d beef he turned to my Aunt Kezia and said,--

"Then she's just a braw lassie, Miss Flora, nae mair and nae less; and
she'll bring ye a' mickle gude, and nae harm."

"Why, how do you know, Sam?" asked my Aunt Kezia.

"Hoots! my mither's sister's daughter was her nurse," said he. "Helen
Raeburn they ca' her, and her man's ane o' the Macdonalds. Trust me,
but I ha'e heard monie a tale o' thae Drummonds,--their faither and
mither and their gudesire and minnie an' a'."

"What is Angus like, Sam?" said I.

"Atweel, he's a bonnie laddie; but no just--"

Sam stopped short and pulled a face.

"Not just what?" says my Aunt Kezia.

"Ye'll be best to find oot for yersel, Mrs Kezia, I'm thinkin'."

And off trudged Sam after jelly, and we got no more out of him.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wonder where the living creature is that could stand Hatty! There was
I at work this morning in the parlour, when in she came--there were
Sophy and Fanny too--holding up something above her head.

"`Busk ye, busk ye, my bonnie, bonnie bride!'" sang Hatty. "Look what
I've found, just now, in the garret! Oh yes, Miss Caroline, you can
look too."

"Hatty, if you don't give me that book this minute--!" cried I. "I did
think I had hidden it out of search of your prying fingers."

"Dear, yes, and of my bright eyes, I feel no doubt," laughed Hatty.
"You are not quite so clever as you fancy, Miss Caroline. Carlisle is a
charming city, but it does not hold all the brains in the world."

"What is it, Hatty?" said Sophy. "Don't tease the child."

"Wait a little, Miss Sophia, if you please. This is a most interesting
and savoury volume, wherein Miss Caroline Courtenay sets down her
convictions on all manner of subjects in general, and her unfortunate
sisters in particular. I find--"

"Hatty, do be reasonable, and give the child her book," said Fanny. "It
is a shame!"

"Oh, you keep one too, do you, Miss Frances?" laughed Hatty. "I had my
suspicions, I will own."

"What do you mean?" said Fanny, flushing.

"Only that the rims of your pearly ears would not be quite so ruddy, my
charmer, if you were not in like case. Well, I find from this book that
we are none of us perfect, but so far as I can gather, Fanny comes
nearest the angelic world of any of us. As to--"

"Hatty, you ought to be ashamed of yourself if you have been so
dishonourable as to read what was not meant for a