Flora Lyndsay

endeavour to give a slight sketch of her to our readers. We do not possess sufficient artistic skill to do Miss Wilhelmina justice; for if she had not actually lived and walked the earth,

rough life, but a more eccentric individual never bef

mily, and a few old and chosen friends, with whom she had been intimate from childhood. How, then, did she become

or the last four months, and clever and prying as they were-quite models in

her heels. She inquired at the first hotel in the town for lodgings, and hired two very handsome apartments of Mrs. Turner, who kept very respectable lodgings, and was patronised by the b

-filled hampers full of wine of the best quality, were forwarded to her di

t. She had evidently plenty of money at her command, lived as she liked and did w

pent most of her time in the open air. If your walk lay along the beach, the common

Miss Wilhelmina Carr, though she was sitting at the window nursing her dog, did not choose to be at home to any one, and never had the courtesy to return these ceremonious visits. An old practised propagator of news wa

orn to

on. "Besides all this," whispered the cautious Mrs. Turner, "she swears like a man." This last piece of information might be a scandal, the ladies hoped that it was, but believed and talked

conceal hair of a decidedly carroty hue, she wore an elaborately curled flaxen wig, which nearly covered her large forehead, and hung over her eyes like the curly coat of a French poodle dog. This was so carelessly adjusted, that the red and flaxen formed a curious shading round her face, as their tendrils mingled and twined within each other. Her countenance, even in y

hest materials; but she wore these so ridiculously short, that her petticoats barely reached below the middle of her legs;

he regular Mullingar breed, she would have shown them as freely to all the world; simply, because she chose

ontinued to walk her ten or fourteen miles a day, let the weather be what it would. Hail, rain, blow, or snow, it was all one t

that adventurous lady; as easily as the said Ida destroys all the romantic notions previously entertained by stay-at-ho

This was not diminished, by her choosing to stand during those portions of the service, when pious females bend the knee. Miss Wilhelmina said, "that she was too big to kneel-that her prayers were just as good in one attitude as another. The soul had no legs or knees, that she could discover-and

se, who resided within a short distance of the town, Flora had often encountered the sturdy pedestrian stumping along at full speed, and she had laughed heartily with her husband at her odd appearance; at her short petticoats, and the resolute manner

red, silky looking creature, the colour of coffee freshly ground, no bigger than a large squirrel,

er pet would bound up her dress like a cat, and settle itself down upon her arm, poking its black nose into her hand, or rearing up on its hind legs, to lick her face. They were an odd pair, s

rr, who never passed them in her long rambles without bestowing upon them a gracious bow an

to spend the evening with her mother at -- Hall. "Instead of passing us at her usual brisk trot, she has loitered at our pace for the last half-hour, smiling at us, and showi

d about her. These eccentric people are often great bores; and, if you get acquainted with them, it

ugly for scandal of that sort. I should think, from her a

themselves. We are so much amused with them, that they fascinate us before we are aware. She has a good fi

husband dear. If she shou

r civilly,

take it into her he

d let the acqu

nterview as Lyndsay was that she should keep her distance. Flora pressed her hand tightly on her husband's arm, scarcely able to keep her delight in due bound

augh out, as Miss Carr came alongside, and verified Mrs. Lyndsay's predictio

fternoon fo

the time of yea

eople like me. You seem

ng. I do not find t

raoh's lean kine. It requires a warm day to make your blood cir

r riding," said Lyndsay; "yet I

s of our own, doubtless intended us to make use of them. I have used mine ever since I was a baby, and they are not worn out yet. I got upon my feet sooner than most ch

ay. "It must have been an ard

n Europe that I have not visited, or mountain but what I have climbed, or cavern that I have left unexplored. Three years ago I commenced a pedestrian tour through Great Britain, which I accomplished greatly to my own satis

y anxious about you," said

ns. He has made war upon my roaming propensities all his life. As if a woman has not as much right to see the world as a man, if she can pay her own expenses, and bear her own burthen, without being a trouble to any one. It is certainly no business of his how I spend my money, or where and how I pass my life. Not long ago I heard that he was going to issue a writ of lunacy against me, in order to get me and my property into his possession. This is mean; for he

hing about what she had

m my windows; and yesterday I asked Mrs. Turner who you were. Her account was so much in your favour, that I determined to introduce myself t

could have done, "She's mad; as mad as a March hare." But Flora would not understand the hint. She felt flattered

never allow a male creature to enter my doors. I'm not fond of men-I have no reason to be fond of them. They never were commonly civil to me; and I hate them generally and individually. W

g of your breeding and degree. Away, you vulgar-looking brute." And running across the road, she seized hold of a pedlar's do

s pleased with this outrage ag

fashun. What harm can that hanimal ha' done to

or I'll thrash you, too," cried Miss

e, you'd beest not try. If you w

dignity, and drawing her

y. You be but a 'uman, and a mad

Wilhelmina. But no; the lady dropped her cane, burst into a loud fit of laughter, stooped down, patted the offended cur, and,

yes and mouth wide open in blank astonishment, and the

g o' do'rrgs, ma'am, you ma' thrash Bull as much as you

iss Wilhelmina was out of hearing, and Flora

to co