rly in the season. The house
in which our party had taken up their abode, was beautifully situated
upon some rising ground, about half a mile from the beach. On the right,
as far as eye could reach, stretched the broad expanse of deep blue sea,
with its ever varying succession of white sails and gay steamers. To the
left lay verdant meadows, picturesque villas, and sloping hills,
stretching far into the distance until bounded by a belt of forest,
beyond which the ground rose again, capped by a rugged crag. Belonging
to the house, were pretty grounds tastefully laid out, and a nice
shrubbery, also a maze in which the children delighted to lose
themselves.

After the first few days, Isabel mended rapidly, and before long was
able to join the children and Emily in their rambles, and even got down
to the beach after the second week, so that Emily sent charming accounts
of Isabel's progress to her mother and Everard.

CHAPTER XI.

"Look Louis, what a nice packet has come by express, I wonder what it
can be. Oh, open it now dear Louis," she added, laying her hand
coaxingly upon his shoulder, as he was about to pocket the wonderful
packet. "I am dying with curiosity, to see what it contains."

"It is only a business affair, nothing to interest you, little
curiosity," he answered playfully.

But she was not so easily satisfied, for the start of recognition as he
glanced at the writing, had not escaped his wife's quick eyes.

"But I do so want to know what is in it, I felt something hard like a
little box, and it is such pretty writing," she said.

"Perhaps the drugs I wrote for," he returned carelessly.

"Drugs from a lady, Louis," she said archly.

"Oh I forgot, no it can't be the drugs, but it will keep," he replied,
thrusting it into his pocket. "I must teach you not to be so curious
Natalie.

Then laughing, she endeavored to withdraw it from his pocket, but he
took the little hand in an iron grasp, saying "don't be silly Natalie."

"Oh Louis, you hurt me," she pouted.

"I didn't intend to do so," he returned, loosening his hold, but there
was a stern, determined look in his face as he did so, which prevented
her making any further attempts to satisfy her curiosity, and the large
tears welled up into her eyes as he hastily left the room.

That night, after Natalie had retired to rest, Louis stood leaning
against the chimney-piece, gazing thoughtfully into the fire. Upon the
table lay the packet, he kn