which, fostering the woman's instinct of tending and serving all she loves, thinks to approach the Creator of the universe with all the self-denials and the handiworks that she would bring to the worship of some earthly object. Both needed the interference of the teacher having authority.

Perhaps Colyton conceived that their religious disquisitions became too frequent, or there were other reasons for lessening the number of his visits; be that as it may, a week passed without his entering the little morning-room, though he had ridden twice with the Earl in the interim. When he did again call, the alacrity with which Yolande advanced to meet him, showed unequivocally the pleasure she had in again seeing him. He told her that he had expected to meet Lord Villaroy there; but she, with that absence of diffidence which her peculiar life

had given, extended her hand towards him, exclaiming," Oh! never mind my cousin, I am so glad you are come. I have so often wished you here to talk to me."

He took the hand she held out; but there was just that coldness in his manner which men exhibit, when, not having quite made up their minds to the extent of their feelings for a woman, she a little advances the degree at which their last meeting left them. It is a point in coquetry, as well as in discretion, that a woman's cordiality should always have fallen in the time intervening between an interview. Still Colyton smiled as he said,"For talk to me, read, let me talk to you, you know it is almost always, Miss Villaroy loquitur. But so it should be where people speak so well as yourself. One condition, however, I must insist on for the future, you must not talk of religion.'

"Why not?" she said; and the vivacity of her manner fell. "Is it that you consider me unequal to the subject? You know Macaulay says, 'that it is a mistake to imagine that subtle speculations touching the Divine attributes, the origin of evil, the necessity of human actions, the foundation of moral obligation, imply any high degree of intellectual culture; and that such speculations, on the contrary, are in a peculiar manner the delight of intelligent children and of half-civilized men.' Is a woman's understanding then below all this?"

"Assuredly not," he answered, "as regards understanding. And to borrow from Voltaire, as Macaulay does when speaking on the subject, one may say, that a woman may have thought enough on these questions to merit that it should be said-'Elle en savoit ce qu'on eu a su dans tous les âges; c'est à dire,

fort peu de chose.' But though I will grant a woman sufficient understanding, to hear, to read, and fully to comprehend the subject, I would debar a woman from discussion."

"But, Mr. Colyton, surely you would permit this in private-and among friends?" "No-not male friends. Besides thisthe topic of religion should never be touched upon without the heart being at the moment schooled to reverence and solemnity. Think for a moment what religion actually is." He continued, lowering his voice-"It is not Miss Villaroy's opinion, on Gorham, Bennet, Newman, Pusey, The Tracts for the Times, confessions, crucifixes, and such vexed questions; but it is a consideration of the means which God has appointed to draw man to himself. It is the pursuit-the anxious tracing of that narrow way, which to miss, involves an intensity of misery to creatures,

whose construction capacitates them for both the acutest mental and physical sufferings. This is not to be talked of as we talk, Miss Villaroy," he said; arousing himself from reflections that seemed, as it were, to have sent a shudder over his nerves. "You know well, that when you utter some conclusive argument, some well-turned sentence, you feel more the triumph of the orator, than pious joy that a soul has been turned to saving wisdom by your words. And, as for me, I believe that I think much more of the loveliness of your eyes, when you are excited, than of all the clever things you manage to say."

"Manage to say! Somewhat depreciating I think, Mr. Colyton. Manage is just the expression one should use of a child, after its first dancing-lesson, stumbling through a polka."