this false diffidence, and mistaken infallibility, by common sense and humility. The former will convince us that we can discern truth, and the latter teach us we are ever liable to error. If we do our duty, we shall immediately examine all those opinions for which we know we have never sought evidence; and, having obtained it, we shall hold, defend, and promulgate them. If new light is offered, we shall never refuse to give it attention; and, with regard to all subjects we have not yet duly considered, we shall preserve an impartial readiness to admit the truth."

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE COTTAGE IN THE GLEN.-SELFISHNESS OF PRIDE.

THE young people determined, the next day, as the atmosphere was particularly clear, to ride to the Craigs, a mountain pass in the neighbourhood where there was a magnificent prospect. They returned, however, so early, that Mr. D'Arcy concluded they had met with some obstacle to their design. Eliza told him, they had not proceeded far when they met a great many country people going to a wake, and not wishing to omit so good an opportunity of distributing some very suitable tracts on these injurious revels, Frederick was despatched to bring them. They gave up their former plan; and, riding through the various by-roads leading from the adjacent village to the wake, distributed many hundreds; which were read, they had the pleasure to see, by several, with great attention.

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"How fortunate it was," said Sophia, " that the parcel arrived yesterday; for, I believe, there were none left before."

"That was my fault,” replied Frederick, “as papa committed to me the benevolent corner of the library, and charged me to see it was always supplied with a suitable stock; but, like a negligent tradesman, I did not

pay proper attention to it, and was too late in giving orders for more."

When, Frederick, will any of us be as attentive to the claims of God and our neighbour, as the truly diligent tradesman is to his interests?"

"If any one is, papa, you are; for that part of your library which you devote to lending and giving away, is as well or better furnished than any other part."

"Oh, papa," said Sophia, " I am so glad we did not go to the Craigs! for after we had distributed the tracts, (and we persuaded two poor young women to go home again, instead of proceeding to the wake, which was very delightful,) we thought we could find out some new cottages, where we might call in our rides. After going through many narrow lanes, embowered with wood-bines and wild roses, we found ourselves at the opening of one of the most secluded little glens you can conceive. Its bosom was a narrow strip of meadows, watered by a clear serpentine brook, shut in on either side by almost perpendicular hills, their sides clothed with shrubby wood. The valley was closed at the end by a conical hill, crowned with a pile of rocks so much resembling fortifications that one might have fancied it the remains of some giant's fortress. Near the foot of this hill were two cottages, one of them far superior to the other, and adorned with so much taste that we were sure it must be occupied by cultivated people. There was a narrow road on the side of the brook, leading to it, just wide enough to admit of our riding singly. We thought we would call at the poor

cottage, which was a little distant from the other, and there learn something of their neighbours; but the people were not at home. While we remained at the door, we saw coming to us, from the beautiful cottage, such an interesting young lady, papa! Frederick says she has not regularly fine features, but I am sure she is lovely, for I loved her at first sight, because I saw, at a glance, she was good and amiable.”

"A better reason, Sophia," replied Mr. D., most people can assign for love at first sight.'”

"than

"I scarcely know any thing of her features," continued Sophia, only that he has soft dark eyes, and that, when she spoke to us, she blushed more deeply than even Eliza does, though she looks two or three years older. She told us the poor people were gone out, and requested us to do her mother and herself the favour to walk in and rest in their cottage. We gladly accepted the invitation; and, following her through the narrow garden-paths, in which we trod upon flowers at every step, were introduced into a very small but neat parlour, where we found her mother in deep widow's mourning, her countenance quite worn with sorrow. We gave her our cards, and she looked pleasingly surprised, and said it was a very great pleasure to see the daughters of a gentleman of whom she had heard so much. She said you would perhaps know her late husband's name, Mr. O'Shane, a banker at whom

she lost a few months ago."

"I know him well, by report; he lived a few years since in great splendour, and was considered a very

rich man, but speculated largely, and lost all his property. He was very clever as a man of business, and was offered a good situation as chief manager of another bank; but he sacrificed to the selfishness of pride his own interest, and the happiness of his wife and daughter, and withdrew them from society, to live in that solitude on an annuity he had for life, just enough to maintain them in the very humblest manner. I never knew before, the place of their retreat, though I heard these circumstances. His daughter wished to procure a situation in a school or family; but he would not permit it, and, in the indulgence of his own false shame, forgot entirely the claims of those who ought to have been to him dearer than himself. From what I have heard of the extent to which he indulged the almost insane irritability of wounded pride, I should think his death is a deliverance to them, and perhaps your discovery of the widow and her interesting daughter to-day, is an important link in the chain of providential events, which often opens a path of usefulness to those who seek for it, and I hope we may be able to serve them."

"I trust we shall, indeed, papa," said Eliza. From the calm resignation with which Mrs. O'Shane alluded to her afflictions, I soon hoped she was a pious woman, and her subsequent conversation confirmed this. When she found I could sympathize with her in her dearest hope, she spoke very freely of their affairs, and told me it was now absolutely indispensable they should exert themselves, for they did not like to apply to their