ows, but so skilfully veiled by
trees, as to appear of much greater extent than it really was. The
master and mistress of the Hall, with their pretty daughters, were
absent on a tour:--Is any English country family ever at home in the
month of October in these days of fashionable enterprise? They were gone
to visit the temples of Thebes, or the ruins of Carthage, the Fountains
of the Nile or the Falls of Niagara, St. Sophia, or the Kremlin, or some
such pretty little excursion, which ladies and gentlemen now talk of as
familiarly "as maids of puppy dogs." They were away. But enough of
the household remained at Chalcott, to compose, with a few visiters, a
sufficiently numerous and animated group.

The first person whom Mrs. Deborah espied, (and it is remarkable that we
always see first those whom we had rather not see at all,) was her old
enemy the miller,--a fisherman of so much experience and celebrity, that
his presence might have been reckoned upon as certain--busily engaged,
together with some half-dozen stout and active coadjutors, in dragging
the net ashore, amidst a chorus of exclamations and cautions from the
various assistants, and the breathless expectation of the spectators on
the bank, amongst whom were Mrs. Thornly and Cicely, accompanied by a
tall, athletic young man of dark complexion, with peculiarly bright eyes
and curling hair, whom his aunt immediately recognised as Edward.

"How improved he is!" was the thought that flashed across her mind, as
with an air of respectful alacrity he stepped forward to meet her; but
the miller, in tugging at his nets, happened to look towards them, and
ashamed that he of all men should see her change of feeling, she turned
away abruptly, without acknowledging his salutation, and walked off to
the other side with her attendant, Mr. Adolphus.

"Drat the perverse old jade!" exclaimed John Stokes, involuntarily, as
he gave a mighty tug, which brought half the net ashore.

"She's heavy, my good sir!" observed the pompous butler, conceiving that
the honest miller's exclamation had reference to the sport; "only see
how full she is! We shall have a magnificent hawl!"

And the spectators, male and female, crowded round, and the fishermen
exerted themselves so efficiently, that in two minutes the net was on
dry land.

"Nothing but weeds and rubbish!" ejaculated the disappointed butler, a
peculiarly blank look taking the place of his usual self-importance.
"What can have bec