I dropped da zgin, amet as if it were insenAt this she began to whimper and moan, and say wat other she had been, and how she was forgotten! sie confinued to do at capricous intervals, even when toy pal alg hied when she her eif was halting along with མ་༦ ཟླ ༔ ! support of Wits and a stick, and Edith was mg by her side, and the curria re slowly following at a distance.

A

It was a bleak, lowering, windy day, and they were out on the Downs with nothing but a bare sweep of land between them and the ky. The mother, with a querulous satisfaction in the monotony of her complaint, was still repe ding it in a low voice from time to time, and the proud for.. of her daughter moved beside her slowly, when there chce synding over a dark ridge before them, two other which in the distance, were so like an exaggerated

......" dan of their own, that Edith stopped.

most as she stopped, the two figures stopped; and that one which to Elith's thinking was like a distorted shadow of ler mother, spoke to the ether, earnestly, and with a pointing hand towards them. That one seemed inclined to turn back, but the other, in which Edith recognised enough that was like herself to strike her with an unusual feeling, not quite free from fear, came on; and then they came on together.

The greater part of the's observation, she made while walking towards them, for her stoppage had been momentary. Narer observation showed her that they were poorly dressed,

var derers about the country; that the younger woman kod work or some such goods for sale; and that led on empty-handed.

wever far removed she was in dress, in dignity,

HANDSOME AND UNDUTIFUL.

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in beauty, Edith could not but compare the younger woman with herself, still. It may have been that she saw upon her face some traces which she knew were lingering in her own soul, if not yet written on that index; but, as the woman came on, returning her gaze, fixing her shining eyes upon her, undoubtedly presenting something of her own air and stature, and appearing to reciprocate her own thoughts, she felt a chill creep over her, as if the day were darkening, and the wind were colder.

They had now come up. The old woman holding out her hand importunately, stopped to beg of Mrs. Skewton. The younger one stopped too, and she and Edith looked in one another's eyes.

"What is it that you have to sell?" said Edith.

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Only this," returned the woman, holding out her wares, without looking at them. "I sold myself long ago."

"My Lady, don't believe her," croaked the old woman to Mrs. Skewton; "don't believe what she says. She loves to talk like that. She's my handsome and undutiful daughter. She gives me nothing but reproaches, my Lady, for all I have done for her. Look at her now, my Lady, how she turns upon her poor old mother with her looks."

As Mrs. Skewton drew her purse out with a trembling hand, and eagerly fumbled for some money, which the other old woman greedily watched for-their heads all but touching, in their hurry and decrepitude-Edith interposed:

"I have seen you," addressing the old woman, "before." "Yes, my Lady," with a curtsey. "Down in Warwickshire. The morning among the trees. When you wouldn't give me nothing. But the gentleman, he give me something! Oh, bless him, bless him!" mumbled the old woman, holding up her skinny hand, and grinning frightfully at her daughter.

"It's of no use attempting to stay me, Edith!" said Mrs. Skewton, angrily anticipating an objection from her. “You know nothing about it. I won't be dissuaded. I am sure this is an excellent woman, and a good mother.”