e Mel

ficulty of doing anything. How is a woman, how is even a mother, to caution a young man against the danger of becoming acquainted with a pretty girl? She could not mention Miss O'Hara's name without mentioning that of Lady Mary Quin in connexion with it. And when asked, as of course s

tidings would nearly kill the Earl. After all that had been endured, such a termination to the hopes of the family would be too cruel! And Lady Scroope could not but feel the injustice of it. Every thing was being done for this heir, for whom nothing need have been done. He was treated as a son, but he was not a son. He was treated with exceptional favour as a son. Everything was at his disposal. He might marry and begin life at once with every want amply supplied, if he would only marry such a woman as was fit to be a f

marry properly; that an income almost without limit should be provided for him, surely it would not have been too much to demand that as a matter of course he should leave the army! But this had not been done; and now there was an Irish Roman Catholic widow with a daughter, with seal-shooting and a boat and high cliffs right in the young man's way! Lady Scroope could not analyse it, but felt all the danger as though it were by instinct. Partridge and pheasant shooting on a gentleman's own grounds, and an occasional day's hunting with the hounds in his own county, were, in Lady

croope did speak to her husband. "Don't you think, my dear, that somet

can

to oblige you. You are

; but what am I to him, that he should sacrifice any pleasure for me? He can break my heart. Were I eve

he care about hi

regiment me

't ask him t

do not wish him to think me a tyrant." This was the end of the conversation, for Lady Scroope did not as yet dare to s

ought that it was wicked to do so. But the two women had been fussy, and Miss Mellerby must have been less discerning than are young ladies generally, had she not understood what was expected of her. Girls are undoubtedly better prepared to fall in love with men whom they have never seen, than are men with girls. It is a girl's great business in life to love and to be loved. Of some young men it may almost be said that it is their great business to avoid such a catastrophe. Such ought not to have been the case with Fred Neville now;-but in such light he regarded it. He had already said to himself that Sophie Mellerby was to be pitched at his head. He knew no reason,-none as yet,-why he should not like

id Lady Scroope, unable not to shew her

should like to go and see Dandy whenever he arrives anywhere, only I don't dare!" Dandy was Miss

pe gravely. "There is a tendency I think at present to give them an undue importance. W

Scroope sighed and shook her head; but in shaking it she shewed t

at no girl could, at the first sight of him, think herself injured by being asked to love him. She was a good girl, and would have consented to marry no man without feeling sure of his affections; but Fred Neville was bold and frank as well as handsome, and had plenty to say for himself. It might be that he was vicious, or ill-tempered, or selfish, and i

and then laughed. Among her people hunting was not thought to be a desirabl

usement for young ladies?" as

ot;-that is if the

ride," said S

ody did not ride as they do now. Nevertheless it is very well, and is thought to be healthy. But as for

thought of it ever so much, I shouldn't do it. Poor mamma would be frightened into fits,-onl

grave, and told him that he was very wicked. But let an old lady be ever so strict towards her own sex, she likes a l

Sophia Mellerby did not shew breeding, what girl could shew it? She was fair, with a somewhat thin oval face, with dark eyes, and an almost perfect Grecian nose. Her mouth was small, and her chin delicately formed. And yet it can hardly be said that she was beautiful. Or, if beautiful, she was so in women's eyes rather than in those of men. She lacked colour and perhaps animation in her countenance. She had more character, indeed, than was told by her face, which is generally so true an index of

hat his brother had made an unfortunate marriage. As at that time they had not been on speaking terms, it had not signified much;-but there had been a prejudice at Scroope against the Captain's wife, which by no means died out when the late Julia Smith became the Captain's widow with two sons. Old reminiscences remain very firm with old people,-and Lord Scroope was still much afraid of the fast, loud beauty. His principles told him that he should not sever the mother from the son, and that as it suited him to take the son for his own purposes, he should also, to some extent, accept the mother also. But he dreaded the

you for what you have done,

if he were our own." Then she raised the old man's hand and kiss

k Neville shall have another