Chapter X.

apologetically , afraid she had touched tender ground in her clumsiness , and at last going to make the desired toast . Notwithstanding her garrulity , she was really a kind-hearted woman in her way , ancl her professed pleasure at her lodger ' s improvement was no feigned feeling . Arthur was often amused at her conversation and mannerthough

some-, times a little bored . He could read the genuine nature of the woman as it bubbled up on the surface in her homely and ingenuous way . He often thought it was a wonder she hacl never been married ; somebody hacl certainly missed a good wife . She had onl y one fault , and that was she was too fond clwork . She would work until she was fairly worn ont , and when made ill by it , she would still try to get through the usual amount of labour .

Idleness she hated , ancl when she was obliged to get someone to help her , she was never happy unless she was continually " nagging " at them to " get along . " Such was Mrs . Chatwind , a self-reliant woman , strong of mind and body . Of course Arthur visited at the Phane ' s regularly now . Happy , happy evenings , so full of confidences , little plans , ancl castle-building on what they considered firm foundationssolid hopes . Their many misgivings and

mis-, takes of the past , how foolish they now seemed , when they could look on them calmly as clangers for ever past , never to occur again . How they plighted their troth over and over again , each growing stronger in their mutual faith ; the elysinm of loving and being loved was theirs ; soul spoke with sonl ; hands clasped , eyes communed , lips caressed . Truly had they attained happiness at last .

I was such an evening as this , about two months after the disastrous but fortunate occurrence at the theatre , that they talked sweet nothings as usual . Redtaper- and Merrisslope were now fairly well , physically , though both were mentally distressed at their non-success in love affairs . Of course Merrisslope hated Humberton with all his heart , for

Friendship is constant in all other things , Save in the office and affairs of love . Humberton had this ni ght coaxed Olivia into naming the happy day , and they sealed their bond with an affectionate caress : A longjjcmg kiss , tho kiss of youth and love .

Little did they imagine it was their last ; that their happiness was to be dashed to the ground e ' er the cup had touched their lips . Oblivions of all the future he drew her whole soul through his lips , As sunlight drinketh clew . Then could he have said with Othello :

0 my soul ' s joy ! If after every tempest come such calms , May the winds blow till thoy have waken'd death And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas , Olympus-high ; and duck again as low As hell ' s from heaven ! If it were now to die , 'Twere now to be most happy ; for , I fear , 4 ty soul bath her content so absolute , That not another comfort like to this Succeeds in unknown fate .

I cannot speak enough of this content , It stops mo bore ; it is too much of joy : And this , and this , the greatest discords be That e'er our hearts shall make . ( Kisses )