gazing on her own wasted features in the glass, it struck her that she bore a strong resemblance to the youngest of her sisters, just before the last fatal illness that hurried her to the grave. A beam of joy shot downward to her heart-" Is it possible?" "Is she convulsively exclaimed. “Oh, my

dear sister, I wronged you when I said that, from the summit of heavenly happi ness, you were unmindful of my afflic tions! In a year-six months-perhaps three, I shall rejoin you-rejoin you and my parents, in the abodes of everlast ing bliss, and escape from this cold world, where none will give a tear to my me mory."

Such meditations were not likely to make Julia an agreeable companion to a woman of Mrs. Somerville's disposition; yet, that morning, she was certainly uncommonly cheerful. Believing herself at tacked with the same complaint as her sisters, Miss Somerville had almost reasoned herself into a persuasion that her day's

were

were numbered. The idea that she should soon escape from the evils of life rendered them already more supportable, and gave, even to her manner to Amélia, a languid air of tenderness, rather than reproach.

The promenade was uncommonly brilliant. Mrs. and Miss Somerville hád scarcely taken two turns, when Amelia perceived the earl of Rothbury, with whom she was acquainted, arm-in-arm with a young man whom she was not long in recognising. It was Lascelles, who was obliged, by some business, to spend a short time in town. Notwithstanding the strong prejudices of the Lulworth family, the vileness of Anna's conduct, and the magnanimity of Lascelles, had at length been put in so clear a light, that Amelia was ashamed to persist in her injustice. Somerville had already advanced to meet him, with the cordial warmth of unabated friendship, and Mrs. Somerville received him with that grace which always distinguished her manner with those towards whom

whom she had once made up her mind to behave properly. But what remained for Julia? Like the first beam of the sun, when it unchains the ice-bound streamlets, after a Lapland winter, was his cheering glance to her chilled and desolate heart. After the proper compliments were paid to Somerville and his wife, Lascelles immediately joined her; but it would be wronging both Adolphus and Julia to suppose that their words, or even their looks, spoke of love. Had he been free when she arrived at Rothbury, Julia would probably have been the object of his choice. They were drawn towards each other by an uncommon conformity of character, even to that gentle melancholy which each pensive bosom cherished as a dearer treasure than all that worldly gaiety could give. But the rigid principles of Lascelles commanded him to check the least approach to a warmer sentiment than the gratitude her candour excited; and Julia, on her part, had never dared to think of this unhappy

and

and interesting young man farther than to try to judge him justly. The recent death of Anna made each persist in this delicate reserve; but was it not enough for Julia, so long unaccustomed to meet a heart that answered to hers-was it not enough, to meet a being who took a lively interest in her concerns-who felt grateful for her past friendship, and eager to renew it?

How dangerous it is to accept a general invitation! That very morning Julia had invoked Death, and invoked him in the sincerity of her heart; and yet, now, had the grim gentleman taken her at her word, and presented himself between her and the blooming Adolphus, he would have run the risk of a worse than indifferent reception. Every object seemed to revive with Julia's reviving spirits. The greensward, which had appeared to her before a dusty disagreeable scene, now seemed adorned with all the beauties of spring. Pedestrians, equestrians, equipages, each had

VOL. IV.

G

their

their 'charm; and she wondered at the sullen humour which prevented her having any pleasure in the Park before. London itself was no longer an interminable mass of 'uninteresting houses and streets, filled with insupportable people, hurrying to and fro about she knew hot what it was the element that encircled herself and Adolphus. Every day that he remained in town she saw him, and, in the course of conversation, he soon explained to her whatever yet remained unaccounted 'for in all that concerned himself and Celestina.

Julia found that, in the sufferings of the unhappy Anna, he had been amply avenged; and from her own lips Lascelles had received the confession of her motives and feelings. The slave of a jealous and suspicious tyrant (the more suspicious, from the cause she had given him to believe her destitute of principle), equally afraid t solicit the clemency of her husband, or to throw herself under the protection of her relations, whose severity she had already experienced,

to