CHAPTER XIII.

"There is an evil and a good

In every soul, unknown to thee

A darker or a brighter mood

Than ought thine eye can ever see."
E. TAYLOR.

"Do I look nice?" was Miss Glynne's remark, as I re-entered her presence, prepared to go down to the drawing-room. It was addressed to Neale.

"Bootiful, Miss Glynne !" was her answer. And it was very true. In spite of her solemn assertions that she was wasting away from the effects of a broken heart, Miss Glynne looked as lovely and fresh as anything I had ever seen, while the scarf of fine lace falling from her head over her shoulders, which she wore in right of

being an invalid, gave an ethereal tone to her

whole appearance.

"And what do you think?" she asked of me.

"You look like what I think the angels will be when I see them."

"Fanciful child! She is always thinking of death and angels, Neale. Now we must not allow that."

"No, no, poor dear! It is very wrong to be always dreaming of the dismals.

evening to you, young ladies."

A pleasant

I hoped I might be forgiven, thinking that Neale was highly pleased, on her own account, to see us depart and I was so far right, as I

:

discovered it was only now and then that Miss Glynne went down stairs, and that Neale's holidays were scant and few.

There were three ladies in the drawing-room when we entered, who had but just left the dining-room. One of them was our vigilant and energetic chaperon of the morning, whose name I had discovered to be Miss Ann Scann. She

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J

generally went by the name of aunt Scann. Lady Maria did not look at all pleased on seeing us; and while her cold, glittering eye rested on her daughter, she said, "That child ought to be in bed."

"She is my companion, according to your own arrangement, Lady Maria: where I go, she goes." Nothing could exceed the haughtiness of Miss Glynne as she thus spoke.

The stranger lady coloured and stared. Lady Maria seemed to shake with some inward emotion, though her complexion did not vary; but all the little, glittering ornaments of her headdress quivered.

"Come here," she said, addressing me, “what is your usual hour for retiring ?"

"Ten o'clock," answered I, short and concise. In fact, I liked answering her thus; and so great was my pleasure, I did not perceive a little plant of mischief growing up in my kingdom.

"Is this your little ward?" asked the stranger lady.

"Yes! Ellen, go and speak to Lady Hartley."

My name not being Ellen, I had a right to conceive she was not addressing me. So I looked at Miss Glynne, who also took no notice. Lady Maria coloured angrily, and turning to me, said

"Your manners, young lady, do no credit to the persons with whom you have been associating, or else you are apt in apeing others."

I advanced to Lady Hartley, and said, "Madam, I did not know Lady Maria meant me. I beseech your pardon."

"You have it, my dear little girl," said the lady, kindly.

'And a very nice little girl you will find her, Lady Hartley," interrupted Miss Scann. "I travelled with her this morning; and I can assure you, had I been in her situation, I could not, under all circumstances, have acted better. You must call me aunt, remember, my dear; I feel quite like an aunt towards you!"

"Thank you, aunt !" answered I, low and soft, that only she could hear, blushing and smiling too.

"Good child, nice child! very little, very small, you see, Lady Hartley, with eyes far too large her face is all eyes, poor dear!" continued aunt Scann.

"I like her eyes," broke in Miss Glynne, abruptly; "they resemble pools of clear water.” "Very true, very true, wells-with truth at the bottom; but if I was in your situation, my dear" She paused.

I could not help laughing at the conceit of my own brain, which made me think aunt Scann was about to say, "If they were hers, she would sew half of them up."

"Ellen," said Lady Maria, "I do not approve of young girls laughing about nothing, or at their elders."

For the second time, I had to beg pardon; and I retreated behind Miss Glynne for safety from further humiliations. The next half-hour was spent by the two ladies talking together of various public events, chiefly relating to the Navy; while aunt Scann and Miss Glynne con- .