his prostrate officer. From that period M'Dermot had been taken into his service and though Sydney dwelt long and eloquently upon the great debt he had thus contracted, not once did he even hint at the unslumbering gratitude of his own heart; at the liberal kindly offices, which had acknowledged-far more than acknowledged the obligation.

Elizabeth's eyes turned upon M'Dermot; tears flooded them; she did notshe could not trust herself to speak; her heart beat strangely; her emotion was inexplicable to herself. That night Elizabeth's sleep was restless and broken: many hours did she pass in schooling her feelings to composure, in striving to tighten the check-rein on her sensibility: alas! it is easier to resolve than to act: when she sought to put her resolution into practice, the flutter at her heart, the faint sickness which came over her, augured ill for the success of her efforts. In the morning she met her cousin with evident trepida

tion; her colour, as summer lightning, was flitting and evanescent; it flushed and it faded almost with the rapidity of thought.

"We must not journey so far to-day," said Mr. Beresford, gravely. Spirit, I fear, has outstripped strength;" and he stroked back the dark ringlets of Elizabeth as he spoke, and kissed her fair brow.

"Rather will we pitch tent and bivouac by the road-side," remarked Sydney; then, with much interest-" My sweet cousin, I had hoped change of air had furnished an ample narcotic. What could have chased the poppies from your pillow last night?

Elizabeth raised her eyes inquiringly to his; then, with a thrilling blush, as instantly bent them on the floor again.

"It is no random guess," pursued Sydney. "This morning I watched for Susan Grey; and when I questioned, I heard of a restless and unquiet night."

I believe it was the fearful wound

upon your forehead, cousin Sydney, and the exploit of that brave M'Dermot, which kept me wakeful," artlessly replied Elizabeth. "I did so think of the battle of Orthes. Oh, how I value M'Dermot. But for him-"

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"I had not been here to tell the tale," interrupted Sydney, delighted at the speaking interest of her voice and manner. May I not question him myself? May I not make acquaintance with M'Dermot, and prove how much I honour him ?"

Assuredly, dear Elizabeth; but not until we reach the Tile-house: the tax of another night's broken rest must not be laid at my door."

Elizabeth smiled." Well, we will talk of lighter matters," she said: "methinks I shall find in him, much of heart, and much of genuine humour."

"Like the racy pomegranate, my fair cousin: a rough coat and a rich pulp. I'll be sworn, a more blundering head

never owned fellowship with a stancher heart. I would not trust the one; but I would wage life and honour on the other."

"I wish," and Elizabeth smiled and sweetly blushed at the idle speculations of her own fancy, "that your Terence M'Dermot had an eye for my little Susan Grey."

"Fie, fie, cousin Elizabeth!" exclaimed Sydney, with mock gravity. "Know you not what our immortal bard, in his • Two Gentlemen of Verona,' puts into the mouth of Protheus?

• Were man

But constant, he were perfect.'

Would you then tempt to the disloyalty of the heart ?”

"Oh, no!" said Elizabeth, laughing; "I honour faith too much to hazard such an issue. But has Terence gone beyond the passive tense of mere liking?"

"Faith, I suspect he has plunged into the positive tense of downright love," replied captain Beresford.

"Then I would not for worlds that he turn traitor, even for my favourite Susan Grey," playfully replied Elizabeth. "Perhaps it is a dearer incentive to the love of country-a spell, wrought by the bright eyes of some Hibernian damsel."

Sydney shook his head." You are all at sea, Elizabeth. Eye him well: can you not read in that happy face of his, that every mile brings him nearer to his love ?"

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Oh, a Devonshire lass, bred and born, I suspect, within shadow of the Elms." "Tarry until you visit the Vicarage," said Sydney, significantly," and then the mystery will be expounded."

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Perhaps the pretty lady's-maid of Gertrude and Rhoda Penrose;" and Elizabeth strove at cheerfulness, but she sighed in spite of herself.

"Not quite right, yet, my sweet cousin. No, no, you must not look for the luxury of a lady's-maid beneath the roof of the Vicarage. Mrs. Penrose is a mo

ther