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feeling of shame at her own selfishness, and gave Lady Mary an animated account of the afternoon. "I have had such a happy day," said she at her room door, as she kissed Lady Mary before they parted for the night; and yet when she laid her head on her pillow it was wet with a few tears. Solemn thoughts

came over her, that another year of her life was ended; and a thrill went through her (though not of pain) which may be felt but not described.

Was it that Alice Gray had not much longer to remain on earth? that the "ministrations of a child" would soon be closed?

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"The blessing of her quiet life

Fell on us like the dew;

And good thoughts where her footsteps press'd, Like fairy blossoms grew.

"Sweet promptings into kindest deeds

Were in her very look ;

We read her face as one who reads

A true and holy book.

"And half we dream'd she needed not

The changing of her sphere,
To give to heaven a shining one,
Who walk'd an angel here!"

"GONE," by WHITTIER.

THE next day was one of heavy, unceasing rain; oppressive, unrefreshing, in-doors and out. Something seemed very much the matter, Alice thought. First, Lady Estcourt sent a peremptory message that none of the children were to come up-stairs. Then, after some time, Mademoiselle Milêt was summoned out of the schoolroom; next Lady Mary was sent for; and at last Lady Emma just put her head into the room to entreat Lady Beatrice to come and speak to her for a few minutes; and Alice felt quite sure she was crying. What could it mean? Alice went up-stairs to her own little room to be out of the way, and begin a long letter home; and she stayed there what seemed a long long time, and no one came near her at last in rushed Lady Mary; "Oh Alice, Alice, such news! Mamma said I might come up and tell you!" and she sank breathless into a chair.

"Good news, I hope, Mary ?" cried Alice, a little alarmed.

"Oh yes! very good news! that is, I suppose at least mamma says so!" and Lady Mary burst into tears. "Emma is going to be married," she sobbed out, "and mamma is so pleased!"

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"Well!" said Alice, drawing a long breath; why, that is great news, indeed! who is it to? Is Beatrice pleased ?"

"Poor Beatrice is very sad about it," said Mary; "you know they will be very rich; and she is to have a house in London, and a house in the country too. But then he is so old, and so ugly; and he does wear such"

"Such what?" inquired Alice, for Lady Mary had stopped short

-" such white waistcoats!" said she, with a great effort. "Nay, it is no laughing matter, Alice, for I know how much people quiz him, and Emma herself has; and you know, if she is ashamed of him, it will not make up to her for it, if she has ever so many jewels!"

"No, I should think not, indeed!" said Alice, warmly; "but who is he?"

"Oh, have I not told you all this time? Sir Edward Trevilian!"

"Sir Edward Trevilian!" repeated Alice, and as she thought of the uninteresting, dull, elderly man, and the beautiful Lady Emma, she could not wonder at Lady Mary's trouble. The moment she had at all recovered herself she hastened to Beatrice, and found her sadly exhausted with excitement and worry.

"I hope I have not done wrong, dear Alice," she said, "but I have been to mamma, and told her what I thought. Emma cried bitterly when she told me; but there is no hope now, for when mamma called her in, and asked her if she wished seriously to give up the brilliant lot' which was offered her, she was quite calm and decided, and said, "Oh no! she was not at all romantic, and Sir Edward would suit her very well she did not doubt,' and so it is all settled. Many have done much worse,' too, as mamma said, but that is poor comfort to me!”

Alice felt in a dream! Though not “romantic," in the foolish young-lady sense of the word, she had certain very high ideas and visions of what pure true love ought to

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