been the slightest hope of my being of any service to you, nothing would have prevented me from returning to England, and seeking you out; but I felt that it would be worse than useless to burden you with my poverty, for at that time I had absolutely nothing. I therefore resolutely turned my thoughts from the distressing subject. During my imprisonment, I had felt the conviction that I was called to serve God in the religious life; and to become a monk was now the aim and object of my existence. After many difficulties, I passed my novitiate in a monastery in Italy, from which we were in constant dread of being expelled by the tyrannical Piedmontese government. After my profession, I was transferred to this old abbey, which is a branch of the same order. Here I pursued my studies till I was ordained priest a few weeks ago; and, Agnes, today you have assisted at my first High Mass."

"How extraordinary!" said Agnes.

"Providential, let us call it," said Walter; and their conversation continued as long as Walter's duties permitted him to remain with them.

Their visit to Cologne had been nearly at an end; but they now prolonged it for several weeks, that they might see as much of Walter as possible. Each day they visited the monastery; and Walter was told the outline of Agnes's history, but the details he never heard.

We must now take a glance at what has passed during the last ten months. When Edith had unexpectedly arrived at Ferncliffe Hall, and, as

Frances had asked her, informed her family of the disclosure which had been made to her, she did so composedly and gracefully. Without attempting to palliate Frances's conduct, she alluded to it as little as possible. Wilfred listened as though he had never suspected it, and, after quietly collecting some papers, started, as we have seen, on the following day for London.

Herbert seemed as if inspired with new life, and his first act, after he heard the news, was to seek Mr. Percival, and to request, nay to demand, his consent to his marriage with Agnes. He found his father not only ready to grant his request, but delighted thus to make amends to Agnes for all that she had suffered.

We need not follow them through the courtship of the ensuing months: the wedding, of course, took place at Acacia Grove. It was a splendid one, and Frances exerted herself to her very utmost to do honour to the bride, whose magnificent trousseau was a wedding-gift from her.

Mr. Saunders, Agnes's godfather, was present on the occasion, and from him she received a handsome dowry.

Rose, full of inexpressible delight, was brought from school to be the principal bridesmaid, and after the wedding remained for a few weeks with Frances. She then returned to school to describe to her companions in glowing colours her first glimpse of the world.

CHAPTER XXIX.

ON THE BROAD OCEAN.

"The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared;
Merrily did we drop

Below the kirk, below the hill,
Below the lighthouse top.

The sun came up upon the left,

Out of the sea came he;

And he shone bright, and on the right

Went down into the sea."

"And then I look within :

COLERIDGE.

It matters not, my soul was scorched already."

BYRON.

IT was evening: the day had been an unusually hot one, and the sun, having accomplished his fiery course, was sinking gradually beneath the waves, while his glorious rays were reflected in crimson and gold on the bosom of the broad Atlantic.

The passengers, enticed by the cool breeze which had just begun to ripple the surface of the water, collected on the deck of the Ariel, a passenger ship bound for the New World. Some gazed with admiration on the splendour of the sunset, while the eyes of others were fixed on the retreating sails of a vessel with which they

X

had lately held communication. Why did they watch her with such interest as she sped on her way, each moment increasing the distance between them? And why were the eyes of many moistened with tears ere they withdrew them? Ah, they well knew that that ship would soon hail the shores of England, that beloved land which they had left little more than a week ago, perhaps never to see again. But the sound of music called back their attention to the busy scene on deck. A small band which was on board struck up a lively air, which seemed to make the Ariel dance over the golden waters. American newspapers sent on board by the vessel just spoken with were being handed from one to another. An old gentleman sitting at the side of the vessel was very much engrossed with one of these newspapers.

"Philip!" he called to a young gentleman, who, conversing with another, was walking up and down the deck; "Philip, come here. You remember that forgery which made such a sensation in Liverpool before we left ?"

"Yes; any news about it? I took a great interest in that."

"Yes; this American paper says that the last mail from England brought news that the rascal's name has been discovered. He has started for America; but the officers of justice will be there before him with his photograph, I understand."

"What is his name?" inquired Philip's companion, in an indifferent manner.

"Forster-he was a lieutenant in the army, it appears-William Forster. It is discovered that he sailed in the Mercury, which will arrive in New York a few days before we do."

"Then we have had a narrow escape of his company," said Philip. "But come, father, I want you to hear that man sing. He has a splendid voice; I heard him the other night. He is just going to begin."

So saying, he drew his father towards the opposite side, where a crowd was collecting.

"What a handsome fellow that Williams is !" said the elder gentleman, casting a glance behind at his son's late companion, whom they left standing alone.

"Yes, and a very agreeable man altogether," responded the youth. "I like him amazingly.

But now for the song."

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In the mean while the subject of these remarks took up the newspaper which had been thrown on the bench, and, seating himself in a careless attitude, began to read the paragraph concerning the forgery which has been already alluded to. He held the paper before his face, and his manner did not betray any great interest; but as he read, his face each instant became paler, and his features were strongly convulsed. When he had finished, he muttered between his teeth, "Ah, but they are wrong about the ship. How lucky that I missed sailing in the Mercury, as I had intended!" He paused, then suddenly with an oath exclaimed, "But even as it is I am no better off; for when