y and Charley now and then sighed for the woods and
their lake, but as they took long walks every day, their health in no
way suffered by the change;--indeed, they could not help confessing,
that however pleasant it might be to carpenter, and dig, and look after
their horses and cows, and to sail and row on the lake, they had brains
which might be employed to some better purpose, if those brains were
properly cultivated; so they stuck manfully to their studies and made a
progress which surprised even themselves. "I believe that it is the
fine clear weather of this climate which helps us," observed Harry; "I
know that I feel twice as bright as I used to do in England."

Philip found ample occupation in a variety of ways, and said that he
felt as if his old college days had come back, as he sat in the study
his kind friend had given him, surrounded by his books and papers. Duty
had made him turn backwoodsman; his inclination would certainly have led
him in a different course of life. He in time formed many agreeable
acquaintances, both among the families residing in the city and the
single men.

"By-the-bye, Ashton," said one of his acquaintances, with whom he was
walking home from a lecture, "I met last night, at Mrs Stewart's, a
lady of your name, a very pretty and agreeable girl, though rather grave
perhaps. She has only just arrived with a family of the name of Mason,
who have come out to settle. There are a number of young Masons, and
she was spoken of as the governess, but from the way she was treated she
is rather a companion friend of Mrs Mason's, I should think."

"I know of no relation of ours likely to come out here," said Philip, at
the same time a very curious sensation circling round his heart. "Did
you hear her Christian name?"

"No; they only called her Miss Ashton," said his friend. "She sang, and
very sweetly."

"What is she like?" asked Philip.

His friend began to suspect that he was interested in the stranger, and
he replied, "I told you that she is pretty, with clear eyes, a fine
forehead, and regular features, and rather short than tall, I should
say. A good figure, certainly, and a bright complexion; no, not
always,--it brightened up, I remember, when she was speaking; and her
hair, that was not light,--was it black or brown?--yes, I am certain, a
rich brown. There, I have given you the fair stranger's portrait to the
best of my power."

"Very extraordinary. Where do the Masons li