brain! And yet I am hardy enough to make it to a little coquette."

"You do not think me a coquette, I hope."

"I used a diminutive-a little coquette; and the less, I must confess, the better."

Again Mr. Russell seemed oppressed, by the weight on his mind or in his pockets.

"Did your mother say any thing to you, Rosina," asked he, abruptly, " about what passed between us yesterday?"

"Not a word! I was not aware she had even seen you!"

"Indeed!"

66

Oh, now you remind me of it, I remember she did mention in a casual way, that you had called upon her. I thought something appeared to have made her low-spirited; but after her telling me that she was quite well, I did not think I had a right to make any further inquiry."

"True, very true. I rather repented, afterwards, that I had seen her. Low-spirited was

she?"

"Oh, not enough so to make you uneasy. She was very cheerful in the afternoon."

"Cheerful!"

VOL. II.

I

After a moment's silence, Mr. Russell repeated "Yes, I am sorry for what passed between us. It would have been better if I had not spoken at all on the subject, or else, if I had spoken to Hannah or to you but there are times when strong feeling makes us act unwisely."

"Dear," cried Rosina, heedlessly, "does strong feeling ever make you act unwisely?"

Why not?" said Mr. Russell, stopping short, and colouring to his temples.

It instantly occurred to Rosina, that there could no longer be a question as to Mr. Russell's being in love. Not knowing what might come next, nor what might have been the nature of his interview with her mother, she began to feel excessively uncomfortable, and to wish they could come up with Hannah and Huntley. All Mr. Russell's addresses, his attention to her at Lady Worral's, her mother's red eyes, and significant hints, came to remembrance, and seemed to her, to have but one interpretation. Her mother had been proud of the compliment implied by Mr. Russell's proposals, and yet unwilling to sacrifice her to a man twice her age, and for whom she had no warmer sentiment than respect. It must be so,

it could not be otherwise! Poor Rosina, flattered, yet woefully disconcerted, stole her hand from her companion's arm, and began to open her parasol; while he, little guessing what was passing in her thoughts, though not without his own embarrassments, said

"Does it really appear so very ridiculous to you that I should be susceptible of strong feeling ?”

"Ridiculous-dear me! no,-I did not know I had used such a word. By the by, where is Dash? He was in sight just now-I think he must have run into that turnip field."

"Pray, Rosina, what is your real opinion of Mr. Huntley?"

"In what respect?" said she, much surprised at the question. "His genius, or his manners, or what?"

"No, no-his temper, for instance?"

"I have never seen it tried."

"That is likely enough-and even if you had, genius and manner, with ladies, cover a multitude of sins."

"Of foibles, I allow, but surely not sins."

"Perhaps," said Mr. Russell, with a little asperity," there are few sins which we cannot soften into foibles." And changing the subject with a gentler voice, he began to speak-of Swedish turnips!

SOMETIMES, when we are inclined towards a certain line of conduct which we are not quite sure is right or prudent, circumstances seem to lead us to it whether we will or no.

A visit had long been owing to the Hollands. Mrs. Wellford, who was not very strong, did not feel quite equal to a hot walk across the fields, and Rosina had lately taken a dislike to the society of Miss Phoebe, on account of her repeated allusions to Mr. Huntley and souvenirs of Lewis Pennington, though her alleged reason was Phoebe's excessive stupidity. As it is not quite fair to be rude to all who are stupid, Hannah, to whose share disagreeable visits, &c. usually fell, resolved one cool morning, to please all parties by walking over to the Grange. Rosina was sure she would