and engaging enough I doubt not, as preco-
cious children often are when not crossed
or vexed in any of their whims or caprices:
then indeed a storm arose; I screamed and
kicked, and struck right and left; and find-
ing that by this means I usually succeeded
in obtaining my wish, such storms were
not of unfrequent occurrence. 'Dear little
thing." I heard my eldest aunt say when I
was thus exhibiting, "she reminds me of
what I was at her age!
sparkle and her cheeks flush!
she is his image!" However, I was told it
was wrong-I must say that; punished
even for my misdoings—for breaking valu
able china in fits of frenzy-scattering and
shattering whatever I could lay hands on;
but when I struck my attendant, and the
poor girl wept and complained, she was
dismissed for speaking disrespectfully of a
Montalban.

How her eyes
Poor Julian;

I was always silent and subdued in the presence of my sweet Aunt Dosy; she did not guess half how bad I was, but enough reached her to cause her to regard me with tender seriousness and anxiety, and to speak those solemn words which even on my childish ears fell not altogether in vain.

intense pain, which alarmed me ; but quickly | I was a plaything among them, and amusing recovering herself, she calmly replied: "I never saw your mamma my little Ursula she lived a long way off; but your dear papa, my brother Julian, was so very beloved a brother of mine, that it grieves me to speak of him, now he is no more," And she wept sore; and I clung to my gentle aunt, and tried to comfort her. Other essays I made to learn something concerning my mother, but all my four aunts invariably turned away, with significant looks at each other, and compressed lips, as if obstinately bent on silence, though there was a tale to unfold. They were great walkers, botanists, geologists, ornithologists, and what not!very stately with their equals, very condescending to their inferiors, and regarding their brother Everard (as the representative of their ancient name) as an extremely great personage. Their sister-in-law, Lady Blanche, though an earl's daughter, was patronized by my four aunts, whose besetting weakness concerning their undoubtedly pure hereditary descent was carried to a most ridiculous and overweening extent. To be a Montalban, was to be every thing; to be any body else, was to be nothing! I was a Montalban, consequently in a great measure exempt from correction; as-" all the Montalbans," observed my aunts, "from time immemorial, had high spirits, which sometimes vented themselves in fits of passion, just as a fiery, mettled courser, of pure Arabian breed, sometimes breaks away from curb and rein." My aunts had all been beauties-noted for dash and daring, both in word and deed; nevertheless, suitors had dropped away one by one; and now they beheld their more humble or gentler compeers in the enviable positions which they once had thought to occupy. Dukes, lords, baronets, and a train of noble swains, had looked and listened, listened and looked, and flown away! There was a story afloat Through the medium of some friends of that my eldest aunt was all but the Duchess Lady Blanche, an individual was recomof -; when that, in an unlucky moment, mended as a competent instructress; she actuated, I suppose, by the " pure hereditary was a young person of humble origin, caspirit" of her race, she had applied the butt-pable of undertaking her trust, though preend of a whip to the shoulders of a domestic who committed some mistake to exasperate her. The duke never again was seen in the precincts of the Hall; and the once beautiful toast of the county was now a withered spinster, stuffing birds, and collecting weeds.

Not altogether in vain; for I pondered over these sayings, and began to look inwardly, and often to be heartily ashamed of my violent conduct. But Aunt Dosy was not always to be approached; for days together she was too ill to be seen; and when my young attendant was summarily dismissed, my aunts consulted together, and it was settled amongst them, with the approbation of my grandmamma, (whose advice was asked as a matter of form,) that a nursery governess was to be found for me, as I was now of an age to require instruction of a higher kind than that which I had hitherto obtained.

tending to be nothing more than a nursery governess. She required a very small stipend, moreover, and that was a paramount consideration with those engaging her; so matters were soon concluded, and the young woman was informed by Lady Blanche's

astonished at this agitation on the part of my governess; for though I had intended to impress her with a powerful sense of my importance and dignity, such an effect as this I had not looked for. However, when Mrs. Rose burst into tears, and apologized on the plea of nervousness "just at first"— gazing on my face, nevertheless, as if she never could gaze long or deeply enough-I felt inclined to patronize her, for my vanity was soothed by the evident trepidation my presence caused.

In my turn I gazed on the new-comer; and strange sensations were at my heart as I I scanned her lineaments and figure; for I never before had seen or fancied any one like her. Aunt Dosy often talked to me of good angels guarding and compassing us round; and surely, thought I, they must be like Mrs. Rose, for so fair, so angelic a face scarcely belonged to earth. She was very slight, very thin; her flaxen hair was braided beneath a widow's cap; and sombre folds fell round her tall and graceful form-meekness and patience being the leading charac teristics of her expression and bearing.

friends that her application had met with success; for she came from a great distance in the country, and there had been no personal interview. I was on a visit at the Hall with my uncle Everard and Lady Blanche when my new attendant arrived at the Grange. Dear Aunt Dosy was reported worse than usual, and that was one reason for my stay being prolonged, in order to insure quietness for the invalid at home. Féted, caressed, spoiled on all hands, a stronger and wiser head than mine-poor silly little body!-might have been turned. I looked round for applause and admiration, venting my temper as a means of attracting regard. "She is a true Montalban, the saucy minx!" Uncle Everard would say laughingly. "She is a darling beauty!" said Lady Blanche, fondling and twisting my silken ringlets round her own lily fingers. "Would she were ours!" And so I came really to think that, being a beauty and a Montalban, I had no need of any further recommendations, no need certainly to be hampered with a detestable governess -a "nursery" governess too!-when here I sat at table, and behaved and was treated as a queen! I almost hated my poor gov-childlike frankness, “I never saw blue eyes erness before I saw her! She was a widow, they said, and her name was Mrs. Rose; and I determined in my own wicked mind to lead Mrs. Rose a nice life for coming to tease me! Aunt Theodosia's influence was weakened; I had not seen her for a long time, otherwise perhaps I might have been less unruly than I was; but certainly a harder task cannot well be imagined, than that confided to Mrs. Rose, of governing me, and pleasing my four aunts at the same time.

I remember the evening of my return to the Grange, and how I ran straight to the nursery, bent on entering it with an imperious air, for the purpose of daunting or bullying the new governess. There was a bright fire, and beside it, on the hearth-rug, stood a slight form, with head bent down over some needlework she was trying to finish by the unsteady flare. On hearing a footstep she looked up, and beheld me. The work fell from her hands, an exclamation escaped her lips which I could not clearly distinguish, and Mrs. Rose-for it was she saved herself from falling only by catching hold of a heavy sofa at hand! I was greatly

"Mrs. Rose!" I cried instinctively, with

before!-nobody here has blue eyes! How beautiful they are! I wish I had blue eyes like yours, Mrs. Rose! I will not vex you -I will be a good girl indeed;" for the two large round tears which gathered and fell down her white cheeks as I spoke completely touched and sobered my heart-for the time at least. Ere I slept that night (all the occurrences are indelibly stamped on my memory with tenacious minuteness) Aunt Dosy sent for me to her chamber. We were left alone together, and I saw that she had suffered much since I last beheld her. She spoke earnestly aud impressively, beseeching me to enter on a new career under the superintendence of Mrs. Rose, whom she adjured me to respect and obey, as one placed in authority, and who had only my eternal and temporal interest at heart. Many things Aunt Dosy said of Mrs. Rose, which I thought very little perhaps of at the time, except that my dear aunt extolled and seemed very fond of my governesssaying there was no other person would teach me as she would, and again and again tearfully entreating and praying me to be obedient and gentle. I promised that all

URSULA'S NURSERY GOVERNESS.

should be as Aunt Dosy desired; and though | I had been accustomed to pampering and much solicitude and attendance, none before had ever handled or addressed me with the softness and affectionate devotion which my nursery governess evinced. My aunts were satisfied, for I learned and improved beneath her auspices wonderfully. She did not restrain, she did not coax me; but there was a winning, pleading persuasiveness, which "As yet"as yet I had not withstood. alas!-the volcano had only been slumbering for an unusual length of days: it was to burst forth by and by.

When Aunt Dosy asked me if I loved Mrs. Rose, and I replied with warmth, "Oh yes, dearly-she is so good and kind," I saw that dear aunt cast a grateful look upward, as if communing in inward prayer, placing her hand on my head as I knelt beside her, and bidding me be grateful and loving towards my teacher. Some outbursts of temper on my part occurred now and then, but nothing so outrageous as formerly. Mrs. Rose never addressed me when I gave way to passion, but her sorrowful eyes haunted me afterwards. There was an awe as well as deep grief expressed in their fixed contemplation of my distorted countenance.

had no selfish terrors, otherwise the petted
orphan child might have perished.

My recovery was tedious and doubtful,
for excessive debility and prostration of the
whole system rendered it a terrible struggle.
When I again began to crawl about, it was
the latter end of spring, and accustomed as
I had ever been to freedom, it was bitter
and irritating to be confined in-doors when-
ever cold winds prevailed or dews "fell
slow." The doctors had left me with warn-
ing words to Mrs. Rose, of great care being
requisite. Poor thing! she needed not the
admonition, for her overcare and watchful-
ness almost worried me into betrayals of
wrathful impetuosity, which would ill have
requited her tender love; but at this fatal
juncture, when my spirit rebelled at being
debarred from racing in and out as I liked

through the gardens, over the meadows, and down the lanes, when I was naturally irritable and easily roused, from the lurking remains of disease in my blood-at this juncture Uncle Everard, sent me a present of the tiniest and most lovely pony that the king or queen of Pigmyland ever bestrode. It was brought to the garden for me to see it from the windows, for those prevailing easterly winds, which so often usher in our Things had all gone smoothly of late; I island summer, forbade my quitting the liked learning French and music. She house. Felix-so the lovely creature was taught me the rudiments, and I became in-named-was paraded on the shaven turf, up terested in the Bible stories, which none ever told like Mrs. Rose. There was slight temptation to trespass when all went well; but evil days were coming, and the dark angels were pluming their wings with mischievous joy, and gathering round the wicked little Ursula! I had grown to be quite a tall girl, and already considered myself nearly a woman, when the small-pox, in its most virulent form, attacked me. deserted by every one save my nursery governess; she never wearied, never flagged, in her unceasing and devoted watch. No words may describe her anxious and tender nursing, though I became capricious, and hard to please, in proportion to my sufferings. My aunts feared the infection; and had it not been for their decrepit mother and Aunt Dosy, would doubtless have betaken themselves to flight, their terror being ludicrous in the extreme. I was shut up with Mrs. Rose away from the rest of the household; and well was it for me that she

I was

and down, up and down, for Miss Ursula's
gratification. This was very trying-very
trying indeed; and I pleaded hard with
Mrs. Rose to be allowed to take just one
little ride for one little half-hour-no more.
But my aunts had placed me under her sole
control, wisely opining that she who had
braved such dangers for her pupil's sake
deserved the confidence, and knew best how
to manage her health now. They had cast
all responsibility on my governess-they
told her so; and no wonder she was even
more than usually careful! In vain I plead-
ed for permission to ride on Felix that day
When it was warm and genial I
"I will go !" I
no.
should go,” said Mrs. Rose.
screamed furiously, stamping with my feet,
and tearing a book to pieces in impotent
fury. Weak and exhausted, the fit was soon
over; but her sorrowful gaze haunted me,
and I was angry that it did haunt me--
angry with her, with myself, with the whole
Next morning, to make matters
world.

66

worse, ere Mrs. Rose could interpose to pre-posure-" Your aunts will approve of my vent it, a fine new riding-habit and plumed conduct, I am sure, Miss Ursula. Let me cap was exhibited to my admiring eyes by entreat you to be patient; for I must be the domestic whose duty it was to attend firm or your life may pay the forfeit." on the nursery. They were sent to me by "Give me the key!" I shouted, not heedLady Blanche; and oh! to mount Felix, the ing her mild expostulations. "Give me the beauty, thus gloriously equipped, silvermounted riding-whip and all! "Now today I'm off," quoth I determinedly to Mrs. Rose-"go I will! This habit is warm, and you have no right to keep me in any longer; my aunts wouldn't-and I won't bear it. Sally," to the domestic, who stood grinning, "tell them to bring Felix round; old John will attend me, and I shall soon be ready." I looked at Mrs. Rose with an imperious tossing round to see if the dark angels were of my head, as much as to say, "What can you answer to that?"

URSULA'S NURSERY GOVERNESS.

and contrition which makes the girl a wom- | revealing the matter-to put off the evil an in feeling. I am now verging on four-day; and your father made excuses to return to his uncle, where he wrote to me that score years, but from that time to this never once has the curb been loosened which, by you, Ursula, had entered this weary world. the help and blessing of God, I have been Poor fellow inscrutable are the ways of enabled to place on my temper, words, and Providence! He caught an infectious fever, acts. On my knees I listened to Aunt Theo- which in a few days terminated his earthly dosia's words: no marvel that her revela- career-with his dying breath entreating his tions produced a change even in my proud relative to intercede for his widow and orrebellious heart, or that I trembled lest the phan. Intercession was vain for the wife, wrath of an offended God should leave me and she would not hear of parting with Julian's child; for your grandmamma ofno time for repentance! fered to receive, and wholly bring up as a Montalban, the fatherless infant, provided your mother and your mother's family gave up all claims or recognition.

"Ursula," said Aunt Theodosia, "you have often questioned me concerning your mother; but my lips were sealed so long as for we had all pledged my mother survived; our words never to reveal her existence to you, her child, while that child was fostered and protected by Mrs. Montalban, the venerable parent whose loss we deplore."

"And is my own mother still alive?" I cried with impetuosity; " and where is she, Aunt Theodosia ?"

"Be patient and attentive, Ursula," was the low reply," and you shall hear. But mine is a hard task; for it is painful to speak of errors in those we loved, and lost, and mourned for as numbered with the dead. Nevertheless the time has arrived when I sincerely believe it is right you should know all. Your father, Ursula, was the child of our mother's age-indulged and beloved by us all. He was absent for a protracted period on a visit to our maternal uncle, whose property lay in a far-away country. During that fatal absence he had wooed and secretly married your mother, then little more than a child in years. She was far beneath him in worldly rank-in fact, of very humble origin indeed.

"On my brother's return home, he confided to me the secret of his marriage-for I was his favorite sister, Ursula-and the knowledge of what he had done almost broke my heart; for I knew, even better than he did, that our mother's displeasure He showed me your would be lasting. young mother's picture with fond pride, exulting in her loveliness and virtues. We took counsel together as to what he had best do, for Julian was entirely dependent on our mother-there was not even the provision of a younger son for him while the Dowager Mrs. Montalban lived, nor for any of us females. We thought it wise to defer

"Never more to see her child!-'twas a bitter alternative, and your poor young But, alas dire trouble mother refused. came upon her; unforeseen calamities, sickness, and misfortune, reduced her parents to absolute penury; and though she labored perseveringly to win bread for them and herself, the struggle was ineffectual. Want and wretchedness effected that which nothing else could have done; and Julian's widow gave you up to us, my dear, dear niece, my Ursula !"

"Oh my poor, dear mamma!-where is she, Aunt Dosy?" I cried in an agony of weeping. "And did not grandmamma save her from starving?"

"Yes, Ursula; your departed grandmamma did all that benevolence required when her wishes were acceded to respecting you. She extended aid when aid was needed, while your mother's parents lived; but they are now no more."

"But where is my own mamma, Aunt "Oh keep me not in Dosy?" I exclaimed. suspense! Let me go to her: is she alive? What is there to prevent me going to her if she is alive, now Grandmamma Montalban It was bad of Grandmamma is dead? Montalban to separate me from my own mamma. Why did she use her so ?" Hush, Ursula !"

I trembled at something I read in Aunt Theodosia's mild eyes, and at the solemn tone of her voice.

"Hush, Ursula! is it for you to condemn and judge-you? Poor girl, you may well tremble and turn pale! Who but a mother would have nursed and tended you, as your nursery governess did? Who, but a mother?"