Not while mamma is ill and fainting,' replied she; "no one can desire that;" and then her glance falling on the jewel-case, she at once suspected that threats, perhaps violence, had been used, and rising, she said"It must be evident to you, papa, that she cannot enter into business details at present; perhaps it will not inconvenience any one if it be delayed-" and she maintained her post, so as to intercept all approach to her mother, while it was difficult, with those flashing eyes fixed on him, for the Colonel to touch the case; so turning his fierce looks on his wife, he said "Remember, I will not be thwarted!" and left the room.

Constance quickly locked the door after him, and then returned to her mother, soothing and caressing her, as if they had exchanged characters, and Mrs. Templeton had been the child, needing a mother's care and protection. At length, she had the satisfaction of seeing tears flow abundantly, while her mother sobbed out" My darling child! my guardian angel!"

Now, mamma, lie down, while I remain here!" and Constance felt that, more than ever, she must keep watch over this beloved parent-she was again roused to a sense of her mother's helpless, unprotected state; and

fervently did she now thank Mr. Forrester, for the various impediments he had interposed to her speedy marriage; indeed, in her enthusiasm, she doubted whether she ought ever to leave her and began seriously to think she never would.

"How is your mother now?" asked the Colonel, when they met at luncheon, where she had hoped to see him-for Constance had no fear.

"She is better, thank you."

Any one would think I had been trying to kill her," he said. "It was about money; and when I wanted thousands, your mother is foolish enough to offer her jewels."

Willing to accept any overture that sounded pacific, Constance quietly replied, "Perhaps mamma thought it would please you, to see that she wished to help you,'

"No sign of that in her aggravating folly, to have locked up five thousand pounds, or handed it over to her disobedient daughter." "Mrs. West is my sister," said Constance, with the flash and the frown.

And, truly, a great honour that is," he replied, half-amused, half-provoked at these well-known signals; "wandering over Europe in search of a living.”

"That want is not her fault; and as to

wandering, it is a disgrace or an honour in which her husband has the company of the Duke of Isleford."

But he did not trouble Lord Grantham with his insulting opinion respecting trusteeship; for on consulting his lawyer, he found nothing could be done. Fortunately there was no attempt made to investigate the account, or there would have been found a handy little sum, arising from income which had been gradually added to the capital; which would have paid a few bills that Mrs. Captain and Co. had contracted-for both Juliet and Augustus were quite capable of having little outstanding accounts-indeed, the latter never was known to spend a guinea in the way ordered, if he once handled it-and a small misappropriation, or it would be more genteel to say, mistake, of this kind having occurred, Mrs. Captain Mordaunt listened to the Colonel's defeat about his wife's legacy with double

vexation.

CHAPTER X.

"Ingratitude is a monster, Carolo,

To be strangled in the birth, not to be cherished.” Massinger.

ANOTHER unpleasant event followed this. Nothing less than a quarrel in the lower regions; an outbreak among the servantswhich led Mrs. Dawson to think it was now time to discharge Ruth. One of the women servants declared, that she was in the habit of skulking down stairs at night, and listening at the door of Mrs. Templeton and her young lady's rooms; and that, moreover, she had keys which enabled her to examine their desks and writing-tables.

To one part only of this did Ruth deign a reply-she boldly challenged an investigation of her young lady's property, who, she said, would not find an old ribbon missing. The other charges she flatly denied-and even demanded that she should be allowed to appeal to Mrs. Templeton.

Ruth presented herself in a state of painful excitement; and though Constance bore testimony to her honesty, so far as regarded her property, she frankly owned, that she believed Ruth, for some bad purpose, was in the habit of opening her desks and several other places. Why, or for whom you seek to gratify this dishonest curiosity, is not your secret only," said Constance, impressively; " but, Ruth, in yielding to this wicked influence, you are perhaps not aware, how you may injure one to whom gratitude should so strongly bind you."

To this there was no reply; but the girl stood with an expression on her rather pretty face, which it was difficult to read-it was defiant, sorrowful, irresolute.

"It pains me much," said the gentle voice of Mrs. Templeton, "to say that, under any circumstances, it will be better you should leave. Where do you propose going? your father's home is not fit for you."

"My father is as respectable, in his way, as many who are rich," was the saucy retort; "but I have very kind friends in the village, who are bound to give me welcome."

"If so, I am glad," said Mrs. Templeton, really grieved that a motherless girl, to whom she had been kind, should prove so heartless.

Still, the departure of this woman was a