accommodated them with her habiliments while theirs were being dried. With great good-nature she likewise offered them a bed, should the tempest continue, as the general did not keep a carriage, and none nearer than Exeter was to be procured.

The storm continued to rage with unabated violence till two hours after it was dark. At length its fury lessened -the warring elements were calmed, and it quite cleared up.

They made many grateful acknowledgements to Mrs. Pryce, the widow lady, for her friendly attention and hospitality, and returned to Treharne, accompanied by Sophia, the black girl, to whom they made a present for her trouble.

They found the general and Mrs. Douglas much alarmed at their not having returned home for so many hours. Robin and Dolly had been dispatched in search of them, and brought back the unpleasant

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unpleasant intelligence that they had left the mill several hours; but they quieted their apprehensions with the hope that they had taken shelter somewhere.

With the kindness Mrs. Pryce had evinced to their children they were much pleased. They described her as having the remains of a very handsome face, with a diminutive fat person. Her conversation was suitable to a woman who had received a very superior education, and whose mind had been highly culti vated. Extremely lively and eccentric, she was of that character that was certain of pleasing two young people who knew nothing of the world, and had never seen any one like her. She laughed immoderately, and would repeat scraps of poetry in the most theatrical style, which was quite a novelty to them.

The following day was remarkably fine, and Mrs. Douglas desired them to call upon Mrs. Pryce, with her compliments and a basket of excellent grapes,

which Kamira was to carry, as their mother understood from Jane that Mrs. Pryce had four children, two of whom were very young, and she concluded the fruit would be very acceptable for them.

When they entered the cottage-garden in front of Mrs. Pryce's residence, which opened with a wicket-gate, they heard a most discordant noise, that sounded as if some person was scolding furiously. They tapped at the door; but the harsh sounds within prevented their being attended to, and gently lifting the latch, they walked in, and found Mrs. Pryce in the passage, with a stick in her hand, beating the black girl.

The girl was crouched on her knees before her, crying, while she loaded her with the most opprobrious names; yet no sooner did she perceive the young ladies and their attendant, than she ceased her clamour, and welcomed them with an affected smile of good-humour,

while the poor girl silently made her

retreat.

Kamira had not been accustomed to such scenes at the general's, and could hardly restrain her indignation. She would, with her natural warmth of temper and frankness, have declared her anger at this barbarous sight, had not Rose looked expressively at her. This alone prevented her from mentioning her abhorrence of such inhuman behaviour, which was peculiarly revolting in a female who had any pretensions to the character of a gentlewoman, and whose education should have made her more refined.

Mrs. Pryce insisted that the young ladies, if they had no engagement, should pass the day with her, to which Jane gladly assented, saying they had none, as most of their acquaintance in the country were absent-some in London, and at different places.

Rose did not like to remain a whole

day

day with her, as she was a stranger, and the specimen she had just witnessed of

Mrs. Pryce's inhumanity had made an unfavourable impression: but when Rose found that Jane was determined to stay, she consented to be with her, as she did not like to leave her there by herself. She sent a message by Kamira to her mother, and cautioned the Indian not to repeat what she had seen of Mrs. Pryce's behaviour.

Kamira was attached to all the family, but more particularly to Rose; and as she never failed to obey her most trifling commands, she was pleased when the Indian promised to attend to her wishes.

The conversation, after Kamira left them, was chiefly supported by Jane and Mrs. Pryce, while Rose amused herself in playing with the children, to whom she had begged to be introduced. Had they been kept clean, and well fed, they would have been handsome and healthy; but they appeared to be (what they

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