moods equally adverse to propriety and happiness. Isolated from the
world by circumstances, she doubly exiled herself from its social
indulgences, by the tyrannical sway of a superior will, strengthened
and stimulated by an excitable and ever feverish blood; and, as
we find her now, wandering sad and sternly by the brookside, afar
from the sports and humbler sources of happiness, which gentler
moods left open to the rest, so might she customarily be found, at
all hours, when it was not absolutely due to appearances that she
should be seen among the crowds.

We will not now seek to pursue her musings and trace them out to
their conclusions, nor will it be necessary that we should do more
than indicate their character. That they were sad and solemn as
usual--perhaps humbling--may be gathered from the fact that a big
tear might have been seen, long gathering in her eye;--the next
moment she brushed off the intruder with an impatience of gesture,
that plainly showed how much her proud spirit resented any such
intrusion. The tear dispersed the images which had filled her
contemplative mood, and rising from her sylvan seat, she prepared
to move forward, when a voice calling at some little distance,
drew her attention. Giving a hasty glance in the direction of the
sound, she beheld a young man making his way through the woods, and
approaching her with rapid footsteps. His evident desire to reach
her, did not, however, prompt her to any pause in her own progress;
but, as if satisfied with the single glance which she gave him, and
indifferent utterly to his object, she continued on her way, nor
stopped for an instant, nor again looked back, until his salutation,
immediately behind her, compelled her attention and answer.

"Margaret--Miss Cooper!" said the speaker, who was a young rustic,