76 ALL IS NOT GOLD THAT GLITTERS.

‘*No!” was Helen’s prompt reply, for she
would not condescend to a falsehood—her own
pride was a sufficient barrier against that. ‘“ No,
Rose, I have not seen any one | like better than
Edward. But, Rose” She buried her
face in her hands, and as suddenly withdrew
them, and shaking back her luxuriant ringlets,
while a bright triumphant colour mounted to
her cheeks, added—* There is no reason why
I should be ashamed. I saw, last week, at
Mrs. Howard’s, one whom I would rather
marry.”

‘IT always thought,” murmured Rose, weep-
ing in the fulness of her generous nature, as the
idea of Edward’s future misery came upon her
—‘‘*] always thought no good would come of
your visiting a lady so much above us.” It
would be impossible to describe the contemptu-
ous expression of Helen’s finely moulded fea-
tures, while she repeated, as if to herself, “« Above
us/—above me!” And then she added aloud,
and with what seemed to Rose a forced expres-
sion of joy, “‘ But good will come of it, Rose—
good will surely come of it; never fear but it
will—it must. And when I am a great lady,
Rosey, who but you, sweet cousin, will be next
my heart?”

‘¢ T am satisfied to be near, even without being
next it, Helen,” she replied mournfully; ‘ but
why have you kept this matter concealed from
me so long? Why have you”