"But he is very good-natured, you will allow." "Oh, yes; he is so naturally; but if you had a scruple or prejudice that he considered absurd, or unnecessary, I do not know how far that good-nature would tolerate it. He does not speak good-naturedly of other people; I often notice that when he makes sarcastic remarks, and that is partly why I dislike talking to him.'

Hush," said Hermione, as the subject of their conversation appeared on horseback.

He dismounted on seeing them, and approached, leading his horse.

Paying my old house a compliment, I see," said he, addressing himself to Minna, " may I be allowed to see the result of your labours."

"Miss Percival's would repay you better; I am only a beginner," but she showed her sketch, and after making sundry complimentary observations on both drawings, Sir Antony bowed a courteous farewell, and proceeded on his ride, while the two young ladies strolled slowly homewards.

CHAPTER XXVI.

ABSENT AND PRESENT.

'Twas his own voice, she could not err,
Throughout the breathing world's extent
There was but one such voice to her
So kind, so soft, so eloquent.

TOWARDS the middle of August Minna left Guysbrooke, to pay her first visit to Rhoda, whom she had not seen since her marriage. Little Flora accompanied her aunt. She had not been well, and Margaret thought that the more bracing air of Naylehurst would be good for her.

Minna enjoyed the visit, and found much to admire in Rhoda's pretty parsonage-house, and the very picturesque common, on one side of which stood the church, surrounded by trees. Guysbrooke was not by any means to be compared with Naylehurst for beauty, and Minna smiled as she remembered Rhoda's bitter regrets when the change into Devonshire was first proposed. She remembered, too, how decidedly Rhoda had maintained that the improvement in Bessie's health would not avail to make her "quite happy," far from the place she loved, and Minna felt that her own experience of the past year proved the truth of the words spoken so long ago. Nevertheless, Minna kept all her inner life to herself, and Rhoda was charmed with her cheerful spirits, and readiness to please and be pleased, as well

as with her sympathy in all the cares and concerns of her household and parish; for all Rhoda's good and useful qualities were now called into play, and she was an exemplary clergyman's wife.

Mr. Thorburn was no longer too grave and reserved for Minna to understand him; now that she felt at her ease with him, she found him agreeable, and even lively sometimes; and he possessed a quiet vein of drollery, which made him often an amusing companion. Besides this, the genuine devotion to his profession, which was apparent in every circumstance of his daily life, won Minna's respect and admiration, or rather she felt that she could understand the earnest character which valued itself so humbly and its vocation so highly. Mr. Thorburn taught when he preached. His parishioners did not go home from hearing a sermon only, but from receiving a lesson suited to their understandings, their position, and their difficulties; for Mr. Thorburn had not laboured for ten years among the poor without being aware that they have many difficulties and temptations, in which the rich do not share, and of which only a long acquaintance with their poorer neighbours can give them a just idea.

Since Minna left Pentyre she had not seen a place that interested her as much as Naylehurst did, and it was with great regret that she left her sister's happy home early in October. Mr. Thorburn accompanied her and her little charge to London, and saw them safely into the train for E- where Frank was to

meet them.

The journey was uneventful. Minna was in the ladies' carriage, and little Flora was for most of the time her only companion. One or two ladies got in to

travel short distances, but they proved in no way interesting.

At length the train stopped at E. It was much after its time, and the passengers were hurried out, as the guards appeared impatient to proceed. Minna, however, did not get out the moment the carriage-door was opened, but held Flora back, and looked anxiously at the expectant faces on the platform to discover Frank. Suddenly a gentleman advanced, and spoke to some one in the next carriage :

66

Why, you are the last person I expected to see here. Where are you bound for?”

Minna was scarcely aware she had heard the question when the answer arrested her attention, and almost stopped her breath.

"Ah! you thought I was in the East, and behold me going Westward, Ho!' for I am off to Madeira. I sail from P- to-morrow morning."

"Aunt Minna, here's uncle Frank," said Flora, pulling her hand; and Frank lifted the child out of the carriage.

you

?

"How d'ye do, Minna? How many boxes have Just wait a minute in there, and I'll go and find them." And, in obedience to his orders, Minna made her way through the crowd to the door of the waitingroom, and stood there to let Flora see the train start.

Oh! if that gentleman would not block up the window of the carriage in his anxiety to learn that his friend was not driven to Madeira in search of health. But, at the alarm of a false start, he moved, and Minna looked eagerly towards that window.

Lord Hazelby was leaning forward to catch a last sight of his friend, and as he threw himself back in his

seat, perhaps something else attracted his attention, for he bent forward again; but at that moment the train started in earnest, and his stranger friend passed by Minna, and joined a lady who was in the room.

"It was Hazelby," said he; "I was astonished at seeing him, and alarmed when he said he was going to Madeira; but I am happy to find it is not on his own account, but only to see his father; though he does not look well, and has been invalided home."

Frank now entered to say all was ready, and Minna was soon seated in a slow-going fly, with a long dull drive in prospect, and Frank at her side asking all sorts of questions about his old friend, Mr. Thorburn, who was as far from her mind at that moment as if she had never seen him.

But this pre-occupation did not last long. As soon as she became conscious that she was giving careless answers, she resolutely set herself to the work of the present, and just as Frank said, "There, I wont persecute you with more questions, I see you are tired," she began to give him a long account of Mr. Thorburn's schools, bestowing upon her zealous brother-inlaw all the praise which Frank considered his due.

Minna found nothing changed at Guysbrooke but the colour of the leaves, which were fast becoming brown and yellow, and she missed the glorious autumn colouring in which the beeches in Kent were so rich, though perhaps the soberer brown and pale yellow of the fading elms form a better contrast to the red Devonshire soil.

Flora's improved appearance gave great satisfaction to Margaret, and Minna thought Bessie looked stronger. It seemed quite pleasant and home-like to be sitting