Grace she was absolutely regarded as a sister.

But it was not merely in mental attainments that Rose equalled her friend; nature had not rendered her less attractive to the eye. Like the Maria of Sterne, she was of the first order of fine forms, her air easy, graceful, and commanding; more that of a superior than a dependent. Her complexion was inclining to paleness, but the slightest emotion tinged it with a crimson glow, as fugitive as bright; her countenance was of the Grecian outlineher brows arched, her mouth small, her lips red and pouting, her teeth regularly set and beautifully white, her eyes of the darkest hue, and her hair, which in rich profusion was braided round her finelyformed head, of a corresponding colour.

ance.

Her temper and disposition, as already intimated, equalled her external appearShe had a natural flow of spirits, though she was not without her anxieties, that kept the castle alive; but withal a simplicity and purity of heart that knew

no guile, nor entertained the most distant notion, by such mirth, of levity; her sentiments were never twisted or turned to answer any particular purpose-she spoke as she thought, and acted as she felt. Her loveliness seemed to set at nought one of Miss Agnes Flora Judith's systems, her father, the miller, being a cross, blacklooking, little old man, and her mother, she understood, for she had been dead some years, was not more amiable in her appearance; yet here, in their offspring, was a paragon of beauty; but extraordinary cases will sometimes occur, she reflected.

But for the society of Rose, heavily, at times, would the days have passed with Grace; and even as it was, she could not help, at times, from the little company they saw, sighing at the absence of her lover and her brother. The former kept up a constant correspondence with her, nor were the promised presents forgotten; but his letters were often nearly as calculated to afford her pain as pleasure; for

though William would not have willingly caused affliction to the heart of her he loved, yet the gratification inseparably connected with the idea of unbosoming one's self to those of whose sympathy we are sure, made him confide all his vexations and grievances to her; and these were not a few, his uncle being a man of an austere temper, little adapted to conciliate or soften the bitterness of dependence. A severe shock was experienced by Grace on hearing of Eugene's dismission from the navy; but when she reflected on his disposition, and that she might assure herself from it he never would have turned his face again towards home, had he done any thing to discredit or dishonour his name, she in a degree got the better of it. The precise moment of his return was not known; he therefore surprised his aunt one day, when all the rest of the family were out. Had she met him by chance, she would hardly have recognised him, so great was the alteration a few years had wrought in his appearance; from a slight,

delicate-looking boy, he was now changed into a fine, tall, manly youth of nineteen, with a pleasant, ingenuous countenance, dark, sparkling eyes, and short, thick, curling hair, that set off his expressive features to the greatest advantage." Well, here I am, my dear aunt and kind instructress!" he cried, clasping the old lady in his manly arms, and giving her a hug of the most affectionate nature, 66 your poor sailor boy, turned adrift, to seek his fortune where he may, because, forsooth, he would not bow and cringe, and relinquish his own opinions; but, by Jove, that is a meanness I would not have descended to, though the world had been all before me, where to choose my place of rest!"

"Then it is as I imagined," said Miss Agnes Flora Judith, as soon as she had recovered from the effects of surprise and the hug; "but explain, my dear boy, explain, before we are likely to be interrupted."

This was succinctly done; and Miss

Agnes Flora Judith was vehement in her exclamations on the injustice he had met with "But console yourself for it, my love," she cried, " by the reflection of the glory that ever attaches to persecution in a just cause; and that, as nature did not form you to be a slave, these men, or petty tyrants, have only been instruments in the hands of fate, to turn you back into that path which will lead you onward to the accomplishment of your high destiny. Had your father taken my advice, instead of the few last years having been wasted, as they have been, amidst strife, and ignorance, and stupidity, you might even now, young as you are, have been a rising star in the horizon of literature, and successful competitor with the Great Unknown;' but n'importe, no great time has been lost, and ere long, I triumphantly anticipate seeing your brows bound with bays, instead," with a smile, " being shadowed with that odious hairy cap, like your late comrades, all tar and roughness."