vigorous health, she was endowed with a strength of mind, and an elasticity of spirit, more valuable than any other possessions. Many a time would Annie have sat down in despair at their different trials and difficulties, had not Mary's spirit supported her. She never desponded never feared never

seemed even to be perplexed or overpowered; whilst her sister, shy and timid, was apparently unequal to forming a resolution for herself, and depended absolutely on the will of the invalid, on whom she waited day and night.

This was shown on the present occasion. When Miss Denys made her request, and in her mother's name, joined to her own, invited Annie Carden to go with them that afterternoon, she hesitated, blushed, and hung back in doubt and indecision. She was afraid to go with those of whom she knew so little; and

VOL. I.

F

had not Mary decided for her, she certainly would have declined altogether. But Mrs. Newton's kind persuasions, and Flora's goodnatured urgency, being backed by Mary's steady assertions that the change would be good for her, and that she would enjoy it exceedingly, Annie allowed herself to be convinced, and finally yielded a consent to the proposal, with more pleasure than she could have expected.

Accordingly, at four o'clock the party assembled; when Flora and Astley were both rather surprised to find, that Mr. Hamilton had, after all, been added to it. Whether Mrs. Denys had forgotten the invitation to Annie Carden, or miscalculated their numbers, did not appear. Perhaps, she had been simply influenced by her extreme desire of pleasing every one; for she asserted in self

defence, that he had seemed to want to join

them, so she had asked him. She was sorry Flora did not like it; and she did not know how to manage now.

"I do not mind it in the least, so far as his company is concerned; but how are we all to go?"

"I can stay at home," said Astley, trying to look resigned, and feeling rather the contrary.

"Indeed, you cannot," answered Flora, quickly; "I cannot spare you. The footman must stay at home, and one of you gentlemen go on the box, and take his place. Mr. Hamilton," added she, as that individual joined them, "will you be gentleman or footman to-day? There's the seat in the carriage, or on the box. One is actuallythe other, conventionally, the highest place. From the box, you will be expected to get down and open all the gates, and do the

other duties of the situation, with no other wages than having your thoughts to yourself, and enjoying the best view of the party."

"I have not the smallest objection to the situation you offer, provided you will let me combine the office of footman with so much of the gentleman as is compatible with it," returned Mr. Hamilton, as he was earnestly brushing his hat. "If I may only turn round on the coach-box, and look at you at intervals, and join your party on terra firma, I will take the place; salary being a secondary consideration to a genteel and easy situation."

Flora agreed. She preferred having Astley by her side; but had no objection that Mr. Hamilton on the coach-box, should join their party, and partake in their conversation.

A very merry party they were, and even Annie Carden herself was carried out of her

shyness and her anxieties for the time; and, won by Astley's conversation, and Mrs. Denys' kindness, smiled and conversed with animation and ease. The afternoon was delightful; there was just breeze enough from the hills to cool the air; light clouds, flitting over the sky, threw purple shadows across the green downs; the atmosphere was sweet with clover and bean blossoms-with odours from the golden furze and the wild plants on the common; groups of donkeys stood with drooping heads, and ears pointing forwards, as if dreaming in the sunshine of the bright land from whence their ancestors had come; whilst parties of gipsies by the road-side, couched on the turfy banks, and screened from the breeze by canopies of pear-trees, or overhanging hazel and honey-suckle, seemed revelling in the blaze which is so congenial to these children of the south.