but to one who can read tears aright, there was more of anger than of grief, in hers. She sate pulling some flowers to pieces.

"What a very strange thing this is!" she said, at length.

"Strange! oh, it is a most heart-rending thing, sister! my poor dear uncle!......Julian......"

"Yes, of course one is very sorry for them, for Julian particularly; but my uncle, I must say, I think he deserves more blame than pity....at his age.

"To be dependent on those so ready to forget the past, and adopt the worldling's creed, with whom success is virtue, and misfortune blame." "

"Oh, that's all very well for you, Ellen; you are not situated as I am. Your hopes are not destroyed by this, your affections were not engaged, nor your fate entangled...."

"Sister, I love you well enough to feel my hopes in some degree disappointed if yours are blighted, and my affections wounded by the blow that affects yours. My fate is surely

in some degree entangled, as you call it, with that of the friend of my youth; but this I must say, if I loved Julian, and were loved by him-if I were his chosen, the one with whom he had intended to share his wealth-her whom he had selected from a world at his feet-I could be reconciled to the loss which would prove to him what a true heart he had gained. Hope is not blighted; this moment is the dawn of Hope. The star of this sudden darkness! Talk not of wounded affections! It is now that they should be strong to conquer the world; and as to a fate entangled with his,' oh! be rather proud to say your destinies are entwined for ever!"

"That's all very fine! but what are we to live on? I hate long engagements, and will never fetter myself with one; one loses the best years of one's life, and, after all, they hardly ever come to any thing, but mutual dislike. I cannot say I think Julian behaved well, in not proposing long ago. If he had done so, and we had married, my settlement at least would have been saved."

"But it was only last night you told me you adored him, and meant to accept him at once."

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Yes, but I never thought he had been eager enough about it; only, when there's plenty of money, one can do with less love. I'm like mamma: I have an innate horror of poverty; I cannot love a poor man- -how distressing!" and she began to cry. "He used to look so elegant driving his beautiful greys. His dress was always so exquisite ! I so liked his yacht, too! and no one looked so well on horseback. What a love that blood mare was! and now, or, at least, ere long, he must walk in all weathers, shabbily dressed, in thick boots, carrying a cotton umbrella-an usher, or a clerk, perhaps....and be cut by every one."

"By every one! by no one whom he cares for, or who cares for him. Augusta, dear, dear Augusta! listen not to the evil spirit tempting you to forsake; listen to the good angel, urging you to cling to and to comfort him. Sister!" and Ellen sank on her knees

by Augusta's side, and, hiding her tearful face in her lap, sobbed, "Sister, this blow will not overwhelm him, unless you forsake him. He loves He loves he cares for nothing but you! Promise you will be to him all love can make a woman, when Misery would claim him she loves."

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"Make no such promise, my dear," said Mrs. Lindsay, who had entered unperceived. Ellen, I'm surprised at you; do you want to see your sister a beggar? This looks like it. Augusta, come with me, my own love. You know I never thought Julian behaved properly; he neglected you often most pointedly."

"Sister!" sobbed Ellen, "all his hope is in you."

"Come away, Augusta. Hark! there are wheels Sir Peter's carriage, I declare! what a noble equipage it is! Go and arrange your hair, love. How devoted that poor man has ever been! I shall invite him to dinner to-day."

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Oh, not to-day, mamma," said Ellen, slowly rising. "It will seem so unkind."

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Quite the reverse; it will take off the awkwardness of the meeting. Come, Augusta!"

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"Alas for Julian!" said Ellen, when they were gone, again sinking upon her knees; poor Julian! now thou hast only thine unloved Ellen, for thine idol has already forsaken thee! Forgive me, Father, if I find a selfish joy in the thought of being his comforter. I have not yielded to it; I have knelt to her-I have implored her not to forsake I am not guilty......unless this involuntary comfort, at an hour like this, be a sort of guilt."