•pAIR s i^eiion. soft and fair neofc, 4^ Otjs eo can be obtained by discarding J\r. ftowland^cheap soaps and rnetallic coBmetios and using:' • [% r a soothing, refreshing ana emouient preparation for the skin and complexion, warranted fr » from lead or mineral poisons: it disperses freckles, tan, dlsoolora • tions, chaps, irritation of tho skin, redness and roughness of the skin caused by cold winds or the use of hard water, relieves tho irritation of the skin caused by shaving, and produces a delicate and LOVELY COMPLEXION. No lady who values her complexion should be without a bottle. Bottles 4s. 6d. and 8B. 6d.; half-sized bottles 2s. 3d. ROWLANDS ODONTU whitens the teeth, prevents and arrests decay, strengthens the gums, and gives a delightful fragrance to the breath. Ask anywhere for ROWLANDS' articles, of 20, Hatton Garden, London, and avoid spurious imitations under similar names. IHERllvlAJESTY . This Sweetly-scented Emollient-Milk is superior to every other preparation for rendering BEETHAM'S THE SKIN SOFT, SMOOTH, A«D WHITE. It entirely removes and prevents all ROUGHNESS, REDNESS, SUNBURN, CHAPS, GLYCERINE and all other blemishes of the skin caused by SUMMER'S HEAT OR WINTER'S COLD. AND It keeps the skin cool and refreshed in the hottest day in summer, and soft and smooth in the coldest winter. CUCUMBER Bottles, I/-. 1/e, 2/6, ffl all Chemists. Free for 3d. extra, by the Sole Makers, For the Skin. " That exoellent but seductive Journal."—.Va^wrrfay Review. Private Announce­ ments appeared last year, or at 365.000 the rate of ONE THOUSAND per diem from year's end to year's end, in THE BAZAAR, EXCHANGE & JVIART. This is _^ ,, other paper in the MILLiION AND 'ered for Disposal were Wanted to ?ket value, and if vhich you do not 1 want, you should , at any Bookstall SFRIEND TIVEllLLS 00 YEARS. IND. 'S OINTMENT. y prepared by G. L. 1 to the public as an un- 5, Chilblains, Scorbutic r.rupnon'!, rsurns, ^lOre and intlamed liyes, *c. DR. ROBERTS'S ALTERATIVE PILLS7 ROVED by lOO years' successful experience to be one of the best medi­ P cines for purifying the blood and assisting nature in all her operations. They are useful in Scrofula, Scorbutic Complaints, Glandular Swellings,- par­ ticularly those of the neck, and are very efiectual in the cure of that form of skin disease which shows itself in painful cracks in the skin of the hands. They may be taken at all times without confinement or change of diet. Sold at IS. lid., 2s. 9d., I is., and 22s., by the Proprietors, Bridport, and by Chemists A LUXURY NO LONGEB UNKNOWN. BARBER & COMPANY'S (See that you have none other) FRENCH COFFEE, As USED IN PARIS, IN ITS HIGHEST PERFECTION, TENPENCE PER POUND. This is the choicest and most carefully selected Coffee, " roasted on the French principle," and mixed with the Finest Bruges Chicory. 2 lbs. Sample Tin sent free for 2s. 4d., 5lbs., 5s. 6d. ; 8 lbs., 8s. lOd., by Parcel Post, to any Post Town in the United King­ dom and Channel Islands. I BARBER & COMPANY, \ 274, Regent Circus, Oxford Street, W. 61, Bishopsgate Street, City. I 102, Westbourne Grove, W. i 11, Boro' High Street, S.E. I 42, Great Titehfleld St., W King's Cross, N. Also at Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton, Hastings, Bristol, Preston ; I, Church Street, Minster Buildings ; and London Road, Liverpool. Remittances to be crossed "London and Westminster Bank." Postal Orders from IS. 6d. to loj. bd. can now be obtained for ONE PENNY at all Post Offices. ALBION MILK & SULPHUR SOAP. PUREST OF ALL SOAPS. UJ^EQUALLED FOR THE COMPLEXION. INVALUABLE FOR CHILDREN. SOLD BY X . THE WHITE HOUSE BY THE SEA I NirOEM WITH THIS VOLUME, By ihe saine Authoress. JOHN AND I. WHD FLOWER C F RAVENSWORTH. LISABEE'S LOVE STORT. London: WARD, LOCK, & Co., SALISBURY SQUARE, E.C- THE WHITE HOUSE BY THE SEA. ^ IOIJC Sionr, BY MISS BETH AM EDWARD 3, AUTHOR OF " WILD FLOTVER OP RAVENSWOKTH," " LISABEs's L 'VE NEW EDITION. LONDON: WARD, LOCK, & CO, WARWICK HOUSE, SALISBURY SQUARE, E.G. THE "WHITE HOUSE BY THE SEA. CHAPTER I. " Den neue Gedankcn und Gcfiihle wir scliicszende Sterne durch die Seele fliegen, und einen blaugoldenen Pfad hinter sich machen.'' —TiECK. IT was dismal enough; dreary within, dusky without—with the gathering shadows of autumn twilight—and the gloom and the silence weighed upon my spirits. There was too much appearance of day to have candles, and though cold and cheerless too early in the season for economical people to have fires ; so there was nothing for me to do but to look out of the window and listen to the eternal surging of the sea. I never grew tired of that, but I wearied of being alone. My father dozed uncomfortably in his chair, and only spoke now and then, to ask what o'clock it was, or to complain about something or other in the way that nervously affected people always do, and I could hear EUice's voice in cheerful conversation to the cat in the kitchen. Oh, if my riither would but talk so cheerfully to me I "Chatty?" "Yes, papa." " Did you say it was a quarter to six, or a quarter past BIX, when you looked at the clock just now ? " " To six." 4 THE WHITE HOUSE BY THE SEA. "Are you sure ? " " Yes, quite, father dear." He gave a muttered ejaculation of discontent, and said no more. I thought he had fallen asleep, but in less than live minutes he exclaimed querulously— " You must have made a mistake, Chatty, or it would have struck six by now; go and look, there's a dear." I lingered in the kitchen as long as I could, feeling loath to tell him that I was right, and when I returned he had 'Iropped into a light but sound slumber. I took my old place by the window, and went on thinking. I ought rather to say imagining, for in the monotony of my daily life I had veiy little to think about, and if it had not been for the enthusiasm and extreme impetuosity of my temperament, I should have been dull indeed. As it was, I could not help wishing at times for some good fairy's wand to make real and living the bright pictures and dreams that my mind so revelled in. But to-day my thoughts were not entirely of a visionary nature. It was a very slight thing; a gossamer thread—a spider's chain were stronger even, and yet it had bound down my fancy to a substantial and tangible existence. Pleasure parties in skiffs, painted boats and light flying yachts innumerable had passed and repassed all the summer long by our dark rock, and I, perhaps, just raised my eyes for one glance, and thought of them no more. Autumn has come now; the south wind blew soft and warm still at mid­ day, but there was a treacherous look in the sun's bright rising, and every evening came with an uneasy war of the waves and a falling of rain : therefore summer visitors and gay holiday makers deserted us, and I could no longer sit on the sandy heath and be idle. But hardly four hours ago, in spite of the misty cloud and air, I had seen a boat dance by, swift and joj'ous as though on wings, and it had come near, very near to the a£E WHITE HOUSE BY THE SEA. 5 little ragged stone on which I stood. So near that 1 could distinctly see the faces of those who were in it, and hear the gay echo and laugh of their merry voices. And somehow they dwelt on my memory. I could not forget the sweet, happy face of the young girl, or the magnificence of the ladies; least of all could I forget the dark-haired, bright-eyed hero (for I made him a hero at •once), with the cavalierly figure and the handsome mouth •which smiled proudly. He was the embodiment of my faiiy-tale Prince, of my chivalric knight, and the lifelike personification of all my girlish, unspeakable ideals. How beautiful he was ! And I had watched for the return of the loat with a wondrous feeling of eager expectation and long­ ing ; but with the coming darkness all my chances seemed to have gone. Yet it must pass, some time or other, I felt sure of that. Before and beyond lay the ocean, and the only return to Ingham was past our dwelling, for the high, bleak rocks which were our sole neighbours, narrowed on the one side into insignificance and to the town, on the other to a vast plain of dry, short heaths and brown grasses. So it must return, I thought, and in the hope I had lingered beneath the rocks till the clouds began to descend in drizzling rain, and the chill air made me shiver. My dis­ appointment was great; but even yet I watched at the window, if only to see the boat glide by. I should feel satisfied then, and I was very restless now. Perhaps it had l)een upset; I had heard of such things happening in un­ certain weather, and the party had no boatman with them. Besides, it was getting dark, and there was no moon till Jialf-past eleven. My father still slept; and stealing on tip-toe, lest Ellice should overhear me, I went to the hall window, opened it, and peered out.