An Old, Old Story.

nosed interest in the proceedings of the amiable and beaming curate . At this moment the hour of afternoon tea arrived , that noble institution of Britons and Britonesses , and soon after appeared Mr . Walters with a well-covered tray ,

which he placed on a rustic table . The fair Lucy at once proceeded , with her usual charm of manner , to dispense the fragrant compound , in which laborious duty she was aided by the zeal and activity oi Mr . Mainwaring , who gracefully handed round the bread and butter , and who had apparently constituted himself her " aide do camp , " in military parlance , for the

occasion . It was quite clear by this time that the Colonel did not like Mr . Williams , and did not quite understand why he found him , a comparative stranger , on such terms of familiarity , apparently , with his old friend . Mr . Mainwaring , he was accustomed toand

, us he knew him to be a gentleman , and did not at all disapprove ot his attention to Lucy Longhurst , all that seemed to him the most natural of things . But as he did not quite understand who Mr . Williams was , and why lie was there , and began perhaps

to suspect that he was " making up , " as he called it , to the " old gal , " he endeavoured like a skilful soldier as he was , to find out the lay of the ground , the ' * carte du pays , " and so began to join in the conversation , which , however , was all Hebrew to him . Mr . Williams , who was getting most animated in his interesting explanations to Miss

Margerison at last observed , that the old Colonel was eyeing him closely and scrutinizingly , and as he was , as he said , always read y at expedients , he turned to the Colonel , and with infinite suavity addressed him : — " As a friend of our esteemed hostess , perhaps Colonel Mackintosh" he said " will like

, , you to accompany the ladies to our little picnic , which I venture to add , and here he bowed to the ladies , will be a most agreeable excursion . '' You will note , gentle reader , that Mr . Williams said nothing about Mr .

Mainwaring . Astute Mr . Williams ! Now the Colonel did not like the patronizing tone of this young man—young " interloper " as lie thought him—and without immediately answering Mr . Williams , ( for he was a wary old boy ) , he turned to Mr . Mainwaring and as > ked him , " Are you going , Mainwaring , to take care of these ladies ? " This was the

unkindest cut of all ; but it was a remark , which for some reason , brought a gleam into the eyes of Lucy , who spoke , as some charming girls do , often as much with her eyes , as with the prettiest of mouths . " Yes , " said Mainwaring , carelessly , " I have already offered my humble services

, as ' Gentleman in waiting , ' to the two ladies . " Another short silence , and poor Mr . Williams looked unutterable things . "Well , sir , " said the Colonel slowly , speaking at last to the curate , ( he was very particular and emphatic in his remarks ) ,

" I do not often indulge in gadding about , and old chaps like me are generally very much in the way at the picnic . I object inoreoverto the clamp grass and the earwigs . But as the ladies are going , I will help my friend Mainwaring to take care of them . " Poor Mr . Williams ! what could he say ? Well , he did what thousands of ' persons

have done before , and what thousands of persons will do again in like circumstances , such is the hypocrisy of life He professed himself " delighted with the intelligence ;" and soon after getting up and pleading " Parish work , " having shaken hands with the ladiesand bowed a little distantly to

, the gentlemen , ( as the Irishman said ) , " he got himself away . '' " Excellent young man , " said Miss Margerison , warml y as the figure of Mr . Williams disappeared in the dim distance ; " Very rising young clergyman . "

Why Lucy and Mr . Mainwaring , however , should exchange a sly glance , and whv an arch smile should play on the radiant cheek of the young lady , I leave my readers to discover . At present I do not profess to be able to explain it . I may have my suspicions ; but " suspicion , " as a detective said , " is not proof , sir ; no sir , a long way short of it . "

" Well , said the Colonel , who was always blunt and outspoken ; " I have never met him before , though you seem to know him very well—he seems able to take care of himself . "

"Oh , said Miss Margerison eagerly ; '' he is a very hard-working young man , is not he , Lucy ? Whereupon the young lady replied , " Oh , yes , he is always about , and has always a good deal to say for himself . "

Miss Margerison s little eough seemed to intimate that she was not quite satisfied with Lucy ' s somewhat dubious praise N