Margaret rushed to her room, and threw herself on her knees by the side of the bed, which she shook with her sobs; she thought over in rapid succession her mother's arguments, which, though she had not paid much attention to them, now returned vividly upon her mind, and she characterised them one after another as mean, base, despicable-not, be it observed, applying these epithets as to motives selected by her mother's free choice, but rather to those suggested by the humbling and fatal necessity which must put such considerations into such a scale.

But in all her sorrow Margaret did not blame Honoria. No, the thought that she had admired and chosen her darling, though the choice was bitter grief, had yet some power to soothe; once only, when she reflected how she herself had praised her little sister, and thereby excited Honoria's interest, she felt almost ready to charge her cousin with deceit, for not at once stating her views with regard to Minna, which views, however, were not then formed.

Margaret was still pondering on these things, when she heard Rhoda's step running towards the room. Margaret rose from her knees, went to the open window, and when Rhoda entered, turned to her a face as calm as usual, and the slightly increased colour in her cheeks was too little apparent to be noticed by the unsuspecting little girl.

CHAPTER II.

THE FIRST GRIEF.

A child cares nought for gold or treasure,
Nor fame nor glory yield him pleasure;
In perfect trust he asketh not

If rich or poor shall be his lot.

Lyra Germanica.

And oh the home whence thy bright smile hath parted,
Will it not seem as if the sunny day

Turned from its door away,

While through its chambers wandering wearyhearted
I languish for thy voice, which past me still

Went like a singing rill?

MRS. HEMANS.

THE next few days were passed in the ordinary manner. Margaret had obtained her father and mother's consent that the resolution which so pained her should not immediately be made known to the rest of the family; and as Lady Fortrose had in the most delicate manner possible intimated her desire that no preparations (involving, as she well knew they must, some sacrifice of time or expense) should be made to furnish Minna with any of the requisites to her new position, no increase of occupation interfered to debar Margaret from the transient enjoyment of her little favourite's society. We will not attempt to describe her feelings during this time; those who could share them will want no explanation, and to those who could

not, all explanation would be vain. She required, indeed, all her self-command, to meet calmly the tender and almost deprecating tones with which Honoria greeted her, on the day that was to deprive her of the darling of her heart; but, strange as it may seem, the surrounding influences rather assisted her efforts at composure. Her brothers, thoughtless as boys generally are, and delighted with the acquisition of so kind and liberal a cousin as Lord Fortrose had already proved himself, concerned themselves but little as to the future fate of their pretty little sister; and Rhoda, though more silent and grave than usual, could not but think that Minna was fortunate in being chosen to live where toys and presents seemed to abound, as she had good reason to suppose they did in Honoria's house.

It had been determined by Lord and Lady Fortrose that the all-important visit should be a short one, trying as it could not fail to be; and when, after a somewhat lengthened conversation with Mrs. Raymond, Honoria sought Margaret in her own little room, the latter was so much soothed by the affectionate consideration shown towards her, that the interview, though a sad one, seemed too short when the sound of the carriage-wheels warned them to descend-the one to give up, and the other to receive, a treasure so deeply valued by both.

Minna stood bright and smiling by her mother's side; she had never "heard the name of grief,” and the prospect of a drive with her cousin, and a nearer view of the beautiful horses she had admired from the window, was to her one of unmixed pleasure; yet, when Margaret entered the room, the ever wakeful attention of the child was attracted by her sister's unusually saddened countenance, and running up to