By France,^ Eleanor Trollope

author of "aunt margaret's trouble," " mabel's progress," &c, &o. Chapter lIL Mrs Evrington was greatly astonished to hear of Algernon's sudden departure from Whitford. The news came to her through Mrs Thimbleby, who had learned it from the baker, who had been told by the barman at the "Blue Bell," that young Mr Errington had gone off to Lon don by the night mail on Monday. At first Mrs Errington was incredulous. But Mrs Thimbleby's information was so cir cumstantial, that at length her lodger resolved to go to Ivy Lodge, and ascer tain the truth. She found Castalia in a very gloomy humour. Yes ; Ancram was gone, she said. Why ? Well, he said he went because Lord Seely was ill. And, beyond that, it was not possible to draw much information out of her. Mrs Errington, however, returned not altogether ill-pleased to her lodgings, and assumed an air of majestic melancholy. She desired Mrs Thimbleby to prepare a cup of chocolate for her, and to bring it forthwith to the sitting-room. And when it appeared she began to sip it languidly, and to hold forth and to enjoy herself. " Oh, my dear good soul," she said, half closing her eyes and slowly shaking her head, "I've had a great shock— a great shock." " Deary me, ma'am 1" cried simple Mrs Thimbleby, with ready sympathy. "Nothing wrong with Mr Algernon, I hope V " No, thank heaven ! Not that ; but perhaps the next greatest trial that could befall me, in the illness of a dear rela tive." "Young Mrs " Mrs Thimbleby checked herself, having been reproved for using that distinctive epithet of " young " to Algernon's wife, and substituted the form of the words her lodger had taught her. "The Honourable Mrs Errington ain't ill, ma'am, is she ? ' "No, my good creature. We had a despatch last evening announcing the illness of Lord Seely. It was sent to Algy, because my dear Lady "eely was so fearful of startling me. And, for the same reason, dear Algy went off without telling me a word about it. " Mrs Thimbleby had only the haziest notion as to what kinship existed between Mrs Errington and the nobleman in question. 