Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/39

 her hair for it; but could not avoid taking the opportunity of giving her a few cautionary hints, with regard to forming hasty intimacies with the strangers she met at Mount Flinders. Bell was instantly in arms in defence of her friend's associates, who were all excessively genteel; but happily the carriage was at the door, and the coachman so impatient, that she had no time for a further discussion. She was no sooner gone than Mary went to inquire for her guest; and as the cordial invitation she carried her, was given with evident good will, it was accepted of in the spirit of gratitude.

Mr Stewart did not return till the evening of the following day; but in the interim the time past cheerfully. The conversation often turned upon a topic that was ever interesting to the heart of Mary—the virtues of her mother, on which she delighted to expatiate; she likewise spoke of her brothers, who had been recommended by her mother to her particular