has wished to resemble-in that case, they can understand as well as I could tell them, how exceedingly ridiculous she made herself. I shall only, therefore, relate the conclusion of the matter, which was, indeed, a very painful and unexpected one to Charlotte; who, in her eagerness to accomplish her purpose, had forgotten to shut the door of Miss Robson's room, when she returned with the veil. Great, therefore, was her confusion, when, on rising from her seat, and making a low curtsey, and saying as Miss Smith had done on taking her leave, "my dear Mrs. Allen, I must now tear myself away; for, indeed, it is by force only that

I

can ever get away from the Rectory ;"great, I say, was her surprise, and unutterable her confusion, in feeling a hand laid upon her shoulder, at the same time that a voice inquired of her "where she was going?"

"Oh, Miss Robson!" she exclaimed; for it was indeed her governess, returned from her walk, not sooner than usual, but sooner than Charlotte, in her manifold occupations, had calculated upon.

"Oh, Miss Robson!" she repeated, as she

sat down, and in extreme confusion covered her face with both her hands.

"And oh, Charlotte! I think I must say," replied Miss Robson, standing motionless with surprise a few moments. Then looking earnestly at her, "what have you made yourself this ridiculous figure for, and why have you taken my veil out of my drawers?"

"I don't know what to say," replied Charlotte, beginning to cry bitterly,—“I am so ashamed!"

The flowers, and the finery, and the mimicry of Miss Smith's parting speech, told their own story; nor was it one that greatly surprised Miss Robson, who had often remarked with concern, Charlotte's disposition to be pleased with fine clothes and fashionable people; and also an inclination (not uncommon in little girls) to imitate the manners of their elders.

"I shall not say much to you, my dear Charlotte," she observed, after a little interval of silence, during which Charlotte sobbed bitterly, "I shall not say much to you, because I am persuaded that what you are now feeling is a far better reprover to you than I can be; but I would earnestly exhort

you to remember it when the present painful impression is passed away. Yes, I would earnestly counsel you to bear in mind that it is not merely the folly of mimicry which this indulgence of vanity has betrayed you into, but also a breach of trust, and a violation of good faith, which is far worse. When I leave my drawers open, I feel that I can so far confide in your principles, and also in your sister's, as to be persuaded that you will abstain from meddling with them. I do not believe you ever opened a drawer of mine before."

"No, that I never did," said Charlotte; "I only knew you kept your veil there, because I have seen you take it out. And to think that, for such foolishness as this, I should do such a thing, and lose your good opinion!" and she burst into fresh tears.

"You will not lose my good opinion," said Miss Robson, affectionately embracing her; "on the contrary, I trust henceforth to find you more deserving of it than ever; for I hope that what has now passed will tend to make you so watchful over yourself, that you will not again be betrayed into any thing so foolish and degrading. Come, let us get

rid of these trappings (traps indeed for you, poor child!) before Harriet comes up to change her frock.”

"I shall be long enough before I want to wear flowers again," thought Charlotte, as, in a kind of disdain at her own folly, she took off the ornamented cap, and began to disarray it of its accompaniments.

We might have hoped that it would be long enough also before she practised any arts of imitation; but here, I believe, I must again unveil the truth of the matter, and tell you that it was a secret stirring of envy at Laura Thomson's smart clothes that caused her so hastily to forget the humiliation of the preceding week. Such poor creatures are we when governed by our own evil nature!

CHAPTER X.

HASTY SPIRITS.

It had been a source of great satisfaction to Gertrude, during her long and languishing illnesss, to hear from Miss Robson, and her young friends, Harriet and Charlotte, how the affairs of the poor people in the village prospered; what children got prizes at the Sunday school; what babies were born, and what names were given to them; and in what way the little frocks and gowns, and other articles of clothing that were made at the Rectory, were disposed off.

As great also was the gratification which Harriet and her sister derived in obtaining and communicating intelligence upon these points. But, as in larger communities than that of Woodside, the evil passions of human