ment; but seeing her still looking annoyed, said, addressing Sir Lionel,

'We have been talking over the desirability of engaging a governess for May, for I feel I am not doing her justice, and all this irregularity of which we complain arises from the want of some one to keep her employed.'

'Confound the governesses!' exclaimed Sir Lionel, excitedly. What will she be the better for knowing the names of all the Roman emperors and the genealogies from the time of Methuselah? I well remember the useless cramming process I went through, and she shan't be teased with any such nonsense.'

'If she could be taught to keep still, it would be something worth while,' interrupted Mrs. Shelley, gruffly.

'By the aid of backboard, dumb-bells, and stocks,' retorted Sir Lionel. I should like to know if that tree' (pointing to one on the lawn) 'would have been more to be admired if its branches had been grown in glass tubes, as we grow cucumbers. Give me free growth-no cramping.'

Miss Bosanquet smiled sympathizingly, and said,

'I do not advocate anything like undue restraint, but May is decidedly behind most girls of her age. She needs regular teaching.'

Sir Lionel declared that he would back her against any dozen girls she liked to name; that she was a real beauty, as she called her rose tree, and that they could not make anything else of her, do what they would ;' and he went on to denounce all premature developments.

Miss Bosanquet replied, that instead of being prematurely developed, May reminded her of the corn that grows under a hedge-good in its germ, but wasting for want of proper influences,' adding that she was really ignorant on many im

RUFFLED MINDS.

23

portant subjects, although in possession of a large stock of miscellaneous information.'

Sir Lionel muttered something about 'intelligent ignorance,' when Miss May made her reappearance, and handing her aunt a sprig of mignonette, said that she thought it was the last they should gather that season, and that that grown under glass was not half so sweet.' This à propos remark delighted Sir Lionel; and May, ignorant of the cause of his excitement, added, "The little mignon likes sunshine and freedom.'

'Yet that which we find quite wild is entirely without fragrance,' returned Miss Bosanquet, with an answering look at Sir Lionel. Some cultivation seems necessary to bring out all its attractive qualities. My mignon might be improved by being a little less wild.'

May kissed away the gentle reproof, and dinner commenced with its usual formality, Mrs. Shelley preserving a grave and severe look to the end of the meal.

It was a moonlight night, and after dinner Sir Lionel and May strolled out upon the terrace. The valley looked very peaceful in the soft light; and as they stood watching the shimmering of the moon's beams on the river below, the quiet of the scene served as a calmative to their ruffled feelings, for ruffled they were, Mrs. Shelley's disturbance of mind having communicated itself to them.

Miss Bosanquet resorted to the shepherd-psalmist's remedy for allaying evil spirits, and played so sweetly, that May upon a gust of wind blowing off her hat, laughingly exclaimed,

Such music as Auntie's should make the zephyrs hold their breath, instead of behaving in this unmannerly fashion.'

'What says my fairy to a ride of ten miles to-morrow?' asked

Sir Lionel. She would like to see Croyland Abbey, and I want to see Agramont.'

'An abbey is just one of the things I do want to see,' exclaimed May, glad of anything for a change.

'Ghosts and all?' was the facetious inquiry.

Yes, ghosts and all, judging by her bright look, as she appeared the next morning, ready dressed for her ride.

Sir Lionel regarded her with full complacency. He intended her to be the best mounted, best dressed girl in the neighbourhood, as, in his eyes, she was decidedly the prettiest ; and while she rode by his side, asking questions and speculating as to the probable result of their visit, he felt that his dream respecting her was realized.

The morning was clear and bright, such as often follows rain, and they stopped many times to note objects in the distance, enjoying the lovely views to be had from the high ground; but, as they descended, the roads were very heavy, and Sir Lionel remarked on the rain having cut them up, adding that 'he knew a bespattering of mud was a mere bagatelle to such a wellseasoned horsewoman, but that she must keep her eyes open.'

They were going along a narrow road, on one side of which was a steep descent-so steep that they could not see to the bottom of it—and were walking their horses, Sir Lionel giving May a description of the passes between the mountains in Switzerland, when they were startled by a man, half clad and with black unkempt hair, appearing on the apparently impregnable side of the road.

'That beats the chamois hunters,' remarked Sir Lionel, as the wild-looking creature came in view.

'He's got something like the rope with which the Thugs catch their victims,' said May.

AN EVENTFUL RIDE.

25

A minute more, and he came abruptly in front of Black Douglas, when the beast seemed maddened by tear, and began to rear and plunge, to the imminent peril of his rider,while May's mare Daylight, sharing in the excitement, set off at a gallop.

The perpetrator of the mischief was one of those half-witted beings such as are frequently seen wandering about the unfrequented parts of England: he was lying wait for travellers, in the hope of collecting alms; but, seeing the mischief he had done, hurriedly skulked back to his lair, leaving Black Douglas to caper and prance to his satisfaction.

While Sir Lionel was trying to bring his horse to order by his reassuring 'So ho, Douglas !' his heart was faint for the fate of May; and, as soon as he had succeeded in calming him, he galloped quickly after her, until a turn in the road brought her into view, running towards him, while her mare was in the custody of a youth, whom he afterwards recognized as the son of his lawyer. When she saw him, she turned back to where Daylight was standing.

'A most fortunate circumstance my happening to be on the spot, sir,' said the young man, as Sir Lionel reined in his horse. 'A horse without control in such a place as this might make short work both of himself and his rider.'

May regarded the speaker observantly she and her brother were given to rely on their physiognomical deductions - and Sir Lionel's face bespoke inquiry and concern, while the youth, William Bryant, gave a vivid and terrifying description of an accident that had there happened to a lady who had been dragged down the hill with her foot in the stirrup; and he magnified the perilousness of the position from which he had rescued May in a manner that astonished her not a little.

'Daylight was going all right,' she interrupted, addressing

Sir Lionel. I only let him take hold of her' (pointing unceremoniously at Bryant) that I might walk back to you.'

William Bryant gave an understanding glance at Sir Lionel, intimating that May was not the best judge in that matter, whereupon Sir Lionel expressed his unbounded thanks for the aid rendered, adding a hope that he should have an opportunity of thanking him at Scotswood.

The invitation was exactly to the young man's taste; and, as they rode off, he stood in the road, raising his hat again and again with obsequious gestures of farewell.

'Is he a gentleman? Why did he say Daylight was without control?' asked May, doubtfully. She was going quite quietly.' Sir Lionel was so much relieved at discovering that no evil had resulted from the accident as not to be inclined to search deeply into motives, and merely remarked, 'that he might have seen danger unobserved by her;' but May was not satisfied. The question puzzled her all the way to Croyland.