silence in his apartments. He was alone, he had no one belonging to him, no one who had a claim on him, no one to love or be loved by him. Owner of vast wealth, which was ever increasing, for whom did he toil, for whom did he accumulate riches? He had no son to bear his name, no daughter to smile on his old age; he was cheerless and solitary, and with all his property, he was, in fact, poorer than his clerk, Mr. Ashton, for he was rich in affection, in domestic pleasures, in household enjoyments. Mr. Cameron would have given half his profits for a daughter like Grace, and a whole year's income for a son like Harry Dunsford.

Wishing was idle and unprofitable, a useless expenditure of capital both in time and trouble; and yet he could neither suppress his wishes, nor conceal them. On the contrary, he more than once bewailed to his confidential adviser, the sad vacuum which he found by his fireside, and the dreariness of his home, without friend or companion.

At first, Mr. Wildey listened with deep and compassionate attention, saying everything he could to increase his patron's sense of loneliness, and to heighten his wish for that do

mestic enjoyment which seemed so completely out of his reach. Apparently, Mr. Cameron found his sympathy so agreeable that he soon sought it again, and he then communicated to Wildey a scheme which he had in his head, of adopting a son, and bringing him up as his own. Ashton, observed the merchant, had some fine boys, one of them would be just what he should wish, he would propose it to the father, send the lad to Eton, and give him an education to prepare him for the possession of the noble fortune which should eventually be bequeathed to him.

This was a plan effectually to startle Wildey, threatening as it did to overthrow his dearest hopes, his long-cherished dreams of ambition. Imagine the effect to himself if Ashton were the father of Mr. Cameron's heir: if his family were to gain such a footing in the house; if a son of his were one day to become master of this coveted wealth. It was enough to make his heart wither with envy, malice, and every evil passion, merely to entertain such an idea for an hour. Deep vengeance vowed he in his mind against the unlucky father of the lad thus proposed to be elevated; firmly he resolved to

rest not day or night, till he had crushed this family, and caused them to vanish from the circle where he trod. But, meantime, some immediate measure must be taken to avert a blow, which once suffered to fall, might produce irremediable results. Whilst Mr. Cameron was expatiating on the pleasure he expected from this step, Wildey's active mind was reviewing his own position, and settling on the best plan of operations. At length he spoke, and it was to praise his generous patron's nobleness and goodness, which could lead him to devise such a scheme. The only thing against it was, that these sort of plans seldom turned out well; there were so many drawbacks to adoption. The character of the boy in question, who could tell what that might prove; or how far such a sudden change of prospect might alter it for the worse. Adopted sons could not be controlled as one's own children might, and, of course, could not feel the same affection. Valueing themselves on being necessary to their patron, they only too often were eternal plagues and torments: they seemed to think the favour was on their side, and that in allowing themselves to be called sons, they earned a right in

every other respect to do precisely as they pleased. He had never known an instance where an arrangement of the sort had turned out well to both parties; and it would deeply grieve him if his honoured patron and employer were to be deprived of domestic peace and happiness in his old age, by the wild vagaries of a young man, thoughtless, extravagant, and selfish. To all this Mr. Cameron objected, though with some hesitation, that the good education which he would bestow on his protégé would effectually prevent all risk of such a calamity.

Mr. Wildey then proceeded to represent the risk to his own character in taking such a step; who would trouble themselves to enquire the real origin of his nominal son? would not the good-natured world immediately suppose that the boy had a claim on him, and that in making him his heir, he only gave him what was justly his due.

Mr. Cameron did not seem to think that this objection was of much importance; but he added, that if Wildey could propose a better scheme, he was ready to listen to him.

"I should propose, then, my dear Sir, if it is left

to me, that instead of taking charge of a boy, who may turn out you know not what, you should seek a wife who may promote your happiness at once by her companionship at home, and bring you a fair progeny of your own to bear your name, and bless your old age."

"A wife, Wildey! you are joking! at my age a wife!"

"Yes, Sir, I repeat it—a wife. there so preposterous in that idea?

What is

It is a thing which happens every day in the world: men much older than you have made happy marriages, and more than repaired the misfortunes of their youth by the blessings which crown their old age. Why should not you try the same course?"

"But Wildey, a wife whose age was suitable to mine-think of that!"

"And must you marry an old woman because you are a little past the prime of life. Excuse me, Sir, but I cannot help smiling at the idea; you have no appearance of age yourself, your step is firm and vigorous, your spirits good, your health excellent, and you show less sign of advanced age than many men of forty.