BREAKFAST AT MRS. RAYNOR'S

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side by side. Thornton was even jealous of the very light hold her hand seemed to have,-why could she not take his arm as she would that of any one else?

As for Hulda, she was beholden to Mr. Penn's good offices; but though she laughed very much as he danced with her along the hall, in her private mind she preferred a quieter rate of progress; and quite agreed with Mrs. Raynor's remark

"Penn, thee does make an astonishing noise."

Very glad if it astonishes any one, ma'am," said Penn.

"But see! if thee upsets the coffee pot the cat may be scalded," said the Quakeress with a mild reprehension of flourishes.

"Wouldn't accompany Sir Brian into hot water for much greater fun than the overthrow of the coffee pot, ma'am," said Penn.

"Thornton Clyde," said Mrs. Raynor, "thee had better all stay here until thy plans are formed."

Thornton expressed his thanks, and a polite assurance that his plans were in the last state of forwardness.

"Then stay until you are quite ready to carry them out," said the master of the house.

'My staying here would effectually prevent their being carried out, Mr. Raynor."

"And cannot thee leave thy sister, then ?" said the Quakeress with a wistful look at Rosalie.

"My sisters, ma'am," said Thornton with some emphasis, "must decide for themselves."

"My dear Miss Clyde!" said Penn Raynor, "if you will only take up your abode in this house you will lay me under everlasting obligations."

"I will not run such a risk," said Rosalie,-"I shall certainly go at once."

"No but-dear me!" said Penn, "I'm sure I didn't mean that is I wouldn't for the world insinuate-At least I haven't the least idea what I did insinuate, but I didn't mean to discompose anybody."

"Thee talks a little too fast, either to know what thee means or to say it, Penn," said his aunt.

"But everybody must know what I mean," said Penn,

at least Harry ought, for I've talked to him about it dozens of times."

"Mother," said Mr. Henry Raynor, "here is little Hulda waiting with all patience for some kind hand to give her a glass of milk, and Miss Rosalie's cup is in like need of attention. If you know what you mean, Penn, you had better inform us; for Mr. Clyde, at least, is perfectly

in the dark."

"Is it possible ?" said Penn,-"why it's as clear as daylight."

"As it was to the little boy who his father might be, in your favourite story," said Mr. Raynor.

Yes, that is my favourite story, certainly," said Penn. "It's so hard to explain things that people ought to understand without explanation."

"You must try for once, Penn," said his cousin smiling. "I am afraid you are one of the things."

"Never shall believe it without better evidence," replied Mr. Penn.

Rosalie laughed, and Thornton confessed he was in the condition of the storekeeper.

"Why-" said Penn, "if you'll stay here, Miss Clyde, I, as being a noisy member of society, should at once depart; and if I were sent off to seek my fortune, maybe it would come. Not that I shouldn't enjoy your presence immensely, of course, but then I'm sure you would enjoy my absence a great deal more. If you could only content yourself."

"Oh, she would be very contented, Mr. Penn,” said Hulda, who thought the silence gave her leave to speak; "but then you see Thornton couldn't do without her." And the grave little face and childish voice that spoke as if the subject were quite disposed of, made even Thornton laugh, and relieved the one most concerned from all further reply.

But though Rosalie steadily refused to go to Mrs. Arnet's, or indeed to stay anywhere but with her brother, she must stay where she was until he should find rooms. And resting quietly in a great chair before the library fire Thornton left her. "I shall be back in an hour, Alie," he said, "and until then-".

LITTLE TIME TO REST.

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"Until then what ?" she said looking up at him. "Oh, nothing much-take care of yourself, that's all." She smiled and told him she was safe enough there, with a look so clear and sweet, that he would almost have given her carte-blanche to do what she liked.

CHAPTER XXII.

The ladies were greatly concerned; but being told the family received no hurt, they were extremely glad; but being informed that we were almost killed by the fright, they were vastly sorry; but hearing that we had a very good night, they were extremely glad again.

Vicar of Wakefield.

IF Rosalie had left a clue by which her friends could find her, she would have had little time to rest that morning. As it was, Thornton had been gone but half an hour before James Hoxton presented himself and Miss Arnet's card. "Will thee see her in here, or will thee not see her at all ?" said the Quaker.

"See her? certainly."

James Hoxton walked off as if he had expected or would have approved a different answer; and hardly had it reached the carriage before the lady herself swept past him and into the library.

"Why, child, you look charmingly!" was her first salutation. "I think being burnt out agrees with you. But how do you stand it here among the Quakers!—that man befriended me till I was nearly out of my wits. To which you would probably reply that your wits are less volatile. But to come to the point-may I fly away with you now? or at least will you fly away with me ?"

"Can't, my dear."

"Won't-I told mamma so before I came. I should have been here an age ago, but mamma got one of her nervous fits when she heard of the fire, and of course I had to stay. I'm sure I was as nervous as she was." "And you are also convalescent ?" said Rosalie.

N

"Also convalescent. Only Thornton nearly gave me another fit in the street. Do you know he would not tell me where you were? only said that when you were settled anywhere he would let me know-many thanks to him! And I told him he need give himself no trouble, for that I would find you before I was an hour older,— which I have."

"Many thanks to you," said Rosalie smiling.

"Not many," said Marion,-"there is now and then a search that rewards itself; of which I think some less volatile wits than mine may be aware. Where are mine

host and hostess ?"

"I know not," said Rosalie. "I have been here alone since Thornton went."

"Pretty house, isn't it," said Marion smiling-" and pleasant people. Satisfactory-don't you think so ?" "Very."

"Where is Hulda ?"

"She went with Mr. Raynor into the greenhouse after breakfast."

"How comes it you are not there too? I thought you had as strong a penchant for roses as Beauty in the fairy tale."

"I tell you I was here with Thornton for some time." "Well he couldn't play the part of Beauty this morning," said Miss Arnet. "Such a mood as he was in!savage. I think I could have exchanged shots with him with pleasure."

"I presume you did," said Rosalie.

"No, he wouldn't even stop to fight; which is a degree of savageness unprecedented for him. I wish Mr. Raynor would come!-I want to see him."

"He cannot save you the trouble of looking, Miss Arnet."

"And he needn't save me the trouble of hearing," said the lady turning round. "What a police officer you would make! Now I like to have my attention arrested first."

"You know I was brought up in a quiet persuasion," said Mr. Raynor.

"My visit here this morning reminds me strongly of a

THE ROSE AND THE THORN.

story I once heard you tell," said Miss Arnet. your flower, par excellence ?"

179

"Is that

"This ?" said Mr. Raynor, looking down into the depths of a rose which he held in his hand.

"A queen

is rather public than private property, methinks." "That depends a little upon the bounds of her jurisdiction," said Miss Arnet. "You remember what the song

"The peculiar throne of this queen is a somewhat prickly rosebush," said Raynor with a smile.

"Like jewels to advantage set,

Her beauty by the shade does get.'

You could not imagine a rose in clover." "What an idea!" said Miss Arnet. then always bound to be miserable ?"

of others," said Mr. Raynor.

"But are roses

"Nothing can be that whose chief end is the happiness "And a true rose looks up at the sunshine that comes from heaven-not down at the thorns which spring from earth.”

"And so she bears her discomforts-" "Like her blushing honours."

"I give up," said Miss Arnet. "I see you have studied the case. If you would only explain the philosophy of thorns, by way of conclusion, I should go away

satisfied."

"The literal and figurative thorns came in together,'thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee,' was a curse for the mind as well as for the body."

"That is the fact-not the philosophy," said Miss Arnet. "And I suppose you will tell me there is no philosophy about it-which will leave me as unsatisfied as ever. I wonder what you look so satisfied about, child-and you smile, Mr. Raynor,—do you think that is a pleasant doctrine ?"

"I think this is :-
:-

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side