remember, as I said, that many are brought up to bak forward to this as the most important Object in Life from their very childhood. Everything they see and hear around them tends to encourage such a disposition.”

'Well, I suppose they are excusable,' Anstace admitted; 'but don't you think there is something wrong in such a state of mind?'

'There are so many things to be taken into consideration in deciding such a question,' said Edith; 'if a girl is so anxious to be married, as to resort to any of the expedients for getting a husband of which one sometimes hears young ladies accused-'

'Falsely accused, generally,' interrupted Anstace.

'Yes, I daresay it is often a false accusation,' Edith said; 'but in cases where it would not be false, there is. beyond a doubt, something wrong. Nothing can justify a woman in giving way to a wish to be married to sneh an extent as that.'

'I must remind you,' Anstace said, though I seem to be taking your office upon me when I make excuses for others, that girls are sometimes so excessively uncomfort able at home, that they wish to marry as the only way of escaping from present troubles.'

'Yes, I know; I have seen more than one instance of the kind. And I was actually thinking of such a case when I said, just now, that nothing could justify a woman in adopting such a course of conduct as we were then speaking of. And I think, moreover, that nothing can justify anyone in wishing so much, as to be discontented and unhappy if the wish is not granted.'

'There must be great danger of that, where such wishes are encouraged and dwelt upon,' Anstace said.

'There is great danger, I am sure,' Edith said, earnestly; we all know how liable disappointment in this matter is to lead to fretfulness, and an unhappy, irritable temper, the result of an excessive desire for what God has seen fit to withhold.'

The safe plan would be, not to wish at all,' Anstace

Or at least our wishes for any earthly good ought ays to be subordinate to what should be the first wish our hearts, "Thy will be done." But I suppose, as say, the less we allow ourselves in any wishes for the re, the better.'

But all this has led us away from what we started n at first,' Anstace said, after a minute's silence, 'and lon't mean to give up my point till you have owned urself of my mind about dinner-parties.'

You almost deserve it, you show such perseverance,' urned Edith, gaily; and to please you, I will admit at I generally find myself happier at home with only y husband and children, than in company. But I still lieve that there are such things as agreeable parties, at hich you may hear conversation that is both pleasant d interesting.'

'About peas and potatoes, for instance? Anstace ask1, with a satirical look.

"That was not intensely interesting, certainly; but we ot on better afterwards. And I think I noticed that ven the wise and clever Anstace, who is so keenly alive o other people's deficiencies, could find no better subject han the weather to talk about.'

"That is a fair hit, I acknowledge,' Anstace said, joinng in her cousin's laugh; 'it was very stupid of me. But, Edith,' she added, growing serious in a moment, 'do you really think that it is self-conceit or pride, which makes me so intolerant (as you express it) of people who are tiresome or silly?'

'I cannot tell you,' Edith answered, gravely; 'perhaps it is nothing of the kind; but you can tell; and I think it is worth your thinking about.'

(To be continued.)

'NEVER!'

THE LAW OF THE WOOD.

BY MRS. A. GATTY.

What a word to be heard in a wood on an early sumsmer morning, before the sun had quite struggled through the mists, and before the dew had left the flowers; and while all nature was passing through the changes that separate night from day, adapting herself gently to the necessities of the hour!

'Never!'

What a word to come from a young creature, which knew very little more of what had gone before, than of what was coming after, and who could not, therefore, be qualified to pronounce a very positive judgment upca anything. But, somehow or other, it is always the young and inexperienced who are most apt to be positive and self-willed in their opinions; and so, the young Spruce-fir, thinking neither of the lessons which nature was teaching, nor of his own limited means of judging, stuck out his branches all round him in every body's face, right and left, and said,

'Never!'

It so startled a squirrel, who was sitting in a neighbouring tree, pleasantly picking out the seeds of a fir-cone. that he dropped his treasured dainty to the ground; and springing from branch to branch, got up as high as be could, and then, looking down, remarked timidly to himself,

'What can be the matter with the Spruce-firs?

Nothing was the matter with the Spruce-firs exactly, but the history of their excitement was as follows. They and a number of other trees were growing together in a pretty wood. There were oaks, and elms, and beeches, and larches, and firs of many sorts; and, here and there, there was a silver-barked Birch. And there was one

er-barked Birch in particular, who had been observing Spruce-firs all that spring, noticing how fast they were ving, and what a stupid habit (as he thought) they of always getting into everybody's way, and never ding to accommodate the convenience of others. He might have seen the same thing for some years ore, if he had looked; but he was not naturally of an uisitive disposition, and did not trouble himself with er people's affairs; so that it was only when the ruce-fir next him had come so close that its branches lged off little pieces of his delicate paper-like bark, en the wind was high, that his attention was attracted the subjeet.

People usually become observant when their own comt is interfered with, and this was the case here. However little the Birch might have cared for the ruce-fir's behaviour generally, there was no doubt that was very disagreeable to be scratched in the face; and is he sensibly felt, and came to his own conclusions cordingly.

At first, indeed, he tried to sidle and get out of the ir's way, being himself of a yielding, good-natured haracter, but the attempt was a quite hopeless one. Не ould not move on one side a hundredth part as fast as the ir branches grew; so, do what he would, they came ushing up against him, and teased him all day.

It was quite natural, therefore, that the poor Birch hould begin to look round him, and examine into the ustice and propriety of such a proceeding on the part of the Spruce-firs; and the result was, that he considered their conduct objectionable in every way.

'For,' said he, (noticing that there was a little grove of them growing close together just there,) if they go on, all shooting out their branches in that manner, how hot and stuffy they will get! Not a breath of air will be able to blow through them soon; and that will be very

bad for their health. Besides which, they are absolute pests to society, with their unaccommodating ways. must really, for their own sakes, as well as my own, give them some good advice.'

And accordingly, one morning-that very early summer morning before described-the Birch, having had his silvery bark a little more scratched than usual, opened his mind to his neighbours.

'If you would but give way a little, and not stick out your branches in such a very stiff manner on all sides, I think you would find it a great deal more comfortable for yourselves, and it would certainly be more agreeable to your neighbours. Do try!'

'You are wonderfully ready in giving unasked advice. remarked the young Spruce-fir next the Birch, in a very saucy manner. 'We are quite comfortable as we are, I fancy; and, as to giving way, as you call it, what or whom are we called upon to give way to, I should like to know ?'

'To me, and to all your neighbours,' cried the Birch, a little heated by the dispute.

On which the Spruce-fir next the Birch, cried, 'Never in the most decided manner possible; and those beyond him, cried 'Never too; till at last all the Spruce-firs with one accord cried, Never! never! never!' and half frightened the poor Squirrel to death. Every hair on his beautiful tail trembled with fright, as he peeped down from the top of the tree, wondering what could be the matter with the Spruce-firs.

And, certainly, there was one thing the matter with them, for they were very obstinate; and, as nobody can be very obstinate without being very selfish, there was more the matter with them than they themselves suspected; for obstinacy and selfishness are very bad qualities to possess.

But, so ignorant were they of their real character, that