From Blackwood's Magazine.

THE DILEMMA.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

There is plenty of room for as many as you like to bring, and plenty of stabling, and corn too for all, and we would try our best to make them comfortable. This house is as much yours as mine, you know, Frederic, so I hope you won't hesitate to do just as you like."

"Very kind of you, sir, I'm sure," replied his son; "but I don't think any of our fellows are likely to be coming this

"Well then, at any other time, Fred, you must bring some of them, you knowLord Albert Custance, or Sir Charles Allingham, or any others. I daresay we shall be able to put them up pretty comfortably. We will give them the best of what we have, at any rate."

"Very good of you, sir, I'm sure," again answered the son, and then turned the conversation in a way which implied that Lord Albert Custance and Sir Charles Allingham and the rest of his brother officers would certainly not receive the invitation.

NEXT morning there was an unwonted excitement manifest throughout the household. Even the fat butler was up when Yorke came down-stairs; Mr. Peevor was going about in a fidget from room to room, although the expected hero was not due for another hour, giving repeated injunc-way just now." tions to the housekeeper to be sure and keep up a good fire in Mr. Frederic's room he might want to take some rest after his long journey; while numerous apologies were made to Yorke for breakfast's being put off on Fred's account. When, however, Fred did arrive, himself in the brougham and his luggage in the tax-cart, it was pleasant to witness the unfeigned pleasure caused by his arrival; but in fact there was no doubt about the general amiability of the whole family. Every one went pretty much his or her own way, but no one ever seemed out of temper; and there were none of those little bickerings sometimes observable in even the most affectionate circles sparks of snappishness elicited by domestic friction. Fred was very like his sister Yorke replied that he knew them very Cathy, rather under middle height, with a well when the regiment was in India, a slight figure, pale complexion, light hair few years ago, but that the old set had aland small moustache, and bearing the un-most all sold out or exchanged since they mistakable appearance of the British light came home. dragoon. He accepted the welcome lavished upon him with easy composure, was civil to his step-mother, affectionate to his sisters, and properly deferential to the guest, as became Yorke's reputation and position in the service.

"Well, Frederic," said his father, as they sat over the breakfast-table, "how is your colonel? quite well, I hope, and all the rest of the officers? Is there any chance of the colonel's coming to England this winter? if so, we shall be very pleased if he will do us the honour to pay us a short visit."

The colonel was coming over, Fred believed, for a few weeks' hunting, but that would be with friends in Leicestershire.

"Do you know the th, colonel?" said Mr. Peevor, turning to Yorke. "I am sure they would be very pleased to make your acquaintance."

"It is one of the most fashionable regiments in the service," observed Mr. Peevor-"expensive, of course, but I am able to give my son a comfortable allowance.'

"Rather too expensive for some of us, sir, I am afraid," said the young man, laughing; "we haven't all of us got such good-natured governors as some one who could be named; but it keeps promotion going."

Great was the consternation in the household when it became known that Fred's visit was to last only three days, and that he was going to spend the remainder of his leave with some friends at Leamington. This only came out by de"I suppose so," replied his father; grees, for the young man was reserved in "the colonel's company is very much manner-in this, as in many other resought after, naturally; the-th is one spects, a contrast to his father. It was of the most fashionable regiments in the towards the end of his short visit, when service," he added by way of explanation he had come to know Yorke better, that to Yorke; "but wouldn't you like to in- he made a partial confidant of the house vite Lord Albert Custance, or Sir Charles guest. "I like coming home, and all that, Allingham, or any of your other brother of course," said the young man, as the officers, to come over for a few days two were lounging about the stables tohunting with the Southbywestershire? Igether smoking their cigars, “but I can't should be extremely pleased to see them. I stand the way in which the governor goes

more lively they had become, the truth dawned upon him that possibly both the young ladies might heretofore have been a little in awe of their military guest. Indeed it was some time before young Peevor himself managed to cross the gulf which separated the subaltern and the colonel.

on about his money. He is very gener- | Peevor's substance stood in no danger of ous, and all that-in fact he allows me being wasted by his son's riotous living. twice as much as I want to spend, and That afternoon Yorke had to go to Lonwould give me twice as much more if I don on business. Indeed he had intended asked for it. I believe he would like me to bring his visit to an end on this day, to keep a dozen chargers and a couple of but Mr. Peevor protested so strongly drags of my own, and a hunter for each against his putting them off with such a day in the month; but what's the good of short one, that, nothing loath to see somebeing different from the fellows about thing more of a family which interested you? Besides, our colonel, who got the him in more ways than one, he promised regiment last year, don't like his officers to return next morning in time for huntto spend too much money. Our fellows ing; and the short day, which proved too are well connected enough, but they are wet for out-of-door amusements, was not a rich lot; and we have lost some passed pleasantly enough, chiefly in the very good fellows, who had to go that billiard-room with Fred and the girls, who was in our late colonel's time-because were in high spirits at having their broththe pace was too good. Then the gover's company. And observing how much ernor is always being at me to bring some of them over to stay here. Well, they would behave like gentlemen, I know; but what is the good of having fellows here to be laughing in their sleeve all the time at the bad form in which things are done the waste and show, and the lot of useless servants who do nothing but overeat themselves, and overdrink themselves too, very often? I declare my grooms would do more work than the whole lot in the stable here put together. Then my father is vexed because I'm going to hunt at Leamington instead of bringing my horses down here. Well, colonel, you've been out with my sister Cathy, and I daresay you have noticed things, and the insolent way in which some of the people behave. I never go out without wanting to pick a quarrel with somebody. It is no good making a secret of it, and I don't mind telling you in confidence that I would rather not go through any more of it. How the girls stand it I'm sure I don't know; but I think women have more brass than men."

Perhaps the young man thought, by making a confidant of Colonel Yorke in this fashion, to disarm his criticism. At any rate, the latter, if he laughed at all, had no need after this revelation to laugh in his sleeve. And it will be seen that Mr. Peevor had acted the part of a Spartan father by his son, only making himself the example, instead of using the slave. Certainly, if he had deliberately tried to prevent the son from turning out a spendthrift he could not have succeeded better. Lieutenant Peevor was somewhat silent and cold in manner before the assembled family, although lively and unreserved when alone with his sisters, and having a practically unlimited command of money, he was scrupulously economical and methodical in habit. It was evident that Mr.

Fred appeared to more advantage when with his sisters in this way than when his father was present, and he was very gracious to the children, giving them rides on his back up and down the lobby-a thing which it had never occurred to Yorke to do. Nor should it be omitted that their brother had brought each of the little ones a magnificent doll. "They have got about half a hundred apiece of these articles already," he observed to Yorke, in giving them their presents, "but this sort of thing pleases Mrs. Peevor. I've got nothing for you," he said to his elder sisters: "it's no good bringing you anything; you've got everything already that girls can want."

"Everything?" said Lucy, in an undertone, looking archly at her brother.

"Well, everything you are likely to get," he returned, half in fun, half vexed.

The Hamwell railway station, the nearest to "The Beeches," was on a branch line not far from the Shoalbrook Junction, where it joins the main line from London to Castleroyal. Several passengers got into Yorke's compartment at the junction, but in the twilight of a November evening he did not notice their features, but occupied himself in trying to read his evening paper by the dim glare of the illfed lamp. The train came to a stop and Yorke came to the end of his paper at the ticket platform about a mile from the London terminus; and as Yorke, who sat at the farther end of the carriage, handed his ticket to the occupant of the other corner to deliver to the collector, he looked at

poor girl could not conceal her distress. "What a brute I am, to be sure!" said Yorke to himself when alone later in the day, thinking over the episode. "Yet how am I to know that it is not all a pretence, the easy device of a practised flirt? No doubt the little jade has been taught to make eyes at every man she meets. Who am I to interpret a woman's looks? Whenever I meet one it seems my destiny to blunder."

him for the first time, and suddenly recog- | quite justified by certain passages which nized his old friend Dr. Mackenzie Max-had passed between them, his manner well, formerly surgeon of the Mustapha was so cold and constrained that the bad residency, and afterwards of Kirke's Horse. The old gentleman was somewhat greyer than when he retired from the service four years before, but was otherwise little altered. Hearty greetings were of course exchanged between the two friends, and yet Yorke could not help noticing a certain constraint and confusion in the other's manner. He had been down to the neighbourhood of Castleroyal, Maxwell said, on some private business. He lived on his own little place in Fifeshire, and was staying for a short time in London. So much was explained during the short passage from the ticket platform to the terminus; and then Maxwell, shaking hands suddenly with his old friend, said he was in a great hurry to keep an appointment, jumped into a cab, and drove off without giving his town address.

CHAPTER XLIX.

YORKE, who had breakfasted before leaving town, expected to find Miss Cathy on his arrival ready to start for the meet, but when he drove up to the house she was still in walking-dress. Fred would not go hunting, she explained, and she did not like to leave him on his last day. Yorke felt surprised and hurt. Not- That young gentleman could not go, she withstanding their difference of age, Max- said, because he had no horse; but it apwell and he had been on the footing of peared that he had declined to adopt his confidential friends; they had served to- sister's suggestion to send to Castleroyal gether in the eventful defence of the Mus- for one, and as of course he would not taphabad residency, and afterwards as accept Yorke's offer of a mount on Jumpclose comrades throughout the rest of the ing Joseph, the latter was fain to drive off sepoy war, and to Yorke alone had Max-alone in the dog-cart which awaited him well confided his distress at Olivia's sec- under the portico, to the meet, whither ond marriage; and although he had left that worthy animal had already been sent the regiment before ruin fell upon her and on. her husband, Maxwell had predicted some The gathering, as usual in those parts, misfortune of the kind, and had himself was a large one; but although Yorke told Yorke that he had left the regiment noticed a detachment of evidently military in order that he might not be present to men, probably from Castleroyal, he did witness it. Could it be that he resented not recognize any acquaintances among the share Yorke himself had unwittingly them, and found himself an entire stranger had in that downfall? But no; nothing in among the crowd. This made it rather Maxwell's manner implied resentment or dull work, more especially as the day was reproach. His embarrassment obviously not destined to afford honest Joseph much arose from something connected with him- opportunity for displaying his quality. self, especially since, as it occurred to One cover after another was drawn withYorke, Maxwell must surely have recog-out success; and when at last a fox was nized him when he entered the carriage. found, the scent was bad and the checks For some reason, however, he had avoid- frequent. Still the sport then became ened recognition himself; and as Yorke joyable enough to a man who had never thought over this strange and unsatisfac- hunted before; while there was a certain tory meeting, the recollection of past days amount of opportunity offered for finding came up with unwonted force and fresh-out what it was possible for a horse and ness; and again indulging in the luxury rider to do. of giving loose to the useless regrets over It so happened that during one of these his wasted passion, in which he had al- intermittent runs, a horseman just in front lowed himself to indulge for so many of Yorke came to grief. His horse blunyears, the schemes for the future, which dered in taking a hedge with ditch beyond, during the last few days he had amused but recovered itself cleverly without fallhimself in planning more or less vaguely, seemed to have lost all interest; and when, on returning next morning to "The Beeches," Lucy greeted him with a little blush,

ing. Not so the rider, a stout young man, who having lost his seat remained poised for an instant on his horse's neck in a position of unstable equilibrium, and then

saying- don't presume too far on old ac- | pursued his course to "The Beeches " quaintance."

along the road to Hamwell, half ashamed "All right, my dear fellow; you can't of himself for not having stopped the conhave fallen in love with all three of them versation, and yet pondering with heightalready, and there can be no harm in tell- ened interest over the revelations poured ing you that they are good for a plum out by his gossiping companion. So this, each, down; that's the figure, I believe, then, was the mystery; this the cause of that old Peevor gives out over his wine the social banishment of his host and famand then, of course, he'll cut up for ever ily. "And yet," he thought to himself, so much more. I have often thought of "how abominably unfair! One meets peomaking the running in that quarter my-ple every day whose antecedents are not a self, for they are really as nice little girls whit more exalted than those of my worthy as you would meet anywhere; but some-friend, and manners not half so good, and how I'm not a good hand at that sort of thing — not a lady's man, in fact."

"Yes, I know the brother a little. He is not a bit like his governor. I fancy he had rather a hard time of it in the -th at first. He used to come in for a lot of chaff about the balsam; but he is a sensible fellow, and the best rider in the regiment, I believe - does all their steeplechase work for them, in fact, and gets on Some such ideas as these pursued their very well now. But our roads part here. course through the rider's mind, Lucy asTa, ta, colonel; I shall come and look you suming a deeper interest in them as he up the first bye-day, and pay my respects dwelt on the unjust persecution, as he to the family; " and so saying, the irre- deemed it, suffered by her and her family, pressible Teddy turned off at the cross- and began to be possessed with an eagerroad which led to Castleroyal, while Yorke | ness to constitute himself her champion,