they sleep, and Eve when she awokethat is all the difference," said the solicitor.

"But you say nothing of her wifely qualities, my dear sir," observed Miss Patty, with a simper.

66

They were all summed up in one, ma'am-obedience."

66

Oh, the rude bachelor!" thought lady Wronghead, with a frown.

"Only bachelor notions!" thought Miss Patty, with a smile.

"Ignorant uninitiated bachelor!" thought sir Gabriel, with a sigh,

The unconscious bachelor continued his elucidatory extracts-" Mark how prettily she tells her husband

-What thou biddest,

Unargued I obey: so God ordains;

God is thy law, thou mine; to know no more
Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise."

Here the solicitor made a long, and, the party thought, an awkward pause, and then pursued his repetition

"Oh

"Oh sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,

My glory, my perfection, glad I see

Thy face and morn returned.'

-Thou, therefore, now advise

I go."

With thy permission then

Again the solicitor was silent, and sir Gabriel, as if quite forgetful what he was, or where he was, most unreasonably and energetically subjoined

-Oh! when meet now

Such pairs, in love and mutual honour join'd ?"

It was nonsense taking lady Wronghead's hands, and trying to look as if he was sorry for what he had said, or willing to believe himself a favoured exception; for contrition, in some cases and to some people, only adds to the weight of crime, and gives a better occasion of expressing it. Lady Wronghead drew away her hand with a repulsive "Pshaw!" just as the ill-judging solicitor, first admiring the gentleness of the humbleminded Eve, enthusiastically repeated

"So cheered he his fair spouse-and she was cheered; But silently a gentle tear let fall

From either eye, and wiped them with her hair

The gracious drops of sweet remorse

And pious awe, that feared to have offended."

"You will never be married," said sir Gabriel-a remark that darkened lady Wronghead's frown, and banished Miss Patty's smile.

CHAP

CHAPTER XV.

AN increased attack of her disorder had rendered Mrs. Rachael Wronghead more than usually exacting of Mrs. Mary's time and patience. Many were the days and nights that lady had spent without remission in the sick chamber-yet more numerous the petulant and irritating remonstrances she had endured, not only with unreplying gentleness, but returned with undeviating kindness-But the world knew nothing of all this! the busy world, that was perhaps at those very moments satirizing the seclusion-loving old maid-ridiculing as stinginess the selfish economy that enabled her to humour the expensive whims of capricious K 6 appetite,

appetite, scorning as dull the meekness that resigned all selfish pleasure, to administer comfort to repining waywardness. But Mrs. Mary was contented to endure such opprobrium in silent forbearance-she awaited her fiat from a higher tribunal.

Mrs. Egerton devoted all her leisure to sharing and ameliorating the confinement and the cares of her friend. With one of her children she daily visited the sick-room, and only left it when the wishes of her husband, or the claims of her nursery, required her presence at the Abbey.

It was unfortunate, that at such a time the family at the Hall could not spare a moment for the invalid. Lady Wronghead, indeed, when she chanced to ride that way, generally stopped her carriage to make her hurried inquiries, and sometimes more hurried visit; and we believe did once condescend to convey some fine grapes to poor sister Rachael,