st to maintain peace by
compliance to your united wishes."

"By telling us one of the seven wonders," interrupted Maude.

"Yes," said Fanny, "I have often wondered why it was that Guy could
remain so long in the companionship of Mary Douglas or Lady Rosamond and
come back heart whole to Trevelyan Hall."

Captain Trevelyan had received a home thrust, yet he betrayed no feeling
and showed no reason for suspicion, at least in the eyes of his sister
and her companion. A quiet laugh greeted the remark. Guy Trevelyan had
not the keen glances of the secretary levelled at him now, else the
puzzling expression that rested awhile upon his face would instantly
have been detected.

"That is the great wonder," said the brother, drawing his sister nearer
to his side, adding: "Well, my little sister, until _you_ have become
weary of your brother's keeping he is anxious to claim the gracious
liberty of possessing the love of one devoted heart. What says _la
belle_ Fanny?"

"Oh, Guy," cried Maude, "she was afraid that you may possibly have
charitable intentions towards some fair one and wishes to make the
test."

"Why, Maude," exclaimed Fanny, "you are really in earnest; I shall begin
to think, from the stand you have taken in the matter, that Guy had
better beware, else ere long he will not be able to make such avowals to
his sister."

"Come, come, little mischief-maker, no jealousy," cried Captain
Trevelyan, hastily drawing an arm of each within his own, and then they
joined her ladyship in the shrubbery.

Fanny Trevelyan was truly in jest. She had found that no real attachment
was to be formed between her brother and friend. There had arisen
instead a tender familiarity, a friendship that is rare to be seen.
Maude Bereford had grown to treat Guy Trevelyan with brotherly kindness.
It pleased him to witness this feeling arising from disinterested
friendship and motives of genuine purity. Were it otherwise he would
feel an embarrassment that might affect his honest nature. When left to
himself he could not dismiss from his thoughts the remark made by his
sister. He knew she was ignorant of his affairs in New Brunswick, yet he
felt sorely puzzled.

Not long after the following conversation took place, Maude Bereford was
preparing to hasten homeward. Lady Rosamond sent cheerful accounts of
her husband's rapid improvement. They were still visiting amid the ruins
in hopes of speedily returning to England.

Every fortnight brou