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sad; and when they reached the Hall, he had the utmost difficulty in prevailing upon her to leave the carriage.

Howard did intend to receive her at the door, but when he saw the carriage approaching, his feelings overcame him, and he sank upon a couch. The reverend gentleman therefore alone supported her—for Henriette and Miss Duprez were then unconscious of their arrival-and when he had conducted her into the room, Howard on the instant rose and approached with extended arms, into which she at once fell and fainted. The reverend gentleman immediately withdrew, and met Henriette, who had that moment heard of the fact of their having arrived, and when he had communicated his intention to Miss Duprez, he re-entered the carriage and returned to the Grange.

The reconciliation having thus been effected, the reverend gentleman's first object was to induce Howard to go up to town again, with the view of being introduced to Sir Charles. He had spoken on this subject to Scholefield, who had stated it as his opinion, that if Howard—in the event of a reconciliation taking place—were to call upon Sir Charles, his conviction of Lady Julian's innocence would be complete.

He therefore—having allowed two days to elapse—mentioned the subject incidentally to Howard, who, on the instant, declared that he would go up at once, and take Mrs. Howard, Henriette, and Sylvester with him.

With this arrangement the reverend gentleman, of course, was delighted, but not more delighted than Sylvester was with the idea of travelling with Henriette. Howard had decided on starting the next morning, and at the appointed time called for Sylvester at the cottage, when he, Mrs. Howard, and Henriette, had the happiness of being introduced by Sylvester to his aunt.

Aunt Eleanor was also much pleased with the introduction; for although they had been the cause of her brother's premature death, she felt that they had been most innocently the cause, and that, therefore, they were blameless.

Knowing, of course, that they would call, she had prepared for them a luncheon, and soon won the hearts of Mrs. Howard and Henriette by her elegant and amiable manners.

"My dear madam," said Howard, as he led her to the window, "I shall deprive you of Sylvester's society for a time, but be assured that