Amabel Vaughan.*

" Never ! murmured Mark with passionate fervour ; and as Mabel moved away towards her harp at the solicitation of her uncle , who begged for one more air on that wand instrument , which she played with much grace , he added , quoting the song just sung , " At all events I may sing : — "' But we were friends , and only friends , My sweet friend Leoline . '"

" But my name is not Leoline , " Mabel said simply . " You two young men were at Christ's Church together , I think 1 " interrupted the Vicar . Mabel was glad of a respite , —she was afraid things were going too far for the present , for she could not but see that Mark was head and ears in love with her , and she was by no means sure of her own feelings .

" Oh , yes ! " Mark said , " we were there at Hertford together in the same ward , and curiously enough , in the same ward in London also . " The Vicar sat silent for some time , and then Miss Griss reminded Mabel that they wanted her to play something on her favourite instrument ; and Mabel , who was the soul of good nature , sat down at once , struck one or two chords , and then gave a lovely weird sonata of Beethoven ,. arranged for the harp , —which she played so exquisitely that

it drew the tears from Mark's eyes ;—he was passionately fond of music . " Beautiful , my dear , beautiful , " said Mr . Brig , as she finished ; " and now \\> e have , I am sure , troubled you enough ; perhaps Mr . Seaton will sing something . " " Willingly , " answered Mark , though after Miss Vaughan ' s performance I am not worth listening to . I will sing this if you like , " he continued , after looking through a heap of songs ; " you like Blumeuthal , I fancy , " ancl he selected the following , whether by design or not , I cannot say : —

" I think of thee in the night , When all around is still , And the moon comes out with her pale , sad light , To sit on the lonely Mil ; When the storms are all like dreams , And the "breezes all like sighs , And there comes a voice from the far-off streams , like thy spirit ' s low replies .

I think of thee by day 'Mid the cold and busy crowd , When the laughter of the young and gay Is far too glad and loud ; I hear thy soft , sad tone , And thy young sweet smile I see ; My heart were all alone But for its dreams of thee . '"

Mark had a fine baritone voice , and he sung the song with a depth of feeling there was no mistaking , at least by one fair listener . ' I like that very much , " Mabel said dreamily as she rose from the piano , having accompanied him in the song at his earnest entreaty . " There is something mystical awl rather sad about it , and 1 don ' t want to be sad to-night , " she added with forced a ughter , looking at her cousin , who was regarding the pair curiously .

'B y Jove ! " Fitz said , and laughed as he noticed that Miss Griss looked rather pocked . — " Beg your pardon , Aunt ; I didn ' t intend to use that dreadful exclamation , " if continued with a sli ght satirical tone , " hut I just remembered , Mark , that to-day is JWward VI . birthday . " " Dear me ! " Miss Griss exclaimed , " I had no notion you knew so much about mstory , my dear , —and pray what was there remarkable about Edward VI . birthday "" " Nothing , Aunt , nothing . Only we had a holiday at Christ ' s Hospital , which , as all