ingenuity of the dancers could call for. She was a brilliant musician, with an excellent memory, and every body was glad to have found so good and uncomplaining a performer; and the dancing and noise went on till Margaret's head got half bewildered. Her thoughts stole back to the little parlor at the Vicarage, where the evening before she had sat working with Mary Leyden, whose sweet smile and guileless brow returned now in strong contrast with some of those around her; and she seemed again to hear the tones of the Vicar's rich voice as he read and talked to them, and as leading his simple family worship; and then the reflection came with humbling truth, "Who and what am I that I should blame these people? if they are worldly and selfish, am not I one of themselves? have not I lived only for admiration and pleasure and enjoyment as they do, and should I betray resentment for being treated as I deserve? Oh Mary Leyden! for that pure and peaceful influence that makes you so happy in monotonous retirement-renders your duties easy and your heart light, even with the burden of a heavy and secret care!" When the gentlemen came in from the dining-room, there were many entreaties used to make Margaret dance: Sir Tudor exhausted all his eloquence, and only gave up returning to the charge, because she put down the loud pedal, and thundered away in the bass whenever she saw him coming. Nelson, too, committed a grievous error, by asking his sisters why they did not take a turn and relieve her, and offer. ed to stand on the music-stool and whistle a quadrille, if she would dance it ;-but she remained steadily at her post, till every pulse in her head was throbbing with pain. Alfred watched her in silent anxiety, and seeing her grow pale and languid, felt the bitterest hatred rising in his mind against the whole race of dancers. At length he could bear it no longer, and just as Sir Tudor was beginning to waltz with Miss Theodosia, he went up to Margaret, and said, as if officially, "Will you have the goodness to play "God save the Queen ?" "Willingly," said she with a smile, and immediately struck up the anthem, which of course stopped the proceedings, and sent the company away. Margaret, when she rose and joined the family party, was puzzled to account for the gloom on Miss Crawford's brow, and the malicious glee on the countenances of Judith and John: but she was too tired to wait for an explanation, and with a hasty good-night, she retired to her room. Not, however, to bed; her very weariness prevented her from undressing, and it is doubtful how long she might have sat ruminating over the fire, if she had not been roused to action by the flickering of her dying candle. Not admiring the idea of being left in the dark, she set out for Miss Martin's room; obtained another; complimented her coadjutrix on her admirable tact displayed that evening, and was proceeding back to her own apartment, when she suddenly confronted Theodosia, just leaving her mother's. The two girls faced each other, and Margaret, who had thought no more about her after leaving the drawing-room, was startled by the expression of her face: her eyes were glazed with crying; her lips were swollen, and bitten; her cheeks pale, and her hands clinched. And Theodosia, on the other hand, equally surprised at the encounter, gazed upon Margaret with all the bitterness of envy and hate. To her there appeared nothing but the beauty that had blasted her. The quivering light of the candle in her hand, and of the lamp over their heads, danced on her long dark tresses, and sparkled on her snowy neck: the black shade cast behind her gave out in rich relief the tall symmetry of her princely form the deep lustre of her eyes, now kindling into proud defiance, seemed deeper and more lustrous as she gazed: there was not a line of her beautiful face, nor a shadow of her graceful person, that did not ring in her rival's ears, I am fairer and more loved than thou!" Theodosia would have given worlds at that moment to have sprung upon that triumphant loveliness, and torn it down with her hands-to have twisted her hold in those clustering ringlets, and stamped her foot on that gleaming throat; for an evil spirit had gotten possession of her-the fiercest and cruellest that woman can harbor, that turns her gentle feelings into passions, and her passions themselves into a whirlwind. But those bright defiant eyes kept her back, even in her madness; and while they goaded her to insult, warned her not to approach too near. "I thought, Miss Esther," she spoke in a hoarse whisper,-"you were so tired you could not sit up: may I ask what has hindered you from going to bed?" "I believe it was fatigue," replied Margaret, resolved to speak civilly as long as she could, "I nearly sat out my can. dle, and have just fetched another.” "Are you aware, Miss Esther, that sitting up so late may impair your fine complexion?" "I have heard so," said Margaret, biting her lip, "so to avoid such a misfortune, I will wish you good night." She turned away, and had just reached her own door, when she heard a step behind her, and a nervous tremor ran through her frame, to see Theodosia still by her side. "What do you want, Miss Crawford? Why are you following me? Can I do any thing for you?" "Yes, you can listen to me. You have told me what you have been doing; I will tell you what I have been doing. I have been speaking my mind to my mother on your malicious conduct: I have told her I will be revenged upon you: I do not care a fig for your hypocritical apologies, made at the nod of the rich mistress you fawn upon. You have wronged me in the tenderest point; you have made me a butt in my family; my own brothers and sisters are laughing at what they call my defeat; and as sure as you stand there, and I stand here, for all your marvellous beauty, and for all your mistress's wealth, I'll be the death of you but I'll be revenged!" Margaret was startled by her vehemence, though only expressed in gesture, for she never raised her voice above the fierce whisper in which she had spoken first: but pitying her condition, forebore to resent her taunts. "You are excited with passion, Miss Crawford, and you do not know what you are saying. I have never tried or wished to injure you; and believe me, you will find it lost labor to try and injure me. Our paths lie apart: I would be on friendly terms with you if you will but if you will not, it is better we should each pursue our way in peace. Remember," she continued, raising her hand with an involuntary gesture of defiance, as Theodosia was about to interrupt her, "I do not say this because I fear you, or any of you, for I do not; but because, at least while under your roof, I would avoid what this conduct must produce." And stepping into her room, she bolted the door, and thus effectually stopped the discussion. She could not see the look that followed her, nor hear the consultation her enemy held that night with her confidante Shipton but she had seen and heard enough to disturb her rest considerably and even her change of rooms could not insure her peaceful dreams. While Alfred, in his north attic, watched the light in her window, and wondered if she slept, and prayed with all the fervor of his simple and glowing heart, that she might at least be blest, whether he shared the blessing, or no! 66 CHAPTER VI. Fraget nicht, warum ich traure Wenn der Frühling sich erneut ! Der erwachenden Natur Wecken in dem tiefen Busen Mir den schweren Kummer nur! SCHILLER. THE next day was Sunday: always kept with decency in Mr. Crawford's household; and indeed, wherever the Vicar's authority extended. The family walked to church, and occupied one of the three square pews devoted to the 99 gentry. Margaret, who missing Alfred, could not resist inquiring after him from Nelson, was surprised to hear he was one of Mr. Leyden's assistants in the Sunday School, and also occasional organist in the church. He officiated that morning, and the exquisite pathos with which he played the anthem, "I will arise," drew tears from Margaret's eyes. It soothed her spirit, and elevated her thoughts, and prepared her for the service that followed, and which she now for the first time heard in an English country church. The Vicar performed the whole; his mild solemnity and fervor communicated itself to the congregation: every thing was quiet, decent, orderly: the children who sang, had been selected from the rest by himself for their voices, and judi ciously taught: the congregation joined, and the effect was touching;-instead of being what it is in some parishes, a trial both to the nerves and patience. And Mr. Leyden's sermon, like every thing about him, showed where his heart was. Clear, forcible, searching, he probed every other heart to the core; and Margaret, unused to such preaching, actually trembled beneath the operation. He set her thoughts, her passions, her secret dominant motives, as plainly before her eyes as if he had been gifted with insight into the spirit's workings and held herself up to her own gaze in such a light, that she could have bowed her head to the ground with shame. Then he showed the true source of right and holy living;-how that the heart must by faith embrace the Cross, and be renewed by the Holy Spirit, and receiving from Him daily spiritual life, be enabled to run the Christian race with gladness and peace, looking with full assurance of hope to the end. Then he spoke of the joys of Heaven,―of those glorious and everlasting mansions which the Saviour has prepared.-where holiness, and gladness, and glory, and love, tread the eternal round of praise-which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor man's heart conceived, nor man's merit won; but which God hath prepared for them who love Him. And as he spoke, the brief wintry sun shot in through the old Gothic window, and streamed on his white and venerable head, and told it was from his native atmosphere, and that he spake that he did know, and testified that he had seen. There was a collection made for the poor that day during the reading of the Offertory: Margaret knew of this before, and was prepared and while she appeared to be dropping silver into the covered box, slipped in a small packet,-which, when the Vicar opened, he found to contain a fifty-pound note. On the inclosure was written, "A trespass offering for the sin of ignorance:" and beneath, "It is earnestly requested that no inquiry may be made." The Vicar took two or three pinches of snuff over this, in his secret ponderings on the mystery: however, whatever he thought, he told nobody, but joyfully distributed the welcome supply, which made many a heart glad that might have been heavy enough without. Margaret joined Mary after the service, and finding her engaged in her Sunday duties, could not refrain from offering her assistance. Miss Leyden, who always took people |