om with Olivia Kenny-feck. In fact,
couples paired off in every direction; the only disengaged cavalier
being Sir Andrew MacFarline, who, with a sardonic grin on his features,
came hobbling forward, as he said,--

"Te maunna tak sich long strides, Missy, if ye ga wf me, for I've got a
couple o' ounces of Langredge shot in my left knee--forbye the gout in
both ankles."

"I say, Jim," called out Lord Charles, as she moved away, "if you like
to ride Princepino this afternoon, he's-ready for you."

"Are _you_ going?" said she, turning her head.

"Yes."

"Then _I'll_ not go." And so saying, she left the room.

When Linton, accompanied by Lady Kilgoff, issued from the drawing-room,
instead of proceeding through the billiard-room towards the suite which
formed the "show" part of the mansion, he turned abruptly to his left,
and, passing through a narrow corridor, came out upon a terrace, at the
end of which stood a large conservatory, opening into the garden.

"I ask pardon," said he, "if I reverse the order of our geography, and
show you the frontiers of the realm before we visit the capital; but
otherwise we shall only be the advance-guard of that interesting company
who have nothing more at heart than to overhear us."

Lady Kilgoff walked along without speaking, at his side, having
relinquished the support of his arm with a stiff, frigid courtesy. Had
any one been there to mark the two-figures, as side by side they went,
each deep in thought, and not even venturing a glance at the other, he
might well have wondered what strange link could connect them. It was
thus they entered the conservatory, where two rows of orange-trees
formed a lane of foliage almost impenetrable to the eye.

"As this may be the last time we shall ever speak together in secret--"

"You have promised as much, sir," said she, interrupting; and the very
rapidity of her utterance betrayed the eagerness of her wish.

"Be it so, madam," replied he, coldly, and with a tone of sternness very
different from that he had used at first. "I have ever preferred your
wishes to my own. I shall never prove false to that allegiance. As we
are now about to speak on terms which never can be resumed, let us at
least be frank. Let us use candor with each other. Even unpleasing truth
is better at such a moment than smooth-tongued insincerity."

"This preamble does not promise well," said Lady Kilgoff, with a cold
smile.

"Not, perhaps, for the agreeability of