think myself wanting in strength of mind, if I could not look forward to the consequences of death. I really think we’re commanded to do so, somewhere in the Bible or the Prayer-book.”

“Do you look forward to the consequences of my death, mamma?” asked Cynthia.

“You really are the most unfeeling girl I ever met with,” said Mrs. Gibson, really hurt. “I wish I could give you a little of my own sensitiveness, for I have too much for my happiness. Don’t let us speak of Osborne’s looks again; ten to one it was only some temporary over-fatigue, or some anxiety about Roger, or perhaps a little fit of indigestion. I was very foolish to attribute it to anything more serious, and dear papa might be displeased, if he knew I had done so. Medical men don’t like other people to be making conjectures about health; they consider it as trenching on their own particular province, and very proper, I’m sure. Now let us consider about your dress, Cynthia; I could not understand how you had spent your money, and made so little show with it.”

“Mamma! it may sound very cross, but I must tell Molly, and you, and everybody, once for all, that, as I don’t want and didn’t ask for more than my allowance, I’m not going to answer any questions about what I do with it.” She did not say this with any want of respect; but she said it with a quiet determination which subdued her mother for the time; though often afterwards, when Mrs. Gibson and Molly were alone, the former would start the wonder as to what Cynthia could possibly have done with her money, and hunt each poor conjecture through woods and valleys of doubt, till she was wearied out; and the exciting sport was given up for the day. At present, however, she confined herself to the practical matter in hand; and the genius for millinery and dress, inherent in both mother and daughter, soon settled a great many knotty points of contrivance and taste, and then they all three set to work to “gar auld claes look amaist as weel’s the new.”

Cynthia’s relations with the Squire had been very stationary, ever since the visit she had paid to the Hall the previous autumn. He had received them all at that time with hospitable politeness, and he had been more charmed with Cynthia than he liked to acknowledge to himself, when he thought the visit all over afterwards.

“She’s a pretty lass, sure enough,” thought he, “and has pretty ways about her too, and likes to learn from older people, which is a good sign; but, somehow, I don’t like madam her mother; but still she is her mother, and the girl’s her daughter; yet she spoke to her once or twice as I shouldn’t ha’ liked our little Fanny to have spoken, if it had pleased God for her to ha’ lived. No, it’s not the right way, and it may be a bit old-fashioned, but I like the right way. And then again she took possession o’ me, as I may say, and little Molly had to run after us in the garden walks that are too narrow for three, just like a little four- legged doggie; and the other was so full of listening to me, she never turned round for to speak a word to Molly. I don’t mean to say they’re not fond of each other; and that’s in Roger’s sweetheart’s favour, and it’s very ungrateful in me to go and find fault with a lass who was so civil to me, and had such a pretty way with her of hanging on every word that fell from my lips. Well! a deal may come and go in two years! and the lad says nothing to me about it. I’ll be as deep as him, and take no more notice of the affair till he comes home and tells me himself.”

So, although the Squire was always delighted to receive the little notes which Cynthia sent him every time she heard from Roger, and although this attention on her part was melting the heart he tried to harden, he controlled himself into writing her the briefest acknowledgments. His words were strong in meaning, but formal in expression; she herself did not think much about them, being satisfied to do the kind actions that called them forth. But her mother criticised them and pondered them. She thought she had hit on the truth, when she decided in her own mind that it was a very old-fashioned style, and that he and his house and his furniture all wanted some of the brightening up and polishing which they were sure to receive, when——she never quite liked to finish the sentence definitely, although she kept repeating to herself that “there was no harm in it.”