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Yes," replied Sir Hugh, "she had some peculiar views on that head, and has them still; but I am not sure that her religious opinions are not very right ones a little extreme, perhaps. My brother carried things, I used to think, a little too far, poor fellow! but I have seen nothing to condemn in Mrs. Vivian, and a great deal to admire, since she came to reside at that pretty cottage of her's, between this and Paington; but, as I said before, I now repeat, give me practical religion." Here Lady Hetherington made some slight remark upon the appearance of the weather, and inquired of her brother the exact distance Summerfield was from Everton; and the conversation dropped.

"I should very much like to copy that sweet Vierge à la Chaise, of Raphael's, that we were looking at yesterday in the North Gallery," said Lady Ethell to her cousin, as they left the breakfast-room together, and were proceeding to Emmeline's pretty boudoir.

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Well," replied Emmeline, "your wish can be readily gratified; I will remove my easel to the window in the gallery, and you shall begin immediately, if you like. They say that it is an original copy, and a very beautiful one. How much I envy you, my dear Ethell, your talent for painting!"

"Oh! my dear Emmy, you much, too much, overrate my attainments; but I must further draw on your good-nature, and crave your loan of Crayons,

and all the necessary batteries des arts, for I have not a single thing of the kind with me."

"Most certainly," replied her cousin, "you shall have all your requirements, and I will fetch my work and sit with you, if it will not disturb

you."

"Oh, no; on the contrary, it will delight me to have you; and (besides that I always draw better in company), I have a great deal to say to you

too."

So saying, the easel was immediately transported to the aforenamed picture gallery, and Lady Ethell was soon commodiously arranged, with all her wants supplied; whilst Emmeline, with her work-basket and embroidery, settled herself in one of the large oldfashioned window-seats close to her cousin, who inquired, "Where is Adelaide?"

"She is with Allyne, in the music-room. He is so passionately fond of music, that he is in the greatest raptures whenever he meets with any one that can play with him, and I have just left him in ecstacy with some new music he has just received."

"Alas! for Allyne, then," rejoined Lady Ethell; "he will be sadly disappointed, I fear; for Adelaide has no ear, and Mademoiselle de la Pierre is au désespoir as to her ever making any proficiency; and were it not that mamma persists in her continuing to cultivate music, her piano would long since have given her up; I am glad, however," she continued, "that they are both so well occupied to bar us from interruption, as I am dying to ask you a multitude of

questions; and first and foremost, how is it that Uncle Hugh is so Low Church ?"

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"Dear Ethell," replied Emmeline, rather timidly, "I am so little with dear papa; I was not aware that he was what you call Low Church, except that he does not like Mr. Priestly, nor go to Nutleigh, as he used to do. He always does as Aunt Vansittart does." "And to what church does Lady Vansittart go, when in London?" asked Lady Ethell.

"To St. Michael's," quickly replied Emmeline. "As we now live in Eaton Square, it is the nearest to us, as you know. You do not go to the daily service?" continued her cousin.

"No," said Emmeline, with a shade of excuse in her tone, “there is no church near us for this object, I believe; and besides"-she hesitated.

"Besides," quickly rejoined Lady Ethell, "you mean, I know, that Lady Vansittart would not approve of it; for there is St. Barnabas, to which we go ourselves. Strange it is, very strange," continued Lady Ethell," that people should be so averse to this old-established rule, and yet belong to the Church of England. But tell me, Emmeline (as the latter did not reply), what sort of person is my Aunt Vivian? I have never seen her since I was a child, but I am told that she has the same religious views as poor Uncle Arthur; and, from what mamma says, I should think he must have been quite a Dissenter."

Emmeline coloured as she replied, "Aunt Louisa is not a Dissenter; she goes to church, Ethell;

F

but you would not like her. I mean"--and she stopped.

"What do you mean Emmy? Why should not I like her? Allyne seems particularly fond of her; and you, are not you fond of her?"

is

"Ye-s," stammered Emmeline; "Aunt Louisa very kind to me. She is, moreover, beloved by every one; but, I mean-that you would not agree with her, as she is what you say papa is, only still more so; I should say very Low Church."

"Well, we are going with mamma to-morrow, to Summerfield," rejoined Lady Ethell; "but, as she never speaks with any one on religion, there is no fear of my disagreeing with Aunt Vivian. But now tell me, would you like, and would Uncle Hugh have, do you think, any objection to our going together next Sunday, to Nutleigh? I am sure the full service would be enchanting there."

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Papa would not object," thoughtfully replied Emmeline," and I should like it, but "

"But what?" asked Lady Ethell.

"Why, I usually go to the school-house in the grounds," said Emmeline, " on Sunday mornings, where my aunt and Louisa teach before Church; perhaps "and again she hesitated.

"I see, very plainly," said her cousin, "that I have asked something which, after all, you are afraid of doing."

"Afraid! No, Ethell, I am not afraid; but I know that Aunt Louisa would wonder why we

should go to Nutleigh, when Everton is so much nearer."

"And, nevertheless, it is just what I thought, Emmy; you are afraid of what Aunt Vivian would say, or think, instead of deciding for yourself. If you were living with her, and under her immediate control, I could understand your doing as she did, of course; but, situated as you are, in your own father's house, and at liberty to do, consequently, as you like, I cannot see the harm of your going to one church instead of another to please a visitor, as I am at present with you. However, never mind, my dear,” she gaily continued, "I will not interfere, my good little cousin, with your wise scruples. Adelaide and I can drive over, if Uncle Hugh will lend us the pony-chaise, and we will get Allyne to accompany us;" and she laughingly added, "C'est une affaire fini."

"No, no, Ethell," returned Emmeline; "I cannot allow you to think me afraid of going to Nutleigh, or of Aunt Louisa, because I am not; and, to prove it to you, I shall come with you on Sunday. When I said that my aunt would wonder why we preferred Nutleigh, it was because I know that she disapproves of Mr. Priestly; and if she had ever requested me, or advised me not to go to hear him," she continued, with some honest warmth in her tone, "I should have refused; not from any fear, but that I would not act in decided opposition to her; but, as she has never spoken to me about