leaned against the window with an air of weariness, and two little girls watched the singular performance, half scared and half delighted.

The distracted nurse, who, with the baby tucked under one arm, was endeavouring to prepare tea with her disengaged hand, was the first to perceive and give notice of Ellen's appearance. 'Thank goodness! here comes Miss Kerr to ask the meaning of all this racket!'

And almost at the same moment the warning was given by one of the children in an alarmed whisper-'Oh, Phil! here is an aunt.'

Thus admonished, Phil stopped short as he was twirling round on one foot, his outstretched arm fell to his side, and he stood demure and silent. The little maid began to rattle the teacups, and nurse asked Master Philip to hear what his aunt would say to such heathenish doings. Ellen, however, found it impossible to do anything but laugh at her nephew's remarkable physiognomy, now perfectly immovable, except for the expression of fun lurking in his small, twinkling eyes. Willy, the eldest boy, came forward to shake hands with frank and natural courtesy, and she even succeeded in winning the good graces of the baby, which consented to be danced and fondled in her arms. But before Dora and Lucy could be induced to tell their names, her amusement was again excited by the little maid's piteous entreaty to Phil.

'If you would please not, sir,' said Sally, looking very hot and red in the face.

'Don't what?' said Phil, innocently.

'If you would please not make a face, to make me laugh, when it isn't proper.'

'I ain't making a face; my face was made for me,' retorted Phil.

'Why will you say 'ain't'? There is no wit in bad grammar,' said Willy; and Phil surveyed him with an air of cool astonishment.

'Bless my heart! for a judge of wit. to next?'

Wise Willy is setting up What will the world come

'I shall break the teacups, I know I shall,' said Sally, in the intervals of hysterical laughter, as Phil once more twisted his features into the comical form which she found irresistible. He then made a summerset of a startling nature, which brought him to the door, where he paused to deliver his last words: 'I say, old codger, I ain't going to feed with the little ones, if anything better is to be had elsewhere; but in case I come back, make some buttered toast for me.'

'Indeed I shall do no such thing, Master Philip,' said the aggravated nurse; but he was already out of hearing, and she could only find relief in muttering to herself, that the boy was possessed.'

6

'I hope he will not get into mischief,' said Willy, looking at Ellen a little anxiously, he is so wild with the pleasure of getting out of the ship. And then he thinks himself too old for the nursery.'

'I think we forgot how old you both are,' said Ellen; but Phil is very small for thirteen. Another night, I dare say, you will drink tea

with us; but now I had better go and look for Phil, for it would not do to get into a scrape the first night.'

As she was about to execute her intention, Phil reappeared with Norah and Anne, who had intercepted his flight. And now, Phil,' Norah said imploringly, 'give your mind to that plate of bread and butter, that there may be five minutes' peace.' And Phil, in an unwonted humour of submission, sat down and began to eat as if unconscious that there was another creature in the room.

Anne's manner did not conciliate the children; they became shy, if not absolutely sulky, and Norah was glad to cut short the introduction by proposing to go at once to her room to prepare for tea. Ellen presently followed to offer her services; but it was some moments before her timid knock was answered, and when she entered Norah was standing in the window, her cheeks still wet with tears.

'Oh! it is only you, Nelly,' she said, smiling. 'I do not mind your knowing that I feel a little home-sick among so many strange faces. That feeling will soon pass, and I am so glad to know you all. Come, now, and kiss me.' And she drew Ellen to her side, and looked admiringly into the depth of her blue eyes. Ellen submitted to caresses she was too shy to return, and looked diffident and happy.

'You must not stay here now,' said Norah, 'if we are to be ready for tea; and I am sure that Anne likes punctuality. And Nelly, if you are

going to change that dress, I hope it will be for one less like a school-room girl.'

'But I am a school-room girl, Norah,' said Ellen, blushing.

'Then it is time that you should cease to be so. But we will discuss that and other matters presently, for I must not be late the very first evening.'

Ellen went to her room and hurried through her toilette, in order that she might rejoin her sisters and enlarge on her sense of Norah's charms. In her honour she wore a full white muslin dress, high up to the throat, and relieved by a spray of pink coral, which George had sent to her a year ago; and blushing and eager, she entered the drawing-room, where she found Kate and Clara discussing their visit to the nursery.

The children are sadly spoilt and unruly,' Clara said; 'I do not know how I am to bear the disturbance.'

'They will soon settle down,' rejoined Kate; 'a long sea-voyage is always trying to the temper. And they are such pretty children.'

'Except Phil,' said Ellen. 'Oh! Kate, have you seen Phil?'

'Only the back of his head. He was sitting on the window-sill, with his legs outside; and, as nothing would induce him to turn round, or leave off drumming with his feet, we were obliged to come away; for it was too much for Clara.'

'He is the most remarkable boy,' said Ellen. 'He has red hair, as you can testify, and a parchment skin, small twinkling eyes, a slit for a mouth,

and no particular nose. He is very small, with two great handles of ears, and the most grotesque expression, rather naughty perhaps, but full of fun. And, Kate, is not Norah pretty?'

Kate's assent was unqualified, but not Clara's. 'She is not really pretty, only lady-like and well-dressed-perhaps too well dressed for the wife of a person in George's circumstances.'

Ellen's desire to vindicate one who was faultless in her eyes overcame her timidity.

'She was not expensively dressed, only there is something in her air which makes all she wears becoming. Her straw bonnet was quite plain, and her black silk —'

Really, Ellen,' interposed Clara, 'I do not wish for a detailed description. I was speaking of the general effect, of which I imagine I am a better judge than you can be. That captious way of disputing what is said is very disagreeable.'

Ellen would have made no attempt to justify herself, even if Norah had not entered at the moment, still wearing the travelling dress, which certainly strengthened her side of the argument.

'So you have inspected the children,' she said to Kate. 'I wanted them to go to bed early, but since Phil has ascertained that there are strawberries for tea, and informed the nursery of the fact, they are determined to share the feast. I hope Anne has no objection.'

Anne's objection to the appearance of children at unauthorized hours was very decided; but she did not think fit to protest on the evening of their arrival, and the stiffness of her reply was unno