"Ferncliffe!" he ejaculated in surprise, on observing the post-mark.

Frances faltered something, of which he could make out but the single word "Wilfred."

"Wilfred Percival! Then why not tell me so at first? I cannot understand you. Why should his letter affect you in this extraordinary way?"

"I do not know," said Frances, scarcely conscious of what she was saying.

"Why, my dear Frances, compose yourself, and answer me: you are not talking sense.”

Seeing that it was useless to question his wife further at this moment, he finished reading his letters; and finding that she was still silent, left the room.

She felt that she had deeply grieved him, and was in despair; but what could she do? In Wilfred's letter she had seen expressions of surprise at her silence, earnest entreaties for an answer; and towards the end she saw the words, "Unless you make known your secret, or else prove to me, beyond a doubt, that you have none, I shall consider that you wish me to speak for you; and in order that you may have time to consider this, you may depend upon my silence for at least-" Here she was interrupted, and could read no more.

Now, when left to herself, she passed through her mind all that she could remember of the letter; and, O, how much she wished that she could see it but once more, and learn how much time was allowed her! She could not even remember distinctly what she did read; but one thing remained

fixed upon her memory-Wilfred would tell his thoughts; he would say as much to others as he had said to her; but how soon she knew not. She would have given worlds to know.

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My secret will be out-known by everybody, perhaps reach my husband's ears; and I alone am silent. If my uncle does not write in a few days, I will make all known to Wilfred-but not yet; I dare not.”

Mr. Clyde now returned. His manner was quite changed; and although there was distress and anxiety depicted in his countenance, he forbore to ask another question, and loaded Frances with every imaginable kindness, though she withheld from him her confidence. She was totally incomprehensible to him; but he loved and now pitied her from his heart.

In the afternoon of the next day Mr. Clyde was obliged to leave home, though it was with a heavy heart; for he saw that he left his wife ill and unhappy. And no sooner had he departed than Frances bitterly repented that she had not made him acquainted with her history. She saw all his generosity and indulgence more vividly than ever, and felt that she had abused them.

CHAPTER XXV.

AGNES GOES HOME.

"Pure as the snow-flake ere it falls and takes the stain of

earth,

With not a taint of mortal life, except thy mortal birth; God bad thee early taste the spring for which so many

thirst,

And bliss, eternal bliss, is thine, my fairest and my first !" A. WATTS.

"Lorn mother at the dark grave-door

She kneeleth, pleading o'er and o'er,
But it is shut for evermore.

She toileth on, the mournfullest thing,

At the vain task of emptying

The cistern whence the salt tears spring."

MASSY.

FRANCES tried in vain to rest that night: if she closed her eyes, it was but to see hideous forms before her, and she was constrained to open them, to dissipate the illusion. At last, wearied with these repeated trials, she gave up all idea of sleep. She rose, and bathed her throbbing temples. The baby was very restless in its cot, and she sat up and rocked it for a time; then, kneeling by its side, she took one of her husband's prayer-books, and recited the Seven Penitential Psalms. In

such occupations as these she passed the whole night. When Columba came in, in the morning, Frances asked her to take the baby to its nurse:

"She has been very restless," she said, "and I am afraid she is not well.”

Columba did as she was desired, and then returned to wait upon her mistress.

Frances, while dressing, was so deeply absorbed in her own thoughts, that it was not until Columba had upset a bottle of eau-de-Cologne, and proceeded to soak it up with the baby's blue sash, that she noticed anything at all peculiar in her maid's manner.

"Why, Columba, what are you thinking of? That is baby's sash," said she, rescuing it from destruction; you seem to be very absent this morning.'

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"I have something to say to you, milady, and was thinking how to begin.'

Frances, seeing from this prelude that she had some difficulty in approaching her subject, gave an encouraging smile.

"Something to say, have you? Well, you shall tell me while you dress my hair." So saying she seated herself before the glass, and, raising her eyes, almost started at the pale and haggard face that she saw reflected there.

"Now, Columba, unburden your mind; it is better to speak at once," said she, sighing at the thought of her own sad experience.

tell

"Well, milady, it is disagreeable for me to you, but I understand more English than the

other servants think. I do not speak much to them, but I hear them sometimes say things which they would not wish me to know."

“Well, and what are these dreadful things?"

“But, milady, they are things which I am sure you will not like to hear, because I know that Miss Falkland is your great friend.”

"Indeed!" said Frances, her interest now fully aroused. "What of Miss Falkland? Tell me what they say."

Columba hesitated.

"Well, milady, I do not exactly know what they mean; they say she is only a governess, and was obliged to leave her last place because they found out something about her. But don't look so frightened, milady, I am sure it is not true, and I told them so. I think that Jane Harding must have talked to them about her, for they have never seemed to like her so well since she began to come here I mean Jane Harding, milady."

"And who is Jane Harding? And pray what has she to do with my servants?"

"She is Mrs. Wilson's servant, milady."

Frances said nothing, and hastily completed her toilet; but, as she was leaving the room, she turned back, and said:

"You did quite right to speak to me, Columba, and I thank you for doing so. Miss Falkland was a governess before she came here; I knew that when I asked her to live with me; but this ought not in the least to diminish her in anyone's good opinion. With regard to the latter part of the