discovered that which no one about us had yet observed, that our agent, Mr. Clifford, intends persuading Miss Theen. to migrate to his house. Mr. Seaton is a peculiar man, with a sagacity I should think rarely at fault.

"I can fancy that from Rose's birth, perceiving the promise of her exquisite and peculiar loveliness, he has planned a scheme in his head, never losing sight of it for a day. And I can foresee that he will succeed. My little Rose, you are to be my daughter. The man with the indomitable spirit has willed it, and it will be done. Her grace, gentleness, and beauty are just what Linton will most admire. And if she is not clever, she is loving and warm-hearted.

"She is marvellously pretty, her complexion like the delicate pink cameo shell, and the features cut out with a faultless and unerring chisel from its fairest part. She has hands and feet like little gems,

and her hair of pale brown hangs about her little face like a soft cloud. She is made to be petted, kissed, and doted on. And out of the large heart that I know my Linton possesses, what a store of love he can shower upon her! Gracious God, how I thank Thee! Ere we leave him, my son may be in possession of a heart that will console him for the loss of his mother, and obtain the friendship and love of a brother, to replace that of his father. We could desire no more for him. How warmly he writes of his new friend! My Ferdy' he styles him now, so he has given him all his heart. I have followed Mr. Seaton's plan, and said but little of the lovely Rose. In a few weeks now we

shall all meet. I am curious to see him who owes his life to my Linton."

"We have just returned from Clover Cottage, Mr. Lovel and I find our steps continually turning that way,—he is gallantly making love by proxy for his son, to

the little Ceylon pearl. She is nestling surely and permanently in my heart. I begin to chafe at Linton's delay, prompted by young Ferdinand Home; he is cruising now amid the Western Isles. Some one may hear of

our little beauty, and

my son has seen her.

besiege her heart ere

Though we possess

but few neighbours, and cannot boast of a populous vicinity, the rumour of beauty gathers the crowd together from afar. Such is the power of it-though scarcely acknowledged by the beauty-worshippers. I will nevertheless trust all to Mr. Seaton; he has guarded his treasure so long for one purpose, and is not likely to be less vigilant at the moment of fruition.

"He smiled his peculiar smile to-day, as he watched Mr. Lovel petting the little thing with all the love of a doting father; and he is too shrewd not to perceive how we love to look at her, and never part with her until we fix the hour to meet again.

"I have said she is not clever,—but

she has one or two peculiarities that may almost be called talents. One is-her taste. She has transformed Miss Theen's little square cottage into a bower of prettiness and elegance, entirely her own design. Give her a handful of flowers, and she will wreathe them into a bouquet that delights. the eye with its arrangement. Her love of flowers is a passion; she calls them her sisters, and cherishes them like pets.

"This gift of taste extends itself to everything about her; in dress it is exquisite and peculiar. She will robe her head in a veil, and look like the loveliest little gem of a picture ever seen; she will entwine a piece of ribbon through her hair, and be more charming than before. Her light, flexible figure adapts itself to every dress, and is graceful in all. But above everything in this my daughter that (I pray God) is to be, I see a lovely spirit shining fair and clear through her serene eyes; she is as discriminating in all she says and does, as

if the pretty fancies of her brain arose from a just and thoughtful heart."

"Cast thy bread upon the waters and it shall return unto thee again.'

"I underwent much persecution from my guardians concerning the sum I spared out of mine abundance for my young cousin, upwards of forty years ago; at the time when my dear Mr. Lovel, being told of this my wayward extravagance, with a view to alarm me by the withdrawal of his affections, on the contrary won my heart for ever, by saying he loved me the more for it. I think this bread' cast upon the

6

waters is likely to return to us, increased a hundred-fold.

"Another letter from Mr. Home,-or Ferdinand, as I am besought to style him. He has bespoken a place in my heart for evermore, as if he was a younger son born to me; and that he may use worthily the life he so nearly lost, shall not be forgotten in my prayers.'