ht so," she observed; "but I see a great change in him for
the worse, and I fear he is sinking under the same complaint which
carried off my dear sister."

In the course of conversation she happened to mention that the sister of
whom she spoke was a Mrs Raglan. I was struck by the name, and
inquired who she had married.

"An officer in the navy," she answered; "but he was ordered to the East
Indies, and soon afterwards she died, leaving a little girl. We
received notice of her death, but the island being at the time in the
possession of France, and war raging, we were never able to ascertain
what became of the child."

Emilie I saw seemed anxious when her mother began to speak on this
subject, and endeavoured, without appearing to do so, to change the
conversation. Soon afterwards her mother seemed much affected, and left
the room.

"I must ask you," said Emilie, "not again to allude to the subject, as
it recalls many painful associations."

"I will do as you wish," I answered, "but I feel sure that I am well
acquainted with the niece she spoke of;" and I then told her all I knew
of Kitty Raglan, my meeting with her father, and her marriage with my
old friend Captain Falconer.

She expressed her pleasure at what I had told her, adding, "It will, I
am sure, give great joy to mother, for she has always grieved at having
lost all traces of my cousin, though she has still greater grief of her
own."

Just then Madame de Villereine returned, and Emilie cautiously prepared
her for the interesting information I had to give.

"This is indeed joyful news," she exclaimed, when I had told her of her
niece's happy marriage with Captain Falconer; when suddenly she stopped
and sighed, and the sad expression which her countenance usually wore
stole over it.

"Monsieur de Villereine will to-day drive you over to see his brother
and his wife and daughter, and you must give them the account you have
given me. They will be greatly interested; and oh, how I wish we could
persuade Captain Falconer to come over and pay us a visit!"

A carriage shortly afterwards came to the door, and I accompanied my new
friend--Emilie wishing to remain with Henri. Monsieur de Villereine,
who had observed our approach, received as at the door. He welcomed me
with marked politeness, but it struck me that his manner was much more
stiff and formal than it had before been. He conducted us to the
drawing-room, where I hoped to see Sophie, but h