The Lady Muriel.

House , ivith noble facade and campanile , in the Italian style of architecture , at the side of the spacious docks , and broad quays , planted with trees , and having a charming promenade , adorned with shrubs . The picture was full of interest , and could not fail to strike a stranger . The people

of Ipswich are proud of their town , and show great good taste in adding to its many natural beauties . I was delighted with my trip up the river ; the distance , twelve miles , and the time occupied , only an hour and a half ,

being just long enough to give one p leasure without fatigue . On landing at Stoke Bridge , I was met by Falconbridge , to whom I expressed my satisfaction at visiting so pretty a place . He expected his ward the following week . She was to come from Antwerp in one of the Great Eastern Company ' s boats , and we were to meet her at Harwich .

There was something odd at times about Falconbridge which almost startled me , aud when I knew his history I was not more relieved . Little by little if had come out . A chance word hereand an allusion there ,

, piqued my curiosity , and awoke my interest . I fancied that I might do him some good if he would only confide his secret to me , and that , at all events , I could better enter into his feelings and sympathise with him ; that , in shortI

, could be more companionable , when it seemed to me he needed a companion I pressed him very much , therefore , to make me his confidante .

We were sitting out on the lawn , after dinner , smoking our cigars , and looking at the lovely river below us , stretched out like a great lake , as it seems , looking from the Belstead Road . I had been roaming about Ipswich all the morning with Falconbrid aud had drawn him out on the

ge , history of the old place , astonished to find that he was so well accpiainted with the nei ghbourhood . He had shown me Wolsey ' s gate , all that remains of the college founded by the great Cardinal , and 1 rememberon our going Silent Street

, up , its name struck me as being so singular . " I thought you were , like myself , Falconbrid ge , until recently quite a stranger here , " I remarked .

"Oh , not at all , " he languidly replied ; " was here ten years . " " Indeed . " " Yes . Muriel's mother was ill , and came to Dovercourt—that little wateringplace near Harwich , you know— -to stay ,

the doctors recommending the place . I took lodgings here in Silent Street , at that old house with the four gables and carved corner post . The name struck me as it struck you . Perhaps I shall go back there some day r" he said gravely . " Dovercourt

, was a much smaller place than it is now . The lodgings were poor , and the accomodation generally bad . I don't suppose she would ever have heard of the place , which has wonderfully improved of late , but that her husband had the remnant of a once

large jn-operty in the neighbourhood , and the second title in the family was Lord Chelmondiston . However , the sea air was too keen , and she did not get any better , so I took a small house for her here on

the AVoodbridge Road , about a mile and a half from the centre of the town . They have built quite a little colony there now , and call it California ; and there she lived with a maiden aunt of her ' s , Miss Lacy , and little Lady Muriel . " " These strawberries are very fine ones ,

Falconbridge . ' ' " Well , yes ; they are grown here . " " AVhat a fine view that is , to be sure I This is a charming place . By the way , the lady you spoke of this morning was a relative of yoursI suppose . "

, " Oh , not all all . She was a widow , with aristocratic connections , but veiy few friends in the world , and I was , I fancy , thc best able to be of use to her . " " You interest me much . Pray who was she 1 "

" Well , when I first knew her she was Muriel Aldithley , a governess in the family of one of the canons at Canchester , The Aldithleys were poor , but they came of a good stock . I have a daguerreotype on the mantlepiece in the dining room—you noticed it perhaps—by Olaudet . "

., " I did ; a fair lady , with light brown hair and very large blue eyes , something like the young lady who came into the hotel at Paris last year just as we were leaving , you remember . " " Yes , you are right ; there was a likeness . Well , that was Muriel ' s mother . " 2 i 2