s introduction Maltravers frowned; at the last
he forgot all displeasure.

"Is it possible? I _thought_ I had seen you before, but in a dream. Ah,
then we are not quite strangers!"

Evelyn's eye met his, and though she coloured and strove to look grave,
a half smile brought out the dimples that played round her arch lips.

"But you do not remember me?" added Maltravers.

"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Evelyn, with a sudden impulse; and then checked
herself.

Caroline came to her friend's relief.

"What is this? You surprise me; where did you ever see Mr. Maltravers
before?"

"I can answer that question, Miss Merton. When Miss Cameron was but
a child, as high as my little friend here, an accident on the road
procured me her acquaintance; and the sweetness and fortitude she then
displayed left an impression on me not worn out even to this day.
And thus we meet again," added Maltravers, in a muttered voice, as to
himself. "How strange a thing life is!"

"Well," said Miss Merton, "we must intrude on you no more,--you have
so much to do. I am so sorry Sir John is not down to welcome you; but I
hope we shall be good neighbours. _Au revoir_!"

And, fancying herself most charming, Caroline bowed, smiled, and walked
off with her train. Maltravers paused irresolute. If Evelyn had looked
back, he would have accompanied them home; but Evelyn did not look
back,--and he stayed.

Miss Merton rallied her young friend unmercifully, as they walked
homeward, and she extracted a very brief and imperfect history of the
adventure that had formed the first acquaintance, and of the interview
by which it had been renewed. But Evelyn did not heed her; and the
moment they arrived at the rectory, she hastened to shut herself in her
room, and write the account of her adventure to her mother. How
often, in her girlish reveries, had she thought of that incident, that
stranger! And now, by such a chance, and after so many years, to meet
the Unknown by his own hearth! and that Unknown to be Maltravers! It was
as if a dream had come true. While she was yet musing--and the letter
not yet begun--she heard the sound of joy-bells in the distance. At
once she divined the cause; it was the welcome of the wanderer to his
solitary home!

CHAPTER IV.

MAIS en connaissant votre condition naturelle, usez des moyens
qui lui sont propres, et ne pretendez pas regner par une autre
voie que par celle qui vous fait roi.*--PASCAL.

* "But in understan