ry.

"I know I am dreadfully impulsive and imprudent, but Nan would think I
am not to be trusted;" but she had passed her word, and nothing now
would have induced her to swerve from it.

She ate her breakfast silently, and with a sense of oppression and
guilt quite new to her. She grew inwardly hot whenever Nan looked at
her, which she did continually and with the utmost affection. Before
the meal was over, however, Miss Middleton and Mattie made their
appearance, and in the slight bustle of entrance Phillis managed to
effect her escape.

The hour that followed bore the unreality of a nightmare. Outwardly,
Phillis was the grave, business-like dressmaker. The lady who had sent
for her, and who was a stranger to Hadleigh, was much struck with her
quiet self-possessed manners and lady-like demeanor.

"Her voice was quite refined," she said afterwards to her daughter.
"And she had such a nice face and beautiful figure. I am sure she is a
reduced gentlewoman, for her accent was perfect. I am quite obliged to
Miss Milner for recommending us such a person, for she evidently
understands her business. One thing I noticed, Ada,--the way in which
she quietly laid down the parcel, and said it should be fetched
presently. Any ordinary dressmaker in a small town like this would
have carried it home herself."

Poor Phillis! she had laid down the parcel and drawn on her
well-fitting gloves with a curious sinking at her heart: from the
window of the house in Rock Building she could distinctly see Mr.
Dancy walking up and down the narrow plat of grass before the houses,
behind the tamarisk hedge, his foreign-looking cloak and slouch hat
making him conspicuous.

"There is that queer-looking man again, mamma," exclaimed one of the
young ladies, who was seated in the window. "I am sure he is some
distinguished foreigner, he has such an air with him."

Phillis listened to no more, but hurried down the stairs and then
prepared to cross the green with some degree of trepidation. She was
half afraid that Mr. Dancy would join her at once, in the full view of
curious eyes; but he knew better. He sauntered on slowly until she had
reached the Parade and was going towards a part of the beach where
there was only a knot of children wading knee-deep in the water,
sailing a toy-boat. She stood and watched them dreamily, until the
voice she expected sounded in her ear:

"True as steel! Ah, I was never deceived in a face yet. Where shall we
si