you, because I really like you, and, until now, have respected you; and you just suit me. But I cannot keep a young man about me who makes love to my daughter, and wants to marry her on nothing a year. You have been a fool, my boy, that's all; but we part in no ill feeling, remember; and when I can befriend you, I will. I wish you had not been a fool, Roger!' He put out his hand kindly, and looked at the young man with almost tenderness.

Roger shook his hand warmly. 'Promise me one thing only, dear sir,' he said earnestly; 'promise that there shall be no unfair play with your daughter; but leave me free to win her, if I can satisfy your requirements.'

'I will do nothing,' said Mr. Fenton, emphatically. 'I cannot answer for others,' he added below his breath.

'Thank you, sir,' again said Roger; 'your promise is everything to me.' Then he turned away, once again looking back and bidding good-bye before he closed the door behind him, for the last time as Mr. Fenton's private secretary.

'I wonder,' said the old man to himself half aloud; and then he stopped and thought. 'Oh no! no!' he cried out, what would Carry say!'

Roger had no difficulty in finding little Georgie. She, too, had had her fears about the bad quarter of an hour;' and knowing that her lover had been summoned at an unusual time by her father, hung about the passage, waiting for his appearance.

Come with me a moment, alone,' said Roger in a low voice. 'I must see you alone, Georgie, whatever happens!'

She felt that something was wrong, and clung to him lovingly; not weakly, but with all her heart of love and girlish tenderness centered in that one earnest, clinging touch. They went into the conservatory-that favourite place for lovers; and there Roger told her what both knew would have to come when their secret was discovered; that Mr. Fenton knew all; that he

was dismissed, and must leave the house to-day.

'To-day!' said poor Georgie hiding her face. To-day! so soon after yesterday! Oh, Roger! what shall I do? what shall I do?'

'Trust to God, Georgie, and be a brave-hearted girl,' said Roger with quivering lips; and believe in me. Whatever you may hear, and whatever you may not hear-and the one is sometimes worse than the other-never have a moment's doubt of me. Believe in me, as I shall believe in you, though I neither see nor hear of you for twenty years to come; and be sure that the love which can be faithful through absence and trial, will be blessed in the end!'

She looked up into his face, and put both her hands in his. 'I will,' she said fervently. 'I will believe in you, Roger; and I will be faithful and true to the last day of my life!'

Even if you never receive a written line from me? for I know that your sister would not suffer us to correspond openly, my Georgie; and I would not ask you to stoop to anything involving management or intrigue. But, can you believe in me through years of silence?-perhaps against the harder trial of falsehood, hearing that I was untrue to you?-going to be married to another?-all the reports so sure to be set afloat, where there is something to be gained by the severance of two lives?'

'Yes,' she said; 'I know that you will not deceive me; and I would believe in any one's falsehood rather than in yours.'

He caught her to him in a very passion of grief and love. 'God bless you, my angel! now I am satisfied! Oh! never doubt me, my Georgie. Trust me as I shall trust you, through all things- evil reports, apparent neglect-everything; and believe, as I do, that if we are true to each other, we must come to a good issue at the last! Wear this, somewhere out of sight, for my sake,' he then added, taking his signet-ring from his finger; it is my crest you see-a mailed arm holding a sword, and my motto,