I CANNOT affect to deny that I regarded Miss Joanne with a deeper interest from the date of my hearing Mammy Baird's sad story. The absence of Lady Juliana and her daughters was protracted considerably beyond what had been expected; and, the baronet being confined to his room, the trio were almost continually together.

One day we had been walking as usual together, and Miss Blamyre had led us, as was not unusual, to a seat in a remote part of the grounds, from which we had a delightful view of the village. The governess had been rather sentimental upon the situation of the parsonage, and dropt several hints, which, by this time, I really could not misunderstand, about the age of the Incumbent, and the fine provision which Sir Claud would, at some not very distant period, have it in his power to bestow upon some deserving young man, in whose fortunes he might happen to take an interest. Miss Joanne also had been unusually pensive; and, the day being somewhat hot for the season, our walk had been prolonged rather beyond the common hour. In short, it was the dinner-hour ere we reached the house; and not small was our surprise to find on our arrival, that the ladies had come home unexpectedly, (some letter having miscarried,) and that they had not only come themselves, but brought a large, a very large, party of friends with them.

Your tutor seldom thinks it necessary to enter the drawing-room, until he understands that the company are about to quit it. Accordingly, I did not come down stairs until some time after the first bell had rung, and by this time it was twilight. A great wood fire was blazing cheerfully at the upper end of the apartment; but the region beyond which, on such an occasion, I was not likely to think of advancing, was quite sombre. A considerable number both of ladies and gentlemen were present: and Lady Juliana's high clear voice was heard like a bell above the hum.