chased each other in quick succession through the tranquil firmament. The skylarks, poised high in air, gave out their triumphant melody of song, which, in verity, seems music that is mid-way to heaven; and the fresh, sweet smell of the new-turned earth sent forth that steaming fragrance, which forms a part of the general incense with which creation gratulates the Creator.

Lord Mowbray was in good humour with himself, enlivened by exercise, and made rich by the dispensing of his riches-that only way in which they ever make their possessor truly happy. He seemed to tread on air, and murmured something about his native soil being the most glorious in the world, which it would have delighted some of his friends to hear. As he stepped cheerfully onwards, he half whistled as he went, yet not for want of thought—no! his mind was full and his fancy busy :-but it was called from indefinite wanderings to a definite object.

Just as he reached the boundaries of the Park, and turned down the road that led to Abbots

bury, a lady on a white steed came galloping

towards him. The riding-habits and hats of the present day are assuredly not a becoming or feminine costume; and it would be well if, in this age of innovation, some improvement were made in a department of the toilette so much requiring it. Yet, the lady whom Lord Mowbray thus unexpectedly encountered looked graceful and lovely, spite of the disadvantages of her dress, and sat her horse without masculine assurance, though without the least appearance of timidity. Some white and dovecoloured greyhounds followed her course, and one of these she reined in her horse to notice; for it seemed to have picked up a thorn in its rambles, and came limping to her call: In stooping down to caress and examine her favourite, as it stood on its hind paws, and, rested on her foot, a sudden gust of wind carried off her hat, and away it rolled. In an instant she lightly leapt from her saddle, and, giving her horse's reins into her attendant's hand, pursued the truant hat; but every time she stooped to catch it, away it went again, as though winged by magic, and away after it flew

its mistress, as if she too had wings; the faster it rolled, the faster she ran, laughing gaily as the prize eluded her grasp.

For a minute Lord Mowbray was immovable —but in another he joined the chase, and found it no easy matter to rival in fleetness the agile step of the beautiful creature that flitted before him. Fortunately, another breeze of wind bore the hat fairly over a hedge, and here the lady was at fault. Laughing and breathless, her cheeks blooming with the most vivid, yet most delicate colour, such as the healthful breath of morning alone imparts, she now in her turn stood motionless; while Lord Mowbray, leaping the barrier, secured the object of pursuit. And as he restored it, said with much animation, that, indeed, it did not merit the honour of belonging to one so fair, and was unworthy of its happy destiny.

Had the lady known how seldom any compliment escaped the lips of the person who addressed her, she would perhaps have appeared more flattered at this homage. But confusion or carelessness, it was impossible to say which,

marked her reply; and thanking him courteously, though briefly, she vaulted into her saddle as she spoke; and the offending thorn having been removed from the greyhound's foot by her attendant, lady and dogs and servant were soon lost to the view of Lord Mowbray.

In the days of faery, he would have fancied himself under the influence of some enchantment, and that the bright vision he had seen was a being called from the region of spirits; but, as it was, he quickened his step towards the village to inquire concerning the name and condition, if possible, of this beautiful and fleeting visitant. It might be, that the original purport of his walk to Abbotsbury was a little diverted by the circumstances that had occurred on his way thither; but he stopped, notwithstanding, at the cottage (it is possible it might also have been the first he met with on his road) of the old woman who had so unwittingly taught such a useful lesson to him; and, putting a purse well filled into her hand, asked whether or not she had seen a lady pass by mounted on a white horse that morning?

"Lauk, Sir! I never has no time, not I, to look at the folks as goes by. But I did see Mrs. Carter going to market on White Sall. It couldn't be her, I'm thinking? But what's the purse for, and this power of silver ?"

:

"The purse is for you, my good woman,keep it and ask of your neighbours, if they have better eyes, whether they have seen such a lady as I describe, go by, and who she is—

and let me know the next time I come this way." And so saying, he escaped the profession of her thanks, and hastened forward to make inquiries elsewhere; but every where those inquiries failed, and everywhere he received the same answer in effect. Nobody had seen the lady on a white horse, nobody knew any thing about her, and, moreover, nobody seemed to care. At length, wearied and provoked, he returned to the Castle.

The end of a walk is not always as pleasant as the commencement. Lord Mowbray was partly fatigued, partly provoked; the landscape became darkened by the overcasting of the weather-a strong north-east wind blew