riends!'

Little did Mrs. Turner suspect, as in the overflowing of her pride and
delight she bestowed upon Elizabeth the hero of the night, the mingled
feeling of shame and repugnance which the poor girl had to encounter as
she placed her hand within the offered arm of Mr. Mills, almost
groaning at her own folly, and vainly seeking some possible means of
escape. Mrs. Turner followed with Harriet; and Katherine and
Wilhelmina brought up the rear.

'You are very fond of study, I believe, Miss Woodbourne?' said Mr.
Mills, as they left the house.

Elizabeth made some inarticulate answer: she was in the utmost dread of
meeting either of the curates, or worse still, her cousin Rupert
Merton, if he should chance to arrive that evening.

'Most interesting pursuit!' continued Mr. Mills, wishing to shew his
aunt how well he and his companion agreed. 'I am quite devoted to it,
always was! You are a classical scholar, I presume?'

Elizabeth was ready to wish she had never learnt to read: she fancied
she saw a figure like Rupert's at the other end of the street, and was
too much frightened to reply.

While they were traversing one street of the old town, crossing the
bridge over the little stream which flowed along the valley, and
walking along the principal street of the new town, Mr. Mills continued
to talk, and Elizabeth to echo the last word of each sentence; or when
that would not serve for a reply, she had recourse to the simple
interjection 'Oh!' that last refuge of listeners with nothing to say.
After a walk, which she thought was at least as many miles in length as
it was yards, they arrived at the Mechanics' Institute, outside which
they found sundry loiterers, and a strong scent of tobacco; and inside
some crowded benches, a table with some chairs ranged round it, and a
strong odour of gas.

After a good deal of pushing and shoving, the ladies were safely
deposited on one of the front benches; while Mr. Turner, who was one of
the managing committee, seated himself on one of the chairs; and Mr.
Augustus Mills stood at the table.

Elizabeth felt as if the crimson flush called up by vexation and
embarrassment, together with her hasty walk, would never leave her
cheeks; she held her head down till Katherine touched her to make her
look up, and trusting that her bonnet would screen her heightened
colour from observation, she obeyed the sign. A flaring gas-light hung
opposite to her; and as she raised her face she