hey walked back to the parsonage, where Ada
Lee was staying with her friend, having come down from London to fulfil
the office of bridesmaid at Marion's wedding.

But on reaching her bedroom Marion threw herself in a chair, letting the
botanical specimens she had been gathering fall upon the carpet beside
her, as she leaned her head upon her hand, and remained silent and
thoughtful.

"Oh, come--come, darling; this will never do," cried Ada. "Mrs Elstree
said that I was to do all I could to cheer and enliven you, and here
have I been making you worse with my ill-chosen chatter. Why, you ought
to be as happy as the day is long: a fine, handsome husband, young as
well as rich; a castle to live in, and he as devoted as possible. Why,
I declare I'm almost in love with him myself. Look at the presents he
has sent you. Why, one would think, to see that doleful face, that you
did not like him!"

"But I do, Ada. I esteem and respect, and I think I love him."

"Think, indeed! why, of course you do. Didn't I see you give him a kiss
last night when he asked you as he was going?"

"And I believe that I shall be very happy with him," continued Marion,
not heeding her companions words; "but, just now, as I am going to take
this irrevocable step, the past all seems to come back, and it almost
seems as if I were going to be faithless to poor Philip; and, in spite
of all I can do, my poor heart is filled with forebodings."

"Oh dear--oh dear! What a girl it is!" cried Ada. "This won't do, you
know. What am I to do with you? Oh! look here! Why, here's a note on
the dressing-table, and a case--a jewel-case, I'm sure! Why, it's
another present from that dear Sir Murray. Why, you happy, lucky
darling! There, pray read your note, and do show me what's in the case,
there's a dear sweet girl."

As she spoke, she seized a note lying by a large morocco case upon the
dressing-table, and eagerly placed it in her friend's hand, laying the
case in her lap, at the same time stroking the hair from her forehead,
and kissing her tenderly, though a shade of care and anxiety was plainly
visible upon the face she strove to make appear mirthful.

Marion read the note, the colour mantling faintly in her cheek the
while.

"He is most kind and affectionate," she said, sadly. "I would that he
had chosen one more worthy of his love!"

"How can you talk like that?" cried Ada, reproachfully. "There, do pray
chase away this horrible low-