Abbeychurch

gnity, and had waited to remind Katherine of her argument with her, the latter might perhaps have taken the safest

declare, Anne, there is the bone of contention itself-St. Augustine in his own person! Oh! look at

e, crossly; 'you know it is no su

the colour of St. Austin's,' said Eliza

y the entrance of Mrs. Turner and her daught

capable of towards that lady, 'we are come to claim your kind

not think! It is my nephew, Augustus Mills, who lectures to-night. Most talented young man,

full consciousness of the distinguished part which he was about to act. Poor Elizabeth! little reliance as she usually placed in Katherine's descriptions, she had expected to see something a little more gentleman-like than what she now beheld; an

, they arranged themselves for the walk to the Mechanics' Institute. Mr. Turner, a fat silent old gentleman, very ceremoniously offered his arm to Miss Merton, who, though by this time exceedingly amazed and disgusted by all she saw and heard, could sc

ing of shame and repugnance which the poor girl had to encounter as she placed her hand within the offered arm of Mr. Mills, almost groaning at he

elieve, Miss Woodbourne?' said M

dread of meeting either of the curates, or worse still, her c

w his aunt how well he and his companion agreed. 'I am quite de

: she fancied she saw a figure like Rupert's at the othe

e last word of each sentence; or when that would not serve for a reply, she had recourse to the simple interjection 'Oh!' that last refuge of listeners with nothing to say. After a walk, which she thought was at least as many miles in len

e of the front benches; while Mr. Turner, who was one of the managing committee,

ith him, bent her head so low that he might well imagine that she returned the bow. She hoped by looking down to escape all further observation, but unfortunately for her, Mrs. Turner had taken care to find a conspicuous place for her party; and Katherine, who had by this time quite forgotten her doubts and misgivings, was nodding and smiling to everyone, with what she considered the utmost grace and affability. Anne, meanwhile, was trying to account for Elizabeth's ever having thought of going to such a place, wondering what Sir Edward and Lady Merton would think of the expedition, and for a moment considering whether Mr. Woodbourne co

ced to wait till the crowd nearer the door had dispersed, and then to listen to the numerous compliments and congratulations which poured in upon Mrs. Turner from all quarters before they could reach the open

essively ridiculous, that the moment they were in the drawing-room she sank down upon the sofa, giving way to the laughter which, long repressed, now burst forth louder and more merrily upon every fres

h, 'I hope, as Helen says, you have had a pleas

ing to look serious, but the corners of her mouth relaxin

us was fully sensible of your wisdom, love of erudition, and class

,' said Elizabeth; 'I only echoed his ow

the tip of your glove!' continued Anne.

said Katherine; 'I think you wou

aid Elizabeth, gr

asked wher

o the front door, they called, they searched, they even went to Mr. Turner's to inquire for him, but all their researches were fruitless; and Harriet turned angrily

izabeth, 'that the person who was

d Lucy, 'it was my fault in some degree

said Elizabeth; 'I dare say he

asleep excepting Dora; and as Elizabeth leant over her, kissing her and bidding her good-night, the little girl put h

ught upon her sin. She was too upright and sincere to evade such an inquiry as this, even from a younger sister and a pupil, and answered, 'Indeed, Dora, I can hardly tell yet how wrong it was; but I am afraid it was very wrong

in her sister's eyes

loud knocking was heard at the front-door, and Harriet and Anne both sprang up-th

ousins. Elizabeth felt some embarrassment in performing a regular introduction of Mr. Merton to the Miss Hazlebys; but Rupert's easy well-bre

h, 'better late than never; that

pert; 'I hope no one

e town of Abbeychurch, St. Mary and St. Austin, to wait your pleasure and convenience? Anne, d

ou mean?'

a day too late, you

to have been the day of th

wrote to tell you that the day was altered, a

letter from my amiable sister, full of-let me see-histories of dogs and cats, and the harvest, and old Dame Philips, and comm

y words about it,' said Anne;

overweening presumption? Here is a damsel who expects her scraps of angula

burnt it without re

it might contain, seeing that Miss Merton's caligraphy is more like the cabalistic characters of a sorcer

d page of the second piece of n

id Rupert, 'and then put the pith of it in a place where no one would ever dream of looking? No, Lady Elizabeth, if by my absen

used to her brother's ways, and could bear them with good humour. Elizabeth, however, attacked him. 'Why, Rup

hlessness of young ladies' letters, which is such as not to enco

ly behaved most cavalierly, that must be confessed!

e,' said Rupert; 'I have missed the Consecr

up ever after as a warning to Ho

ioned pupil of yours o

l be!' cried Elizabeth; 't

ad intended to go to Ely,' said Rupert, 'I made up my mind to spend Sunday at S

sure that was very kind of you. And how did he look, poor little

very happy and flourishing, with face and shirt-collar all over ink on Sa

Freeman say of hi

o Woodbourne is by far the most promising youth who has entered his celebra

cation of the latter part of that speech d

e most promising, not the most performin

do talk such nonse

nce is received, I think I shall spare it in future. I have a letter and parcel from Master Horatio

d you lose them again, after all

hem safe till yesterday, I assure you. I wish you would come and give

he kept his sister up, looking out some things which had been brought from Merton Hall for him, while he sat by recounting all his adventures in Scotland. Anne was much delighted to listen, and very glad to have he

Helen were undressin

you had gone, i

I thought Lizzie did no

ooked vexed, though there were such a number of people, all so

w to you and Lizzie

d a very polite bow he made, I assure you, Helen. I

zie like it?

uite angry; I jogged her once or twice to make her look up, but she

hings would vex her m

hat some people think Lizzie very proud and di

len; 'I am sure she is

errupted Kate, 'what are

lied Helen, in he

Katherine; 'I thought you

es not,' s

ld never dream of doing such a thing, onl

not,' s

gins's next Sunday's paper will mention that the Mechanics' I

, who could not guess from her sister's ma

en; 'such a sanction to the education-witho

looking bewildered; 'how a

es us some weight,' said Helen; 'besides that, what each

erself to understand it. She only said, 'Well, I hope we have not go

you went,'

cause Lizzie said it was not wrong. She is t

hat poor consolat

night. Those horrid gas-lights have mad