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landed and removed by the aid of a hack coachman, and a sturdy English lass, who, from attachment to the person she did not hesitate to call mistress, had crossed the Atlantic contrary to the advise of friends, who, though obliged to accept of parochial relief, and submit to the degradation of pauperism, clung to the soil of old England, and doubted the tales of independent abundance, which were told of a land beyond sea.

It

It had been Spiffard's wish that his aunt should take up her abode at his house until she had a proper introduction to that of Williams; but objections urged with perfect delicacy overruled his intention. Miss Atherton did not know of his marriage until told by himself. The name of Mrs. Spiffard had not appeared in any American papers that she had seen. had only been announced in the play-bills some weeks before her arrival. She was too well instructed not to know the worth of many female professors of the histrionic art, yet she felt no desire to associate with them; there was an undefined feeling an impression-almost a conviction-that her habits, manners and conversation would not agree with, or be agreeable to those who made the stage a profession. This might be mere prejudice: I only state the fact. She did not decide whether they were above or below her in the scale of society. She felt, that with the Bruntons, the Farrens, the Kembles, and the Siddonses, she would be out of her place.

In arranging the location of her temporary residence, these feelings had not been brought in view. Miss Atherton told her nephew truly, she had made up her mind before embarking on her voyage, that she would go to some hotel on landing, and ascertain the situation of her friends before determining further on her course-that, as she found her sister was ill, and might be injured by any sudden shock, she thought it best to adhere to her first arrangement until she had seen the physician who attended her. Besides, it might give offence if she went to any other private house than that of General Williams. A hotel she still thought was the best place to receive her, and after, she should be guided by circumstances and her nephew's counsel.

Williams was not a little surprised at receiving a note from Spiffard the day after Miss Atherton's arrival, informing him of that circumstance; of her father's death; and the intent of the voyage. He added, that she wished to see her sister immediately; and gave him notice where Eliza was to be found.

The subtle speculator had at that moment been employed in balancing the advantages against the disadvantages of losing

his wife. Great changes in his situation must result from her death. He would lose five hundred pounds sterling a year; but a burthen and a chain would be removed. He could start anew, free to pursue his crooked ways, and endowed with sufficient wealth to meet the world's gaze broadly. He congratulated himself upon his foresight; the cunning that had provided for his worldly well-being by the stipulation which secured him an annuity, in case of her decease before him; that ensured him competence for life. He was, (to use a common expression) "hugging himself" in the prospect of future ease obtained by his own management. "She will be forgotten, and all suspicion lulled to sleep of my" He did not, even in thought, use the word that would have finished the sentence with truth.

Spiffard's note alarmed him. He could not prevent the meeting of the sisters. He feared that the dishonourable contract might be disclosed by which he had relieved his wife from her disgraceful situation. To avoid this exposure was his first consideration. He must gain the good will of her sister, and, if possible, of the ugly little repulsive actor, her nephew. The first, he thought, his person and manners could accomplish: the second appeared almost a forlorn-hope; but, in his opinion, flattery would remove mountains. In the mean time his wife must be informed of her sister's arrival, and be prepared for an interview with her.

Mrs. Williams was in a state of exhaustion; nature seeming to be supported merely by the skill of her medical attendant. She had occasional returns of brain-fever, violent paroxysms of insanity, in which her ravings appeared to be partly occasioned by physical sufferings, but more from recollec tions of the past, and fears of the future-the last were at times frightful-at times touchingly distressing. She received the tidings of her sister's arrival, at first, with calmness approaching to joy. It was necessary to inform her of the death of her father. This caused a relapse into madness. On recove ring, the sister's image was present to her mind, and she be came impatient to see her-this was succeeded by a dread of meeting-alleviated by the recollection of her uniform kindness of deportment. "She was always good! She was al ways good!!!-But my father! my mother!" and again a frig htful paroxysm could only be relieved by insensibility.

In the mean time Mr. and Mrs. Spiffard waited upon Miss Atherton at the hotel. The ladies did not feel that cord iality which sometimes springs forth at first sight. All, how ever,

was conducted in good taste on one part, and good tact on the other. The visit was interrupted by the arrival of Williams, who came to conduct Eliza Atherton to her sister.

Miss Atherton had much the same feelings on the approach and in the presence of Williams as those I have endeavoured to describe in the case of our hero Zebediah Spiffard, when he by accident first encountered him. But the lady's sensations were much more under command, and partook of the character of the sex, and of the individual.

Mr. and Mrs. Spiffard departed; and the General having communicated the message from his wife, and expressed, in right courtly phrase, his own vehement desire that Miss Atherton would, without delay, see and soothe the agitated feelings of her suffering sister,-Eliza placed herself, on the instant, under his guidance; every thought and feeling of self merged in the desire to convey consolation to the lost Sophia.

What a change was presented to the eyes of the affectionate Eliza !—We will not dwell on the contrast these two sisters formed. In one was seen the results of vanity and passion, unrestrained by parental admonition, leading to degradation of the lowest kind, and to disease and untimely death; in the other, the effects of patient suffering under wrongs, self-government, and self-education; conducting to strength of mind, and the practise of every virtue; rewarded by health and the consciousness of rectitude.

Miss Atherton resolved to take up her abode under the roof that sheltered her dying sister, even before she heard the earnest entreaties with which such an arrangement was urged. Mrs. Williams seemed, after an hour passed with the once neglected Eliza, to feel that in her presence alone she had any stayany support-any hope in this world or the next. Even her exhausted frame recovered some force in consequence of that medicine, so soothing to the wounded mind, which was administered by such a physician: her sister's arrival seemed at first to threaten an acceleration of the expected catastrophe ; but in reality was found to remove it to a period somewhat more distant.

To the relief which the union with such a sister afforded to the sinking penitent was added the consolation, that in his dying moments her father had forgiven her, and desired that his blessing might ameliorate her sufferings, whenever she should feel the stings of conscience. This forgiveness and blessing were borne to the sufferer by one who, in every respect, was to her an angel bringing the tidings of peace.

The extreme illness of Mrs. Williams was a sufficient reason for Miss Atherton not visiting the family of their nephew. He had been, by the desire of the dying woman, introduced to her; and, now that Eliza was an inmate, felt no reluctance to enter the house of the detested Williams, with whom, however, he had no intercourse further than cold civility required. In his dying aunt he saw much to remind him of those scenes he had witnessed in his father's house, and of that evil he most dreaded-strengthening those feelings, and rendering more vivid those imaginings, which drove him to the brink of madness, at such times as he brooded over his fears.

One day, when Mrs. Williams was in the enjoyment of comparative tranquillity, Miss Atherton proposed to accompany Spiffard to his home: with the frankness appertaining to her independent character, she made the proposal on the first opportunity that had offered; Epiffard willingly agreed and the proposed visit was immediately carried into effect. When they arrived, Mrs. Epsom and her daughter had not yet returned from rehearsal. No one was at home but Emma Portland.

We have spoken of antipathies and sympathies; and shown the force of the first in two instances. We have now to illus

trate the second by example.

Spiffard was disappointed in not finding his wife at home. He briefly introduced his aunt to Emma.

"Miss Emma Portland. Miss Atherton."

Emma was found evidently (dressed and employed) as one who was at home. She was sitting at her usual morning needle-work, in all the elegance of simple habiliment: her sunny locks, shading her soft but radiant eyes, in a disorder, not the result of slovenly carelessness, but of exuberance, and the absence of that attention to adjustment, which the expectation of a visiter would demand. The muslin and the workbasket-the needle and the thimble, all denoted one of the family.

"And who is Miss Emma Portland ?" said Miss Atherton : her face strongly expressing surprise and delight. "Why should I find her here, and apparently one of your family, and not have been prepared for such a meeting? Why have I never heard of this lovely young lady?"

Before Emma could recover from her surprise-a surprise mingled with pleasure, as she gazed upon a woman she had heard described as repulsive in appearance, but who appeared to her all-attractive, from the frankness of her manner and

the charming expression of a benevolen countenance-before she knew her own thoughts at this smiling apparition and unexpected exclamation, she felt the warm embrace and maternal kiss of this frank-hearted Englishwoman.

The sympathy which unites two such beings is of no clime or country. There was an absence of reserve which might have startled some; but there was nothing in the manner of the foreigner that was uncongenial to Emma Portland, because there was nothing artificial. There was no assumed superiority; and the real superiority, which more years and more knowledge conferred, were not thought of by the one, and were felt as an offered protection--a gift and a blessingby the other.

Miss Atherton's quick glance perceived in Emma Portland the ingenuous innocence of youth, united to beauty of body and mind. It was the glance of intelligence exchanged with intelligence. The sympathy of the good attracting to the good. From this time Emma had a friend of her own sex. One to whom, if needed, she could look for protection or advice. In her highly gifted cousin, Mrs. Spiffard, though confident of her good will, and admiring her talents, she had never felt that union of soul which is necessary to communion of thought.

The advantage which she might have derived from Miss Atherton's society, was, for the present, denied by the necessary attendance of that lady on Mrs. Williams. Otherwise, in Emma's visits to the sick and poor, or her endeavours to impart knowledge to the neglected, Eliza Atherton would have been willingly a partner, a companion, and at times a pro

tector.

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