pass for navigating the ocean, and for guiding their course across the equally trackless grassy plains of Tartary."

Mr. Seymour then explained that in the mariner's compass a magnetized bar of steel is balanced on a pivot, so that it can turn freely in the horizontal plane, and that to the magnet is attached a circular piece of cardboard, which has the cardinal points and their subdivisions marked upon it, as shown in the

annexed figure. He also showed by a sketch, like Fig. 10, the manner in which the compass is mounted so that it may remain horizontal in spite of the motions of the vessel.

Tom and Louisa now begged that Mr. Seymour would explain why the action of the magnet on iron and steel was so powerful, while its influence on other substances was in general imperceptible.

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'My dear children," replied Mr. Seymour, "it has been my desire, in this our first scientific conversation, to lead you to observe facts of nature for yourselves, and I have avoided any reference to speculations and suppositions; and in this course I shall, for the most part, endeavour to persevere. I may tell you that the phenomena you have witnessed to-day have never received any explanation in the sense in which I believe you use that word—that is, no one can give a satisfactory answer to your question of why does the magnet attract iron, or at all tell you anything which will in the least simplify the fact itself. When you are of an age to think closely for yourselves, you will perceive that much more familiar facts also refuse to yield a final answer to the philosophic' Why?' You are to-day, after our long conversation, as far as ever from arriving at why the magnet attracts

A LETTER FROM LAURA.

29

iron; but you have, I hope, learnt something of how it does so. And our studies to-day may have in some sort indicated to you that the province of positive science is to investigate the manner in which phenomena occur, rather than to vainly strive after an impossible knowledge of the real or final causes of things."

At the conclusion of the conversation just related, Mrs. Seymour entered the room, carrying an open letter, which she said she had just received from Laura Villiers, a young lady for whom the family at Overton Lodge entertained the highest regard. The letter announced that the writer intended in about a week to pay a long-contemplated visit to Overton Lodge.

"I am quite delighted," said Mrs. Seymour, "to hear again from Laura Villiers; for, although our acquaintance has been interrupted, her pleasing manners and amiable disposition have left a lasting impression since our last meeting her at Cheltenham."

"I shall be happy, as you well know," said Mr. Seymour, "to receive a visit from Miss Villiers; for I know that those charms of disposition and of manner to which you refer are enhanced by intellectual acquirements of a high order, and I am sure that her society will be of the greatest advantage to Louisa. I beg you will lose no time in answering her letter, and in expressing the great pleasure with which we all anticipate her proposed visit."

WE

CHAPTER IV.

E shall now for awhile leave the precincts of Overton Lodge, for the reader must be made acquainted with some incidents which took place in the village at the very time that our young friends were engaged in the manner just related. It happened that on that afternoon the four members of a little coterie of elderly maiden ladies, who resided at Overton, were assembled at the house of one of the set, Miss Kitty Ryland by name, for the ostensible purpose of partaking of what they were pleased to call a sociable cup of tea. We say the ostensible purpose, for there were detractors who scrupled not to assert that the real purpose of these meetings of the ancient sisterhood was the concoction of scandal, and the discussion of such incidents of family and personal histories, as ingenuity and

THE FOUR SPINSTERS.

3г

address, prompted by a spirit of restless curiosity, enabled them to discover. It was said that there was not a house in the parish of whose internal economy these inquisitive ladies did not know sundry small details. Mr. Seymour used to declare that although there was little difference between the four as to the pleasure they derived from these employments, yet that in the origin and circulation of the little malicious stories and bits of scandal which enlivened the local gossip, he thought he could trace the share contributed by each member of the coterie. In the manufacture of their poisoned arrows they adopted, he said, the principle of the division of labour: Miss Ryland furnished the raw material; Miss Tapps forged it into shape; Miss Sowerby sharpened the point and formed the barb; and Miss Puttle supplied it with wings.

But whatever might have been the occupations of Miss Kitty and her guests on the afternoon of which we are speaking, they were abruptly suspended when the sounds of an approaching vehicle were heard, which sounds the sharp ears of Miss Ryland at once recognized as not proceeding from any one of the hackney carriages which occasionally brought visitors to Overton from Redminster.

This extraordinary subtlety of Miss Kitty's ears is said to have been conferred upon them by those universal promoters of bodily vigour, air and exercise, of which they had received the combined advantage by the ingenious habit of listening to whispers through a certain pneumatic contrivance, familiarly termed a keyhole. In further proof of the fidelity and alertness of her auditory apparatus, we may just state that on passing Dr. Doseall's surgery, she never failed to distinguish, by the sound of the mortar, whether the medicines under preparation were designed for the stomachs of the rich or of the poor. The vicar even admitted the correctness of her discrimination, for he himself declared that, in the one case, the pestle beat dactyls, and in the other, spondees.

While the carriage was passing the window, the maiden companions were breathless with wonder, each catching from the countenance of her neighbour a glance, which heightened by reflection, as it were, the surprise depicted on her own.

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Overton," exclaimed Miss Sowerby, "is doubtless honoured by the arrival of some distinguished stranger; but who he is, or what may be the object of his visit, I am at a loss to divine." "I doubt not,” cried Miss Puttle, "but that the carriage has

conveyed some visitor to the vicar; for, had the Seymours expected any company, I must have heard of it yesterday."

Conjectures, however, were vain, and the party determined to resolve itself into a committee of inquiry. Betty, the maidservant, was dispatched to the Lodge; Miss Puttle volunteered a visit to Ralph Spindle, whom Dr. Doseall employed, on the arrival of a stranger, as certain insects are said to use their "feelers," in order to discover the approach of anything that may be likely to serve them as food; Miss Margery Sowerby was of opinion that a visit to the several tradespeople in the village would be advisable; and Miss Ryland announced that she would herself proceed to Annette, the vicar's housekeeper, from whom she hoped to be able to elicit some items of interesting information. Finally, it was agreed that each should pursue such other measures as she might deem most likely to insure success, and that the party should reassemble in an hour, in order to discuss the results. This plan was accordingly carried into effect, and with what issue the reader must now be made acquainted.

By dint of active inquiry and an energetic following up of any traces of information, it was discovered that the carriage was proceeding to Ivy Cottage, a neat but unpretentious residence situated a little way out of the village. In consequence of the owner of this place having to live abroad, the residence was to be let, and it was clearly made out that the carriage had brought to Overton a gentleman who was about to occupy the cottage as

tenant.

This gentleman was further discovered to be a Major Barker, and he was described as a rich but somewhat surly and eccentric old bachelor, who had spent in India nearly the whole period of his service. Such was the information which was gleaned from various sources by the four inquisitive spinsters, and on the reassembling of the conclave these particulars were duly discussed. It might be thought that as so much new material for gossip had been acquired in one afternoon, the sisterhood would have been satisfied; but, no: what they had already learned only served to pique their curiosity; and in their eagerness to know more about the new-comer and his concerns, and to be the earliest authorities on these subjects, a bold piece of strategy was agreed upon: namely, that Miss Ryland should find some excuse for seeking an interview with the gallant officer,