ss
and deserted I shall be if I lose you; and it would be next to losing
you to know you had quitted the service, and gone Heaven knows where,
to do Heaven knows what." She then adverted to home, and said, "You know
how happy and united we were all here, once on a time. This is all gone;
Marion and Temple hold themselves quite apart, and Augustus, evidently
endeavoring to be neutral, is isolated. I only say this to show you
how, more than ever, I need your friendship and affection; nor is it the
least sad of all my tidings, the L'Estranges are going to leave this.
There is to be some new arrangement by which Portshandon is to be united
to Killmulluck, and one church to serve for the two parishes. George and
Julia think of going to Italy. I can scarcely tell you how I feel this
desertion of me now, dearest Jack. I 'd bear up against all these and
worse--if worse there be--were I only to feel that you were following
out your road to station and success, and that the day was coming when
I should be as proud as I am fond of you. You hate writing, I know; but
you will, I 'm sure, not fail to send me half a dozen lines to say that
I have not pleaded in vain. I fear I shall not soon be able to send you
pleasant news from this, the gloom thickens every day around us; but you
shall hear constantly." The letter ended with a renewed entreaty to
him to place himself in the hands and under the guidance of such of his
brother officers as he could rely on for sound judgment and moderation.
"Remember, Jack, I ask you to do nothing that shall peril honor; but
also nothing in anger, nothing out of wounded self-love."

"Add one line,--only one, Julia," said she, handing the pen to her,
and pushing the letter before her; and without a word Julia wrote: "A
certain coquette of your acquaintance--heartless, of course, as all her
tribe--is very sorry for your trouble, and would do all in her power to
lessen it. To this end she begs you to listen patiently to the counsels
of the present letter, every line of which she has read, and to believe
that in yielding something--if it should be so--to the opinion of those
who care for you, you acquire a new right to their affection, and a
stronger title to their love."

Nelly threw her arm around Julia's neck, and kissed her again and again.

"Yes, darling, these dear words will sink into his heart, and he will
not refuse our prayer."

CHAPTER XXV. MARION'S AMBITIONS

Colonel Bramleigh's mala