to worse.

God keep you from such a fate! but, remember, I now warn you yet once and again, that at present you are in great danger of incurring it. And, to use the admonitory words of Bishop Hall to the founder of that sect which you are so much inclined to admire,- Before God and His blessed angels and saints, we fear not to protest that we are undoubtedly persuaded, that whosoever wilfully forsakes the communion, government, ministry, or worship of the Church of England, are enemies to the sceptre of Christ, and rebels against His Church and Anointed.'

So saying, I brought the conversation to a close; and when the snow-storm ceased, I returned homewards.

9 Bishop Hall's Apology against the Brownists. Works, p. 539.

Youthful Trials.

Let me confess that we two must be twain,
Although our undivided loves are one:
So shall those blots that do with me remain,
Without thy help, by me be borne alone.
In our two loves there is but one respect,

Though in our lives a separable spite,

Which, though it alter not love's sole effect,

Yet it doth steal sweet hours from love's delight.

M

Chapter VIII.

ILDRED Clifford's position had now become exceedingly painful and distressing in many respects. Soon after Christmas, Mrs. Long had experienced another attack of paralysis, and was reduced to the most hopeless state of weakness and imbecility. She rather existed than lived; she could rarely speak so as to be understood, was unable to feed herself, or even to turn round in bed, and was indebted to the attentions and assistance of others for every thing which she needed.

Meanwhile, though she lay day after day and week after week in this pitiable condition, hovering, as it seemed, between life and death, her original constitution was so strong, that the medical attendants intimated that there was no immediate prospect of the poor sufferer's release. She was liable, of course, to be carried off in a moment by a fresh seizure; but then, on the other hand, it was quite possible that she might linger on for months in a state of gradual decay. What could be more dis

tressing for an affectionate heart like Mildred's than to be witness of such a miserable spectacle of living death? What more wearing to the spirits than the incessant attention which the patient required from her tender and indefatigable nurse?

It would in some degree, perhaps, have lightened Mildred's cares, if there had been any one of her own sex at hand in whom she might have found the comfort and support of daily intercourse, open and unrestrained. But it unfortunately happened that this was not within her reach. Mrs. Long's surviving relatives were two bachelor brothers, older than herself; and these, though full of gratitude and kindness to Mildred, and duly appreciating her self-devotion to their sister, were not the kind of persons to lighten her anxieties, even had they resided on the spot, which they did not.

In the village of Yateshull there was no one of her own situation in life, with the exception of Miss Prowle; and Mildred, as my readers are already aware, was no favourite of hers. Miss Prowle, indeed, was all civility and obsequiousness, (as, to say truth, she generally was before the faces of those whom she abused most cordially behind their backs ;) and if Mildred had encouraged her, would have retailed for her amusement all the tattle of the village—

Intrigues half-gathered, conversation-scraps,
Kitchen-cabals, and nursery-mishaps."

But Mildred had too good taste (to say nothing of
Christian principle) to listen with any patience to