leaning eagerly forward to catch, as she flattered herself, a nearer view of her unrivalled attractions.

"How can you be so captious and unjust, Maria,” returned her sister; "William, I am sure, would do anything to please you; and only a few minutes ago, you were yourself anxious to go home."

"I have altered my mind, then," said Maria, petulantly; "but I wish you would not teaze me so, Grace. I don't hinder you from going home, if you want to go;" and without waiting for, or seeming to expect an answer, she threw herself, in a studied attitude, on the rude wooden bench which surrounded a large walnut tree, exactly opposite to the window which now engrossed all her thoughts, and drawing her glove off from one of the whitest and most beautifully-formed hands that nature ever moulded, she began playing with a little dog, which was fawning upon her.

For a moment Grace regarded her with surprise, and in silence; but, by degrees, the motives of her sister's at first inexplicable conduct were revealed, by the furtive glances which the latter, from time to time, threw towards the inn-window; and, uttering a deep sigh, Grace walked away, to endeavour to soften to William Mansel, Maria's refusal to accede to his wishes

"You need not try to disguise it, Grace," said the impetuous youth, his manly cheek crimsoning with vexation, at his own disappointment and shame, at the versatile conduct of the capricious beauty, who held his senses in a bondage which his reason con

temned. "I know your kind heart, Grace, induces you to make excuses for your sister; but this is not the first time that I have seen her so led away by her love for show and finery that

"Hush, hush, William; I will not hear you condemn her," interrupted Grace, placing her slender hand on "Come with me," she continued, drawing him playfully along, "and try whether she will not yield to your persuasions."

his lips.

William did but half resist the gentle force with which she seconded this request, though he replied, in a tone of despondency,

"No, no, Grace; I know very well she will not listen to me until her present fit of vanity and ambition is over." And they were already close behind the tree, which concealed the fair object of their solicitude, when William suddenly started, and uttered an exclamation, which made Grace let go his arm in horror-while she eagerly demanded what was the matter.

William did not reply, but her eye followed his fixed indignant glance, until it rested on the countenance of the stranger, who was now seated by the side of Maria; and while his admiring looks were fixed with rapture on her lovely face, the confidence of his tone, and the easy familiarity of his attitude-seemed to feel that he was conferring an honour on the village beauty, by thus singling her out as the object of his a tention.

"By heavens! I won't bear this," exclaimed William, "if he is the first peer in the land ;" and without attending to Grace's frightened exclamation, he darted forward to Maria's side.

"It is quite time for you to return home, Miss

Woodford;" he observed, in a voice trembling with emotion, and seizing at the same time her hand with. no gentle grasp.

"You need not be so rough, William," said the half-terrified, half-indignant maiden, hastily releasing her hand, but at the same time, rising from her seat, as if to show her readiness to obey him.

"Your brother, I presume, fair lady," whispered the stranger, throwing at the same time, a scrutinising glance of observation over the athletic form, and manly features of the young rustic, who bold and determined as he felt himself in this cause, nevertheless shrank with somewhat of confusion from the cool supercilious look of his opponent.

"No, Sir," replied Maria," he is not my brother, nor indeed any relation to me."

"Indeed," returned the stranger, who detected immediately in her reply a lurking desire to be rid of the intruder; "may then, I inquire, by what right this young man claims

دو

"It cannot concern you, sir, to know," interrupted William in an angry tone; "but Miss Woodford is well aware that her father expects me to see her home."

"Perhaps, young man, Miss Woodford's father would be equally satisfied to see her under the protection of any other friend," returned the stranger, coolly, "or are you alone considered worthy of such a valuable trust?"

"Oh, no, indeed," observed Maria, whose dread of William's anger was fast evaporating, on finding that the stranger was inclined to become her champion; my father does indeed regard him as a neighbour's

66

"Do not say a word of your mother, Maria, it is your mother's folly that has made you what you are, but I have done with you." And without bestowing another look on her, he vaulted over the low fence which divided the green on one side from a narrow secluded lane, and disappeared in a moment!

"Dear Maria, what have you done to William ?" exclaimed Grace, who had timidly stood aloof during the preceding altercation. "Will he not come back to see us home?" continued the anxious girl, gazing in the direction he had taken.

"Do not be alarmed, my dear," said the stranger, "I will myself see you home."

"You, sir," exclaimed Grace, looking earnestly at him; "oh dear, no; I should be very sorry to trouble you to walk three miles, for you don't look as if▬▬▬

Maria gave her an impatient pull by the arm, which prevented the conclusion of her speech.

"Three miles," repeated the gentleman, "good heavens! surely you do not intend to walk so far to night?" "We have no choice," said Maria, faintly, "though indeed it is a terrible long walk."

"Dear me, I am excessively sorry," said the gentleman, looking about as if in search of an alternative; "and my horses, too, are unfortunately quite knocked up, or I could have had the felicity of offering you a conveyance."

"Oh, it is of no consequence, sir, I beg you will not think of it," said Maria, whose beautiful blue eyes sparkled even at the bare idea that there existed a possibility of her entering that elegant carriage, which the grooms were now busily washing.

The stranger caught the expression of those brilliant orbs, as they dwelt with regret on the equipage.

"If I could prevail on you, to prolong your stay for an hour or two," he commenced; but Grace decidedly interrupted him.

"No, sir, not for five minutes!" she observed, in a firm tone, "We have already lingered too long;" and drawing her sister's arm through hers, she slightly curtsied to the stranger, and turned away.

"You must not leave me thus ;" said the stranger, interposing, "though my unlucky stars prevent my having the honour I covet to-night, you must, at least, allow one of my servants to attend you home, and grant me permission to wait on you to-morrow."

It was in vain, that Grace impatiently declined the proffered attendance. Maria was completely fascinated at the idea of being attended by one of the dashing servants, whom his master called from his lounge at the door of the inn, to receive his commands, and having reiterated his intention of calling on the following day, the stranger kissed his hand with an air of gallantry, and retired.

"How delighted mamma will be to see us come home with a livery servant behind us," whispered Maria, as they came in sight of the heavy turretted chimneys of Westwood Farm.

"And how sorry my father will be to find that you have affronted William Mansel," said Grace, with a deep sigh; "and his brother Belgrave too, I know he was quite alarmed at William's hastily going off, for he ran after him, without

"Yes! that is what vexes you, I know, Grace,