died with grief the very day she completed the bargain."

Agnes, who had never seen anything of archery before, was more interested in the preparations for the archery meeting than in what Mr. Bevan was saying of the ancient mistress of the Island; and her mother, perceiving how attentive she was to all she saw, pointed out to her the target with its painted rings of black and white, and the red spot in the centre.

"And what is this red spot for?" asked Agnes. "That is the bull's eye," said a man who was employed in setting up the target, "and them's the cleverest as hits it, or comes nearest it when they shoot."

Agnes could hardly help laughing at the man's bad grammar; and she looked at her mother, but, to her great surprise, instead of Mrs. Merton seeming inclined to ridicule the man, she entered into conversation with him, and asked him a great many questions about shooting. The man, thus encouraged, showed them the piece of leather, called the bracer, which is strapped on the left arm to prevent the wrist from being hurt by the rebound of the bow string, when the arrow is let off; and he told them that a young

lady, who had attempted to shoot without a bracer, had had her arm so much injured as to be obliged to have it dressed by a surgeon. "But she wouldn't listen to nobody," continued the man; "and she would have her own way, and that was the end of it. She was sorry enough, I warrant her, when she saw the blood running down, and felt the smart; but it was too late then."

Mrs. Merton and Agnes looked at each other again, but this time it was with a perfect community of feeling. The man then showed them a shooting glove, to save the fingers from being hurt when the archer pulls the string; and, reaching down the bow, he showed Agnes how it should be held.

"I believe the best bows are made of yew," said Mrs. Merton.

"Yes," said the man; "though there's nothing that is seldomer seen than a yew bow, among the gentry that comes down from London. All the bows that they bring with them are some queer kind of fancy wood or other. I don't trouble my head with the names of them, for my part; but I know a good yew bow will beat them all hollow at any time."

He then showed them the shaft, or arrow, which was a slender piece of wood, headed with iron and trimmed with feathers. The best arrows, he told them, were made of ash, as that wood was light, and tough at the same time. Agnes was very anxious to stay and see the archers begin to shoot, but her mother was afraid that Mr. Merton would be quite tired of waiting for them; and they therefore left the castle, without walking round the terraces, which are usually shown to strangers, on account both of their own beauty, and the fine views that they command.

As they walked back to the village Mrs. Merton observed to Agnes how much they should have lost, if they had not entered into conversation with the man who was setting up the target. "He spoke bad grammar," said she, "because he had not had the same advantages of education that you have had; but you see, in all that he had an opportunity of learning, he was very intelligent, and that he actually knew a great many things that we did not know, and that we were very glad to learn."

By this time they arrived at the Bugle Inn, where they found the kind hostess had lighted a fire for Mr. Merton as he felt chilly, and had wheeled the sofa

round to it, so as to make him as comfortable as possible. Agnes, who had felt some contempt at the humble appearance of the little Inn, when they first entered it, was quite ashamed of having done so; and felt that she had committed another fault of the same kind as that which her mother had just reproved at the castle. Nothing, however, was said on the subject, and as soon as the carriage was ready the whole party entered it, and proceeded on their journey.

CHAPTER IV.

Departure from Carisbrook.-Road to Freshwater.—Yarmouth. -House where Charles II. was entertained by Admiral Sir Robert Holme.-Freshwater.-Rocks.-Roaring of the sea.Birds.-The Razor-bill and Guillemot.-Sea-weed.

MRS. MERTON's party had not long left Carisbrook, when she began to think that they were not on the right road, and she asked the driver.

"Oh! yes, ma'am," said he, "it is all right; all the ladies and gentlemen go this road." "That is not what I mean, said Mrs. Merton; "it is of very little consequence to me what other people do, but I wish to go through Yarmouth."

"Oh! nobody goes through Yarmouth now, ma'am," said the man; "all the ladies and gentlemen go this way."

Mrs. Merton, though exceedingly provoked, could hardly help laughing at the obstinacy of the man.