would have been such an excellent investment for his money; in the funds, you know, it only produces five per cent., so that if he had bought Rollston,-for fifty thousand pounds, which is all they ask,—it would have been an excellent bargain. You know he left eighty thousand pounds, and all completely in his beautiful wife's power."

"How did you hear all that ?" inquired Augustus, with a severe look.

"I could not help hearing what every one is talking of. There are the Smiths and the Cottals, and every one pitying her so, because she has no more idea of business than a baby, and she will be sure to be cheated and imposed on by every one. By-the-bye I may as well confess it-for I hate to deceive you dear uncle; and indeed, I could not help it, for I would not have disobeyed your orders for worlds-but I saw that lovely creature to-day."

VOL. II.

K

And Sir Frederick gave a description of his interview with Lucy, with a few additional particulars of his own invention, and a most glowing description of her charms, and of the beautiful blush that rose to her pale cheeks at the mention of his uncle's

name.

"But surely she must have been annoyed at your thus intruding upon her."

"Not the least, I assure you-nothing could be more kind; and I am certain that if you—”

"Don't say a word more on the subject,” exclaimed Augustus, with glowing cheeks, while he tried to assume a severe and indifferent look. “I told you never to—”

"I will say no more, indeed, on this subject; I did not mean to annoy you, quite the reverse: I thought you would not dislike to hear that-that-"

"Well, never mind, I forgive you, only

never mention the subject again."

"And hopes, and fears that kindle hope,

An undistinguishable throng;
And gentle wishes long subdued,
Subdued and cherished long!"-

came crowding into his mind.

They walked on in silence for some moments, and Frederick occasionally looked at his uncle's face, with a sort of half-malicious, and half-satisfied glance, which, if Augustus had not been too pre-occupied to observe, would have startled and pained him.

CHAPTER XII.

MATCHMAKING.

"WELL, after all, I do believe it was very lucky my plan did not succeed, and that Augustus did not marry Cecilia," said Harriet Lennox one morning to her husband, about a year afterwards.

"Here is a nice letter from little Charlotte to our Mary."

What a good hand the child writes! much better than yours, my dear," said Mr. Lennox, as he glanced at the letter, and turned to his child.

"I cannot think what has happened to you all this last year; you seem to go backwards instead of forwards in your learning."

"Poor Mary was not very well, you know, for some time. Go now and play in the garden, and don't try to learn that any longer: your eyes are quite red: why, what are you crying about? I did not find any fault-you are always crying for nothing. Go, put on your bonnet, and try to get little Sukey to play with you.

Mary left the room with a slow step and suffering air, which seemed quite at variance with the word "play."

"She is the strangest child that ever was; I sometimes am really afraid she will go mad,' said Harriet, when the door was closed.

any

"I believe it's for want of companions," she added: "Mary don't seem to care now for thing or anybody. What do you think of our going to visit Lucy this summer? Ah! I see