mirror, much defaced by flies and time, pended in such a manner from the wall as to reflect dimly the top of the head; and one table of the same dimensions as those below stairs, stood beneath it. Such was my toilette; not quite like that which I had been accustomed to at the Hall; but I quickly formed plans of improvement in the materials before me for constituting a more comfortable arrangement the next day; and altogether, I was agreeably surprised in the sort of abode which my uncle had taught me to expect, as being far more eligible than he had represented it to be. I was happy to find, in the room destined for him, a very easy chair, and I had brought his favourite footstool and a large velvet cushion, which I immediately placed in their respective stations; a piece of carpet too, that used to be under his writingtable, Edwards had not forgotten; and these minor objects of his accustomed comforts directly gave an air of old acquaintanceship to the apartment, with which I was sure he would feel pleased.

“Edwards and myself soon arranged all

these matters; and I had the consolation of knowing that my uncle could not experience any personal inconvenience, or suffer in health, from the change he was now to undergo, in as far at least as outward circumstances went. You know, Alpinia, how he overvalues all that I do, and you may be sure these little attentions were not lost upon him.

"Such was our abode when we first entered it three weeks ago. It has gradually assumed a more luxurious appearance; for my piano and my uncle's flute have arrived, and several other pieces of furniture from Bristol, with many books; so that really, except that the Bentley Farm, as it is called, is not the Hall, I do not see what we could desire more in point of local comfort; but I will confess to you, nevertheless, that now the first business and bustle of arrangement have subsided, the calm into which we have sunk is not without its melancholy. Do what we may-turn, as one will, sorrow, I see, cannot be avoided altogether—perhaps it is not intended it should; I have been hitherto so happy, too happy! I did not know there could

be any change; but the change is come. My dear uncle's countenance-that is the changed aspect which affects me most. There is some secret sorrow preying on him-else why should he have left his dearly loved home? and though I try to forget this, in order that I may be the better enabled to cheer him, still it is a consciousness which will not be expelled.

"The other night, as I sat by my uncle at work, I heard him sigh heavily, and then he arose and paced the room till he almost made me (who never knew what nerves were) grow nervous. The creaking of his shoes, the shuffling of his steps along the shining boards-how they irritated me! I wished to engage him in conversation, yet I felt that I had not a pleasant word to say; at last, I ventured to pronounce a wish that Colonel Pennington were with us, and began planning the possibility of finding room to lodge him. Ah, my dear one!' said my uncle, with a look of distress that pained me to the soul, I am sure you feel this loneliness is too much for you.' In vain, with my

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cheerful accents did I endeavour to dispel this idea. I saw it had gained possession of him, and the knowledge that his own feelings made him a stranger to mine, was a real trial to me. Fortunately, there are two little children, grandchildren of the proprietor of the farm, whom I have taken under my charge, and their innocent play makes a diversion to my uncle's thoughts, which is less intensely interesting to him than dwelling always upon me, and yet amuses and soothes him. I talked to him the other day of the returning spring, and of the delight I should have in tending the garden, and seeking for his favourite violets :-but, alas! every subject that I touch upon, has a reference to the past; and when I endeavour to avoid one thorn, I stumble on another.

"Frances has only written once to us since her marriage. She says she is very happy, and gives a splendid account of the gaieties at Belmont Castle. But I look in vain, for one word which would communicate a real feeling of happiness to my heart.

"This letter comes through my uncle's agent

in town, to whom all his letters are directed; and as he does not wish his abode to be known, he desires me not to mention it, except to yourself. You will not therefore, if you please, speak or write of it to any person, which, but for this notice, you might accidentally have done.

"Write to me, and tell me every minute particular of your loved Heatherden. Your health, and all that concerns you, will interest me. My days are never long enough for the employments I have to fill them with, though I believe there is time enough, as well as a time for all things under the sun, did we so regulate our pleasures and duties as to give them their proper portions of attention; but we run on with one thing till it has usurped the due place of another; and thus it is, we say we have no time.

"I am sure of one thing, which is that so long as God gives me health and my senses, I shall always find time to love and think of those most dear to me, among whom, my dear Al