Fitzormond, who was impatient to embrace his friend, accompanied the Countess home, and experienced in the cordial reception given him by the Earl (who was truly happy in having their ancient friendship renewed); that there were still pleasures in store for him, which he had despaired of ever enjoying.

Though my noon of life," said he, addressing his newly recovered friends, "was tempestuous, and clouded with bitter misfortunes, my evening will, I trust, be calm and serene. The calamities which I have endured will enhance the value of those blessings now so bountifully restored to me. The delicious attentions of filial affection, and the cheering voice of friendship, will smooth my path to the grave, to which I shall descend in peace, convinced that the ways of heaven are just and merciful; and though we poor finite mortals are inca

pable of judging aught, when misfortunes attack us, yet a time will come, when we must own that misery is no more the certain lot of man in this world than happiness; but that they are so mixed and blended together, that each individual must receive his portion; which, if properly applied, will fit him for purer joys than his nature is formed to enjoy in this life.”

Louisa was delighted to find that the persons she had respected, next to her first and ever tenderly beloved friends, Mr. Howard and his sister, were the early friends of her dear father. She shed tears, but they were tears of rapture, which she attempted not to restrain; and as she received the kind embraces of the Countess, she implored her to transfer the love she had felt for her mother to her, for which inestimable blessing she should receive the obedience and affection of the most dutiful daughter.

But

The Countess assured her of her love, which she declared was almost maternal from the first moment she saw her. now that she had been deprived of her own child, she should enjoy exclusively the place in her heart which that amiable being had possessed.

"You may remember, my love," said the Countess, "that when I saw you at Stanley Hall, I said, that you reminded me of a dear friend, separated from me by death. The friend I alluded to was your angelic mother, whom you greatly resemble, though more in voice and manner than in person.'

The friends found so many things to talk of and explain, that they were unwilling to separate. Fitzormond was therefore easily persuaded to take up his abode in the house of his friend, during their stay in town; to which arrangement Louisa cheerfully consented, as she could there enjoy as much of the society

of her lover as in a house of her father's, he being constantly in the habit of living with the Earl and Countess, when they were near each other.

CHAP. IX.

What blessings thy free bounty gives,

Let me not cast away;

For God is paid when man receives :

T'enjoy is to obey.

Pore.

THE mystery was soon explained to Fitzormond, respecting the rank of his friends, whom he had left plain Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell: an uncle of Mr. Maxwell having died, and shortly after his only son, so that that gentleman succeeded to the title and estate, and also took the family name. Some family dispute having prevented any degree of intimacy, between the uncle and nephew, Fitzormond had never heard of the relationship.

When the Countess found Fitzormond able to bear the subject, she mentioned