The Worshipful Master.

towers of the castle may be seen through the trees close by ; and past the great elms , which arch over the castle tower , to your left you see in the distance King Charles' Walk , on the opposite hill over the river , where the ill-fated monarch used to saunter and admire the view of St . Mervin and the beautiful harbour at his feet , A comely lady is sitting in the largeold-fashionedlow-ceiled drawing

, , room , with the French doors opened to the ground , on to the verandah , whilst her daughter is lying back in an American chair in the garden , reading a letter . She is very fair to look upon ; a clear pale complexion , large lustrous dark eyes , beautifully chiselled aquiline nose , black hair in profusion crowning the head , and fastened up negligently but most artistically behind , a lovely figure , which she displays to great advantage in a fashionably cut and

very graceful flowing tea gown , as she rises , ancl coming across the grass , enters the room and hands her mother a letter she has just received by the morning post . " Well , Asellya , my dear , and who is your correspondent ? " her mother says , pleasantly , in her clear , ringing , musical voice , and with a slight elevation of her eyebrows . " Mother , dear , who do you think is coming to see us ? " " I am sure I don't know . "

Henry Penhaligon . " What , your cousin ? " " Tes . I have not seen him for ages . I wonder what he ' s like . " " What brings him here ? " " He says Lord Esme—something or other—has taken pity on him , and is bringing him round for a cruise in his yacht . It appears he was elected recently house-surgeon at the hospital in that place on the east coast he went to , and he got scarlet fever whilst there ; and now he ' s convalescent , and is taking a holiday , as they have ordered , him change of air . "

" Good gracious , child , but he ' s not coming here with scarlet fever ? " " Oh , no ! mother dear . It was more than a month ago since he recovered . But he says , he met this Lord Esme at some lodge or other , ancl his lordship noticed how pale and thin he was looking , and persuaded him to come yachting with him . They are going to Cowes regatta , and perhaps they may be in time for ours . "

" And who is Lord Esme ? " I don't know , mother . It looks like Gordon , and yet it is not Gordon . Why do doctors write so wretchedly ? " "Do they ?" " Why , yes , mother ; at least , I suppose they all do , as Harry does , but really I don't know . " Mrs , Penhaligon opens her eyes very widein a curious way she hasand

, , one notices that they are very fine eyes , by the way , and says : " Henry seems to have written you rather a long letter . " " Tes ; would you like to see it , mamma ? " the young girl says , as slightly blushing she offers it , not perhaps very readily , to her mother . " No , my dear . I can trust you , I am sure , with your cousin , ancl I don't want to read his love letters . "

" Love letters , mother ! he has never spoken a word of love to me in his life . " ( To be continued . )