"Well," I said, in answer to his last observation, "as it is quite evident that you attach no importance to my most earnest and serious assertions, it is worse than useless continuing to utter them, and the time is getting on. We must say good bye in the end, however long we may delay it. I assure you I am not leaving you without much pain and regret, for as a friend, and as my poor darling's father, I have the sincerest regard and esteem for you."

"And as Dora Heathcott simply, I have the truest and most exclusive love for you. Do you believe this?"

"I suppose I must, but it is quite incomprehensible to me. And now, Mr. Seymour, good bye, and may every blessing attend you for time and for eternity."

I had risen as I spoke with the full intention of being very calm and self-possessed, but the mere utterance of those two words, "good bye"

brought such a flood of bitter thoughts into my mind that the weakened nerves gave way in an instant, and before I had time to notice that his eyes were overflowing, I had sunk into my chair again, and was crying with hysterical passion.

The poor sick man was generous and noble hearted then. He would not take advantage of the emotion which had made me for the time a very baby in his hands, but putting the lover quite aside, he soothed me as a tender father or pitying friend might have done, and on the cessation of my tears told me I had better go ere we both became more agitated.

In my gratitude for all this, I let him kiss the

hand he had been holding, and the last "God bless you" fell as warmly and fervently from my lips as from his.

CHAPTER XVII.

PARTING WITH RICHARD.

I HAD not been very long in my own room, when Mrs. Allen presented herself, looking so excessively unhappy, that I feared for the moment she was the bearer of more evil tidings.

"I beg your pardon for disturbing you, miss," she said, taking, however, the chair I immediately offered, "but master desired me to give you a message, and, oh, dear, if I may make so bold, how sorry I am to hear that you are really

going after all. I did hope that at the last, when you saw poor master so set upon it, and so weak and low, which is not to be wondered at, but quite the reverse, you would have stayed with us for good. I can't help saying it, miss, and I hope you won't be angry. I should have had such a pride and pleasure in getting everything nice and new for you, for I'm sure master would have spared no expense, and "

"My good Mrs. Allen," I interrupted beseechingly, "pray, pray don't go on in this way; my nerves have been sufficiently tried already, and

you

know I have a great deal before me. What is Mr. Seymour's message?"

The old housekeeper wiped her eyes, setting me down, I am afraid, as the most heartless of womankind, and answered my question rather stiffly.

"Master forgot, he says, to tell you that he

wishes you to take whatever books or other things you like belonging to poor Miss Effie."

Here the voice relaxed, and a fresh torrent of tears almost choked her.

"He would have given you the little dog, only Mr. Richard begged for it, therefore you're to have what you please of her other property, except her Bible, poor dear lamb, which master will keep himself, and the hymn book she was so fond of, which he has given to me."

"Mr. Seymour is very kind," I said, determined that nothing should make me cry again to-day, "and you may tell him that I have already taken the few books Miss Effie wished me to have, and that I have also a little ring which she put on my finger herself the day before her death. I cannot accept anything else, and these will be more than sufficient to keep her in my memory."

"And are we never to hear from you, miss,