Gerard Montagu;

Crescent , and Mrs . Vaux ' s fears subsided in a measure , Muriel was left to her slumbers , which were so profound as to be almost death-like . When they all came down to breakfast , Lady Muriel complained of headache .

" You slept well enough ; or at all events sound enough , " Mrs . Vaux said . " Did I , dear aunt ? I had such an odd dream . I dreamt I was carried away against ni } will to a place very far away . It was somewhere in England though ,

because the people spoke English and looked like English . There was a broad , beautiful river with parks on either side of it , and trees right down to the water ' s edge . But the land was covered wish snow , and it all looked so white , and glistening , and ghostlike under the moon , which was shining overhead . I found myself suddenly close to a great mansion . In the distance I

could see quite clear in the moonli ght a large town with towers and spires . It seemed quite sheltered by little hills , which rose at its back and sides , and appeared to nestle at their base , aud its streets to try and climb up their sides . Once I was close

to the town and looking at it , and then I was at the great house , and a young man came out aud spoke to me . He was so handsome ; tall and dark , with curly hair , and such nice whiskers . I am sure I should know him again if I saw him , and

the town , and the river . Well then all was mist again , and after a long , long time I came back . It was such an odd dream , quite unlike other dreams . " " Well , my dear , I daresay it was in consequence of all your talk last niht .

g John was telling me about your Hallowe ' en doings . " " Perhaps it was Mr . Montagu I saw , aunt . "

" Who is Mr . Montagu , Muriel 1 " "Oh , don't you know ? " and then pretty , fair-haired Lad y Muriel told Mrs . Vaux all about our hero , Meanwhile that gentleman was taking a constitutional on the new pier preparatory

to breakfast . He had come down for a few days to taste the briny odours at Weston-super-Jiwd ( as some one trul y , though not very politely , named this now fashionable watering-place ) , not so much on account of the jilace itself , for he was not a believer in the efficacy of the iodine said to

be given out of the oozy slime at low water but principally on my account , as he found that I had taken a house there . I used to run up and down every day to Bristol to my place of business . M y wife told me when I got home that ni ght that

he was coming to tea with us at seven o ' clock ( I always dined in Bristol ) , and mentioned incidentally that she had met him that morning when walking with Lady Muriel , and that he seemed much struck with her little ladyship . He was profuse

in his apologies for not coming as he had promised the previous evening , but business had prevented him ; " and your husband will tell you , Mrs . Beverley , " he added , " that I make it a principle never to neglect business . ''

"Mr . Montagu ! ' Margaret announces , as she ushers into the room a tall , dark , gentlemanly-looking man about thirty years of age , perhaps a little more . Little Ethel , our only child , aged two years , is sitting on the floor amusing us

with her small gossip and pretty ways ; but her mother who is one of those matrons that does not care to bore her guests with her babies as some people do , signs to Margaret to take off the little imp , who at first looks defiantbut at length

good-, naturedly succumbs and trots off laughingly after Maddie , as she calls our housemaid . Gerard begs that the little one shall not be taken away on his account , as he is fond of children , but mamma is perenrptory , and only after much entreaty promises that

baby shall come back to say good ni ght . We were sitting silently round the fire after the little one ' s departure . "Well Gerard , what are you dreaming about 1 " I said , observing that usually amusing bachelor gazing into vacancyas

, sober as a judge and quite as stupid-looking . " Well , I was thinking of your fair friend , Mrs . Beverley ; " he said , addressing my wife .

"Well , and what do you think of her , Mr . Montagu V ' " Me 1 oh I dont know , she has a very sweet face , I think . I like those oval faces with large violet eyes , and hair that sometimes looks dark and sometimes fairYou

. don ' t often see that hair , I think ; it looks as if it were intended to be black or brown , only some stray sunbeams have got caug ht in its silken meshes . —Tell me about her ,