Lizzie knows it wouldn't be right, don't you,

Lizzie?"

"I suppose it wouldn't, Miss Blanche, but you know best."

"Oh, indeed, it wouldn't; and, cousin Fanny, you won't think any longer that it is because I don't want to be with you that I won't stay here?"

Fanny dried her tears. "I won't, Blanche. But where are you going?" for Blanche was moving towards the door.

66 Το my own room.”

"Oh, come and undress here, Lizzie will be ready directly; that can't be wrong."

"No, it can't, so I'll bring my things." When Blanche was gone, Fanny said, "I believe she loves me, Lizzie, and oh! I am so glad."

"I am sure she does, Miss Fanny; she's a dear little girl.”

"Now, Lizzie, you are ready for me, I see," said Blanche, on her return.

"Yes, Miss Blanche, and we must be

quick, for I expect Miss Harriet will be wanting me very soon."

Blanche was soon ready, and then bidding Fanny an affectionate good night, she went to her own room. Blanche did not forget her evening devotions, and when she lay down to rest, it was with a heart at peace with itself. The dreaded meeting with her cousins was over, and she had found one, at least, whom she could love, and whom her love could render happier; and with this thought in her mind she fell asleep.

CHAPTER VII.

HEART CRAVINGS.

"No one is so accursed by fate,

No one so utterly desolate,

But some heart, though unknown,
Responds unto his own."

LONGFELLOW.

HARRIET was not down-stairs at breakfast the next morning, but this excited no surprise in any one but Blanche, as she was very seldom ready for her meals at the time others were when at home. When breakfast was over, Fanny and Blanche went into the school

room.

"When is your papa coming back, Blanche?" asked Fanny.

Blanche's face assumed a sorrowful expression. "Oh, I hope soon, but I don't know when."

"And he loves you?"

Oh, Fanny, yes; more than any one else in the world now."

"I wish my papa did," said Fanny, sadly. "I think he does, Fanny."

"More than mama does, I know, for he always treats Harriet and me just the same, at least in most things; but there are little things, such as last night, that tell me he loves her best, and I suppose it is natural he should, everybody does, and you will too, Blanche."

"No, I don't think I shall."

"You'll see you will. All the girls at school like her better than me, and I don't know why it is so; I am sure I try to be kind to them all."

"Don't, dear Fanny, talk so; it makes me unhappy to hear you."

"But it does me good. I have not had any one to talk to about myself, for oh! such a long while, never since Amy Thornton left. I could talk to her, for I believe she liked me, and she was the only one who did."

Their conversation was here interrupted

by Harriet's entrance. Fanny's tone changed immediately.

"Well, you have thought proper to get up at last, have you, Harriet?"

Harriet made no reply, unless a slight curl of her upper lip might be called such. Blanche turned to look at her; she had been unable to observe her much the evening before.

Any one might see at a glance that her boasted beauty was not merely a pretension. Her forehead was high and noble, and its delicate whiteness was relieved by the long brown hair, which clustered in luxuriance around it. Eyes of the deepest violet beamed from beneath their silken fringes; her cheeks were tinged with the faintest rose, just enough to redeem them from the charge of paleness, though the evening before their colour had been heightened by her journey. Her form was tall, but shaped with perfect symmetry, and the tight-fitting morning dress which she wore was well calculated to show it off to the best advantage. Harriet Cleveland was beau