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gentle tap that Mrs. Hart, fearing to disturb her, gave at the door of Flora, deceived the expecting girl into a belief that Sir Lyell was at length arrived; and crying, in a low voice, as she opened it, "O Sir! how long you have been coming!" she stared at sight of Mrs. Hart, with an amazement equal to her disappointment.

Presently, however, with a dejected look and tone, "Well, now!" she cried, "is it only you, Mrs. Hart?—I thought it had been somebody quite different!"

Mrs. Hart, entering, enquired, with surprize, why Miss Ellis had said that Miss Pierson was ill, when, on the contrary, she had never seen her look better.

"Well, now, Miss Ellis," cried Flora, whispering Juliet, "did not I tell you,