say," continued Eleanor, hurriedly. "I am afraid we can't go this afternoon. Lady Charlton wishes me so very much to stay: they are going out,—a large party: she quite pressed my joining them. I am to drive with your cousin Adelaide."

"And

I

Blanche could not conceal her vexation. does my aunt expect me to go, too?" she inquired. "Oh! no, I assure you, I was very careful. did not mention your name. No one thinks you are in the house. They suppose I had come to the castle to look for you; and now I have left them with the excuse, that I must write a note to mamma to tell her what I intend doing.'

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"And shall you write?" asked Blanche.

Why no, upon second thoughts, I don't see there is a necessity. I was to spend the afternoon with' you, but whether I go for a walk or a drive must be a question of indifference." The latter part of the sentence was spoken in that tone of decision which is sometimes used to conceal a doubt. Blanche, without making any observation in reply, put aside the writing materials which she was placing for Eleanor's use.

"Why will you not go with us, Blanche?" continued Eleanor. "Why can you not wait till tomorrow?"

"Because to-morrow will be like to-day," said Blanche: "it will have its own duties."

"But I could walk with you then; I promise that I will not put myself in the way of temptation again."

"Then it was temptation," said Blanche, a little reproachfully.

Perhaps so; it might have been but I see no harm in it. Whether you go alone to Susannah, or whether I am with you, cannot make much difference to her."

"But it does to me," said Blanche, unable to repress a feeling of vexation that Eleanor should prefer a drive with a party of comparative strangers to a walk with herself.

Eleanor laughed, and declared that Blanche must be jealous of her cousin Adelaide; but there was selfdissatisfaction beneath her assumed indifference, and she brought forward a number of excuses for her determination. "Lady Charlton pressed it so much," she said, "it was almost impossible to refuse; in fact, I suspect she wants me as a chaperone. They had not settled how it was all to be arranged. Charles was there, striving hard for the honour of driving your cousin, himself; but Lady Charlton had evidently set her face against it. So, you see, I may be use

ful."

Blanche did her best to enter into Eleanor's gaiety, but she could not succeed very well; for, as she began to think of what was to be done, she saw that all her plans were disarranged; and Eleanor soon perceived it, also.

At the moment of accepting the invitation to join Lady Charlton's party, she had not remembered that Blanche could not well walk as far as Susannah's cottage alone. "However the next day would do just as well," she said, "and Blanche had better make up her mind to give up duty for that afternoon, and go with the rest.

This Blanche declined; since she was not wanted, she preferred having the time to herself. "I suppose you could not send an excuse to my aunt," she suggested.

But Eleanor negatived the idea instantly, and after again begging Blanche to forgive her, and promising to behave better for the future, hastened away.

CHAPTER XIX.

BLANCHE stood at the window, watching the party, which was collecting in front of the castle. She saw Eleanor join them, and converse a little with Adelaide; and, after some delay, they both seated themselves in the pony carriage, and drove off-closely followed by Mr. Wentworth on horseback. Blanche could almost have repented having refused to accompany them; since there was no apparent obstacle in the way. But she felt that she had done what was best for her own mind, and there was great pleasure in the quietness and solitude now so unusual; and when the rumbling of the wheels and the echo of the horses' hoofs died away in the distance, she lingered still by the open window to enjoy the unbroken silence within the house; and the low, soothing, mingled sounds of nature without. They are rare and precious moments, which are thus snatched from the whirl of life and spent in stillness and alone. Even when they are not devoted to direct meditation, and appear too fleeting to be productive of good, they yet tend to give us a knowledge of the realities which encompass us. By the depth of their solemnity and repose, they remind us that beneath the surface of this weary, working existence, there is another world-another, and an enduring life;imaged in the unchanging sky and the returning sun, and the ever renewed beauty of the trees and flowers, and the steadfastness of the everlasting hills; and, if our hearts are open to the truth, they may sometimes teach us to remember, that as in far-off years

the glorious temple rose silently in the city of Jerusalem, neither axe nor hammer nor tool giving warning or notice of the work, so the more glorious temple-the Church of the Living God,-is at this moment rising unperceived in the midst of a tumultuous world; each stone quarried and fashioned by the sharp edge of sorrow and the keen stroke of adversity, until perfected and prepared, it is fitted for that destined position which shall be the place of its rest for eternity.

Thoughts something like these filled the mind of Blanche as she sat alone, enjoying the unwonted quietness of the summer's afternoon. She had early learnt to look upon what is, not what seems to be; but, during the last few weeks, the truth had been at times overlooked. Notwithstanding the dissatisfaction expressed to Mrs. Howard, she had found much enjoyment in the society of Lady Charlton and her cousins; perhaps too much, for it had unconsciously relaxed the strict, watchful tone of her character. She perceived this now. Mrs. Howard's letter had given the first warning; and this short interval of reflection repeated it. Again she reverted to the question of duty, but less practically than before. There is a close connection between the mystery of what we see and the mystery of what we are; and when Blanche looked upon the glorious landscape beneath her, and the immensity of the sky above her, she was carried away far beyond the immediate consideration of daily pursuits into thoughts and speculations for which no answer could be found. Metaphysical difficulties suggested themselves; questions upon the origin of duty-its binding powerthe irremediable consequences of its neglect the very fact of its existence, involving the possibility of evil; and this again opening a new path for the reason to travel, till it stood upon the brink of a pre

cipice, and recoiled shuddering from its own presumption. There are many amongst the young whom such thoughts harass when it is little suspected ;-many, who are armed with no shield of faith for their protection. We may well pray for them, for their peril is great!

"Is that you, Blanche?" exclaimed a voice from below, as Blanche still stood at the window.

Blanche started. Maude! alone! I thought I saw you with the rest.”

No, thank you; I am not a gregarious animal. And such a set too, as they were!-just fitted for Adelaide. But come down, I want you."

Blanche delayed. She had not settled what she was going to do; but, certainly, she had no intention of spending the afternoon with Maude.

"Come, you must come," repeated Maude, impatiently; "we will have a German lesson. I promised you one. We will sit upon the south terrace ; it is deliciously warm."

Blanche went to another window, from which the terrace could be seen. It certainly was a most inviting spot, with the bright slanting rays of the sun upon it, and the flowers bordering it radiant in beauty; whilst, below, were contrasted the deep shadows of the trees on the bank, and the glittering lines of light which flickered on the sides of the distant hills. She paused for a moment to consider; and it seemed right to go;-right, since her afternoon was interrupted, to take advantage of Maude's offer.

"We will read," said Maude, holding up a book; "only make haste.”

Blanche threw a shawl round her and ran down stairs. Maude met her at the hall-door. She looked quite satisfied,-an unusual thing for her, and her,—and Blanche was glad that she had assented.

"I fancied I was quite alone," observed Maude,