"Must it be so soon? I had hoped you could stay until Marian came, at least."

"And she will be here?"

"Indeed, I cannot tell when. If I did not know it was my sister, I should be pained at what might seem an unkind delay.” Annie, have you any plan for the future?"

"I have thought a little about it," said she, sadly.

"And I, too, have been trying to see what will be best for you. The manufactory must be stopped at once, I suppose?"

"Will it not be a great loss, and, at the same time, throw many out of employment this cold weather?"

"I fear so."

"Then why not let it go on?"

"It would be impossible-there is no one to attend to it here; and I can visit you but seldom."

"Does not the overseer, Mr. Stone, understand his business thoroughly? Arthur"-and there was a slight faltering in the tone-"trusted him fully."

"Yes-I was surprised, this afternoon, to find how thoroughly he comprehended every point in the case. He says if we can retain it till spring, a purchaser might easily be found, and you would lose little or nothing. But the trouble is, there must be a responsible head of the establishment till then.”

"Could not you assume the responsibility?" "Nominally, I could.”

"And I can take it in reality."

"You, Annie?" said her brother, with a start of astonishment. "I do not understand you."

"It is no sudden resolution," replied Mrs. Jackson, thought

fully. "From the moment I saw those poor people join in that sad procession, I have been wishing I could do something for them.'

"But you know nothing of business."

"You forget I am something of a book-keeper, and that Arthur often consulted me in his arrangements. I think, with a little application, and with Mr. Stone's assistance, I could arrange all necessary matters."

"It is a wild scheme, Annie. Would it not be better to take a more natural course, even though at a sacrifice of some property?"

"And of the comfort of all the operatives?"

Although her brother was at first fairly staggered at the proposal, he was not proof against the many arguments in favour of her scheme, which she now brought before him. It had rapidly matured by her quick, sagacious mind, and he was astonished to see how readily she entered into all the difficulties of the

case.

"And finally," said she, as she closed her explanation, "you have promised to be here as often as your own business will allow, and you can advise me upon all important points." "But it is so unprecedented, Annie."

"Rare, perhaps, but not without precedent. Do you not remember that my favourite, Madame Guyon, was her husband's executor, and arranged all the troublesome law suits in which he had been involved. I could point you to many other instances, not so illustrious, perhaps, but quite as worthy."

Edward sat for some time in deep thought. He could but contrast the thoughtful countenance before him, with the timid, girl

ish face so beautiful at his brother's bridal; and his heart grew sad at the change a few years had wrought.

Suddenly she came softly towards him, and put her hand upon his shoulder.

"I fear you misunderstand me; you think me cold, worldly— must I say avaricious?" and her eyes sought his own reproachfully.

"Ah! no, my sister it is you who have mistaken me. I appreciate all you would do; -you would have Arthur's son enter the world dependent upon none:- you forget your own sorrow in the thought of what might befall the families of these poor men. But I fear you mistake your own strength - you should be free from all care, now."

"Will not the necessity for action be strength in itself? I shall have no time for those maddening recollections.

me, it will be best so."

Believe

There had been a heavy fall of snow during the afternoon, and a carriage had reached the door almost without sound. There were footsteps in the hall as she ceased speaking, and ere she could rise from her seat, Marian's arms were about her neck, and Marian's tears were mingled with her own.

The sad presentiment had been most mournfully fulfilled-the sisters had met in sorrow.

SKETCH THE FOURTH.

MRS. HARDEN'S QUILTING.

CHAPTER I.

I think it must reach Mrs. Clackett's ears within twenty-four hours, and then the business, you know, is as good as done.-School for Scandal.

DECLARE," said Mrs. Harden, as she dusted the china ornaments upon the mantel, "quiltings are going quite out of fashion now-a-days. When I

was a girl-(not one in ten played the piano then; no, nor one in twenty)-nobody could get married without one or two quilting frolics; and that's the way we usually found out what was going on. Just as soon as we saw a girl doing a star block, or piecing out a 'rising sun,' we began to suspect there was a beau in the case."

"Who have you invited this morning, ma?" asked Harriet, at this pause.

"Nobody but those we talked over yesterday. Mrs. Smith, Miss Martin, and Mrs. Folger. You know that more than four can't quilt on a side, and I shall be busy about getting tea some of the time."

"I do hope Mrs. Folger will leave Bobby and the twins at home. If she doesn't, it will take me all the time to wait on them;" and Miss Harriet twirled impatiently around upon the

music-stool, and went into a vigorous practice of "Scenes that are Brightest."

“I should think, Harriet," was the next interruption, “that you might just as well be helping me as screaming that song. You've left everything in the world for me to see to."

"If the world had nobody else to look after it, 'twould soon come to an end," muttered the dutiful daughter.

"What's that you said?" broke in the mother, sharply. But Harriet only sang the louder

"Words cannot scatter-"

A fracas was evidently pending, when Mrs. Harden's attention was diverted.

"For goodness sake!" said she, rushing to the window, "if Mrs. Jackson isn't going out to ride again with her husband's brother! Of all the scandalous things I ever heard of, that woman's conduct is the most open. What a sweet little horse and cutter!"

"And such a lovely mat! Well, I don't know that I should mind being a young widow myself, if I could get waited on in that style. They won't be home before afternoon, now you see."

They don't even take Archie with them half the time. Well, it's Mrs. Jackson, that's all I can say; but if it had been you or me, the whole town would be in arms.'

"See how he lifts her in. How old should you think he was, ma?"

"Not a day over thirty, I'll be bound. He's younger looking, a good deal, than his brother was. Take care, they'll see you

come a little nearer this way."