he world is composed, than she would have learnt in a whole year
spent in the quiet sheltered seclusion of her home at Cressleigh.

The novelty, the continued round of pleasure, the excitement and gaiety,
were bewildering and delightful to the simple country girl. It seemed to
her that she had been suddenly transported from the commonplace ordinary
work-a-day world in which she had hitherto dwelt, to a fairyland of
sunshine, music, and pleasure. It was almost impossible at times to
realize that the sun which brightened the Esplanade, and gilded the edge
of the rippling waves, was the same sun which was shining upon her
father's harvest-field at home, upon the labourers toiling at the
sickle, the women binding the sheaves, and the servants briskly moving
hither and thither, all as busy as bees throughout the whole of the long
summer day.

Everything at the sea-side was new to Ruth, and she exulted in the
freshness and novelty of all around her, for she was still at that happy
age

"When all things pleased, for life itself was new,
And the heart promised what the fancy drew."

Alas, that that time is being gradually shortened, and that children say
good-bye at such an early age to the simple pleasures of youth!

How few years there are in which one can be young, and how many in which
one must be old!

But Ruth was still young, far younger in her capacity to enjoy than
Julia, who was her junior by some months. She was in good health, with
fine animal spirits, and had not tasted half the pleasures which had
already grown stale to her cousin. The boating, the chatter, the
strolls, the music on the pier, the glorious sunsets, the very stones
and shells upon the beach, the fresh breezes and the ever-changing sea,
all contributed to afford her such pleasure as it would have been
impossible for Julia to feel, because she, poor child, was already
disenchanted at fourteen, was already wearied with frequent repetition
of the amusements which were new to her cousin, and also because she had
imbibed the idea that it was ill-bred, and a mark of ignorance, to show
or even to _feel_ extreme pleasure in anything, yet was ever selfishly
seeking some new gratification.

"You appear to be enjoying yourself very much, Ruth," observed her aunt,
as she sat beside her on the pier the evening before the day arranged
for the picnic.

"How can I help it, auntie? You are so kind, and everything is so
enchanting," was the enthusia