I havo felb very timid aboub singing before you, sir ; bub if ib will afford you the least pleasure, I am willing to do the best of which I am capable.' 'You sang quite successfully betore a large audience afc Mrs Brompton's, and dis played sufficient self-possession.' 'But those were strangers, and the opinion of fchose with whom we live is more important, their criticism is moro em barrassing.' • I believe I was proacnt and beard you on that) occasion.'

She moved away to the organ, and sat down, glad of an excuse, for her limbs trembled. ' Regina, what was that song you sang for libble Llora Carew the night before she left us ? Indeed there were two, one wibh, bhe obher wibhoub an accompaniment.' ' You were nob here ab thab time.' _ No matter ; what were they ? The child fancies bhem exceedingly, and I pro mised to get the words for her,' ' Kucken's " Schlummetlied," and a little " Cradle Song " by Wallace' 'Be so good as to let me hoar bhem.' Would Mrs Carew sing'them for him when she was far away, utterly forgotten by her guardian? The bhoughb was un utterably bitter, and ib goaded her, aided her in bhe ordeal. Wibh nerves strung to their extreme tension, she sang as be requested, and all the while her rich mellow voice rolled through the room, ho walked very slowly from one end of the library to the other. She forced herself to sing every verse, and when she had concluded he was standing behind her chair. He put his hands on her shoulders, and prevented har rising", for just then he was unwilling she should see his countenance, which he feared would betray the suffering he was resolved to conceal. After a moment, ho said : 'Thank you: I shall buy tho music in order to secure the words. Lily ' He paused, bent down, and rested his chin on the large coil of hair at the back of her head, and though she never knew it his proud lips touched the glossy silken mass. 