Year: 1878

strange step for a young girl to take. Hel
husband felt equal curiosity on the subject
but judged it proper not to question Mary
leaving it to her own discretion to conide ii
them or not, as she should prefer.


The two girls-Nannie and Flora-wer'
charmed at the unexpected accession to thei
party. They were younger than Mary, ane
knew her but slightly, but felt quite sure tha
she must be sever so nice." They were mo-
shy girls, and made such successful overture'
to their new friend that they soon grew init
mate. Mrs. Give was much concerned tx
discover that Miss Eustace had brought ne
luggage with her. She felt sure that bel
trunks would be stolen or lost, if they were
sent after her without any one to see to theil
aafety. Mary treasured her by saying thai
she would have them sent by express, which
would be quite safe, and she meant to write
that night to have them sent Immediately, az
she had packed them in readiness before abe
left home.


On retiring to her room, she accordingly
wrote to Mrs. Blanding, and as she desired
to make no secret now Of her plans, she told
her exactly what arrangement she had made
She requested that her trunks might be sent
according to the direction she enclosed, and
also that sny letters coming to her should be
forwarded to the same address. In conclu
sion, she wrote thus: Il beg that you will moi
allow my absence to make any difference in
your arrangements, or those of the rest Of
the household, as I should be sorry to have
Colonel Dacre's directions put aside on &C.
count of any act of mine. l hope you will
believe that my movements are not the result
of mere caprice on my part; but that l have
a good reason for doing as I have done, and
am acting as I consider for the best. l re-
gret very much taat I have been obliged to
leave you and my friend, Miss St. Maur, in
this unceremonious way, but trust to your
kindness to pardon step which l could not
do otherwise than take"


Mr.. Give, himself, mailed this letter for
her, early the next morning, before they
started on their journey. Mary felt as if she
was in dream as they went whirling along
The change from quiet Mosslands to the hur'
ry and hustle of travel vas so sudden, and she
had had so little time to think it over, that
she could not yet realize the decisive step she
had taken. She thought she had acted wise
", and, under the circumstances, she felt
glad that she was safely away but she wished,
nevertheless, that circumstances had been
different, so that she might have remained.
Independently of her attachment to the place
itself, which had, by this time, become very
strong, there we're many reasons which seemed
to make it almost necessary for her to be
there. One of the most important of these
was the possibility of Colonel Dacre return
ing at any moment. He might come home
on furlougb, or he might be wounded and
forced to come home in that way; and what
would he think-what would he feel-to find
her gone? Suppose he were to be brought
there weak and i'll, as Maurice had been, was
it not her place to be in readiness to receive
him, to minister to his wants2 The thought
of his arriving thus, of his missing her, and
longing for her, filled her with keen pain. Yet
she knew that when once he learned the cause
of her desertion, he would not only pardon,
but approve of what she had done. In self
defence she would have to explain to him the
cause; yet she meant to do it in such way
as to soften Maurice's behavior, and ward of
the displeasure the Colonel would feel, even
though she should have to accept part OF
the blame for herself Maurice, Of course,
deserved his full need of censure; but the
Colonel was fond of him, and thought we'll of
him, and she was not willing to create dissen-
sion between them.


These troubling thoughts, filling her mind
as they journeyed on, made her very silent,
and the Give girls, after some unavaiing at
tempts to draw her into conversation, finally
left her to herself They, like most young
people travelling from home for the first time,
were full of excitement over the novelty OF
the situation, and chartered like magpies
about everything that attracted their notice.
A change of any sort was delightful to them,
and they did not disturb themselves with dis
agreeable reflections upon its cause.


After journeying for day and half, they
reached their destination, which was, as Mr..
Give had said, very small. quiet and se-
cluded spot-a little village among the hills.
The scenery around it was picturesque. the
climate agreeable, but it seemed very lonely,
and Mary felt as though thousands of miles
must lie between her and the places and peo-
ple she was familiar with. They reached the
hotel, primitive-looking, but neat and com.
Portable dwelling, where they fortunately had
no trouble in securing an extra room. The
landlady, foreigner, seemed con hospitable
thoughts intent" and anxious to surround her
few boarders with all the comforts she was
able to procure.


After sojourn of couple Of days, Mr.
Give babe adieu to his family and their
charge, promising to forward to them regular
ly, from the city, such papers and news of in
terest as would not be likely to reach them in
that remote region.


And here, established in undisturbed quiet
Mary had leisure to reflect upon all that had
happened, and to think, and wonder, and
to speculate upon the wisdom or folly of what
she had done, and the probable consequences
resulting therefrom.


TO BE CONTINUED.


PRESENT HAPPINEss.-Theg great secret OF
gaining happiness in life is to enjoy the pres.