Miss Prettyman paused before she replied, and, when she did speak, Major Grantly had risen from his chair and was standing with his back to the fire.

"Major Grantly," she said, "you shall see her if you please, and if she pleases; but I doubt whether her answer at such a moment as this would be that which you would wish to receive." "You think she would refuse me ?" "I do not think that she would accept you now.

She would feel,--I am sure she would feel, that these hours of her father's sorrow are not hours in which love should be either offered or accepted.

You shall, however, see her if you please." The major allowed himself a moment for thought; and as he thought he sighed.

Grace Crawley became more beautiful in his eyes than ever, was endowed by these words from Miss Prettyman with new charms and brighter virtues than he had seen before.