Harry and Emily, after travelling about for some time, had settled in H----, not far from the college, and had insisted upon Everard spending a great deal of his time with them, as they had fitted up a nice little study for his especial use.

 

Emily was very anxious for the ordination, and had announced her intentions to hear him preach his first sermon, let it be when and where it might, in spite of his saying that he would go where he was quite unknown.

 

"Now, Everard, I'm going to have a party on the fifth," said Emily, "and I want you to bring some of the students, and I should like very much to have tall, handsome ones, and none of your little 'ugly mugs.' I want particularly that nice Mr. Elliott you introduced to me the other day."

 

"I do not choose my friends merely for their appearance, and Elliott is not one of the students," returned Everard.

 

"Never mind who he is, I want him to come."

 

"I will ask him if he is in town; but I can't come, I am altogether too busy."

 

"Nonsense, Everard, you only say that to vex me. I mean you to come, that's pos'. Isn't he provoking, Isabel?"

 

"Perhaps his business is as important as it was that Christmas," said Isabel, quietly.

 

Everard looked up quickly from his book, but Isabel was fully employed with her tatting.

 

"What do you know about my engagements at that time?" he asked.

 

"Oh, nothing; only, perhaps, you can as easily put aside your work as you did then."

 

"How do you know that it was so easy?" he inquired.

 

"Only from appearances."

 

"Appearances are often deceitful."

 

"Very."

 

Again the rapid glance of inquiry, but he could make nothing of her placid countenance; and the single word "very," it must have been his own imagination that gave significance to the very decided manner in which she had uttered it, or did she, indeed, see through his assumed indifference?

 

"You speak as though you had some experience," he said.

 

Isabel crimsoned, for she felt very guilty.

 

"Do you try to appear different to what you are in reality?" he inquired.

 

"Do you?"

 

"Why do you ask?" he said.

 

"Why do you?" she retorted.

 

"Isabel, Isabel! the carriage will be here in five minutes," interposed Emily, "make haste and put your things on."

 

The fifth came in due course, and Mr. Elliott with it. "Let me introduce to you a partner," said Emily, taking him up to Isabel.

 

"We have known each other too long to need an introduction, have we not, Isabel?" he said pleasantly. Then turning to Emily he added, "Thanks, Mrs. Mornington, for an unexpected pleasure."

 

Everard, who was near by, heard him call her by her Christian name, and saw the warm welcome accorded him, and the evident pleasure the meeting caused Isabel. He was furiously jealous, and walked away intensely disgusted.

 

"You are a stranger here, are you not?" asked Emily.

 

"Oh, quite."

 

"Then I leave you in Isabel's hands."

 

"Could not be in better," he said, smiling, and Charley Elliott's smile was a very pleasant one. Emily was enchanted, and went to sing his praises to Everard, much to his annoyance.

 

"Upon my word, Emily, if I were Harry I should be positively jealous."

 

"Oh, jealousy is not Harry's forte; he leaves that to Mr. Everard Arlington," she said saucily, with a low curtsey and a most provokingly wise expression.

 

"Emily!"

 

"Don't be a goose, Evie."

 

"Where have you been this long, long time, Isabel?" asked Elliott, "I have missed you so much."

 

"Have you, Charley? I'm glad to hear that some one has missed me. The happy past seems almost like a dream, it seems so far away."

 

"It was too bright to last; don't you think so, Isabel?"

 

"Perhaps so."

 

"Ah, those were days to remember, the excursions I had with you and Harley. But I, too, have had my troubles," he added, gravely.

 

"Who is exempt?" she returned. "But what of Harley, foolish Harley? Whatever possessed him to go to India? But," she added, with a sigh, "it would not have availed him much to have stayed, as it turned out."

 

"I don't know; I think he would have done more wisely to have remained."

 

"Why he went, I never could fathom."

 

"You never knew?"

 

"Never. He assured me that he had good and sufficient reason, and that papa thought so, too."

 

"I didn't think them good, or sufficient either, but he wouldn't take my advice. It was our only quarrel, and I believe I have scarcely forgiven him yet for going. It would, I am convinced, have been better for all if he had not done so," and the tears stood in the young lieutenant's eyes. Though brave as a lion, Charley Elliott had a kind and loving heart. There was a soft, warm light in the deep-blue eyes; no one could know Charley Elliott without loving him. Everard had no mean rival, if Charley was one. But he was not. He loved Isabel, it is true, with all the warmth of his ardent nature, but he loved her as he might a beautiful sister. He thought her worthy of Harley--his Harley--the pride of his boyhood, who in his eyes could do no wrong, until one day when he told him that he was going to India. Charley's grief was excessive, but his indignation arose when he learned the cause.

 

Harley Elliott was ten years his brother's senior. He was the favorite clerk in the firm of Leicester & Co. Had Isabel to be met anywhere, and her father was unable to go, Harley was invariably sent; he was constantly at the house for one thing or another. As Isabel grew up he was frequently called upon to escort her and her young friends to places of amusement. As might be supposed, he became deeply in love with her, until at last life was almost a burden, for Harley was sensitive and high-minded to a degree: as a poor clerk, he was too proud to woo the rich merchant's daughter. He determined, therefore, to try to amass wealth in another land, and, i............