saw the doctor shake his head in answer to something Harry had said. What it was she could not hear, but Dr. Lowe was an honest man and a Christian, and would not give hope where hope was not. It was too true. In a few minutes Minna and Bessie were summoned, and before the night closed in they had parted from their mother for ever on this earth.

CHAPTER XI.

PLANS.

Farewell! farewell! the voice you hear
Hast left its last soft tones with you;
It next must join the seaward cheer,
And shout among the shouting crew.

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

ANOTHER parting? Not, perhaps, for so long a time, but rendered doubly sad by that which had preceded it. The funeral was over, the evening had closed in, and Captain Raymond was preparing for his departure. He had to be at Portsmouth early the following day, and was to rejoin his ship now lying there, but under orders to sail. He took leave of his sisters

before they separated for

the night, as he must leave

home before daybreak. Minna had a few more kind thoughtful words from him. He asked how long

she would remain at King's Holm. Minna could not say; she must find out what her father wished.

"And Honoria," said Harry, "shall you not consult her too?"

"Oh yes; but she will, of course, wish me to do as my father desires."

"But you must not suppose, from anything I have said, that I do not recognise the claims she has upon you; and though my father and sisters will doubtless wish to keep you as long as possible, you will be missed at your own home."

Her own home. He said it on purpose, and Minna looked up at him, feeling grateful. He went on quietly, however "So I shall not expect to hear of your remaining here beyond a month or two; but you will write to me, and I will answer your letters when I can, and as long as I can; but you know there are chances at sea, if indeed there be chance in anything."

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Oh, but Harry! you need not talk about that. I will certainly write, and shall consider it a great honour to have a letter from you; but I suppose you will seldom be able to do more than write home, and I can always have news of in that way."

you

"Yes; so you will write without always looking for an answer; I shall not hear much of you, unless from yourself. Tell Honoria I am very sorry not to have seen more of her and Lord Fortrose. I wished so much to know them well for your sake."

Rhoda and Bessie were much distressed at parting with Harry; Frank, also, who had remained with them that evening, was very unhappy, and Mr. Raymond did not leave his study, where Harry spent the greater part of the evening with him.

Frank was the only one of the party who saw Harry on the following morning. He accompanied him to the station, and only parted from him as the train moved off.

The elder brother was so much more in their father's confidence than Frank had ever been, and now Frank despaired of being able to give him any of that support and comfort which he knew Harry would have afforded.

He told his brother his fears, and received a few kind but hurried words of encouragement, ending with,

"Try. Do your best, and God will help you all.” And the train started. Frank watched it till it was out of sight, and then turned slowly and sorrowfully along a lane in the direction of Naylehurst. And Captain Raymond returned to his duty as if nothing unusual had marked his stay at home; and if his sorrow ever betrayed itself, it was by an increased tenderness to those who were in any trouble-for he had truly and deeply loved his mother, and had felt most severely the trial of being unable to stay and comfort his father

now.

And Minna stayed at home. No word was said at present about her return to Pentyre. Lady Fortrose did not allude to it in her letters, which, however, seemed now full of a more motherly love than she had ever expressed before.

Rhoda and Bessie, who would have felt very deeply the painful return to every-day life, with the one dear interest missing, were in a great measure relieved by the novelty of Minna's presence, from constant sad reminiscences, and at the same time found in her a most willing listener whenever they were inclined to dwell upon the past; every circumstance of her mother's life having now assumed an extraordinary importance in Minna's eyes.

Soon the little household settled down in the calm acceptance of what must be.

Rhoda and Minna took long walks together, for the weather was too cold for Bessie to venture out, and Minna learned to admire the lanes and commons about King's Holm, which are picturesque even in winter, from the fine trees with which they abound.

"You should see it in the summer," said Rhoda one

day when Minná expressed her admiration of the scene before them.

"By-the-bye, Minna, I suppose you will not be here in the summer?"

"I hope I may be able to come-I should like it so much."

"To come? Then you are thinking of going away? Is that what Honoria's long letter was about this morning?"

"No," said Minna, "she said nothing about it; but I think I ought to return to her soon; and Miss Forbes has been in London for her holidays, and is going back the first week in March, so I could go with her, you see.”

"Yes, that would be a very good opportunity. I am glad you will stay over this month. I thought you were going to say you must go this week."

"Oh, no! There is still a fortnight, and I shall be so sorry when it comes to an end. How I wish you and Bessie could come to Pentyre."

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“Ah, I am afraid that is impossible. Bessie could not well go, and I could not leave her and papa, so we must wait till she grows stronger. But now we have seen so much more of you we can write more easily, and I feel too that I know more about all at Pentyre, so your letters will be more interesting, because we shall know what you are thinking and caring about. There is one thing I wonder at, Minna, and that is that you don't have more to do with schools and poor people. You must have plenty of time for it.”

"Yes, now I am out of the school-room I have, and you know I have taught for years in the Sunday-school, but the village is so far off, and all along the high road,