they do now, on as beautiful and calm an evening as this; but
I have never been happy since, and, whilst the events of _that night_
weigh upon my mind, I shall never be happy again."

"And will not George reveal to his friend the cause of his grief?" said
Josiah, kindly taking his hand. "Whence is this want of confidence and
affection; surely I have deserved neither at thy hands?"

George flung himself into Shirley's arms, and the long-concealed truth
trembled on his lips, when little Rachel cried out in a joyful tone--

"Oh, here comes Henry West! he will tell us what the bells are ringing
for!"

"And that I will, and give you a fairing to boot, pretty Rachel," said
Henry, as he stooped down to kiss her rosy cheek. "Why, what's the
matter with Josiah and George? I thought I should have seen you both at
the fair."

"Nay, Henry, I am sure such a thought never entered thy head," replied
Shirley, "well knowing my aversion to such places of amusement."

"Well, I will own I did not much expect to see you there, Mr. Prim,"
said Henry, laughing; "but George has no such scruples of conscience, I
dare say."

He turned to young Hope as he finished speaking, but was astonished and
frightened to see the ghastly paleness which had overspread his
countenance. "Josiah! your friend is ill: I think you are very
imprudent to expose him to the evening air."

Josiah started up, and regarded George's varying countenance with
interest and commiseration.

"Oh! no, no! I am not ill," exclaimed George, in a hurried voice; "I
feel much better in the open air:" then, in a mournful tone, he added,
"Are you sure, Master West, that to-day was Reading fair?"

"I am certain," said Henry, smiling, "for I am just come from thence;
Mrs. Wilson took me in her carriage, and I was very well entertained by
all the fine things that were to be seen, which my good friend, Josiah,
will allow to be very babyish in a great fellow like me. But, Joe, to
make my peace, I have brought you two small copies of verses for your
scrap-book; and, as the subjects are serious, perhaps you will edify us
all, by reading them aloud by the light of this glorious moon."

"With all my heart," said Josiah, unfolding the paper, and, hoping to
divert George from his present state of dejection, he read the following
lines:--

Awake, lute and harp, all thy melody pouring--
To heaven with the wild notes of triumph ascend;
While the children of earth, their C