works of Dickens, Charles Kingsley, and Hawthorne, seemed, from the care bestowed upon their bindings, to be the especial favourites of their owner; and the Religio Medici and Hydriotaphia of Sir Thomas Browne, The Compleat Angler of Izaak Walton, the Icon Basilike with its quaint frontispiece, Miss Burney's Evelina, and the Vicar of Wakefield, showed that Wilfred Manwaring was not unappreciative of the older masters of English literature-" stars in the elder darkness of our loved fatherland." Natural Science, too, held a large place in the boy's collection, and works on Geology, Natural History, Topography, Antiquities, and History were largely represented. In one corner was a cabinet of fossils collected by the owner, in another a collection of local antiquities. On the walls, amongst the photographs and prints which erewhile had adorned his snug study at Eton, were hung ancient pikes and swords, which of old time had done good service for king or parliament in the hands of stout Lancashire gentry and yeomen; and over the fireplace was the great Golden Eagle which Wilfred had shot on Stanwick Edge, the last vacation he spent at home-a trophy he was even prouder of than of the numerous silver cups he had won at the athletic sports at school.

These, and other like objects, all of which testified to the manly, innocent, and noble nature of their former owner-household gods loved and prized by their once possessor-the old man moved among, and saw as if in a dream. Too late his eyes were opened to the treasure he had neglected, and to the treasure he had lost. In his banished son burned as knightly and as chivalrous a soul as had ever ennobled any of his ancestors, and the Squire felt now, that in the contemplation and worship of the Dead Past and of the Dead he had neglected the Living, and had sacrificed the all-important latter to the little-important former. Then he thought of his young wife, who had just time, ere her pure soul took flight, to kiss and bless the Babe, whom, almost grown to man's estate, he had himself disinherited and cast out in shame and poverty. And this thought softened him, and anon he sent for Evelyn to come to him in the lost boy's room, and there, amidst all his belongings, he told her of the certainty of her brother's innocence. Hearing this, Evelyn shed tears of joy, not because her Wilfred was innocent-that she knew alreadybut because his good name was vindicated; and then she shed tears of sorrow because he was she knew not where, and at any rate far out of

reach of the news that would be as balm to his wounded soul.

On the day following, two letters of importance as regards this history were received at the Manor. The first of these was addressed to Mr. Manwaring, and was written by Lord Guttleborough. His lordship, who was the head of the great Banking firm which bore his family name, and a man of almost fabulous wealth, amidst the grief and shame which he felt on account of the crime of his son and heir, had thought of, and had felt deeply for, the father and son whom his own son had injured so deeply. He wrote accordingly to express the sorrow he felt for both; and in entreating Mr. Manwaring's forgiveness, he hinted in the most delicate manner, that if from his position or influence he could in any way, or at any time, be of use in promoting the welfare of his son, he would esteem it a privilege to use them in his behalf. Lord Guttleborough's letter was essentially that of a gentleman, and, spite of his old contempt for parvenus, the Squire, in his softened mood, recognised it as such, and felt proportionately grateful.

The other letter was addressed to Wilfred; and after the Squire had opened and read it, and re-read it countless times, he gave it to Evelyn for perusal.

When, in the course of events, it again came into her hands, she preserved it amongst her choicest treasures. As it contained an account of several circumstances which I should otherwise have to recount in my own words, I will quote it at length in the next chapter.

Hurrah! You are cleared of all suspicion, as I always knew you would be, and-just as I expected-our dear friend, "Young Guttles," is convicted of the robbery. I am sorry I was prevented from writing yesterday, as I should like to have been the first to tell you the good news; but Lord Guttleborough, who has certainly behaved like a thorough gentleman in the matter, insisted on Dr. Massenger's starting at once to see your father, and I believe wrote himself, so you will already have heard the good news. We have had quite an exciting time of it the last two or three days in this not over-and-above lively hole, which indeed,