why, I have lived in too great solitude to see them, besides that my mind is ever too filled with thoughts of my mother, to have room in it for marriage. I would fain find her first, and learn who I rightly am, and why she has so strangely dealt with me, ere I dream too much of lovers and weddings." "You are a wise and dutiful daughter, sweet one," said Lady Rosamond caressingly, "and I wish for you none other than the best of mothers, and the happiest of lives. Yet since Heaven has blessed me with so good and true a husband, I can but wish for you that you may some day meet with such another! It is good to have a partner of all one's joys and sorrows, and a brave companion ever at hand, whom one may plague to one's heart's content! Think you not my lord and I are a pattern couple?" "Methinks you are a truly happy one," said Primrose softly; "and I think no scorn of married life, for all I am in no haste to enter upon it, for it must surely be the most beautiful life to live, if God so wills it. Yet since it is a life which so many seem to mar with great miseries, I would fain never enter upon it at all than miss its beauty, as they." "Beware lest you ever shine, a solitary star, in a dark sky of your own making!" said Lady Rosamond, holding up a warning finger. "It is thus that I threaten young Percival Vere, who while chivalrous as any gallant knight of old towards our sex, must needs, like the shepherd of your tale, hold such particular virtues and graces to be needful for his own ideal maiden, that 'tis scarce in any mortal damsel he will find them! Methinks I had best counsel him likewise to visit yon Pool some day at midnight's witching hour, for it would be but fair to give him such a fine chance of wooing an immortal maiden, since he will scarce e'er find any one of her earthly sisters to his choice! Nay, I will cease my foolish chatter, dear heart, since it brings such blushes to your fair cheeks. I will e'en leave both you and our 'lily-knight'--for so you must know they call him at Christ's College--to soar to your mountain-tops an you will. I do verily suppose the atmosphere of such heights, being nearer Heaven, must needs be purer and clearer than what we more earthly beings are privileged to breathe below, and I grudge you not your soaring, since it hath so charming effect. Now blush not, girl! Why, verily, your face is like a weather-glass! Does no one then ever tell you of all your charms? I knew my own, at your age, well enough, I promise you, and had I then so fair a rival, could have died of envy!" "Ah, talk not so!" said Primrose. "You think not how you may turn my poor head with such idle talk. And if you lived in our hamlet, with Master Jones ever at your elbow to warn you of the evil of setting too high a price upon your perishing beauty, you would not wantonly strive to stir up my vanity. I would you could see Master Jones and hear him discourse! But I fear me he