in the feminine accomplishments of the needle, had made it a sine qua non, I was never to work without scissors attached to my side. It was the most unlady-like thing to break, or worse, bite one's thread.

This rule served me now in good stead; I raised my scissors, with one vigorous snip I left the curl in his hand, and was out of the door before he knew what I had done.

It was about the longest and largest curl that I had, so to avoid the discovery of its loss, I must at once roll up my hair, and banish my curls for good.

I plaited it all up in two great plaits, and winding them round my head, fastened them behind with a twisted tortoiseshell comb, and had vanity enough to be highly pleased with the classical effect.

Miss Seymour and Selina both liked the change; my curls were always in the way, and hid my face, which was small enough without. Lady Maria was angry, expatiating from after

dinner until the gentlemen came in upon the conceit and forwardness of children, who wished to be thought young women before their time. To which I made no answer, as my present style being unavoidable, though she did not know it, she might order me to wear curls again as much as she liked, it was impossible to obey.

"Take to her curls again? certainly not," said Glynne, as he entered the room, hearing what she said. "Thank you very much, Nellie, for obliging me."

"I was not aware the change was made to please you, Glynne," said Lady Maria, who was for some reason or another rather afraid of her son; at least, she always gave way to him.

Why, it was not so much to oblige me as that it was expedient"—

"I hope not so great a necessity as to cause her curls to disappear for ever," observed Captain Forest.

"Thank you, Forest," said Glynne, laughing like a great schoolboy.

"Why?" asked he, astonished.

"There are some people who do good, all unknown to themselves, while others are so unlucky as to get into mischief when they mean to be kind. So let us have some music, an you love me.' Allow me, my dear madam."

And he handed Lady Maria to the piano, with the most courteous air, yet looking wickedly all the time.

"Now, Nellie," he whispered to me, as he returned to his seat, "you are all safe, you'll never be asked to wear curls again, thanks to Forest. Mille grazie for the one you gave me."

CHAPTER XXVII.

"But now his nose is thin,

And it rests upon his chin
Like a staff,

And a crook is in his back,

And a melancholy crack
In his laugh.

"I know it is a sin

For me to sit and grin

At him here:

But the old three-corner'd hat,

And the breeches, and all that,

Are so queer."-O. W. HOLMES,

It was very sad to see my guardian. It was evident, do what he would, he could not lay the demon that possessed Lady Maria.

I liked Glynne for the way in which he sided

with him, and kept his mother's temper down, as if with a will of iron.

He began to ride out with us every day now, and made our rides very amusing. But still he was a very naughty man, and had no good ways about him, that I could see, but telling the truth, and taking my guardian's part.

"Do you see that Nellie has at last obtained an admirer?" said he to Selina one day as we were riding.

He alluded to a little old gentleman, with a long white beard, and piercing reddish eyes, who rode a beautiful Arab pony; and always contrived to keep pace with me, though on the other side of the row.

“He is a friend of yours," I answered, rather indignantly.

"How know you that?"

"He makes signs to you sometimes, as if of disgust, and points to that beautiful girl, Miss Harrington."

"Nellie, you are, as I first said, of the genus fairy, knowing everything."