Augusta and her cousins felt convinced by these arguments; and willing to shew Mrs. Stanly that they were so, instantly quitted her side, and again seated themselves in the places they had so hastily vacated.

Mrs. Stanly smiled her approbation, and was pleased to see the pains they took to conquer their feelings; though the frequent and involuntary start plainly evinced how difficult they found it to repress the emotions of terror which agitated their bosoms.

To amuse them, and to take off their thoughts from their situation, she informed them that the lightning was occasioned by the electric matter in the clouds, which encountering each other in the air, instantaneously explode like gunpowder, accompanied by that awful roll called thunder; from which no danger can be apprehended, as it is nothing more than sound.

Lightning, continued Mrs. Stanly, is more to be feared, if near, as it has often struck trees, barns, animals, &c. To judge of the distance, you must notice the interval between

the flash and the thunder-clap: when the clap almost immediately follows the flash, it is near, and consequently more dangerous. If you were exposed to a storm of this kind, it would be better to remain in the open fields than to seek shelter under trees, as they very much attract the lightning.

Mrs. Stanly ceased speaking. The storm appeared rather abated, though the rain continued to descend in torrents; the thunder was heard less frequent.

Susan Manly intreated Mrs. Stanly to allow her to run to Bellfield to order the carriage, as she was fearful the good ladies (as she styled them) would take cold by remaining so long in her poor place. But to this Mrs. Stanly gave a decided negative; as her heart was too humane to suffer any human being to go out in such weather.

After having waited for some considerable time, they had the satisfaction of seeing the carriage drive up to the door. The servant finding the afternoon turn out so bad, had returned to Mr. Mason's for them; and hear

ing that they had left that family some time before, he had traced them to their present abode.

They thanked Susan Manly for her kindness; and stepping into the carriage were soon conveyed home.

CHAP. XIII.

THE next morning the young ladies were chagrined to find the weather unfavourable to their wishes of visiting the parsonage. They were obliged to wait patiently the return of Mrs. Stanly, who was too anxious for her friends to suffer the inclemency of the elements, to prevent her calling on them herself; though she thought it best not to risk the health of the young people, by permitting them to accompany her.

The time appeared tedious to them; they tried several methods of amusing themselves in vain. They seemed to have lost all relish for their usual pursuits, and were sinking almost into a state of fretfulness, so much did they miss their kind instructor, and want her directing hand to point out to them the proper means of blending instruction and amusement.

They were in this state when Augusta

thought of her microscope, and hastened to fetch it, hoping it might in some measure dissipate the ennui which overwhelmed them. She brought with her several little insects she had collected within doors; amongst the rest a piece of cheese well filled with mites. They were astonished to find the little creatures of a singular figure, furnished with eyes, mouth, and feet, and having a transparent body covered with long hair like prickles. They could scarcely believe it was what to the naked eye appeared mere white dots. They then looked at a single hair of the head, and were surprised to find it a hollow tube furnished with root.

A fly next engaged their attention: the beautiful construction of its wings, and the curious form of its feet to allow of its walking on a ceiling, were objects which struck them with wonder, and had the effect of entertaining them for some time; and led them to confess this truth, that nature proves herself as complete and regular in her smallest productions, as in the most prodigious bodies. After they had examined and re-examined