I island from end to end. And more especially her coast. From the little I have seen, conjecture that he will have a most interesting time of it. Moreover, he will see new faces, different manners, and will probably lose some of the shyness that rather grows upon him than lessens. How sadly he requires a more youthful companion than either his father or mother! For this, beneficent Father, do I pray, having all faith in that power who bestowed on us the gift of his existence. But not unasked are we to obtain blessings. Therefore, O thou unwearied One, hear, hear the prayers of a mother for her son-be with him in the hour of temptation, in the moment of danger, grant him his heart's desire, and fulfil all his mind, for Christ sake. Amen." From this time for two months, there are extracts from Linton's letters, more or less interesting. At the end of that time, they appear to have joined him for a short time at Torquay, a place, he fancied, would benefit his father's failing strength. 58 CHAPTER V. "All round and through the spaces of creation, Not e'en the bird, That can go up the labyrinthine winds Between its pinions, and pursues the summer." BEDDOES. THE following extract has proved to record an event of more importance to us, the unborn, than to those who regarded it personally with so much interest: "I pray God to receive my hearty thanks, as I record the mercy He has vouchsafed us in again receiving such happy letters from my son. And my eyes fill with tears of joy when I reflect that he has been the means, under God, of saving a life. He says but little himself, yet I doubt not he fully merits all that his new young friend says. May the life preserved prove acceptable to God, and be, both here and hereafter, a never-failing source of comfort and congratulation to my dear son. My prayers seem to be answered, for never before did Linton express himself so warmly in praise of an almost stranger; while the impulsive letter of the young man, breathes of an ardent sensibility that excites our interest before we have even seen him. I picture him to myself (Linton says he has the handsomest face he ever saw, too beautiful for a man), bright, joyous, and overflowing with spirits, the very companion for my learned, too grave Linton. But I would we knew the cause wherefore he had to leave the other vessel at the so near risk of his life. He was in 6 danger,' he saith, and cast himself forth.' What was that danger? It may be that Linton already knows it, and thinks it well not to trust the tale to a letter. He was ever so discreet. He is to bring him home with him. I long for the hour." Three weeks later: "To-day we have received the intelligence that Mr. Seaton has suddenly arrived in England with his grand-daughter. We have written to beg their company as a favour." "I have been surprised, almost startled, into an act of rudeness, and Mr. Lovel stands convicted of it. I refrained from exclaiming, but he uttered at once his admiration. I upbraided Mr. Seaton afterwards for not advising us beforehand of the beauty of his grand-daughter. She is unlike any one I ever saw. I can compare her to nothing but one of her own rosecoloured Ceylon pearls, she is so perfectly faultless. For answer he gave me none, only smiling significantly. I gathered from this smile that his silence had been premeditated. "I pray God that the little lovely thing may prove as beautiful in the spirit as in the flesh. At the present it is scarcely fair to judge. She is affectionate, unselfish, you can see that in every action. She has no accomplishments, and Mr. Seaton allows her education has been limited, though it was the best he could obtain for her. He is a fine old man himself, bronzed much beyond anyone I ever saw. They mean to take rooms in Miss Theen's house, who, now she has lost her mother, is so lonely she is glad to let part of it.” "I am surprised to see how completely Rose and Mr. Seaton have settled themselves in Clover Cottage." 666 'Why not, Lady?' he answered to my remark; 'I mean to die here.' "I murmured something about Miss Theen. 66 6 Ah,' said he, with his peculiar significant smile, 'shortly I shall have the whole of Miss Theen's house.' He had |