'Tis very easy to make love;  
A smile--a pressure of the hand.
 
A reference to the stars above,
 
A "fly with me to some far land,"
 
A sigh as soft as coo of dove,
 
A kiss--the rest she'll understand.
 
 
Mr. Gelthrip, thinking no one but himself knew anything, had contradicted his clerical superior on some point connected with the introduction of printing into England, and the vicar in great had carried off his dogmatic curate to the library in order to prove his case. The two elder ladies were talking about Sir Rupert as Mrs. Valpy had met him a few months , and Mrs. Belswin was trying to find out all about her quondam husband, in order to strengthen her position as much as possible. At present she knew that she was at the mercy of Sir Rupert, so if she could discover something to his character it might serve as a weapon against him. The scheme which she hoped to carry through with the assistance of Ferrari, was a dangerous one; and moreover, she was doubtful if the Italian would consent to aid her; therefore she was anxious to try all other methods of her husband before resorting to the last and most terrible . She was a clever woman, was Mrs. Belswin, and the instinct for discovery, which she inherited from her grandparents, made her wonderfully acute in cross-examining simple Mrs. Valpy, who not comprehending the of her companion, told all she knew about the baronet in the most open manner. The result was not gratifying to Mrs. Belswin; for with all her in twisting, and turning and questioning, and hinting, she discovered nothing likely to compromise Sir Rupert in any way.
 
"It's no use," she thought, with a feeling of despair in her heart, "Rupert has it all his own way, and I can do nothing--nothing except----"
 
She smiled significantly, and simple Mrs. Valpy, seeing that the companion was looking at Toby and her daughter, who were amusing themselves at the piano, misinterpreted the smile, and therefore according to her misinterpretation.
 
"They'll make a very happy couple, won't they, Mrs. Belswin?"
 
Mrs. Belswin, thus being appealed to, started, smiled politely, and with much outward show of interest to the remark of the old lady.
 
"It's so nice for Toby to have his home here," pursued Mrs. Valpy, with much satisfaction; "because, you know, our place is not far from the vicarage, so I shall not be parted from my daughter."
 
The other woman started, and laid her hand on her breast, as if to still the beating of her heart.
 
"Yes; it would be a terrible thing to part with your only child," she said in a low voice. "I know what the pain of such a separation is."
 
"You have parted from your child, then?" said Mrs. Valpy, sympathetically.
 
Mrs. Belswin clutched her throat, and gave an laugh.
 
"Well, no; not exactly;" she said, still in the same low voice; "but--but my little daughter--my little daughter died many years ago."
 
It was very hard for her to lie like this when her daughter was only a few yards away, chatting to Maxwell at the window; but Mrs. Belswin looked upon such necessary denial as punishment for her sins, and accepted it accordingly.
 
"I'm very sorry," observed Mrs. Valpy, with well-bred condolence. "Still, time brings ."
 
"Not to all people."
 
"Oh, yes, I think so. Besides, now you have that dear girl, Kaituna, and she seems very fond of you."
 
"Yes."
 
She could say no more. The strangeness of the situation excited her to laughter, to that laughter which is very near tears, and she was afraid to speak lest she should break down.
 
"And then Sir Rupert will be so glad to find his daughter has such a good friend."
 
The mention of the hated name restored Mrs. Belswin to her usual self, and with a glance at the blundering woman who had so unconsciously wounded her, she answered in her ordinary manner--
 
"I hope so! But I'm afraid I shall not have an opportunity of seeing Sir Rupert at once, as I go to town shortly, on business."
 
"But you will return?"
 
"Oh, yes! of course I shall return, unless some unforeseen circumstances should arise. We are never certain of anything in the future, you know, Mrs. Valpy."
 
"No, perhaps not! At all events I think you will like Sir Rupert."
 
Mrs. Belswin .
 
"Oh, do you think so?"
 
"I'm certain. Such a gentlemanly man. Quite young for his age. I wonder he does not marry again."
 
"Perhaps he had enough of matrimony with his first wife," said Mrs. Belswin, coolly.
 
"Oh, he was attached to her."
 
"Was he, indeed?"
 
"Yes! Simply worshipped her. She died in New Zealand when Kaituna was a baby, I believe, and Sir Rupert told me how this loss had overshadowed his life."
 
"Hypocrite!" murmured Mrs. Belswin, between her teeth.
 
The conversation was becoming a little difficult for her to carry on, as she dare not disclose herself yet, and did not care about exchanging remarks on the subject of a man she so .
 
At this moment Toby struck a chord on the piano, and Tommy burst out laughing, so, with ready wit, Mrs. Belswin made this interruption serve as an excuse to break off the conversation.
 
"The young people seem to be merry," she said to Mrs. Valpy, and rising to her feet, "I must go over and see what the joke is about."
 
Mrs. Valpy nodded sleepily, feeling somewhat after her dinner, so Mrs. Belswin, seeing she did not mind being left to her own devices, walked across to the piano and interrupted the two lovers, for which interruption, however, they did not feel profoundly grateful.
 
"Won't you sing something?" asked the companion, addressing Toby, "or you, Miss Valpy?"
 
"Oh, my songs are too much of the orthodox drawing-room' type," replied Miss Valpy, . "Now Toby is original in his ditties. Come, let's have a little chin-music, Toby!"
 
"Wherever do you learn such slang?" said Mrs. Belswin, with a smile.
 
"Toby."
 
"I! Oh, how can you? I speak the Queen's English."
 
"Do you really?" said Tommy, laughing. "Well, I at present speak the President's American, so go right along, stranger, and look slippy with the barrel organ."
 
"If your mother hears you," Mrs. Belswin, "she will----"
 
"Yes, I know she will," retorted Tommy, ; "but she's asleep and I'm awake, very much so. I say, Mrs. Belswin, where's Kaituna?"
 
"I think she's walking on the lawn with Mr. Maxwell."
 
"As a chaperon you should hunt them out," said Miss Valpy, .
 
"Suppose I give the same advice to your mother," replied Mrs. Belswin, dryly.
 
"Don't," said Toby, in mock horror; "as you are strong be merciful."
 
"Certainly, if you sing something."
 
"What shall I sing?"
 
"Anything," said Tommy, sitting down, "except that new style of song, all chords and no ."
 
Toby laughed mischievously and began to sing--
 
 
"If I her would she kiss me?
 
No! no! no!
&............