Flora Lyndsay

f half-past five, Flora took her work, and wen

t of things without was relieved by a small but very cheerful fire, which was burning away merrily in the grate. A large easy chair, covered with snow-white dimity, was placed near it, expressly for Flora's accommodation, into which she was duly inducted by Miss Carr, the moment s

it opposite to Flora's easy chair, so that a pretty work-table stood conveniently

I thought I had come

itude, from which I presume emanate the fashions of the world; and I am too independent to be swayed by any will but my own. We will therefore set the fash

said Flora, drawing her work from her bag; "since you give me the privilege of doi

will have no stitching and sewing here, but as much conversation as you please." Then ringing the bell, she handed over t

y small affair," said Mrs. T

Carr. "The cold weather is coming. I

etreating; "it's a pity you had not someth

te making part of the furniture, an open drawing-box, of a very expensive kind, with card-board and other drawing materials,

g?" she asked, when the

e eyes to see, and hands to copy what pleases me; and the school from which I derive instruction is the best in the world, and furnishes the m

returned with a large portfolio, which she placed on the table before

be worse, or indeed so eccentrically bad. The first specimen of Miss Carr's talents as an artist which she drew from the splendid velvet-covered portfolio puzzled her not a little. What the pic

ble Muff, taken while pick

eroglyphic, for Miss Carr's keen eyes were fixed inten

she cried, anticipati

retty animal," sa

te-the perfection of her species. I have, in that spirited picture, hit her off to the life. Look at the action of that t

radoxus quite as well as the incomparable Muff. The drawing was t

ed; fortunately the offended vanity of the artist soon

it in the one before you. I showed that sketch to an Italian artist of celebrity when I was

be more correct than mine. Muff is so unlike the generalit

mina, forgetting her anger, a

ra, delighted to find the

ng her dog. "My Muff is among the aristocrats of her species. But you have not seen

aubs that were meant for landscapes, the contemplation of which would have provoked the most indifferent person to mirth; but it was no l

was meant for that of a boy, but the head was as big as the head of a man, and covered with a forest of red curling hair, and

lf-he stood alone in the world in my estimation. I must tell you th

ible. Miss Wilhelmina laid her right foot over her left knee, and, patting it almost as complacently as she

at man-a second William Tell, or Andrew Hoffer-and I should have been the foster-

die?" as

everybody must die, some time or other. Oh, no, he may b

came int

a bunch of the blue flowers which grow just below the regions of ice and snow. He presented his offering in such a pretty, simple manner, that I never accepted his flowers without giving him a kiss and a few small coins. We soon became great friends, and he often accompanied me on my exploring expeditions. Whether it was his red head-God bless the mark! or a likeness I fancied I saw be

gem in the maternal crown. Her opposition only increased my desire to gain possession of the boy; indeed, I was so set upon having him that, had she remained obstinate, I determined to carry him off without asking her leave a

through Germany. He was not only a great comfort to me, but useful withal. He was sturdy and strong, a real so

It would have had a more significant meaning in England. A red-headed, single lady could not have travelled alone, with a red-hea

to examine the lions of the place. By accident we got entangled in a crowd, which had collected in one of the principal thoroughfares, to witness a fire. While striving to stem my way through the heaving mass o

the greater number bade me stand out of their way. I was mad with fear and excitement, and returned to my lodgings late in the evening, starving with hunger, and worn out with fatigu

s; I borrowed a large bell from my landlady, and went through all the streets crying him

lora. "Was he i

the walls of the principal streets; but I failed in recovering my poor Adolphe. To console myself for his loss, I painted that portrait of him from memory. 'Tis an admirable likeness. No one who had ever seen the original, could mistake it for another. It was just a week after I lost my child, that the mistress of th

he poor child,-how di

never wish to know; for, without Adolphe, I never

hat the child found his way b

tle purse. I have no doubt that, on missing me, he returned by the road we had travelled to his native place. That demon won't haunt my dreams again. But here comes the coffee, and Miss Turner's delic

ora. "I have quite an Asia

it. The nauseous stuff! I have drank enough of it at Constantinople, but nev

hem. The coffee was fragrant and exhilarating; the bread and butter and cakes richly deserved th

f this, and for an imaginary crumb of that; and make their entertainers uncomfortable by their ridiculous fastidiousness; while, if we could see these very delicate masticators in their own homes, perhaps we should find them grumbling for Benjamin's share of the dai

d be dangerous to take the doings of such an odd mortal for precedents in any case; and she was justifie

drawing down the window-curtains, she tucked her legs under her upon the sofa, and commenced filling,

er astonishmen

do you rea

id Wilhelmina. "Did you neve

in London; and I though

t was not in Ireland, nor in the streets of London, sitting upon a fruit-woman's barrow, that I learned the pleasures of smoking. It was in the East, with all its pretended romance, and real humbug, that I acquired what you consider an un

very sick and stupid. 'Courage,' sa

e cometh

cometh af

ina, tr

en by these long-bearded, long-petticoated men; an

female which they cannot deny themselves? You don't know how much you lose, by being frightened by their blustering into passive obedience, and persuaded that what is good for a

s Wilhelmina's head dimly loomed through clouds o

lhelmina. "But I hope to make something

g but water, excepting

punch will do you no harm. I am going to

ld come in, and find me smoking a cigar, and drinking brandy

neither refuse one of these cigars, nor a tumbl

a cigar, s

ass of toddy-or

lly, with

The lecturer was a methodist; and he spoke very vehemently against the use of tobacco in any shape; but snuff-taking seemed to rouse him up, and inflame his indignation to a pitch of enthusiasm. 'If the Almighty,' he said, 'h

fect-her eyes danced in her head, and she became so strangely excited, that Flora wished devoutly that she was safe at home.

had en

ht have come to that concl

k enough to raise my spirits, and drive away

down to

ere is a march I composed this morning for Captain Lyndsay's black regiment-Hottentot of course.

he keys at a tremendous rate, striking them with such force that she made the instrument shake. It was a mad revel-a hurricane of

" said Flora, risin

only th

till I give you Napoleon's Passage of the Alps. I wrote it on the

y to hear it some other time. It was

n't tell me any white lies, or try and convince your good

leased, with the account his wife

he. "Whether insane, or only eccentric, any particular inti

. Flora did not go to that lady's house, but Wilhelmina chose to come to her; though she gave her ne

me, for not living in accordance with its lying customs. You are afraid lest people should sneer at you for tolerating my eccentricities, as they please to term a person leading a true life-or say, that Mrs. Lyndsay smokes, and drinks,

objections she had to an intimacy with Miss Carr

. I give you credit for being honest, at least. You are no sneak, though I am rich, and you are poor. I verily believe, that you are prouder of your poverty, than I am of my wealth

rambling propensities, and accept the protection of her brother's roof. This advice greatly displeased Miss Carr. Flora might as well have striven

," she said, angrily. "I suffer no on

ough she walked past the window every day, to give Flo

and testified her regard in a more substantial form, by sending her two dozen of old Madeira wine, which she said would strengthen and do her good. Flora was very gratefu

fort has to be considered as well as my own. I spent a winter in New York; and I liked the Americans first-rate. But as to pure democracy, my dear, that's all a humbug. No well-educated, wealthy persons, ever consider themselves upon an equality with their se

f thanking Miss Carr for her

me. It was neither out of love nor charity I sent it, but just to make you confess t

a word about it, for fear he should lay out the money we wanted so much for our voy

, but want spirit to live as you please. I leave this hum-drum place to-morrow. Perhaps some of these days we may meet again

ntered it. Who or what she was remains a riddle to this d

to co