thought Ned; "if it doesn't made a bad mark 'twill be a lucky wound." And so it was. Ned became a hero after this; and as for George, he was "a-weary of the world." Ned's fame extended beyond the school; his gallant and generous behaviour was reported all over the town. Some of the inhabitants gave him presents, and many asked him to their houses. Even the head-master, though he blamed him for fighting, praised his magnanimity. The Sunday after the fight a girl named Patty Maine, of about Ned's own age, asked a friend to point out Ned Roberts to her as the boys were going out of church. "He's as handsome as he's brave," thought Patty.

"Of course, then," a reader may say, "this Patty Maine was a romantic, sighing young lady, with gushing affections, ready to be disposed of whenever a suitable hero should present himself." No, she wasn't; and in order to do away with any such injurious suspicion, it may be well to say a few words about her. She was a quiet, retiring girl, who had gained the reputation of being very steady and industrious, little given to the society of girls of her own age, and never accused of the slightest wish to attract the admiration of the other sex. As she did

not rival them, girls rather liked her, but there was not much sympathy between most of them and her. With older women Patty seemed more in harmony, and to them she would talk about household affairs "like a little goody," as some of them said, making shrewd and thoughtful remarks, and picking up all she could learn. Neither was it in domestic matters only that she tried to inform herself. A good deal of useful knowledge found its way into her little head, and, fortunately, did not find its way out again unless occasion called markedly for it, or a person took the trouble to " draw her out" as it is called. Some homely persons having done this, found themselves discomfited by the results of the draw," and were glad to move the previous question and get back to everyday topics. It was the custom to call her old-fashioned, the meaning of which term in that connection can hardly indicate resemblance to a former age, because probably the children of past centuries were not much more staid and considerate than the children of the present time; it must imply rather a resemblance to older persons. So Patty, one sees, was like, if she should continue in her present disposition, to have the acquirements of strong-minded females,

without any of the self-assertion or other unlovely qualities which disfigure that sisterhood. Indeed she was hardly just to herself, was at all times ready and well pleased to recognise the merits of others, and was never known to say or to enjoy an ill-natured or untruthful thing. This being so, how happened it that Patty Maine was so ready to admire either the deeds or the person of Ned Roberts? That is a question by no means easy to answer. Patty, without being Quixotic, could be deeply moved by a generous action; and as to the effect of a handsome face upon a fair beholder, who can explain it? Perhaps if Patty had been indulged with Roberts's acquaintance now while some of the openness of childhood still remained with him, she might have speedily moderated her admiration. But Ned and she were, for some time after this, scarcely known to each other; no admiration of Patty nor any thought of her having entered the boy's breast. For Patty Maine, though a bright comely girl, had not that striking kind of beauty which at once compels homage. Her looks were much like her disposition. They did not obtrude themselves anywhere or on any person, but sometimes, corresponding to a warmth within, they

would glow and mantle into beauty for a while, and then return to their quiet unpretending expression.

"You'd have been astonished," once remarked Miss Daniels to her friend Mrs Cox, "to see that little Miss Maine when she spoke up for Annie Flight; her countenance was lovely. I didn't think 'twas in the child. She don't generally look much beyond ordinary, if that. Likely she's going to grow up pretty."

"Perhaps she is," answered Mrs Cox, "or it's odd what else it can be; but now you mention it, Grace Daniels, I remarked something of the same sort in the girl myself, and Mrs Baker will tell you that I did. 'Twas one evening when Mr Baker was reading something out of Shakespeare-poor stuff, I remember, I thought it; and so I was looking at the girl, not knowing how to keep myself awake, and knowing it would be ill manners to nod. Mrs Baker will bear me witness that I said Patty Maine was comelier than people thought for. It may be as you say, there's concealed charms that will come out by-and-by."

Patty's good looks, it is clear, depended on circumstances, and did not in kind resemble Ned

Roberts's, which were habitually blooming their brightest, and advertising their owner, Ned, as a person in whom it would be well for all beholders to take a serious interest.

So Patty received an impression from Ned Roberts which was strengthened by seeing him at church and occasionally passing him in the streets; and her fancy, which might have been corrected by acquaintance with the object of it, grew stronger in the enchantment of distance.

Patty was an orphan, living with her mother in a cottage by Gritvale. Their means were modest and their life secluded. Further particulars regarding Patty will probably be obtained from the sequel of this narrative more satisfactorily than from a longer description, so we will now turn to another of our characters.

D