"I looked upon her face the while,

No token of surprise was there;
She answered with a quiet smile,

'Oh yes, God's work was very fair.'"
E. H. R.

For my part, I found it a very good and refreshing thing to think of pretty subjects on which Selina might exercise her poetical genius. And I agreed with her heartily, when she said, "Such things were to the mind, what food is to the body. I shall soon wonder, Nellie, how people can live, without the enjoyment of such work, such thought."

"Poetry is like yourself; to be truly good, it must be refined and graceful. That is the reason, I suppose, one never hears of vulgar poetry."

"Vulgar! what a word-never let me hear you use it again."

"Or you will write a poetical essay on my bad manners."

"Nellie, you are becoming much more merry than you used to be."

"God is so good to me.

I am working my

way home with such pleasant labourers. Will you ride to-day? my guardian has gone from home for a week, and we may go without fear of a fuss."

In general, when we went out riding, if Captain Forest was not with Lady Maria, we had various impediments thrown in our way, or were sent to some unknown road on some bootless errand, or were cross-questioned when we returned, in a way that would have done honour to a Grand Inqusitor, it was so skilfully managed to entrap an innocent answer.

We had a very pleasant ride, and I think we must have passed the indifferent poet.

His

eyes were very weak, and his hair very limp, and his thoughts far away.

CHAPTER XXI.

"In his words

There was an athletic sinew, though they played
With great things carelessly, as a fresh wind
Provokes the sea to laughter; and his pride
Ever seem'd well placed, like a castle set
Upon a mountain."-BEDDOES.

WHEN my guardian was from home, Lady Maria was so discreet, she never ventured out of her own boudoir, except for her drive in the Park. Miss Seymour had taken a little holyday, so Selina and I made use of the house, as two kittens who gambolled and delighted in a sunny

bank.

I was always allowed the use of a small room which in good little books, of an age gone by, is

generally designated as a "light closet," or the "china room." It was situated beyond the inner drawing-room, and would have served for a landing or lobby on the staircase, had it not been made into a room. Here I was allowed to keep what Neale called my putty paste, or in other words, all my modelling apparatus.

I was designing a figure, which was by no means to be seen until advanced to a certain degree of completion. So while I modelled, Selina played and sung in the room adjoining mine. Sometimes I sang too.

Thus we were in full carol, when the door opened, and the butler, with a red and somewhat offended face, announced,

"A gentleman."

I could just see, through my door, Hughes's inflamed visage: and whether he was angry (for he was apt to be high and mighty with the

young ladies,") with us, for not being better prepared for visitors, or was indignant with the

visitor himself, I could not determine. The

room was still ringing with the sound of our voices.

If the butler was angry with the visitor, it was clear the visitor was utterly unconscious of the fact; for he entered the room with the air and manner of one on extremely good terms with himself; so as to be indifferent to-or careless of any opinion but his own.

“Miss Glynne, I presume?" he said, with the utmost ease. The tone of his voice was so strong and mellow, I thought he spoke in my ear.

The butler stared, and became still more red.

"You may go, my good friend," said the unknown. "I shall wait here, until Lady Maria returns from her drive. That is, with your permission, madam," turning to Selina, and bowing with the solemnity and grace of a cavalier; but I thought half in mockery.

Sir," answered she to the bow, "your name-you are a stranger to me-"