cften surprised at the ignorance I find upon this subject, even among the best educated people. They confound all the three Presidencies together, as though they were just a morning's walk apart, and sometimes their density goes beyond even this. I have an uncle in Rangoon, and I remember my dear mother receiving a letter from a widow lady, requesting an introduction to him for her son. Upon inquiry it turned out that the young man was going to Bombay."

“Well, I am thankful to say I know enough to laugh at that," said Effie; "but still I dare not be cross-questioned."

"It all comes from the same cause that I was speaking of just now," said Mrs. Herbert, in a captious tone, "the ridiculous system of education which prevails in our day. Boys are crammed with Latin and Greek, and girls with German and Algebra, and I know not what, and of their own mother-tongue, and the common rudiments of education, they often do not know as much as our National School children.

There is Edward Stuart now, he is twelve or thirteen years old, and I know his father pays upwards of a hundred pounds a-year for his education; and last Christmas, when he was here, he did not know in which country of Europe to find the river Oder. He said he had never heard of it. And of English history he knew nothing. And as for the girls of the present day, they can't spell, and they are so engrossed in the problems of Euclid, and the measurements of the planets, that they have no time to learn. I do declare it is monstrous."

Mrs. Herbert was rapidly working herself up into a fever, so Helen drew her cousin's attention to the map, and prevented the reply which she saw was coming from her lips. She then made a few observations upon the subject of the route, the transit through Egypt, etc., the discomfort of the Nile boats, until by degrees her aunt's thoughts were directed into an entirely new channel, and Egypt and its marvellous history became to them all such an

interesting topic, that the evening was closed by their reading aloud some of Lord Lindsay's beautiful work upon Egypt and the Holy Land.

The next morning Effie rose blithe us the lark, and her sweet voice was heard like his carolling in the early dawn for very gladness. She was one of those buoyant spirits, upon whom outward circumstances seem to make no lasting impression. Let the pressure be ever so great, she was sure to rebound. With Helen it was different. Her natural temperament was quiet and thoughtful, and her cheerfulness, such as it was, was the result of a deep and holy principle. It was a flame which required perpetual feeding, for all the influences around her tended to deaden if not to quench it.

When breakfast was over, Effie said, "I should like to go and see Miss Wilson to-day. Helen, will you come with me?"

"I will answer for Helen, my dear; she cannot go. She has duties to perform at home,

which are not to be neglected for new fancics.

and new friends."

Take

"You can go without me, Effie. Rover, and you will not be wanting for company. And will you take Miss Wilson a new pattern for work which I promised her? It is in the drawing-room, and I will give it you before you go."

Helen spoke so cheerfully, that Effie's slight feeling of disappointment passed quickly away. She prepared for her walk, unchained the beautiful black Newfoundland dog who was to be her companion, and set off in the fresh morning air, across the breezy hill to the cottage of her friend.

She was received with great delight, for she was a favourite with both mother and daughter. She found Julia, the younger sister, busy at work in the garden, training the rose-trees round the porch and verandah, and cutting away the redundant ivy, which threatened to shade too much their pretty drawingShe stayed a short time watching the

room.

process, and admiring the improvement which the taste and skill of the young gardener had effected, and then she went in, and, taking off her bonnet, she seated herself at once by the sofa, and said

"I am come to be your companion for an hour. Will you have me?"

"Very gladly," said Miss Wilson; "I always like to have you. Why, dear child, you look so bright; has any unusually good news reached you?"

"No, not any; but it is such a glorious morning, and the world does look so beautiful, and I feel so happy."

"And so you are come to make me a sharer in your happiness? That is very kind. of you, dear."

"Yes, this is partly my object, but not cntirely. I am come to be taught. There are some things I know nothing about, and that puzzle my comprehension beyond my power of unravelling, and I want you to teach me." "What things, dear?"