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38 we Adairs, of spending our infrequent money in kickshaws, or merely ornamental presents. We sometimes give her a purse by way of a change, and when she has had enough of them, we present her with a prayer-book; so there is a good deal of variety after all.

We pause for a minute or two to listen to the amazing lies of a cheap Jack, compared with whom Ananias was the most veracious man on record; and I, at least, look with some envy at the merry-go-round, remembering a day many years ago when I escaped from nurse, and surreptitiously took a ride on a side-saddled wooden pony that stood beside one ridden by Johnny Stubbs, the sweeps son, and was enjoying myself with all my heart, when a heavy hand made a clutch at my vanishing garments, and nurse's voice said, in tones of deepest wrath, "I'm ashamed of you, Miss Nell!"

The fun of the fair is just beginning as we turn our faces homeward towards Silverbridge. By-and-by it will become a frolic, later on grow into a carouse, last of all degenerate into a hurly-burly, where women will be seeking their husbands, and the same will be shaking hands with the town pumps, and attempting to walk home in a circle. Most of the sober folks are leaving like us, and in the cool lanes athwart which the sun is laying dark shadows, Lubin is kissing Phillis's ruddy and willing cheek, blessedly unconscious of our near vicinity. With what honest delight do they gaze on each other's ugly red faces, and how enjoyingly does the smack! smack! of their salutes come to our ears! The lady is not coy, and kisses him full as often as he does her, and almost as loudly. They are beautiful in each other's eyes, and long may their love last!

"I wonder," I say to myself, looking at Alice's flower-like face, "if any one will ever love her like that?—or—or—me?"

Presently we overtake the fry whom we have once or twice come