dia, and only learnt one chapter that it
might be driven out of her head by the next. Equally out of deference
to her sisters, she smothered her impulses to conventional piety, and
made believe that her spiritual life supported itself on the postulates
of science. As a result of all which, the poor girl was not very happy,
but in that again did she not give proof of belonging to her time?

There existed a Mr. Denyer, but this gentleman was very seldom indeed
in the bosom of his family. Letters--and remittances--came from him
from the most surprising quarters of the globe. His profession was that
of speculator at large, and, with small encouragement of any kind, he
toiled unceasingly to support his wife and daughters in their elegant
leisure. At one time he was eagerly engaged in a project for making
starch from potatoes in the south of Ireland. When this failed, he
utilized a knowledge of Spanish--casually picked up, like all his
acquirements--and was next heard of at Veer Cruz, where he dealt in
cochineal, indigo, sarsaparilla, and logwood. Yellow fever interfered
with his activity, and after a brief sojourn with his family in the
United States, where they had joined him with the idea of making a
definite settlement, he heard of something promising in Egypt, and
thither repaired. A spare, vivacious, pathetically sanguine man, always
speaking of the day when he would "settle down" in enjoyment of a
moderate fortune, and most obviously doomed never to settle at all,
save in the final home of mortality.

Mrs. Lessingham and her niece entered the room. On Cecily, as usual,
all eyes were more or less openly directed. Her evening dress was
simple--though with the simplicity not to be commanded by every one who
wills--and her demeanour very far from exacting general homage; but her
birthright of distinction could not be laid aside, and the suave Mrs.
Gluck was not singular in recognizing that here was such a guest as did
not every day grace her _pension_. Barbara and Madeline Denyer never
looked at her without secret pangs. In appearance, however, they were
very friendly, and Cecily had met their overtures from the first with
the simple goodwill natural to her. She went and seated herself by
Madeline, who had on her lap a little portfolio.

"These are the drawings of which I spoke," said Madeline, half opening
the portfolio.

"Mr. Marsh's? Oh, I shall be glad to see them!"

"Of course, we ought to have daylight, but we'l