are going on the water ?" asked Mr. Grey, "are you fond of boating ?"

"It would be delightful," I said; and offering his arm, he conducted me to the steps where several boats lay moored, and a number of persons were congregated about to embark.

CHAPTER VI.

"Be thou chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny."

HAMLET.

"WILL you join us, Grey? do," cried a merry looking young man, of somewhat boisterous manners, "help Miss Brand in, take an oar, and make yourself useful as well as ornamental."

We were soon seated, two young ladies and myself a married sister of one of the girls who joined us for the sake of affording us chaperonage. Mr. Grey, the boisterous young man (who amongst his companions rejoiced in the name of "Honest Hal"), a little boy, the son of our hostess, who had begged so hard to accompany us that we indulged him-and myself, this was our party.

The sun shone down upon the full broad waters, till they gleamed with silvery light; and we were soon afloat upon their smooth bosom, scudding on before the tide.

We swept past sunny banks where roses were scattered, and the soft turf kissed the wave; past quiet, unruffled spots, where the yellow flag flaunted in the breeze, and the pure water lilies lay couching their lovely heads on their green pillow.

Under the overhanging trees, into shadowy recesses, cool and dim; and steering clear of the branches and roots that made our pathway dangerous, we would emerge again into the sunshine and hasten on past rustic summerhouses, and classic temples, and fields waving with corn yet green.

Now and then there was the flash of a white sail passing, or a heavy barge slowly trailed along its laboured way—and sometimes a fairy like canoe thing with its one occupant flitted past, or at a bend of the river, a party gay as ourselves would surprise us, or we came in sight of a village, or an old mansion—thus varied was the scene.

And the heat was glowing, delicious, true

summer heat-sending a thrill through every vein-quickening every sense of enjoyment, making existence double; glorious warmth! kindler of divinest fancies! it visited our foggy isle that day. It was the day for a poet, one who

".... would watch from dawn to gloom

The lake-reflected sun illume,

The yellow bees in the ivy bloom,—

Nor list nor see what things they be."*

There was a hum of myriad insects in the undulating air, while "plash, plash," went the oars in the water, and "drip, drip," answered the pearly drops as they returned to their parent stream.

In my soul there was a stillness of joy inexpressibly sweet-was it the scene alone? I thought so then, and in a hush of feeling, my spirit lay there becalmed-its sails furled-the essence of repose.

Meanwhile the girls chattered away, as girls will chatter, and "Honest Hal" (calling him by his sobriquet comes naturally, but I ought to call him Captain Howard), rattled on with tales of his adventures in various lands, telling * Shelley.

VOL. II.

F

them in an off-hand dashing manner, which sent the young ladies into a sort of hysterical flutter.

Mrs. Blomfield, the young matron, was a tall, slight, graceful looking woman, with a face which at a passing glance you would have called pretty; but the features, petty and insignificant, disappointed you on a closer inspection.

She had a lisp, and a mincing affected manner, which I think she imagined, evidenced good breeding; but which I thought was proof positive of the reverse. She pretended great terror on the water, and by her expressions of nervousness detracted greatly from the pleasure of the rest of the party.

“Do return, Mr. Grey," she said, when we reached a certain point. "You're taking uth to the end of the world I think-I really cannot go any further."

This was said with a positiveness of manner, which in spite of the quiet subdued tone of voice, was strikingly disagreeable, and considering the selfishness of the proposition, and her disregard of the wishes of others, it savoured strongly of ill-breeding.