tional servants, and we engaged a nice girl at Fishport, who was willing to be our underhousemaid.

Miss Linnet took quite a tender leave of us; and though her sister said little, a tear twinkled in her eye, when Marian, who had taken a great fancy for her, begged her to accept a small prettily-bound copy of "Mason on SelfKnowledge."

"It is not my custom," said Miss Linnet, "to attach myself strongly to my lodgers, knowing that even where they are worthy objects of attachment, which is not always the case, such sentiments, at the mercy of continual separations, only lacerate the heart; but this I will say, that never before did I feel my heart drawn towards any ladies as it has been towards the Misses Middlemass; and I only hope, ladies, the feeling has been reciprocal !"

CHAPTER IX.

Stern daughter of the voice of God,
Oh Duty! if that name thou love,
Who art a light to guide, a rod

To check the erring, and reprove;

Thou who art victory and law

When empty terrors overawe,

From vain temptations dost set free,

I

And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity.

WORDSWORTH: Ode to Duty.

CAN understand how a dog feels having

his collar put on, after coming home from a walk. We had had such a pleasant holiday! I shall always look back on it with pleasure-it was such a complete rest!, and Marian and I enjoyed our long, leisurely talks together so much, and it was so delightful to see her so improved in health and spirits, and looking so lovely!

And yet there was pleasure in returning to the old house, too; and in receiving Jacintha when she returned, only two days before the school reopened, glowing with beauty and animation.

Jacintha was a very handsome womanRubens and Titian would have delighted in such a study: her form and features were perhaps on rather too large a scale, but their proportions were perfect; and when she was happy, there was a brightness about her that might, I think, be called fascinating.

She was almost too well dressed for travelling; but she said joyously, "I wanted to make a pleasant impression on you when I returned;" and the kind motive was rewarded. with complete success. Then throughout the remainder of the evening we talked as only sisters can talk. Jacintha at first told us one thing and another rather disjointedly; but

Marian exclaimed, "Oh, begin at the beginning, please!" and, laughing, she complied.

Hospitality seemed the marked feature in Mrs. John Middlemass's family. They were not refined, but they were sociable; at any rate the wedding festivities had shown or made them so. There seemed no end to the contrivances they had made to accommodate friends from a distance; no end to the number and abundance of the meals; no end to the succession of entertainments at their own and their neighbours' houses. Jacintha supposed one might have enough and too much of it for a continuance; but, for a little time, it was very pleasant, very delightful: it made such a thorough change. John had been very kind, and Laura quite sisterly. Oh, she was a nice creature, though she might not suit me and Marian as well as she suited her. Well, she could not say why, but we might think

her too gay; but not at all to excess: she was going to keep house very judiciously, and not to exceed their means on any account.

Then, the house-what was it like? Oh, a very nice house-small, but compact, and fitted up in very good taste. They were going to keep very little company, and live very quietly—at least, so John said.

Mr. Mortlake-his name slipped in so quietly!and Marian and I were so careful not to look at one another! Had we exchanged a glance, we should have heard nothing; but our prudence was rewarded by hearing a good deal, one way or the other: and the result was, a conviction in our minds that he was an admirer-perhaps a serious admirer of Jacintha's.

Usually she did not mind being rallied on such a topic; but there was a little flutter and hesitation about her first mention of him, that