WYLDER'S HAJVD. 167 Chelford, was seen next Sunday afternoon, serene and unchanged, in the gr^at carved oak Brandon pew, raised like a dais two feet at least above the level of mere Chris- tians, who frequented the family chapel. When the good Vicar, the Rev. William Wylder, at three o'clock, per- formed his holy office in reading desk and pulpit, the good folk from Gylingden assembled in force, saw nothing no- ticeable in the demeanor or appearance of the great Bran- don heiress. 4 No shadow of trouble on that calm marble beauty, no light of joy, but a serene superb indifference. Of course there was some satire in Gylingden; but, in the main, it was a loyal town, and true to its princess. Mr. Wylder's settlements were not satisfactory, it was presumed, or the young lady could not bring herself to like him, or however it came to pass. one way or another, that sprig of willow inevitably to be mounted by hero or heroine upon such equivocal occasions was placed by the honest town by no means in her breast, but altogether in his button-hole. Gradually, in a more authentic shape, information traceable to old Lady Chelford, through some of the old county families who visited at Brandon, made it known that Mr. Wylder's affairs were not at present by any means in so settled a state as was supposed; and that a long betrothal not being desirable on the whole, Miss Brandon's relatives thought it advisable that the engage- ment should terminate, and had so decided, Mr. Wylder having, very properly, placed himself absolutely in their hands. As for Mark, it was presumed, he had gone into volun- tary banishment. It was know to be quite final, and as the lady evinced no cha,grin and affected no unusual spirits, but held, swanlike and majestic, the even tenor of her way, there