Beatrice.

but a place to be avoided by ingenuous youths and unsophisticated maidens . Some of the old crones liked-to repeat a saying of an ancient pastor , ivho had been a great favourite in his day , that " No good ever came of going to Lunnun , " and accordingly if any one ( except those Avhose business legitimately took them there ) left the good grass-green streets of Cayley for the " little village , " they were wondered at and pitied accordingly—people even shook their heads at them . It Avas , in truth , a toAvn , according to our modern lights , " much behind the age . " I am not sure that it was any the \* 'orse for that , hut I do not wish to begin a discussion here , Avhich , " stale , flat , and unprofitable " at all times , is alike endless and undecidable .

Among the denizens of Cayley there were two persons in whom I for one , like many more , soon learned to take a great interest , namely , Mrs . Mortimer and her daughter Beatrice , about Avhom a sli ght veil of mystery had been thrown through various causes , which added to the agreeabiliiy of their acquaintance and the charms of the situation . Mrs . Mortimer was a daughter of a A'ery good old English family , AVIIO had done AA'hat other daughters of good old English families haA'e done and Avill do to

the end of time ; namely , she had fallen in IOA' 6 with a bright-looking young officer , the son of a gentleman , too , and general officer ; Avho unfortunately bad not as " many pennies " as he had good looks , but a cidtivated understanding and a warm heart . She had a little portion of her OAVU , ( not much , it ' s true ) , but an old maiden aunt had left her an annuity , and another small sum to her only child Beatrice , 'with whom , after the death of her husband in the early part of their otherwise happy marriageshe

, had taken up her residence in Cayley , in the little old-fashioned house which her kind and ancient relative Lad left her . And here the two had lived , she bringing up her pleasant little girl , and Beatrice repaying her fond mother ' s care by growing up as charming and docile and artless a little creature as could-well be found for miles , yes , many long , long miles , I make bold to add .

When I first SJIAV Beatrice Mortimer she AA'as just eighteen , and as fascinating a picture of English girlhood as you well could contemplate . TaD and active , she Avalked and moved with pleasant grace ; and when once you came within the range of those dark , calm , grey eyes of hers , you found , as others haA'e found , that a spell was OA'er you which you could not resist or eA'en describe ! Not that Beatrice ever sought for admiration : on the contrary , she Avas most reserved and self-possessed and reticent , and had that

indescribable charm , de se faire valoir , which is always so pleasant to behold in young women , and which , let men say Avhat they will , is ever the most potent of attractions to the considerate and discerning . Of course she had had many admirers , as will be seen as this story j > rogresses , but so far no one could say that Beatrice Mortimer had ever shoAvn the slightest preference , or e \ 'en betrayed the smallest interest for any gentleman whatever , eitherin her words , or doings , or presence .

Their society was limited , and it mi ght have been supposed that they fed a dull life . But such a A'ieAv has ahvays appeared to me to be most miAvorthy of us , whether as " ruminant" or rational animals . Life is only dull to those that make it dull , and I do contend , and ahvays shall contend , that , given a good library , and a feAV pleasant friends , they must be very stupid or bad-conditioned persons Avho find life dreary , or existence a bore .

We cannot always be living in excitement ; it Avould be very bad for us if it Ai'ere so . We do not want always to be parading in the world , in full uniform , in court dress , or hi gh and IOAV habiliments , as the case may be , with the masks we all more or less irear in society . The part Ave all more or less play is often very fatiguing and therefore it is good for us , really good , to be at times in " mufti , " to be at ease , to be naturaland to speak the truth ' and to live at home I

, , One of the habitual ' visitors at the Mortimers' attracted my attention—he Avas a German b y birth , naturalised in England—the organist at the church , and who was the teacher of the young ladies of Cayley , in music , and Avho had a rosy-cheeked niece , called Lisette , who kept his house , and put buttons on his shirt-He rejoiced in the name of Brummer , and was a pleasant , gay , chatty Hanoverian ,