happiest of all, was that in which she and Caroline, an

nd such interruption only as permitted their practice and lessons in music, which three times a week Mrs. Hamilton had as yet herself bestowed. The dressing-bell always rung at half-past three, and dinner was at four, to allow the lads return from Mr. Howard's, whose daily lessons commenced at nine and concluded at three. From half-past one to half-past three, in the very short days, was devoted to recreation, walking, or driving, and in the longer, to Emmeline's favorite time-an hour at work with her mother, and the remainder to the preparation of lessons and exercises for the

fact; but she believed, that to infuse the latter with the former would be their best and surest preventive against all that was low and mean; their best help in the realization of a constant unfailing piety. For the same reason she cultivated a taste for the beautiful, not only in her girls, but in her boys-and beauty, not in arts and nature alone, but in character. She did not allude to beauty of merely the high and striking kind, but to the lowly virtues, struggles, faith, and heroism in the poor-their forbearance and kindness to one another-marking something to admire, even in the most rugged and surly, that at first sight would se

and Lady Helen; but her mother knew them, and, from the discontent and unhappiness they so often engendered in her child, caused her both pain and uneasiness. But she did not waver in her plans, because only in Emmeline they seemed to succeed: nor did she, as perhaps some over-scrupulous mothers would have done, check Caroline's association with Miss Grahame. She knew that those principles must be indeed of little worth, which could only actuate in retirement, and when free from

ow delightful it does seem to have you at home again; I missed this hour of the day so very much; I did not know how much I loved it when I always had it, bu

must have laughe

could not rush up into your dressing-room, as he always does. He said it was a very different thing for you to go from home, than fo

nuously; "because when Lady Helen returned from London, she made me go there so often, and as I know

my dear Caroline, and I t

aid I do; but indeed I try to think that you must know what is better for me, and try not t

of increased discontent, and so of course increased difficulty in conquering its constant accompaniment, ill temper, would more than balance the pleasure of Annie's society, and so not indulge in the one so often at the expense of the other; but of that you are

her, and I don't feel as if it were quite right for me to go so often there, when he is at home. I am sure Mrs. Greville and Mary must both feel still m

at affection is a grea

you are both so much better and wiser than I

another person happy, you may be quite sure that the most trifling act gives pleasure; but Ellen lo

by Mrs. Hamilton and Herbert, discovered to her mind such superior qualities, that she almost wondered how Emmeline could speak of her so familiarly, and think of her as her own particular frien

th of manner than was usual to her. "Do you know, the banks of the Dart have seemed so desolate with

cause of these melancholy facts," replied Mrs. Hamilton, in the same to

too, who scarcely ever came to see me, because she had so many things to do to please mamma; but forgive me," she added, more seriously, as she glanced on the deep mourning of h

s another time. Annie," she continued, addressing Miss Grahame, who was already deep in conversation with Caroline, "I

nable courtesy, and a few unintelligible words, which caused Emmeline to feel so indignant, that it was with difficulty she kept si

other when she was little older than you are, my dear; so I h

stare, and the words died on her lips. The young party were, however, soon all in the garden, for Mrs. Hamilton never made any scruple in dismissing her children, when she wished to speak on subj

was Emmeline's affectionate address, as Annie and Caroline turned in a different direction; and generally judging others by herself, she thought that

t are they like?" inquired Miss Grahame, the

nd so good-natured, and as merry and full of fun as Percy. An

ster. I never saw a girl so plain, and I am su

as elapsed since poor aunt's death, and also th

l-tempered about; there are few girls in her situation who would have made one of your

thoughtfully; "but I fancy you are wrong, Annie.

e. My cousin, Lady Adelaide Maldon, told me she could always judge peop

t see any thing particularly striking in her yet-I do not understand her; she is so dreadfully shy or timid, and so very i

afr

were she to know it. I know she

can not be so unreasonable as to ex

line, with spirit; "and I do wish, Annie, y

ds to quarrel for nothing: I shall certainly hate Ellen altogether, if she is to be a subject of dispute. Come, look kind a

mitate their fashionable manners, terms of speech, thoughts on dress, and rank, &c., made her a woman many years before her time; and though to Lady Helen's family and to Lady Helen herself this made her still more agreeable, from becoming so very companionable; to Mrs. Hamilton, and to all, in fact, who loved childhood for childhood's sake, it was a source of real r

nd Caroline was much too truthful herself to imagine it, and her mother too anxious to retain that guileless simplicity to enlighten her, as she was well capable of doing). Annie's quick eye discovered that at such times Caroline certainly envied her, and she imagined she must be a person of infinite consequence to excite such a feeling, and this was such a pleasant sensation, that she sought Caroline as much as possible during their stay at Moorlands. Of Mrs

thing," is one of those mistaken notions which modern education is, we hope, exploding). Emmeline was so indignant with Annie that she felt more sure than ever that she did not and could never like her. "She is always talking of things mamma says are of

ever have given words to that affection as Emmeline had done, and as Edward always did? and so, perhaps, after all, she did not feel as they did, though the wish was so strong to caress her aunt, and sit as close and lovingly by her as Herbert and Emmeline and even Edward did, that its very indulgence seemed

l speed, darting in and out the trees in every variety of mathematical figures their ingenuity could frame; but as soon as Percy's restless eye discovered Emmeline, he directed h

n him twice before.) I am sure I shall get on with him, and he will teach me astronomy and na

expression that there was little trace of ill-temper. Emmeline meanwhile had made her brother a party in her indignation against Annie's pride, which he termed insolence, vo

Percy, who threw his arm affectionately round her, and began talking to her so amusingly that she could not help laughing, and so devoted did he appear to her, that he had only time to greet Miss Grahame, with a very marked and polite bow, and passed on. He wished to provoke

's grace, that, combined with the extraordinary likeness, and her feelings already interested in Mrs. Hamilton's account of her sister's sufferings and death

s cheeks crimsoned and his voice trembled.-"Were you one of mamma's"-but he could n

n to kiss his forehead without speaking; and that sudden and unexpected display of feeling contraste