curate from seeing how old George from the landing yawned over the quartette of the violinists from Winwick. Breeding is everything in such cases, for the General was quite as much bored as old George; yet he applauded when it was over (partly in thankfulness for that fact) as if he had never heard anything so beautiful before. As for Mab, she was able to forget for the moment her interview with Mrs. Brown. Not only was it pleasant to be out in the evening--though only in a white frock high up to the neck, which was in reality a morning dress, but quite enough in Lady William’s opinion for such an entertainment; but the excitement of feeling that she had really a part in the performance through the songs of Emmy and Florence, and the recitation of Jim, enlivened her spirits and raised her courage. The Rectory girls sang two duets, far better in Mab’s opinion than all the other performers, and she felt sure that if Florence, whose voice was so much the strongest, had but had the courage to sing alone--! But this was a suggestion that Florence had crushed at once. It was bad enough to stand up there in face of all these people with Emmy to support her: but alone! ‘Don’t you think it was rather silly of Florry to be so particular,’ whispered Mab, ‘when they have all known her--almost since she was born?’ ‘No. I don’t think it was silly,’ said Miss Grey decisively. ‘Oh! but you never think any one silly,’ said Mab. ‘Don’t I!’ said Miss Grey, with a truculence which left all the swearing roughs of Riverside far behind. ‘I know who I think silly,’ said that enraged dove. Mab’s eyes ranged over all the people on the platform in astonishment, to see who could be the object of this outburst. ‘Not poor Jim?’ she said, faltering. ‘Jim is worth a dozen of him,’ said Miss Grey.