ably; but, unfortunately, the new route, though more practicable, was less direct, and they did not advance very much, although they walked some distance.

They turned two or three times to the right or left, according as they thought there was a possibility of getting on; but rather lost than gained ground by these détours, and after going on for a quarter of an hour, found themselves in an open space on the side of the hill, from which they could see but a little way round, and where they could not discover a vestige of a path.

Mrs. Woodbridge began to be rather uneasy.

"How sorry I am I brought you this way, my dear Miss Denys!" said she, looking about her, through the rapidly increasing gloom of evening. "I ought to have known better than to try short cuts, and to

quit the right path! How my brother will laugh at me! But now, to find our way

home! What shall we do?"

Keep straight on, I should say," replied Flora, bravely," and never lose courage. If we walk resolutely forwards, we must come to some path in time. We must not be nice in choosing our road; but take the rough and the smooth as they happen to come."

66

Yes, that will be a proper punishment for our rashness. We must not shrink from a scratch or a tear; so, forward, straight on," said Mrs. Woodbridge.

On they went, stumbling here over a stone, slipping there down a steep slope, now caught by a bush, and then entangled in an intricate labyrinth of furze; but evidently advancing downwards, until, to their great dismay, they were suddenly brought up short by an abrupt and precipitous bank, or,

rather rock, down which it was impossible

for them to descend.

It was well for them, indeed, that there was light enough to prevent their falling down it, before they had discovered what was beneath them; for, although not to be called a precipice, in the language of travellers, in search of the picturesque, it was quite high enough to have made a fall over it dangerous, and perhaps fatal.

Becoming seriously alarmed by the discovery of the risk they had run, they agreed to proceed more slowly and cautiously, and, accordingly, they continued to walk along the edge of the bank, in hopes of finding some broken place, or some little gap in the steep side, by which they might descend. But after proceeding in this manner a considerable distance, they were suddenly brought to another stand still, by finding their path

intersected at right angles by one of those ravines, which look like the dry bed of a torrent, or a huge cascade of stones; places which would be difficult to cross in the day time, and which in the uncertain light of evening, it was decidedly unadvisable to attempt.

Wet up to their knees, weary, and somewhat dismayed at their situation, they paused in silence, and rested on a large stone, each most sorry for the other, and considering what should be done. They stood on an abrupt corner of the hill, apparently overhanging a steep abyss, and far below them, they could see the lights of the village, and the windows of houses twinkling clearly in the darkness. The dwellings seemed so near, that the ladies could hardly believe them quite inaccessible, except when reminded of their own position by the steep hill side, and rugged banks which now hemmed them in.

"And oft must change his desperate track,
By stream and precipice turned back."

said Mrs. Woodbridge, at last breaking silence, "who would have thought of our realising a northern romance, whilst living in so unpoetical a place as a Hydropathic establishment. But now, Miss Denys, what are we to do ?"

"I am afraid my advice will frighten you, Mrs. Woodbridge, for 1 can only suggest that we should return once more to the summit, regain the path, and make a fresh start." "Is there nothing else to be done?"

Nothing half so certain; we might wander about here all night, and not escape from these difficulties. I ought to have known better from the first; it is all my fault, in letting you make the attempt.

But to

say the truth, Mrs. Woodbridge, though I should have been wiser in Scotland, I never