. Arden was greatly astonished at hearing this assertion, and felt
confident that the whole must have originated from some strange
blunder. He and the other gentlemen immediately proceeded to Dr.
Hammond's, and having explained their business to him, desired to see
Sophy. She, on being asked, confirmed what Sally had said, adding that
to satisfy them she could show them Mrs. Arden's own words, and she
accordingly produced the fragment of the note. Miss Hammond, the
instant she saw the paper recollected it again, and winding off the
silk from the other half of Mrs. Arden's note, presented it to Mr.
Arden, who, laying the two pieces of paper together read as follows:

"MY DEAR MISS HAMMOND,--Will you as soon as you receive this
be kind enough to go to your opposite neighbor, Mr. McNeal,
and tell him I find by looking at his bill he has made a
great mistake as to the price of the last stockings he sent;
and it seems to me (by not charging them as silk) he has
cheated himself, as he'll see, of several pounds.--I am sorry
to say of our new dog, that he has behaved very ill and
worried two sheep, and Mr. Arden tells me he very much fears
it must end in his being hanged or he'll kill all the flock.
I am exceedingly grieved, for he is a noble animal, but fear
this will be the end of my poor dog.

"I am, dear Louisa, yours truly

"MARY ARDEN."

Thus by the fortunate preservation of the last half of the note the
whole affair was cleared up, Mrs. Arden's character vindicated from
the charge of being a defamer, and Mr. McNeal from all suspicion of
dishonesty. And all their friends were pleased and satisfied. But how
did Sophy feel? She did feel at last both remorse and humiliation. She
had no one to blame but herself; she had no one to take her part, for
even her father and her brother considered it due to public justice
that she should make a public acknowledgment of her fault to Mr.
McNeal, and to ask his pardon.

BUSY IDLENESS

By JANE TAYLOR

Mrs. Dawson being obliged to leave home for six weeks, her daughters,
Charlotte and Caroline, received permission to employ the time of her
absence as they pleased; that is, she did not require of them the
usual strict attention to particular hours and particular studies, but
allowed them to choose their own employments--only recommending them
to make a good use of the license, and apprising them, that, on he