"I cannot -I cannot," in agony Ada replied.

"And if, Ada," the awful sternness returning to Sir Alexander's tone and mien-if," and he struck his hand resolutely on the table, "I were to command you to reveal to me, or to your mother, this mighty mystery-no child of your age having the right of concealment from her natural governors-what would you say then?" and he looked sternly on the trembling girl.

The timid Ada arose she looked pale and frightened, as if indeed she knew not what to

do.

But her good angel prompted her in her time of extremity, how to meet her perplexity. She hid her face in her father's breast, as if she would shut out his austere countenance from her view, and trust in his kind heart, and she murmured

"I would kneel-I would beg, I would pray that you would not command me-that you

would not tear the reason from my lips, but only trust-only believe-only confide a little longer in your poor child Ada!"

And Sir Alexander, ten minutes after, had led Ada back to the drawing room-and putting his daughter's hand in her mother's, very gravely and firmly said

"Adelaide we must trust-believe-confide in this young lady for a little longer-I have promised that so we will do, relying on her duty and affection to us both, that no wrong motive would induce her to refuse us her perfect confidence in this matter."

Lady Adelaide looked surprised and far from satisfied but she had placed the affair in her husband's hands, and his must was what she had never-with all her haughtiness -ventured to question or withstand. Therefore, merely bowing her head coldly - she turned away with a shrug, and one glance on the six other daughters, as if to say, that this trusting and believing and confiding might be

come rather inconvenient some of these days --then telling Rose to ring the bell for the nurse, she withdrew to dress for dinner.

Yes! it was provoking-this Mr. Malcolm, whom Lady Emily Marchmont had overheard at Mervyn Castle, regretting the objectionable and disadvantageous connection in which Aline had involved her sisters he, so fastidious and delicate, would not this refusal be quite sufficient to discourage him from a second attempt ? and he was in every way so desirable a match! That tall girl Rose too, ready to come out next spring!-and Lady Adelaide had never meditated having two daughters out

at once.

However for the time being Ada and her secret were allowed to remain in unmolested peace; as the little French song goes

"Mon secret-mon secret-il est là

Mon secret-mon secret, dans mon cœur !"

Ada-dear, little Ada!-whom my heart is

inclined to love almost as fondly as my own Aline!-Pure glittering dew drop

"Not framed to undergo unkindly shocks,
Or to be trailed along the soiling earth."

END OF VOLUME II.

J. BILLING, PRINTER, WOKING, SURREY.