rs. Wade was
still young; impossible that she should have accepted a fate which
forbade her the knowledge of woman's happiness. But how difficult for
such a one to escape from this narrow and misleading way! Her strong,
highly-trained intellect could find no satisfaction in the society of
every-day people, yet she was withheld by poverty from seeking her
natural sphere. With Lilian, to understand a sorrow was to ask herself
what she could do for its assuagement. A thought of characteristic
generosity came to her. Why should she not (some day or other, when
their friendship was mature) offer Mrs. Wade the money, her own
property, which would henceforth be lying idle? There would be
practical difficulties in the way, but surely they might be overcome.
The idea brought a smile to her face. Yes; she would think of this. She
would presently talk of it with Denzil.

"Come now," said Mrs. Wade, rousing herself from meditation, "let us
talk about the Irish question."

Lilian addressed herself conscientiously to the subject, but it did not
really interest her; she had no personal knowledge of Irish hardships,
and was wearied by the endless Parliamentary debate. Her thoughts still
busied themselves with the hopeful project for smoothing Mrs. Wade's
path in life.

When the carriage came for her, she took her leave with regret, but
full of happy imaginings. She had quite forgotten the all but
self-betrayal into which she was led during that chat about novels.

Two days later Quarrier was again absent from home on business, and
Lilian spent the evening with the Liversedges. Supper was over, and she
had begun to think of departure, when the drawing-room door was burst
open, and in rushed Denzil, wet from head to foot with rain, and his
face a-stream with perspiration.

"They dissolve at Easter!" he cried, waving his hat wildly. "Northcote
announced it at five this afternoon. Hammond has a telegram; I met him
at the station."

"Ho! ho! this is news!" answered Mr. Liversedge, starting up from his
easy-chair.

"News, indeed!" said his wife; "but that's no reason, Denzil, why you
should make my carpet all rain and mud. Do go and take your coat off,
and clean your boots, there's a good boy!"

"How can I think of coat and boots? Here, Lily, fling this garment
somewhere. Give me a duster, or something, to stand on, Molly. Toby, we
must have a meeting in a day or two. Can we get the Public Hall for
Thursday or Friday? Shall we go