and beat a speedy retreat. To push Elizabeth forward and retire into the back ground was the work of an instant.

68

Pray, young ladies, what brings you here, disturbing Miss Percy, who is an invalid?" inquired Miss Charlotte, in her dry, sarcastic tone.

Poor Elizabeth attempted to speak, but sobs choked her utterance-a few indistinct sentences were all she said. Miss Percy, who was suffering from severe head-ache, raised herself in bed; she had caught the words, "Very ill," and her apprehensions were at once excited.

"Who is ill, Charlotte?" she asked, "I cannot understand."

At this juncture I came to the rescue, and briefly related what had passed, naming no one except Miss Cope, who really stood in need of help. I was at this period of my life accused of a proneness to exaggeration, and a desire to produce effect in my narrations, but I can safely affirm that on this occasion I confined myself to a brief relation of facts: so brief, indeed, that it appeared quite unsatisfactory, and ended in a series of crossquestionings which would not have disgraced a barrister.

To all these questions Elizabeth replied with modest firmness declining to name her guilty companions, and warmly exculpating me from any blame on the contrary, she took this opportunity of describing, with generous eagerness, the part I had taken in endeavoring to dissuade her from joining in an act of disobedience. I have reason to believe that this little scene opened the eyes of Miss Percy in some degree to the ill feeling which subsisted between Miss Charlotte and myself, for having begged that lady to see Miss Cope immediately, she took the opportunity of commending my conduct in this affair, and kindly promised that, as a reward to me, she would comply with Elizabeth's request so far as was compatible with the health of the offenders, requesting that if any of them felt indisposed they would not fear making their case known; adding, that she would acquaint Miss Charlotte with her decision.

She then spoke to Elizabeth, and I noticed that her mind seemed fully as much impressed with the vulgarity of the affair as with its moral wrong. On the former point, she was decidedly energetic, pronouncing such food as seeds to be low and vulgar;

and expressing genuine disgust on finding that young ladies so genteelly brought up should choose to eat such rubbish.

This was a new view of the case to Elizabeth, who afterwards laughingly remarked, "that had the stolen seeds been almonds, she doubted whether our governess would have been quite so much shocked."

It is possible some of our readers may entertain Miss Percy's idea on this point. If so, we can only add, by way of apology, that it is to be hoped school girls are more refined in their tastes now, than they were twenty years ago.

I may just mention that Miss Cope speedily recovered from her attack of indigestion; and as she was a selfish, greedy girl, fond of sweetmeats, she met with little commiseration, it being a pretty general opinion that she was paying the penalty justly incurred by her love for eating. Miss Charlotte, having doubtless received positive instructions from our governess, refrained from her usual tormenting reproaches, though she could not help indulging in a few sarcastic observations on the refined and lady-like tastes of some of her young acquaintances. These remarks, being richly merited, were received with good humour, and the whole affair shortly became a subject of merriment.

One good effect resulted from this adventure. The selfish conduct which Louisa had displayed, tended greatly to diminish the influence she had hitherto exercised over me, and by degrees our intimacy declined. Fickle and vain, she was fond of ingratiating herself with new comers, and her easy, winning address, seldom failed to accomplish this purpose.

When I review these scenes of my early days, and recal the diversified dispositions, habits, and manners of my associates, who, even in childhood and early youth, manifested the germs of future character, I cannot be too thankful that perfect confidence existed between my parents and myself: a confidence induced and fostered by their unceasing sympathy and indulgence. From them I had no reserves. Ever finding them the most tolerant, as well as the most interested listeners, they became from time to time the depositaries of my hopes and fears, my joys and sorrows, my opinions and my prejudices. Often I have returned to them with my ideas of right and wrong confused, my value for external advantages heightened, my love of excellence diminished,

and my sense of religion weakened; but a few weeks spent in their society has restored something like order to my mind, and I have resumed my studies with renewed determinations to improve my advantages to the utmost, and to do my duty in that station of life in which, for the present, it had pleased my Heavenly Father to place me.

There was only one point on which even my dear parents had hitherto failed to convince me of my error, namely, my longcherished resentment towards Miss Charlotte. When pressed closely on this subject, I was obliged to acknowledge that it was sinful to foster rebellious feelings towards any fellow creature, but especially towards one set over me for purposes of instruction; and yet it seemed as if occasions perpetually arose to increase, rather than diminish such feelings. One of these only I will mention, which occurred just before our return home for the holidays.

It was more than a fortnight after our visit to the gardens, and already sundry preparations for the approaching vacation had commenced. I was the happiest of the happy, for my papa having ministerial engagements in the neighbourhood, was to spend the following week near me, and afterwards to take me home. Oh! how proud and joyous I felt! How I longed for the Sabbath when my consequence would be at its height in the estimation of my school-fellows, as my dear father was to officiate at the church we attended. Nothing was wanted to complete my elation but the certainty that I should prove the successful candidate for the first prize, which was to be awarded in a few days. My hopes on this subject were a secret, which I had been careful to conceal from both teachers and class-mates. My little friend Elizabeth was the only one in my confidence. In her I dreaded no rival, and she alone was acquainted with the mixed and unworthy motives which, in spite of my natural indolence, had proved sufficient to induce continuous and persevering exertions for the long period of five months. To Elizabeth I had told all my thoughts and wishes respecting this prize. From the day on which I accidentally discovered that Miss Charlotte had pre-determined its possessor, I resolved to out-general her, and accordingly strictly charged my little confidante never to allude to the subject, lest my object should be suspected and defeated.

The time for the award was now come, and so far as I was able to judge, my claims upon the prize remained a secret. Our positions in the different classes were entered in small books provided for the purpose, each pupil taking charge of her own. Our teachers kept no check, and it was, consequently, impossible to decide upon the successful candidate until all were added up. Now it happened, that at the most important juncture, my classbook was missing. I knew well that I ranked first; but what of that? Proof, positive proof, would be required to convince the obdurate Miss Charlotte that, for once, she was out in her calculations. I thought I remembered placing my treasure in a little drawer which my kind mother had caused to be made under my box. Again and again that drawer was ransacked. The time for examining the class-books arrived: still mine was not found. I almost felt inclined to suspect unfair dealing, and had given up all for lost, when Elizabeth, breathless with eager haste, entered the school-room exclaiming, "It is found, it is found, dear Caroline! It was behind the little drawer. Joy, triumph! Oh! how glad I am."

“I don't understand this strange conduct, Miss Dalton,” said our teacher, in her most freezing tone. "Hand me that book, if you please, and let me have no more rudeness."

Miss Charlotte stretched out her hand for the recovered book, but no sooner did she discern how matters stood, than she in her turn lost her presence of mind, and exclaimed, "There must be some mistake, Miss Wilmot; I cannot believe that this is a fair statement of your position.”

I will not attempt a description of the scene which followed this remark. The doubt thus publicly expressed concerning my truthfulness and honor, excited so much resentment on my part, that I not only forgot the respect due to Miss Charlotte, but also that I owed to my godmother; for I spoke with disrespect of the prize, stating that, as I had gained the honor, which was all I valued, the reward had better be given to the individual for whom Miss Percy had designed it.

How true it is that happiness depends less upon outward circumstances than upon the feelings and emotions of the mind. Never do I recollect feeling less happy than now, when my ambitious hopes were realized. The gaining of this prize was an

event to which I had looked forward as the very climax of my felicity. It had appeared to my imagination that the pleasure I anticipated in my father's society would be incomplete unless I could assure him of my success in this particular; and now I almost dreaded to hear of his arrival, so painful was my position in the school.

I

Miss Charlotte, of course, informed her sister of my misconduct, and I could perceive that my kind governess was really grieved. Yet it must not be supposed that I felt humbled or inclined to acknowledge myself to blame. Quite the reverse. regarded myself as a heroine, suffering in the cause of honor and integrity. In spite of this delusion, which was fostered by the mistaken sympathy of several of my school-fellows, I was ill at ease, and by no means free from secret misgivings respecting my conduct.

Early the following morning I was summoned to my father, who had arrived too late the previous evening to admit of my seeing him. His manner was, if possible, more tender and gentle than usual. As he was aware of my anxiety to win the prize, I felt apprehensive lest he should allude to the subject before Miss Percy, but my fears on this subject were groundless. After breakfasting with him and Miss Percy, he requested that I might be permitted to accompany him on a visit he was about to pay in the neighbourhood. This request was complied with, and whilst preparing for my walk, I resolved to take the opportunity thus afforded of making my father acquainted with what had happened.

stream.

It was a fine morning in the beginning of June. Our road lay through a pleasant country, diversified with hill and dale, wood and The district was highly picturesque, and at any other time I should have greatly enjoyed a walk of three miles, along shady lanes, and across green meadows, with a companion I so dearly loved. Now, however, the beauties of nature were lost upon me. My mind was restless and pre-occupied; and notwithstanding my grievances, and the fancied justice of my cause, I found it more difficult than I expected to introduce the subject uppermost in my thoughts.

After some time we began to ascend a long and steep hill. The path lay over a large pasture field, which my father smilingly