CHAPTER I.—(Continued.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVLL, Issue 4275, 14 September 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER I.— (Continued.)

" When daffodils begin to peer, Why then comes in the sweet o' the year."

without further remark. This acquiescence on Mrs. Fenwick'a part waa owing to her husband having expressed himself strongly about Celine having been sent to Tal-y-Sam. It was plain that Dr. Fenwick had tuken a Fancy to this troublesome niece. Men were bo tiresome.

Here, close at hand, was a most excellent marriage for Ada. No more eligible parti than Val Trafford could be found anywhere. And yet Dr. Fenwick must needs be so blind as to wish to bring forward on every occasion this auburnhaired, dark-eyed beauty, who had already shown a disposition to captivate the young man.

So Mrs. Fenwick interpreted that accidental meetiug in the garden. Of the little walk home from the glen she knew nothing. Ada, too, was extremely trying. So careletja about pleasing Mr, Trafford, and somewhat disposed to encourage Morgan Lees, the curate at St. Chad 's. Not that t here was any particular objection to Mr. Rees, save that, though fail ly well off, he was a poor man besid* the owner of Plans Dinas.

Had Mrs. Fenwick had her own way, she never would have invited Celine at all. But Dr. Fenwick held strong opinions upon ihe duties of relationship.

Tuesday came ; another mild, balmy day. February that year was unusually mild, with a spring-like feeling in the air,> and Celine enjoyod the drive to Plas' Dinas. It was a charming drive. Along; the shore, clown into the glen, then past' the Head, and up among the hills, higherand higher, till they reached the lodge, a' little cottage smothered in ivy.

Dr. Fenwick paused to exchange a few words with the wrinkled old lodge-keeper, and finally drew up before the large, rambling old house Celine had seen from the glen.

Both Val and his sister came out to we 1 como them. Kate Trafford was tall and fair, very like her brother both in face and manner.

" I was so sorry not to see you the other day," she said Celine. "If I had known you were at Tal^y-Sarn, I would have driven round tnere on my way home."

There were four other guesta-^.Madam Fenwick, Mr. Kees, old Major Bloomfield, and a stranger, who was introduced to her by Kate as "our cousin Geoffrey."

The dinner was not satisfactory to Mrs. Fenwick. She was inclined to think that some malignant fairy had prompted Kate to arrange that Celine should sit between Val Trafford and Morgan Rees, and Ada between Eees and Geoffrey Trafford. The consequence being that Val devoted himself to Celine as much as possible, consistently with his duties as host ; and Ada, for once ignoring her mother's frown, turned her back upon Geoffrey and kept up an animated conversation with the curate. Not that Geoffrey Trafford appeared in the least disturbed by Ada's indifference ; he seemed to be chiefly occupied in endeavouring to catch glimpses of Celine, and to listen to what she was saying.

"We English are accused of always talking about the weather," remarked Major Bloomfield, " but who's to help it ? A few weeks ago we were all shivering over fires, sky like lead, sea like soapsuds. And now " And he waved hi* hand expressively towards the window, with its view of Bloping terraces, steeped in sunshine, and in the distance the pale, glittering sea.

:*: * I iise it already," she answered, with a little flush ; " the sea is beautiful."

" Ah. my dear Miss Barr !" exclaimed Major Bloomfteld, who had overheard the la3t few words, " you would not think the aea always beautiful if you had been a long voyage. Ugh ! the Bay of Biscay in a storm. Everything topsy-turvy — waiters sliding about — plates and dishes ditto — galley fire out — everybody sea-sick —frightful !"

"In calm weather, though, 1 should imagine life on board ship would be very pleasant. So much time for thought and study," remarked Mrs. Fenwick, in her prim, stiff manner.

Major Bloomfiold shook his head.

" I never knew anybody study anything At Bea, except the art of flirting. But, wnen I wa« jorfng, I was generally too *ea-sick to flirt, and now that I am old the

OMEWHAT to Celine's surprise, her aunt appeared to regard her going , to Plas Dmas as a matter of course, coldly informing her

the invitation