_German Popular Tales_ were a recent introduction of Claude’s, for Eleanor had carefully excluded all fairy tales from her sisters’ library; so great was her dread of works of fiction, that Emily and Lilias had never been allowed to read any of the Waverley Novels, excepting _Guy Mannering_, which their brother Henry had insisted upon reading aloud to them the last time he was at home, and that had taken so strong a hold on their imagination, that Eleanor was quite alarmed. One day Mr. Mohun chanced to refer to some passage in _Waverley_, and on finding that his daughters did not understand him, he expressed great surprise at their want of taste. Poor things,’ said Claude, ‘they cannot help it; do not you know that Eleanor thinks the Waverley Novels a sort of slow poison? They know no more of them than their outsides.’ ‘Well, the sooner they know the inside the better.’ ‘Then may we really read them, papa?’ cried Lily. ‘And welcome,’ said her father. This permission once given, the young ladies had no idea of moderation; Lily’s heart and soul were wrapped up in whatever tale she chanced to be reading—she talked of little else, she neglected her daily occupations, and was in a kind of trance for about three weeks. At length she was recalled to her senses by her father’s asking her why she had shown him no drawings lately. Lily hesitated for a moment, and then said, ‘Papa, I am sorry I was so idle.’ ‘Take care,’ said Mr. Mohun, ‘let us be able to give a good account of ourselves when Eleanor comes.’ ‘I am afraid, papa,’ said Lily, ‘the truth is, that my head has been so full of _Woodstock_ for the last few days, that I could do nothing.’ ‘And before that?’ ‘_The Bride of Lammermoor_.’ ‘And last week?’ ‘_Waverley_. Oh! papa, I am afraid you must be very angry with me.’ ‘No, no, Lily, not yet,’ said Mr. Mohun, ‘I do not think you quite knew what an intoxicating draught you had got hold of; I should have cautioned you. Your negligence has not yet been a serious fault, though remember, that it becomes so after warning.’ ‘Then,’ said Lily, ‘I will just finish _Peveril_ at once, and get it out of my head, and then read no more of the dear books,’ and she gave a deep sigh. ‘Lily would take the temperance pledge, on condition that she might finish her bottle at a draught,’ said Mr. Mohun. Lily laughed, and looked down, feeling quite unable to offer to give up _Peveril_ before she had finished it, but her father relieved her, by saying in his kind voice, ‘No, no, Lily, take my advice, read those books, for most of them are very good reading, and very pretty reading, and very useful reading, and you can hardly be called a well-educated person if you do not know them; but read them only after the duties of the day are done—make them your pleasure, but do not make yourself their slave.’ ‘Lily,’ said Claude the next morning, as he saw her prepare her drawing-desk, ‘why are you not reading _Peveril_?’