Stafford's brows went up.

Then, still holding Stafford's hand, he turned with a smile to Howard.

I can dress in five minutes," responded Sir Stephen, linking his arm in Stafford's.

" Stafford's handsome face flushed.

Ida was about to slip down, but she reflected that the mischief, if there were any, was done now; and to Stafford's admiration, she sat quite still under the gaze of the man's keen, sarcastic eyes.

Falconer, this is my boy, my son Stafford!" CHAPTER X. "A very old friend of your father!" said Mr. Falconer, and his keen eyes looked into Stafford's as he held out his hand.

He glanced at Stafford's usually immaculate dress-clothes, which were covered with dust on one side, and displayed a rent in the sleeve of the

Her appearance naturally caused a little sensation, for some of the men had learnt and told of the story of Stafford's plucky arrest of the bolting horses, and the people were curious to see the father and daughter who had been rescued, and who had proved to be friends of Sir Stephen.

She had made her wager with Howard on the spur of the moment, prompted by the vanity of a woman piqued by the story of Stafford's indifference to her sex; but as she looked at him she wondered how a woman would feel if she fell in love with him.

The mite gave a little gasping cry like a child, and closing its eyes sank into Stafford's arms with a shudder.

"Idon'tknow!" As she went up the stairs she looked over the rail and saw Stafford's tall figure striding down the hall.

It was an eloquent look, one that could not be mistaken by the least vain of men, and it went straight through Stafford's heart; for it forced him to realise that which he had not even yet quite realisedthat he had tacitly pledged himself to her.

" Howard did not start, but he stared in silence for an instant, then his eyelids flickered, and forcing the astonishment from his face, he took Stafford's left hand and shook it, and bowed to Maude.

" She drew her arm from Stafford's.

I should be sorry to turn out a badly groomed 'oss for Mr. Stafford's eyes to rest on, miss.

the human heart is despotic; and as she lay awake and listened to the wailing of the wind and the rain as it drove against the window, Stafford's voice penetrated that of the storm; and, scarcely consciously, her lips were forming some of the passionate words of endearment which he had whispered to her by the stream and on the hill-side.

I do not careit is for Stafford's sake that I am glad.

What do you say to Brae Wood, then?" Stafford's face flushed.

Stafford's face grew set and impassive.

His voice was husky, there was a moisture in his eyes which almost made Stafford's grow dim; then, with a swift return to his usual alert and sanguine manner, Sir Stephen withdrew his hands and swung round.

Ah, but it was like you, Stafford!" As she put her hand on his shoulder and looked at him with a smile of pride, and of adoration, Stafford's eyes fell before hers.

" Driven almost beyond himself by the sudden revulsion from joy and hope to doubt and despair, racked by the swift stemming of his passion, Stafford's unreasoning anger rose against her: it is always so with the man.

There was something in Stafford's conduct, a tone in his letters which Howard could never understand; but now, in the light of Bertie's mysterious communication, he thought he discerned a solution of the problem over which he had pondered for many an hour.

And heavy were De Stafford's sighs, And oft impatient would they rise; Though Friendship, Honour's self was there, Until he found a nurse more fair!

His smaller pieces are not remarkable, unless we except his vigorous lines "On the Earl of Stafford's Trial and Death," containing such noble sentiments as these "Such was his force of eloquence, to make The hearers more concern'd than he that spake, Each seem'd to act that part he came to see,