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One thing was impossible to him He would not desert his Kate But he wished to have his Kate, as a thing apart If he could have given sixthat yacht-life of which he had spoken, visiting those strange sunny places which his iination had pictured to him, unshackled by conventionalities, beyond the sound of church bells, unirated for the other sixand perhaps to Parlia his Kate behind him, that would have been perfect And why not? In the days which must come so soon, he would be his own ainsay his will? Then he relances which would coht be difficulty even though Scroope were all his own

He was not a villain;--si man who had realized to himself no idea of duty in life He never once told himself that Kate should be his mistress In all the pictures which he drew for hi was to be done for her happiness and for her gratification His yacht should bethose sixcircumstances of his position would enable him to devote to joy and love, her will should be his law He did not think himself to be fickle He would never want another Kate He would leave her with sorrow He would return to her with ecstasy Everybody around him should treat her with the respect due to an empress But it would be very expedient that she should be called Mrs Neville instead of Lady Scroope Could things not be so arranged for hiht make a promise to his uncle, and yet be true to his Kate without breaking his promise? That was his scheme Jack said that his scheme was impracticable But the difficulties in his ere not, he thought, so ry eyes of Kate O'Hara's mother

At last the day was fixed for his departure The Earl was already so much better as to be able to leave his bedroom Twice or thrice a day Fred saw his uncle, and there was much said about the affairs of the estate The heir had taken some trouble, had visited some of the tenants, and had striven to seem interested in the affairs of the property The Earl could talk for ever about theestate, every field, every fence, almost every tree on which was familiar to him That his tenants should be easy in their circu people, son following father, and daughters , never sinking an inch in the social scale, or rising,--this was the wish nearest to his heart Fred ell disposed to talk about the tenants as long as Kate O'Hara was not mentioned When the Earl woulddeath, as an event which could not now be far distant, Fred with fullest sincerity would promise that his wishes should be observed No rents should be raised The axe should be but sparingly used It see into eternity should care about this tree or that;--but as far as he was concerned the trees should stand while Nature supported thee horses should be allowed to die on the place The old charities should be maintained The parson of the parish should always be a welcouest at the Manor No pro as that one question were left untouched