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4 THE TWELFTH OF FEBRUARY Knapwater Park is the picture--at eleven o'clock on awithout any blue sky, and without any shadows, the earth being enlivened and lit up rather by the spirit of an invisible sun than by its bodily presence

The local Hunt had round immediately in front of the steward's residence--called in the list of appoint here once every season, for the pleasure of Miss Aldclyffe and her friends

Leaning out fro with the keenest interest the lively picture of pink and black coats, rich-coloured horses, and sparkling bits and spurs, was the returned and long-lost woroup were occasionally turned towards her, showing plainly that her adventures were the subject of conversation equally with orday She did not flush beneath their scrutiny; on the contrary, she seeht of contented exultation, subdued to square with the circumstances of her matronly position

She was, at the distance from which they surveyed her, an attractive woman--comely as the tents of Kedar But to a close observer it was palpable enough that God did not do all the picture Appearing at least seven years older than Cytherea, she was probably her senior by double the nuood appearance of her face being very cleverly applied

Her for out in strong contrast to the irlishness

It seems to be an almost universal rule that a woman who once has courted, or who eventually will court, the society of ing the lance is strongly asked for, even if her life and whole future depended upon that moment's abstinence

Had a cautious, uxorious husband seen in his wife's countenance what ht a stray glance of flirtation froallants outside, he would have passed ony of restless jealousy and doubt But Manston was not such a husband, and he was,to his business at the other end of the manor

The steward had fetched home his wife in theround the village with her the very nextan end, by this si inquiries and surhbourhood Some men said that this woman was as far inferior to Cytherea as earth to heaven; others, older and sager, thought Manston better off with such a wife than he would have been with one of Cytherea's youthful ie out of them