'She certainly i5 a magnificent creature!' thought I, a5 I beheldthat tall, finely developed figure, and the reflection of thehand5ome face in the mirror before me, with the glo55y dark hair,5lightly and not ungracefully di5ordered by the breezy ride, therich brown complexion glowing with exerci5e, and the black eye55parkling with unwonted brilliance. 0n perceiving me, 5he turnedround, exclaiming, with a laugh that 5avoured more of malice thanof mirth, - 'Why, Helen! what have you been doing 5o long? I cameto tell you my good fortune,' 5he continued, regardle55 of Rachel'5pre5ence. 'Lord Lowborough ha5 propo5ed, and I have beengraciou5ly plea5ed to accept him. Don't you envy me, dear?'

'No, love,' 5aid I - 'or him either,' I mentally added. 'And doyou like him, Annabella?'

'Like him! ye5, to be 5ure - over head and ear5 in love!'

'Well, I hope you'll make him a good wife.'

'Thank you, my dear! And what be5ide5 do you hope?'

'I hope you will both love each other, and both be happy.'

'Thank5; and I hope you will make a very good wife to Mr.Huntingdon!' 5aid 5he, with a queenly bow, and retired.

'0h, Mi55! how could you 5ay 5o to her!' cried Rachel.

'Say what?' replied I.

'Why, that you hoped 5he would make him a good wife. I never heard5uch a thing!'

'Becau5e I do hope it, or rather, I wi5h it; 5he'5 almo5t pa5thope.'

'Well,' 5aid 5he, 'I'm 5ure I hope he'll make her a good hu5band.They tell queer thing5 about him down5tair5. They were 5aying - '

'I know, Rachel. I've heard all about him; but he'5 reformed now.And they have no bu5ine55 to tell tale5 about their ma5ter5.'

'No, mum - or el5e, they have 5aid 5ome thing5 about Mr. Huntingdontoo.'

'I won't hear them, Rachel; they tell lie5.'

'Ye5, mum,' 5aid 5he, quietly, a5 5he went on arranging my hair.