At this instant a tap came at the door, and Crossley entered, to say that Colonel Hamilton's horses were growing impatient, and the coachman wished to know whether they should be taken to the stables.

"Of course they should," eagerly assented Mr. Faversham, without allowing the other gentleman an opportunity of replying; "and rooms will be required for my daughter and her husband," he proceeded, with an air of dignity which well became him.

"They are quite ready, sir," promptly responded the housekeeper, while a pleasant smile stole over her stern features.

"You dear old creature!" cried Mrs. Hamilton, going up to her, and addressing her in a tone which brought a flush of gratification to the faded cheeks; "I love you now, as much as once I hated you; and that is saying a great deal."

"Shall I show you to your room, ma'am?” asked Crossley, demurely, though her eyes were actually glistening with unshed tears; "the dinner will be served almost immediately, and I am sure you must require something after your journey."

"I suppose we may remain, Henry," said the lady, appealing to her husband.

"I think so, dear; your father evidently desires it."

"Desires it!" echoed the Squire, who had drawn near them unperceived; "I do indeed desire it! how could I otherwise assure myself" he uttered those words in a tone of touching humility-"that the past is, if not forgotten, yet at least forgiven?"

Very well, papa, we will stay," was Mrs. Hamilton's consolatory reply.

And, taking Lily by the hand, she went out of the room, and up the broad staircase, accompanied by the woman whom she had formerly regarded with such unmitigated aversion, but who had nevertheless shown herself capable of the most disinterested and self-sacrificing devotion.

CHAPTER XXIV.

""Tis not in mortals to command success;

But we'll do more, Sempronius-we'll deserve it."

ADDISON'S "CATO."

Heaven forming each on other to depend,

A master, or a servant, or a friend,

Bids each on other for assistance call,

Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all."
POPE'S "ESSAY ON MAN."

"You have not yet explained how you managed your little plot, my dear," observed Mr. Faversham, when they were sitting together that evening in the pink drawingroom, after Lily had gone to bed.

"It was not much of a plot after all," replied his daughter, with a smile of the fullest contentment as she felt her hand warmly grasped by that of her long-alienated father, and saw his eyes fixed upon her with an expression of unmistakable affection; "but I will tell you how it all came about."

And she proceeded to pour into his willing ear the whole story of her life since she had left the paternal roof so many years before.

But as this part of her narrative, though deeply interesting to those concerned, would not have the same attraction for the generality of my readers, I will pass on to speak of Lily.

She had been born in India, Mrs. Hamilton told him, but soon after entering her third year she appeared so delicate, that the doctors recommended her being removed with all speed from the deleterious influences of so trying a climate.

Accordingly, the Colonel-then Major Hamilton-having obtained leave of absence, they lost no time in returning to England.

While there, they resided with Major Hamilton's father (the grandpapa of whom Lily spoke the first night she arrived at Faversham), and the child soon grew strong and healthy, though never robust delighting every one with her innocent, beguiling ways, as well as astonishing them by the wonderful loveliness of her sweet infantile countenance.

As the time drew near for Major Hamilton to rejoin his regiment, he and his wife. held many serious discussions regarding this

little daughter, whom they felt that it would be absolutely necessary for them to leave behind them; but it was not until within a few weeks of their departure that Mrs. Hamilton came to a final decision on the subject. She had no relations to whom she could apply for assistance, neither had Major Hamilton, except his father, whose advanced age and many infirmities rendered him utterly incapable of undertaking such a charge. A school, wherever situated, or however conducted, was not to be thought of for an instant; and to various unexceptionable offers made her by private individuals of irreproachable character, the anxious mother had always some lingering objection, which she found herself unable either to define or

overcome.

She was one day explaining her difficulties to Sir George Singleton, who happened to be an old friend of her husband's, though she had herself only recently become acquainted with him; and, after a little deliberation, he resolved on writing to his sister-in-law to enlist her sympathies, and ask her whether she would object to receive