then th

ettling o'er a

easures? Whence

allurements of

nted and

Sigou

they might leave the sisters time to talk quietly over

emonade on a small table by her side, which she sipped from time to time, as she listened to long accounts of her sister's hopes and fears for her children's welfare, together with various anecdotes, tending to show the admiration they excited whe

ssed for an instant over Mrs. Lesl

g time ago, and I cannot

ed herself in anything relative to marriage, "you never t

t mentioned it for I was so much pained at th

me the gentleman's na

s delicate and right in her to wish it, and I have never spoken of

t?" said Mrs. Villars, "and q

of considerable fortune, and my Mabel is, I think, particularly fitted for a station above that which she at present enjoys. Her taste in painting and sculpture, has been acknowledged by masters-and tho' so kind and useful and simple hearted now, I always thought she was fitte

chment?" said Mrs. Vill

. She had generally her own way, but that way seemed so unselfish that I had neither the power nor the wish to complain. He admired this spirit, mixed with so much sweetness; no

ly flattered," said Mrs. Villars, "now my Selina is so like what you descr

or a few minutes, then again

er papa died, and I used to think over it all, as you

ry to those who know the world as well as I do." She felt a slight sensation of

only more manly. Mabel was a beautiful girl when he returned, and it was soon easy to perceive that however changed he might be in other respects, his affection for her remained unaltered." Mrs. Lesly stopped to sip her lemonade, and then with some little effort continued-"His return," she said, "to which we looked forward so much, did not make us happier. He would persuade her to go out sometimes, but she always came back soon, and often looked as though she had been crying, though she

religion, which he spoke of as a curious and useful superstition, acting as a guide to vulgar minds. 'M

important of all points of knowledge; sickness had made me prize that, in proportion as every thing else lost interest; but I did fear for her when, with only my weak le

l I know," said Mrs. Villars, "an

too candid to conceal from her, the change his opinions had undergone. It appeared, from his own account, that while abroad, his society had been mostly composed of those generally distinguished by the name of free thinkers. Perhaps, feeling that he could argue well, and with a too presumptuous trust in himself, he courted every opportunity of disputing with them on th

ould be to each other, but he is no longer worthy of you. Now you must prove what and how you believe.' I spoke ste

h, I grew tired of being alone, and, taking up my work, I went down stairs. I heard a voice speaking loudly in the sitting-room, and I guessed whose it was. I felt frightened-for since my William's death, everything affects me-so I stopped; but I heard my child sobbing, and I opene

xplanation, 'it is well, perhaps, that you are here,

e may be a slight difference in our rank, or wealth rathe

, in whose love I, at least, had faith, is fanatic enough to refuse to ma

dicules the motives which are, at once, the guide and blessing of her existence?-or what reliance can she have on a man who does not even recognise the principle

him beseechingly, she said-'Do not let us part in anger-I can bear anything but that-let me remai

from him, as if she had been a serpent. She reel

ace in my gown, as if he would have withered her with his contemp

st out-"'It is broken now, if this be the effects o

as s

etaliate upon him reproach for reproac

her truth,' he exclaimed, 'if she

so for the last f

he replied, 'she would

very religion she professes-and would her acting in o

if there were any medium with me between love and hate, except utter forgetfulness.' "'Madam,' he exclaimed, as if suddenly remem

Mabel, he left us, and I

d never left her bed for weeks. I sent to our good Mr. Ware, and told him everything, and asked him to come and comfort Mabel; and so he did, most effectually. Night after night did I sit by her, terrified by

per, 'don't cry, dear Mabel.' There was not much comfor

t-watching, and it was quite touching to see how hard she tried to get well, that she might nurse me in turn. Oh, what a comfort it was when she began to smile

a great deal to vex you," sai

years; but my health is failing sadly-and I have one care certainly, when I think of leaving my children without a friend in

pity she did not marry the young man-what

acted as I did," said Mr

my orphan children would have been a great temptation. Indeed, that love for my family guides me in

s narrow view of the subject. "I have been foolish in many thing

wisdom, dear Annie," sa

eve in an overruling Providence, act most wisel

ad been more in accordance, and for the moment, she would have given much to have retained the simp

pause, s

be otherwise, do not have one care for your children, fo

earted way of speaking. Could I believe that you would, indeed, be a friend to my children, I should be spared many a wakeful ni

consequences; why should I not follow it? And you recall the days of our happy childhood, when

w evanescent were her resolutions, nor guessed that the sentiments she sometimes professed, as little belonged to her own heart, as the delusive images of the Fata Mor