Addressing herself therefore particularly to her, "I ought I am sure," she said, "to beg pardon for the freedom I am using; but if the ladies I am addressing are the owners of the house I have just left, I cannot but thank them for the asylum it has afforded me."

The elder lady replied, with ready but distant politeness, she was happy if she had found any accommodation there during the storm.

A constrained sort of air then took possession of both speakers, and the stranger, with a bending preparation for a courtesy, rather than a courtesy itself, seemed anxious for the moment when Georgina should take leave.

That would have been instantly done, if the awakened sparkle of her young companion's countenance had not arrested Miss Evelyn's intended movement, spite of all the endeavours she thought she was making to urge on her horse.

"Can I be excused," said she, looking at her, " if I hope that the nearness of this wood to my father's house may have proved more fortunate to me, than in merely giving me a refuge from bad weather, and that I may be allowed to profit by what I now know is in the neighbourhood ?"

The young inconnue turned a pair of large black eyes on the face of her companion, as if entreating that such a hint might be taken; but reading no as

sent there, she let them fall in almost sadness upon the ground. She could not help, however, raising them again with sweetness upon Georgina, and crossing her arms upon her bosom with inexpressible grace, courtesied her thanks. Not a word was spoken, but her manner operated like a charm upon the heart to which it was directed.

"I may at least, I hope, be allowed," continued Georgina, "to explain who it is whom your servant's hospitality has obliged. My father, Dr. Evelyn, is indeed the owner of part of this wood, and our house cannot be more than five or six miles from you."

"And you are Miss Evelyn!" said the young inconnue, with a look of pleasure, and an accent, not purely English, but which sounded in Georgina's ears as uncommonly soft.

The elder lady here interfered, and with grave, though graceful civility, replied that no one, however retired, could be in that neighbourhood without having heard of the name of Evelyn. "I only hope,” she added, "that if we cannot profit by such kindness, such obliging frankness as you have shewn us, it will not be imputed to our being ungrateful for the honour."

At these words, taking her young charge by the arm, she fairly obliged her to turn towards the house with her; and Georgina's only consolation was to observe that she, whom she more than ever supposed

to be Mademoiselle de Montauban, more than once turned round, as if to express her regret at the separation.

Miss Evelyn was too well bred to make any farther attempt at an intercourse which seemed to be so expressly forbidden; yet was so much hurt at the reception of her advances, and at the same time so occupied with the interesting manners of the younger stranger, that in a slow walk she threw the reins on her horse's neck, letting him carry her where he would; from which situation she was only roused by John.

This personage, though a very honest lad, having no sentiment in his composition, had beheld the whole adventure (such are the different modes by which nature works,) with the most entire indifference; if indeed we may say so, when the thought of his wet clothes and an empty stomach, which directed his imagination with particular pleasure to the Doctor's kitchen, can be said to be indifference. Be this as it may, he conceived it but a very natural decision that the object for which alone they had turned out of the road, should be ascertained without farther delay; and perceiving that her horse seemed to lead his mistress, and not his mistress to direct her horse, he made bold to ask her if " them there ladies had told her the way home ?"

This very sensible question roused Georgina from

her reverie, and she owned she knew no more of the road than she did before.

"I thought so," said John, with as much respect as his wishes to be at home permitted: " and therefore I thinks its lucky to see that bagsman there— for them people knows more about these out of the way roads than e'er a postboy of them all."

The person whom he called a bagsman was what, in politer language, is denominated a gentleman traveller. He was pushing on at a regular rate, upon a stout brisk horse, and would by no means stop at John's call; but being overtaken, he readily told them he knew Evelyn Hall very well, as he passed it six times in every year. He therefore undertook to lead them through the wood into Stony Lane, a road well known both to Georgina and her groom, and which in about five miles more led them to the home they had been seeking.

CHAP. XIII.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUED.

"Sir, your Queen

"Desires your visitation, and to be

"Acquainted with this stranger."

SHAKSPEARE.

GEORGINA was too full of her adventure not to mention it to her father the moment she saw him. She eagerly enquired whether he knew any strangers who had come lately to reside in a house in the middle of Somerville Wood. His negative answer produced an explanation, and the history she had to give, which roused his curiosity and it was settled that in a day or two both Georgina and her father should ride across that part of the wood again, and pay them a visit in form. The expectation of this delighted Georgina, and she grew impatient for the day.

"I cannot see any harm in it," said Evelyn; "it is but neighbourly. They are lonely and may want society; they are strangers and may want good offices. At any rate they may have the refusal of us," added he as he mounted his horse.