Rookstone Priory.

Accordingly , on the clay mentioned in the letter , attended solely by the faithful John Barnes , Lowndes Forrester started for London . * * * * * » * Alice West sat by the deep hay-window

of the library , watching eagerly , with impatient , anxious eyes , the dark green avenue up ivhich the carriage that had gone to bring Lowndes from the station must come on its way home to Rookstone Priory . To-day Lowndes was to return .

He had been in London ten days , during ivliich the much-dreaded operation had been successfully performed , and the necessary amount of cpiiet and repose in darkened rooms , which inevitably follows on such a measure , patiently undergone .

And now he was coming home ; coming home a free and happy man . It is no wonder that since the morning ivhen the letter containing the glad tidings had

arrived , Alice had been restless , impatient , and excited , and had found it a difficult matter to settle calmly clown to anything requiring attention and freedom from mental wanderings . And not one degree less eager was old Mrs . Lorrimore ; her

white blue vehied hands positively trembled as they busied themselves among the intricacies of her many coloured wool work . She ivas sitting at the open Avindow Avith Alice West , her AVOOI frame in front of her , her thoughts elsewhere . It was a glorious ,

siveet smelling August afternoon , Avith Rookstone in all the splendour of its darkhued beauty . Flocks of gnats were sporting in the sunshine , and the music of the meandering brook was borne on the softness of the light summer air . Five o ' clock had just struck from the ivied stables , and Mr . Forrester and Jolm Barnes were expected every minute .

Aunt Jem , endeavouring to spend the time profitably , was giving one short glance at the angry Pharaoh and two prolonged ones at the moss-banked avenue . As for Alice , her eyes never left the shady road . When she answered aunt Jem , she did so

without turning her head ; and Mrs . Lorrimore would persist in talking , though Alice , poor restless child , would much rather have had peace and perfect silence . " Alice clear , " bleated aunt Jem , " ivhat is this thing in Miriam ' s hand ? It is

dark and lig ht broAvn in the pattern , with a few brig ht stitches of orange yellow . She is Avhirling it above her head most Avildly . Really I never noticed it before . It looks like a frying-pan Avithout a handle . What can it be , dear % "

" Meant for a timbrel , probably , " ansAvered Miss AVest , still looking out Avith strained Avatchful eyes , and guessing that Mrs . Lorrimore Avas merely chattering to hide her own excitement . "Don't you remember V

" Oh , yes , " said aunt Jem ; " I remember all about it HOAV . One , two , three , and cross ; brown , yellow—" " Here ' s the carriage ! " cried Alice , And up she started and ran out into the hall . Standing on the topmost step of

the great stone flight she waved her pocket-handkerchief right joyously . In a few seconds aunt Jem had joined her . The kind old spectacled eyes ivere suspiciously dim as they watched the fast approaching carriage rolling up the avenue .

In a very little Avhile it had reached them . Old John Barnes alighted first , and threAV open Avide the carriage door . Ou

of it , unassisted , sprang a tall bearded man Avith a scarcely perceptible . stoop in his broard , stalwart shoulders , a darkcoloured shade lowered over Ms eyes . " Lowndes ! Loivndes ! " broke forth Alice . And quite regardless of any

spectator , she ran down the steps and tMew herself into Ms arms , " Oh , my beloved V she murmuredfervently , thankfully . " Oh , thank Heaven ! " as she felt Ms embrace tightening around her . Then , lifting her head

from his breast , she saw the glad light that Avas beaming from beneath the shade . Beholding it , her joy Avas complete . " My OAvn darling , " Avhispered . LoAvndes ; " IIOAV beautiful you are !" Triumphantly she led him up the Avide

stone steps , on the top of Avhich stood aunt Jem , a Avondrous smile of greeting on her quivering lips , a world , of tender love in the depths of her placid eyes . " Heaven has been very good ! " She nearly Avept as she hugged him to her

overfloAvingmotherly heart . " So good , clear aunt Jem , " ansAvered LoAvndes , gently Idssing the soft Avhite hah , " that my happiness seems too great to last . Oh , Alice , " he cried passionately ,