tion to take such a turn, or to carry us so far. You are, I
fear, not yet strong enough for anything calculated to affect or agitate
you."

"The introduction of it was necessary, my dear madam," replied Lucy;
"for I need not say that it was my object to mention the subject of our
attachment to you before the close of our conversation."

"Well, at all events," replied Mrs. Mainwaring, "we shall go and have
a walk through the fields. The sun is bright and warm; the little burn
below, and the thousand larks above, will give us their melody; and
Cracton's park--our own little three-cornered paddock--will present us
with one of the sweetest objects in the humble landscape--a green
field almost white with daisies--pardon the little blunder, Lucy--thus
constituting it a poem for the heart, written by the hand of nature
herself."

Lucy, who enjoyed natural scenery with the high enthusiasm that was
peculiar to her character, was delighted at the proposal, and in a few
minutes both the ladies sauntered out through the orchard, which was now
white and fragrant with blossoms.

As they went along, Mrs. Mainwaring began to mention some particulars of
her marriage; a circumstance to which, owing to Lucy's illness, she had
not until then had an opportunity of adverting.

"The truth is, my dear Lucy," she proceeded, "I am naturally averse
to lead what is termed a solitary life in the world. I wish to have a
friend on whom I can occasionally rest, as upon a support. You know
that I kept a boarding-school in the metropolis for many years after my
return from the Continent. That I was successful and saved some money
are facts which, perhaps, you don't know. Loss of health, however,
caused me to resign the establishment to Emily, your former governess;
but, unfortunately, her health, like mine, gave way under the severity
of its duties. She accordingly disposed of it, and accepted the
important task of superintending the general course of your education,
aided by all the necessary and usual masters. To this, as you are aware,
she applied herself with an assiduity that was beyond her yet infirm
state of health. She went to Cheltenham, where she recovered strength,
and I undertook her duties until her return. I then sought out for some
quiet, pretty, secluded spot, where I could, upon the fruits of my own
industry, enjoy innocently and peacefully the decline of, I trust, a
not unuseful life. Fortunately, I found our present abode, which