"I am sure it is quite natural, my dear. Nevertheless, I can allow no one but myself the privilege of doing the honours on this auspicious occasion." In less than an hour the happy party sat down to a quiet family dinner. Ella strongly objected to take possession of the seat assigned to herself at the head of the table, and it was only after Mrs. Seymour had touchingly alluded to her own delicate state of health, and represented the relief she should experience if Ella would from henceforth consent to perform those duties and obligations which devolve upon every hostess, that the latter at length permitted herself to be inducted into her new dignities. "The least we can do in return for your goodness and generosity in relinquishing your own plans to please us," said Mr. Seymour, addressing his son in a tone of deep feeling, "is to endeavour, by every means in our power, to render you both as free and independent as you would have been had you carried out your first intentions; and it will, I assure you, afford us the warmest pleasure to see you installed as master and mistress of the ceremonies, and 66 Mistress, Ella may, and ought to be, since my mother wishes it," rejoined Herbert, laying his hand caressingly upon his young wife's shoulder (as if to arm her with courage and confidence), and then deliberately seating himself between his mother and Lady Stanley; "but Mertonsville will have no other master while you, my dear father, are spared." 66 "Consistent to the end!" murmured the other, bestowing on him a glance of the tenderest affection. 'Daily and hourly do I feel how utterly unworthy I am of such a son." "Really, Mr. Seymour, you are beginning to entertain a very extraordinary opinion of yourself," remonstrated his wife. ral times lately I have heard you speak like that." "Seve "Have you?" he replied, a sudden flush passing across his brow. He seemed about to add more, but the entrance of the butler and other servants prevented him from pursuing the subject. Late into the night the sound of gladness was heard in the peaceful little hamlet of Mertonsville; old and young seemed to swell the general tide of rejoicing, while the merry peal of bells rang out upon the frosty air, and bright bonfires were glowing red upon the distant heights, sending up their ruddy blaze against the star-lit sky. Just as the Seymours were preparing for rest, noiseless footsteps approached the windows, and a band of singers, consisting of the members of the Dilton Church choir, commenced a Christmas carol. One sweet song followed another in rapid succession; then came an effective recitative, composed for the occasion by one of their number, and sung in parts, and as a finale the whole choir joined in chanting the old Church psalm— "While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground," etc. After which every sound was hushed, and silence and profound repose settled down upon the lordly dwelling. Not that all of its inmates slept. No. Mr. Seymour, for one, passed the live-long night in self-examination and prayer; but, as the first glimmering of dawn entered his chamber, he felt that in like manner the dawning of a new existence had begun in his soul. Herbert also remained for many hours awake. The feelings which had been all the day rushing with torrent-like force through his mind were yet not sufficiently brought under control to enable him to calm himself to slumber. His joy was so intense, as he contrasted that other home-coming and its serious consequences with the present (so like in some respects, and withal so utterly dissimilar), that he could not help retracing step by step the way the Lord had led him, and confessing with thankful and adoring gratitude that, notwithstanding its varied dangers and difficulties, its temptations and disappointments, its heart-breaking affictions and most painful vicissitudes, it had been, from first to last-yes, he could see and realize it all now-the right way, every step of which was invisibly and mysteriously conducting him onward to his present felicity. And Ella. Her dreams were surely pleasant ones; for she slept as calmly and peacefully as an infant, with the flush of happiness illumining her soft cheeks, her lips parted in a half-smile, and her pure white brow unsi.adcwed by a single cloud. Dearly as he loved her, Herbert had always shrunk from making any allusion to the treatment he had received from his father before being formally dismissed from the Park; he knew how much it would distress her to hear it, and furthermore he could not bring himself to enter into particulars which must have the effect of considerably lowering Mr. Seymour in her eyes. Herbert's sentiments, therefore, even if he had explained them, would scarcely have been intelligible to Ella; for though, with the quick instinct of affection, she had comprehended and sympathised with much that her beloved husband had that day experienced, there was still scenes flitting ever and anon before his mental vision which she had no power of perceiving, and which he would never pain her by revealing, albeit, on some future occasion, she may learn much from Mr. Seymour's lips concerning his own and his son's past history. CHAPTER XCI. BIRTHS, MARRIAGE, AND DEATHS. "Sin' ye maun gae to leave us, we maun bid ye a' adieu! 66 A woman wails for justice at the gate." "Alas! what's now his fate? Sure evil has The steed returned. ΑΝΟΝ. Hark! at the stable door he neighs alone. CHRISTMAS morning was ushered in at the Park amid bright smiles and cheerful expectant faces, while kindly greetings and loving embraces were exchanged on all sides. Every one seemed in the best of spirits. Mrs. Seymour declared that she had at length attained to the highest summit of her desires; and her husband, though he made no allusion to his own new-found peace and tranquillity, showed by the expression of his countenance, irradiated as it was by the lustre of a heavenly brightness, that he also had nothing left to wish for. After prayers, which were, at Mr. Seymour's request, conducted by Herbert, came breakfast. Long before it was concluded, the old butler approached Sir Edward, and said a few words to him in an undertone; whereupon the latter rose from his seat, and, pleading an engagement, begged Mrs. Seymour to excuse him, and without waiting for a response quietly left the room. Mr. Seymour fo.lowed him; but, returning the next moment, he resumed his former place at the table, and again joined in the conversation as if nothing had happened. 66 'Now, how shall we spend the day?" asked Mrs. Seymour, half an hour later. "Ella, my darling," throwing her arm fondly around her, "what would you like to do?" The young wife's eyes unconsciously sought her husband's as she answered with a smile and a blush, "I am ready for anything." "You dear good little creature," returned Mrs. Seymour, kissing her; "I never thought I should love any one half so well as I do you. By giving me such a daughter, Herbert has amply atoned for his past remissness. But I must not speak of that," said she, suddenly interrupting herself, as she caught sight of the peculiar expression which came to Mr. Seymour's face. "I observe that whenever I touch upon this subject you all begin to put on your gravest looks." They don't like to hear you scold me, mother mine," said Herbert, lightly. 66 "I scold you!" exclaimed the gentle lady, quite aghast at the idea, 66 "nothing was farther from my intentions." "I dare say Mrs. Seymour's object in reminding you from time to time of your undutifulness," remarked the mischievous Lucy, "is simply to prevent you from repeating it on any future occasion." "There's no fear of my ever doing that," returned Herbert, quickly, "unless," laying his hand playfully upon Ella's shoulder, "it should be at my wife's particular desire." "You would not ask him to leave me, my child?" questioned Mrs. Seymour, gazing wistful y into the soft violet eyes which were lifted so lovingly to her own. "No, no," with a half shake of the pretty head at Herbert; "he is only joking-besides," in a confidential tone, "if he went, I would stay." 66 "Bravo, Ella!" cried Lucy, gleefully rubbing her hands together; I'm glad you have some spirit." "Allow me to remind you that Mrs. Seymour's first question still remains unanswered," remarked Lady Stanley, after she had exchanged a significant glance with Mr. Seymour. "Unless we get ready at once," she adde, dropping her voice, so that he only could understand what she said, "we shall be late." "Ah!" replied Mr. Seymour, slightly starting as he glanced at his watch. "I was about to propose," he went on hurriedly, "that you should all accompany me to church. Have you any objection, my dear?" turning complaisantly to his daughter-in-law. "I!" she answered, with a little flush of pleasure; “oh, no! I shall be delighted." Mr. Seymour smiled. "Then I will go at once and order the carriages," he said, moving towards the door. "And in the meantime we had better commence our own preparations," observed Lady Stanley, in a voice of decision, "otherwise we shall scarcely be in time." Accordingly, the four ladies betook themselves to their respective apartments; and when shortly afterwards the carriages were announced, they were all ready to take their seats. As the first, containing Mrs. Seymour, Lady Stanley, and Lucy, rolled away, Herbert glanced around him in some surprise. "It is very strange what has become of Edward," he said, following his father and Ella into the second carriage; "I can't see anything of him." "We shall probably meet him at the church," was Mr. Seymour's brief reply, as he signed to one of the servants to close the carriage door, and then, leaning, forward told him where they wished to be set down. "The footman must have mistaken your order," exclaimed Herbert, as, after passing through the long avenue, they turned off to the left. "This is not the road to Dilton." "Are there no other churches except at Dilton?" asked Mr. Seymour, a curious smile lighting up his face. 66 Certainly not in this direction," replied Herbert, confidently. "Not even a quondam barn?" suggested his father, in tones which were tremulous with hitherto suppressed emotion. Quickly recovering himself, however, he drew Ella's attention to the gaily decorated hamlet, at the entrance of which they had now come. “Yes, it is very pretty,” she said, her soft cheeks becoming suffused with the deepest carnation, as she saw her own name in all directions, coupled with that of Herbert. 66 My dear father, what is the meaning of this?" said the latter, grasping Mr. Seymour's hand, as at that very moment a peal of bells rang out their heartsome welcome; while groups of men and women and children approached them, and tried in their own way to exhibit some mark of respect and affection towards one whom they had for nearly three years mourned as dead. Why do they all look as if they were expecting us? These bells-where do they come from? Any reply was unnecessary; for the carriage just then stopped in front of a large and handsome church, which had been erected upon the same site formerly occupied by the old barn. 66 Herbert rubbed his eyes in complete bewilderment, as he gazed upon the lofty edifice, and it was only when Mr. Seymour-himself excessively agitated-drew him aside, and after hurriedly whispering a few words in his ear, directed his attention to the brief device that had been carved in stone relievo over the porch-in memoriam—that the truth began to dawn upon his mind. "I have allowed the inscription to remain," added Mr. Seymour, with emotion, "because it is still applicable in more ways than one.' "My dear father," exclaimed Herbert, in a husky voice, "I shall never forget this." It was all he could say, but his glowing countenance and glistening eyes were of themselves sufficiently eloquent without words. "Now I have another surprise for you," continued Mr. Seymour, as they entered the building, and opening a door just within the handsome portico, he ushered the whole party into the vestry. There they found the missing baronet sitting side by side with a clerical-looking personage, whose back was towards them. "James! is it possible?" cried Herbert, after attentively scanning him for the space of half a minute. "My dear Mr. Herbert!" And the other sprang from his chair, and, seizing our hero's outstretched hand, wrung it with warmest affection and delight. Then he turned to Ella; and, bowing respectfully, began to offer his congratulations. She thanked him by a look; and coming forward with an air of winning frankness, gave him her own hand so kindly and cordially, and addressed him with such marked consideration and affability, that it was quite evident she too had learnt to regard him in the light of a tried and much-esteemed friend. "Are you going to preach, James?" inquired Herbert, in a tone of lively interest, as the bells suddenly ceased. "So it appears," he answered, glancing at Mr. Seymour with a little deprecating shrug; "through I cannot help repeating that it would be far better if some other arrangement were made." "Now, no remonstrances, Gordon," interposed Sir Edward, with a reminding touch upon his arm. "It would be most unreasonable for us to ask Herbert to officiate on such an occasion as this." "Besides, you must bear in mind that I am not, like you, a regularly ordained minister, James," added Herbert; "and 66 Oh, that is nothing; " said Gordon, eagerly, "for Mr. Seymour assured me that his intentions respecting this church |