him so little, I hardly know if that would do any good."

The conversation was now interrupted by the entrance of the subject of it, who, having seen Clara safe in the custody of her nursery-maid, returned to the drawingroom, in a worse humour, if that were possible, than when she left it; and it was a great relief to all parties, when this amiable lady drew on her gloves, snatched up her parasol, and sallied out to enjoy the sullen pleasures of a solitary walk.

CHAPTER XX.

Peace sit on thy young spirit :-Never rest
On thee the phantom Sorrow: may thy brow
Pass-like an ark-along life's stormy waste,
As stainless and as beautiful as now.

T. K. HERVEY.

"MISS DUNDAS, ma'am," said the housemaid, one morning to Catherine—“ I am thinking, ma'am, that Miss Clara is not well; her maid says she hardly tasted anything yesterday, and she has taken no breakfast to-day."

On hearing this, Catherine put down her book, and went to inquire for her little favourite. Clara, who was still in bed, ou hearing the door open, thinking it was her mother who entered, immediately closed her eyes, and pretended to be in a most profound slumber.

ly.

"Is Clara asleep ?" said Catherine, soft

"Is that you, aunt ?" said Clara, joyfully, on hearing Catherine's voice, "I thought it was mamma."

"What is the matter with you, Clara?" said Catherine, feeling her arm.

"I want to die, and go to that good place you used to tell me about. I hope that mamma won't come there, but just you, and Major Willoughby, and papa."

"You had better rise," said Catherine, "and come down to the drawing-room with me."

66

No, no, I don't want to go there."

Come," said Catherine, lifting her in her arms, "I shall be your nursery-maid and dress you, and then you shall go with me to my room, and I shall tell you such a pretty story, and we shall be so happy together."

Clara agreed to all this; and Catherine had just commenced the favourite story of Joseph and his brethren, when Ellinor en

tered to ask Catherine to take a walk with her.

"Do you want to go out, aunt?" said Clara, looking up in her face; "because I will go back to my own little bed now."

"You are a good child," said Catherine, kissing her;" but I dare say aunt Ellinor will walk alone to-day, and let me stay with you."

"Will you let aunt stay?" said Clara, with a beseeching look.

Ellinor could not resist this appeal, and she good-humouredly said, she would go out

alone.

After Catherine had gone through all her stock of stories, Clara said she was tired and sleepy; and the former carried her back to the nursery, and put her in bed, where she found heaped up all the little presents she had given her, while those presented by her mother were shoved into a corner of the room. Mrs Lennox having missed Clara from the drawing-room all the morning, now entered to inquire what had become of her.

"How is this!" she exclaimed." Clara in bed?"

“She is not very well, ma'am," said her maid.

“ Why did you not tell me this sooner ?” asked Mrs Lennox.

"I desired Jenkinson to inform you, ma'am, long ago, but I suppose she forgot."

“Clara, love,” said Mrs Lennox, approaching the bed, and trying to rouse her; but Clara would not answer. At last, teased by her importunities, Clara pushed her aside, saying, “Go away, I don't want to rise; I am going to die, and aunt Catherine is to take me to Heaven."

"Good Heavens !" exclaimed Mrs LenΠΟΧ, my poor child is really ill. Why do you stand staring there?" she said, addressing Clara's maid, "run this moment for Mr Lennox.

"Oh, Charles," she exclaimed, "my little girl is very ill, send immediately for the doctor."

"Clara, my dear," said Charles,

❝ tell