tion necessary to feel them; that some men were made for business, others for contemplation, and that every one, of course, understood himself best.

"Not quite of course, I'm afraid,” said Evelyn; "at least I remember making what I hoped were very pretty verses, and which even gained me a prize at Oxford, upon the simplicity of the pastoral life, and the pleasures of viewing the world at a distance which I never should have done had I not been sincere in every feeling I described."

"Your inference," said Tremaine.

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Why, that I thought I understood myself; though I found afterwards I did no such thing." "You have then been unhappy in your retirement?" cried Tremaine, with more placidity.

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her.

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Unhappy!" exclaimed Georgina, looking round

Unhappy!" echoed her father, "no, indeed: but perhaps I should have been so, if I had not found employment; in other words, made business for myself."

May I ask how and what?" said Tremaine, rather impatient of the subject.

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"You may, and welcome," answered Evelyn, though to ask a parson what his business is, is no great compliment to himself or his profession. And were I to name the Bible, I might say every thing. But that would be to elude, rather than

answer my good friend's question. Without, however, affecting too much, I may safely tell you, that that holy book, and its concomitants, do, in fact, form much of the business-part of my life; by which I mean, the hours, more or less, which I pass in my study, and which for the most part are employed in teaching myself what I am appointed to teach to others."

"By what I learn then," added Tremaine, " you are still studying theology, although long a doctor in the science?"

"And a very good study, too," returned Evelyn; "I wish all doctors would do the same; for it will last the longest life. I affect not, however, to say I am so absorbed in it as to preclude other studies in the way also of business."

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Might I know them ?"

Certainly, though you will blush for me when I tell you they are warrants, and acts of parlia ment."

"Barbarous !" said Tremaine.

"But very useful,” replied Evelyn.

Tremaine now looking about him with seeming impatience, the Doctor changed the conversation.

"It is a little strange, my dear sir," said he, "that, in the first moments of your visit, we should fall into an argument on the duties of life, and that I should neglect one of the first of them-hospitality: will you

not take refreshment? you seem more tired than you ought to be."

Refreshments were now ordered, and a conversation commenced, in which the charms of music, prompted by the instruments, and the beauties of Guarini, prompted by the book on the table, were discussed.

The volume was open at that passage on the spring, which has been so often admired, and which Tremaine read:

"O! Primavera, gioventu dell'anno,

Bella madre di fiori,

D'erbe novelle, e di novelli amori,

Tu torni ben, ma teco

Non tornano i sereni

E fortunati di delle mie gioje."

"By his reading it with so much feeling," said Evelyn to Georgina, "I hope Mr. Tremaine likes that passage as well as we do."

"It was always a favourite with me," replied he, 66 nor do I know which to like best, the sentiments, or the delicacy of the diction."

"I love all descriptions of the spring," said Georgina.

"I hope you will long continue to do so," observed her companion; "but your love will certainly wear off."

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"I do not think that possible," answered Georgina.

Tremaine shook his head; a smile, and then something like a sigh, escaped him. Evelyn fixed his eyes upon him, as if endeavouring to make him out. "I am sorry, my friend," said he, "to hear you say this."

"How can it be otherwise," returned his guest, "than that an experienced man should feel differently from youth ?”

"In knowledge of the world, I grant ye," said Evelyn," and when we are really old and blunted in the feelings of nature. But that is not the case yet with me, much less with you. I no longer, indeed, think of some goddess of a mistress, when I stand under a tree and listen to the nightingale; but the notes themselves, and the stillness and freshness of evening, can lull me as much as ever."

"It is mere imagination," said Tremaine. "And pray what is it in a youth ?" asked Evelyn. "Reality," answered his guest.

"And who is to judge?"

"The heart."

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feel."

Agreed, for it is the heart tells me I can still

"I thought," said Tremaine, drily, "you had been absorbed in the Bible and acts of parliament !"

As for the one," replied the rector, "I know not the heart that would not be mended by it; but, neither in the one nor the other am I absorbed. I

just take enough of both to fit myself the better to enjoy what we are talking of, whether in such passages as this of Guarini, or the realities which he only describes; these flowers, this sun, and all the glories of the spring; and pardon me if I suspect, my good friend, that it is the having quaffed too largely of what ought only to be sipped, that has made you lose your relish for it."

Tremaine assured him he was wrong, and that it was only the disappointments which attended all the promises of the spring, that had induced him to make the observation; and "I would appeal," added he, "even to the fresher feelings of Miss Evelyn herself, for the correctness of this opinion."

Georgina, thus called upon, answered with some hesitation,

"It is true, there are disappointments in some of the promises of spring, but I hope not in all: and as I take care not to raise my expectations too high, what the spring does not perform cannot make me love her the less for what she does. Besides, it is the very variety of the seasons that makes them please most. Were primroses never to fade, I should grow tired of them; and if there were no fears or labour in a garden, it would lose much of its pleasure when fears have passed away, and labour has succeeded."

Tremaine's looks became clouded. He found