ed that her last visit to
Edinburgh had been so hurried that she had no time. Jane said quietly
that she had not expected to see either of them. Had she not found it
dull living in the Old Town with Peggy Walker?--No, she had never felt
it dull; she had always plenty to do. Was Peggy as much of a character
as ever?--Yes; she was glad to say, Peggy was the same admirable woman
she had always been, and on nearer acquaintance her character became
still more appreciated. The children must be a nuisance?--The children
were particularly fine children, and a great resource to her. He
thought Miss Alice was not looking well. Had she felt the want of the
fresh country air?--For a moment this arrow struck her; a painful
expression passed over her face, but she subdued her feelings
quickly.--Yes, perhaps Alice did suffer from the change; but they were
going to have a week's amusement while their cousin was in town, and
she hoped her sister would be the better for it.

Neither Mr. Dalzell nor Jane were sorry when the dance was ended and
they were relieved of each other's company; and he returned to Miss
Wilson, while she joined Elsie in the library, where she was finishing
her critical reading of Miss Rennie's album, with a better coadjutor
than the Australian settler, in the person of her cousin. She was
rather afraid of him at first, but she found that in general their
opinions were the same as to merits and demerits, and she could not
help owning that it would have been well to have taken him into her
counsels before she tried the public.

"I have been telling Francis," said Jane, "that I am making up my mind
to go to Mrs. Dunn's."

"Then I will go with you, Jane; we must go together; you are not to
have all the drudgery."

"I say I am only making up my mind; it is not made up yet. I will wait
another week before I decide. You are to be in town for a few days,
Francis, and you will see us every day before we go. I wish to have a
little amusement before I settle; so, Elsie, let us arrange. The
theatre to-morrow night, the exhibition on Thursday morning, a concert
on Thursday evening, and on Friday an excursion to Roslin; Saturday I
am not sure about, but we will see when the time comes."

Elsie stared at her sister; it was so unlike Jane to be pining for
amusement. "I do not care for going out, I am so unfit for it. I would
rather stay at home till the time comes to go to Mrs Dunn's."

"No, we will not let you stay and mop