For my part, I would renounce friendship altogether with a criminal, whether convicted or not."

"But the friend, the real friend, should disbelieve what is brought against the other, till he knows, positively, that what is brought against him is true,” answered Geoffrey. "He ought to know it personally, too; to take no other man's assurance or belief of it. At least that is my ideal of friendship."

"Mine, too!" Arthur said. "Geoffrey, do not believe anything against me, till you know from me that I am guilty! But let us both keep innocent— that is best," he added, laughing.

"Well now, Arthur," said the other, "do you really expect to learn anything from this man Clifford ?"

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I hardly know how to answer you," replied Arthur. "You are sometimes so hard-hearted and even coldhearted, I think, and I know that I am naturally more serious and credulous than you. Gerstenberg could not tell me anything. But I must say that I have some hopes of unravelling the mystery which hangs over my birth; though, perhaps, there are but scanty grounds for hope."

"And you can believe it, then? That your early history is to be revealed to you by Clifford, the magician, who communicates with you through Gerstenberg, the spy? Well; faith is a blessed possession

without a sigh. He did not believe him to be guilty. But Sir Hervé de Léon's evidence was too clear, and he suffered for-Murder! It is a painful subject," he added, in a few moments. "It struck me, when I saw the tablet, that report said he was buried here, and I was curious about it. We will go now."

As he had been speaking, Arthur had read the inscription.

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"Nay," he said; one moment first. See. It says that a brother set up this tablet to a wronged man. Was he guilty?"

"I believe so," answered the other. "I always understood so, except from Sir Thomas, who was, as

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say, his friend. Sir Hervé de Léon was the chief witness."

"Well, we may all err," said Arthur. "All of us. You or I—we know not what we may be accused of or be guilty of. But I feel a sort of reverence, Geoffrey, for the love which set up this tablet. His brother would not believe him guilty, though the outside world did. It would be a pity that rubbish should hide such a memento of affection. I would do the like for you, Geoffrey, in such a case, if I believed you to be innocent! It will not take us long :-let us do what we can to honour such friend

'Willingly," he replied. And they set to work.

In a few moments the moss and leaves and surrounding plants were all cleared away from the head-stone. A cross was found at the foot of the grave, and set up; and the tablet presented its inscription unimpeded to the eye of passers by, imploring them to pray for poor Arvon's soul, as usual in those times when such prayers were supposed to be of use. And it seemed, as it stood among the dead and dying vegetation, like a beacon, to remind those passers that though they and all men must decay in season, like the leaves, there is a world for them where death will be unknown.

This done, Arthur and Geoffrey twined their arms together, and passed away from the spot.

to a man. I don't believe in either the magician or the spy. I wish-" he paused; then after a few moments he pursued " I wish I could believe. If I did, they might resolve me my mystery too. For I want to have it solved

"You?" said Arthur. "Why, Lady Jane, I always thought

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The other shook his head.

"No, no," he said; "I despair of that. Why should she have kept it from me hitherto, if she could solve it? Oh, Arthur! it matters little that Sir Thomas Crèves has adopted me, so long as I remain ignorant on this point of who my parents were."

Arthur looked up at him in surprise at his serious tone.

"Yes," he went on. "You have hitherto known me only as a gay and careless soldier. I knew no more of my own character myself. But I am different now. Why, when I saved your life last summer, I was a reckless, fearless boy, and did not care what I did. I am changed, thoroughly changed now."

"How? Not by your short stay in England?" exclaimed Arthur. "What has changed you?"

"We have had no time to talk as of old, since I returned," he answered. "This reality of war-my new position too—many things have conspired against

the old, full interchange of confidence between us. But none of these things have changed me. Heigho! You named Sir Hervé de Léon just now."

"Yes,"-answered the other, with a slight start.

“I must know my real history;—I will know it,” Geoffrey pursued, scarcely waiting for the other's assent. "I can do nothing without it. Sir Thomas's adoption of me is nothing."

"Why?-what is the matter, Geoffrey?" said his

friend.

"My happiness is at stake on this, Arthur," he replied. "I have at last gained a sight of that Paradise to which you and I used to look forward. I love. I can see vistas of brightness opening for me-before me-inviting me to hurry on to them. But this barrier is in the way, and I cannot leap it."

"Do not be discouraged by any barrier which does not involve your own honour," exclaimed Arthur. "Does she love you in return?"

"Yes! I am sure of it. Every look: every tone assures me of it.—I have not breathed a thought of this to any one but yourself-they would laugh at me, and I could not bear that. Oh, Arthur, it is so delicious;-that belief of being loved! Anxious as I have always been to earn fame-approval of othersto be loved-admired-respected to find that

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