CHAPTER XXX.— Continued.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 201, 9 February 1877, Page 6

CHAPTER XXX.— Continued.

THE QUEEN OF HEARTS. "I'm much obliged to you, Ned; I dare say I look very silly; but please tell me what you mean by displeasing Hariy. Have you quarrelled ? I thought you were always the lfest of friends." "Ah, yes," said Ned, "the very best; out it is not in the nature of saintship in the flesh, nowadays at least, to bear every thing, and I really think I stand very much in the way of this young man." "Do explain yourself, Ned. How can you possibly interfere in in any way with Harry ? You talk in mysteries." ' It is only your lonely life that makes it a mystery, and prwents your understanding what 1 mean ; I warrant Marion will explain all before yoa've been together twenty-four hours." " You talk in enigmas^ Dr. Hartland," said Eosine, blushing crimson ; " I don't think you understand yourself." " Ah, yoTi have it now," he replied, laughing ; " I can read your blush. The thought came with the suggestion of Marion, very naturally." Eosine arose to leave him. " Stay, sister," he said, taking her hand, " I will talk plainly, if you wish it." " You have said all that I can hear," she replied, with dignity, " unless you change the subject." " I'm sorry, Rosa," he said, coaxingly. " Don't be offended; I Avas only comparing you in my mind with other women ; I don't know of but one that approaches you." " That will do, Ned," replied Eosine, chasing away the slight frown from her face by a sunny smile ; " others don't agree with you in your kind opinion." ~~_" I take a good deal of pride, you think," he said, gaily, "in my own training." " Go, find Harry," was her gentle reply. Dr. Hartland obeyed unhesitatingly, and came upon the young man in the furthest corner of the lawn, among a clump of old arborvitses which Aleck had trained into many fantastic shapes. He had thrown himself full length upon a mossy seat that had been planted in the midst of this principal group. The Doctor came upon him quite unexpectedly, and he sprang to his feet at once, as if he had been interrupted in some important matter'" " Don't hurry away again, Harry," said the Doctor, standing before him, and looking at him keenly ; " I have come for you." " Why should you trouble yourself about me ? " was the cold reply, in a constrained voice. "At her bidding," said the Doctor. "Don't make fool of yourself, Harry, but go back to the piazza like a man, and finish up this business, which, unlike your usual prompt way of doing, has been left hanging by the eyelids too long." *J Ned," replied the young man, with a touch of sadness in hi« voice, " don't joke me there again. I cannot bear it. I ought not to have come heie. I shall leave in the morning, for — I must go to work again." " You talk like a crazy fellow, Hal ! I really believe you are in love, and like all genuine lovers, take to talking nonsense ! My advice to you is to make a clean breast of it." " Don't talk so, Ned ; you exasperate me," replied young Green* wood, in an excited tone. "lam in love, I'm not afraid or ashamed to own it ; but do you think for a moment I would compete with you, or ask for what you are yourself seeking ? " " Now, by my troth, Hal, you are a jewel, and carry your principles of right further than most lovers ; but I can assure you, on my honor, that you need give yourself noluneasiness about me. I am much obliged to you for your consideration ; believe me, there is no ground for your suspicion," he added, looking into his eyes ; " there, shake hands; now begone." Greenwood needed no further stimulus. After an hour's wandering by the last rays of sunset and the light of the rising moon, Dr. Hartland returned to the house and found the family assembled, hut Eosine aDd Mr. Greenwood were not come in. The evening had grown cool and damp, and various hopes and fears were expressed as to the sufficiency of Eosine's clothing for_ this late hour ; the Colonel was restive, and was on the point of instituting a search with waterproofs and shawls on his arm, when the delinquent couple entered the hall, Eosine running immediately to her room on the plea of wet feet. Harry was flushed, bright and eager in his look, and the Doctor argued success. Rosine did nob appear again during the evening, the little Lily was restless, and she excused herself, to watch with the mothei. When the family were about to separate for the night, Mr. Greenwood waited in the hall. Ned whispered in his ear, " I see, hearts are trumps and you have the ace." ». ..,.,. " Ace and queen," retorted Harry, " and I am after the long," he added, turning again into the parlor, where the two old friend^ Mr. Benton and Colonel Hartland, were still lingering. 4IK^