CHAPTER XIV.

Le premier des plaisirs, et la plus belle gloire,
C'est de prodiguer les bien faits,

Si vous en repandez, perdez en la memoire;
Si vous en recevez, publiez le à jamais.

VOLTAIRE.

"MONSIEUR," said Kate Bouverie, one evening as she entered the library where Frank Beresford and Mr. Ramsay were sitting, "Madame votre mère desires your presence in the salon---will you be so kind as to follow me thither in two or three minutes?"

And dropping him a demure curtsey, she stood awaiting his reply.

VOL. I.

"Now what does my mother want me for?" answered Frank, impatiently, "what does she want me for, Kate?"

"Come and see," said she.

"I shall not, I assure you," was his rejoinder, "because if it is only to sit with her for an hour or two, tell her that I cannot do so this evening."

"Nay, it is not precisely that, there is company in the drawing-room, and mamma wishes you to spend the evening with us.'

"I cannot.

Company, always company! tell her that Ramsay and myself are quite comfortable here."

"No, I shall not; I was not to go back to the drawing - room, without you, mamma said."

"Then you will have to stay here for three or four hours more.'

"I am sure I will not; you shall follow me to mamma."

"Wait and see; but I would advise you to

take a chair, as in the meantime you may be

tired of standing."

"Oh no! before ten minutes are passed, I shall leave the library arm-in-arm with you." Frank did not answer, but went on reading. "Seymour is in the drawing-room," said Kate again," and he wishes to see you.'

66

No answer.

دو

"Do you hear me, Frank?" continued she' you might just as well answer."

"Mr. Glenallan is no great favourite of mine, nor does he wish for my company."

"Eveline is there too."

"An excellent reason that I should remain here then, she invariably gives me the headache."

"Are you quite certain it is not the heartache? you seemed quite amused with her at Chiswick the other day."

"Amused! with a magpie."

"Magpies are amusing creatures, Frank-are they not, Mr. Ramsay?"

Perhaps so," answered that gentleman,

looking up at her for a moment;

"but pray do not interrupt me, Miss Bouverie, you make me lose my time and time is precious to us allat least it ought to be," he added, with a glance of reproof at Kate.

Kate turned again to Frank.

"What are you reading?" she said. "Nothing that will interest you," he answered.

"How do you know that?" she rejoined, "let me see!”

"Come then and look at the book, if you like," said he.

And in accordance with this gracious permission, Kate leaned over his shoulder for a moment or two to read the title-page, then as quick as lightning cleverly snatched the volume from him, and held it aloft in triumph.

"Give me the book back, Kate," said Frank.

"Not I-or yes, perhaps I may, if you

will come and fetch it from me in the drawingroom."

And she walked towards the door: Frank quietly sat down and took up another volume and began reading it. Seeing this, she came back again to the table, and opening her prize, "Oh!" said she, "the Koran! are you going to turn mussulman, Frank? But how could you put up with the houris? I should think all women were excluded from the Heaven of your imagination."

Not a word from the gentleman she addressed.

"Come!" she said, "do not be cross; that I shall not allow. And you will not come with me? you might as well-come! mamma wishes for you so much."

Not a word.

"What, are you really angry? surely you are not so foolish as to be so ! And Kate approached nearer to him to see if he were displeased in good earnest. He looked it; and