had once wrought in my brain. I remembered it well. In the centre of a vast plain, I saw a cross stand, high, massive, and bearing the carved figure of our Saviour. Above it the sky spread ashen and cold; around, upon the edges of the horizon, golden and crimson. clouds betokened set of sun, and yellow rays fell across the plain and upon the cross with an indescribable effect. As far as sight could reach, the cheerless expanse of level surface spread in every direction, unrelieved by hill or tree, and there was nothing for the eye to rest upon save the cross, and at the foot of it a prostrate human figure, which, prone as it had first fallen in some wild paroxysm of woe, so remained.

I was like that wretched one. Trembling limbs might bear me to the cross, but I had neither sight nor strength for the upward gaze, for clasped hands and beseeching cries for aid.

CHAPTER VII.

A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS.

"About me round I saw

Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains,
And liquid lapse of murmuring streams."

ALWORTH, will you see Grey to-
day? I wish to have those altera-

tions about the farm attended to, but shall not be able to leave the city before evening," said Mr. Forrester to his son one morning at breakfast, handing as he spoke the M Journal to Mrs. Forrester, who received it, as I had often observed her do before, with an air of indifference, but who always carried it carefully away and locked it from sight.

Walworth glanced at his father, whose brow was unusually dark and gloomy, with a keen look before he answered him; then merely

124

A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS.

giving him an assurance that his wish should be attended to, he reached across the table and took up the paper which lay beside Mrs. Forrester's plate. He looked carelessly over the columns, and seemed about to refold and return it, when suddenly I observed his face flush and his brow contract. Mildred remarked it also, and said in an anxious tone,

"What is it, Walworth? What can trouble you thus ?"

He looked at her and a beautiful change passed over his face.

"Nothing, Milly, that can reach or trouble you," he replied; and he smiled gently and affectionately upon her as he returned the paper to his mother's side.

But I was informed of the cause of Walworth's emotion.

Very early in the morning I had risen with a violent headache which I hoped to alleviate by a walk in the garden; for its dewy fragrance at this hour tempted me, and I found a charm in the quiet which reigned amid the walks, broken only by the fountain's fall and the twitter of the young birds in their nests. The

walk in the air refreshed me, although my headache was not removed, and on my return to the house I gathered a few choice blossoms, and arranging them with care entered the dining-room to lay them beside Mildred's plate. Near that of Mr. Forrester, Poulett had placed, as was his custom, yesterday's journals; for the daily papers were never brought until the evening, although Mr. Forrester frequently drove to and from the city twice in the course of the day. Taking up one of these journals I chanced upon an article that must have touched by its sarcasm, and pierced by its home-thrusts, the soul of the master of Glen-Beck. For some time past the daily papers had been allowed to lie about with impunity, for the affair of the failure of the Talbot Bank, after having caused the usual nine days' wonder, seemed to have been indefinitely dropped. But something giving cause for the renewal of the subject of fraudulent Banking, there appeared forthwith a cutting article bringing up old accusations against the parties implicated in the failure of the Talbot Bank, and ended by denying to them an

+

+

honorable position in society. It was written
in a very bitter spirit, but its arguments could
not be gainsaid. I did not wonder at Mr.
Forrester's gloom, or at the signs in Wal-
worth's face, of anger and perhaps pain.

Walworth fell into a fit of silent musing,
which lasted some time. I was looking at him
with sad scrutiny when he suddenly raised his
eyes, and perceiving that Poulett was about to
remove my untouched plate at my desire, said
with an air of concern,

"Miss Wilmerton, how is this? You do not eat, and I observe that you look pale and ill."

I said I had a headache.

Really, Miss Wilmerton," said Mrs. Forrester kindly, "I did not observe your want of appetite. If you cannot drink your coffee, let me send for some tea and biscuit. A cup of strong tea will often remove headache."

I shook my head, for I loathed inexpressibly the thought of nourishment of any kind.

"Do be persuaded to try something," Mildred urged affectionately, and Mrs. Forrester ordered the tea to be brought.

+