TURNS OF FORTUNE. 55

And Mabel was more fitful than her aunt had
ever seen her. Fearful lest her secret, as she
thought it, should be discovered, she made as
many turns and windings as a hare; and yet,
unskilled in disguising her feelings, after spend-
ing many words,n arranging and re-agpanging,
she suddenly wished that the spinnet could be
opened, “If,” she exclaimed, ‘‘ that could be
opened, I should be able to teach Mary Godwin
music; and her mother seemed to wish it so
much: surely we can open the instrument ?”

“Jt has not been opened for years,” replied
Miss Bond; “and I remember, once before,
Mabel wished it opened, and I refused, lest
forcing the lock might harth the marquetre, of
which my poor mother was so fond. It has
never been opened since her death.” But Ma-
bel’s desire was of too much consequence, in
her lover’s eyes, to be passed over, although all
seemed agreed that if it were opened it could
not be played upon; so in a few minutes he
procured a smith, who said he would remove
the hinges, and then unscrew the lock from the
inside, which would not injure the cover. This
was done; but greatly to poor Mabel’s dismay,
the cavity, where strings once had been, was
filled with old papers. :

¢ Now, is not this provoking?” said Mabel,
flinging out first one and then another bundle
of letters. “‘ Is not this provoking ¢”

‘No, no,” exclaimed Sarah Bond, grasping