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interesting topic of conversation than her neighbours dinner had done. She was considering what to say t, when a question from Miss Irwin helped her, Are you a botanist, Miss Melbourne ?'

No,' Anstace answered; 'but I am a great lover of wers.'

And they were soon engaged in an animated converion about various kind of wild flowers. Miss Irwin scribed some which grew in that part of the country, d Anstace quickly grew interested. Presently, not ing able to recognize some flowers from her cominion's description, she fetched some botanical books led with coloured illustrations, with which they were th so pleasantly occupied, that Anstace felt sorry to e interrupted by a summons to the piano-forte, where Ionoria and Mrs. Wallis were playing and singing. Whilst Anstace was singing, the gentlemen entered the oom, and there was an end to the botanical talk for that vening; for Miss Irwin was otherwise engaged when Anstace rose from the piano. She now stood or sat for some time unnoticed, as was often the case with her in company. Whether it was from a certain grave, preoccupied look in her face, which seemed to say either that she did not wish to be spoken to, or that she would not be an easy person to get on with, or from any other cause, it was a fact that Anstace seldom gained much attention in company, and often passed a great part of the time in silence. She was at last disturbed from her solitary musings by her mother's voice.

Anstace,' she said, 'I wish you would sing one of those new duetts with Honoria; Mrs. Irwin is so fond of Mendelssohn's music.'

'I am afraid I don't know them well enough, Mamma,' Anstace said in some alarm; 'I have scarcely practised them at all.'

She was urged, however, to try, until feeling ashamed

to persist longer in her refusal, she took her place at Honoria's side, feeling twice her usual amount of ner

vousness.

'You had better not try, if you think you can't get through it,' Honoria whispered, as she began a brilliant prelude; and Anstace would gladly have followed her sister's advice had she been able. As it was, she only

said,

'I suppose I must try.'

The first page went very smoothly and sweetly; then came a solo for Anstace, whose nervousness was increasing every instant, as she felt that she did not know her part at all; in short, there was a most complete break-down. Everybody was good-natured about it, and said that they ought not to have persuaded her to try; and Anstace, after the first moment's confusion was over, would not have cared for her failure, but for Honoria's too evident annoyance. A good deal vexed, Anstace retired to a chair which stood apart from the rest, heartily wishing this uncomfortable evening at an end. She did not notice who was near her, till Mr. Mayo drew a chair to her side and began to speak. His first words changed the current of her thoughts completely.

'Have you seen Widow Hammond lately? he asked, and Anstace's face lighted up in an instant with an expression of pleasure and interest, as she eagerly entered upon a subject congenial to her taste. From Mrs. Hammond they went on to speak of Mrs. Fleming, Anstace asking whether Annette had left her mother yet.

'Yes,' he said; it must be two or three weeks now since she went to Brighton.'

'And how does Mrs. Fleming bear her absence? Anstace asked.

'Most beautifully and bravely,' he answered; 'I never saw such resignation as hers is; it is not only patient endurance of what she cannot avoid, she consents to it,

accepts it with a loving and willing heart, really ing God's will her own.'

I can quite believe that,' said Anstace, earnestly; ugh I have seen so little of her, I could not help ling out something of her character.'

Annette is a great loss to her mother,' Mr. Mayo 1, for she was quite a companion and friend, as well a great help to her; but I have not heard Mrs. Flemutter a single complaint since she has been gone. I s with her to-day before I came here, and when I spoke her trials, she said with that quiet smile of hers, "It is ly for a little while; a little while, and our sorrows all be turned into joy."

From Mrs. Fleming the conversation wandered to subets very interesting to Anstace. Mr. Mayo's thoughtIness and originality of mind, made all he said worth tening to, and he led Anstace on to express her opinions eely. It was thorough enjoyment to Anstace while it sted; but Mr. Mayo presently rose to speak to some hers of the party, and Anstace was once more left to erself; not for long, however, for now the evening as drawing to an end, and very soon the guests began depart. Anstace took Edith up-stairs to put her bon

et on.

I have hardly spoken to you all the evening,' she aid, though I have a great deal to say.'

'It must be said another time, then,' was Edith's rely; then she added with a smile, 'perhaps I can guess omething of it.'

'Oh, exclaimed Anstace, with a deep sigh of relief, 'I am so glad it is over! Now, Edith, wasn't I right?'

'You shall not entrap me into any discussions to-night, at any rate,' Edith said; we have not time for it now.' 'No, and I am horribly tired; I shall be so glad to be in bed,' Anstace said, as they went down-stairs together. The good-nights were soon spoken, and as soon as she

could, Anstace went to her room. The next time that she found herself alone with her cousin, she began her meditated attack.

'Now, Edith, I mean to make you acknowledge that I was in the right about dinner-parties.'

'You will find me very refractory, I warn you,' said Edith, laughing. 'But how do you intend to compel my submission?'

'The experience of last Thursday ought to convince you at once. Think of that silly, chattering Mrs. Wallis and heavy, stupid Mrs. Duncombe, and-'

'No, no, Anstace,' said Edith, interrupting her; *tlis will never do. I can't hear you pass sentence on peop im in this summary way.'

'But you must think as I do,' said Anstace, now Mrs. Duncombe-'

'Mrs. Duncombe is rather heavy, certainly, but she is thoroughly kind-hearted,' Edith said; no one who asks her for help is ever sent away empty-handed, and she is one of the most generous contributors we have to all our parochial charities. I really cannot suffer you to speak as contemptuously of her as you did just now, without setting you right.'

'Well, I was wrong,' said Anstace, a little ashamed; 'but, of course, I could not know all that. I only judzed from what I saw of her that evening. But now Mrs.

Wallis; what can you find to say for her?'

'I remember once meeting her coming out of a cottage where a poor mother had just lost her little baby, and she was quite crying about it, and I have liked her better ever since,' was Edith's reply.

'What a knack you have for finding out people's good points,' said Anstace; 'you have stopped my mouth these two times, so that I am afraid to speak about the rest of the people.'

'A very wholesome sort of fear,' Mrs. Mayo said.

Well then, without any more personal remarks, I am you will agree with me about what they were sayafter dinner,' said Anstace.

About the object of young ladies' lives generally?' ired Edith, smiling.

Yes; and oh, Edith, I was so surprised to hear you wer Mrs. Wallis as you did. I was in hopes you ld have said something more severe, something of ir real opinion.'

I saw by your face that you did not approve,' Mrs. yo said; but I thought it better to take up the lighte in which she was speaking, than to thrust in any ious opinions or arguments where they would have med very much out of place.'

'But you won't mind telling me now what you really think about it,' said Anstace; 'would you say that ery young lady's chief Object in Life is to get married? 'I really think it might be said with truth of a good any,' answered Edith, seriously.

Of a good many-yes, perhaps so; but only of such are silly and frivolous; such as one would not respect care for.'

'No, Anstace, I don't agree with you. I think, in the rst place, it is often the fault of a girl's education, and that case she is the more excusable; and in the next, am not sure that this looking forward to marriage is so tterly reprehensible as you seem to think it.'

'Now you fairly puzzle me,' said Anstace; 'do you nean to say you think it a right thing to make that the hief Object of Life?'

'No, I think it a wrong thing,' said Edith, with quiet mphasis.

'Then what did you mean just now?' asked Anstace. 'I mean that I do not blame as much as you seem inclined to do any girl who looks forward to marriage as what she expects and hopes to come to some day. And

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