s evening," said he, "and escape from any
general conversation; you shall let them hear one of the many charming
anecdotes with which your portfolio and your memory have enriched
themselves while we have been abroad."

However, with the best intentions, the strangers did not, on this next
occasion, succeed any better in gratifying their friends with unalloyed
entertainment. The Earl's friend told a number of singular stories--some
serious, some amusing, some touching, some terrible--with which he had
roused their attention and strained their interest to the highest
tension, and he thought to conclude with a strange but softer incident,
little dreaming how nearly it would touch his listeners.

THE TWO STRANGE CHILDREN

"Two children of neighboring families, a boy and a girl, of an age which
would suit well for them at some future time to marry, were brought up
together with this agreeable prospect, and the parents on both sides,
who were people of some position in the world, looked forward with
pleasure to their future union.

"It was too soon observed, however, that the purpose seemed likely to
fail; the dispositions of both children promised everything which was
good, but there was an unaccountable antipathy between them. Perhaps
they were too much like each other. Both were thoughtful, clear in their
wills, and firm in their purposes. Each separately was beloved and
respected by his or her companions, but whenever they were together they
were always antagonists. Forming separate plans for themselves, they
only met mutually to cross and thwart each other; never emulating each
other in pursuit of one aim, but always fighting for a single object.
Good-natured and amiable everywhere else, they were spiteful and even
malicious whenever they came in contact.

"This singular relation first showed itself in their childish games, and
it continued with their advancing years. The boys used to play at
soldiers, divide into parties, and give each other battle, and the
fierce haughty young lady set herself at once at the head of one of the
armies, and fought against the other with such animosity and bitterness
that the latter would have been put to a shameful flight, except for the
desperate bravery of her own particular rival, who at last disarmed his
antagonist and took her prisoner; and even then she defended herself
with so much fury that to save his eyes from being torn out, and at the
same time not to injure his enemy, h