while she has everything to lay by ?" said Rose with an uncomfortable sense that her own work and several books which she had left about, were among those which her mother was putting away.

"Ah, you have found out there are two sides to a question," said her father, patting her on the cheek, with his gentle habitual smile; but he gave no answer to her question; and then the maids became visible trooping in, in their white caps and aprons, and the Rector, with a sigh and a last look at the midnight and the dim dewy landscape, went in to domesticity and duty, which he did not like so well.

Rose went to her room that night with a thrill of all her gentle being which she could not explain. She looked out from her window among the honeysuckles, and was so disappointed as almost to cry when she found the lights out, and the little cottage on Ankermead lost in the darkness She could have cried, and yet but for that fanciful trouble, how happy the child was! Everything embraced her-the clinging tendrils of the honey suckle, so laden with dew and sweetness; the shadows of the trees which held out their arms to her; the soft caressing moon which touched her face and surrounded it with a pale glory. Nothing but good and happiness was around, behind, before her, and a trembling of happiness to come, even sweeter than anything she had ever known, whispered over her in soft indefinite murmurs, like the summer air in the petals of flower. She opened her bosom to it, with a delicious half-consciousnes fresh as any rose that lets its leaves be touched by the sweet south. This Rose in June expanded, grew richer, and of a more damask rosiness but could not tell why.

CORNHILL MAGAZINE.

RNING MEETING: THE LETTER AGAIN.

HE scarlet and orange light outside the malthouse did not penetrate to its interior, which was, as usual, lighted by a rival glow of similar hue, radiating from the hearth.

The maltster, after having lain down in his clothes for a few hours, was now sitting beside a three-legged table, breakfasting off bread and bacon. This was eaten on the plateless system, which is performed by placing a slice of bread upon the table, the meat flat upon the bread, a H. mustard plaster upon the meat, and a pinch of salt

upon the whole, then cutting them vertically downwards with a large pocket-knife till wood is reached, when the severed lump is impaled on the knife, elevated, and sent the proper way of food. The maltster's lack of teeth appeared not to sensibly diminish his powers as a mill. He had

VOL. XXIX.-NO. 172.

19.

been without them for so many years that toothlessness was felt less to be a defect than hard gums an acquisition. Indeed, he seemed to ap proach the grave as a hyperbolic curve approaches a line-sheering off as he got nearer, till it was doubtful if he would ever reach it at all.

In the ashpit was a heap of potatoes roasting, and a boiling pipkin of charred bread, called "coffee," for the benefit of whomsoever should call, for Warren's was a sort of village clubhouse, there being no inn in the place.

"I say, says I, we get a fine day, and then down comes a snapper night," was a remark now suddenly heard spreading into the malthouse from the door, which had been opened the previous moment, and the form of Henery Fray advanced to the fire, stamping the snow from his boots when about half-way there. The speech and entry had not seemed to be at all an abrupt beginning to the maltster, introductory matter being ofte omitted in this neighbourhood, both from word and deed, and the maltste having the same latitude allowed him, did not hurry to reply. He picked up a fragment of cheese, by pecking upon it with his knife, as a butcher picks up skewers.

Henery appeared in a drab kerseymere great-coat, buttoned over his smockfrock, the white skirts of the latter being visible to the distance about a foot below the coat-tails, which, when you got used to the style dress, looked natural enough, and even ornamental-it certainly was comfortable.

Matthew Moon, Joseph Poorgrass, and other carters and waggoner followed at his heels, with great lanterns dangling from their hands, which showed that they had just come from the cart-horse stables, where they had been busily engaged since four o'clock that morning.

"And how is she getting on without a baily?" the maltster enquired. Henery shook his head, and smiled one of the bitter smiles, dragging all the flesh of his forehead into a corrugated heap in the centre.

"She'll rue it surely, surely!" he said. "Benjy Pennyways were not a true man or an honest baily-as big a betrayer as Joey Iscariot himself. But to think she can manage alone!" He allowed his head to swing laterally three or four times in silence. "Never in all my creeping up-never!"

This was recognised by all as the conclusion of some gloomy speech which had been expressed in thought alone during the shake of the head Henery meanwhile retained several marks of despair upon his face, to imply that they would be required for use again directly he should go speaking.

on

"All will be ruined, and ourselves too, or there's no meat in gentlemen's houses!" said Mark Clark, in the manner of a man ready to burst

all links of habit.

"A headstrong maid, that's what she is-and won't listen to no advice at all. Pride and vanity have ruined many a cobbler's dog. Dear, dear, when I think of it, I sorrows like a man in travel!"