I trust I have forborne the slightest indication of it." on and raw and

Julia pressed her hand, in acknowledgment of this additional proof of propriety of feeling, and began her little history,

15" My father was the head of a mercantile house in London, of which the concerns were so extensive, that he might literally be said not to know the limits of his own wealth. My mother's, parties at the west end of the town vied with the most distinguished of the wives of the nobility, qudurl I amb d

I was the youngest, of the whole fa

mily! My sisters were universally admired I have been reckoned rather pretty," continued Julia, with a modest blush, "but you would in vain endeavour, from seeing me, to form an idea of the regular and resplendent beauty of my sisters. They were their father's and their mother's pride; but, at the very height of their bloom and brilliancy, the eldest was attacked

of oveThe's the grave.

he second was seized in the

same manner she also died. flol om brig

-Js & Wild with grief, my rief my mother removed

etiquoyst & ad red youcot

into the country, in hopes of preserving the third. In vain. Just at the same peen anden bereits riod, and in the same manner, she drooped, like her sisters, and all the art of medicine could not preserve her from the same fate. I never saw my mother smile Jentered in prosperity, Nursed rity, she had scarcely known affliction before."It turn

ed her brain. She only påssed from the -wolof Ilseyra bano soy of a violence of frenzy to the torpor 10979 197 berettel base

despair. Never shall I forget the fixed, yet harlook with which she

Jomed to 990 20

happier, alle bas W82 19v9 I nem elds99rgs I can die!

darlings. But happier oh, far

"Her words were prophetic, she was soon afterwards confined by lness to her 1900 ad gorgenge bus betsmibed, doidw

bed, from which she never rose. Of all his family, my father had only Horatio and me left. I was possessed of a better constitution than my sisters, which I attributed to my not having been a favourite with my mother, who did not nurse me herself, and who suffered me to pass the first years of my life in the country.

"With spirits irrevocably depressed by the sad events that had taken place so rapidly in my family, I was, against my will, put at the head of a magnificent establishment, and, as the presumed inheritor of great wealth, found myself followed, caressed, and flattered; yet even at that period danger menaced us in a different form.

66

My father had a junior partner, an Irishman of an ancient and honourable family, Mr. De Burgh was one of the most agreeable men I ever saw, and, in all his habits and pursuits, much more the man of fashion than the man of business. Frank, animated, and engaging, his manners,

which displayed the wit and amenity peculiar to his country, formed the most advantageous contrast with my poor father's -ever cold, severe, and calculating: but of his principles we were not quite so certain. The head-clerk was the first to take the alarm, and ventured to hint to my father the necessity of being on his guard with respect to Mr. De Burgh.

66

My father only laughed at his panic, and attributed the strange rumours that were afloat to the jealousy his splendour might have excited. Better be envied

than pitied,' he said.

66

'Oh, Amelia! do you wonder that I shudder to hear Horatio repeat that dan gerous maxim?

"The warning was but too true. I still sincerely incline to believe that Mr. De Burgh's intentions were honourable; but, misled by the madness of speculation, he had entered into engagements it was impossible for him to fulfil. The credit

of

of the house was compromised-its comVLOSS DAS JIW en besigaib dow mercial honour was gone!

- 9 9 aid of silve "Ignorant as a child of these events, I had been out all the morning, procuring Also bris erever y artificial flowers for a fete that was to be -199 02 9 Jon 919 9 29d to given in a few days at our I was

desirous of my father's opinion respecting sy of of being basals, ed their effect in one of the rooms, and rebisig en no gried to dia2999 911, 19d paired, with my usual freedom, to his li1 of 1590291 tiw brary. I knocked, but received no anSing aid de begusi vir

swer. I was always welcome, and thereJan 1999 bejudintis a fore fearlessly prepared to open the door. It was locked. I listened-a nameless barva 90 191 192 evenim terror came over me, Suddenly I heard bisa od bolig, med the report of a pistol, and some one fell. silem A do

of Terrified, I hurried to to my brother. Ash and f89997 ofsi0H 1sed of Tabbuda "Somerville was just returned home