as now difficult for a young man to find his way, and almost impossible for a man who was no longer young, and therefore known to many. It had been founded some twenty years since with the idea of pr

ctivity might be practised, but no one ever asked for them now-a-days, and a man, when he became an Acrobat, did so with a view either t

said one distinguished Acrobat t

managing that? He w

of a lounge for him. It doesn't count as leave, and he has every shilling paid for him, down

rd the whole story told openly at his club on the same day! There was nothing in the story to anger Trevelyan had he not immediately felt that there must be some plan in the matter between his wife and Colonel Osborne, of which he had been kept ignorant. Hither

ssed himself, intending to go to Emily as soon as the girl had left her; but the girl remained,-was, as he believed, kept in the room purposely by h

o-day?" he said. "I thought

se she thought you would be home, and she

n features, frowned, and showed that he was displeased. He hesitated a moment, thinking whether he would ask Nora

late, I fear

, are the last,"

a minute," s

hired brougham which wa

ays be an autumn tour. "One learns something from going about; but one learns nothing from keeping a carriage," Emily had said. Those had been happy days, in which it had been intended that everything should always be rose-coloured. Now he was meditating whether, in lieu of that autumn tour, it would not be necessary t

r the answers given, but because it is expedient that there should not be silence. Nora said something about Marshall and Snellgrove, and tried to make believe that she was very anxious for her sister's answer. And Emily said something about the opera at Covent Garden, which was intended to show that her mind was quite at ease. But both of them failed altogether, and knew that they failed. Once or twice Trevelyan thought that he would say

or her baby, and explaining that a mother during a certain interesting portion of her life, should refresh herself with a certain kind of malt liquor. Of all counsel on such domestic subjects Mrs. Trevelyan was impatient,-as indeed it was her nature to be in all matters, and consequently, authorized as she had been by her husband's manner of speaking of his mother's friend, she had taken a habit of quizzing Lady Milborough behind her back, and almost of continuing the practice before the old lady's face. Lady Milborough, who was the most

e Nora down to dinner, the interest was very great. Mr. Glascock was a good-looking man, just under forty, in Parliament, heir to a peerage, and known to be well off in respect to income. Lady Milborough and Mrs. Trevelyan had told Nora Rowley that should encouragement in that direction come in her way, she ought to allow herself to fall in love with Mr. Glascock. A certain amount of encouragement had come in her way, but she had not as yet allowed herself to fall in love with Mr. Glascock. It seemed to her that Mr. Glascock was quite conscious of the advantages of his own position, and that his powers of talking about other matters th

seat, a very grand place in Worcestershire. Of course he knew very

that part of England

hams. The oaks there are the fines

ave none in the islands, and nobo

Shall I? Indeed, I hope that some

, he can hardly mean other than to invite her to live there with him. It must at least be his purpose to signify that,

art of the country," she said. There was something perhaps in her tone w

rsons only, close to Mrs. Trevelyan. Emily, thinking that she might perhaps hear some advice about Guinness's stout, prepare

ot your father very intimat

mate with him, L

so. That makes it of course na

ee years and some months which she had hitherto lived, there had been a consecutive period of

f course; and I don't mean

ke his wife to Naples, because this horrid Colonel would make himself at home in Mrs. Poole's drawing-room in Knightsbridge. Augustus Poole, with courage enough to take any man by the beard, had taking by the beard been possible, had found it impossible to dislodge the Colonel. He could not do so without making a row which would have been disgraceful to himself and injurious to his wife; and therefore he had taken Mrs. Poole to Naples. Lady Milb

hild of her dearest friend, and she persevered. "Do you know I don't quite like that Colonel Osborne coming so much to your house." The face before her became still blacker, but still the man said nothing. "I dare say it is a prejudice on my part, but I have always disliked him. I think he is a dangerous friend;-what I call a snake in the grass. And though Emily's high good sense, and love for you, and general feelings on such a subject, are just wh

n. He believed him to be a snake in the grass. But it was intolerably bitter to him that he should be warned about his wife's conduct by any living human being; that he, to whom the world had been so full of good fortune,-that he, who had in truth taught himself

at is all," said Lady Milbo

elf. He hardly spoke another word that evening till the brougham was announced; and his wife had observed his silence. When they were seated in the carriage, he together with his wife and Nora Rowley, he immediately asked a question about Sir Marmaduke. "Emily," he said, "is th

eard of it," s

ave I not

a secret," said Mrs

rybody else knows it! And

wish that it should be kn

r with which I may not be made acquainted? I will have nothing more between

hear you

, that you shall not see Colonel Osborne again. You do not know it, perhaps, but you are already forfeiting

o not say tha

him speak it all a

now only necessary that you should give me

have to say, perhaps you will

hing till you have gi

inly shall no

pray do what he tel

cause she is obstinate, and will not learn from those who know better than herself what

ds addressed to me by my husband? If I am fit to be told that I must promise not to see any man living, I cannot be fit to be any man's wife." Then

to blame," said Nora to

d cautioned her against being intimate with him? I am sorry that she should suffer; but it i

. But she was too much in a hurry to get to her sister to make the matter plain, and he was too much angered to listen to her. He shook his head when s

present should be spoken openly. It was in vain to endeavour to make peace on that night. Nora hurried up to her sister, and found that the hysterical tears had again given place to anger. She wo