Flora Lyndsay

several days formed the theme of conversation. The timid shrugged their shoulders, and drew closer to

nd turned the golden anticipations of the hopeful and the benevolent into ridicule, prophesying disappointment, ruin, and a speedy return. Lyndsay listened to all their remarks, endeavoured to combat u

e was tormented by visitors, who came to condole with her on the shocking prospects before her. Some of these were kind, well-meaning people, who really thought it a dreadful thing, to be forced, at the caprice of a

pretended concern she looked upon as a real bore-this was Mrs. Ready, the wife o

ard of the intended emigration of the Lyndsays to Canada, she put on her bonnet and shawl, and rushed to t

he was writing letters of importance, "I know that k

t sort of an intimacy existed between Flora Lyndsay and Harriet Ready, and

natures that possess certain repellent qualities, which never can be brought into affinity with our own-persons, whom we like or dislike at first sight, with

or feeling in common; and they seldom met without a certain sparring, wh

y meet, if such

and the conventional rules of society, compel persons to hide these secret antipathie

king the objects of their aversion persons of too much consequence, by keeping them al

her in the social scale, and, thinking that Flora might aid her ambitious views, she had, after the first calls of ceremony ha

botanical names and scientific terms, which she sported on all occasions, had conferred upon her the title of a learned woman; while she talked with the greatest confidence of her acquirements. Her paintings-her music-her poetry, were words constantly in her mouth. A few wretched daubs, some miserable attem

, and said when offended such bitter things, that her neighbours tolerated her impert

en separated, only meeting at their joyless meals. Mrs. Ready considered her husband a very

d, "or you would never see a person of my supe

union. Mrs. Ready was poor, and had already numbered thirty year

habits and pretensions, should dislike Mrs. Ready: it would have been strange i

rejected with disdain the patronage of such a woman. Flora had too much self-respect, not to say vanity, to tolerate the insolence of Mrs. Ready. She had met all her advances tow

ng person of some literary taste, and with the advice and assistance of a

carried on by his wife and Mrs. Ready, who was the only blue stock

and proffer the usual meaningless salutations of the day. To these her vi

Is it true-true, that you are going to leave us? I cannot believe it; it is so absurd-so ridiculous-the idea of your going to Canada. D

reath, and applied her h

he placed no confidence in the grief of the weeping lady, an

ould rather hear the truth at onc

if no untoward circumsta

th such stoical indifference? Why does not your mother exe

, particularly when she considers them reasonable, and kn

f the dreadf

of choice. Mr. Lyndsay thinks it necessary for us to take this step, and I have no doubt

dear, you cannot deceive me; I see through it all. I pity you, my sweet friend; I sympath

ortable seat in her easy chair. But what could she do? She could not inform the lady that she was tired of her company, and wished to be

ion, Mrs. Ready removed the cambric screen from her face, on which not a trace

oment's warning! I would remonstrate-I would not go; I would exert

event an undertaking in which I most cordially concur, and

bread-and-butter wives, who consider it their duty to become the mere echo of their husbands. If I did not wish

ecessary: on this su

d, dutiful wife,-to become an example of enduring patience to all the refractory conjugals in the plac

I meant no reflection upon you. My words had

ist between Mr. Ready and me (and which will continue to exist, as long as mind claims a

ora, indignantly; "I never trouble my head with yo

Ready, who lived in an element

yet! Let a few short years of domestic care pass over your head, and all this honey will be changed to gall. Matrimony is matrimony, and husbands are husbands, and wives will strive to have their own way-ay, and

," said Flora, "

rue in m

there are excepti

er compliment, Mrs. L

rrel with you; but you seem deter

down her ruffled plumes, and said, in a pit

Canada: we shall see you bac

f I know anything o

you do fo

rs. Ready away-and she answered, carelessly, "W

arkets-no medical attendant-and with your poor health-think of that, Mrs. Lyndsay! And wo

of Mrs. Ready's presence, she unconsciously uttered her thoughts aloud-"These may

ou for your incorrigible blunder? It had, however, one good effect. It quickly cleared the room of your intrusive guest; who swept out of the apartment with

; and she felt perfectly indifferent as to the result; for she did not care, if she never saw Mr

st heartily from her lips, when

hat she endeavoured to forget it as much as she could. The manner in which it had been forced upon her by Mrs. Ready, was like probing

to co