throat, over which fell a plain white collar: she, wore cuffs to match, whilst in one hand she swung a green velvet hussar cap, with golden tassel, and black strap to fasten under the chin. She threw herself carelessly on the chintz sofa, and glanced archly from under her long eyelashes at her mother and sister. It would be quite impossible for words to give a correct idea of Catherine Ellerton, or of Kitty, as I shall call her; so varied was the expression of her face, and so singular and bewitching the eyes, which, like her rich hair, seemed of every colour, now dark, now light, as the light or emotion acted upon them. Her features were not so classically correct as those of her sister, but her complexion was yet more soft and feminine, slightly tinted with that exquisite couleur de rose | which perfect health and happiness alone can impart. Her nose was nearly straight, and like a piece of white wax; whilst the little saucy mouth, under it, seemed made for love to kiss. But her eyes were her chief attraction. They were generally cast down; but when she did raise them, either in conversation, or glanced archly at you from under the long lashes, whilst her sweet lips parted in a smile, the effect was enchanting, bewildering! She was not so tall as her sister, but her figure was so beautifully proportioned and rounded, that every movement was attended by a careless, but most natural grace. No contrast could be more striking than that the sisters presented, in mind as well as in person. The one dark-eyed, with raven hair and Juno figure, all art and selfishness; the other fair, radiant as the noonday, and warm-hearted and unsophisticated as Nature's self. Clara was her mother's favourite. In her she saw herself reflected, when at the same age, both in mind and form. Whilst Catherine took after her father's family, and though not the favourite of her mother, she most decidedly was of domestics, friends, and of the whole neighbourhood in short, and that for sufficient reasons; nay, the greatest part of them considered her as far more fascinating than her proud, dark-eyed sister, and even more lovely. But Kitty herself never thought one moment about the matter, living like a blessed little fairy, in a world of her own, as happy as bee, bird, butterfly, sunbeam, what you will, without one care or thought for the future. There was little harmony between the sisters, and little love on Clara's side; and although she pretended to consider and ever strove to treat Catherine like a thoughtless child on every occasion, yet the thing was very difficult to manage, for Kitty was far too witty (saucy, Clara said) and clever and high spirited to be kept under by any living soul; and a most unexpected piece of good fortune which had suddenly fallen upon Kitty lifted her at once in importance far above Clara, and filled her sister's ambitious heart with a rankling jealousy and envy very closely allied to hatred. An aunt, their father's sister, and Kitty's godmother, had died, and left to her darling child Kitty-who had nursed her through a long and tedious illness-the whole of her property. House, lands, furniture, funded property, jewels, plate, in short, everything, to be at her instant disposal, married or single, though strictly tied down to her children after her death; so that this made her a person of no little consequence, and lifted her in perfect independence above mother, sister, and the world; and although Kitty behaved with the generosity of a little queen to them both, adding several hundreds ayear to their housekeeping, and loading them with presents on every occasion, yet it rankled deep in their cold hearts, and they never forgave it. By the domestics, and the whole village, Kitty was quite adored, and she became quite the little lady bountiful of the parish; she was doted on, too, by the old vicar and the worthy doctor, going hand in hand with them in every good that was started, generally managing, however, to have everything quite her own way; doing with everybody, in fact, just what she pleased, although, may be, they themselves were not aware of the fact. All the old goodies, far and near, poured the histories of their wants and troubles into her attentive little ears; whilst all the young ones told their tales of true or disappointed love, as the case might be ; and it was Kitty's care to smooth down all the asperities that beset the path of true love, and impart good advice, and consolation in various forms, to both young and old. Kitty had thrown herself, as I before observed, on the sofa, and indulged herself in a little laugh, so exquisitely mirthful, that her sister could not choose but ask the cause of "her excessive hilarity." "O, nothing," returned Kitty, "but a little love affair; the course of true love did not run quite so smoothly with pretty Emma Wright as she justly thought her attractions entitled her to expect. The young lover, William Blanchard, the carpenter, had sadly fallen off in his devoirs; and so I summoned the false one before my tribunal in the old summer-house, and am happy to inform you, that after a great deal of sage advice on my part, and a few pearly tears on Emma's, he has been brought to see and confess the error of his ways; love is in the ascendant once more, truth triumphant, and the happy couple have left my tribunal arm in arm, and happy as two turtle doves: there, that's all, sweet sis!" "I really wonder that you can so degrade yourself, by mixing yourself up with all the vulgar affairs of the village; I really think that you might employ your time much better," said Clara, with a slight sneer. "Thank you, sweet Clary," returned Kitty with an arch smile; "but with all due deference to your opinion, I cannot choose but take the same interest in the sorrows and troubles of the poor villagers, that you ever do in those of the rich and great; and whoever thinks it worth while to seek my humble counsel and aid in their hour of trouble and need, shall most assuredly never seek them in vain. See you now-this young couple had had some ridiculous quarrel, and for want of a friend were growing colder and more estranged every day, and poor little Emma was breaking her heart with weeping, and now they are happier and more united than ever;" and Kitty laughed and clapped her little white hands. "There has a piece of news just reached the ears of your sister and myself, Catharine," said her mother gravely, "which I trust will have due weight with you, and induce you to act with more reserve and discretion-to assume, in short, a deportment more consistent with your station and name, if not for your own, at least for our sakes. Sir Eustace Allonby has arrived at the Hall." If it do not concern you, Catharine, it may others," returned Mrs. Ellerton coldly; "and mark me, it may become of the very highest importance to your sister; so I just wish to beg of you to have some little consideration for others, and not mar by your ill-timed levity, careless remarks, and fun (as you call it), prospects which I have at heart concerning your sister Clara and Sir Eustace." 66 Oh, I see, I see, mamma!" exclaimed Kitty, bursting into another merry laugh. Enough said, enough said; good manners be my speed! But if the young Barrow-knight should take exception at my innocent fun (as you call it), 'twere pity of my life, and he will prove himself not quite so wise as one might expect-and he fresh from foreign parts too! Ha, ha, ha!" "She is incorrigible, mamma; I told you so," said Clara, with flashing eye and mounting colour; "but just bear in mind, miss, that what you are pleased to call by the mild name of fun,' Sir Eustace may stigmatize by the harshsounding name of vulgarity and want of good breeding; and he may fall into the mistake of classing us both together." "Oh no, he won't, sweet Clary; he will gaze into your fair face, and for its sake forgive my vulgarity, depend upon it," said Kitty, softly. "I do wish you would call me by my proper name, Clara; I hate nicknames!" returned her sister, pettishly. "Clara be it then!" said Kitty, with a sweet smile; "though to my poor mind Clary sounds far sweeter, and infinitely more affectionate; but fear not, sister mine! I will be schooled, and mild and gentle as any dove; and when you are the happy mistress of yon proud mansion, (which may heaven grant!) should you honour your poor little sister with an invitation to tea, why I will come, with hands meekly folded, eyes downcast, arrayed in silk or satin as it may be, and return a yea to all your ladyship pleases to remark, with a sweetness and humility not to be excelled." And Kitty rose and made a little curtsy. "Of course one is sure to meet with nothing but mockery in return for advice, however well meant," returned Clara, trembling with suppressed rage. "But enough! you will follow your own selfish whims, as I told mamnia, whoever suffers in consequence." "Nonsense, sister," said Kitty, smiling and putting out her hand. "But I cannot stand talking here; I have a thousand important things to do. But have no fear, sweet Clara, you shall have the new comer all to yourself, my dear, rely upon it. I would not give my pony for a whole cartload of Baronets-so fear not." "Fear!" echoed her sister, with a scornful laugh and flashing eye; "fear, and of you, child! no, indeed! My only fear is, that your rudeness, and entire disregard of etiquette, may shock the feelings of a man of refinement and fashion; that is all, I can assure you." "Ah, well then, as I shall sedulously keep out of his way, your fears on that head may sleep Sister let your sorrows cease, said Kitty, laughing, and gathering up the folds of her riding skirt. At that moment Clara's maid brought in a parcel, just arrived from London, directed to her young mistress. Clara sprang to it with spark"For me, ling eye and outstretched hand. Mary? what can it be? who sent it? what can it be?" she exclaimed eagerly. "I can tell you, dear Clara," said Kitty, in a gentle voice-" it contains the evening dress which you so much desired, and it comes as a little present from poor vulgar Kitty;" and Kitty nodded kindly at her through her tears, and glided through the glass door to mount her pony, which the groom held at the garden gate. SOMETHING ABOUT KITTY'S FAVOURITES. Could Clara's heart have been laid bare, it would have displayed a self-love so excessive, as almost entirely to exclude love for any other living thing. But Kitty's little heart was all love. Not only did she love her fellow-creatures passing well; but birds, beast, reptiles, every crawling thing, together with sun, wind, flower, stream, wood, land-all-everything came in for a share of her affection. Sooner than not have a favourite, she would have had a pet toad, bat, or even snake or hedgehog; the while her temper was so sweet, that to put it out was almost an impossibility. Poor Kitty had been made sometimes to weep; but even then she never lost temper, but smiled through her tears, shaking them off the next moment, like a sweet innocent flower the rain-drops of the recent shower. Kitty was a great reader, too; though it may be that her selection of books was not always that which some grave-minded ladies would have sanctioned by an approving smile. On Sundays, I must do her the justice to say, her reading was everything heart could desire, and her deportment too, selecting books which every good person must admire, one of her favourites being the Pilgrim's Progress; but on week days, the Arabian Nights, Scott's Novels, and such like, were her decided favourites. Indeed I must candidly confess, that if she had a partiality for one thing more than another, it was for a good old fairy tale; and this ought not to create surprise, considering how nearly allied she herself was to the fairy race; and could Kitty but have possessed the fabled power of one, as at heart she very much desired, then I can only say, that it would have been infinitely to the advantage of the whole neighbourhood, and indeed of the world in general, for she assuredly would have redressed all grievances, have wiped tears out of all eyes, and have turned all wicked people into lumps of pure gold, for the benefit of the good. She had her especial favourites among the animated creation of course. First in the list stood a very beautiful grey pony, named Wildfire; very graceful to look at, and very fond of Kitty in his way, whinnying whenever she stroked his nose, but nevertheless as obstinate and self-willed as a mule, taking advantage of Kitty's good nature whenever an opportunity presented itself. Did Kity want to go one way, and was pressed for time, Wildfire instantly took it into his head to go the direct opposite, when of course a sharp contest ensued, and at last the whip was reluctantly called in to settle the dispute, and then with a whinny of angry remonstrance he would sulkily yield the point. Did a tuft of primroses or violets meet his eye in the hedge, he would suddenly, and without the least warning, bolt from the very middle of the road to possess himself of it, munching it up with greedy mouth, and look of extreme satisfaction. Again, Kitty was very fond of pacing along the cool, wet sands at low tide. Wildfire liked it too, only he carried his ideas upon the subject much farther than did his mistress, and was very fond of running right into the waves, and letting them splash over his feet, pawing up the water at the same time with his fore foot, in a way very satisfactory to his own feelings, but by no means in unison again with those of his fair rider, whose draggled riding-skirt came in, of course, for a good dripping. But at such times, another favourite of Kitty's, Neptune, a huge Newfoundland dog, brought his talents into play. Neptune was a very great favourite, and justly so, obedient to her every look and beck, who attended her everywhere with guardian eye, and slept at night on a huge rug before her chamber-door. Woe to the wretch who dared to offend Kitty when Neptune was by, and he almost always was; even the village curs had learned, by sad experience, not even to bark at Kitty as she passed by, for Neptune was upon them directly, like an open-mouthed dragon. So it proved also with pony; whenever Neptune saw him restive and disobedient, either by sea or land, he instantly gave a low growl, and then bit pony on the nose. At first pony resented and resisted this, what he considered, impertinent interference, and rude attack, and kicked and bit in return; but he soon found out, to his cost, that Neptune had the sharpest teeth, was quite as cunning as himself, and would on no account stand tamely by and see their young mistress put upon. Whenever Kitty dismounted, she always threw the bridle to Neptune; and then it was amusing to watch the pair. Pony felt that he was not trusted, and did not like it; but Neptune, with his head bent down, holding the bridle between his teeth, would leer up at him, without ever taking his eyes off for one instant, till Kitty's return, with look that said as plain as words, "Just try now you'd better!" And pony would return his look, out of the corners of his cunning eyes, paw with his fore foot, and breathe very hard, but knew better than to stir. In like manner Neptune soon made pony sick of taking to the water, although Master Neptune himself was as fond of dabbling in water, both fresh and salt, as any dabchick, displaying at all times a marvellous delight in dragging out any body or anything that had tumbled in. He once saw the gardener's boy, when nobody was in the way, seize Ebony, a large black female cat, with yellow eyes, Kitty's third favourite, and throw her into the pond in the garden. Neptune was so incensed at this barbarous trick, that he first bit the boy, and then instantly plunged in, and lugged poor puss, who was splashing about right and left, half blind, and mewing in despair, out by the neck, with honest and praiseworthy zeal. Unfortunately for poor puss, however, Master Neptune thought this capital fun, and although the rascal had condemned it in the boy, he himself (quite in the way of the world) thought that he might very harmlessly follow the bent of his inclination; so after waiting by the pond the following day, in anxious expectation of the boy's repeating the pastime, and in vain, he straightway ran off himself in search of Ebony, and catching her by the neck, ran instanter with her to the said pond, and then and there dropped her in, on his own account, plunging in the next moment with intense eagerness and delight, to lug her out again. This he repeated daily, until people wondering why poor Ebony came in dripping like a drowned rat, and mewing most piteously, day by day, watched, and so caught the villain out, and being consigned instanter himself to a dark hole and a dry crust, he gave it over. Kitty was in the habit of rising very early, and during the summer months made it a rule to ride down every morning to the beach, where a very nice woman kept a couple of bathing machines for the use of the surrounding gentry. One of these she made use of daily; the woman had taught her to swim, and it was a lovely her voice entirely artistic; it only wanted one thing-feeling. Poor Kitty's drawings, on the contrary, were anything but classical; in sober truth, her flowers were brilliantly tinted, but belonged not to the earth, neither to the waters under the earth! things of doubt-riddles to be guessed at; whilst her landscapes, which she considered her forte, were, I am sorry to say, entirely innocent of perspective. But what then? they pleased Kitty hugely, and stuck in her album, amidst snatches of poetry, &c., served to remind her (as she said) of the loved and familiar scenes and haunts of childhood. Neither, I am sorry to say, was Kitty great in the music way-her instrumentation was by no means marvellous, and her voice entirely without cultivation; but whoever heard Kitty singing snatches of old songs and ballads, such as "Auld Robin Gray,” and others, could not choose but pause and listen with entranced car, and think it passing sweet; calling to mind, it may be, the exquisitely soft song of the robin that he or she may have chanced to hear on some still autumnal day. thing-" a joy for ever"-to see Kitty swim! her long golden brown hair, unconfined, maybe, floating for a yard behind her, and her round, ivory, white arms, protruding from their blue bathing-dress, throwing off the waves like molten silver. If there had been such things as sea-gods, then assuredly one of them would have popped up his head beside Kitty, and passing an arm round her slender waist, have borne her down and away to his coral cave for ever. But honest Neptune did not at all approve of his young mistresses sea propensities. The instant she entered the bathing-machine he grew uneasy, and began to sniff, and growl round it; and the moment she plunged from it, and began to swim out, he became beside hinself with intense fear, wonder, and anxiety, and instantly plunging in, he swam after her, and catching a portion of her blue dress tenderly between his teeth, would turn and tug away with her to land with might and main; and despite Kitty's angry remonstrances and scolding, out he would lug her, safe and sound, on the land; and after licking her hands and face, would commence a system of capers and jumps, and joyful barks, with the firm conviction on his innocent mind each morning that he had saved his young mistress from a watery grave. Puss, or Ebony, was the third favourite. Very fond, indeed, of her mistress was poor puss, which she would fain have evinced by wandering all over the country by her side; but the thing was not to be done. Pony had no objection to it, neither had Kitty herself; but Neptune would not hear of it, being far too proud a dog to be seen out in company with a cat. He had no Once she found one of her favourite old objection to her going with them as far as the goodies weeping the death of a cow, and bitterly end of the retired, shady lane, which led from deploring its loss; and away rode Kitty on the Rosemead to the more open country; but the impulse of the moment to buy her another. She very instant they reached that point, Neptune met, on crossing a wild heath, a drover, with a would turn sharp round upon her, and give an troop of cattle on his way to London, and ominous growl, which instantly caused Ebony thinking it a lucky chance, immediately pulled to put up her back, and pause. Did she, heed-up, and stated her want; and on the man's reless of the consequences, venture on one more step, Neptune was upon her in a moment, and she was tumbled over in a way that no respectable, modest cat could a moment put up with. KITTY'S LITTLE MISTAKES. The sisters had some pursuits and accomplishments in common, such as music and drawing. Others again were considered by the proud Člara too vulgar for a lady of her refinement, and were followed exclusively by Kitty. Clara considered that her own skill in the first of these attainments was of a far higher order than that of her young sister. Clara had made several visits to London, had seen something of its gaiety and fashion, and had taken lessons in singing and drawing of first-rate nasters, or rather fashionable masters; hence her style of drawing was severely classical, and her heads in crayons, from the antique, considered superb; whilst in music, her instrumentation was pronounced quite marvellous, and All needle-work, I am sorry to say, lagged fearfully under Kitty's little fingers. Down it went the instant the sun shone, and off went Kitty to her favourite amusements-visiting the sick, nursing babies, reconciling lovers, and such like. Sundry little contretems-amounting, indeed, to failures-of course, occasionally attended Kitty's endeavours. I don't for a moment mean to say that she was perfect: greater people, and more experienced, have also had their good intentions blighted. commending a shabby little black and white cow, Kitty would not look at it, but selected one nearly as big again, with remarkably fine, gazelle-looking eyes. The man grinned, and after a little haggling, let her have it, remarking, "I'm blowed, miss, if you ain't a real good un at a bargain! you knows summut about cattle, and no mistake." Kitty only screwed up her little mouth, perfectly satisfied in her own mind with the truth of the man's remarks; and having paid the rather high price for her bargain, gave it in charge of a boy of the village to drive to old Dame Gubbins's cottage. But alas! when a few days afterwards she called to see how Goody liked her present, she was sorely amazed to hear the old woman exclaim, in sadly disappointed voice, "Why lauk, miss, it's a old beast, as won't give a drop of milk no how! it's all a interjection! (meaning deception); and as for her eyes, as you was a praising on, why bless you she's just as blind as a bat, and good for nuffin!" On another occasion, a second old dame of her acquaintance was showing Kitty what a nice clean little pigsty she had, but never a pig to put in it, remarking, "What a help it would be to her sure-ly, to have a nice sow and little pigs to take to market and all that." Kitty agreed that it would be so; and rode away with the praiseworthy intention of finding a tenant for the vacant sty. As fate would have it, she met a drove of fine-looking porkers in the road; and fixing her eyes on a remarkably clean, frisky young swine with a curly tail, instantly bought it, and despatched to the said empty sty. But on riding past a day or two after, what was her indignation and astonishment to see the poor pig quartered and hung up on each side the door. "You ungrateful, greedy creature you!" exclaimed Kitty, on the appearance of the dame; "I thought you were wisely going to wait till you had little pigs to take to market? and now you see, like the foolish man in the fable, you have killed your goose, and of course can have no golden eggs. You have deceived me, and I am very vexed indeed." "Why gracious me, Miss Kitty! what are you a saying of?" returned the dame, lifting up her hands in astonishment. "Bless your dear, innocent young art! it warn't a lady-pig; it war a hee-pig, and of no good at all, miss, for having of little pigs." "Oh, you abominable woman!" said Kitty, colouring up with vexation and shame; and giving Wildfire a cut, away she cantered, with the firm determination in her mind to leave pigs and cows alone for the future, and not waste her money upon ungrateful people. Of course, poor Kitty had the laugh against her for a little time; however, she did not care- -these trifling failures were but as spots in the sun. THE LITTLE ADVENTURE. Well, back to the course of events. Kitty glided from the parlour, as I have before stated, leaving her sister to examine the costly contents of her parcel, and mounting Wildfire, cantered away down the pretty lane, attended as usual by Neptune and Ebony. After stopping here and there, as the whim took her, visiting her infant school, and chatting with two or three old women, and as many young ones (for I am sorry to say that Kitty was a sad little gossip), she, about noonday, turned pony's head from the village, and cantered off, to pay a visit to an old nurse, her own nurse, who resided in a very pretty cottage (thanks to Kitty), situated on a small, wild, but very beautiful heath. Kitty had taken her youngest daughter, Mabel, as her own lady's maid. The sisters, previous to Kitty's legacy, had had one maid in common; but Clara, as usual, was so exacting, that poor Kitty had a hard matter to get even her hair dressed; but immediately upon this accession to fortune, she took Mabel for herself. Mabel was a tall, pretty girl, who wonderfully assisted Kitty in arranging the affairs of the village, settling love disputes, making matches, &c.; and she quite doted upon her young mistress, speaking of her everywhere as "the most beautifullest and sweetest young lady as ever was, or would be." The worthy old nurse lived with a married daughter, wife of a young gamekeeper of the Allouby family. Kitty had presided at the wedding, and had made the pretty cottage as comfortable as possible. It stood under some stately, wide-spreading elms; a pretty garden surrounded it-a lovely wood shaded its back; whilst in front stretched the wild heath, redolent of yellow gorse, hare-bell, and heath-blossom. When Kitty reached the cottage, she found that the young wife had gone to market, to lay in her weekly store of grocery and other necessaries, and had taken her baby-christened after Kitty, by most earnest request—with her. The meanwhile the sky became overcast ; wild gusts of wind began to career over the wide expanse of heath; the old elm-trees made hollow moan; the wild birds scattered to their respective shelter; and the low, distant rumbling of thunder, gave evident token that a terrible storm was fast approaching, and about to discharge its fury over the wild heath. The old nurse became very uneasy, for she predicted that Susan and baby would surely be caught in the storm; and then Susan was far from well, and baby but so-so. So away rode Kitty again towards one end of the heath, where a very pretty, but lonely lane, of a mile's length, led down to the village, to see if there were any signs of her, and if so, to help her on with her numerous parcels, baskets, &c. Heavy drops of rain began to fall. Murky clouds had now entirely blotted out the sun and blue sky; and the moaning wind swept in wild blast across the desolate heath-when at the very entrance of the said lane Kitty found poor Susan, who was dreadfully afraid of thunder, seated on the grass, almost fainting from heat, fear, and fatigue, with baby cuddled up to her bosom, and all her baskets and bundles scattered around her. She seemed totally unable to advance farther, and sat rocking herself to and fro, and gazing anxiously at the threatening sky. 66 Come, Susan!" exclaimed Kitty, cantering up, rouse yourself, the storm will be upon us in all its fury in five minutes. Make an effortI will carry some of your parcels, and Neptune can manage one too." 66 Thank you, thank you, dear Miss Kitty!" said Susan, faintly, "I am taken all over with a faintness, miss, and really don't know whether I stand upon my head or heels; and poor baby-dear me! what a dreadful flash of lightning!" And Susan put her hands before her eyes, and sank back again, overcome with |