O GOD, when bound the most, we are most free.'
Thoughts in Past Years.

"GEORGY, you must arrange to spend a long day at Haughton before Miss Falconer leaves," said Rolph, as Lady Trevor advanced towards them across the lawn. "There is not much to be seen there, but the cliffs and the blue sea are very lovely, and I should like Miss Falconer to see my little church, and parish, and my own little nest of a home. Will you come some day ?"

"I should enjoy it," replied Georgina, looking at Evelyn, who assented warmly.

"You might, if you liked, ride over the cliffs, and send back your horses, and I would take you part of the way home, as far as Milton Cove, by water, where your carriage might meet you."

"How delicious!" exclaimed Evelyn, with kindling eyes.

"Are you a good horsewoman, Miss Falconer ?" asked Rolph.

"Good enough for that, I think," said Evelyn, "I used to ride a great deal before I went to school,

when I was quite a child, and I have ridden a little within the last six months, so that I shall not be afraid."

"And you shall have my own quiet horse," said Georgina. "How you will enjoy the cliffs, Evelyn, such an enormous height they are; the white beach appears quite small in the distance on looking down, and makes one feel quite giddy."

"Is that so very enjoyable, Georgy?" asked Rolph, smiling.

"No, not in itself. But the fresh sea breeze, and the wild cry of the sea gulls, and the carpet of gold and purple made by the furze and heath, and the lovely view, and the fishing boats, and the white cliffs in the distance, this is what Evelyn would delight in."

66

"It is very lovely, certainly, Miss Falconer," remarked Mr. Ethelstone. I think you will enjoy it.'

"And when shall it be, Rolph ?" asked Georgina.

"That depends upon yourselves; only let me know in good time, or my old housekeeper will be in a sad way. Some day next week I propose, if the weather is fine, and it is quite convenient to you."

"Let us say next Tuesday then. Mrs. Beresford has postponed her party until the Tuesday after, so that it won't interfere at all."

"And I will come over early and escort you," said Rolph. "What did I hear about the Almshouses this morning, Georgy ?"

"Charles has been giving directions for the workmen to prepare the ground for the first stone to be laid in a fortnight, that Evelyn may do it before she leaves."

"Oh! you are going to do it, are you, Miss Falconer ?"

"Sir Charles and Georgy say so," replied Evelyn. Will you tell me what you think, Mr. Ethelstone? Does not Georgy seem the right person ?"

"Not unless it is her wish," replied Rolph.

"Yes, Evy, it is quite settled!" said Georgina. "The workmen have been hard at work there for many days, and they seem to think they shall have it ready in time."

"Have you chosen the occupants yet, Georgy ?" asked Mr. Ethelstone.

Twenty-one out of the four-and-twenty are decided upon, I think. I hope they are all people who will appreciate the blessing of being so close to the Church."

"It will add considerably to your congregation," remarked Evelyn.

"Yes, and it will be a great boon to the poor people," said Mr. Ethelstone. "I have often thought such an institution much needed in Lynwood."

"Have you any Almshouses at Haughton ?" asked Evelyn.

"No! I am not rich enough to build them, but they were much wanted; for I found many old people and others in an infirm state of health, for whom the noise and confusion of a house full of children was too much, and I have done my best to remedy the evil. There were two cottages close together at the end of the village in a deplorable state of repair, I bought them of the owner, a small farmer in the neighbourhood, who was glad to let me have them for a very small sum, and by putting in new floors, and repairing the roof, and glazing the windows, I have managed to make them tolerably comfortable. There are three bedrooms in each house, and six old people in the parish were most thankful to avail themselves of a quiet home there.

The great drawback is the distance from Church, two of the occupants are quite unable to come at all, but I make up for it as well as I can by visiting and reading to them more frequently than to the others."

66

'Have you no assistant in the parish ?" asked Evelyn.

"You mean to help me in visiting and relieving the poor? No, I have none; my old housekeeper who lived with my mother for many years, is a great help to me in some ways, in making broth and soup, and looking after the very sick people in the parish. But beside her I have no help."

"You must have plenty to do," said Evelyn. "Yes; I do not mind the work, but the evenings are lonely, I confess. To come home and find the fire gone out, and a single cup and saucer and plate laid for tea, looks desolate indeed at times."

Georgina and Evelyn looked their sympathy and commiseration, and the former said,

"Do you never regret having taken it, Rolph ?"

No, Georgy, indeed! I have never ceased to rejoice; my life on the whole is very peaceful and happy, although at times it is solitary. I can never expect to find everything as I would wish it, can I?"

"I often wonder, Rolph, to see you so contented. Your life must be so quiet and changeless, every day must be so exactly the same, so uneventful, so devoid of any sort of excitement."

"But we ought not to require excitement, my dear Georgy. There ought to be sufficient variety and interest in each employment, and sufficient happiness in having omitted no duty intentionally, to carry one on through life, without events and excitements being needed. Don't you think so ?"

แ Yes, of course I know you are right, Rolph; and yet I am afraid I could not do it.'

"I always think Longfellow draws such a simple natural picture of life as it should be, in his Poem on the Village Blacksmith. Do you remember the lines ?.

"How very nice," said Georgina, who had never heard them before. "You must not think I care for parties and gaiety, Rolph, it is only the utter solitude I could not bear. But I think with Charles I could be quite happy anywhere, even at Haughton."

"Yes, I am sure you would," replied Rolph, "I scarcely know two persons so independent of society as Trevor and yourself. Depend upon it there is always something wrong when people cannot be happy without perpetual excitement."

Evelyn's thoughts flew to her own home, and she sighed. Rolph looked at her for an instant, and then continued, "Constant occupation, whether pleasant or not in itself, is the only way to ensure contentment and happiness."

"I fully believe that," said Georgina; "very often when I feel inclined to sit idle, and force myself to do something useful, although that very thing is perhaps disagreeable to me, I feel far happier than if I had given way to my inclination."

"It is the more praiseworthy in you too, Georgy dear," said Evelyn," because, as far as your means are concerned, you have no need to be industrious."

66

No; Georgy's industry is founded on higher principles than mere necessity," said Rolph. "That