certain line of right marked out for me, and I do not choose to swerve from it."

"But if it be proved to you that your line is drawn in a wrong direction"

That is not possible. A straight line drawn either perpendicularly, or horizontally, or diagonally, is equally a right line. It can only be changed by being curved."

"And if a curved line would facilitate your approach to the extreme point, would it not be better to proceed by it?"

"The route would be circuitous, and consequently longer. That which can be approached by a curved line, can always be attained more readily by a straight line."

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You are a mathematician, I perceive."

"If I had chosen the curved line, perhaps from politeness I should have agreed with you. As it is, I have only to say, that you are mistaken;-plain common sense so often wears the semblance of excellent logic, that it is not surprising one sometimes takes one for the other."

Sir Albert was silent. He attentively observed her countenance. Its complete vacancy surprised, as much as it disappointed him. There was a mechanical action about it, which was as remote as possible from vivacity or animation. There was no play of muscle, no brightening of the eye, no flashes of intellect. In was calm even in motion.

Nevertheless, he pondered frequently on this his first conversation with her. There was a sort of fascination about her, which as he himself

had affirmed, attracted the eye to her, and prevented its ever after losing the sight of her. There was a something uncommon, even peculiar in her manner, but so distinct from the peculiarity of Catherine Lockhart's!

He was glad, when, after an interval of nearly a week, Mrs. Grafton's absence again afforded him the opportunity of a tête-à-tête with Miss Grafton.

She had a book, but it was closed. "I suppose, Miss Grafton," began Sir Albert, "I must not again entreat

you to read."

"If

you

think it right to do so, of

course you will. It will be sufficient for me to decline taking advantage of your politeness."

"Is it not a curious practice to be so minutely scrupulous of right and wrong, in such very trifles as these?"

By curious you mean to express ridiculous. If you consider it so, of course to you it is so. It is our own perceptions that must determine for us the nature of our actions. To me it seems that since a multitude of these trifles swell the aggregate of a man's actions, as a combination of atoms composes the universe, it is proper that we should take care to attend to them as much as possible."

"You have a peculiar manner of considering subjects. You cannot change this word so mischievously as you have done my unfortunate curious."

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No, but this peculiar equally ex

presses your disapprobation."

66

Upon my honour, you wrong me," said Sir Albert.

"Do not take the trouble to remove this impression. I assure you, I am not in the least disturbed by it.

There would be an end to all dignity, if one were to suffer one's self to be affected by every body who disagrees with one in opinion. I am obliged, however, by your wish to relieve me, when you imagined I was uneasy."

Sir Albert smiled at the naïveté which had thus classed him with every body. It must be confessed, however, that if he were not displeased by it, at least he heard it with no agreeable sensation.

"Perhaps, since I cannot prevail on you to read to yourself, you will do me the favour to permit me to be a partaker of your amusement, and will read aloud."

"Certainly, if it will oblige you," replied Miss Grafton unhesitatingly.

"Is it possible, that I have mistaken this girl's disposition? That her former disobligingness had its source rather in