power of being useful. While that is the case, we are not cast on regrets."

While Miss Clairvaux was in this expansive mood, it occurred to her that it might not be amiss to invite Mr. and Mrs. Debenham to tea. A friendly, chatty evening might not be despised by them; at any rate, they should have the option. So she wrote a cordial note, and the invitation for the following evening was accepted with readiness. one expected gaiety in Passion-week, but there was always an inclination to see more of the inside of the Peaked House; and the Debenhams had really been always disposed to meet Miss Clairvaux more than half way.

No

Eleanor, passing the open door of Miss Clairvaux's dressing-room, the next morning, saw her on her knees before an old oaken plate-chest, from which she was disintering sundry obsolete pieces of plate, yellow for want of cleaning; and enveloped

in shrouds of silver paper to prevent their rubbing.

"Dear Miss Clairvaux!" said she, laughing, "who would have thought you such a worshipper of mammon ?"

"Well, my dear, I hope I don't make idols of these things, though I'm down on my knees before them. But what is the good of having them if they are never used? and they will be all the better for cleaning."

"What a beautiful cream-ewer! I never saw one, the shape of which pleased me so much."

"Indeed ?" said Miss Clairvaux, with sudden liveliness. "Then I'll give it to you, Eleanor, when you marry! That is," added she, with a bright smile, "if you marry to please me!"

"Oh! thank you, Miss Clairvaux !" cried Eleanor, kissing her. And she stood for a few seconds with the delicate little jug poised between her thumb and fore-finger, as one

may have seen the statuette of a Grecian nymph; lost in dreams, that were evidently in harmony with Miss Clairvaux's conditions. Of what was the young girl thinking?

CHAPTER XI.

With the young or the old, with the maid or the wife, O may I enliven the evening of life,

Still gay without pride and jocose without art,

With some sense in my tongue and much truth in my heart.

A TEA-PARTY given by Miss Clairvaux was a novelty; and as such, was duly reported by Mrs. Debenham to Mrs. Rowe and Mrs. Plover. "Quite a quiet affair, of course. Miss Clairvaux does not go out, you know, or receive company generally. Only Sam and me, in fact, and some friends from London."

Mrs. Plover and Mrs. Rowe bridled, and thought they might as well have been asked too. People should not do things by halves. Mrs. Rowe was an inoffensive little woman enough, whose amusement was chiefly derived from the small affairs of the neighbourhood, and whose disappointment at finding herself passed over when she might as well have been included, was unaccompanied by any bitterness. This was not exactly the case with Mrs. Plover, who was indeed a widow, but not a widow indeed, according to the definition of St. Paul. She rather ranked with those busy bodies, existing in his time and at all times, who, more the pity, wander from house to house, not only idle, but tatlers, speaking things which they ought not; and when she heard of Miss Clairvaux's giving a tea-party to which she was not invited, she felt herself an injured woman, and decided that it must be inquired into.

Of course it would have been neglecting