Startled and disturbed, St.
Eval at first peremptorily refused; but his sisters's eloquence at length succeeded.
Early in the morning of the succeeding day Caroline Hamilton received the following brief note: "Will you, my dear Caroline, receive me half an hour this afternoon?
I have something important to say; I have vanity enough to believe as it concerns me it will interest you.

We shall be more alone at your house than mine, or I might ask you to come to me.
"Yours affectionately, "GERTRUDE LYLE." Completely at a loss to understand the meaning of this little note, Caroline merely wrote a line to say she should be quite at Lady Gertrude's service at the appointed time; and so deeply was she engrossed in the sad tenour of her own thoughts, that all curiosity as to this important communication was dismissed.
Three o'clock came and so did Lady Gertrude, whose first exclamation was to notice Caroline's unusual paleness.
"Do not heed my looks, dear Gertrude, I am perfectly well; and now that you are before me, overwhelmed with curiosity as to your intelligence," said Caroline, whose heavy eyes belied her assurance that she was quite well.
"Dearest Caroline," said Lady Gertrude, in a tone of feeling, "I am so interested in your welfare, that I cannot bear to see the change so evident in you; something has disturbed you.

Show me you consider me your friend, and tell me what it is." "Not to you, oh, not to you; I cannot, I dare not!" burst involuntarily from the lips of the poor girl, in a tone of such deep distress, that Lady Gertrude felt pained.

"Gertrude, do not ask me; I own I am unhappy, very, very unhappy, but I deserve to be so.

Oh, I would give worlds that I might speak it, and to you; but I cannot--will not! But do not refuse me the confidence you offered," she added, again endeavouring to smile, "I can sympathise in your happiness, though I refuse yours in my sadness." "I am not quite sure whether I have sorrow or joy to impart," said Lady Gertrude, still feelingly; for she guessed why Caroline believed she dare not confide in her, and she hailed it as proof that she was right in her surmise, that her brother's honourable love would not be again rejected.
"Eugene seems bent on again quitting England, and I fear if he do, he will not return home again.