"Ay ?" she asked, with a sneer, " you have gone in a for a ne^- line, haven't you? — horse dealing."

" What do you mean ?"

"Mean'? why it isn't for pleasure, of course, that you ride every morning with those women in the Row. You must be wanting to sell them a horse — or to get better of them in some way 1" " T wish you would keep a civil tongue in your head," said Sir Charles, sullenly, " and not speak of these ladies as women. However, it is odd that you should talk about business and about them ; I have come to speak to you about both !"

In an instant the girl sat up erect in her chair, her eyes flashing, and her hands tightly clasped to the chair. " What do you mean ?" she cried, " speak instantly !" " Don't be such a spitfire !" he said, half putting out his hand towards her. "Look here, Rose — you and I haven't been going on very comfortably lately, and the fact is, I have been hard hit in two or three spec ulations, and I don't quite see my way to keeping on this place !"

" Well, Charley !" said the girl, soften ing suddenly, "you know it is not the place I care about. 