1 Would you like to bid Graham good night ? ' 

 I asked. ' He is not gone to his room vet.' 



She at once stretched out her little arms to be 

 lifted. Folding a shawl round her, I carried her 

 back to the drawing-room. Graham was just 

 coming out. 



' She cannot sleep without seeing and speaking 

 to you once more,' I said. ' She does not like the 

 thought of leaving you.' 



I I've spoilt her,' said he, taking her from me 

 in good-humor, and kissing her little hot face and 

 burning lips. ' Polly, you care for me more than 

 for papa, now — ' 



I I do care for you, but you care nothing for 

 me,' was her whisper. 



She was assured of the contrary, again kissed, 

 restored to me, and I carried her away ; but, alas ! 

 not soothed. When I thought she could listen to 

 me, I said — 



' Paulina, you should not grieve that Graham 

 does not care for you so much as you care for him. 

 It must be so.' 



Her lifted and questioning eyes asked " why ?" 



1 Because he is a boy, and you a girl ; he is 

 sixteen, and you are only six : his nature is strong 

 and gay, and yours is otherwise.' 



' But I love him so much ; he should love me a 

 little.' 



' He does. He is fond of you. You are his 

 favorite.' 



1 Am I Graham's favorite ? ' 



' Yes, more than any little child I know.' 



The assurance soothed her ; she smiled in her 

 anguish. I put her to bed. The candle being 

 extinguished, a still half-hour elapsed. I thought 

 her asleep, when the little white shape once more 

 lifted itself in the crib, and the small voice asked — 



1 Do you like Graham, Miss Snowe ? ' 



'Like him! Yes, a little.' 



' Only a little ! Do you like him as I do ? ' 



' I think not. No ; not as you do.' 



I Do you not like him much ? ' 



' I told you I liked him a little. Where is the 

 use of caring for him so very much : he is full of 

 faults.' 



' Is he ? ' 



' All boys are.' 



' More than girls ? ' 



' Very likely. Wise people say it is folly to 

 think anybody perfect ; and as to likes and dis- 

 likes, we should be friendly to all, and worship 

 none.' 



' Are you a wise person ? ' 



' I mean to be so. Go to sleep.' 



I I cannot go to sleep. Have you no pain just 

 here ' (laying her elfish hand on her elfish breast) 

 ' when you think you shall have to leave Graham ; 

 for your home is not here ? ' 



; Child, lie down and sleep,' I urged. 



' My bed is cold, said she. ' I can't warm it.' 

 (I saw the little thing shiver.) 



' Come to me,' I said, wishing, yet scarcely 

 hoping, that she would comply : for she was a 

 most strange, capricious little creature, and es- 

 pecially whimsical with me. She came, however, 

 instantly, like a small ghost gliding over the 

 carpet. I took her in. She was chill ; I wanned 

 her in my arms. She trembled nervously ; I 

 soothed her. Thus tranquillised and cherished, 

 she at last slumbered. 



'A very unique child !' thought I, as I viewed 

 her sleeping countenance by the fitful moonlight. 



Thus ends this affecting little narrative ; 

 and it reminds us that we have got to bring 

 our own to a conclusion. 



The scene of our early love was laid in 

 Brighton. The young lady was on a visit 

 to the sea-coast with her papa and other 

 branches of her family, and they all joined us 

 in our walks — for be it known the young 

 ladies had gone to school with certain 

 friends of ours, and an intimacy naturally 

 followed. 



Two families had sought the sea-side ; and 

 " visiting " was a matter of course. Roving 

 on the sands of Worthing is pleasant — very; 

 and taking little walks and strolls in the 

 bracing air is delightful — very. The ringing 

 laugh of Caroline S — still haunts us, like a 

 pleasing vision. We fell before it, ere we 

 had taken more than two of these walks. 

 We fell sick too — and pined ! 



One day, in a state of fever, we were heard 

 to utter, imploringly and affectionately, 

 "Dear-est Caroline S— ! " This led the 

 doctor to smell a rat. Within four days 

 subsequently, Carry's papa himself placed 

 us in his daughter's arms. How long we 

 nestled there we know not, but we remember 

 being supremely happy. Immediate change 

 of air and scene was of course considered 

 necessary for us. The vision vanished but 

 too soon, and the poetry of early life merged 

 at once into the commonplace prose of con- 

 ventional usages and proprieties. 



We had entered upon our " first love !" This 

 reminds us that, from our earliest infancy, 

 we imbibed, without being taught, the affect- 

 ionate habit of caressing everything we loved. 

 We have kept true to our principles ever 

 since. What, therefore, with " the many " 

 would very properly be deemed insolent and 

 unbecoming, is recognised in us as proceeding 

 from a principle of nature inculcated in early 

 life. 



It would not do for us to renounce our 

 principles now. Nor have we the slightest 

 inclination to do so. " Cum privilegio " is 

 our harmless " letter of introduction," which 

 never yet failed to procure us a hearty 

 welcome wherever we wished to enter. Nor 

 have we ever been banished for " committing 

 a breach of privilege." 



Folks smile at us ; they laughing say, 



" When will you be a man ? 

 The parting year leaves you the boy 



You were when it began." 



Then we, in love with the disgrace, 



'I heir smiles and jests enjoy ; 

 Thankful that as we grow in years, 



In heart we're still a boy! 



So much for the recesses of a child's heart ! 



