I felt that my skill was achieving a signal triumph; but that day even my intellectual pride was forgotten in the luxurious unfolding of that sense of heart which had so newly waked into blossom.
As I recrossed the threshold, I smiled on the brother, who was still lingering there,-- "Your sister is saved, Wady.

She needs now chiefly wine, and good though light nourishment; these you will find at my house; call there for them every day." "God bless you, sir! If ever I can serve you--" His tongue faltered, he could say no more.
Serve me, Allen Fenwick--that poor policeman! Me, whom a king could not serve! What did I ask from earth but Fame and Lilian's heart?
Thrones and bread man wins from the aid of others; fame and woman's heart he can only gain through himself.
So I strode gayly up the hill, through the iron gates, into the fairy ground, and stood before Lilian's home.
The man-servant, on opening the door, seemed somewhat confused, and said hastily before I spoke,-- "Not at home, sir; a note for you." I turned the note mechanically in my hand; I felt stunned.
"Not at home! Miss Ashleigh cannot be out.

How is she ?" "Better, sir, thank you." I still could not open the note; my eyes turned wistfully towards the windows of the house, and there--at the drawing-room window--I encountered the scowl of Mr.Vigors.I coloured with resentment, divined that I was dismissed, and walked away with a proud crest and a firm step.
When I was out of the gates, in the blind lane, I opened the note.

It began formally.

"Mrs.Ashleigh presents her compliments," and went on to thank me, civilly enough, for my attendance the night before, would not give me the trouble to repeat my visit, and inclosed a fee, double the amount of the fee prescribed by custom.