
tion But, uLder his own roof, | found
it easy to keep my resolution Of avoid
ing him; for he only appeared in our
part of the house at certain hour,
when he paid his daily visit to his
mother, and then | took care to be
absent.


Thus got over the first W elk. try.
ing all The while to conciiate Mrs.
Rushworth, but with no more effect
than to make her more exacting. One
morning she desired Inc to 90 down to
the library for book. You will find
it on my sons table, by the door, she
added. He said he would put it there
for me before be went out. Now, don t
be blundering with a servant, but go
yourself-though for that matter, you
are as likely to blunder as anybody


Thus graciously commissioned,
proceeded to the library, not without a
tremor; for it was there that Mr.. Rush
worth constantly sat, making it a for
bldden precinct to me, even in his ab-
sence. | did not wonder that it should
be his favorite apartment when l en-
tered. Lofty and spacious with bay
windows looking on the grounds, and
admitting flood of light, sumptuously
furnished withal, and shelved round
with volumes of every tongue, it afford
ed retreat tempting alike to the scholar
and idler. Nor could l be at loss to
discover his table, even without his
mothers directions for it was marked
by his open desk, and at the corner l
found the book for which l had come.
The same moment exposed to me let
ter lying on the desk, and which seemed
to turn me into stone 1t was address
ed to Mr.. Rushworth, in the hand of
George Lyttleton, and there could be
no doubt that its object was to traduce
me [ took it up; the seal was broken,
SO that l could draw out the enclosure
and read it. l felt irresistibly tempted
and held the letter moment; butthen
a better feeling prevailed and laid it
down. My eyes rose as | did so, and l
beheld Mr.. Rushworth.


Mrs. Rushworth sent me for a book
| stammered, acquiring speech I know
not how; and l saw this letter and
took it up to be sure that 1 was not
mistaken in the writing. I beg your
pardon for the liberty Mr.. Rushworth
inclined his head. Il feel that haven't
explained my conduct l continued,
'but-but the writer of the letter is
mine enemy, and l fear he can have
written to you but Tor one object-to
SANDER me- pray say no more,' he
replied, cavalierly. you didn't read
the letter, and don't complain of a
curiosity which the circumstances ex-
cuse.


had borne with the temper of his
mother, never resenting her contumely
however it panied, but my spirit fired
at being treated with such Indifference
by man. 1t brought back my old
pride of beauty l forgot my good res
olutions, and all my difficulties, and
thought only of the moment. Il trust
you will consider that the circumstances
justify greater curiosity, SIR I said :
'at least, must ask you whether that
letter does speak of me, and, if it does,
beg you will allow me to read it
He now looked me in the face. You
ask too much he replied, in a more
serious tone. 4 am sorry you think so,
sir; your words are confession that
the letter is about me; and [ cannot
consent to remain in your house, if |
am to stay under imputations which are
concealed from me- 4 wish to spare
you pain, and pain to myself. Isit not
enough that | disbclieve' your calum-
niator p Let me read it, SIR l plead
ed, laying my hand on the letter.
Again he incliued his head


| waited for no more, but ran
through the letter before | breathed
Here it Is /:


"SIR Il think it duty to put you
on your guard against Miss Seymour,
who lately entered your establishment
She has Tilted half the young men in
Barnford, and her plotting mother has
planted her at the Hall, with the de-
sign of entrapping you The young
lady fully enters into the scheme, and
is determined you shall be her husband
before the year is out. Take this
warning from


One WHO WISHES YOU WELL"


I felt the blood leave my cheek at
the first words of the letter, but then it
came back, for l exulted that, whatever
my original design, l had arrived at the
Hall with pure and honorable purpose.
Mr.. Rushworth could net misirterpret
my feelings as looked up. The blush
on my face was not that of shame, but
of triumph. That letter is written by
MIR. George Lyttleton,' I said: His
slanders are SO contemplate, that they
don't even make me indignant