My Lord The King;

and with a someAvhat troubled countenance at the girl , Avho was quite unconscious of the admiration she had evoked . A little man came in at the other end , whom our friend recognised as his companion of the morning , but AA'I IO seemed decidedly the Avorse for liquor . Presently he became

uproarious , and shouted out that , as it was Christmas-tide , he intended to kiss all the young ladies present . The pale-faced one , AVIIO seemed more determined than the rest , quietly ordered him out of the room ; but the little man , with drunken

bravado immediately tried to carry his threat into execution , and seized hold of her . She screamed , and in a minute the tall gentleman was at her side , and , Avith one Avell-aimed blow , knocked the little snob doAvnAVIIO lay blubbering— " My

, name is John Bond , sir ; you shall hear of me again . " One long earnest gaze , and Avith the one Avord , " Harry ! " sobbed out Avith passionate emotion— -she faints in his arms .

A dozen ministering , gentle , Avomanl y forms are at her side . They bear her into an adjoining room , whilst one of the porters ( he who took Harry ' s luggage ) hails a companion , ancl the pair get the commercial traveller—who is someAvhat

punished , and Avhose nose and mouth are bleeding profusely—out of the place . It was lucky there Avas no one else by , or there Avould haA'e been a row , and our hero AA'ould probably been locked up . The sudden shock to the system caused

by the sudden appearance of Harry Mennell—for he , indeed it was , as the reader has long ere this divined—prevented her immediate recovery from the SAVOOH into which poor Marian had fallen and so they ordered a cab and took her homeHarry

, explaining to the others that he Avas an old friend of the family , ancl , Avith that excuse , accompanying her . The presence of her lover sooned revh'ed the poor child , ancl ere they got to the house—a little cottage in one of the back streets

ofPaulborough—SAveet Maid Marian Avas herself again . If I said that Harry had kissed her pale cheeks over and oA'er before that , I daresay I should account for her speedy recovery . The story Avas easily told . In the beginning of that year , Goverend , Urnoy , and Co . had failed , aud Mr . Mauleverer Avas a ruined man . They had

come upon him to pay up the £ 30 per share ( £ 4 , 500 ) still unpaid , and he had been obliged to go through the Bankruptcy Court . They had impounded his superannuation at head-quarters , and he Avas alloAved only £ 100 a year , the rest goin « to his creditors . Marian had , after infinite

trouble , got a situation as governess , but she Avas so unhappy there that she had been obliged to leave . Then she tried to get daily piqnls in Paulborough , but failed ; and at last it had come to this , that the descendant of the Earls of Derwentwater

had become a Avaitress at the refreshment rooms at Paulborough Junction . " It is very kind of you to come to see orr humble home , " Mr . Mauleverer said , with his old-fashioned courtesy , as Marian went up to himaud bending over his

, great-high-backecl chair , close to the fire , kissed him fondly and cried : — * ' I brought him , papa ; Avasn't I good . " Yes , my clear , and very good of him to come . "

Harry , who had been looking dreamily into the fire ( having taken off' his great coat ancl hat and placed them aside , in accordance Avith Marian ' s suggestions , as that young lady herself hurriedly threAv her bonnet and cloak off , and sat herself down on a footstool at her father ' s feet )

seemed suddenly to have made up his mind , —moved by some extraordinary impulseto an unexpected course of action , for turning round to the feeble invalid , he said , " Mr . Mauleverer , I am not given to say much of my feelings ; but noAV that I have

found you out , I must say Avhat I should have said tAvo years ago , had not circumstances prevented it . I have loved dear Marian from the first moment I saw her , ancl I cannot remain in suspense any longer . Will you give your consent to our marriage ? " and he spoke in a tone of fe \ 'erish earnestness .

" You must ask her" said the old man , shading his face with his hand , perhaps to hide his emotion . " She must speak for herself . " "I saAV it in her eyes an hour ago , Harry replied , looking down fondly at her

. Then Marian rose up , kissed her father s cheek tenderly , ancl came and stood by Harry ' s side Avithout a word . He took her in hia arms for a moment ,