ied H.C., turning from the window and
hastening to beautify and adorn. "New scenes, new people, new
impressions! Oh, this glorious world! the delight of living!"

WHO WAS THE THIRD MAID?

It was on a wild October evening about a year ago that my wife and I
arrived by train at a well-known watering-place in the North of England.
The wind was howling and roaring with delight at its resistless power;
the rain came hissing down in large drops.

On yonder headland doubtless might be heard "The Whistling Woman"--dread
harbinger of death and disaster to the mariner. The gale had been hourly
increasing in violence, till for the last hour before arriving at our
destination we had momentarily expected that the train would be blown
from the track. Our hotel was situated on an eminence overlooking the
town; and as we slowly ascended to it in our cab we thought: "Well, we
must not be surprised to find our intended abode for the night has
vanished."

However, presently we stopped in front of a building which looked
substantial enough to withstand anything; and in answer to our driver's
application to the bell, the door was promptly opened by a
smartly-attired porter. He was closely followed by a person full of
smiles and bows, who posted himself in the doorway ready to receive us.

All at once there was a terrific bang, as though a forty-pounder had
been fired to welcome our arrival; and he of the smiles and bows was
hurled headlong against the muddy wheel of our conveyance by the
slamming-to of the large door. My wife's bonnet blew off and tugged hard
at its moorings; the light in the porch was extinguished; while the wind
seemed to give a shriek of triumph at the jokes he was playing upon us.
Here we were, then, in total darkness and exposed to the drenching rain.
However, half-an-hour afterwards all our discomforts were forgotten as
we sat down to an excellent dinner a la carte.

Next morning I was abroad very early, looking for lodgings. Fortune
seemed to smile upon me on this occasion; for scarcely had I proceeded
fifty yards from my hotel when I came upon a very nice-looking row of
houses, and in the window of the first was "Lodgings to let." Knocking
at the door, it was soon opened by a very neat-looking maid.

I inquired if I could see the proprietor, but was told that Miss G. was
not yet down. I said I would wait; and was shown into a very
comfortably-furnished dining-room. Soon Miss G. appeared, and proved to