culiar habits disqualified her for taking that place in society which her character and manners were fitted to adorn. That his proposal was eagerly embraced; and that he should return with his brother, for the purpose of accompanying Agnes to town.

The prospect of so soon beholding her son almost reconciled Mrs. Percival to the idea of losing a companion, who, since the real cares and perplexities of life had established a closer intimacy between them, had been to her most dear and valuable; and still, at intervals, her tears would flow, upon the thought how soon these treasures would both be gone. "And what shall I do," she would then say, CC to beguile the moodiness of poor Arnold ?"

But she never gave way to this kind of lamentation without regret; for there came across the countenance of Agnes such a look of distress, as made her each time determine that she would be wiser for the future. So sad it is to hear the name of one we love connected with tones of tenderness and pity, for the very pain that we ourselves have inflicted.

ing, has not been soothed by kind attentions, or pained by the want of them? No! despise them as we will, it is the impulse of nature which compels us to recall the little services of our absent friends, as the dearest pledges of their affection. Who has not felt himself (perhaps it would be wiser to say herself) as it were in a land of strangers, when surrounded only by those, who, paying no regard to her individual tastes and feelings in the minute circumstances of life, perpetually crossed her inclination, and jarred upon her prejudices, by addressing her on topics the most repugnant-offering her gifts of which she could make no use-helping her to food which she was not in the habit of tasting-proposing conveyances for which her health was entirely unfitted-choosing, for her gratification, enjoyments for which she had no relish ;-and thus inflicting upon her the greatest annoyances of life, without the least idea that she was not made happy? And we some of us well know, that there have been those so stripped, so destitute of all human sympathy, that a voice in the multitude amongst whom they believed themselves to be alone, suddenly touching their individual feelings by some reference, however simple, to things which they had sought or shunned, approved or rejected, in former days, has filled their eyes with tears, and their hearts with gratitude, that any one should be remembering them at the time when they felt themselves most desolate and forlorn.

It was a great relief to all parties when the cheerful face of Walter Percival again appeared at Houghton; whether he busied himself with the many alterations and improvements at the castle, which his brother allowed him to set agoing, or entered, with an interest peculiar to kind and social characters, into his mother's sphere of domestic comfort at home. But chiefly to Agnes, circumstanced as she then was, his social and Lady Forbes had charged Walter, if posopen manner, accompanied by the most deli-sible, to take his cousin back with him, procate respect for her feelings, shown in a tenderness that was less expressed than understood, were more welcome for the extreme need she now felt of such sympathy and support.

Let none, who would add to the happiness of their fellow-creatures, be above those little attentions from which the proud and the selfish excuse themselves, by saying they are too trifling for their regard. Is not human life made up of trifles; and what being possessed in any degree of susceptibility of feel

mising that nothing should be wanting to make her residence in town agreeable, and that she should be treated with the greatest liberality, as money was no object with her.

This lady was born in India, where, at a very early age, she married Sir William Forbes, her senior by thirty years, at whose death she was left in the possession of more wealth than wisdom to enjoy it. She had been the mother of several children, who had died in infancy, all except one daughter, sent over soon after her birth to benefit by

on a couch with all the luxurious indolence of a more sunny clime, and her apartment was furnished with a degree of costly elegance that would scarcely have dishonoured a sultana. Her dark eyes half hid beneath their languid lids, and long shadowy lashes, were slowly raised on the entrance of Agnes, and she stretched forth a delicate white hand that dropped listlessly by her side after her effort to perform a welcome, as if weigh

the air of Scotland amongst her father's relations. Whether from a want of felicity in her matrimonial connection, or from a combination of uncongenial circumstances which attended the formation of her character, the unfortunate mother had suffered a naturally amiable temper to become completely soured; and having, at the same time, given way to a general mistrust of her fellow-creatures, she had consequently few friends in India to regret her departure for England, and stilled down with its burden of rings and glitterfewer to welcome her to the shores of that ing gems. country where she now bemoaned her sad and isolated existence, without the energy or even the desire to make it more happy, by being more active and useful. Companions she had tried in numbers almost incredible, but, in her opinion, they had all treated her ungenerously, some dishonestly; and she had parted from every one with mutual dislike. She was now entirely alone-a sit- | uation of all others the most dreadful to her; and, from Walter's description of his cousin, she caught at the proposition with such avid-robe in such charmed precincts; but weariity, that she considered herself extremely illused when informed that she must wait a few weeks before Agnes Forester could possibly appear in town.

The appointed day, however, came at last; and Agnes, weary and somewhat dispirited, alighted from a hackney-coach with her cousin Walter, who wished, for the first time in his life, that he could have driven her up to the door in his own carriage, if only to inspire the domestics with a little more respect for her who, in his opinion, deserved the richest honours of an admiring world.

Lady Forbes was a handsome woman, of that indescribable age about which you feel sorry that any one should make exact enquiries. Dark, indolent, and perfectly eastern in all her habits. To have appeared entirely in character she should have worn a crimson or yellow turban, and slaves should have been crouching at her feet, or fanning her with the gorgeous feathers of some Indian bird. As it was, the turban and the slaves alone were wanting-for she reclined

Agnes felt all that uncomfortable sensation with which we open out from the wrappings of a journey in the presence of those whose toilette has been more recent, and who appear never to have known the touch of vulgar dust; she therefore begged permission, as soon as Walter had departed, to retire at an early hour. Her lodging-room, that citadel of a woman's comfort, was prepared with the greatest taste and elegance, so that she almost dreaded to unfold her simple ward

ness does much to overcome the influence of finery, and, though the visions which flitted before her mind, as she tossed upon the downy bed which vainly invited her to repose, were many and strange, her thoughts were at lest composed and settled, for she had not applied in vain to the fountain of all consolation, whose healing waters were ever ready for her utmost need.

One great difficulty amongst many, which attend what is called a situation, is the doubt about the actual occupations of the day: which every one must feel at first, from not knowing what is expected, what will please, or what will disappoint; nor can any thing be altogether more pitiable than the fate of her who goes forth into the world to be agreeable for hire. She may possibly have been tenderly nurtured in a pleasant homeher wishes gratified-her tastes consultedher feelings indulged-the idol of a partial circle to which her very failings have endeared her. But the stroke of affliction has fallen, her father's finances are suddenly reduced, or his life (the prop of his family) is

Deal then gently with your homeless sisters-ye who possess the power to buy amusement! And remember, that she from whom you are perpetually demanding sym

that sympathy herself; that the fount from whence you would draw unceasing gratification, must sometimes need supply; and that the lamp from which you would borrow light, may not always have the blessed oil to spare.

taken away; and, with either of these sad events, and the breaking up of the whole establishment, have come the usual falling away of summer friends, the settlement of the sons in trade, and the daughters in situa-pathy, has once enjoyed, and still may want tions. The one individual whom we have singled out may have besides her own secret sorrows-strange comments made upon her character which none dared utter before the cold treatment of a friend-a lover estranged-in short, the breaking-in of the floods of adversity upon her little garden of Agnes Forester had none of these gloomy homefelt delight: but she forgets for a while associations to embitter her present lot. Her her own cares in the dispersion of her family, choice had been a voluntary one, made in and prepares to share the general wreck. A the same spirit in which we apply a wholesituation is found. "How fortunate!" ex- some but unpalatable restorative, and as such claim those who must otherwise have opened she had no disposition to murmur at the dutheir doors to receive her. A morbid invalid ties which consequently fell upon her. These is in want of perpetual entertainment, and duties were certainly of a very mysterious the broken-hearted girl must bid adieu to her character; but a willing mind can mostly native place to every tree, and hill, and find employment sufficient even for an able grove to all the associations of early life, hand. and the tenderness of close relationship. With probably tenfold the refinement of those amongst whom her lot is cast, she goes to dwell in a land of strangers, where she must have neither hopes, passions, nor remembrances which may not be made sub-ings in its leaden grasp and mistrust the servient to the purpose of pleasing her, who demon which guarded them against the enfeels, whenever her spirits begin to flag, that trance of any good. she is not receiving the worth of the money which she pays for her companion to keep her in good humour.

Men may complain that they have to labour with head and hand to obtain their daily bread; and dreadful indeed is the vortex into which absolute men of business are plunged!-deadening to the intellectual faculties, and oppressive to the spirit that would gladly flee away and be at rest: but men have their hearts, their passions, their feelings to themselves; they have only to calculate and look for money: while women are taxed for their powers of pleasing, of loving, serving, and suffering for others; in short, for just what it is impossible that money should purchase-for the flowers of existence that sweeten life only when they grow spontaneously.

A careless observer would have pronounced Lady Forbes to be the victim of morbid sensibility. Agnes soon discovered that selfishness was the root of her maladyindolence the incubus that clenched her feel

Still she was a lovely woman, possessed of many graces both natural and acquired; and her entire helplessness, the effect of habits long indulged, rendered her an object rather of pity than dislike.

All the mental powers which Agnes could command, concentrated and directed to one purpose, were unable for some time to devise any mode of acting likely to be serviceable in such a case; but the effort which she made was of the greatest possible benefit to herself, drawing away her thoughts from the tree of forbidden fruit, and feeding them with safe and wholesome sustenance. At her first initiation into office, she was entrusted with enormous bunches of keys, for Lady Forbes was tormented with the idea that her worldly substance was perpetually prayed upon by thieves; and, as she had too little energy to

late hour one evening, telling Agnes of her early marriage with one who had regarded her only as a lovely child, nor sought in her society one intellectual gratification; and the lonely, wearisomie, and monotonous life which she had consequently led. It is true she had not unfrequently related this story before, but she had never found a listener who appeared to feel with her and for her. Those who have lived alone in a busy and stirring world can best tell what it is for the first time to awaken real sympathy-not the simper of mere politeness, or the sigh that responds from lips unacquainted with sincerity, but the deep, earnest sympathy of a feeling heart. This was the happiness of which Lady Forbes tasted for the first time; and when she parted from Agnes that night, it was with the warm pressure of the hand —that silent earnest of future good understanding.

would reply, with calm brow and unblushing cheek. "We have been brought up together from our infancy, and to me he has ever been like a kind and affectionate brother." Why would it have been impossible for her to answer in the same words, and the same manner, had the name of Arnold been substituted for that of Walter?

Before one month had passed away, Agnes believed herself to be in possession of the entire confidence of Lady Forbes; and so essential had she become to her happiness, that she was regarded as the very support of her life,-referred to in all doubts, appealed to in all difficulties, and entreated oftener than the day, never to leave her. In vain did Agnes argue, that a proper reliance upon that support which is promised to the needy, with the use of right reason in the common emergencies of life, would effectually prevent that servile dependance which Confidence once established, the way places us too much in the power of our fellowopened, and the work begun, Agnes went on creatures. Lady Forbes had only advanced with cheerful perseverance; and, although one step from the centre of selfishness, and there were many objections to the graver that step was to throw her burdens upon books which she strove at times to introduce, Agnes, who thought, acted, and spoke for her, and many excuses for the few faults which-in short, was trusted so far, as to open and she ventured to point out at first in her lady-read her letters. ship's domestic economy, and then in her habits of acting and thinking, she evidently gained ground; and succeeded finally in obtaining that confidence and respect, without which, she could have done nothing.

It was with the greatest satisfaction that Walter found his cousin, now fully established on the footing of a tried and valued friend, rather than a mere companion. "But Agnes makes every one love and respect her," said he, with a sigh, which none but himself could rightly interpret; and he resolved to call more frequently, since the manners of Lady Forbes began to be less forbidding. She would even join with social good humour in the society of the two cousins, and sometimes rallied Agnes on the attentions of her faithful knight. "Poor Walter !" Agnes

It happened one day, that she had broken the seal of a letter at the request of her friend, and stood for some moments in silence before she began to read. Lady Forbes looked up, wondering that she did not proceed, and catching a glimpse of the hand writing, uttered a loud shriek, sprang to the side of Agnes, and, snatching the letter from her hand, demanded in a hurried manner, whether she had seen any of the contents.

"I saw the name of mother," replied Agnes," and I blush to think that this is the first intimation I have had, that Lady Forbes has a daughter still living."

For a proper explanation of this mysterious letter, it will be necessary to go back to the circumstances which had transpired at Houghton Castle.