Julia down at her brother's very door; and it was with a mixed feeling, that Miss Somerville again found herself in an abode where she had experienced much pain and some few agreeable hours. There was such an appearance of hurry, disorder, and confusion, that she could scarcely recognise her former habitation; and, but for the unexpected appearance of Mr. De Burgh, would have experienced at first the chill and comfortless sensation of being a stranger, though at home.

A great part of the furniture was covered up or removed. The rooms were dismantled of their pictures, glasses, and hangings; the hall obstructed with corded trunks and packages. Against the wall, unframed, and in an unfinished state, leant a large and beautiful painting in oils, by Lawrence, representing Mrs. and Miss Somerville, grouped in an attitude of friendship. In the saloon, which was alone still tolerably furnished, odd and illlooking men were peeping about, as if waiting

waiting for something-lounging over newspapers, and soiling the piled cushions of the sofas with their neglected morning dresses.

Julia observed several of the trunks and bandboxes were directed to Mrs. Somerville, at Miss Ravenshawe's. A cold shuddering seized her." Could it be possible Amelia had at length abandoned Horatio in his uttermost distress?"

From these painful conjectures she was recalled by the voice of Mr. De Burgh"I have not been able to see Mr. Somerville yet," he said; "he was not well enough, I was told. Your presence, Miss Somerville, will, I trust, make my introduction more easy."

Their conversation was interrupted by a message, that Mr. Somerville was most desirous to see his sister.

In passing to Horatio's apartment, Julia saw the door of Amelia's dressing-room open, and Mrs. Jennings, her woman, in

the

the midst of an ocean of silks, laces, jewels, ostrich plumes, and artificial flowers "Putting up the rest of my lady's things, for the country, ma'am," she said, in answer to Miss Somerville's interrogative glance.

Julia's worst suspicions were confirmed. Marsden, who had staid behind, but always regretted her mistress, now came forward." Oh, my dear young lady, I am so glad you are come back! "Twill be new life to Mr. Somerville, for he has nobody with him now but Mr. Lascelles."

"Lascelles!" repeated Julia.

"Yes, miss-my lady; but don't you go now for to be frightened at that. It's not for to talk to him like a passon, or any such frightful molloncholy stuff; for my concern for my poor dear master obliged me once or twice for to put my ear to the keyhole, and, as well as I could confiscate it, 'twas politics the gentlemen was a-talking. No, thank God! I hope we are not so bad as to be come for to talk of religion

yet;

yet; though, for sure, your poor brother, maʼam, is in much more eminent danger than he likes people to think."

Lascelles had, at length, by the mere force and weight of his high intellectual and moral character, so far conquered the prejudices of lord Lulworth, as to convince that nobleman, who was still more worldly-minded than tyrannical, that a perseverance in his ungenerous resentment would only render more public and perpetual his own disgrace. He now, therefore, affected to treat him as a family-connexion, and selected him, as the one of the family for whom Somerville had professed the most friendship, to be the bearer of a communication of peculiar delicacy and importance.

Breaking from the loquacious and indiscreet sympathy of poor Marsden, Julia, with a heart deeply oppressed, proceeded to her brother's chamber. Somerville was confined to a couch, and more altered than even her affectionate apprehensions had suggested as possible. Near the chimney

piece stood. Lascelles, apparently absorbed in considering how best to break to his friend the message of which the crafty lord Lulworth had made him the medium. The curls of his raven hair fell negligently over a countenance pale from watching and uneasiness; and the touching disorder of sorrow added its wild and peculiar grace to his very fine features and figure. With a look such as superior powers may bend on suffering saints, he welcomed the ap proach of Julia; and she, given up to the consideration of her brother's sufferings and danger, was only alive to the impres sion of seeing, in Lascelles, a person who felt as she did.

The meeting between the brother and sister was, on both sides, most affecting. Still, notwithstanding his weak and emaciated state, Horatio was the first to try to turn the conversation into a cheerful channel.-" Do not despond, Julia," he said; I am not so ill as those sweet mild eyes would make me believe. I would go out

too