CHAPTER IV. Oh! meet him not to-night-be not alarm'd— JUBAL, BY R. M. BEVERLEY. "IT is curious," said General Montgomery to Colonel Pennington, as they sat after dinner, having listened to Lady Emily's detail of Rose Delvin's conduct and poor Ambrose's unhappy end-"it is curious to observe the difference which exists in characters of the same family and the same sex. Emily is as deeply concerned at the misfortunes of the worthy Delvins as though she were one of their own rank and station in life; and though you will un derstand that I feel the misery of a fellow-creature is still misery wherever it occurs, yet the force of habit is strong, and generally speaking, mankind sympathise in proportion only as the object of commiseration approaches their own immediate sphere, and calamity appears to draw nearer to themselves in the misfortunes of some individual of their own particular class. Emily is an exception to this rule; but, on the other hand, Frances is an instance in its favour." "I can understand," said the Colonel, 66 why Emily should feel so much more for the Delvins than Lady Frances does; but I cannot account for her indifference to her sister's feelings." "Nor I; at least I can account for it on no other principle than that which I have named. When I look forward, Pennington, to the fate of these two girls, whom I consider as my children, for they are both very dear to me, I confess to you, that I think with terror how soon they may be left without a protector. Miss Macalpine, you well know, is like a child in the affairs of the world; and the fortune of these girls will render them objects of attraction, setting aside their personal charms. My dear friend, should I go first, promise me to be to them what I am." "Nonsense!" replied the Colonel, forcing a smile, "I shall die long before you." "Life and death, Pennington, are not in our own power, or within our calculation; we will not dispute about what it is foolish to talk of. But will you give me your promise ?" continued General Montgomery. "With all my heart, if you wish it; only it is great nonsense." "You promise me though, Tom?" "I do." "And now They wrung each other's hands. let me confide a secret to you,” added General Montgomery: "Aldget, the worthy Aldget, has invested the principal part of my funded property, as well as the fortunes of these girls, in a manner so advantageous, that the return will be enormous. I feel the affair, on his part, to have been an act of friendship, and not a mere lawyer's job; and though you shake your head now, you will agree with me in thinking so in the end, I am certain." General Montgomery here entered into a long explanation of the scheme in which he had been induced to hazard his nieces' fortunes, and a very large portion of his own money. As he finished speaking, he looked up into Colonel Pennington's face; but no approbation of the measures he had been detailing, nor any acknowledgement of the soundness of his reasons for adopting them, was there apparent; on the contrary, the Colonel knit his brows closer than usual, and the only articulate sound that escaped him was a loud and very equivocal " humph !” "'Sdeath, man!" cried General Montgomery, betrayed into unusual warmth by Colonel Pennington's manner, "one would think I had told you I had embezzled my wards' property." "Perhaps you have," rejoined the latter. "What do you mean ?" Nothing, my friend, counter to your honour, but a good deal counter to your prudence. Mad attempts to obtain wealth are seldom crowned with success. It does not seem destined to man that he should acquire riches without labour; and if hereditary descents, and the accumulation of wealth from one generation to another, are adduced as instances in contradiction to this principle, they cease to be so when duly examined. I will be bold to say, that scarce a single generation passes away, between the original founder of family greatness and his successors, when, if the duties that such possessions impose, and which are labours in their kind, have been neglected, the wealth and riches of that family have not been removed; and as my friend Miss Macalpine would say, 'Misled awa like snaw aff a dike;' for though we are apt to account for such circumstances by attributing them too frequently to contingencies, to misfortunes, and to chance, yet be assured there is more of a higher influence in our individual destinies than mankind are in general ready to allow. The talent, you know, is taken from him who makes an unworthy use of it, and is bestowed where it will be better employed; and this just sentence is often passed upon us even here, that we may avoid its condemnation at a future day, when there will be no appeal. In the step you have taken, I think you have been over anxious to provide for worldly objects-beyond what was incumbent on you; you had enough-your circumstances were sufficient for the station in which Providence had placed you. Why seek to gather |