nearly eleven when she descended to the schoolroom, which looked rather dismantled without her numerous drawings and books. Millicent had not been there two minutes, before Mr. Robertson came in with a troubled expression on his good humoured countenance.

"Miss Thornville," he began; "I feel quite concerned about all that has happened this morning; I am really ashamed of your being sent home in this unceremonious way-are you sure it is not inconvenient, because, I can counter-order the carriage directly ?"

"Oh, no, thank you," said Millicent, sadly; "I have all my things ready."

"Well, I am very sorry your sojourn at Staplehurst should have terminated so unfortunately; Tom, poor fellow, would have said no more about it, but Mrs. Robertson got put out, it is a pity," he added, smiling, "that you ladies cannot agree; I do not think you ought to have anything to do with one another, but leave all little affairs to the gentlemen to settle for you; but I am sure we all have to

thank you for improving the children so much; it has seemed quite a different house since you have been here; Fanny is not like the same girl, and if it had rested with me, you should have remained here as long as you pleased, but ladies will have their own way, and Mrs. Robertson is not different from the rest, I suppose.

"Perhaps it is best as it is," replied Millicent, scarcely knowing what to say; "but yet, I am sorry to go. I have been very happy at Staplehurst this summer; Miss Robertson, and indeed, every one was very good to me."

"And you deserved it, Miss Thornville, for there is not a better young lady in Christendom; only send the next person who wants you for a governess to me, and you shall see what a good character I will give you! But where are you going, back to Heatherton ?"

"Yes," replied Millicent, "Mrs. Lucas, an old servant of ours, will receive me, I know."

"But, Miss Thornville," said Mr. Robertson, "she will not be able to keep you, though I

suppose you will not have any difficulty in finding another situation; but still, of course, there must be expenses which you will not like to entail on Mrs. Lucas, so might I beg as a favonr, your acceptance of a cheque for fifty pounds, and if at any time you require money or other assistance, only let me know, and I will do everything in my power to serve you," and Mr. Robertson pulled out his pocket-book.

"Indeed, you are very kind," Millicent answered hurriedly; "but I shall not, I assure you, require your kind present; Mrs. Lucas will be quite able to take care of me, she is very well off, and has a comfortable cottage of her own, but if I should be at all in any difficulty at a future period, I will certainly avail myself of your most generous offer."

Mr. Robertson seemed disappointed at her refusal, but Millicent was quite firm, and the arrival of the carriage called his attention away. Poor Millicent's heart beat quickly as she went into the drawing-room to bid good bye to Mrs. Robertson and Clara, who parted

from her with the greatest coldness; as she crossed the hall, Fanny darted out of the library and throwing her arms round her neck began to cry, and declared she would never like her next governess, and begged Miss Thornville to write to her; and while Fanny was pouring forth her expressions of affection, Tom suddenly appeared, and taking Millicent's hand in both of his, said—"Miss Thornville, I am afraid it is all my fault you are going; I know I am a stupid fellow, but that does not make me like you any the less; I will be down at Heatherton before long, and explain it all to you, and I hope I shall be able to win over the old lady!" Millicent coloured painfully, but was spared a reply by Mr. Robertson who had been speaking to the coachman, coming back into the hall. "I am sorry to hurry you, Miss Thornville," he said, "but if we lose the half-past twelve o'clock train, there is not another till three."

"Are you going too, Sir?" asked Tom.

"Oh yes," replied his father, "I shall see

Miss Thornville safe to Stocklee," and handing her into the carriage, they drove off through the park, looking still beautiful in it's autumnal garb, past the quiet, peaceful Rectory, and then turning towards Church-lane, they drove into the high road. Millicent leant forward in the carriage to look out; every step recalled some fresh remembrance, and though the Horton and Westworth road lay to their left, and they were going in another direction still Millicent hoped that at some point, she should catch a glimpse of the old turrets of the Chase. As they turned round to cross Seaton Downs, for one moment the whole range of the Westworth hills stood before her bathed in sunshine, and below, buried in its noble woods, she saw a faint outline of the Chase, but as she looked out and thought of her happy visit there, after the fire, it disappeared from her view, and the dull road across the Downs was all her eye rested on. Kind-hearted Mr. Robertson tried to amuse and cheer her; he was one of those simple-minded people who