"Yes; but peoples can be both, sissy-you

are."

"No, Minnie; I don't wish to think about being pretty. I only want to be good."

"But you are good, sissy; Mr. Raymond said you were: and he said he wished I would be too, when I was a woman like my sissy."

And then Minnie launched forth into a glowing description of all she had seen and heard-Raymond's opinions on the animals and her own - and how they had stopped at two shops: a confectioner's, where they had got some bon-bons and almond comfits; and a toy-shop, where Minnie got a large Noah's ark and two or three other little toys; and when the people had offered to send them, Minnie had expressed her fears that they would not, and so to give her pleasure Raymond had filled his pockets, and carried the Noah's ark under his arm, that Minnie might have them directly she got home. Ethel could not but admire this amiability, and yet manly indifference to form, which had made Raymond, solely to please a child, walk through the streets laden with her toys. But Ethel felt grieved when she found Minnie's busy little tongue had been at work. How she had informed Raymond that her sissy did everything at home, and Laura never did anything but make flowers on canvas, read, and play on the piano, and was always scolding her, and would not read to her about anything, or let her play in the room where she was. Ethel cautioned Minnie about never telling anything of this sort; that it was very wrong to speak against Laura. Minnie looked up in her face, and wondered why Ethel should not like Laura's faults to be told when she was so very unkind to her.

Raymond had been delighted with Minnie's origi

nality, and had taken a great fancy to her. He had a decided love for children; but it had never yet been called into action, as he had not come in contact with any real children.

They had all been little dressed-up things, scorning the innocent pleasures of childhood, while they delighted in everything which seemed to raise them to an equality with grown-up people.

For this class of children (now but too common) Raymond had no affection. He delighted in a little, merry, natural child, like Minnie, and his heart had warmed to her immediately; and then she was Ethel's little sister, and loved her so well, which certainly did not detract from the interest he felt in her: so that, on the whole, Raymond had been as much entertained as Minnie that afternoon.

"There now, you've gotten your colour right again. I sure when I see'd ye this morning wi' your pale face, thinks I to myself that's t fruits of righteous (riotous) living, such as we had t' last night," said Sally, setting down the tea-tray as Ethel and Minnie entered, after taking off their walking things.

"I tell you, Miss Hethel, no good 'll ever come of such gallavanting. There's t' fruits of it's going on now; for there's been Miss Laura out wi' that Mr. Thornhill in t' fields; and it's none right on her, I think, such an wild young man, as I hear say he is. Them's my sentiments; you'll please excuse 'um, Miss," said Sally, with the air of one who has relieved herself of some important information.

"I am very sorry to hear all this," began Ethel, quietly; but she was interrupted by an exclamation from Sally:

"Don't say no more, pray. I'd clean forgot. Little pitchers has ears, you know."

"I know you mean me," said Minnie, in an agony, bursting into tears, for she had eagerly been drinking in every word.

"Who said I meant you, Missey?" said Sally, kindly.

"Because - because you looked at me. 'Little pitchers haven't got ears.' I am sure I shall not tell that Laura

"Wist! wist! never heed

I know you won't,"

said Sally, as the hall-door opened to admit Laura, who glided up-stairs to her own room directly.

Her

Ethel sighed deeply as Sally left the room. short-lived pleasure in Ada's love for her, and Raymond's kindness for Minnie, vanished as soon as her thoughts were directed to this fresh proof of her sister's imprudence. Laura's disappointment arising from her want of success with Raymond, whose attentions she had vainly endeavoured to secure for herself, filled her with vexation, and solely with a view to give vent to her annoyance had she carried on this foolish flirtation with Thornhill. She could not live without flattery and admiration; and therefore accepted his, rather than forego the intoxicating draught.

She was perfectly unconscious of the net she was weaving for her own entanglement. She cared not to pause and consider Ethel's sisterly advice, as to the foolish course she was pursuing, and the license she was giving to her lover to suppose his affection returned, besides the many remarks she had already caused among those who had witnessed these proceedings.

Ethel's heart grew heavy as she thought over these things, but she saw no way of remedying the evil at present.

Laura refused to listen to any warning or advice,

and she knew of no other plan by which to rouse her to a sense of her impropriety, and the most probable results of it.

There was as much danger lurking around Ethel's path as Laura's, of which, for the present, she was unconscious. It had not yet occurred to her mind that Raymond might mean more than mere civility.

Ethel had little or no vanity, and she seldom thought about the attention paid her, in a serious point of view: she never looked for, or expected, admiration; and when it was given, was not elevated by it, or disposed to form conjectures as to its probable motive, unless so prominent that she could not blind herself to its meaning. She had not been keeping the careful watch over her heart which she should have done. Its wild throbbings, the colour which mounted to her face, and the pleasure she felt when she received Raymond's delicate attentions, listened to his fascinating conversation, and saw his irresistible smiles bestowed upon her, had not yet roused her to see the precipice, on the verge of which she was standing.

But still she was safe. Her mother had foreseen the snare which might, in all probability, be spread for her precious child, and had warned her in time, and obtained her solemn promise to beware! And well she knew that Ethel's heart would burst before she would break her word. And a Father's love watched over the young girl, to shield her in temptation; and in the hour of trial His strength should be made perfect in her weakness. Such guidance and direction Laura never sought; and when temptation came she was unprepared to meet it, and the more readily yielded herself a victim to her own imprudence.

Mr. Woodville was delighted by the progressing intimacy with the Raymonds, and the accumulation of business the Thurlston property had brought him. He saw, with more penetration than his daughters, that Ethel was certainly the object of Raymond's preference. This did not please him quite so well. He would decidedly have preferred seeing Laura the mistress of Thurlston; she would more readily carry out his plans of worldly aggrandisement: besides, Ethel was really needed at home, while Laura was perfectly useless. But, far sooner than Raymond should not connect himself with his family, would he part with Ethel; and he resolved to lose no opportunity of displaying her accomplishments, and increasing his present admiration for her.

Poor Ethel! could she but have known how her ambitious father had disposed of her, it would have cost her a bitter pang; but she was spared the knowledge of such proceedings.

Several days passed by, and, with the exception of the offensive intrusions of Miss Grant, nothing very particular occurred. She had forced herself upon them at all hours, and under various circumstances, to make herself thoroughly acquainted with their business and manner of life; yet still professed an unbounded affection for them, more especially for Laura and Ethel, to each of whom she gave a handsome present. The former received hers with evident pleasure, while the latter's haughty spirit rose within her, but with a powerful effort was subdued; and she received the gift with as good a grace as she could assume, though she longed to return it to their false-hearted acquaintance.

Miss Hackett's kindness and consideration continued to increase as she saw the awkward position