"Why, mother, didn't I tell you it was me?"
said Edward colouring.

"No, that you did not," said Julia. "Was it?
was it? oh do be quick and tell one. There, it
was."

"Well it was: ah, I remember now; that
splendiferous account shut me up. Oh I say,
didn't the 'Tiser pitch it strong?"

"Not at all," cried Julia; "I believe every word,
and ever so much more. Mamma, we have got a
hero: and here he is at breakfast with us, like
an ordinary mortal." She rose suddenly with a
burst of her old fire and fell upon him, and
kissed him, and said earnestly how proud she was
of him: "and so is mamma; she may say what
she likes."

"Proud of him! ah that I am; very proud:
and very unhappy. Heroes are my horror.
How often, and how earnestly have I prayed
that my son might not be brave like his father;
but stay quietly at home out of harm's way."

Here remonstrance ended: the members of this
family, happy by nature, though unhappy by
accident, all knew when to yield to each other.

Unfortunately, in proportion as all these
excitements great and small died, and her life
became quiet and uniform, the depth of Julia's
wound showed itself more and more. She never
sang nor hummed, as she used to do, going about
the house. She never laughed. She did burst
out with fervid sentiments now and then; but
very rarely: on the whole a pensive languor took
the place of her lovely impetuosity. Tears rushed
in a moment to her eyes with no visible cause. She
often stole to the window, and looked all up and
down the street: and, when she was out of doors,
she looked down every side-street she passed; and
sometimes, when a quick light step came behind
them, or she saw a tall young gentleman at a
great distance, her hand twitched her mother's
arm or trembled on it. And, always, when they
came home, she lingered a moment at the doorstep
and looked all round before she went in.

At all these signs one half of Mrs. Dodd's
heart used to boil with indignation, and the other
half melt with pity. For she saw her daughter
was looking for "the Wretch." Indeed Mrs.
Dodd began to fear she had done unwisely in ignoring
"the Wretch;" Julia's thoughts dwelt on him
none the less; indeed all the more as it seemed:
so the topic interdicted by tacit consent bade
fair to become a barrier between her and Mrs.
Dodd, hitherto her bosom friend as well as her
mother. This was intolerable to poor Mrs.
Dodd: and at last she said one day, "My
darling, do not be afraid of me; rob me of your
happy thoughts if you will, but oh, not of your
sad ones."

Julia began to cry directly. " Oh no, mamma,"
she sobbed, " do not you encourage me in my
folly. I know I have thrown away my affections
on one who——I shall never see him again: shall
I, mamma? Oh to think I can say those words,
and yet go living on."

Mrs. Dodd sighed. "And if you saw him,
would that mend the chain he has chosen to
break?"

"I don't know; but if I could only see him,
to part friends! It is cruel to hate him now he
has lost his sister; and then I have got her
message to give him. And I want to ask him why
he was afraid of me; why he could not tell me
he had altered his mind: did he think I wanted
to have him against his will? Oh, mamma," said
she imploringly, "he seemed to love me; he
seemed all truth. I am a poor unfortunate girl."

Mrs. Dodd had only caresses to soothe her
with. She could not hold out any hopes.

One day Julia asked her timidly if she might
be a district visitor: "My dear friend was: and
advised me to be one too; but I was wilful in
those days and chose to visit by fits and starts,
and be independent. I am humbled now a little:
may I, mamma? Since she died every word of
hers seems a law to me."

Mrs. Dodd assented cordially; as she would to
anything else her wounded one had proposed.

This project brought Julia into communication
with the new curate; and who should it prove to
be but Mr. Hurd? At sight of him she turned
white and red, and the whole scene in the church
came back to her. But Mr. Hurd showed
considerable tact for so young a man; he spoke to
her in accents of deep respect, but confined his
remarks strictly to the matter in hand. She told
her mother when she got home; and expressed
her gratitude to Mr. Hurd, but said she wished
they did not live in the same parish with him.
This feeling, however, wore off by degrees, as
her self-imposed duties brought her more and
more into contact with him, and showed her his
good qualities.

As for Mr. Hurd, he saw and understood her
vivid emotion at sight of him; saw and pitied;
not without wonder that so beautiful a creature
should have been jilted. And from the first he
marked his sense of Alfred's conduct by showing
her a profound and chivalrous respect, which he
did not bestow on other young ladies in his
parish; on the contrary, he rather received
homage from them than bestowed it. By-and-by
he saw Julia suppress if not hide her own sorrow,
and go sore-hearted day by day to comfort the
poor and afflicted: he admired and almost
venerated her for this. He called often on Mrs.
Dodd, and was welcome. She concealed her
address for the present from all her friends
except Dr. Sampson; but Mr. Hurd had
discovered her; and ladies do not snub the clergy.
Moreover, Mr. Hurd was a gentleman, and
inclined to High Church. This she liked. He
was very good-looking too, and quiet in his
manners. Above all, he seemed to be doing her
daughter good; for Julia and Mr. Hurd had one
great sentiment in common. When the intimacy
had continued some time on these easy terms,
Mrs. Dodd saw that Mr. Hurd was falling in
love with Julia, and that sort of love warm, but
respectful, which soon leads to marriage,