identify the Huntley I have learnt to esteem with the Huntley of Mr. Frank Russell's letter; and till conviction is forced on me, I cannot help clinging to my own idea of him, in opposition to that of others."

“Ah, Hannah, but how much superior must have been Mr. Frank Russell's opportunities of judging of Mr. Huntley, to ours, when it is so much to his interest, and so much in his power, to appear to us in his very best colours! And is our Mr. Russell ill-natured or given to scandal ? Would he ever have interfered if it had not seemed his positive duty? And has not the Mr. Huntley of the letter been in some measure identified with the Mr. Huntley whom you love? Why, then, have so many little circumstances given you the uneasiness you describe? Little circumstances, which will be all we shall have to judge by, till perhaps it will be too late-Poor Hannah! I pity you exceedingly. Poor Mr. Huntley, I shall pity him too, if after all, we find we have done him injustice. My dear Hannah, just answer me one question candidly. Are you engaged?"

Hannah's cheek burned with blushes, though

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they could not be seen. No," said she, faulteringly, "our engagement is tacit rather than expressed; but a promise, though only implied, does not give the less pain in being broken."

Here the dialogue ended. Hannah felt that Rosina sympathized with her, though in silence; and in this soothing consciousness, she at length fell asleep.

CHAPTER XV.

GIPSIES.

THE fine weather which had ushered in the autumn seemed now likely to be interrupted by a succession of heavy rains. A few hours of sunshine on the morning after the tea-party at Mrs. Good's, were succeeded by a hopelessly wet afternoon and evening. As Mr. Huntley had failed to make his appearance while the clouds had held up, it was less likely that he would enliven the White Cottage by his presence when the rain was pattering against the casements; and its inmates had therefore resumed their work when the candles were lighted, resigned to the prospect of an uninterrupted evening, when his well-known step was heard.

"How could you be so imprudent as to come out to-night?" said Hannah, looking pleased in spite of herself.

"How could I have the prudence to stay away?" replied he, laughing, as he warmed his hands at the crackling wood fire. Surely my

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coming this evening is less wonderful than my staying away this morning. But I can explain that, I had an adventure!"

"Indeed!" cried Mrs. Wellford.

hear it."

"Pray let us

"It would hardly do for a novel, though well enough for a rainy evening. You must know that the glimpse of sunshine which we had in the morning, tempted me to walk to that distant corner of Heeley common, which you, madam, one day pointed out to my notice, and wished me to sketch. I had just seated myself on the grass and opened my portfolio, when down came the rain with the fury of a water spout! No umbrella or great coat had I, so with the ruling passion strong in' rain, I tied up my drawing implements very carefully, and then ran with my best speed towards the nearest shelter. This, however, was not attained till my clothes were completely saturated; and, when reached, proved to be the most squalid, miserable cabin in the world, inhabited by gipsies. I was not disposed just then to be fas

tidious; shelter was my most pressing want, and that I found. The gang consisted of two men, a wretched looking woman almost buried in an ill contrived bed of great coats and old blankets, several children, and a girl, the perfection of gipsy beauty, engaged in cooking some mess or other, over a few smoking sticks."

"What a charming subject for a sketch!"

"Do you think I allowed it to escape me? No, indeed! The girl offered to tell my fortune, and I offered to draw her picture. She flattered my credulity, and I, her vanity, so that never was there a better bargain. All the fine things she promised me I must not tell; but we became the best friends imaginable, and I was studying her head with professional enthusiasm, when alas ! I felt a hand gently insinuating itself into my pocket, and subtracting thence my handkerchief. What a revulsion my romantic feelings underwent! From being ready to join my goodly associates in singing

"Underneath the greenwood tree,

Here we live, right merrily,—”

my most anxious thought became how I should