also disappeared, and as nothing more was to be seen, than the servants removing the luggage, the walking party retired. Little could be divined from this scene; the lady's being young and handsome was certainly against her, and it was not much in the gentleman's favour that he had taken some care of her.— Husbands, Miss Muddleton observed, with the sagacity of an experienced matron, were not remarkable for acts of care and kindness. The non-appearance of the strangers at the village church the next Sunday was also against them, though that day following the evening of their arrival might have urged some apology for their negligence. When they did appear, it was curious that the pious Wrongheads, forgetting the holy duty that assembled together the family of one common parent, amused themselves with the unprecedented action of investigating the dress, manners, manners, form, face, and looks of the soi-disant Mr. and Mrs. Egerton. Had we not already established a character for accuracy and fidelity, we might incur the risk of being disbelieved, when we assert the unexampled fact, that Miss Wronghead, instead of remembering the text, or the sermon, only remembered that Mr. Egerton had very fine eyes, and Mrs. Egerton a something in the corner of her mouth-a sort of inexplicable smile, that was very suspicious; that lady Wronghead put off her usual nap, to see if she could catch the strangers napping; and that Miss Patty, with unwonted condescension, for the first time in her life, knelt during the prayers, stood during the psalms, and joined in the chanted hymn of gratitude. The new comers behaved with much propriety; the lady, especially, looked as if she came to church-to say her prayers. A slight summer shower flitted over the heads of the emerging Christians, as they they left the church. The handsome stranger was heard to exclaim, in pretty loud tones-" It is raining-where is your carriage," but suddenly his cheek glowed, his eye fell, as, in a lower voice, he added, "Mrs. Egerton ?" The most cautious judge in Christendom could not have desired stronger evidence that the name did not belong to the lady-some other title was undoubtedly rising to the lips of the speaker; the blush, the hesitation, proved this beyond dispute: had further testimony been wanting, Adam Wronghead, esquire, was ready with it some ten days after, when near the abbey he witnessed his uncle's introduction to the lady. Helena, my kind friend Mr. Knowlesdon-Mr. Knowlesdon," a flushed brow, quivering lips, stammering accents," Mrs. Egerton." Mrs. Mary Knowlesdon's close attention to her invalid during a fresh attack of indisposition, and the abstraction of the the solicitor, had caused this prolonged misconception of the claims of his abbey friends. The moment Mrs. Mary could quit the sick chamber, she called upon Mrs. Egerton, and invited the Wrongheads to meet the strangers at a handsome din ner. This arrangement set every thing to rights. How much may be effected by the active benevolence and steady good sense of an individual! The party passed off well; Montague Egerton displayed good sense, finished manners, and good temper-and the simple graces, the retiring modesty of his Helena, made their just impression. The keen eyes of Miss Muddleton alone detected an inexplicable something. A slight blush, and a conscious glance at his wife, passed over the countenance of Montague, as lady Wronghead took precedence into the dining-room; but Mrs. Egerton answered the glance with a smile |