newly married, and he, and I, and Mrs Dalton, went all together; we had a coach-and-six, and out-riders, and all sorts of grand things; and there were balls and beaux in plenty. I have the market-place this moment before my eyes—it was a splendid sight, I assure you, quite crowded with fine ladies and fine gentlemen; nothing but the nodding of ostrich feathers from one end of it to the other."

"But the second one, Mrs Elizabeth, what sort of a thing was it ?-it is that I want to hear of ?"

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Oh, it was a very pretty Guild, too, I warrant ye, though not, I think, quite like the other; but to be sure I was twenty years older of course, and I don't think any of us were quite in the right sort of glee for the enjoyment of it—I think it fell soon after the time of-of

"My marriage," said the Vicar; "yes, it was so indeed, ma'am."

“Well, I thought it must have been so. For I remember Barbara-poor thing-but that's all over now long ago-Barbara would scarcely be persuaded to go with Dick and me. Charles Cat

line, he was not Sir Charles then, for it was before his uncle's death-indeed, the old Admiral himself was at the Guild, I believe-but however, Mr Catline was in the house, as it happened, and though he had not much time to spare, he thought, like the rest of us, the variety of a week at Preston might do Barbara good; and so he would take no refusal, and she was at last obliged to give her consent, and we all went down to the Guild, in company with the Curzon family and the Wards of Langthorpe-hall, I think, and a number of strangers besides. Yes-yes, I remember all that went on quite well now. Mr Catline got some letters the next day after we came to Preston, that made it necessary for him to move southwards sooner than he had intended. I remember he set off very unwillingly, for he was a gay fellow in those days you know; a very gay fellow, and a very comely one too, that I shall say for him, although he was not any great favourite of mine even then, neither-and Barbara was anxious to get home again, and I think we did not stay quite to the end of the gala.”

The Vicar had risen from his chair," Is it so

indeed, madam ?" he cried, "are you indeed certain Mr Catline left Preston the second day of the Guild ?"

"Yes, Lord love ye, what does that signify? But I am quite sure of it, for I remember Barbara could never be persuaded to go to any of the balls, except the opening one, and he was with us there; sure I danced a bumpkin with the boy myself after supper, the more fool that I was; but there were older fools there to keep me in countenance. -But what is all this to your story, John ?"

"In truth, I believe very little-nothing at all I should say," quoth the Vicar; "but no matter, I thought it might have been otherwise; the more shame to me for being so hasty. But I won't trouble you with any more of it. My poor wife's maiden name, you know, was Ellen Lethwaite."-Mrs Elizabeth nodded gravely to the Vicar." There were two sisters of them, ma'am, and believe me, they were both of them exquisitely beautiful.”

"We were always told Mrs Dalton was a very lovely young woman."

"Yes, she was so indeed, ma'am ; but even in

my opinion Lucy was quite as handsome as she― she was darker in the complexion, and had larger eyes, and was a more playful creature than my poor Ellen-I never saw such a wild irrepressible flow of spirits about any human being-yet she was a good modest girl for all that."

"I'm to understand that she's gone, Mr Dalton," said Elizabeth, in a very low tone.

"Yes, indeed, madam; she is gone-long, long ago; and that is my dark story."

"Poor girl! what was it that befell her ?-Did she die before your Mrs Dalton ?"

"Would to God she had!" said the Vicar; "My poor Ellen would have been spared many a heavy thought. Nay, I sometimes think-but what avails it to dream thus ?-The Lord willed it so."

Mrs Elizabeth edged her chair a little nearer to him, and after a moment he proceeded.

"I don't know how to give you a notion of what Lucy Lethwaite was, Mrs Elizabeth-she was the very soul of merriment, the best-humoured, laughing girl in the world, for the most part, and yet serious and pensive sometimes too. But

one of our Westmoreland poets has described her better than I can ever do. The moment I saw the verses I got them by heart, for I could not help saying to myself, if Lucy had been in the world, I should have sworn this man had seen her."

Mr Dalton paused, and after whispering to himself for a few moments, repeated slowly, and with a sad emphasis, those delightful lines, which no man need ever make an apology for being able to recite.

"She was a Phantom of delight,

When first she gleam'd upon my sight:

A lovely Apparition, sent

To be a moment's ornament;

Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair;
Like Twilight's, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful Dawn:
A dancing Shape, an Image gay,
To haunt, and startle, and way-lay.

I saw her upon nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!

Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A Creature not too bright or good
For human nature's daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,

Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles."