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 Python
for Beginners

Master Python Programming from

Basics to Advanced Level

Tim Simon
© Copyright 2024 - All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written
permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S.
copyright law.
Legal Notice:
This book is copyright protected. This is only for personal use. You cannot
amend, distribute, sell, use, quote or paraphrase any part or the content
within this book without the consent of the author.
Disclaimer Notice: This publication is designed to provide accurate and
authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is
sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is
engaged in rendering legal, investment, accounting or other
professional services. While the publisher and author have used their
best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or
warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents
of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may
be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales
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appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for
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damages.
 Table of Contents

Introduction to Python
Basics of Python Programming
Working with Data
Functions and Modules
Error Handling and Debugging
Object-Oriented Programming
Working with Databases
Python in Web Development
Advanced Python Concepts
Real-World Python Projects
Where to Go Next?
 Introduction to Python

Python was conceived in the late 1980s by Guido van Rossum, a Dutch
programmer, at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in the
Netherlands. The inception of Python was influenced by van Rossum's
desire to create a language that overcame the shortcomings of ABC, a
language he had worked on at CWI. He sought to develop a language that
was both powerful and easy to use, combining the best features of Unix/C
and Modula-3, with a syntax that was both readable and concise.

The name 'Python' was inspired by the British comedy series 'Monty
Python's Flying Circus', reflecting van Rossum's goal to make programming
fun and accessible. The first version of Python (Python 0.9.0) was released
in February 1991, introducing fundamental features like exception
handling, functions, and the core datatypes that Python is known for.
Design Philosophy: The Zen of Python

Python's design philosophy emphasizes code readability and simplicity.

This philosophy is best encapsulated in "The Zen of Python", a collection of
aphorisms that express the guiding principles for Python's design. Written
by Tim Peters, a major contributor to Python, it includes precepts such as
"Beautiful is better than ugly," "Simple is better than complex," and
"Readability counts." These principles have guided Python's development,
ensuring that the language remains intuitive and maintainable.
One of Python's most distinctive features is its use of significant
whitespace. Unlike many other languages, Python uses indentation to define
code blocks, eliminating the need for curly braces. This feature, while
controversial at first, has been credited with encouraging programmers to
write cleaner, more readable code.
Python's Evolution and Adoption
Python's journey from a modest scripting language to a major force in
programming has been marked by steady evolution. Its versatility has been
enhanced by the development of numerous libraries and frameworks,
catering to a wide range of applications – from web development with
frameworks like Django and Flask, to scientific computing with libraries
like NumPy and SciPy, and machine learning with TensorFlow and
PyTorch.

Python's surge in popularity can also be attributed to its community-driven

development. The Python Enhancement Proposal (PEP) process, where
community members propose, discuss, and vote on changes to the language,
has been pivotal in Python's evolution. This democratic approach has
fostered a vibrant and inclusive Python community, contributing to its
widespread adoption.
Impact on the Programming World

Python's impact on the programming world has been profound. Its

simplicity makes it an ideal first language, lowering the barrier to entry into
the world of programming. In academia, Python has replaced languages like
Java and C++ as the preferred teaching language due to its simplicity and
readability.

In the professional realm, Python’s flexibility and the vast array of libraries
have made it a favorite among startups and tech giants alike. It has become
integral in emerging fields like data science, artificial intelligence, and
machine learning, driving innovation and research.
Python's growth is also reflected in its consistent ranking as one of the most
popular programming languages. Its usage spans across various domains,
from web development to scientific computing, making it a versatile tool in
a programmer's arsenal.

Setting Up Your Environment

Python is a cross-platform language, meaning it can be installed and run on
various operating systems such as Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
Regardless of the operating system, the installation process is
straightforward.
 1. Downloading Python: Visit the official Python website at
python.org. Navigate to the Downloads section, where the site
typically recommends the latest version for your operating system.
Python 3.x is the version you should install, as Python 2.x is no
longer supported.

2. Installation Process:

Windows: The Windows installer includes an option to add

Python to your PATH environment variable. Ensure this box is
checked, as it allows you to run Python from the command line.
MacOS: The MacOS installation is similar to Windows. After
mounting the downloaded package, follow the on-screen
instructions.
Linux: Most Linux distributions come with Python pre-installed.
To check if Python is installed and to see its version, you can use
the command python --version or python3 --version in the
terminal.

3. Verifying Installation: To verify that Python is installed correctly,

open your command line interface (Terminal on MacOS and Linux,
Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows) and type python or
python3. If Python is installed and the PATH is set correctly, you
should see the Python interpreter's version and a prompt to start
coding.
Choosing an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
While Python code can be written in a simple text editor, using an
Integrated Development Environment (IDE) can significantly enhance your
coding experience. An IDE provides features like syntax highlighting, code
completion, and debugging tools. Some popular IDEs for Python include:

PyCharm: Widely used in the professional field, PyCharm offers a

range of tools for Python development. There is a free Community
version and a paid Professional version.
 Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A free, open-source editor that is
highly customizable and supports a wide range of programming
languages, including Python.
Jupyter Notebook: Ideal for data science and analysis, Jupyter
Notebook offers an interactive environment where you can execute
code in sections.
Choose an IDE that best fits your needs and learning style. Each IDE has its
installation process, so refer to the respective documentation for guidance.
Setting Up a Virtual Environment
Python virtual environments are a best practice for managing project-
specific dependencies. They allow you to install packages in an isolated
environment, avoiding version conflicts between projects.

1. Creating a Virtual Environment: Navigate to your project's

directory in the command line and execute python -m venv myenv,
replacing myenv with your desired environment name. This
command creates a folder myenv which contains the Python
interpreter, libraries, and scripts.
2. Activating the Virtual Environment:

Windows: Run myenv\Scripts\activate.bat.

MacOS/Linux: Run source myenv/bin/activate.

3. Using the Virtual Environment: While the environment is active,

any Python packages you install using pip will be placed in the
virtual environment, isolated from the global Python installation.
Managing Packages with Pip
Pip is Python's package installer, allowing you to install and manage
additional libraries that are not part of the Python standard library. To install
a package, simply use pip install package_name. It's also good practice to
keep a record of a project's dependencies using a requirements.txt file,
which can be generated using pip freeze > requirements.txt.
Writing and Executing a Simple Python Script
Your First Python Program: Writing and Executing a Simple Python
Script
Python programs, at their simplest, are text files with a .py extension
containing Python code. Unlike many other programming languages,
Python does not require a complex setup to execute simple scripts. Let's
start with a fundamental program: printing a message to the screen.
Creating Your Python File:

Open your chosen text editor or IDE.

Create a new file and save it with a .py extension, for example,
hello_world.py.
Writing Your First Python Code:
In the file, type the following code:
1. print("Hello, World!")

This line of code is a print statement, which outputs the enclosed string to
the console.
Executing the Script:

Open your command line interface.

Navigate to the directory where your hello_world.py file is
saved.
Run the script by typing python hello_world.py or python3
hello_world.py (depending on your Python installation).
If everything is set up correctly, you will see the message Hello, World!
printed in the console. Congratulations, you've just written and executed
your first Python script!
Understanding the Print Function
The print function is one of the most commonly used Python functions. It
sends data to the console, which is a text-based interface for interacting
with the computer. In our example, print("Hello, World!") sends the string
"Hello, World!" to the console.
Adding Comments
Comments are an essential part of programming. They are used to explain
what the code is doing, making it easier to understand for yourself and
others. In Python, comments start with a # symbol.
Add a comment to your script:
1. # This script prints a message to the console
2. print("Hello, World!")

Variables and User Input

Next, let's enhance the script by using variables and user input.
A variable in Python is used to store information that can be used in the
program. For example:
1. message = "Hello, Python!"
2. print(message)

Python also allows for user input. Modify your script to include input
functionality:
1. # Ask the user for their name
2. name = input("What is your name? ")

3.
4. # Print a personalized message
5. print("Hello, " + name + "!")

When you run this script, it will pause and wait for you to type your name.
After entering your name and pressing Enter, it will greet you personally.
Basic Error Handling
As a beginner, encountering errors is a normal part of the learning process.
These errors are often syntax errors, like missing a quotation mark or a
parenthesis. Python will try to tell you where it found a problem in your
code.
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 For instance, if you mistakenly wrote pritn instead of print, Python
will raise a NameError, indicating that it doesn't recognize pritn.
Always read error messages carefully; they provide valuable clues
about what went wrong.
Basic Python Syntax

Python syntax refers to the set of rules that define how a Python program is
written and interpreted. Unlike many other programming languages, Python
emphasizes readability and simplicity, making it an excellent choice for
beginners. Understanding Python syntax is crucial for writing efficient and
error-free code.
Basic Syntax Rules
Indentation:
Python uses indentation to define code blocks, replacing the braces {} used
in many other languages. The amount of indentation (spaces or tabs) should
be consistent throughout the code block.
Example:
1. if True:
2. print("This is indented.")

In this example, the print statement is part of the if block due to its
indentation.
Variables:
Variables in Python are created when they are first assigned a value. Python
is dynamically-typed, which means you don't need to declare the type of a
variable when you create one.
Example:
1. my_number = 10
2. my_string = "Hello, Python!"

Comments:
Comments are used to explain the code and are not executed. In Python, a
comment is created by inserting a hash mark # before the text.
Example:
1. # This is a comment
2. print("This is not a comment")

Statements:

Python programs are made up of statements. A statement is an

instruction that the Python interpreter can execute.
In Python, the end of a statement is marked by a newline character.
However, you can extend a statement over multiple lines using
parentheses (), brackets [], or braces {}.
Example of a single-line statement:
1. print("Hello, Python!")

Example of a multi-line statement:

1. my_list = [
2. 1, 2, 3,
3. 4, 5, 6
4. ]

Functions:
A function in Python is defined using the def keyword, followed by a
function name, a signature within parentheses (), and a colon :. The
function body is indented.
Example:
1. def greet(name):
2. print("Hello, " + name)
3. greet("Alice")

Code Structure
Import Statements:
At the beginning of a Python file, it's common to include import statements
to include external modules.
Example:
1. import math
2. print(math.sqrt(16))

Main Block:

In larger scripts, it's a good practice to have a main block to control

the execution of the program.
This is typically done using an if statement that checks if the script
is being run directly.
Example:
1. def main():
2. print("This is the main function.")

3.
4. if __name__ == "__main__":
5. main()

Classes:
Classes are used to create new object types in Python. They are defined
using the class keyword.
Example:
1. class MyFirstClass:
2. def method(self):
3. print("This is a method of MyFirstClass.")

Best Practices

Consistency: Follow the PEP 8 style guide for Python code to

ensure consistency.
Descriptive Names: Use descriptive names for variables and
functions to make your code self-explanatory.
Avoiding Complexity: Keep your code simple. Complex, nested
structures can make your code hard to follow.
 Basics of Python Programming

Variables and Data Types A variable in Python is a symbolic

name that is a reference or pointer to an object. Once an object
is assigned to a variable, you can refer to the object by that
name. In Python, variables do not need explicit declaration to
reserve memory space. The declaration happens automatically
when a value is assigned to a variable.
Creating Variables: Variables are created the moment you first assign a
value to them.
Example:
1. my_variable = 10
2. greeting = "Hello, Python!"

In this example, my_variable is an integer variable, and greeting is a string

variable.
Data Types
Python has various standard data types that are used to define the operations
possible on them and the storage method for each of them. The fundamental
types are numbers, strings, and booleans.
Strings:

Strings in Python are identified as a contiguous set of characters

represented in quotation marks.
Python allows for either pairs of single or double quotes.
Strings can be concatenated, and basic operations like slicing can be
performed.
Example:
1. first_name = "John"
2. last_name = "Doe"
 3. full_name = first_name + " " + last_name # Concatenation
4. print(full_name) # Outputs: John Doe

Numbers:

Python supports integers, floating point numbers, and complex

numbers.
An integer is a whole number, positive or negative, without
decimals.
Floats are floating-point numbers; they represent real numbers and
can include fractions.
Example:
1. my_integer = 50
2. my_float = 25.5
3. sum = my_integer + my_float
4. print(sum) # Outputs: 75.5

Booleans:

Boolean data type is either True or False.

In Python, boolean values are the two constant objects False and
True.
Booleans are used to perform logical operations, particularly in
conditional statements.
Example:
1. is_active = True
2. is_registered = False

3.
4. if is_active and not is_registered:
5. print("Active but not registered.")

Dynamic Typing
 Python is dynamically typed, which means you don't have to
declare the type of a variable when you create one.
This makes Python very flexible in assigning data types; it allows
you to assign a different type to a variable if required.
Example:
1. var = 5
2. print(var) # Outputs: 5

3.
4. var = "Now I'm a string"
5. print(var) # Outputs: Now I'm a string

Mutable and Immutable Data Types

In Python, some data types are mutable, while others are

immutable.
Mutable objects can change their value but keep their id().
Examples include list, dict, set.
Immutable objects cannot change their value and include int, float,
bool, string, tuple.
Basic Operators Operators in Python are special symbols that
carry out arithmetic or logical computation. The value that the
operator operates on is called the operand. In Python,
operators are categorized into several types: arithmetic,
comparison, and assignment operators.
Arithmetic Operators Arithmetic operators are used to perform
mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division.

1. Addition (+): Adds two operands.

Example: 5 + 3 gives 8.

2. Subtraction (-): Subtracts the right operand from the left operand.
Example: 5 - 3 gives 2.

3. Multiplication (*): Multiplies two operands.

Example: 5 * 3 gives 15.

4. Division (/): Divides the left operand by the right operand. The
result is a floating point number.
Example: 5 / 2 gives 2.5.

5. Modulus (%): Returns the remainder when the left operand is

divided by the right operand.
Example: 5 % 3 gives 2.

6. Floor Division (//): Divides and returns the integer value of the
quotient. It dumps the digits after the decimal.
Example: 5 // 2 gives 2.

7. Exponentiation (**): Performs exponential calculation on

operators.
Example: 5 ** 3 gives 125.
Comparison Operators Comparison operators are used to compare
values. They return either True or False according to the condition.

1. Equal (==): Checks if the values of two operands are equal.

Example: 5 == 3 gives False.

2. Not Equal (!=): Checks if the values of two operands are not
equal.
Example: 5 != 3 gives True.

3. Greater than (>): Checks if the left operand is greater than the
right operand.
Example: 5 > 3 gives True.
 4. Less than (<): Checks if the left operand is less than the right
operand.
Example: 5 < 3 gives False.

5. Greater than or equal to (>=): Checks if the left operand is

greater than or equal to the right operand.
Example: 5 >= 3 gives True.

6. Less than or equal to (<=): Checks if the left operand is less

than or equal to the right operand.
Example: 5 <= 3 gives False.
Assignment Operators Assignment operators are used to assign values
to variables. In Python, assignment operators are more than just the
basic = (equals sign).

1. Assign (=): Assigns the value from the right side of the operator
to the left side operand.
Example: x = 5 assigns the value 5 to x.

2. Add and Assign (+=): It adds the right operand to the left
operand and assigns the result to the left operand.
Example: x += 5 is equivalent to x = x + 5.

3. Subtract and Assign (-=): Subtracts the right operand from the
left operand and assigns the result to the left operand.
Example: x -= 5 is equivalent to x = x - 5.

4. Multiply and Assign (*=): Multiplies the right operand with the
left operand and assigns the result to the left operand.
Example: x *= 5 is equivalent to x = x * 5.

5. Divide and Assign (/=): Divides the left operand with the right
operand and assigns the result to the left operand.
Example: x /= 5 is equivalent to x = x / 5.

6. Modulus and Assign (%=): Takes modulus using two operands

and assigns the result to the left operand.
Example: x %= 5 is equivalent to x = x % 5.

7. Floor Division and Assign (//=): Performs floor division on

operators and assigns the value to the left operand.
Example: x //= 5 is equivalent to x = x // 5.

8. Exponent and Assign (**=): Performs exponential calculation

on operators and assigns the value to the left operand.
Example: x **= 5 is equivalent to x = x ** 5.
Input and Output Operations In Python programming, input and
output operations are fundamental for interacting with the user
through the console. These operations are crucial for obtaining data
from the user, displaying results, or even for debugging purposes.
Output Operations The most common way to display output in Python
is using the print() function. It sends data to the console, which can be a
string, number, or any other data type that can be converted into a
string.
The print() Function:

Syntax: print(object(s), sep=separator, end=end, file=file,

flush=flush)
The print() function prints the given object(s) to the console or to
the given file. The separator between the objects is specified by sep
and defaults to a space character. After all objects are printed, end
is printed (it defaults to a newline character \n).
Example:
1. print("Hello, Python!")
2. print("Hello", "Python", sep="-")
3. print("Hello Python", end="!\n")
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Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
 "Oh yes. Otherwise, they would not, to us, be worth so many
pence."

"Many of them are new within twelve months," urged Selina.

"Altogether, they cost more than five hundred pounds."

"To buy. But they are not worth much to pledge. The fashion of
these ornaments changes with every season: and that, for one
thing, diminishes their value."

"What could you lend me on them?"

"One hundred pounds."

"Absurd!" returned Mrs. Dalrymple, her cheeks flushing. "Why,

that one set of amethysts alone cost more. I could not let them go
for that. One hundred would be of no use to me."

"Madam, it is entirely at your option, and I assure you I do not

press it," he answered, with respectful courtesy. "We care little about
taking these things in; so many are brought to us now, that our
sales are glutted with them."

"You will not be called upon to sell these. I shall redeem them."

The jeweller did not answer. He could have told her that never an
article, from a service of gold plate to a pair of boy's boots, was
pledged to him yet, but it was quite sure to be redeemed—in
intention.

"Are you aware that a great many ladies, even of high degree,
now wear false jewellery?" he resumed.

"No, indeed," she returned. "Neither should I believe it."

"Nevertheless, it is so. And the chief reason is the one I have just
mentioned: that in the present day the rage for ornaments is so
great, and the fashion of them so continually changing, that to be in
the fashion, a lady must spend a fortune in ornaments alone. I give
you my word, madam, that in the fashionable world a great deal of
the jewellery now worn is false; though it may pass, there,
unsuspected. And this fact deteriorates from the value of real
stones, especially for the purpose of pledging."

He began, as he spoke, to put the articles into their cases again,

as if the negotiation were at an end.

"Can you lend me two hundred pounds upon them?" asked Mrs.
Dalrymple, after a blank pause.

He shook his head. "I can advance you what I have stated, if you
please; not a pound more. And I feel sure you will not be able to
obtain more on them anywhere, madam, take them where you will."

"But what am I to do?" returned she, betraying some excitement.

Very uselessly: but that room was no stranger to it. The jeweller was
firm, and Mrs. Dalrymple gathered up her ornaments, her first
feeling of despair lost in anger. She was leaving the room with her
parcel when it occurred to her to ask herself, in sober truth, WHAT
she was to do—how procure the remainder of the sum necessary to
appease Madame Damereau. She turned back, and finally left the
shop without her jewels, but with a hundred pounds in her pocket,
and her understanding considerably enlightened as to the relative
value of a jewel to buy and a jewel to pledge.

Now it happened that, if Mrs. Dalrymple had repented showing

her temper to Madame Damereau, that renowned artiste had equally
repented showing hers to Mrs. Dalrymple. She feared it might tell
against her with her customers, if it came to be known: for she
knew how popular Selina was; truth to say, she liked her herself.
Madame came to the determination of paying Mrs. Dalrymple a visit,
not exactly to apologize, but to soothe away certain words. And to
qualify the pressing for some money, which she meant to do
(whether she got it or not), she intended to announce that the
articles ordered for the wedding festivities would be supplied. "It's
only ninety pounds, more or less," thought madame, "and I suppose
I shall get the money some time."

She reached Mrs. Dalrymple's in the evening, soon after that lady
had departed on her secret expedition to the pawnbroker. Their
London lodgings were confined. The dining-room had Mr. Dalrymple
in it, so Madame Damereau was shown to the drawing-room, and
the maid went hunting about the house for her mistress.

Whilst she was on her useless search, Mr. Dalrymple entered the
drawing-room, expecting to find it tenanted by his wife. Instead of
that, some strange lady sat there, who rose at his entrance, made
him a swimming curtsy, the like of which he had never seen in a
ball-room, and threw off some rapid sentences in an unknown
tongue.

His perplexed look stopped her. "Ah," she said, changing her
language, "Monsieur, I fear, does not speak the French. I have the
honour, I believe, of addressing Mr. Dalreemp. I am covered with
contrition at intruding at this evening hour, but I know that Mrs.
Dalreemp is much out in the day; I thought I might perhaps get
speech of her as she was dressing for some soirée."

"Do you wish to see her? Have you seen her?" he asked.

"I wait now to see her," replied madame.

"Another of these milliner people, I suppose," thought Oscar to

himself, with not at all a polite word in connection with the
supposition. "Selina's mad to have the house beset with them; it's
like a swarm of flies. If she comes to town next year may I be shot!"

"Ann! tell your mistress she is wanted," he called out, opening the
door.
 "I can't find my mistress, sir," said the servant, coming downstairs.
"I thought she must be in her own room, but she is not. I am sure
she is not gone out, because she said she meant to have a quiet
evening at home tonight, and she did not dress."

"She is somewhere about," said Mr. Dalrymple. "Go and look for
her."

Madame Damereau had been coming to the rapid conclusion that

this was an opportunity she should do injustice to herself to omit
using. And as Mr. Dalrymple was about to leave her to herself, she
stopped him.

"Sir—pardon me—but now that I have the happiness to see you, I

may ask if you will not use your influence with Mrs. Dalreemp to
think of my account. She does promise so often, so often, and I get
nothing. I have my heavy payments to make, and sometimes I do
not know where to find the money: though, if you saw my books,
your hairs would bristle, sir, at the sums owing to me."

"You are——?"

"I am Madame Damereau. If Mrs. Dalreemp would but give me a

few hundred pounds off her bill, it would be something."

A few hundred pounds! Oscar Dalrymple wondered what she

meant. He looked at her for some moments before he spoke.

"What is the amount of my wife's debt to you, madame?"

"Ah, it is—— But I cannot tell it you quite exactly: there are recent
items. The last note that went in to her was four thousand three
hundred and twenty-two pounds."

He had an impassive face, rarely showing emotion. It had

probably not been moved to it half-a-dozen times in the course of
his life. But now his lips gradually drew into a straight thin line, and
a red spot shone in his cheek.

"WHAT did you say? Do you speak of the account?"

"It was four thousand three hundred and twenty-two pounds,"

equably answered madame, who was not familiar with his
countenance. "And there have been a few trifles since, and her last
order this week will come to ninety pounds. If you wish for it exactly,
sir," added madame, seizing at an idea of hope, "I will have it sent to
you when I go home. Mrs. Dalreemp has the details up to very
recently."

"Four thousand pounds!" repeated Mr. Dalrymple, sitting down, in

a sort of helpless manner. "When could she have contracted it?"

"Last season, sir, chiefly. A little in the winter she had sent down
to her, and she has had things this spring: not so many."

He did not say more, save a mutter which madame could not
catch. She understood it to be that he would speak to Mrs.
Dalrymple. The maid returned, protesting that her mistress was not
in the house and must have changed her mind and gone out; and
Madame Damereau, thinking she might have gone out for the
evening, and that it was of no use waiting, made her adieu to Mr.
Dalrymple, with the remarkable curtsy more than once repeated.

He was sitting there still, in the same position, when his wife
appeared. She had entered the house stealthily, as she had left it,
had taken off her things, and now came into the room ready for tea,
as if she had only been upstairs to wash her hands. Scarcely had she
reached the middle of the room, when he rose and laid his hand
heavily on her shoulder. His face, as she turned to him in alarm, with
its drawn aspect, its mingled pallor and hectic, was so changed that
she could hardly recognize it for his.

"Oscar, you terrify me!" she cried out.

 "What debts are these that you owe?" he asked, from between his
parted lips.

Was the dreaded moment come, then! A low moan escaped her.

"Four thousand and some hundred pounds to Damereau, the

milliner! How much more to others?"

"Oh, Oscar, if you look and speak like that, you will kill me."

"I ask how much more?" he repeated, passing by her words as the
idle wind. "Tell me the truth, or I shall feel tempted to thrust you
from my home, and advertise you."

She wished the carpet would open and let her in; she hid her face.
Oscar held her, and repeated the question: "How much?"

"Six thousand pounds—in all—about that. Not more, I think."

He released her then with a jerk. Selina began to cry like a school-
girl.

"Are you prepared to go out and work for your living, as I must
do?" he panted. "I have nothing to keep you on, and shall not have
for years. If they throw me into a debtor's prison tomorrow, I cannot
help it."

"Oh," shrieked silly Selina, "a prison! I'd go with you."

"I might have expected something of this when I married into

your branch of the family," returned Oscar, who, in good truth, was
nearly beside himself. "A mania follows it. Your uncle gambled his
means away, and then took his own life; your father hampered
himself with his brother's debts, and remained poor; your brother
followed in his uncle's wake; and now the mania is upon you!"
 "Oh, please, Oscar, please!" pleaded Selina, who had no more
depth of feeling than a magpie, while Oscar had plenty of it. "I'll
never, never go in debt again."

"You shall never have the chance," he answered. And, there and
then, Oscar Dalrymple, summoning his household, gave orders for
their removal to the Grange. Selina cried her eyes out at having to
quit the season and its attractions summarily.

Thus, as a wreathing cloud suddenly appears in the sky, and as

suddenly fades sway, had Mrs. Dalrymple, like a bright vision,
appeared to the admiring eyes of the London world, and vanished
from it.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE DIAMOND BRACELET.

But, as you have heard, there is something yet to relate of that

hot June day, or, rather, of its evening, when poor Selina Dalrymple
had applied for help, and unsuccessfully, to her sister Alice.

The great world of London was beginning to think of dinner. In a

well-furnished dressing-room, the windows being open for air, and
the blinds drawn down to exclude the sun, stood a tall, stately lady,
whose maid was giving the last touch to her rich attire. It was Lady
Sarah Hope.
 "What bracelets, my lady?" asked the maid, taking a small bunch
of keys from her pocket.

"Not any, now: it is so very hot. Alice," added Lady Sarah, turning
to Alice, who was leaning back on a sofa, "will you put all my
bracelets out for me against I come up? I will decide then."

"I put them out, Lady Sarah?" returned Alice. "Yes, certainly."

"If you will be so kind. Hughes, give the key to Miss Seaton." For
they did sometimes remember to address Alice by her adopted
name.

Lady Sarah left the room, and the maid, Hughes, began taking
one of the small keys off the ring. "I have leave to go out, miss," she
explained, "which is the reason why my lady has asked you to see to
her bracelets. My mother is not well, and wants to see me. This is
the key, ma'am."

As Alice took it, Lady Sarah reappeared at the door. "Alice, you
may as well bring the bracelet-box down to the back drawing-room,"
she said. "I shall not care to come up here after dinner: we shall be
late as it is."

"What's that about the bracelet-box?" inquired a pretty-looking

girl, who had come swiftly out of another apartment.

"Lady Sarah wishes me to bring her bracelets down to the

drawing-room, that she may choose which to put on. It was too hot
to wear them to dine in, she said."

"Are you not coming in to dinner, Alice?"

"No. I walked out, and it has tired me. I have had some tea
instead.".
 "I would not be you for all the world, Alice! To possess so little
capability of enjoying life."

"Yet, if you were as I am, weak in health and strength, your lot
would have been so soothed to you, Frances, that you would not
repine at or regret it."

"You mean I should be content," laughed Frances, upon whom the

defection of Mr. Gerard Hope earlier in the year did not appear to
have made much impression: though perhaps she did not know its
particulars. "Well, there is nothing like contentment, the sages tell
us. One of my detestable schoolroom copies used to be
'Contentment is happiness.'"

"I can hear the dinner being taken in," said Alice. "You will be late
in the drawing-room."

Lady Frances Chenevix turned away to fly down the stairs. Her
light, rounded form, her elastic step, all telling of health and
enjoyment, presented a marked contrast to that of Alice Dalrymple.
Alice's face was indeed strangely beautiful, almost too refined and
delicate for the wear and tear of common life, but her figure was
weak and stooping, and her gait feeble.

Colonel Hope, thin and spare, with sharp brown eyes and sharp
features, sat at the foot of his table. He was beginning to look so
shrunk and short, that his friends jokingly told him he must have
been smuggled into the army, unless he had since been growing
downwards, for surely so little a commander could never expect to
be obeyed. No stranger could have believed him at ease in his
circumstances, any more than they would have believed him a
colonel who had seen hard service in India, for his clothes were
frequently threadbare. A black ribbon supplied the place of a gold
chain as guard to his watch, and a blue, tin-looking thing of a
galvanized ring did duty for any other ring on his finger. Yet he was
rich; of fabulous riches, people said; but he was of a close
disposition, especially as regarded his personal outlay. In his home
and to his wife he was liberal. A good husband; and, putting his
crustiness and his crotchets aside, a good man. It was the loss of his
two boys that had so tried and changed him. His large property was
not entailed: it had been thought his nephew, Gerard Hope, would
inherit it, but Gerard had been turned from the house. Lady Sarah
remarked that it was too hot to dine; but the colonel, in respect to
heat, was a salamander.

Alice meanwhile lay on the sofa for half-an-hour; and then, taking
the bracelet-box in her hands, descended to the drawing-rooms. It
was intensely hot, she thought; a sultry, breathless heat; and she
threw open the back window. Which in truth made it hotter, for the
sun gleamed right athwart the leads which stretched themselves
beyond the windows over the outbuildings at the back of the row of
houses.

Alice sat down near this back window, and began to put out some
of the bracelets on the table before it. They were rare and rich: of
plain gold, of silver, of pearl, of precious stones. One of them was of
gold links, studded with diamonds; it was very valuable, and had
been the present of Colonel Hope to his wife on her recent birthday.
Another diamond bracelet was there, but it was not so beautiful or
so costly as this. When her task was done, Alice passed into the
front drawing-room, and put up one of its large windows. Still there
was no air in the room.

As she stood at it, a handsome young man, tall and agile, who
was walking on the opposite side of the street, caught her eye. He
nodded, hesitated, and then crossed the street as if to enter.

"It is Gerard!" muttered Alice, under her breath. "Can he be

coming here?" She walked away from the window hastily, and sat
down by the bedecked table in the other room.
 "Just as I supposed!" exclaimed Gerard Hope, entering, and
advancing to Alice with stealthy steps. "When I saw you at the
window, the thought struck me that you were alone here, and they
at dinner. Thomas happened to be airing himself at the door, so I
crossed over, found I was right, and came up. How are you, Alice?"

"Have you come to dinner?" inquired Alice, speaking at random,

and angry at her own agitation.

"I come to dinner!" repeated Gerard. "Why, you know they'd as

soon sit down with the renowned Mr. Ketch."

"Indeed I know nothing about it: we have been away in

Gloucestershire for months, as I dare say you are aware: I was
hoping that you and the colonel might have been reconciled. Why
did you come in, Gerard? Thomas may tell them."

"Thomas won't. I charged him not to. The idea of your never
coming up till June! Some whim of Lady Sarah's, I suppose. Two or
three times a-week for the last month have I been marching past
this house, wondering when it was going to show signs of life.
Frances is here still?"

"Oh yes. She remains here altogether."

"To make up for—— Alice, was it not a shame to turn me out?"

"I was extremely sorry for what happened, Mr. Hope, but I knew
nothing of the details. Lady Sarah said you had displeased herself
and the colonel, and after that she never mentioned your name."

"What a show of smart things you have here, Alice! Are you going
to set up a bazaar?"

"They are Lady Sarah's bracelets."

 "So they are, I see! This is a gem," added Gerard, taking up the
fine diamond bracelet already mentioned. "I don't remember this
one."

"It is new. The colonel has just given it to her."

"What did it cost?"

Alice laughed. "Do you think it likely I have heard? I question if

Lady Sarah has."

"It never cost a farthing less than two hundred guineas," mused
Gerard, turning the bracelet in various directions, that its rich
diamonds might give out their gleaming light. "I wish it was mine."

"What should you do with it?" laughed Alice.

"Spout it."

"I do not understand," returned Alice. She really did not.

"I beg your pardon, Alice. I was thinking of the colloquial lingo
familiarly applied to such transactions, instead of to whom I was
talking. I mean raise money upon it."

"Oh, Mr. Hope!"

"Alice, that's twice you have called me 'Mr. Hope.' I thought I had
been 'Gerard' to you for many a year."

"Time changes things; and you seem more like a stranger than
you used to," returned Alice, a flush rising to her sensitive face. "But
you spoke of raising money: I hope you are not in temporary
embarrassment."

"A jolly good thing for me if it turns out only temporary," he

rejoined. "Look at my position! Debts hanging over my head—for
you may be sure, Alice, all young men, with a limited allowance and
large expectations, contract debts—and thrust out of my uncle's
home with just the loose cash I had in my pocket, and my clothes
sent packing after me."

"Has the colonel stopped your allowance?"

Gerard Hope laid down the bracelet from whence he had taken it,
before he replied.

"He stopped it then; it's months ago, you know; and I have not
had a shilling since, except from my own resources. I first went upon
tick; then I disposed of my watch and chain and all my other little
matters of value: and now I am upon tick again."

Alice did not answer. The light tone vexed her.

"Perhaps you don't understand these free terms, Alice," he said,

looking fondly at her, "and I hope you may never have occasion to.
Frances would: she has lived in their atmosphere."

"Yes, I know what an embarrassed man the earl often is. But I am
grieved to hear about yourself. Is the colonel implacable? What was
the cause of the quarrel?"

"You know I was to be his heir. Even if more children had come to
him, he undertook to provide amply for me. Last autumn he
suddenly sent for me to tell me it was his pleasure and Lady Sarah's
that I should take up my abode with them. So I did take it up, glad
to get into such good quarters; and stopped here like an innocent,
unsuspicious lamb, until—when was it, Alice? March? Then the plot
came out."

"The plot," exclaimed Alice.

"It was nothing less. They had fixed upon a wife for me; and I
was ordered to hold myself in readiness to marry her at any given
moment."
 "Who was it?" inquired Alice, in a low tone, as she bent her head
over the bracelets.

"Never mind," laughed the young man; "it wasn't you. I said I
would not have her; and they both, he and Lady Sarah, pulled me
and my want of taste to pieces, assuring me I was a monster of
ingratitude. It provoked me into confessing that I liked some one
else better. And then the colonel turned me out."

Alice looked her sorrow, but she did not express it.

"Of course I saw the imprudence then of having thrown up my

place in the red-tape office; but it was done. And since then I have
been having a fight with my creditors, putting them off with fair
words and promises. But they have grown incredulous, and it has
come to dodging. In favour with my uncle, and his acknowledged
heir, they would have given me unlimited time and credit, but the
breach between us is known, and it makes all the difference. With
the value of that at my disposal"—nodding at the bracelet—"I should
stop a few pressing personal trifles and go on again for a while. So
you see, Alice, a diamond bracelet may be of use to a gentleman,
should some genial fortune drop one into his hands."

"I sympathize with you very much," said Alice, "and I would I had
it in my power to aid you."

"Thank you for your kind wishes; I know they are genuine. When
my uncle sees the name of Gerard Hope figuring in the insolvent list,
or amongst the outlaws, he—— Hark! Can they be coming up from
dinner?"

"Scarcely yet," said Alice, starting up simultaneously with himself,

and listening. "But they will not sit long today, because they are
going to the opera. Gerard, they must not find you here."

"It might get you turned out as well as myself! No, not if I can
help it. Alice!"—suddenly laying his hands upon her shoulders, and
gazing down into her eyes—"do you know who it was I had learnt to
love, instead of—of the other?"

She gasped for breath, and her colour went and came. "No—no;
do not tell me, Gerard."

"Why, no, I had better not, under present circumstances. But

when the good time comes—for all their high-roped indignation must
and will blow over—then I will; and here's the pledge of it." He bent
his head, took one long earnest kiss from her lips; and the next
moment was gone.

Agitated almost to sickness, trembling and confused, Alice stole to

look after him, terrified lest he might not escape unseen. She crept
partly down the stairs, so as to obtain sight of the hall-door, and
make sure that he got out in safety. As Gerard drew it quietly open,
there stood a lady just about to knock. It was Selina, waiting to
exchange a few words with Gerard. He waved his hand towards the
staircase. Alice met her, and took her into the front drawing-room.

"I cannot stay to sit down, Alice: I must hasten back to dress, for
I am engaged to three or four places tonight. Neither do I wish to
horrify Lady Sarah with a visit at this untoward hour. I had a request
to make to you, and thought to catch you in your room before you
went in to dinner."

"They are alone, and are dining earlier than usual. I was too tired
to appear. What can I do for you, Selina?"

Mrs. Oscar Dalrymple had come (as you have already heard) to try
that one hopeless task—the borrowing money of her sister.

"I am in pressing need of it, Alice," she said. "Can you lend it
me?"

"I wish I could," returned Alice; "I am so very sorry. I sent all I
had to poor mamma the day before we came to town. It was only
twenty-five pounds."

"That would have been of no use to me: I want more. I thought if

you had been misering up your salary, you might have had a
hundred pounds, or so, by you."

Alice shook her head. "I should be a long while saving up a

hundred pounds, even if dear mamma had no wants. But I send to
her what I can spare. Is it for—dresses, and that?"

"Yes," was Selina's laconic answer.

"I wish I had it to give you! Do not be in such a hurry," continued

Alice, as her sister was moving to the door. "At least wait one minute
while I fetch you a letter I received from mamma this morning, in
answer to mine. You will like to read it, for it is full of news of the
old place. You can take it home with you, Selina."

Alice left her sister standing in the front-room, and went upstairs.
But she was more than one minute away; she was three or four, for
she could not at first lay her hand upon the letter. When she
returned, her sister advanced to her from the back drawing-room,
the folding-doors between the two rooms being, as before, wide
open.

"What a fine collection of bracelets, Alice!" she exclaimed, as she

took the letter. "Are they spread out for show?"

"No," laughed Alice; "Lady Sarah is going to the opera, and will
have no time to spare when she comes up from dinner. She asked
me to bring them all down, as she had not decided which to wear."

"I like to dress entirely before dinner on my opera nights."

"Oh, so of course does Lady Sarah," returned Alice, as her sister

descended the stairs; "but she said it was too hot to dine in
bracelets."
 "It is fearfully hot. Good-bye, Alice. Don't ring: I will let myself
out."

Alice returned to the front-room and looked from the window,

wondering whether her sister had come in her carriage. No. A trifling
evening breeze was rising and beginning to move the curtains about.
Gentle as it was, it was grateful, and Alice sat down in it. In a very
few minutes the ladies came up from dinner.

"Have you the bracelets, Alice. Oh, I see."

Lady Sarah went into the back-room as she spoke, and stood
before the table, looking at the bracelets. Alice rose to follow her,
when Lady Frances Chenevix caught her by the arm, and began to
speak in a covert whisper.

"Who was that at the door just now? It was a visitor's knock. Do
you know, Alice, every hour, since we came to town, I have fancied
Gerard might be calling. In the country he could not get to us, but
here—— Was it Gerard?"

"It—it was my sister," carelessly answered Alice. It was not a true

answer, for her sister had not knocked, and she did not know who
had. But it was the readiest that rose to her lips, and she wished to
escape the questioning, for more reasons than one.

"Only your sister," replied Frances, turning to the window with a

gesture of disappointment.

"Which have you put on?" inquired Alice, going towards Lady
Sarah.

"Those loose, fancy things; they are the coolest. I really am so

hot: the soup was that favourite soup of the colonel's, all capsicums
and cayenne, and the wine was hot; there had been a mistake about
the ice. Gill trusted to the new man, and he did not understand it. It
was all hot together. What the house will be tonight, I dread to think
of."

Lady Sarah, whilst she spoke, had been putting the bracelets into
the jewel-box, with very little care.

"I had better put them straight," remarked Alice, when she
reached the table.

"Do not trouble," returned Lady Sarah, shutting down the lid. "You
are looking flushed and feverish, Alice; you were wrong to walk so
far today. Hughes will set them to rights tomorrow morning; they
will do until then. Lock them up, and take possession of the key."

Alice did as she was bid. She locked the case and put the key in
her pocket. "Here is the carriage," exclaimed Lady Frances. "Are we
to wait for coffee?"

"Coffee in this heat!" retorted Lady Sarah; "it would be adding fuel
to fire. We will have some tea when we return. Alice, you must make
tea for the colonel; he will not come out without it. He thinks this
weather just what it ought to be: rather cold, if anything."

Alice had taken the bracelet-box in her hands as Lady Sarah

spoke; when they had departed, she carried it upstairs to its place in
Lady Sarah's bedroom. The colonel speedily rose from table, for his
wife had laid her commands on him to join them early. Alice helped
him to his tea, and as soon as he was gone she went upstairs to
bed.

To bed, but not to sleep. Tired as she was, and exhausted in

frame, sleep would not come to her. She was living over again her
interview with Gerard Hope. She could not, in her conscious heart,
affect to misunderstand his implied meaning—that she had been the
cause of his rejecting the union proposed to him. It diffused a
strange rapture within her; and, though she had not perhaps been
wholly blind and unconscious during the period of Gerard's stay with
them, and for some time before that, she now kept repeating the
words, "Can it be that he loves me? can it be?"

It certainly was so. Love plays strange pranks. There was Gerard
Hope—heir to the colonel's fabulous wealth, consciously proud of his
handsome person, his height and strength—called home and planted
down by the side of a pretty and noble lady on purpose that he
might fall in love with her: the Lady Frances Chenevix. And yet, the
well-laid project failed: failed because there happened to be another
at that young lady's side: a sad, quiet, feeble-framed girl, whose
very weakness may have seemed to others to place her beyond the
pale of man's love. But love thrives by contrasts; and it was the
feeble girl who won the love of the strong man.

Yes; the knowledge diffused a strange rapture within her, Alice

Dalrymple, as she lay that night; and she may be excused if, for a
brief period, she allowed range to the sweet fantasies it conjured up.
For a brief period only. Too soon the depressing consciousness
returned to her, that these thoughts of earthly happiness must be
subdued: for she, with her confirmed ailments and conspicuous
weakness, must never hope to marry, as did other women. She had
long known—her mother had prepared her for it—that one so
afflicted and frail as she, whose tenure of existence was likely to be
short, ought not to become a wife; and it had been her earnest hope
to pass through life unloving, in that one sense, and unloved. She
had striven to arm herself against the danger, against being thrown
into the perils of temptation. Alas! it had come insidiously upon her;
all her care had been set at naught; and she knew that she loved
Gerard Hope with a deep and fervent love. "It is but another cross,"
she sighed, "another burden to surmount and subdue, and I will set
myself from this night to the task. I have been a coward, shrinking
from self-examination; but now that Gerard has spoken out, I can
deceive myself no longer. I wish he had spoken more freely, that I
might have told him it was useless."
 It was only towards morning that Alice dropped asleep: the
consequence was that long after her usual hour for rising she was
still sleeping. The opening of her door awoke her. It was Lady
Sarah's maid who stood there.

"Why, miss; are you not up? Well, I never! I wanted the key of the
small jewel-box; but I'd have waited, had I known."

"What do you say you want?" returned Alice, whose ideas were
confused; as is often the case on being suddenly awakened.

"The key of the bracelet-box, if you please."

"The key?" repeated Alice. "Oh, I remember," she added,

recollection returning to her. "Be at the trouble, will you, Hughes, of
taking it out of my pocket: it is on that chair, under my clothes."

The servant came to the pocket, and speedily found the key. "Are
you worse than usual, Miss Seaton, this morning," asked she, "or
have you overslept yourself?"

"I have overslept myself. Is it late?"

"Between nine and ten. My lady is up, and at breakfast with the
Colonel and Lady Frances."

Alice rose the instant the maid left the room, and made haste to
dress, vexed with herself for sleeping so long. She was nearly ready
when Hughes came in again.

"If ever I saw such confusion as that jewel-case was in!" cried
she, in as pert and grumbling a tone as she dared to use. "The
bracelets were thrown together without law or order—just as if they
had been so much glass and tinsel from the Lowther Arcade."

"It was Lady Sarah," replied Alice. "I would have put them
straight, but she told me to leave it for you. I thought she might
prefer that you should do it."

"Of course her ladyship is aware there's nobody but myself knows
their right places in it," returned Hughes, consequentially. "I could
go to that or to the other jewel-box in the dark, ma'am, and take out
any one thing my lady wanted, without disturbing the rest."

"I have observed that you have the gift of order," remarked Alice,
with a smile. "It is very useful to those who possess it, and saves
them much trouble and confusion."

"So it do, ma'am," said Hughes. "But I came to ask you for the
diamond bracelet."

"The diamond bracelet!" echoed Alice. "What diamond bracelet!

What do you mean, Hughes?"

"It is not in the box."

"The diamond bracelets are both in the box," rejoined Alice.

"The old one is there; not the new one. I thought you might have
taken it out to show some one, or to look at yourself, ma'am, for it's
just a sight for pleasant eyes."

"I can assure you it is in the case," said Alice. "All are there,
except the pair Lady Sarah had on. You must have overlooked it."

"I am a great donkey if I have," grumbled the girl. "It must be at

the very bottom, amongst the cotton," she soliloquized, as she
returned to Lady Sarah's apartments, "and I have just got to take
every individual article out, to get to it. This comes of giving up
one's keys to other folks."

Alice entered the breakfast-room, begging pardon for her late

appearance. It was readily accorded. Her office in the house was
nearly a sinecure. When she had first entered upon it Lady Sarah
was ill, and required some one to sit with and read to her: now that
she was well again, Alice had little to do.

Breakfast was scarcely over when Alice was called from the room.
Hughes stood outside the door.

"Miss Seaton," said she, with a long face, "the diamond bracelet is
not in the box. I thought I could not be mistaken."

"But it must be in the box," said Alice.

"But it is not," persisted Hughes, emphasizing the negative. "Can't

you believe me, ma'am? I want to know where it is, that I may put it
up and lock the box."

Alice Seaton looked at Hughes with a puzzled, dreamy look. She

was thinking matters over. Her face soon cleared again.

"Then Lady Sarah must have kept it out when she put in the rest.
It was she who returned them to the case; I did not. Perhaps she
wore it last night."

"No, miss, that she didn't. She wore only those two——"

"I saw what she had on," interrupted Alice. "But she might also
have put on the other, without my noticing. Or she may have kept it
out for some other purpose. I will ask her. Wait here an instant,
Hughes; for of course you will like to be at a certainty."

"That's cool," thought Hughes, as Alice went into the breakfast-

room, and the colonel came out of it, with his Times. "I should have
said it was somebody else would like to be at a certainty, instead of
me," continued the girl, indulging in soliloquy. "Thank goodness the
box wasn't in my charge last night, if anything dreadful has come to
pass. My lady don't keep out her bracelets for sport. Miss Seaton has
left the key about, that's what she has done, and it's hard to say
who hasn't been at it: I knew the box had been ransacked over."
 "Lady Sarah," said Alice, "did you wear your new diamond bracelet
last night?"

"No."

"Then did you put it into the box with the others?"

"No," repeated Lady Sarah, who was languidly toying with a

basket of ferns.

"After you had chosen the bracelets you wished to wear, you put
the others into the box yourself," explained Alice, thinking she was
not understood. "Did you put in the new one, the diamond, or keep
it out?"

"The new one was not there."

Alice stood confounded. "It was lying on the table, at the back of
all the rest, Lady Sarah," she presently said. "Next the window."

"I tell you, Alice, it was not there. I don't know that I should have
worn it if it had been, but I certainly looked for it. Not seeing it, I
supposed you had not put it out; and I did not care sufficiently to
ask for it."

Alice felt in a mesh of perplexity; curious thoughts, and very

unpleasing ones, were beginning to dawn upon her. "But indeed the
bracelet was there when you went to the table," she urged. "I put it
there."

"I can assure you that you labour under a mistake, as to its being
there when I came up from dinner," answered Lady Sarah. "Why do
you ask?"

"Hughes has come to say it is not in the case. She is outside,

waiting."
 "Outside, now? Let her come in. What's this about my bracelet,
Hughes?"

"I don't know, my lady. The bracelet is not in its place, so I asked
Miss Seaton for it. She thought your ladyship might have kept it out
yesterday evening."

"I neither touched it nor saw it," said Lady Sarah.

"Then we have had thieves at work," spoke Hughes, decisively;

who had been making up her mind to that as a fact.

"It must be in the box, Hughes," said Alice. "I laid it out on the
table in the back drawing-room; and it is impossible that thieves—as
you phrase it—could have come there."

"Oh yes, it is in the box, no doubt," said Lady Sarah, somewhat

crossly, for she disliked to be troubled, especially in hot weather.
"You have not searched properly, Hughes."

"My lady," answered Hughes, "I can trust my hands and I can
trust my eyes, and they have all four been into every hole and
crevice of the box."

Lady Frances Chenevix laid down the Morning Post, and advanced.
"Is the bracelet really lost?"

"It cannot be lost," returned Lady Sarah. "You are sure you put it
out, Alice?"

"I am quite sure of that. It was lying first in the case, and——"

"Yes, it was," interrupted Hughes. "That is its place."

"And was consequently the first that I took out," continued Alice.
"I put it on the table; and the others in a semicircle, nearer to me.
Why, as a proof that it lay there——"
 What was Alice going to add? Was she going to adduce as a proof
that Gerard Hope had taken it up and made it a subject of
conversation? Recollection came to her in time; she faltered and
abruptly broke off. But a faint, horrible dread, to which she would
not give a shape, came stealing over her; her face turned white, and
she sank on a chair, trembling visibly.

"Now look at Alice!" uttered Frances Chenevix. "She is going into

one of her agitation fits."

"Do not agitate yourself, Alice," cried Lady Sarah; "that will do no
good. Besides, I feel sure the bracelet is all safe in the case: where
else can it be? Fetch the case, Hughes, and I will look for it myself."

Hughes whirled out of the room, inwardly resenting the doubt cast
on her eyesight.

"It is so strange," mused Alice, "that you did not see the bracelet
when you came up from dinner."

"It was certainly not there to see," returned Lady Sarah. "Perhaps
you'll now look for yourself, my lady," cried Hughes, returning with
the jewel-box in her hands.

The box was well searched. The bracelet was not there.

"This is very strange, Hughes," exclaimed Lady Sarah.

"It's very ugly also, my lady," answered Hughes, in a lofty tone,

"and I'm thankful to the presiding genuses which rules such things,
that I was not in charge when it happened. Though maybe, if I had
been, it never would have took place, for I can give a guess how it
was."

"Then you had better give it," said her mistress, curtly.

"If I do," returned Hughes, "I may offend Miss Seaton."

 "No, you will not, Hughes," said Alice. "Say what you please: I
have need to wish this cleared up."

"Well, ma'am, if I may speak my thoughts, I think you must have

left the key about. And we have strange servants in the house, as
my lady knows. There's a kitchen-maid that only entered it when we
came up; and there's the new under-butler."

"Hughes, you are wrong," interrupted Alice. "The servants could

not have touched the box, for the key was never out of my
possession, and you know the lock is a Bramah. I locked the box last
night in her ladyship's presence, and the key was not out of my
pocket afterwards, until you took it from there this morning."

"The key seems to have had nothing to do with it," interposed

Frances. "Alice says she put the diamond bracelet on the table with
the rest; Lady Sarah says when she went to the table after dinner
the bracelet was not there. Were you in the room all the while,
Alice?"

"Not quite. Very nearly. But no one could possibly have gone in
without my seeing them. The folding-doors were open."

"It is quite a mystery," cried Lady Sarah.

"It beats conjuring, my lady," said Hughes. "Did any visitor come
upstairs, I wonder?"

"I did hear a visitor's knock while we were at dinner," said Lady
Sarah. "Don't you remember, Fanny You looked up as if you noticed
it."

"Did I?" answered Lady Frances, in a careless tone.

At that moment Thomas happened to enter with a letter; and his

mistress put the question to him: Who had knocked?
 "Sir George Danvers, my lady," was the ready answer. "When I
said the colonel was at dinner, Sir George began to apologize for
calling; but I explained that you were dining earlier than usual,
because of the opera."

"No one else called?"

"Nobody knocked but Sir George, my lady."

"A covert answer," thought Alice. "But I am glad he is true to

Gerard."

"What an untruth!" thought Lady Frances, as she remembered

hearing of the visit of Alice's sister: "Thomas's memory must be
short." In point of fact, Thomas knew nothing of it.

All the talk—and it was much prolonged—did not tend to throw

any light upon the matter; and Alice, unhappy and ill, retired to her
own room. The agitation had brought on a nervous and violent
headache; she sat down in a low chair, and bent her forehead on her
hands. One belief alone possessed her: that the unfortunate Gerard
Hope had stolen the bracelet. Do as she would, she could not put it
out of her mind: she kept repeating that he was a gentleman, that
he was honourable, that he would never place her in so painful a
position. Common sense replied that the temptation was suddenly
laid before him, and he had confessed his pecuniary difficulties to be
great; nay, had he not wished for this very bracelet, that he might
make money——

A knock at the chamber-door. Alice lifted her sickly countenance,

and bade the intruder enter. It was Lady Frances Chenevix.

"I came to—— Alice, how wretched you look! You will torment
yourself into a fever."

"Can you wonder at my looking wretched?" returned Alice. "Place

yourself in my position, Frances: it must appear to Lady Sarah as if I
—I—had made away with the bracelet. I am sure Hughes thinks so."

"Don't you say unorthodox things, Alice. They would rather think
that I had done it, of the two, for I have more use for diamond
bracelets than you."

"It is kind of you to try to cheer me," sighed Alice.

"Just the thing I came to do. And to have a bit of chat with you as
well. If you will let me."

"Of course I will let you."

"I wish to tell you I will not mention that your sister was here last
evening. I promise you I will not."

Alice did not immediately reply. The words and their hushed tone
caused a new trouble, a fresh thought, to arise within her, one which
she had not glanced at. Was it possible that Frances could imagine
her sister to be the——

"Lady Frances Chenevix!" burst forth Alice. "You cannot think it!
She! my sister!—guilty of a despicable theft! Have you forgotten that
she moves in your own position in the world? that our family is
scarcely inferior to yours?"

"Alice, I forgive you for so misjudging me, because you are not
yourself just now. Of course, your sister cannot be suspected; I
know that. But as you did not mention her when they were
questioning Thomas, nor did he, I supposed you had some reason
for not wishing her visit spoken of."

"Believe me, Selina is not the guilty person," returned Alice. "I
have more cause to say so than you think for."

"What do you mean by that?" briskly cried Lady Frances. "You

surely have no clue?"
 Alice shook her head, and her companion's eagerness was lulled
again. "It is well that Thomas was forgetful," remarked Frances.
"Was it forgetfulness, Alice; or did you contrive to telegraph to him
to be silent?"

"Thomas only spoke truth, as regards Selina: he did not let her in.
She came but for a minute, to ask me about a private matter, and
said there was no need to tell Lady Sarah she had been."

"Then it is all quite easy; and you and I can keep our own
counsel."

Quite easy, possibly, to the mind of Frances Chenevix. But

anything but easy to Alice Dalrymple: for the words of Lady Frances
had introduced an idea more repulsive, more terrifying even, than
that of suspecting Gerard Hope. Her sister acknowledged that she
was in need of money, "a hundred pounds, or so;" nay, Alice had
only too good cause to know that previously; and she had seen her
come from the back room where the jewels lay. Still—she take a
bracelet! Selina! It was preposterous.

Preposterous or not, Alice's torment was doubled. Which of the

two had been the black sheep? One of them it must have been.
Instinct, sisterly relationship, reason, and common sense, all
combined to turn the scale against Gerard. But that there should be
a doubt at all was not pleasant, and Alice started up impulsively and
put her bonnet on.

"Where now!" cried Lady Frances.

"I will go to Selina's and ask her—and ask her—if—she saw any
stranger here—any suspicious person in the hall or on the stairs,"
stammered Alice, making the best excuse she could make.

"But you know you were in or about the drawing-rooms all the
time, and no one came into them, suspicious or unsuspicious; so,
how will that aid you?"
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