Mr. Seymour had, upon this occasion, succeeded in opening the heart of the vicar, just as a skilful mechanic would pick a patent lock; who, instead of forcing it by direct violence, seeks to discover the secret spring to which all its various movements are subservient.

"To-morrow, then," cried the vicar, in a voice of great exultation, " we will commence our career, from which I anticipate the highest satisfaction and advantage; in the meantime," continued he, "I will refresh my memory upon certain points touching the antiquities of these said pastimes, or, as we used to say at college, get up the subject."

Mr. Seymour cast an intelligible glance at his wife, who was no less surprised at the sudden change in the vicar's sentiments than she was pleased with the skill and address by which it had been accomplished.

"To-morrow!" said Tom.

"To-morrow!!" echoed Fanny.

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow," sighed Louisa; "why not to-day? for it is not yet one o'clock."

"Be it so,” replied her father," and I hope that Mr. Twaddleton will afterwards join our family circle at dinner."

after which The good

The vicar accepted the invitation, but observed that his parochial duties obliged him to absent himself for an hour, he faithfully promised to return. humoured clergyman then shook Tom by the hand, and departed in company with Mr. Seymour, while the juvenile party were left to their amusements in the garden.

CHAP. III.

WEIGHT

THE VELOCITY OF

FALLING BODIES. AT WHAT ALTITUDE A BODY WOULD LOSE ITS GRAVITY. THE TOWER OF BABEL. THE KNOWN VELOCITY OF SOUND AFFORDS THE MEANS OF CALCULATING DISTANCES. AN EXCURSION TO OVERTON WELL. AN EXPERIMENT TO ASCERTAIN ITS DEPTH. AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.-THE MYSTERIOUS SISTERHOOD. AN INCANTATION SCENE. -A VISIT TO THE VICARAGE. THE MAGIC GALLERY.RETURN TO THE LODGE.

It was about two o'clock, when Mr. Twaddleton, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Seymour, joined the children on the lawn.

"Tom," said his father, "are you prepared to commence the proposed examination ?”

"Quite ready, papa."

"Then you must first inform me," said Mr. Seymour, taking the ball out of Rosa's hand,

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why this ball falls to the ground, as soon as I withdraw from it the support of my hand?" "Because every heavy body, that is not supported, must of course fall."

"And every light one also, my dear; but that is no answer to my question; you merely assert the fact, without explaining the reason."

"Oh! now I understand you; it is owing to the force of gravity; the earth attracts the ball, and the consequence is, that they both come in contact ; is not that right?”

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Certainly; but if the earth attract the ball, it is equally true that the ball must attract the earth; for you have, doubtless, learnt that bodies mutually attract each other: tell me, therefore, why the earth should not rise to meet the ball."

"Because the earth is so much larger and heavier than the ball."

"It is, doubtless, much larger, and since the force of attraction is in proportion to the mass, or quantity of matter, you cannot be surprised at not perceiving the earth rise to meet the ball, the attraction of the latter being so infinitely small, in comparison with that of the former, as to render its effect wholly nugatory; but with regard to the earth being heavier than the ball, what will you say when I tell you that it has no weight at all?"

"No weight at all! oh, now you are trying to puzzle me, as mamma did last evening, when she asked me if I could tell her what an Indiaman, laden with merchandize, weighs before she sets sail; you may suppose how the question puzzled me; and as I was proceeding to enquire the particulars which I supposed to be necessary for the solution of the problem, Louisa, who was in the secret, cried out, "goose! goose!! goose!!! does not she weigh anchor ?" "

"Punica fides," muttered Mr. Twaddleton, and casting at Mrs. Seymour a look of remon