Not so Tom Ryfe. In that gentleman's mind mingled the several disagreeable sensations of surprise, anger, jealousy, and disgust. Of these be chewed the bitter cud while he rode home, wondering with whom Miss Bruce could thus dare to parade herself in public, maddened at the open rebellion inferred by so ignoring his presence and his love, vowing to revenge himself without delay by tightening the curb and making her feel, to her cost, the hold he possessed over her person and her actions. By the time he reached his uncle's house, he had made up his mind to demand an explanation, to come to a final understanding, to assert his authority, and to avenge his pride. He turned pale to see Maud's monogram on the envelope of a letter that had arrived during his absence, paler still, when from this letter a thin slip of stampel paper fluttered to the floor-white to the very lips while he read the sharp, decisive, cruel lines that accounted for its presence in the missive, and that bade him relinquish at a word all the hope and happiness of his life. Without unbuttoning his coat, without removing the hat from his head, or the gloves from his hands, he sat fiercely down, and wrote his answer.

'You think to get rid of me, Miss Bruce, as you would get rid of an unsuitable servant, by giving him his wages, and bidding him to go about his business. You imagine that the debt between us is such as a sum of money can at once wipe out: that because you have been

able to raise this money (and how you did so I think I have a right to ask) our business connection ceases, and the lover, inconvenient, no doubt, from his priority of claim, must go to the wall directly the lawyer has been paid his bill. You never were more mistaken in your life. Havo you forgotten a certain promise I hold of yours, written in your own hand, signed with your own signature, furnished, as itself attests, of your own free will? and do you think I am a likely man to forego such an advantage? You might have had me for a friend-how dear a friend I cannot bear to tell you If you persist in making me an enemy, you have but yourself to blame. I am not given to threaten, and you know that I can generally fulfil what I promise. I give you fair warning then: so surely as you try, in the faintest item, to elude your bargain, so surely will I cross your path, and spoil your game, and show you up before the world. Mine you are, and mine you shall be. If of free will, happily; if not, then to your misery and my own. But, mark me, always mine!'

now.

'The wisest clerks are not the wisest men.' It is a bad plan ever to drive a woman into a corner; and with all his knowledge of law, I think Mr. Ryfe could hardly have written a more ill-advised and injudicious letter than the above to Miss Bruce.

CHAPTER XI.

IN THE SCALES,

an

It was a declaration of war. Of all women in the world-and this is saying a great deal-Maud was perhaps the least disposed to accept anything like usurpation, or assumption of undue authority, especially on the part of one in whose character she had detected element of weakness. Tom Ryfe, notwithstanding his capabilities, was a fool, like most others, where his feelings were touched, and proved it by the injudicious means he used to attain the end he so desired.

Locked in her own room, she read

the opening of a campaign to the issuing of invitations for a ball, too much had been left to the last moment; there was a great deal to do, and little time to do it.

'We can't get on without you, Miss Bruce,' said Dick, with rising colour and averted eyes, that denoted how much less efficient an auxiliary he would prove since she had come into the room. 'My mother has mislaid the old visitinglist, and the new one only goes down to T: so that the U's, and V's, and W's will be all left out. Think how we shall be hated in London next week! To be sure it's what my mother calls "small and early," like young potatoes, and I hear there are three hundred cards sent out already.'

'You'll only hinder us, Mr. Stanmore,' said Maud. 'Hadn't you better go away again?' but observing Dick's face fall, the smiling eyes added, plainly as words could speak, 'if you can!" She looked pale, though, and unhappy, he thought. Of course he felt fonder of her than

ever.

'Hinder you!' he repeated. 'Why, I'm the mainstay of the whole performance. Don't I bring you eightand-twenty dancing men? all at once if you wish it, in a body, like soldiers.'

'Nonsense, my dear,' interrupted Aunt Agatha. 'The staircase will be crowded enough as it is.'

Maud laughed.

'But are they real dancing men?" she asked, 'not "dummies," "duffers," what do you call them? people who only stand against the wall and look idiotic. They're no use unless they work regularly through; as if it was a match or a boat-race. I don't call it dancing to hover about, and be always wanting to go down to tea, or supper, and to haunt one and look cross, if one behaves with common propriety - like some people I know.'

Dick accepted the imputation.

'I'm not a dancing man,' said he, 'though my eight-and-twenty friends are. I cannot see the pleasure of being hustled about in a hot room, with a girl I never saw before

in my life, and never want to see again, who is looking beyond me all the time, watching the door for another fellow who never comes.'

'Then why on earth do you go?" asked Miss Bruce, simply.

'You know why,' he answered in a low voice, without raising his eyes to her face

'Oh! I dare say,' replied Maud; but though it was couched in a tone of banter, the smile that accompanied this pertinent remark seemed to afford Dick unbounded satisfaction.

Mrs. Stanmore looked up from her writing-table.

'I can't get on while you two are jabbering in that corner.' (She had not heard a word either of them said.) 'I'll take my visiting-list upstairs. You can put these cards in envelopes and direct them. It will help me a little, but you're neither of you much use.'

She gathered her materials together and was leaving the room. Dick's heart began beating to some purpose; but his stepmother stopped at the door and addressed her niece.

'By-the-by, Maud, I'd almost forgotten. I'm going to Rose and Brilliant's. Fetch me your diamonds, and I'll take them to be cleaned. I can see the people myself, you know, and make sure of your having them back in time for the ball.'

The girl turned white. Dick saw it, though his mother did not. He observed, too, that she gasped as if she was trying to form words which would not come.

•

'I am not going to wear them.' She got it out at last with difficulty.

'Not wear them! nonsense!' was the reply. 'Bring them down, my dear, at any rate, and let me look them over. If you don't want it, you might lend me the collar-it would go very well with my mauve satin.'

Maud's eyes turned here and there as if to look for help, and it was Dick's nature to throw himself in the gap.

'I'll take them, mother,' said he. 'My phaeton's at the door now. You've plenty to do, and it will save you a long drive. Besides, I can blow the people up more effectually than a lady.'

'I'm not so sure of that,' answered Mrs. Stanmore. However, it's a sensible plan enough. Maud can fetch them down for you, and you may come back to dinner if you're disengaged.'

So speaking, Mrs. Stanmore sailed off, leaving the young people alone.

Maud thanked him with such a look as would have repaid Dick for a far longer expedition than from Belgravia to Bond Street.

What should I do without you, Mr. Stanmore?' she said. 'You always come to the rescue, just when I want you most.'

He coloured with delight.

'I like doing things for you,' said he, simply; 'but I don't know that taking a parcel a mile and a-half is such a favour after all. If you'll bring it, I'll start directly you give the word.'

Miss Bruce had been very pale hitherto, now a burning blush swept over her face to the temples.

'I-I can't bring you my diamonds,' said she, 'for the first of those thirty reasons that prevented Napoleon's general from bringing up his guns-1 haven't got them: they're at Rose and Brilliant's already.'

'Maud!' he exclaimed, unconsciously using her Christian namea liberty with which she seemed in nowise offended.

'You may well say "Maud!"" she murmured in a soft, low voice. 'If you knew all, you'd never call me Maud. I don't believe you'd ever speak to me again.'

'Then I'd rather not know all,' he replied. 'Though it would have to be something very bad indeed if it could make me think ill of you! Don't tell me anything, Miss Bruce, except that you would like your diamonds back again.'

'They must be got back!' she exclaimed. 'I must have them back by fair means or foul. I can't face Aunt Agatha, now that she knows, and can't appear at her ball without them. Oh! Mr. Stanmore, what shall I do? Do you think Rose and Brilliant's would lend them to me only for one night?"

Dick began to suspect something, began to surmise that this young lady

dy had been raising the wind,' as he called it, and to wonder for what mysterious purpose she could want so large a sum as had necessitated the sacrifice of her most valuable jewels; but she seemed in such distress that he felt this was no time for explanation.

'Do!' he repeated cheerfully, and walking to the window that he might not seem to notice her trouble. 'Why do as I wish you had done all through-leave everything to me. I was going to say, "trust me," but I don't want to be trusted. I only want to be made use of.'

Her better nature was conquering her fast.

'But indeed I will trust you,' she murmured. 'You deserve to be trusted. You are so kind, so good, so true. You will despise me, I know-very likely hate me, and never come to see me again; but I don't care-I can't help it. Sit down, and I will tell you everything.'

He did not blush nor stammer now, his voice was very firm, and he stood up like a man.

'Miss Bruce,' said he, 'Maudyes, I'm not afraid to call you Maud -I won't hear another word. I don't want to be told anything. Whatever you have done makes no difference to me. Some day, perhaps, you'll remember how I believed in you. In the meantime tell my mother that the diamonds will be back in time for her ball. How late it is! I must be off like a shot. Those horses will be perfectly wild with waiting. I'm coming to dinner. Good-bye!'

He hurried away without another look, and Maud, burying her head in the sofa-cushions, burst out crying, as she had not cried since she was a child.

'He's too good for me!-he's too good for me!' she repeated, between the sobs she tried hard to keep back. 'How wicked and vile I should be to throw him over! He's too good for me!-too good for me by far!'

CHAPTER XII.

'A CRUEL PARTING."

The' phaeton-horses went off like wildfire, Dick driving as if he was drunk. Omnibus-cads looked after him with undisguised admiration, and Hansom cabmen, catching the enthusiasm of pace, found themselves actually wishing they were gentlemen's servants to have their beer found, and sit behind such steppers as those!

The white foam stood on flank and shoulder when the pair were pulled up at Rose and Brilliant's door.

Dick bustled in with so agitated an air that an experienced shopman instantly lifted the glass from a tray containing the usual assortment of wedding-rings.

'I'm come about some diamonds, panted the customer, casting a wistful glance towards these implements of coercion the while. 'A set of diamonds-very valuable-left here by a lady a young lady-I want them back again.'

He looked about him helplessly; nevertheless, the shopman, himself a married man, became at once less commiserating, and more confidential.

'Diamonds!' he repeated. 'Let me see-yes, sir-quite so I think I recollect. Perhaps you'll step in and speak to our principal. Mind your hat, if you please, sir-yes, sir-this way, sir.'

So saying, he ushered Mr. Stanmore through glass doors into a neat little room at the back, where sat a bald, smiling personage in sober attire, something between that of a provincial master of hounds and a low-church clergyman, whose cool composure, as it struck Dick at the time, afforded a ludicrous contrast to his own fuss and agitation.

My name is Rose, sir,' said the placid man. Pray take a seat.'

Nobody can take a seat' under feelings of strong excitement. Dick grasped the proffered chair by the back.

'Mr. Rose,' he began, 'what I have to say to you goes no farther.' 'Oh dear, no!-certainly not

Mr. Stanmore, I believe? I hope I see you well, sir. This is my private room, you understand, sir. Whatever affairs we transact here are in private. How can I accommodate you, Mr. Stanmore?' Dick looked so eager the placid man was persuaded he must want money.

'There's a young lady,' said Dick, plunging at his subject, 'who left her diamonds here last week-quite a young lady-very handsome. Did she give you her name?'

Mr. Rose smiled and shook his head benevolently. If any jewels of value were left with us, you may be sure we satisfied ourselves of the party's name and address. Perhaps I can help you, Mr. Stanmore. Can you favour me with the date?"

'Yes I can,' answered Dick, 'and
It's no use humbug-
Miss Bruce was the
There! Now she

the name too.
ging about it.
lady's name.
wants her jewels back again. She's
changed her mind.'

Mr. Rose took a ledger off the table, and ran his finger down its columns. Quite correct, sir,' said he, stopping at a particular entry. You are acquainted with the circumstances, of course.'

،

Dick nodded, esteeming it little breach of confidence to look as if he knew all about it.

There is no difficulty whatever,' continued the bland Mr. Rose. 'Happy to oblige Miss Bruce. Happy to oblige you. We shall charge a small sum for commission. Nothing Nothing more-oh! dear, no! Have them cleaned up? Certainly, sir, and you may depend on their being sent home in time. At your convenience, Mr. Stanmore. No hurry, sir. You can write me your cheque for the amount. Perhaps I'd better draw out a little memorandum. We shall make a mere nominal charge for cleaning.'

Dick glanced over the memorandum, including its nominal charge for cleaning, which, perhaps from ignorance, did not strike him as being extraordinarily low. He was somewhat startled at the sum total, but when this gentleman made up his mind, it was not easy to turn him from an object in view.