the young ladies with kindness, and a regard for her own character in the school, led her to avoid partiality and injustice.

But Miss Windermere, while she aimed at exemplifying the Christian character, was daily conscious of her own defects, and hence true humility appeared in her words and actions; she felt that she must not live to herself; and her aim, therefore, was not to seek her own comfort or convenience, but the happiness and real good of those around her. In short, she was anxious to live alone to Him on whom her hopes were built. To all this Miss Lindsay was a stranger; and very often did she wonder, what motives could influence her companion, in the little, silent, every-day acts of self-denying kindness which she could not but observe. herself, she always found in her a kind and considerate friend, ready with her advice and assistance, on all occasions of difficulty or perplexity in which it was required. She could not, therefore, help feeling an affection for her, and was always willing to yield to her rank in the school that superiority, which, however, was never assumed.

For

Miss Windermere, on her part, constantly tried

to preserve harmony by upholding Miss Lindsay's authority; and, in a manner the most unobtrusive, sought, on suitable occasions, to be useful to her.

About this time, little Mary's foot being nearly well, she was allowed to leave the sofa, and was again able to join in the active amusements of her companions. They were all glad to see her once more among them: all, indeed, excepting Ellen, to whom the many congratulations and expressions of pleasure at seeing her again, which were, naturally enough, bestowed on Mary, were rather irksome. A spirit of jealousy daily gained ground in this little girl's mind, producing the most unhappy effects; and, at last, Ellen's enjoyments became of such a nature, that even a kind word, or a smile, bestowed by any one whose supreme affection she wished to possess, on another instead of herself, had power to destroy them.

Miss Wilmot, whose interest in Ellen was undiminished, became at the same time increasingly fond of little Mary; and Ellen, though something within whispered she was wrong, indulged the unfounded idea that this young lady was unjust, and that, as she herself was her peculiar charge,

she ought to receive more of her exclusive attention. Consequently, she began frequently to behave with coldness and reserve towards her friend, and sometimes endeavoured exactly to cross her purposes; for instance, she would, if possible, contrive to be engaged in some lesson with Miss Windermere, precisely at the time in which Miss Wilmot had arranged to hear her practise music; or, if Miss Wilmot requested her to hold a skein of silk for her, she would be sure to think of something else that must be done directly, or she would be just going to play in the garden, and ask, “If her mamma could not wait a little while." If, however, any other little girl happened good-naturedly to offer her services, Ellen's play, or important business, was immediately suspended, and she would say, "Oh! no, no; I will do it."

All this and much more passed. Miss Windermere had long marked Ellen's disposition, and had continually endeavoured to counteract it; and at last Miss Wilmot began to perceive an alteration in her little girl, though youthful inexperience prevented her from penetrating deeply into its cause. She wished to speak to her on the subject, and sometimes tried to hint

that she seemed a different little girl from what she once was; but Ellen would then appear so like herself, and parry every attempt at reproof, direct or indirect, in a manner so skilful and amusing, that Miss Wilmot almost imagined she must have been mistaken herself, and thought it better for the present to wait, and watch Ellen's conduct more closely before she mentioned it again.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE season was now rapidly advancing; the bright verdure of spring was everywhere giving way to the more mature and sober green of summer, and the weather appearing delightfully calm and settled, a plan was formed for a day's excursion to the woods, which covered the distant hills. With such a day the young ladies were usually indulged once or twice in the course of the summer; and directly they were informed of the proposal, they eagerly anticipated reviewing the scene of their former pleasures, and formed many schemes for exploring the regions at present unknown to them.

Many were their hopes and fears concerning the weather, and anxiously was the appearance of the sky watched, as the wished-for day drew