last all that could be seen was a white pillar on the

dark blue sea.

With sad and aching hearts, they turned away. There was no one now to help them to mount, no one to gather them flowers from the roadside walls; and even the beauty of the path up to their new home seemed that afternoon to sadden them.

G

CHAPTER VI.

THE SHERBORNES' HISTORY.

AND who was Robert Sherborne, of whom so much has been heard lately; and why was he going to Australia to seek his fortune?

We must go back a good way to give his history. His father was the second brother of Lord Andover, and had early in life married a wife with a sufficient fortune of her own to enable him to give up his legal profession, and lead the life of a country gentleman; but, by a singular caprice of the relation from whom Mrs. Sherborne inherited her fortune, it was all settled on her second son, should she have one; and as their family increased, the only means by which Mr. Sherborne could provide for his eldest son and younger children was by a heavy insurance,

which greatly curtailed his annual income.

They

took a long lease of Headswood Hall, in one of the midland counties, and determined to lead a happy, useful, and domestic life.

A new arrival in a county is always a subject of more or less excitement, and each day some fresh neighbours found their way to Headswood Hall, to call on the new-comers.

One neighbour alone stood aloof, and that one was old Mr. Stoneley, of Sandown Park. He was an oldfashioned squire, the type of a race nearly extinct. He had been early crossed in love, and had in the latter half of his life begged his two maiden sisters to come and live with him, and relieve him from those domestic cares which are so wearisome to most men.

The ladies were, like himself, excellent, straightforward, unpolished, and homely in the best sense of the word. All three were past their sixtieth birthday. They were the last representatives of a good old yeoman family, who had for generations held the Sandown estate, each possessor leaving it several degrees better than he found it.

The following conversation took place between Mr.

Stoneley and his sisters, soon after it became known that a tenant was coming to Headswood.

"Sister Betsey, have you heard that Headswood Hall is taken at last, and that a lord's son is coming there, and all the neighbours are going to call upon him?"

"No, Tom; I hadn't heard it how should I? What a stir it will make in this quiet county! Of course you will be like the rest, and go and call?"

"I call! No, Betsey; I tell you I shall not call. I'll have nothing to do with lords' sons, who would only look down on quiet folks like us."

And Squire Stoneley kept his word. The Sherbornes arrived, and the neighbours called, and every visit was duly returned. The new-comers gradually became acquainted with those within reach of them, and much social, agreeable intercourse passed amongst them.

In course of time, Mr. Sherborne inquired who was the owner of Sandown Park, which was the adjoining estate; and his curiosity was aroused to know why he, of all the neighbours, had never called. The reason transpired at last. Mr. Sherborne was greatly amused, and resolved to avail himself of the first opportunity of making Mr. Stoneley's acquaint

ance, and proving to him that lords' sons did exist who had no intention of treating humbler acquaintances with contempt.

While this was passing in Mr. Sherborne's mind, rumours had reached Squire Stoneley of the winning courtesy of the "lord's son" to everyone who had met him, and he began to think he had made a mistake in absenting himself.

"Sister Betsey, do you know everyone talks so well of this Mr. Sherborne, that I think I shall change my mind, and go and call upon him," was his remark at breakfast, some weeks after his first determination.

Miss Betsey laid down her knife and fork in silent amazement at this announcement.

"Why, Tom, you do not mean to say that you are really going to call at Headswood?"

'Yes, Betsey, I do; and, what is more, I mean to go this very day."

At three o'clock in the afternoon of the day that this conversation had taken place at Sandown Park, Mr. Sherborne was waiting in the library for his horses to be brought round, when the footman came in.

"Sir, there is a man waiting to see you downstairs;