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last fell asleep , and thc doctor insisted upon Grace going at once to her own room aud taking a little rest , as she was harassed and agitated , and would bo unfit , he said , to wait upon her aunt if she did not havo sufficient rest and repose . Her father , too , added his persuasions to thoso of fche kind physician , and alluded very tenderly to his sister's illness , aud her over anxiety about hei *

son , reminding bis daughter that we were all m the Lord ' s hands , whoso very word the winds and tho storms obeyed , and that nothing could occur but at His pleasure . From this sho had obtained some crumbs of comfort , for the bare thought of thc loss of hor lover , which was suggested to lier by hor aunt's ravings , added to her own fears for his safety on account of his

non-arrival , mado her wretched aud miserable , and when she retired to rest sho could uot sleep for hours , as thc idea of drowning was ever present in her mind . When at lasfc sho did fall asleep , her slumber was far from refreshing , as she dreamt of wrecks and drowning men , and again and again she thought she saw hor Harry struggling for lifo with the cruel waves .

Nexfc morning she was so weak with prostration of mind and body thafc the doctor positively forbad her rising ; ho would seo that hor aunt was properly attended to , so sho was nofc to bo anxious on that score . Goiug to her father , he informed him of his daughter ' s state , and cautioned him not to say a syllabic about the loss of thc vessel , and to warn the servants not to allude to it .

"Do you consider Grace in a serious state of health f " asked the anxious father . "Well , I would not exactly pronounce her health to bo serious , but she is in such a low nervous state , that if she were to hear of this untoward news , it might affect her very seriously . " "I am very sorry to hear yon say so , " said Mr .

Richmond , " but for thc present you havo relieved my mind ; and my sister , you think sho is progressing as favourably as can be expected ?" "Decidedly , for she unfortunately read the news , nnd we can scarcely expect her to recover from the stroke very rapidly ; she is , however , calmer this morning , but still very agitated . It is a providence that

Grace is unable to attonel her ; hor continual allusions to her son would throw the girl into a fever . " " There is not much more to be gleaned from tho papers this morning ; there are suggestions that tho vessel may not be the Cumberland after all , but some other ship—the Northumberland , for instance , or some vessel from Sunderland tho fragments of thc name

applying equally io the one ns the other . " "Quite right , quite right ; the news is by no means certain , and before your daughter is in a . fit state to hear thc news , there will be some moro authentic information . I myself believe it is some other vessel than that Harry was aboard . " " Yon are more sanguine than I am ; perhaps the

untiirp of your profession leads you to bo so , as . Until and in . pc tend greatly towards thc curative power . You wish your patients to have faith in you , and you naturally inspire them wilh hope ; these virtues , along with lire exhibitions of the proper remedies , complete the cure . " " Yes , with God's blessing , " added ihe doctor .

" Certainly , " said the clergyman , " I meant that to be understood . Woll , I trust yonr surmises may be correct , and thai this vessel , which has undoubtedly gone down , is uot the Cumberland . " "I fervently hope so , but without doubt some vessel has been wrecked , somo lives lost , and doubtless ninny a home made desolale bj * the catastrophe . Poor souls

what a reception to meet with on thoir return to their native shores nf lor , perhaps , a prolonged absence ! A Cimmerian night , a driving gale , an angry sea , a treacherous coast , a watery grave ! " "Ah ! poor souls , indeed , at such times it requires a

firm faith in Him lo believe that these calamities aro for our good , and that these chastisments may be blessings in disguise . We cannot judge Him from our own standpoint , for wo know ' His ways are not our ways , ' and ' nono shall nay unto Him what doest Thou ?' or , as Cowpov has beautifully expressed it ,

'Judge not thc Lord by feeble sense , Hut trust Him for Ilis grace ; J ' chiml a frowning providence He hides a smiling face . ' Then , after a pause , during which he seemed to bo straggling with his feelings , ho added , " poor Harry poor Harry ! But not my will , 0 Lord , but Thine be

done . "Ah , poor lad ! " said tho doctor ; "I always liked Harry , ho was so free , so generous , and so brave . I hopo he has not met his fate ; our sympathies , however , must be with I ho living . " " True , " replied the rector , " and my heart bleeds for my sister and mv daughter . "

" I can we'll believe that , but you must bear up in presence of tho ladies ; and , remember , on no account must you let your uaiighlor know , either directly or indirectly , of the loss of this vessel and tho supposed death of Harry till I givo yon leave to tell hor . As for the mother , you may comfort her in any manner you please , but avoid the subject as much as possible . "I . place mvsolf in your hands entirely , my dear

doctor , and will bo guided by you in tho matter . " " Well , 1 advise perfect rest for both patients . In tho meantime I would also caution Mrs . Warburton ' g maid anil your daughter's attendant not to broach the subject . 'J'he nows has spread all over tho parish , nnd the gossips are full of it . I was questioned a dozen times about ifc this morning on my rido over hero , and any injudicious tattle reaching my two patients upstairs might seriously endanger their lives . So much i ' or tho

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treatment of the ladies ; now for yourself . You look ten years older within the last two days ; this won't do . You must not brood so much over this business , my dear follow , but set about some active work ; go , dig your garden , it will be rather hard with the frosfc , by tho way ; or , better still , go down to tho church and assist them , there with tho decorations ;

help weave the garlands , strip tho holly , or something or other , and don ' t leave all the work to be dono by your curate anel half a dozen ladies ; the change and occupation will do you much good . " " Thank you for your aelvice ; I'll follow it . " " That's right . I'll look in again this evening to see how you are all getting on . " According to promise he

called the same evening , aud found his patients certainly no worse , and tho rector much more cheerful . Next morning thoro was a decided improvement in Grace , thanks to the elector ' s caro and skill . She had had a good night ' s rest , and although sho still felt a considerable amount of langour and lassitude , she was , on thc whole , so much better that the doctor advised

hor to endeavour to get up dnring thc day . " This is Christmas Eve , you know , " said ho , " and it would bo very cheerless for your father to dine alone ; ho might begin to tako melancholy fancies into his head , liko some other fellw I know , and that would he a pretty business on Christmas Eve , wouldn't it , my dear ? Tako

tny advice , anel go down to dinner ; your presence will cheer him , and you yourself will bo all thc better of his company . " Grace , liko a loving daughter and dutiful patient , followed tlio worthy doctor ' s advice , as will bc scon if the reader will kindly turn to tho next chapter .

Cn . YH . -r-R . THE THIRD . " With such compelling cause to grieve As elaily vexes household peace , Anel chains regret to his decease , How dear we keep our Christmas I ' ve 1

" Kise , happy morn ; rise , holy morn ; Draw forth the cheerful d .-iv from night ; O l- ' ather , touch the East and light : The light that shone when Hope was born . " Tennyson— " //; Memaiiani , * Ix the course of the afternoon Grace rose and went downstairs , and , to the delight of tho household , so far

resumed her domestic dnties as to give sundiy orders and make certain arrangements connected with the economy of tho establishment whfch had always come under her own immediate superintendence . By the advice of the doctor sho was not allowed to wait upon her aunt ; and her father entertained hor during the afternoon by reading selections to her from somo of

his favourite authors . They timed earlier than usual , as tho rector had to go to tho church thafc ovening to superintend the finishing of tho decorations , and afterwards attend the practising of the new anthem by thc choir ; and before going he partook of a cup of tea in company with his daughter . As they wero sitting , eivjoving tho social meal by tho cheerful light of the

fire , quietly conversing , thoy were si artled by tho sudden sound of wheels upon tho frozen gravel in front of thc house , and almost before cither could exclaim , " Who can that be ? " which they eli ' el simultaneously , thero was a violent ring at tho door bell ; and Grace , hor heart bounding with hope , rushed to tho window , and , looking out , i ' or the blinds hnd not been drawn , caught

a glimpse of n figure entering thc porch . Tho outer door opening at tho samo moment tho light of the lamp in the hnll shown upon tho individual , and revealed him distinctly to tho young lady , who rushed to hor father , exclaiming , " Oh papa ! papa ! it is ho ! It is Harry !" " I would to God it were , my child ; but no , it cannot

be . You mistake , or the darkness deceives you . "No , indeed ; there is no mistake—bufc why do you tremble so ?" " I—I cannot tell , a suddon faintness ; hush , hero comes some one . " Thc eloor opening at the same moment a young man rushed unceremoniously into tho room , and caught the

young lady out ot the arms ot hor father , murmuring , "Grace ! Grace ! my own ! " as he warmly embraced her . "Oh Harry ! Harry ! " was nil she could say as sho leant hor head upon his shoulder , nnd sobbed in tho fullness of her joy . "Harry ! Bless my heart ! exclaimed tlio rector ,

when he had recovered from the first shock of surprise and found tho uso of his tongue . " I beg your pardon , sir ; I scarcely observed you , " apologised the young man . " But tell mo Harry , how did you escape ? Was the Cumberland not lost after nil ?" " Lost 1 ah , yes 1 But did you nofc receive my

telegram ?" " Telegram ? No , thoro has boon no telegram . " " Why , you ought to havo had it several hours ago . As soon as wo reached tho port and heard of the loss of the Cumberland I telegraphed at once to my mother in London , ancl to yon , knowing what a state you would bo in , supposing mo to havo been on board . "

" Woll , I assure you wo havo never received tho message . " While ho wns speaking there was a knock afc tho door of tho apartmant , which tho rector answered , and was handed a paper by tho servant , who told him that tho messenger waited in tho kitchen . Going up to the fireplace ho caused the coals to blaze brightly so that he was able to read tho following : —

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From H . Warburton , To Rev . R . Richmond , Grassvale Rectory , Liverpool . Appleton , Cidershire , Arrived to-day safe and well Just heard of wreck of Cumberland fear you have given mc up for lost will follow by first train and be with you this evening

" My telegram , by Jove ! " said Harry . " Well , upon my word , that ' s the latest idea out ; a fellow bringing his own telegraphic despatches ! I picked up a poor fellow tramping slowly along * the road , about a niilo and a half from here , and gave him a lift in the dog-cart I hired at Appleton . I asked bun if ho had far to go , and ho answered ' To the Rectory , ' so I'vo uo doubt ho

aud tho messenger waiting below are ono and the samo . " " Was the Cumberland lost , then ? " asked Grace , tremblingly . "It was , my dear ! " answered hor cousin ; " not a soul escaped ; at least , it is believed that tho wholo of tho crow and passengers wero drowned , none having

turned up as yet . While he was speaking ho felt tho little form of Grace trembling violently , and , but for his supporting arm , she would havo fallen , having swooned on hearing of tho narrow escape of her lover . "Water , epiick !" he cried , placiug her gently ou the couch ; " she has fainted with excitement ! " And the rector bringing it

immediately from the sideboard , thoy bathed her temples , and soon had the satisfaction of seciug her restored to consciousness . When she fully comprehended her situation , and felt her Harry's arm about her , and heard his cheery voice address her in sympathetic tones , she fell on his neck mid relieved her heart , which had been for many days past over charged with

anxiety , m refreshing tears . Mr . Richmond , thinking it better to leavo them alone , stole epiietly out of tho room , and , bethinking himself of his sister , whom thoy had entirely forgotten in the excitement of tho moment , betook him to her apartment to communicate to her tho joyful tidings . He found her , though much prostrated by grief aud anxiety ,

comparatively tranquil . . Speaking to hor cheerily , he said he hoped she would soon be woll again , anel expressed a belief that she woultl find horsolf ablo to dine with them on the morrow—Christinas Day . At this thc lady sadly shook her head , and , as if to change tho subject , asked how her neico was . " Much better—in fact , I may say quite well again , "

answered Mr . Richmond , watching tho effect of his words upon his sister , as ho added deliberately , " I left her downstairs with a friend , much happier than she has been for somo time . " " A friend with her , and happier ! Surely she cannot be so heartless as to receive , visitors as such a time !" "Well , I would not say she was heartless ; her reception of him proved tho contrary , I think . "

"Him ! Oh , I ' understand ; you allude to tho doctor . " " No , no , not to Dr . Goodman ; but to one who will do her moro good than tho whole medical faculty pufc together . In fact , a visit from him would do you a great ileal of good , too , I ' m certain . " " Yon talk in enigmas , Regiuahl ; I really cannot

understand you . You know there was but one tho sight of whom would have douo mo good ; but ho ishe is . " Sho would have said " Ho is dead ! " but her tongue refused to utter the word , for her grief broke out fresh and prevented her utterance . Her brother then seized the opportunity of saying , " Nay , Margaret , do not givo way so ; you only imagine that he is dead ,

yon have no proof that he was drowned . You saw the report of the wreck of a vessel , on board of which you believed Harry to be ; is it not possible that ho might have been saved ; try and think so if you can . " " No ! no ! no ! I cannot ! I know , Reginald , you ask me to believe this out of kindness . " "Well , suppose ho never was ou board the ill-fated

vessel ; suppose ho has arrived safely m England ; and suppose , if yon can , that you will see him very soon . " " Do not torture me ; you mean ifc in kindness , I know , but it is cruel to ask me to suppose anything of fche kind . I wish , indeed—I wish I could—but I cannot ! There can be no hope ! oh , my poor , poor boy and hero the mother's grief broke out afresh .

" Well , Mag , Grace can believe that it is all possible ; I will send her to yon , and perhaps sho will bo ablo to inspire you with some of hor faith , hopo , and happiness , " saying which he left tho l-oom and unceremoniously disturbed tho lovers in a delightful tela ntete by sending Grace at once to her aunt , cautioning her not ' to tell her ol Harry's arrival too suddenly . Ho hatl somo

ilifficulty m restraining the young man from accompanying her to prove by his presence that he was perfectly safe . Grace had informed her cousin that his mother was not in London but with thorn , and at that moment was suffering from ovcranxioty on his account ; and she had bogeyetl him not to seo her till Mv . Richmond should

think hor fit to stand tho interview . Hurry therefore curbed his impatience until ho should bo summoned into his mother ' s presence . When Grace entered her aunt ' s room she ilun g herself into hor relative ' s arms , and then in tears gavo vent to her overwrought feelings . Tho older lad y , thinking that her agitation proceeded from grief , en-