A TERRIBLE RESOLVE.

When the hawthorns were blooming in the woods of Raynham, a new life
dawned in the stately chambers of the castle.

A daughter was born to the beautiful widow-lady--a sweet consoler in
the hour of her loneliness and desolation. Honoria Eversleigh lifted
her heart to heaven, and rendered thanks for the priceless treasure
which had been bestowed upon her. She had kept her word. From the hour
of her husband's death she had never quitted Raynham Castle. She had
lived alone, unvisited, unknown; content to dwell in stately solitude,
rarely extending her walks and drives beyond the boundary of the park
and forest.

Some few of the county gentry would have visited her; but she would not
consent to be visited by a few. Honoria Eversleigh's was a proud
spirit; and until the whole county should acknowledge her innocence,
she would receive no one.

"Let them think of me or talk of me as they please," she said; "I can
live my own life without them."

Thus the long winter months passed by, and Honoria was alone in that
abode whose splendour must have seemed cold and dreary to the
friendless woman.

But when she held her infant in her arms all was changed She looked
down upon the baby-girl, and murmured softly--