"As many as you please, my good lady. Is it a secret? or will you disclose your business

now ?"

"It's no' just a secret; but an' if it's the same to you, I would rather say what I've gotten to say to yoursel' first and Lady Emily presently.”

Accordingly so soon as the rest of the guests were departed after dinner to their several occupations, Miss Macalpine drew a letter from her pocket.

"Well, Alpinia," said the General, “I see you're

'Big with the fate of Cato and of Rome.'

Let us hear it at once."

"Keep me, General! but I scarcely know how to begin. I ha'e gotten a letter from Lord Mowbray :"—and there she stopped, rubbing the forefinger of her left hand as if she would have rubbed it off.

"A proposal of marriage, doubtless," said the General, smiling cunningly; (it is an odd thing that even the best-hearted people always make joke of an old maid: the kindest thing that is

ever said of them is, 'Poor things! they are much to be pitied certainly.')

"A proposal o' marriage, General! Guess again; better nor that, I can tell you."

"How can that be, Alpinia? Is it not what all ladies like to receive, whether they accept it or not?"

"But what would ye say, now, if I tell 't ye, General, that Lord Mowbray has gi'en to me his grandaunt's estate o' Heatherden, out and out-gi'en them to me, for my ain sel'."

"Say! what should I say? Why that it was nobly done, bravely done; and that I rejoice at it with all my heart."

"Read these lines, General," said Miss Macalpine, tendering him a letter. He took it and read aloud.

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My dear Madam,-I know it was my cousin's intention to have done that, which I have done, namely, to put you in possession of Heatherden; but his sudden illness prevented him from executing the deed, which lay prepared for that purpose. I am, therefore, only fulfilling his intention in completing this arrangement, and I have very great pleasure in informing you that I

have now finished this business, and that, as soon as it is convenient, I shall hope to see you in town, where your presence will be necessary to the signature of some of the papers respecting this transaction. I have the honour to be, with much esteem and regard, &c. &c. yours,

"MOWBRAY."

"Oh! my dear, dear Alpinia, how very happy I am!" replied Lady Emily, overcome with a thousand sweet feelings, the source of which she did not very minutely analyze, and throwing her arms round Miss Macalpine's neck.

"A noble deed, truly," rejoined the General; I am sorry to add, for the sake of human nature, a rare and an uncommon deed; the gift, and the manner of the gift, speak the character of the man; so simple, so unostentatious !"

"Is it not quite delightful?" cried Lady Emily, her eyes sparkling with delight, her cheeks glowing with pleasure.

"It is, indeed, my dearest, and I give our worthy friend, Miss Macalpine, a thousand joys, and may the setting of her sun be brighter than its rising !"

"We'll no' speak o' what canna be mended. I am thankfu': but happiness and Marian Macalpine can no' be ane.

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'The flowers o' the forest are a' wed awa'."

My dear Miss Macalpine, there 's many a green leaf lingers when the summer's blossom is gone; may these, at least, be yours!-when a moment of brightness comes, it is a duty to bid it welcome."

"True; but did ye ever hear of ony thing happy occurring to ony ane, that they didna say, 'Oh, if such an ane were alive now to see it!' or

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oh, gin my health permitted me to enjoy it; or, 'had I the strength o' limb, or o' eye-sight, or o' understanding," or something or ither that they had not, which didna tak' a grace frae that which they had; this is the way o't; it must needs be sae here. Nevertheless, I am thankfu'."

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Very true, my good friend. There spoke the observer of human nature in human affairs; but let us only talk now of your being the Lady of Heatherden, where I hope you will allow us to pay you a visit; that is to say, if I am alive this time next year."

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Oh, dear, dear uncle! do not suppose evil; think, as you yourself said, only of the brightness.

As to me, I feel so happy, so happy that Lord Mowbray should have done this noble deed;" and she stopped short; "so happy, that I really do not know what I am saying."

Alas! how soon was the scene to change! A very few days after this, the General sent for Lady Emily. He was sitting in his usual red velvet chair; his one hand in his breast, his other resting on his knee; his gold-headed cane lay resting against his chair, and his favourite terrier slept at his feet; the whole costume was so simple, yet so noble, so suited to the wearer, that it seemed a part of the man; and it was impossible even for a stranger to stand in the presence of General Montgomery without blended feelings of love and respect.

Lady Emily's habitual affection and veneration for her uncle had latterly been deepened by the interest which his evident alteration of spirits and health inspired. On the present occasion, as she advanced towards him, she saw traces of strong emotion upon his countenance, though he appeared anxious to master himself in her pre