all. No one can blame him; but seeing him so often, reminded me of all the pleasure it used to be to meet him, until I knew," she continued, her voice faltering, "that Alfred loved me, and thought that I loved him."

"And now," said Avice, gently, "you will pray for help, to forget all else but this, that Lord Alfred loves you with all his nature—and that you love him with all your loyalty. Will not you, dear Roma? and so shall you be at peace once more."

"Do you think," said Roma, hiding her face in her little hands, "that it is indeed so, Avice ?"

"I think, dearest, that none has usurped his place; but that you are frightened at his seeming willing to leave it half unoccupied; do you know it is a great, though unpleasant, compliment to you that he does so ?"

"I suppose it may be," said Roma, faintly smiling; "and you give me a hope of becoming true in heart, as well as in deed, and word, dear Avice ?"

"I do, indeed," said Avice, very seriously.

"I know that your delicacy of conscience in this matter is the work of God. I know that He sees all desires, and knows how you deserve a pure and loyal affection, and that He will help you. The trial appointed you is for your strengthening, not for your falling: read it aright, and seek daily, as you ask for daily bread, for daily grace; and live more and more for Heaven in all things, and then this and every other too great concern for worldly matters, will become merged in a devout love of every duty, because it is a thank-offering and concession of love. And then, dearest, in little things; strive to please your husband; do not fear him; do not look coldly on him! He will never find himself so happy as at home,

if

you never reproach him for leaving it, and if you are not afraid of his finding it dull. You will not be dull to him, or to yourself, when you have the strong interest of doing all for the sake of One who loves you beyond imagining. And then, Roma, dearest, your child!—his child! Persevere, dear Roma, in prayer and cheerfulness, and you shall not fail!"

Roma's colour had deepened, as Avice, with unusual energy, but the greatest tenderness, poured forth her counsel-her loving counsel. Large tears rolled slowly down her cheeks, the fire of her eye was quenched, and shone out in a new and holier lustre, and her head bent forward, now rested upon Avice's shoulder.

"Thank you, dear Avice, oh, thank you!" she exclaimed; "you have indeed, done met good! My way now is clear before me, God give me help to walk in it to His glory! I will write to Alfred, to-morrow, and entreat him to come, or not, just as he likes it, or to let me return to Dover, if he wishes it. And I will not be provoked at his absences, nor at anything else," she added.

Thou shalt hide them privily by thine own presence, from the provoking of all men; thou shalt keep them secretly in thy tabernacle from the strife of tongues," said Avice, solemnly and affectionately. "And now, Roma, you

must rest, you will be quite exhausted."

Roma was indeed in a high fever, and for some hours suffered so much that Avice feared

for the hopes she had begun to cherish.

She

sent a written message to Bridget not to expect her home, as she was with Lady Alfred, and as if to put her into a high fever also, she sent a French boy, who could not by any means enlighten her, as to the place and manner of the discovery and the meeting.

CHAPTER XIV.

"Dolc' è d'amore la prima
Inaspettata parola,

E tutta la mente si comprima,
Per ben tener quella piccola—
Ma pure più dolc' è sentire

D'Amor che rinasce, il dire.”

M. S.

IN a few days Roma was better, but not until Lord Alfred, anxious and unhappy about her, full of remorse occasioned by her illness and his desertion, arrived did she really recover. Avice received him with "Oh! how glad Roma will be!" and took him to her room. They met most affectionately, and determined upon