not so.

how far it is influenced by grace, or how far it is Such is our blindness, such our incapacity in the discerning of spirits. But we are admonished that we are not to judge each other: therefore, leaving it still as a matter of doubt, how far Elvira was (at the time I speak of) a subject of grace or not so, I shall proceed with my narrative. My young friend did not learn to dance; she was, therefore, little aware of what was going on in the dancing-room, She saw not, how through the whole of that winter, and during the following spring, I was subjected, every Friday evening, to be flattered, petted, and caressed, by the three Miss Sockets; and because, in my own mind, I was half ashamed of all this nonsense, and, therefore, seldom mentioned the names of the Misses Socket, she was, in consequence, not drawn out to speak her opinion of this new intimacy, in the plain terms she would otherwise have done. Indeed, as she afterwards told me, she had not suspected me of having been so carried away by the blandishments of these young ladies as I really was.

• Things, therefore, went on without much change, till near the breaking-up time in June. At this period we always had a day of pleasure, which was often spent in some place in the country; this year, my aunt proposed that we should all go, that is, as many as could contribute their share of the expense of the conveyance, to the seat of a nobleman about five miles from hence, a place of great beauty, and one which had then been lately ornamented in a way thought very magnificent and in high taste, with grottos and hermitages, an obelisk on the highest point of the grounds, and a temple in the Grecian

style between two groves in the park. Besides these adventitious attractions, there were others which, being natural, still remain in all their glory, and will continue so to do, when all that man has added shall have crumbled into dust. How many coaches were to take us to this place, I recollect not; nor even how many were crammed into each vehicle; for, when all who could pay were provided with seats, there was an additional crush made by the good natured children, to provide for those who could not help to defray the expense, in order that none might be left behind; but this I remember, that the day before, there was nothing to be done or thought of but to prepare for this delightful expedition. However, a few minutes before dinner, on this same day of preparation, I was suddenly called down into the parlour to receive the three Miss Sockets, who were come with their mamma's compliments to my aunt, and an entreaty that her three daughters might be permitted to join the party, 'And you, dear Miss Annie,' said Miss Socket, 'you will go up to your aunt, won't you love? and plead for us.'

6

To be sure I will, to be sure I will,' I replied; and up stairs I ran, and came down in a few minutes, all out of breath, with my aunt's best compliments to Mrs. Socket, and would consider it as a very great honour to be entrusted for the day with the care of the Miss Sockets.

'The young ladies had made up their minds that this would be the answer, and they immediately set to, to tell me how it was all to be. "We cannot have the horses,' they said, 'because one of them is lame; but we are to have the coach, with two hacks,

and you, Miss Annie, will go with us, wont you, dear? then you will be spared the horror of being squeezed ten in one carriage.'

'Not ten,' I replied; there are only to be eight in each coach; and, perhaps, another or two little ones.'

Eight! la! Miss Annie,' said Miss Socket, eight good souls crammed together in one coach in June? Why you will all be suffocated.'

'I think;' I answered, 'I think that I almost

and there I stopped short.

They all laughed, and Miss Kitty said, 'Surely you were not going to add, that you almost liked the shocking squeeze; you could not possibly have been going to assert any such thing?'

6

we

Well, well, Kitty,' remarked Miss Socket, are much obliged to Miss Annie for getting us this pleasure, and we will be here in the coach at the hour fixed; and you will go with us in our coach, my dear Annie, so we won't keep you any longer;' and giving me a kiss and a pat on the cheek, she led the way out of the parlour, whilst I walked slowly to the other end of the house, not knowing whether I were more pleased at the compliment paid me of being invited to ride in Mr. Socket's coach, or more vexed at being deprived of the delightful merry squeeze.

'But I not only lost my squeeze, but the pleasure of forming a part in the procession of the many carriages which rattled that day all together from the gate of the White Ladies through the lodge, whereby I lost the noise of the rattling of the many wheels as well as the delightful squeeze; and I had also to wait half an hour in terrible anxiety lest any

thing might have happened to have hindered the Miss Sockets from coming. At length, however, they did come; and I got into the coach by Miss Kitty. We waited a little,' said Miss Socket, 'in order that we might be spared the dust and noise of the hacks; but, as we are lighter than they are, we shall be on the ground immediately after them.'

We were soon out of the town, for the postillion drove fast; but I was not prepared to be conducted the very road which I had so often travelled with my lost and lovely Lucelle, where every change of scene reminded me of some word or look of my own sweet little mamma.

"The common, the hill, the church upon that hill, oh! I was very sad, although the sun shone bright, and not a cloud rolled in the clear blue heaven; however, with much gulping, I continued to suppress every expression of tender recollection; and having passed the church and entered upon scenes quite new to me, I was enabled to think of something else, besides the irreparable loss I had sustained.

Being on the top of the hill, and a wide prospect being open to us, Miss Kitty said to me, 'Do you see that red house with wings to it, Miss Annie, and the handsome stable and coach-house by it?'

'I do,' I replied; is that my lord's place, where we are going?'

There was a smile on every face on hearing this question; but Miss Kitty only answered; 'No,' she said, that house is not my lord's, which you cannot see, because of the trees in the park; it is Mr. Richards's; Mr. Richards is my lord's man of business, and the house is not a stone's throw from the

park gate. We must pass Mr. Richards's, and go partly round the park to the place where we are to find our party.'

Have you told the postillion to stop at the gate and give our note, Bell?' said Miss Etty.

on

'I have,' replied the other; and there the matter dropped. Soon after, having dismissed the carriage, we hastened through the grove, and soon came in view of all our friends. They had selected a lovely lawn flanked by woods, and having in front a clear pool, where were many swans; the left, a cascade poured through a deep dingle, shadowed with many trees and rock plants,—the stream dashed its waters with much foam into the pool. There was a little bridge cast over the torrent to the other side of the pool, where the hill arose abruptly, being richly clad with trees. An ornamented cottage in the lawn had been the point of attraction to this place, for here dwelt an old woman who was in the habit of attending to such holiday folks as frequented the place, providing hot water when tea was required, with other such comforts, as cream, &c. which can hardly be dispensed with, even when the heart is most devoted to active pleasures.

My aunts were in the cottage with Dame Bartlet when I arrived, but the rest of the party were scattered over the lawn; and their young voices mingled pleasantly with the continued rush of the waterfall, and the occasional cry of the corn crake and the hawk. Miss Kitty Socket had got my arm, but without much ceremony I shook her off, and dashed into the middle of my companions, whooping and crying with the loudest of the loud, and running with the wildest of the wild; and should, no doubt, have