"I can't bear to think, Nellie, that you, who have so many real trials, should add to your own burden. Dear child, forgive me if I have pained you. Put that fellow out of your head, he never could have been in your heart, I'm sure, Nell,-and let us be friends."

He held out his hand. She raised her eyes timidly to his, and placed her hand in his broad palm.

"Now we understand each other. Come here and sit down a moment, and then go and get ready. I won't have you here by yourself any longer it's not good for you. It's a horrible life. You'll kill yourself."

"Where am I to go?" she said, with a wistful look. "To Dorothy?"

"To Dorothy first, anyhow," replied Dermot, giving his moustache a twirl. "After that- -After that, Blakestown, Nellie, and me."

"Nothing of the--Oh! dear me! how dare you, Mr. Dermot Blake! Really" Well, there!" and he released her. “I won't vex you; but, Nell, you will think of that. Say you will."

“Mr. Blake, what do you mean?" Nellie was stroking down her ruffled plumage at a safe distance and looking at Dermot with eyes in which surprise at his audacity and vexation were blended together.

"Marry me. There now! You're the only girl I ever asked in my life, or cared to ask. I don't want to hurry you, dear. I'll wait as long as you like. Only give me some hope, Nellie."

Nellie was leaning against the window. She turned round and said gravely, "This is no time to talk of such things; we ought both to have remembered that

Say you'll have me: I only want that. Of course we can put off everything till after Easter." Dermot's eyes were dancing with delight.

"After Easter, Mr. Blake! You must be mad!" Nellie looked at him with eyes of astonishment. "What on earth will Dorothy say?"

"Never mind. I don't; nor what any one else says, either. I may hope, then, may I, Nell? Say yes," whispered he imploringly, taking her hand in his "yes, Dermot."

:

.

But Nellie would not answer at all; she drew her hand from his gravely and was turning as if to leave the room. But Dermot with two long steps was at the door before her and planted his broad back against it. "Listen, Nellie," said he, holding up a warning finger; "mind what I say to you, am in earnest : if you don't consent to marry me, I'll start to-night to the other end of the world and never come back. And then," nodding his head, "you'll be sorryand Dorothy—”

I

But Nellie had sunk into a chair and was crying. Dermot was beside her in a moment. Don't, my darling; there now, Nellie, I didn't mean a syllable of it. Oh! my poor child! what a brute I've been

"No, no!" she said through her tears. "No-hav'nt I?" said he suddenly. won't tease you then; look up. Nell! look at me, I say." And Dermot succeeded in drawing down her hands. "I am really sorry, indeed I am. You'll forgive me?"

"Yes." She said.

"And we'll be friends, won't we?"
"Oh! Yes, Dermot."

"Listen though

sometime or another I

may ask

you again?"

"Oh! now don't "-and she began to cry

again.

"Well, there now, I won't."

*

*

But he did, not very long after, and successfully.

CHAPTER XIX.

"REFORM Club.

"DEAR MRS. BURSFORD,

"Your letter reached me in due time, and I must ask you to pardon my delay in replying to it.

"I find, upon inquiry, that the amount of patronage remaining at the disposal of the late Government is very limited indeed, and that there are an immense number of applicants for the few posts yet unfilled. Amongst them are so many persons who have substantial claims on the Ministry that I fear I would not be justified in holding out any hopes whatever of an appointment such as you mention. If there is any other way in which I can be of service to you, I beg, my dear Mrs. Bursford, that you will not fail to