nounced his intention of getting the longneglected winter garden put into immediate working order. Now, this winter garden had been at one time a source of unfailing interest to every one at the Hall. No expense was spared in its erection, no trouble deemed too great to furnish it with the rarest flowers and the loveliest decorations which art could devise or money purchase; and during the lifetime of Mrs. Faversham it had been kept in the most exquisite order, and was the favourite resort both of herself and her children. It contained two principal entrances, one from the lawn, the other leading into an ovalshaped apartment, commonly known as the pink drawing-room, on account of its painted walls, rich silken draperies, sofas, chairs, and ottomans, being all of a pale pink colour, and even the heavy Brussels carpet was covered with tiny sprigs of the delicate pink-tinted heath, whose bell-like blossoms were here and there contrasted with the graceful fronds of some small kind of fern. This had been Mrs. Faversham's usual sitting-room, but her husband had never once

entered it since her death; and he still seemed reluctant to do so; for, while superintending the workmen, who were soon busily engaged in endeavouring to restore the winter garden to its original beauty, he invariably made his entrance and exit by the outer door, instead of availing himself of the shorter and more convenient route through the house.

CHAPTER XIII.

"Rest, weary heart!

From all thy silent griefs, and secret pain,
Thy profitless regrets and longings vain;
Wisdom and love have ordered all the past,
All shall be blessedness and light at last;
Cast off the cares that have so long opprest-
Rest, sweetly rest."

As the pink drawing-room was at some distance from that part of the house where Mr. Faversham and Lily spent the greatest portion of their time, it so happened that the latter knew nothing of the revolution which had been going on in the winter garden until it was all over.

For Crossley had strictly enjoined Mary to refrain from mentioning the subject when in the presence of her young charge, as she thought it more than probable, she said, that the Squire intended it as a pleasant surprise for the child, and would in any case much prefer telling her himself.

Which was quite true. Only it would not

have occurred to Mr. Faversham to put his half-defined wishes into words; and he was really surprised when week after week glided on without a question being asked him by his talkative little companion as to the business which so entirely engrossed his own mind.

In due course of time, however, everything was finished; and he took her by the hand one day and led her across the lawn, and over a broad terrace walk to the sunny side of the mansion; and, opening the door of a large octangular glass building, ushered her into what seemed to her enraptured gaze a veritable fairy palace.

Mr. Faversham stepped back to enjoy her surprise; and when he saw the wondering, amazed look with which she first regarded the unexpected scene, rapidly exchanged for an expression of unmistakable delight, he was conscious of a thrill of pure, unselfish gratification such as he had rarely before experienced, and which in itself was enough to compensate him for all the exertions he had made on Lily's behalf.

"O the f'owers! the beautiful f'owers!"

cried the child, drawing a long breath of admiration, and putting her two little hands together with a gesture of extraordinary gladness.

"I thought you would like them," said Mr. Faversham, smiling at her transport.

Then he accompanied her round the place, drawing her attention to whatever he thought would interest her, and answering her eager questions with the most praiseworthy assiduity. He had evidently taken the utmost pains to make everything look as near like what it had formerly been as possible.

Flowers of every colour and kind were there, from the rarest exotics to the simple favourites of our own clime. The lovely passion-flower, with its trailing blossoms; white and pink and variegated camellias, looking so pure and perfect among their glossy dark leaves; fragrant heliotropes and verbenas; roses and lilies, sweet-scented mignonette, and an endless variety of red and white geraniums were blooming in rich profusion, mingled with the familiar jessamine, and creepers of other countries.

The floor of the building was inlaid with