ing a will is transportation. But I did not destroy it; there is no evidence against me. In almost any case I am safe.

"As a preliminary precaution, I will write tonight to old Percival, to congratulate him on his amiable son's good fortune, which I shall have accidentally heard on my way. This will throw dust in the eyes of all."

CHAPTER XI.

LITTLE BY LITTLE.

"Be wise to-day-'tis madness to defer;
Next day, the fatal precedent will plead ;
Thus on, till wisdom is pushed out of life."

YOUNG.

WE left Agnes waiting for Mr. Percival in the study. That morning she had determined on speaking to him upon some little matters of business, concerning which she knew he would be so kind as to advise her, as she could not afford to consult a lawyer.

Having heard the unusual sound of the alarmbell at the Hall, she hastened thither in great anxiety, and, as we have seen, was shown into the study by Lieutenant Forster.

After a short time, she heard Mr. Percival and a stranger in conversation, and evidently coming towards the room she was in.

Not caring to meet any one but Mr. Percival, and thinking they might want the room to themselves, she rose with the intention of retiring into the library, to wait there until Mr. Percival was at liberty; but before she could complete her escape, they entered the room. Confused at her rather awkward position, she stammered an apology, and

was about to retire, when Mr. Percival, who had been surprised at finding her there, asked if she wished to speak to him. She replied that she did, but as he was engaged, she would wait his convenience. He, however, asked Mr. Robinson to excuse him for a few minutes, and accompanied Agnes into the library.

In a short time her business was despatched, and she left the house, regretting that she had not time to see Edith. This was her first visit to the Hall after six weeks' absence, as, since Mrs. Falkland had been taken ill, she had not been able to leave home.

The last time she had passed down that fine old avenue, the trees were bare and the sky was cloudy. The cold March winds had made Agnes draw her cloak around her and pull down her veil to keep the dust out of her eyes; yet she had felt blithe and happy, for the sunshine was all within. But now the case is reversed. The graceful limes are coming out in all their fragrant verdure, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing gaily: but Agnes feels lonely and desolate, and her eyes fill with tears as she thinks how different her home is now from what it was then.

On her way to the Lodge, she observed a lady and gentleman advancing towards her. She recognised Edith and Herbert, and wishing to avoid the latter, she foolishly turned into a side-path, which she knew would lead her into the lane, hoping by this means to escape observation. But they had already seen her, and Edith called to

her by name; Agnes, feigning not to hear, pursued her path, but on Edith's calling again and following her, she felt that she could have no excuse for thus running from them.

"Why, Agnes, did you not hear me? I called you twice, and thought you must have heard; it seemed as though you were running away from me on purpose," said Edith, laughing.

Agnes, overwhelmed with confusion, blushed deeply, and knew not what to reply; Edith, seeing her embarrassment, though entirely ignorant of the cause, kindly took no notice of it, and questioned her no more, supposing her to be in great haste. She therefore bid her adieu, and allowed her to depart.

"Come, Herbert," said she, "let us go and

"By the bye, she must have been very much. frightened at this mysterious alarm,-I never thought of that."

"Ah, but fortunately she has a more considerate son than you," said Edith slyly; "I know that Wilfred's first precaution was to tell her that there was nothing the matter, even before he was sure of it himself."

"I have discovered the cause," exclaimed the person they were speaking of, as they entered their mother's sitting-room; "it must have been one of Frances's freaks. You remember, Edith, the day after she arrived she said she would ring that bell some day to startle us all, and now I think of it, she was not among the mob in the yard."

"Of course," said Edith; "how stupid I was not to think of that before !"

"O mother," said the younger son, "I would have given anything for you to have seen the gathering of the clans. From the house came, rushing like so many maniacs, screaming housemaids, red-faced cooks, fainting lady's-maids, footmen, butlers, grooms, by the dozen; and though last, decidedly not least, with her gray locks streaming from under her cap, came the stately Mrs. Allen, with half a degree more speed than is her wont, vainly endeavouring to calm her excited subordinates. But the cry is still they come ;' scores of country boors come flocking in from every part of the country round, some with rakes, some with spades, each with a weapon of defence over his shoulder. And O, the bitter disappointment of those who brought the cans of water, when they found that after all the house was not on fire! But the closing scene was the richest part of all, when the lord of the manor, mounted on a horse-block, began to address his faithful vassals, thanking them for their ready attendance when they fancied their services might be required; and having explained that it must have been an accident that had called them together so unnecessarily, ordered flagons of ale to be passed round, and the crowd dispersed cheering loudly for the house of Percival."

Here Wilfred was interrupted by the sudden entrance of his father, who asked hastily, "Has anyone been in the study this morning?"

H