marry you. I wish you could hae seen how they flounced and tossed their heads, an' said, 'A smith's daughter is no match for Mr. Gordon;' but I said, 'If he pleased himself, no other body need care.'

"O Jessie!" exclaimed Effie in distress, "how could be so cruel! I am sure Davie would never think of such a thing; the Miss Browns are quite right."

you

"'Deed an' they were quite wrang," persisted Jessie, "an', Effie, ye ken fine ye're the bonniest lassie in the place, and that a grander man than Davie Gordon can ever be would gie something for a blink o' yer e'e."

Effie looked vexed and annoyed, but Jessie went on, "An' I tell❜t them, Effie, how kind he was to you when you were a bairn, an' o' my Auntie Bell reading your cup ae night, an' aye seeing a sailor in it, and a ring, and a lot o' things. I didna speak though, Effie, about a' the crosses an' the tears she saw in it besides; but I hope she was wrang there."

“That was the only part likely to be true, Jessie," said Effie, laughing at last at her friend's enthusiasm, though she was not without some belief in it; for so it is that everything like fortune-telling has a charm for those to whom the great and expanding future holds enwrapped the whole story of life, and unknown to herself, in after years, this cup-reading of Jessie's aunt's rose up sometimes before her, though at the time it only amused her.

"But my auntie is seldom wrang, Effie," answered Jessie; "you have no idea how often her words come true."

"Well, what about Charlie now?" asked Effie, glad to change the subject; "an' how is he getting on?" "He has aye plenty o' work, an' he's real kind, Effie," said Jessie sadly; "he says he couldna ask me to leave them at hame till something better turns up. Oh! I wonder I can be sae cheery in the middle o' a' this sorrow, for my mother is far frae strong, and my father brings little in. I am sure I wish he would let other folk mind the affairs o' the nation; and then, Effie," she continued, "I am aye wae for Charlie; I ken he's no comfortable in his cheerless. Oh! if it was only mysel' that was to suffer, I wouldna heed, but it's him; an' he'll never gie me up, he says, what would life be without me; so wi' ae thing and another I am often dull enough, but sometimes again I forget there is such a thing as care or sorrow in the world; it takes a heap to crush hope out o' the young heart; I aye keep trusting that better days will come."

room.

"You've a brave spirit, Jessie. I do wish better days would come to you," said Effie, "and better ones to us a'; for in Church and State the now there seems naething but quarrelling and confusion. What wi' the outcry against Government, and this weary controversy amongst us about signing papers, we

hae nae peace onywhere. I fancy it's because we are women-folk we dinna concern oursel's about these things; and yet I needna say that either, for there's Mysie at the Glen, I believe she thinks them that differ frae her are waur than the heathen; and when she and my father meet they do nothing but quarrel. Times are changed wi' us greatly."

I hae nae head for politics," said Jessie; "and besides, I live such a busy life, I hae little leisure for takin' up wi' what's going on; and though my father does little else than rage against kings and governments, placemen and parties, I canna help thinking it's a bad cause since it's so sorely changed him. O Effie! it's hard to speak against ane's ain father; but when ye consider how, from being one of the kindest and best of men, he seems hardened against his ain flesh and blood, what can ye say? I can see he's breaking my mother's heart. Effie, ye may be thankful for a hame where God's name is reverenced and His laws obeyed."

While the girls were speaking Grieve's step was heard advancing; he was evidently much the worse of liquor, for he was spluttering out in broken language, while a crowd of children followed him laughing and shouting, "Down wi' a' ty-tyrants, free-freedom to the sl-slave, f-f-freedom for e-v-er," imitating his words.

Effie put on her bonnet as fast as possible, for she

knew Jessie and her mother would be ashamed of the poor wretched man being seen by her in such a condition, and before Grieve stumbled into his comfortless home she was hurrying along the road to her father's cottage.

CHAPTER XV.

"Ours was the glance none saw besides,
The smile none else might understand,
The whispered thoughts of hearts allied,
The pressure of the thrilling hand,
The kiss so guiltless, so refined.

The tone that taught me to rejoice,
When prone, unlike thee, to repine,
The song celestial from thy voice,

But sweet to me from none but thine."

-BYRON.

66 Why did she love him? Curious fool! be still;
Is human love the growth of human will?"

-Ibid.

OULD it be wondered at if Effie stood a little longer than usual at her mirror that evening, brushing out the soft delicate cloud of rich auburn hair? She folded it back from her brow, and wound it into a simple knot behind; and then having put the room in order, she sat quietly down to her sewing, waiting her father's return.

Effie Martin had not to lead the life of many