it however, it become so much worse with the motion of the carriage that she was quite unable to proceed; so with great reluctance we were obliged to leave her at a friend's house, which stood by the road's side. This misfortune cast a gloom upon us during the greater part of the ride. She was one of the most lively and intelligent of our whole party; there was not one but could have been better spared. However, as we drew near the end of our journey our spirits revived, and our regret for the loss of our companion gradually subsided.

But now a new cause of uneasiness arose :A few rather threatening clouds had for some time been gathering in the south-west, which the elder part of the company regarded with an anxious eye. We young ones, however, were persuaded they would soon pass off; and as they began to gather over head, we declared that we should prefer its being cloudy during the heat of the day.

"Yes, it would be much pleasanter!" just as I said the word, I felt a large drop of rain upon my cheek which was quickly followed by many more; and now the most sanguine of us took the alarm. A soaking shower came on, when we were yet a mile from the place of our destination; to which, being without any shelter, we were completely exposed. Still we tried to laugh at our misfortunes: till, upon approaching the place, the rain fell with redoubled violence; and as we galloped up the avenue, it ran streaming off in spouts and torrents from our hats and parasols. We had, therefore, little inclination to look about us; the first thing, as

soon as we arrived, was to beg the charity of the servants; and we were completely occupied, for a full hour, in drying our clothes, and refitting, before a large fire in the house-keeper's parlour. By the time this was done, and we had partaken of some refreshments, we began to make ourselves so merry with the adventure, that some of us thought we gained as much in fun as we lost in sun-shine.

It still rained so giving up all thoughts of an excursion without, for the present, we proceeded to view the apartments. They were splendid indeed, and we were delighted: for my own part the only thing that prevented my being quite as much so as I expected, was, that my exposure to the rain had brought on a slight tooth-ach; it was not violent, but yet just enough to take off the edge of my enjoyment. I went about holding a handkerchief to my face; and when any of my companions pointed me to any thing remarkable, I could only nod assent, and smile somewhat piteously. Upon inquiring for the tapestry hangings, we were informed that they were always taken down when the family was absent; they had been removed only the day before.

The continuance of the rain, while it prevented our expected ramble about the grounds, yet afforded us an opportunity of examining more at leisure the curiosities within; with this consideration we consoled ourselves. When we had viewed every apartment, and fully satisfied our curiosity, we were joined in the picture-gallery by the old house-steward, a venerable man, who, as he told us, had served the family for upward of fifty years. He presently began recounting

to us some of the family history, and many amusing anecdotes, pointing with his staff to the portraits of those to whom they related.—“This," said he, "is poor Lady Susan, who died when she was only seventeen; and there is old Sir James, taken when he was a child, playing with his favourite spaniel; he was the present Earl's great grand-father." We were much amused with this antiquated man and his stories; and agreed it compensated us for not seeing the tapestry.

It was now growing late in the afternoon; we had given up all hope of reaching the Belvidere, and viewing the gardens: and were still lingering about the picture room, when suddenly a a bright golden beam of sunshine broke into the apartment; it streamed down the long gallery, and lighted up the pale faces and faded draperies of the old brown portraits, from one end to the other. An exclamation of joy burst at the same instant from the whole party. We hasttened to the windows; already a broad line of bright sky appeared along the horizon; the clouds were dispersing in all directions; the rain had nearly ceased; and the heavy clouds that were rolling off on the opposite side exhibited a brilliant rain-bow. By the time we were equipped for our ramble, all was clear over-head; it was a beautiful evening. The grass was wet to the foot, and the trees were yet dropping with rain; but all was fresh, green and sparkling. Once again our spirits revived: it was not, indeed, the lively, bounding joy with which we set off in the morning, but a more serene and chastened feeling,

We now visited the grotto, the gardens, the hot houses it was but a hasty inspection, as the ground was so wet that we were fearful of lingering; we were anxious, too, to reach the Belvidere before sun-set. At length, with wet shoes and weary steps, we climbed the hill. The exhalations which were now rising in consequence of the heavy rain, in a great degree obscured the prospect, but at the same time added to its brilliancy; for, being illumined by the setting sun, the whole wide expanse of country which the height commanded, was, as it were, one flood of golden mist. The five counties we had thought so much of, were not indeed so distinctly discernible as we had seen them on the map; however, our attendant pointed to each, and we believed that there they were. As for the Cathedral, we were obliged to take it for granted that it lay in the direction of the guide's walking-stick. We waited a few minutes to see the sun set behind the distant hills; it was a splendid scene; and, as he assured us, was almost as fine a sight as the Cathedral.

We now descended the hill, very well satisfied; and, being by this time considerably fatigued, were not sorry to find ourselves reseated in the carriages, and on our way home. The evening continued fine but chilly; and the latter part of the way it was very dark. At first we talked over our adventures; but some of the party soon dropped to sleep, and conversation flagged with the rest. We were weary, and our heads ached. I question if any thing we had seen during the whole day afforded us more real pleasure than the sight of the cheerful lights in

our own house, as we approached it. We were certainly pleased with our excursion, notwithstanding its misfortunes; and yet, I believe, had it been proposed to us to set off on a similar expedition the next day, we should none of us have been disposed to comply. The friend we left ill by the way, we found quite restored. She had spent the day at home very happily; and when she heard of our misfortunes, was glad she had escaped them. We were all thankful to retire to rest that night. The next morning at breakfast, at grand-papa's request, I related the adventures of the day. His reflections upon our excursion, (to introduce which is my only reason for troubling the reader with this recital,) shall be the subject of a following paper.

IV.

REFLECTIONS ON A DAY'S PLEASURE.

GRAND-PAPA having listened with attention to the foregoing recital, and to our various animadversions upon it, began as follows.

"I am an old man, children; and my day's pleasure is so nearly over, that I am well able to compare it with yours. Our short life is but like a long day; and when I recollect the alternations of hope and fear, of success and disappointment, of pleasure and of pain, that have chequered the greater part of it;-the storms that I have seen blow up, and blow over ;-the serenity of its decline, and the hopes I entertain