evidently delighted to see Ethel again, and came forward with great cordiality to speak to her.

Ethel, however, obtained her books immediately, and was going to hurry away, when Ada said they would walk with her as far as they went.

Ethel was going to Miss Hackett's to dinner, which was rather further on the Thurlston road than her own house; so that the Raymonds had a greater distance to accompany her.

Raymond certainly did bring all his powers of fascination before Ethel; and, unconscious how he was touching her, she was irresistibly led on to enter eagerly into his brilliant conversation. There was something so refined, so delicate even, in his compliments, that Ethel felt as much disappointed as he did when the walk had terminated.

Ethel had never been so absent as she was that afternoon, while reading to Miss Hackett. Her mind continually wandered to the Raymonds. Then, angry with herself, she would break the current of her thoughts, and try to fix them on the book-Miss Hackett-anything, rather than on them. But as she returned home the stern realities of life again appeared before her, chasing away all pleasurable feelings, and making her dwell with gloomy foreboding on future ills.

A dark cloud loomed in the distance, endangering the peace and comfort, not only of herself, but of all the family in the vicinity of Miss Grant. Even before the blow came, Ethel foresaw the necessity of nerving herself to bear the wound which would be inflicted.

She must be a "hero in the strife" with her own inclinations; and in preparing to submit to duty, she must dash the cup of earthly happiness from her lips.

In the dull, cheerless blank around her path, she must fix her eye more closely on the bright light in the heavens, and pray to be drawn nearer to it, that with strength and resolution she might pass through the conflict in which she foresaw she must engage; thus,

"With a heart for every fate,

Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labour, and to wait."

Yes, wait on Him who had ever been her mother's stay, and whom she had herself now learnt to trust, as a kind and merciful Father, and who would himself guide her in difficulties, and counsel her in dangers, and give her courage to go through all.

"Oh, fear not, in a world like this,

And thou shalt know ere long;

Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong."

CHAPTER VIII.

"Bad is that angel that erst fell from heaven,
But not so bad as he, nor in worse case,

Who hides a trait'rous mind with smiling face,
And with a dove's white feathers clothes a raven:
Each sin some colour hath it to adorn,
Hypocrisy Almighty God doth scorn."

DRUMMOND.

Her song comes o'er my thrilling breast,

Even like the harp string's holiest measures,
When dreams the soul of lands of rest,

And everlasting pleasures."— Knox.

THE Miss Woodvilles' visit was returned by Miss Grant the following day, and then the intercourse became most intimate. In a short time it appeared quite a common thing for Miss Grant to come in the afternoon, uninvited, bringing her work, and spending the rest of the day in Park Row, to the infinite annoyance of Ethel; who, however, had schooled herself into submission, and treated her mother's accuser with perfect politeness and attention.

Mr. Woodville was overpowering in his attentions to Miss Grant; and well were they received.

Laura, who had been at first so charmed, gradually grew wearied of their new friend's society, and would frequently spend the whole afternoon upstairs to avoid being called upon to entertain her; while, in Mr. Woodville's absence, this duty always devolved upon Ethel.

Miss Grant made several attempts to draw from her the history of their family affairs; Mr. Woodville's income from business, &c.; and, above all, to extract from Ethel whether her father and mother had always lived happily together.

Notwithstanding her bland, persuasive manner, she never could throw Ethel off her guard. Her queries were generally answered, but so unsatisfactorily that Miss Grant was no wiser; and one day Ethel told her, with some hauteur (with regard to the sundry hints she had thrown out about Mr. and Mrs. Woodville's happiness), that she did not consider such questions ought to be put to a child, or, indeed, to any one; and that she at once declined giving any reply, since it had never been her duty to take cognisance of such things.

Miss Grant was enraged, though she only bit her lip, and was silent; her time was not yet come: but she hoarded up her resentment, and never after lost an opportunity of insinuating things about Ethel, although in public she appeared to treat her with attention, even affection.

Mr. Woodville had set his heart upon making up a party for the Raymonds and Miss Grant, longing for an excuse to enter gaiety again. Ethel gently hinted at the expense as the only means likely to dissuade her father, but this was quickly overruled by Mr. Wood

ville; and accordingly the invitations were written by Laura the day following, on highly perfumed paper, to several of their friends, including the Raymonds and Miss Grant.

For the following week Ethel saw nothing of the Raymonds, as they were from home, and therefore she could not have the promised conversation with Ada. The day previous to the party, Laura was in quite a flutter of excitement that everything might go off satisfactorily, while Ethel and Sally were left to arrange all matters relating to the supper, &c. Accordingly, consultations were held between them, in which Sally was prime minister, and delivered her opinions with considerable freedom.

"I think we can manage all at home, Sally; I do not want anything but the cake from the confectioner's."

"And pray, who's to make all t'things?"

"I will do the sweets and pastry, if you keep to the savories."

"You! And make your hands and face a pretty sight for to-morrer! a fine figure for them grand folks to see!"

"No fear, Sally; it will all wash off. Now you must be quick and get the things ready. You know you are jealous because I can cook better than you, but you shall not stop me," said Ethel, goodhumouredly.

Sally laughed.

"Why, for the matter of that, Miss Hethel, I do give in. And if you've set your heart on doing these here things, I suppose you must; but, pray, isn't Miss Laura to help as well? She'll never know how to turn her hand to anythink. She's the most dawdlingest, good-for-nothingest young lady I ever see'd."