married life than ours has been, leaving out the loss of our Rosie."

"Fancy," thought Phillis, "if Eddie and I live to be old people like Mr. and Mrs. Overton, how cosy we shall be! And how funny it will be to think of ourselves as we used to be when we were young-to think of this night, now, when I feel so strange about being married!" And she laughed at her far-off dreamings.

Then the others came in, and such laughing and chattering went on till bed-time! The four elders looked on and smiled, and Judge Laurence joked his daughters about making themselves so happy in the country, which they had declared once quite impossible. Phillis went to her room directly after supper, and Julia came in for a few minutes, before going to bed, for a chat.

"You are a horrid little creature to go and get married, Phillis!" she said, seating herself on a low chair by the window. "Of course you will have no thoughts for anybody now but your husband. How much do you love one another? I am really curious to know, so that I may have some idea of what will be required of me when my turn

"I don't know," said Phillis. "I couldn't tell you, because it is a kind of thing one doesn't know one's self, exactly. It seems to me," she added seriously, "as if to think about loving-this sort of loving, I mean— -is like looking out over a big wide sea that you can't see the end of." And Phillis looked out of the window with a happy, serious look on her little face, and a feeling in her heart as if the doctor's love for her were too wonderful, too beautiful to be talked about.

Julia watched her for a few moments with a strangely wistful expression, and then, burying her face in her hands, she burst into tears, and sobbed violently.

"What is the matter?" asked Phillis anxiously. "Julia,

I know something has been troubling you for a long time. I wish you would tell me what it is.”

"It is only that I hate myself so!" cried Julia vehemently. "I am a wretch, Phillis-a horrid, ungrateful girl! Don't contradict me, because I am. You don't know anything about it but I never thought Gerald would go away like that! I drove him away, and I hate myself for it! I do, Phillis, and you mustn't pity me, because I don't deserve it. I shall never see him again—and I love him! I would do anything, if it would only bring him back; but he must hate me now."

Phillis did not know what to reply to this unexpected outbreak; she only tried to calm her by a few soothing words, until her sobs ceased, and then she whispered :

did

"Why didn't you tell him you loved him, Julia? Why you send him away?"

"Because I was a horrid flirt," said Julia passionately; "because I thought I could play with him just as I have done with others. I didn't want him to go away, Phillis; I thought he would have tried again, and that then I should have said 'Yes.' I never thought he would go away and take me at my word. But I knew I was wicked, and deserved it; I was very cruel to him, and he can't ever forgive me. Oh, Phillis, if I could only just ask him to forgive me-not to love me-I know he couldn't do that now-but just to forgive me, I should be so glad! But I can't even do that!"

"It was very wrong," said Phillis sorrowfully; "but, Julia, he may forgive you. I think he loved you very much, and if he did he couldn't forget you, you know, though you vexed him very much. Perhaps some day you will see him again, and he will find out how sorry you are,

and that you love him."

"Do you think so?" said Julia, moment; but her face clouded again.

brightening for a "No, Phillis, it is

impossible. I treated him so badly, he can never love me again! There, I ought not to have talked about unhappy things the night before your wedding, only it is seeing you so happy that makes me miserable. I wonder you don't hate me, too, Phillis; but don't, if you can help it, because it is so horrible to hate one's self, as I do. Sometimes I feel nearly wild with wishing I had done differently." "I am so very,

"I know what it feels like," said Phillis.

very sorry, dear Julia. But I will ask God to forgive you, and make you very happy some day-because I am so happy myself that I can't bear to think about other people being miserable."

"Don't think about it," said Julia; "but you may do that for me, if you will. I shall get along somehow, I suppose; I feel better now I have told you. Go to bed now, Phillis, or you will have a headache to-morrow. I must stop here a little while, till Amy is in bed, or she will be asking what my eyes are so red for. I hope I shan't cry at your wedding, my dear child; but I don't know-I have felt lately rather like a pump, when the handle is turned and can't be got back again

CHAPTER XXXVI.

"The past and present here unite
Beneath Time's flowing tide,
Like footprints hidden by a brook,
But seen on either side."

-LONGFELLOW.

HE sun shone brightly on the following morning as the wedding party entered the church, which was crowded with eager spectators, and gay with wreaths of soft green moss and bright flowers. The doctor was there waiting, and his whole face lighted up as he watched his bride walk up the aisle, leaning on Mr. Overton's arm, with a sweet, serious look in her violet eyes and a childlike expression of mingled joy and gravity in her face.

As they fell into their places, her lips trembled with a little secret nervousness, till she raised her eyes for a moment to the doctor's face, and was reassured by the kind, dark eyes which met hers with a steadfast, protecting look, which chased away her fears. And when the service began she forgot everything else, and gave her whole heart to the words he and she were saying, and the promises they were making each other and to God. She felt as if it would not be very difficult to keep those promises when he

led her away to the vestry, and she felt her arm held against his with a strong, convulsive pressure, which told her all over again the tale of his deep love, which could never grow cold. She longed to be alone with him, that she might whisper to him how much she loved him, and how happy she was; but there was the wedding-breakfast to be gone through first, and ever so many compliments and congratulations to be received, besides endless embraces from the four bridesmaids, who fluttered about in their pretty dresses, hovering about Phillis like butterflies round some sweet flower.

But she could not help enjoying that breakfast, though it made her feel nervous and hot all over, for everybody was so kind to her, and the judge and Mr. Armfield said such kind things to her about her husband-things which made her cheeks flush and her eyes grow bright with proud affection. And Mr. and Mrs. Overton looked so bright and happy, and Julia was in such wild spirits, amusing everybody, that Phillis was not quite sure whether she was in dreamland or not. It felt very like it, especially when people called her "Mrs. Trevor,” and she started, and could not at all realise, for a few minutes, that it was herself.

Her husband followed her out of the room, as she was going to change her dress, and drew her into the library before Julia, who was coming to assist her, could make her escape from the rest of the party.

"My little pink rose!" he whispered, folding her in his arms. "Only you are more like a white one to-day, Daisy. How pretty you are, little child! I have not looked at you half enough. My dear little wife! Can you believe it, Daisy? I hardly can yet."

"I can't," said Phillis; "at least not when I am with people. I think I can when I am with you, because I have a sort of belonging feeling, and it is very comfortable, Eddie !"