the gentlemen appearing, for now it was worth while to look charming.

We cannot pretend to introduce the company that soon began to arrive and fill the room, as Sir Guy liked to see it filled on Christmas-eve; nor can we follow them through the mazes of the dances that wiled away the hours, from the stately minuet to the homely country dances, in which even grave Colonel Lister joined. During the morning's walk Ralph had engaged Alice for the first minuet, much against her will, for she had had no practice of late in that diversion, but he would take no denial. He declared it was vastly amusing to play the tutor, and teach her the new figures "fresh from Whitehall;" but Alice got bewildered, and wished herself amongst the spectators. By some chance Johanna was not led out for the first dance. In former times Ralph had often been her partner, and to see Alice chosen before herself was extremely mortifying to her vanity. From that time she conceived a strong dislike for the innocent maiden.

It was a late hour before the guests began to disperse. Some of them remained all night; others, who lived within reasonable distances, returned home well armed and attended.

"To-morrow night we shall have something very different from this," said Kate to Alice. "Grandfather's tenants, with their wives and children, will come, and I do love to see their enjoyment; the children get surfeited with merriment. The recollection of Christmas night affords them delight all the year round."

She sat by Alice's fire until a band of village singers had serenaded them. Rough as their voices were, in the open air their ancient hymns, sung for centuries by the Winestead peasants, came sweetly through the open casement. The singers were brought into the kitchen, and liberally served with cake and ale; and while they were singing a parting hymn, Alice fell asleep, their voices mingling with her dreams like a choir of angels.

CHAPTER XI.-EVERGREENS AND MISTLETOE.

In a serene and happy frame of mind Alice awoke next morning, and hardly had, she unclosed her eyes when a bunch of bright red holly berries alighted on her pillow.

"A merry Christmas!" cried Kate, peeping round the curtains. "Do you hear the bells, how joyfully they sound! If last night's revels wearied the town maiden, how will she sustain those of to-night? Now, Lucy, you must hasten over your lady's toilet, or she will go fasting to church." Kate stayed to help and to hurry Lucy, and, rescuing Alice from the maid's elaborate finishing touches, quickly conducted her downstairs, where her tender con

science smote her for having neglected her prayers. But there was no time then for repentance or amendment. Breakfast was eaten with much haste, and still more laughter, for the spirits of every one seemed to be infected with the joviality of old King Christmas, and his mirthful train. The visitors who had remained overnight took their departure, and at ten o'clock Sir Guy marshalled his guests to Winestead Church; and a goodly company they looked as they walked across the park.

In his stiff ruff and a suit of clothes-the fashion of which had raised a smile among the gallants of Charles's court when in York -walked Sir Guy Hildyard, leading, with most punctilious politeness, the stately Lady Wharton along the snowy paths. Behind them came his own handsome dame, in a ruff of the same date, like her husband despising, or perhaps unconscious of, criticism; but all who knew and loved the worthy pair would have declared that nothing could be more becoming than their formal style of dress. On one side of his hostess walked Sir Clifford Wharton, more genial and hearty than his wife, if not less vain of his pedigree; and on the other side was Colonel Lister, on whose arm the lady chose to lean, while she spoke with all sincerity in praise of his little Alice. The Colonel was greatly favoured by Lady Hildyard, who was gratified to have him for her guest. She admired, as all women did, his splendid person; but she also knew his worth, and honoured him for his high principles and soldierly frankness.

"I have long wanted to see your daughter," she said. "I marvelled whether the unusual beauty of Alice Gordon had been inherited by her child. Ralph told me that she bore a strong likeness to you both, and he said true."

"She greatly resembles her mother, Lady Hildyard. I need not say that she is the very light of my eyes," replied the Colonel.

"She is a comely maiden, and seems to have a pleasant temper, which is worth more than good looks," added Sir Clifford cordially, thinking, perhaps, of his own fair Johanna, whose temper was very easily ruffled.

Following the older folks came the youths and lasses, not in pairs, but in a group, talking together cheerfully; the young men with graceful cloaks of fine cloth, hiding their velvet embroidered suits and fine lace collars. Lawrence Wharton was especially gay, for he rather affected the airs of a Frenchman. The girls were hooded and cloaked, Kate in bright red, and Alice and Johanna-with equal regard to their complexions-in royal blue, with their skirts neatly tucked up, displaying very high-heeled shoes, adorned with large silver buckles and rosettes.

The church at Winestead was very pretty that morning, with its

ivy-mantled walls outside sprinkled with snow, and its low Norman pillars and carved pulpit within wreathed with evergreens. Very sweet and calm it seemed to Alice, after the unusual bustle and excitement of the last few days. The prayers she joined in fervently, but soon ceased to listen to the drowsy tones of the preacher, who appeared to feel very little interest himself in the subject of his sermon. Her thoughts wandered away for a short time to Andrew, whom she had not forgotten when the "bells rung out," and that reminded her of a beautiful hymu, "To the Name of Jesus," which she had learnt from her friend's lips. It had lately been written by a promising young poet at Cambridge, whose gift Andrew was ready to acknowledge, while modestly undervaluing his own poetic power. She heard again his rich voice repeating

"Come, lovely Name! life of our hope!

Lo, we hold our hearts wide ope'!
Unlock Thy cabinet of day,

Dearest sweet, and come away.

Lo, how the thirsty lands

Gasp for thy golden show'rs, with long stretch'd hands!

Lo! how the labouring earth,

That hopes to be

All heaven by Thee,
Leaps at Thy birth!"

The hymn lifted her above earthly dreams until the sermon ended; but, had she possessed the gift of second sight, she would have seen Marvel sitting beside Master Wakefield's sick bed, with pen in hand, and a solemn, even sorrowful, shadow in his large brown eyes; had she been privileged to glance over his shoulder, her own eyes would have moistened as she saw him inditing the first lines of his well-known "Coronet":

:

"When with the thorns with which I long, too long,

With many a piercing wound,

My Saviour's head have crown'd,

I seek with garlands to redress that wrong;

Through every garden, every mead,

I gather flowers

"I am glad the Sunday part of the day is over," said Johanna, as they came out of church. "What a wearisome time it has been ! "To say truth, Mistress Johanna," replied Kate, "you are spoiled for such humble little village churches, after your lovely Minster at Beverley, and its fine music. I have had a pleasant time enough, though I care not one groat for our parson's homily. I never think of listening."

"You will make Mistress Alice cry shame on you, if you talk so," exclaimed Ralph.

Kate turned quickly, and looked searchingly into Alice's face, while Lawrence Wharton rejoined, "Eh day, is the fair Alice one of the straight folks that delight in long and painful sermons?”

He had openly showed how weary he was of the service during its whole continuance.

"My cousin is proper in her notions," cried Will Lister, before she could reply, "but not more so than is seemly for a gentlewoman who considers religion a serious thing. For myself, I like to see a reverential demeanour in church."

"As it was, Master Lawrence," quoth Alice, "the discourse was very little to my taste; and, to confess the truth, I did not profit by it. Yet I agree with Kate that it has been a pleasant time." "I could divine that your thoughts were not at Winestead," said Ralph, in a low voice.

"How could you guess that?" asked the maiden, smiling.

"By the expression of your eyes, that seem to be looking at something far away. Had your thoughts travelled to Salisbury?" It was an impertinent question, and Ralph was angry with himself the next moment. That Alice regarded it in that light he quickly discerned, by her instantly assuming such an air of dignity and haughtiness he had not believed it possible for her small figure to

wear.

"I ask your pardon a thousand times, Mistress Alice," mur. mured Ralph.

"It were indeed needful," she responded stiffly, while her cheeks tingled with not unreasonable anger and annoyance.

"Believe me, sweet Mistress Alice, the thought of vexing you is very grievous to me."

"Then beware how you offend again, Master Ralph," replied Alice, coldly. "But I will satisfy your curiosity so far as to say that Master Crashaw was my preacher this morning, and his noble lines my sermon; I hope all the world will read them some day."

"Then I may conclude that you have generou sly forgiven me, else you had punished my ill-humoured prying by leaving me to my own tormenting conjectures."

Alice hardly noticed this speech, and, leaving his side, she attached herself to Kate for the remainder of the walk.

"What have you been saying to Alice Lister?" whispered Kate, lingering in the hall. "She looked like an injured queen while you walked beside her."

"It was some unlucky words of mine, the offspring of jealousy; and I honestly own she had just cause for displeasure. But I am glad she took shelter with you, Kate. Do intercede for me."

"Well, I can swear to your penitence, good brother; and I am not sorry that she has a fair share of pride and spirit under those innocent looks, or she would hardly be a fit mate for a Hildyard. But have a care, Ralph, lest you suggest to her mind the very thing that you desire to efface."

"Most wise counsel, my bonny Kate, to which I shall take heed in future; meanwhile I would that I could repair this morning's breach."

"I can only add to my former piece of advice this injunction-have patience."

Alice's kind heart had begun already to relent, and when Kate came, praying her to overlook her brother's misdeeds, she warmly assured her that she could not retain anger for a much greater fault, especially on Christmas morning.

Dinner was a serious business that day, for the baronet kept up some old English customs that had fallen into disuse in the southern counties. At one o'clock, with appetites sharpened by exercise in the frosty air, they all gathered round the well-spread board; but hardly were they seated when Sir Guy rose up again, and every one followed his example, while with great state the boar's head was carried in by the cook. Then followed, with equal ceremony, a peacock pasty, with the bird's magnificent tail spread out as gracefully as when he sunned himself on the terrace and strutted down the garden walks. A stream of dishes came afterwards, containing a swan, a sucking pig, a huge piece of beef, and haunch of venison, with other dainties. The enormous plum-pudding, crowned with holly, was received, in due time, with the same homage as the boar's head, and was praised by all, as, no doubt, it deserved to be.

It was a long and merry feast, but Colonel Lister, although he tried to wear a contented countenance, felt in his secret heart as if they had all more need to fast, with such trouble hanging over them. As it was, Sir Guy rallied him on "eating as sparingly as if it were Lent."

"What a ridiculous custom it is to keep up, to have all the tenants invited," said Johanna to Alice, as they stood apart after dinner; "I hate dancing with servants."

"Nay, I don't agree with you, Mistress Johanna," returned the other, feeling that a slur was being cast upon their kind host. "It seems to me good, for once in the year, to break down the wall between masters and servants. This is the day to show 'goodwill to all men.'

Johanna lifted her golden head proudly. "For a baronet's family, at least, methinks it is too much condescension to be crossing hands with men and maids as if all were equal. But Sir Guy has some curious fancies."

Alice was too indignant to reply. There was the discourteous remark about Sir Guy, and the offensive insinuation about her own inferior rank; she did not wonder at Kate's feeling, but she was sorry to have almost lost her temper twice that day, and it was a