agreeable way, that it always made Hazelby take Anne's part, and go with her; so it did no good."

"Well, but now, Winifred, we will not discuss our neighbours' faults any more; the moral of all this being that we are to consult their inclinations, and not our own; and I cannot suppose they have any desire to be criticised by us, though, fortunately, it may do them no harm. But as you have mentioned some of Anne's imperfections, I must tell you what I particularly admire in her; and that is, her clearsightedness as to duty. I think she has a remarkably strong sense of what she owes to her parents, and of the necessity of making them and their wishes the first consideration; I don't mean only in the way of direct obedience, but in the careful recollection of their wishes, even when they cross her own; for instance, when she first came here, she could not bear the idea of being under Miss Forbes, because she fancied Miss Forbes would dislike having her; but she never made any objection, and I only found it out by a casual remark, and then it appeared that her desire to please her father by her progress, was her only motive for getting over the odd shyness which was real suffering to her, and she said she did not think she ought to be enjoying herself here, unless she was doing something to please her father at the same time, as it was so very kind of him to spare her at all."

They now proceeded on their walk, stopping here and there to gather wild flowers, which grew in abundance in the sheltered places up and down the cliff. Leaving the wilder tracks, they came presently on a small grass-bordered path leading to a stile.

Winifred got over first, and just as Minna joined her

she exclaimed, "Don't move, Minna! look down at that ivy." Minna looked and saw a tall blade of grass bending under the weight of a piece of ivy which had twined round it.

Winifred tried to lift the ivy away, but it clung firmly to the grass, making a little bright green bush about a foot high. It was really very curious, for the one blade of grass looked so much weaker than the ivy that depended on it for support, and after admiring it, the cousins as they passed on drew the very natural parallel between the bending stalk of grass and an illchosen friend.

This led to a discussion on the choice of friends in general, which lasted during the remainder of the walk, and in which it was pretty evident that each considered the other a very good example of friendship.

AUGUST brought Beatrice back to Pentyre; she had paid several country visits with Lady Elizabeth after the London season, and had made many new friends and acquaintances, but was as much pleased to return to Pentyre as she had formerly been.

Minna was doubtful whether her aunt wished to take her to Athenry. Her own feelings were against going, and she thought that her father and sisters would prefer her remaining in retirement till the winter.

One or two letters from home had also given her a feeling of dissatisfaction for which she could scarcely account. Rhoda seemed less cheerful, and Bessie less contented, at least so Minna thought, and then accused herself of indulging unkind fancies about her sisters. Then she was seized with a longing desire to know how

they really were getting on, better than letters could tell her, and while pondering one day on all that concerned them, a long letter from Margaret was put into her hands. It was the second Margaret had written to her since her mother's death, and abounded, like the other, in expressions of almost more than sisterly affection. There were one or two sentences about home that particularly touched Minna in her present mood. Margaret was so rejoiced at the intimate friendship that subsisted between her sisters, notwithstanding their separation. Then followed a happy account of her three children, and she expressed her thankfulness that they had not yet attained the age when she must send them from her, for their health's sake, and then, apropos of health, came the anxiety about Bessie, and Minna read, and thought, and decided.

She would ask Lady Fortrose to let her go to King's Holm instead of to Athenry.

The request was acceded to without difficulty, Lady Fortrose only saying she should be sorry not to have Minna, but quite coinciding in the opinion that Mr. Raymond would be better pleased that she should not be of the party.

Beatrice was very sorry to find they were not to enjoy the Athenry fêtes together, as she said there would be several friends of hers there, whom she wished to introduce to Minna, Lord Ralegh among the number, who was described by Beatrice as the most fascinating person she had ever met.

About the middle of September the whole party left Pentyre. They slept one night in London, and the next day Minna went to King's Holm.

She found Rhoda and Bessie eagerly expecting her,

and her father very cheerful and pleased at her coming. Nothing was said about her not going to Athenry, but it seemed to be so perfectly understood as a matter of course, that Minna could not but feel they would have thought it odd if she had gone, and was in consequence very thankful that she had decided against it.

Bessie looked better, and Minna was therefore much surprised when her father told her he had determined to seek a warmer climate on account of the health of his youngest daughter. He had not been able to decide upon this earlier, as Frank's plans were uncertain, and he wished to be near him, but now Frank had been presented to the living of Sandsclyst, in Devonshire, and it was to that neighbourhood Mr. Raymond intended to remove.

"Have you found anything that will suit you there, or do you mean to live with Frank?" asked Minna,

"That we cannot do even if I wished it, for Frank has no house, and lodges with a farmer. The last incumbent let the rectory, and Frank has kept on with the same tenants. But there is another village not far off, called Guysbrooke, and there Frank has found a house that he thinks will suit us. It is a mild climate,

and a nice cheerful place, he says, so you see that will be just the thing for Bessie.'

"And when do you go?" asked Minna.

"I gave notice to leave this house at Michaelmas, but our landlord is very considerate, and will have nothing to say against our staying on a few days, till the other place is ready."

"Michaelmas ! so soon as that? Why, it is the nineteenth to-day, father."

"Yes, it is rather tiresome to do things in such a