enticing love-knots, and floating ends of captivating ribbons!

The widow's figure was-to tell the truth-neither slim nor graceful; but she was active, and dressed in good style, that could upon occasion expand into the rich and splendid.

It was very amusing to see Josiah Stuckley standing mute by the fireside, where he had been accustomed to spend so much of his time, the widow mute also, but clapping away, with a pair of broad, sounding hands, one after another of the laces and muslins that were destined to adorn her figure with their fair and elegant fabrics, and then, beginning anew, clapped them all over again, unconscious of what she was doing,-and then, stooping to take a hot iron from the fire, dropped it hastily on the ironing-cloth, on which it imprinted a deep brown steaming singe, -and then, when the dangerous implement of her industry found its proper place on the little stand, she cried out,"My goodness! if I haven't burnt my hand now."

"I hope not," said Stuckley.

And, pray, what is that to you ?" "A great deal."

"Well, I'm sure!"

"Yes, Martha, as long as I live, every thing that affects your well-being will concern me. I feel that I have not acted rightly towards you, and if money could make you any compensation, say the word, and, be it a thousand pounds, it is yours freely, and without law. Don't try law with me, I beg of you."

The widow plunged her burnt hand into a basin of cold water that she sent her little waiting-maid to fetch.

"Sarah," she said, "go on pouring cold water over the burn; that will soon take the pain away."

Stuckley waited for Sarah to go away, but the cold water pouring was a lengthened operation; and, seeing it was purposely prolonged, he took a few meditative turns across the wide kitchen, and then said,

Martha, my friend, do not deal with me too bitterly. You are as a sister to I come to you in a difficulty. You are a good woman as well as a kind one.

me.

I have known you twenty years; let me see-is it not twenty since that poor misguided Robinson left you a girl-widow ?" No answer.

"Is your hand worse?"

Mrs. Robinson's spirit was in arms. "Josiah Stuckley, our old friendship is at an end."

"No, no; I won't have it; I can't do without you. I have neither mother nor sister, and you must be both to me, and nearest friend, Martha-nearest, save one as long as I live."

"And so it should have been," said the widow, all ablaze. "But your wife has insulted me. She speaks of me to others with haughty ridicule. I have heard it from several persons; and you know that she sent me.'

"Hush, Martha; never vex yourself about foolish words that Selina has already fully repented of." (Not quite true, Stuckley.)

"I bear no malice against you, but—” "I knew that," joyfully exclaimed Stuckley.

"I wish you every happiness."

"Of course you do; it is not in your nature to wish me anything else. But let me tell you my special errand now."

He briefly related his ward's history, and described her present position, and, with some embarrassment, explained that it would be inconvenient for Eva to reside with Mrs. Stuckley at present. He was therefore very anxious to place her under good motherly care, and knew no one he could so well entrust with such a charge as Mrs. Robinson.

"You will do me a very great kindness," said he, "by receiving Miss Cameron here, in your house, and by paying such attentions to her as she may require, and such as your own good sense and generous feelings may dictate. God forbid that my uncle's adopted daughter, whom he and his wife loved so much and cherished so tenderly, should meet with cold looks or unkind treatment now that she is doubly orphaned.”

"Cold looks or unkind treatment,”unguarded words, spoke volumes to Mrs. Robinson. She knew all about it at

once.

affectionate inquiries. Yes, I am happy here, and unhappy. Can you make that out? Do I miss you? Yes, very much; and two years seems a long time before I I am to see you again. But I will wait as patiently as I can, though I don't see why my dear brother should not see me once or twice in all that long time. I really do think of you as if you were my own brother, and I feel as if you would always be a protection and a happiness to me. I have finished the Lady of the Lake,' and I am devouring my guardian's library. You would hardly believe what a delightful collection of books he has; and such a reader and walker! I like him very much, almost as well as Mr. Cameron. Such a nice face he has, Sidney. Your drawing pupil is tryng to sketch it, as you will see by the enclosed. But there is a feeling and expression about it that only your art could reproduce. He is kindness itself, to me. I walk with him miles every day, in wet weather or dry, cold or hot; on goes my plaid; he whistles for Dash-a great black, broad-backed, sensible dog-and away we start every forenoon, along the lanes, over the fields, and through the hamlets. We botanise; we listen to the singing of the birds in the thickets; we watch the labourer at work in the fields; we sit on the stiles—he reading, I sketching; or he reciting, I listening; until I ask myself if I can be really in the strange English place, and with the strangers that I dreaded so much, instead of in the beloved Highlands. I wish you would just come one day, Sidney, and see Mr. Stuckley. But you say you must not. You would like him so much. Well, when we get home to his house after our long ramble, we dine with Mrs. Stuckley and her visitors, and spend all the rest of the day by the fireside, or in the library, reading, sketching, conversing; and Mrs. Stuckley plays splendidly on the piano, sings like an actress. I have just a dim recollection of one standing dressed like an angel, singing wonderfully; and I always am reminded of her when I hear my guardian's wife, with her loud, piercing voice, singing Italian music. And poor me can only get through a

humble Scottish song. But Mrs. Stuckley has been a governess, and of the highest class; and knows, I should think, nearly every thing that is to be known. She is very polite to me, and so are her relations, especially her brother, who is a great deal handsomer than you are, Sidney, and has finer manners, and plays the flute in the most beautiful style. Both he and my guardian say they like my Scottish songs very much; so I sing away, merry songs and sad songs, and am never tired. Here is a lot of scribble for you. I can't write a formal letter to you. I think I told you, in my other hasty note, that when I first came to Haverill, I was surprised to find myself boarded out of my guardian's house-at a very nice person's, though. I stayed there, with every comfort about me, until Mrs. Stuckley herself came to fetch me to her own elegant and delightful house. I am to commence taking lessons from masters in all the sciences, and all the arts, and all the knowledge that ever was or will be. So you need not expect, when the two years are up, that I shall be the same humble, simple, insignificant little 'Fireside Fairy' that you knew in the glen. O dear, no. I shall be learned, and polished, and very proud.

"As my guardian will see all your letters to me-he says you have arranged all that with him in your correspondence together-you must not notice what I am now going to tell you: that though his wife is a most handsome woman, and quite young, and very courteous to me, and has prepared for me two pretty rooms looking on the sweetest of landscapes, and with roses growing all about my windows, yet I do not like her, and I can't for the life of me, Sidney, tell why, except it is because she is so very gay, and shows such unnecessary and undeserved contempt and disdain of my guardian. She is always saying something ill-natured of his age, or appéarance, or manners. She pays him no respect at all. She said to me yesterday, that she had sacrificed herself, and hoped when I grew older I would never throw myself away as she had. She dresses in the most costly and fashionable style,

rides out on horseback a great deal with her brother and friends, makes many visits, and never consults Mr. Stuckley about anything; indeed, Sidney, he is very unhappy, and I try my best to enliven him. Indeed, I wish to love her, if I can, as I loved my dear, dear Mrs. Cameron. But Mrs. Stuckley is cold and distant, and very satirical. I fear her, and so does my guardian, and so does everybody, except her brother, and she appears afraid of him. Where are you now? Tell me all you can about yourself, and do not ever forget that you have a dear girl and sister in-EVA.”

Sidney to Eva.

My dear Fireside Fairy, -Your guardian has indeed consented to our corresponding with each other-but, I

have had no little difficulty to bring him to this and I am hedged in by very sharp conditions. He, also, entirely forbids my appearing in your presence until Christmas after next, when, if we both live, you will be entered on your seventeenth year and I shall be of age, and the unrestricted possessor of an estate and a title. Then, Eva, then will I hasten to meet you; but until then, I am bound by every honourable obligation to worthy guardian to leave you free. And you must consider, my dearest, that you have enough to do in those two precious years as I have. Write to me freely, submit yourself in all things to the advice of your guardian, and rely on the faithfulness and undying affection of

your

SIDNEY ELLERTON."

Sidney to Mr. Stuckley. "Dear Sir,-You are aware that all the happiness of my future life rests on Eva. I shall ever be grateful that you have at last been induced to permit her to write to me without control; and I have bound myself by solemn promises to leave Eva perfectly free until I am of age; but, permit me to ask you, if it is quite fair to me that another shall be permitted to endeavour to engage her attention and her affections, while she is so young, enthusiastic, and inexperienced. I will

speak frankly, for I like outspeaking: your wife's brother appears from Eva's artless admissions to be constantly paying her attentions that are by no means correct or desirable in a gentleman who is young and handsome. If this goes on, I am apprehensive that before the Christmas I look forward to, her fancy may be hopelessly estranged from her Highland brother,' and she may be for ever lost to me. This prospect is so terrible to my thoughts, that I venture to appeal to you in the frank and friendly spirit which your own feeling letters, so manly and kind, have evoked. I look to you-I implore of you to guard Miss Cameron carefully; let her, indeed, be left free, in reality, until I shall have it in my power to offer for her acceptance a position worthy of her. I am certain that I could never marry another, and if principles, I can render her happy. Feel I know anything of my own heart and for me, I beseech you, and protect my interests with Eva-as they are good and true. SIDNEY ELLERTON."

ward way, by informing her, that "he This he did in his usual straightforconsidered Eva was morally engaged to Mr. Ellerton, who would claim her hand at a suitable period."

"How excessively absurd!" exclaimed Mrs. Stuckley, who was standing full dressed for an evening concert to which she was going unattended by, as usual, her husband.

The delicate kid gloves that Selina was drawing on were torn in her impatience and chagrin.

"I see nothing absurd in it, my dear; the young man is an heir to important property-Eva an heiress; thus their worldly positions are equal. His character appears to be honourable. He was a favourite of Eva's adopted father, and I think with Eva a good basis is laid of such respect and affection as will here