pealed to her taste, and applied to her for patterns, and consulted her upon all occasions. She had certainly acquired renown by her long visit, and gained a reputation. It was now,

66

Oh, we will ask Kate-Kate will tell us what is the proper thing-ask Kate if that note is worded properly,—she has been Lady Caroline's right hand, you know."

There was very interesting local news to communicate, which Kate had not heard in her short visits from Barnardiston. Mr. Price Mills had written to the Admiral, and given him a long account of Cornish proceedings. Mrs. Mills had recovered slowly from her gloomy fits of depression, and was gently trending towards the habits of the humble classes on the property. There was no Barnardiston to produce emulation and expense; the miners' cottages contained only the bare necessaries of life, and Willy's old-fashioned sleeping apparatus, was kingly array compared with their primitive contrivances. His lady was no longer sorrowing after showy imitations, for there were none to admire them;

but he had some reason to fear she would fall into an opposite extreme, and become slovenly. He could not endure Mrs. Mills' gaudy propensities at Easton, but they were more bearable than dusty, dirty habiliments thrown on anyhow, without regard to appearance or propriety. She spent half her time in the cottages, without hat or shawl, interesting herself in all the low quarrels among the natives, and mixing herself up in their disputes. He could not, however, learn that she poured oil upon their mental wounds, or healed the sore places; on the contrary, their differences broke out into open disorder after her adjustments, and he had been obliged to restrict her visits to a narrower circle. He had hoped their departure from Sussex might have drawn his lady from outward folly to inward reflection, and more domestic habits; but it was impossible, he perceived, to change her nature. He thought he had left his private grievances in Sussex, but they revived under another form in Cornwall. He should return to Easton, when the five years expired,

or Mrs. Mills would not be recognised by her friends. Willy was very well, but extremely ragged, because his mother declared

'Where none admire, 'tis useless to excel,'

and Willy might wear any odds and ends in Cornwall.

Mrs. Price Mills had also written her views upon Cornish affairs, in a long epistle to Caynton. She assured her dear Mrs. Hayley she had totally forgotten Barnardiston and its nonsense, in the pressure of business near Liskeard. She had continual employment in managing the miners' wives, and trying to argue them out of their odd customs. It was extraordinary how they clung to their horrible Cornish pie, a most revolting mixture of onions and apples; but she had great hopes of banishing it from the place, by incessant worrying. She meant to replace it with Irish stew, but the poor obstinate creatures did not like the name of it. However, she meant to persevere, and they might give way, though Price Mills never would. She was arbitrator,

too, in all their quarrels, but she could not say they were easily mollified; for the more she reasoned with them, the more vehement they seemed to become with each other. Price Mills was always checking her, but she did not heed him. She was a very important person in Cornwall, which had never been the case in Sussex, and she was becoming very partial to her new abode. Dear Willy went with her everywhere, and he was growing out of all his clothes, but that was of no importance. His trousers were almost knee-breeches, poor little fellow; but there was no Brighton near them, to originate fashions, and no Lady Caroline to enforce them. The child was very well, and very happy, though a little addicted to thumping the dirty children, but she believed it was only play.

Kate Hayes was amused by the details of the neighbourhood: she had heard no local news at Barnardiston. Lady Caroline considered the neighbourhood around her very 'second rate,' and only admitted them in her large evening parties. Her delight was in

receiving London guests, whose conversation and style of manners were very unlike what she had been used to in the society around Warrender. County families, she thought, were set entirely aside, and confounded among the cultivators of the soil, by high people. She overheard Lady Caroline and Mr. Granby one evening, speaking very disparagingly of a neighbourhood she had always been taught to respect as peculiarly gifted. It quite astonished her.

"Any nice people about you, Lady Caroline?"

"Pretty well-no great things; none to associate with, but they do very well, en

masse."

"Who is the high cedar among them? Are there any cedars ?"

"A sprinkling; Lady Flamanque, with a tall, handsome daughter; and Lady Mary Waldron, with a short, thick husband; an Admiral, and some other things without title or talent."

"Never out of Sussex, I presume."