"Then I fear you'll have to pluck them with your own snowy hands. I touch them not, for they are the hatefullest flowers that I know of." "Are they poisonous ?" Must "Not exactly, I don't suppose you will go into convulsions when you inhale their breath; but you may faint, for their souls are absolutely an essence of the Infernal! I explain? Did you not hear Lady Wardlaw telling us how the generality of flowers sigh their souls away in elysian fragrance, that you force me to be literal, and inform you that those fair blossoms are so unfortunate as to have a weedy, hemlocky, unendurable scent." "I protest you laugh at everything, and, I dare say, everybody." "Everybody! You are quite mistaken, Miss Lydia. I merely laugh at those aerial, ethereal, mysterious, angelic natures, too subtile to be caught by laws or enchained by reason, which yield their heart-treasures to every vagrant, worldly influence that wanders by, beings who tremble if the water-spirits rave in their delirium of joy and freedom, and shriek if a harmless reptile should approach their dainty feet, who, in their over-abundant charity to sinful humanity, pet and patronise those who are led away by bewitching sin, or who have an eccentric preference for the richer possessions of others, or an insane horror of the valiantly True !-beings who bow before every shrine of faith but the purest, and worship at none! who graciously inform the whole world that they are superior to the prejudices in favour of rank and wealth, and dote on the sublime idea of the brotherhood of man, yet will kiss the very dust, where one of the world's elected has stood, to win an approving word or smile from his lips !" "And now," said Miss Lydia, not a little puzzled, "tell me what you do not laugh at, what you admire, what you like," and she blushed and looked down. Why, I like everybody that is earthly enough not to scorn the earth that bears him, not to be for ever madly clutching at the clouds and stars, that is resolute and strong enough to perform his appointed mission on earth, that eschews masquerade, that is not ashamed of his own face, deigns to use his own voice, and pay for his own luxuries that can sacrifice a little for his country-more for his religion, and prefers good friends to powerful ones! Everybody that, instead of dreaming away an existence in self-congratulations respecting the felicitousness of an absurd, untried plan a musical regeneration—a heaven of harp tones Stay, Sir Frederick! Aunt Wardlaw has always been extremely kind to Dora and myself, and I really cannot hear her ridiculed." Perfectly right, Miss Lydia-it is decidedly the best conclusion you have arrived at this morning. I will not say another word." And Sir Frederick Illford, though he loved teazing young ladies who, to use his own expression, carried their hearts in their hands, was far too scrupulous to wound, intentionally, any genuine feeling; and therefore he ceased trifling with his pretty companion justly considering that the sensibility she had evinced, on behalf of her aunt, and her evident simplicity, might betray her into an unwise reliance upon the eccentric attentions of an occasional idle hour. And the change in his manner was sufficiently significant to his companion, who, while she wondered, could not help pouting a little, when upon her return to the house, she encountered her sister's merry, inquisitive glance. Geraldine had been very silent during the walk, but Lady Ida had understood and indulged her mood, saying but little, and requiring no replies to her desultory observations, which seemed as if addressed more to herself, than to her companion. But when she found herself again in the |