ime since her voic

e loudest, amid

ma

hey would learn an easy way to alleviate the unhappiness they are continually guarding against, by so occupy

sted and pained at the idea-more ready to pity than condemn-she felt for Lucy when she perceived, by her variable spirits, that her heart was engaged in the flirtation she had so thoughtlessly commenced. The conduct of Clair puzzled her, she wished to believe that his attentions were serious, and yet she could not help thinking they meant nothing beyond

f her ideas of love, formed, as they had been, from her own unhappy history. Yet she hesitated to speak her opinion freely; for, after all, it might be only a very unkind suspicion

ill Lucy rested confident in the power of her own attractions-and, persisting in believing he was only diffident-she

cit confession that her vanity had deceived her; and thus subject herself to her sisters' cutting jests, and the bitterness of her often disappointed mother. The poor girl had been spoilt by education and companionship, and she was, according to her own idea, forced to play desperately in order to justify what she had written home. She did not stop to consider that all delic

rried was an idea that filled her with pleasure; she did not stop to analyze, or she might have discovered that t

meeting him, and never neglected pursuing any conversation which seemed likely to lead to love. Still she was as far fro

of the sneers and jests, which, in contrast to her present popularity, would meet her at home. Home, which in its sacred circle ought to have afforded a refuge from every evil passion, as from every outwa

h, as, first to make them unworthy of a husband's trust and confidence, and then wonder that they do not obtain them. A man seeks, in his wife, for a companio

at she seemed to view her daughters with the eyes of the public, and valued them in proportion t

in the garden, while Miss Ware would take hers quietly in doors with Mrs. Lesly. Amy talked herself tired with planning it, for a week before, asking Mabel for an exact list of all the fruit she meant to get for their entertainment. Lucy looked forward to it more seriously; she fancied Clair entere

evening at le

hing, had persuaded Mabel to place the tea-table on the open grass-plot-and there the sisters had delighted themselves in arranging the simple repast. Amy was so accustomed to bustle along by Mabel's side, that she had come to the belief that she could do nothing well without her; a

one, ready to take pleasure and amusement in anything. Mr. Ware told stories of other days, and Clai

to be the signal for taking shelter in the house. Lucy, the captain, and Amy, went off laughing toge

are gayer and younger; but I am sorry to perceive that you are not q

low-spirited. But have you never felt a vague apprehension that som

nd have as often found my fears groundless. Do you not re

st not think

prepare herself for a trial which he foresaw was not far distant; but at the very moment that he was thinking how

wing, and John says it's unsa

, till she reached the spot where the swing was

pushing, while Lucy was clapping her hands a

g up to them quite out of breath,

ouch that bough. What a beautiful swinger she is-

trying to be heard, "do, do stop-for me

rior nerve, and called to her not to be an old maid, frightened at everything; w

she burst into tears of vexation and alarm, fearing to tou

been trying to touch, there came a heaving sound, then a loud crash-the swing gave way, and Amy fell violently to the ground. With a s

some confused excuses for not listening to o

thoroughly ashamed, for often the on

the day's enjoyment, merely roused his nephew, by telling him to carry the poor child into the h

she seemed entirely to have forgotten that his obstinacy had injured her sister; and in her anxiety for her safety, she did not suffer a complaining word to escape her. Those who possess little control over their own feelings, often rever

ns to restore her to consciousness, he hastened in search of a surgeon. He met Lucy in the lane, who tol

follow him," said he, "anything

er hands; but Clair had no comfort to offer,

ired to her own chamber, which looked so still and lonely, that she put the door half open, and seated herself in a chair close by, to listen for any news from Amy's ro

rd Betsy, the pri

know, for the house has not been

her cousin's well known voice; "those th

y stopped, but Mabel s

t-she then heard the sound of horses' feet, and anxious for any change, she ran down stairs-but she found that Clair and the surgeon had already been admitted by Mr. Ware, who was watching for them, and, feeling herself of no use, she again crept to her room to listen, trembling for the doctor's opinion. The examination lasted a l

think of her,

s been a severe

ne which Lucy trembled to hear, and s

he words she caught; "my heart bleeds for you, but I see the back is broken, and you know-" a groan of a

as if he were trying to comf

d to move, and yet without the relief of fainting. Her thoughts became more and more distinct-of Amy, growing, perhaps, in beauty and womanhood, stretched on the bed of helpless sickness, unable to find advantages

es, much as she sparkled in company, and revelled in the admiration she excited, so much did she feel the reverse to be dark and hard to bear. She pictured Amy passing, in one five minutes, from her joyous youthfulness, with its light laugh, and bounding glee, to the trials of sickness which she might never more esca