order up some champagne."

-have a glass of wine? I'll

"No, no, I thank you," said Beckenham, gravely. Emma entered at this moment.

"How do you do, madam?" he continued, taking her hand, and pressing it kindly ;—“how do you do?” "I am sorry to say I am not well

“There, there, that will do!" interrupted Julius: "he didn't come here to listen to a catalogue of aches and pains! -ring for champagne."

"I want to sit down and talk to you," said Beckenham : "I have come on business."

"Business be hanged!" cried Julius ; "I've done with the profession, and so has she, and so have the boys."

Yes, I am quite aware of

'My son-in-law the duke has taken care of us all. Have you rang for the champagne, Emma?”

"Yes."

"Do not trouble yourself, I beg," entreated the visitor, addressing Emma. "I am quite pained at seeing you look so ill," he added, with considerable feeling.

She repaid him with one of her gentle smiles, and he proceeded

"Have you seen any of the newspapers this morn

ing?"

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Newspapers!" echoed Julius, with a sneer-" who wants to read about politics?—not I, for one. I certainly do read the fashionable movements, because they interest and concern us. I suppose you've seen my daughter the duchess often mentioned in the newspapers ?"

"Frequently," Beckenham replied, coldly, his eyes wandering towards Emma.

"Of course you have, old fellow! how could you help doing so? Oh, my son-in-law the duke is a gay fellow, and knows how to enjoy life, I can tell you. Fancy going to two or three balls in one evening!-Oh, you may open your eyes! I'll swear to the fact."

Beckenham moved uneasily! He had, indeed, a painful task to perform. For the mother he felt-for that poor, pale woman, whose thin, wasted figure, and hollow cough, distressed and shocked him.

"When did you last hear from the duchess?" he inquired, in an unsteady voice.

"Oh, here's the wine!" observed Julius, as the servant entered with her tray.

"It is some time since we heard from her," said Emma, in answer to the question put to her husband.

"I, then, have the advantage of you in that respect," said the old man, as the servant withdrew.

"You have seen my daughter," Emma exclaimed, the tears starting into her eyes.

"I have," he replied.

"We'll drink her very good health," said Julius, uncorking the champagne and filling the glasses.

"Pardon me," said the visitor; "I could not swallow a drop at this moment ;-excuse me, I mean no disrespect to any one."

"What! refuse to drink to the health of my daughter the duchess! Do you call that polite breeding? Bah!" and Julius drained the glass at a draught.

"Do you think you have strength to hear sad news? Beckenham asked, in a low, earnest voice.

The question startled Emma, who clasped her hands nervously and tried to speak, but was prevented so doing by a severe fit of coughing.

"I am distressed to be the bearer of ill tidings."

"What has happened? Is she has any accident occurred?"

"What are you two muttering about?" asked the master of the house, as he refilled his glass.

"I do not know how to tell you," returned Beckenham. "Then hold your tongue," stuttered Julius. You're a surly fellow, Beckenham; you won't-hic-drink, and you won't -hic-won't do anything else. Now, if I were in the habit of swearing, I should call you a dam-hic-disagreeable old fogey-pe-pe-cu-peculiarly disagreeable."

"This is worse than all !" said Beckenham aside to Emma: "I have news for sober ears, and I cannot talk to him.” "What's that I hear?" cried Julius. "Who is it you can't talk to; eh, old white-wig? You used to be clever enough at talking-at least, I thought so."

"Julius, Julius! Mr. Beckenham has seen our 'Rina.".

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'My daughter the duchess?" hiccoughed he, stuffing his hands in his pockets, and trying to look sober-"well?" "I wish it were well."

66

Beck-hic-you're an old croaker."

"The duke and duchess have quarrelled and separated," said Beckenham, abruptly.

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Ho, ho is that all? Let 'em make it up again. I shan't inter-fe-fere."

"Mr. Beckenham, where is she?" cried Emma. "Is she well? I am so anxious about her health."

"Your daughter is ill-very ill."

"Where is she?" stammered the mother, clinging to a chair-back for support.

"Let me go to her."

"You will do her little good, I'm afraid, and much harm to yourself."

"It is my duty to be near her-I must go !”

Things are much worse than you dream of; so, arm yourself with fortitude."

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Julius, Julius, do you hear? "Pooh! I guess all about it.

ness themselves-hic."

'Rina is ill-very ill."
Let 'em settle their busi-

Emma glanced at her husband with a look of mingled reproach and despair, and rushed out of the room.

Julius passed his hand across his heated brow, confused and half-terrified.

"Confound their quarrels! How comes it you're mixed up in this affair?”

"The story is too long to detail now," rejoined Beckenham.

"Curse the wine! it's got into my head; and I can't comprehend what you have to do with my daughter—the duchess's family matters."

Beckenham remained silent. He was too much disgusted to hold further parley with this man, who, unable to bear the tide of prosperity with a proper grace, had flown to alcohol to give him comfort and excitement, and was now gradually, but surely, becoming a loathsome drunkard, adding a hideous vice to all his former faults-a vice that rendered him doubly hateful to all around him. The habit had crept on him imperceptibly. Lack of employment, and also lack of

thought, left on his hands many long, weary hours. He was now an idle man, without a care for the morrow's wants, or indeed for aught else. The wife whose spirit he had tortured for years sat by his side a crushed woman, broken in health and mind. Julius never truly loved anything in this fair world save himself; no, not even his favourite 'Rina. He had only cared for her because she was beautiful and talentednot that she was his child, the sweet tie, the endearing link which should have bound him closer to her mother, his gentle, suffering wife.

"I am ready," Emma said, as, attired for walking, she entered the apartment.

"I have a cab waiting at the corner: I was afraid I should alarm you by driving up to the door, so

"You are extremely thoughtful," she faltered, stealing a look at her husband, and going to the door.

Beckenham followed her, in doubt whether to speak, or leave the room by stealth.

Julius was dozing over his empty glass-his eyes, ears, brain, and heart were shut up, slumbering in sottish forgetfulness.

"No, no; don't speak to him! Emma said, in a hollow whisper, her face flushing crimson; "let us hasten to her, my own darling child! Come," she added, with a shiver, come, Mr. Beckenham! my heart sickens at this sight! At that moment Julius slid off his chair; and lay sprawling on the floor:

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"O, monstrous beast! how like a swine he lies."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

“THANK HEAVEN, you are come!" said Mrs. Trenmore, taking Emma's hand and leading her up-stairs. "I have been counting the moments."

"Is she worse?"

"Much: the paroxysm has returned with double violence. I have sent for another doctor.-Ah, there's the carriage! he has arrived."

The chamber into which Mrs. Trenmore now led Emma was dimly lighted. A sharp cry, then a moan, and anon a frenzied shriek struck her ear. Grasping Mrs. Trenmore's arm, the wretched mother stood for a moment and listened.

"What is the matter, Mrs. Trenmore? Mr. Beckenham did not prepare me for this Oh, I cannot bear those cries."

"You must bear them: you must have firmness, or your presence may do much mischief to the patient."

"True, true! I will endeavour to be calm," Emma said, in a bewildered tone.

Mrs. Trenmore paused and laid both her hands on Emma's shoulders. "You must not think me harsh or unfeeling that I thus admonish you," she said.

"No, no."

Another frantic cry from 'Rina. Emma broke from Mrs. Trenmore and staggered to the bed, at the side of which she dropped in a state of insensibility.

"This is terrible!" said Mrs. Trenmore, assisting the servants to lift Emma into a chair. "I am glad you are come, doctor," she continued, as a portly gentleman entered the sick-room.

"How long has she been delirious?" he asked, after watching 'Rina for a few seconds.

"I can't exactly say," replied Mrs. Trenmore: "she was