will stop his mouth, if anything will. Miss Martin, ma'am-Miss Armadale-I beg pardon, just let me arrange that ribbon: you have got it on the wrong side outwards, and if you please ma'am, the cameo brooch will look best:-oh now, ma'am, you have tumbled your hair-do allow me-" "Heighho!" sighed Miss Martin, looking gloomily at her young lady, "how long is all this mummery to last?"

"It must last a little longer, Martin dear, no one could play a part better than you do: so now we will go down to breakfast, and be sure you lose no opportunity of giving me the cold shoulder." "You may be quite easy on that score, my dear," said Miss Martin, drily, it is the only part of the business I really enjoy."

CHAPTER III.

"Though round its base the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head."

GOLDSMITH.

HE dining-room looked considerably more comfortable under the influence of a good fire, and a luxurious breakfast, than when

Margaret had visited it in the early morning. Miss Martin having been welcomed with acclamations, and placed in the best seat, everybody seemed anxious to find something to offer her; even Mr. Ferdinand condescended to bring her ham and chicken from the side-board, and then seated himself by her side to enchant her with his conversation. Alfred politely placed a chair for Margaret, and then quite unconsciously sat down in it himself; for which Jack laughed at him without mercy, and Nelson immediately gave the young lady his. Mrs. Crawford saw this, and whether she thought Margaret's nerves required gentle treatment, we do not know, but certainly the cup of tea she sent her was of the gentlest possible description: and Miss Martin, as it passed her, could not refrain from a smile. "That seems very

bad tea, Miss Esther," said Alfred, suddenly stooping his head close to her cup.

"So it does," added Nelson, "it looks quite consumptive, it will give you some horrible complaint: don't drink it;-I'll make you a cup of coffee on genuine Paris principles,"-and having dexterously removed Margaret's cup, he soon brought her a draught that fully warranted his boast. She received it gratefully, and gave it all the praise it deserved. "Yes, yes," said he, laughing, "I know it is good: they know better here than to send me up bad coffee. I am convinced, Miss Esther, let Alfred say what he will, coffee is the original nectar of the gods: Helicon is nothing in the world but weak tea, like my mother's, which accounts for the milk and water so often found in poetry."

"Don't listen to him, Miss Esther," said Alfred, he is a very Vandal in such matters: he never could learn his Lempriere at school, and cried for a whole afternoon over 'Gray's Last Bard.'"

"And who wouldn't have done so in my place?" cried Nelson, "I shudder now at the thoughts of it. I was set to learn it by heart when I wanted to be at cricket and being tolerably guiltless of all superfluous ⚫ knowledge of English history, it appeared to me the most formidable hieroglyphic ever mortal eye looked upon-let alone a poor school-boy."

“And did you ever succeed in learning it? asked Margaret, smiling. "Succeed! no-Ruin seized me,'

in the shape of a ruthless tutor, and 'confusion has waited' on all my young ideas ever since. He chastised and explained by turns, but all in vain-to this day I do not understand it, and never shall."

Meanwhile Mrs. Crawford was laying plans for the day's amusement, and settled that she would take Miss Armadale in the coach to see some of the "lions" of the neighbourhood, to which Miss Martin, with an inward shiver, was forced to give a smiling assent. "You will like to go, girls, I suppose," said their mother," and what are you gentlemen going to do?" "What is our young friend here going to do?" asked Mr. Crawford, nodding at Margaret.

"Oh! I dare say she will be able to amuse herself for an hour or so," said Mrs. C., with a condescending smile. "I am sorry, my dear, I have not a seat in the carriage for you, but I am sure the children will take care of you, and if you like a walk, they will be too glad of your company." Margaret bowed with proper humility, and so it was settled, and so done, for Rose, and Rory, and nurse Wilton, were delighted with this arrangement.

As soon as the carriage drove off, they set out; but had not gone far, before Rory looking back, exclaimed, "Here come Alfred and Nelson, they are going with us, oh how nice!"

"Yes, here we are," said Nelson, "and here we are likely to be, if Miss Esther and Madam Wilton will allow us."

"Now, Mr. Nelson," said nurse Wilton, persuasively, "please don't lead Rory into mischief, recollect the last time you went out with us.”

"You forget, nurse, it was not my fault then, it was Alfred's: I sent them home together, as straight as they could go, and by some miraculous ingenuity they contrived to lose their way!"

Alfred, who was striding rapidly along, with his coat buttoned up to his throat, and his hat pulled over his brows, as if to defy the world, shook his head at this, and observed, "that would not happen to him again in a hurry." It was a fine morning, but bitterly cold and there were threatening clouds, and a tremendous wind, promising snow. Nelson led the way, down lanes, across fields, "up hill and down dale," running races with Rory, and making Rose jump ditches, to the terror of nurse Wilton; laughing and talking without ceasing, and at every interval exchanging a war of wits with Miss Armadale, in which he very often got the worst. Under this cheering influence, Alfred expanded perceptibly: forgot his timidity, and remembered his politeness: had an arm ready for Margaret wherever the road was bad, and performed some eccentric attempts at agility, that perfectly electrified the children. Margaret's spirits rose with every step; and she felt quite sorry when nurse Wilton declared they must go home. 'Stop a bit," said Nelson, as they came to a garden gate, with which he seemed very familiar, "we'll just show this lady the

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