ALL IS NOT GOLD THAT GLITTERS. 109

little until the election was over, and then acted
as you pleased.” |

This seemed very shocking to Rose, and she
would have gone to Abbeyweld immediately,
but that she thought it cruel to leave her cousin
while she felt she was useful to her. ‘ Ah,
Rose!” she said, when poor Rose hinted that
in a short time she must return, ‘ how can you
think of it’—how can you leave me in an ene-
my’s country? I dare not give even my hus-
band my entire confidence, for he might fancy
my sensitiveness a low-born feeling. I can
trust you, and none other.” Surrounded, ac-
cording to the phrase, “ with troops of friends,”
and yet able to trust “none other” than the
simple companion of her childhood! ‘ And
yet,” murmured the thoughtful Rose, “‘ amongst
so many, the blame cannot be all with the
crowd; Helen herself is as incapable of warm,
disinterested friendship as those of whom she
complains.”

Rose Dillon’s constancy was subjected to a
still greater trial. Amongst the ‘troops of
friends’? who crowded more than ever round
Mr. Ivers while his election was pending, was
a young man as superior to the rest in mind as
in fortune, and Rose Dillon’s ready apprecia-
tion of the good and beautiful Jed her to respect
and admire him.

*‘ Ts it true, Miss Dillon,” he said to her one
morning, after a lagging conversation of some