Year: 1860

o'oIuer warehouse IN luli activity he HIM
self was paying commercial court to some i'm.
portant customer in one of the long narrow
alleys formed by bales of goods, which front
ed the public door by which | had entered
lie saw me at once, and directed me to await
bis leisure in bis private counting house with
an air of undiSguised aStonishment at nv an
pearance. When he Joined me, | told him


briefly why had come, for it was long since


Robert and had been on affectioRate terms.


He appeared highly amused at the idea of nv
going to Morton Leas.


why. what can Isabel want with you.
Sarah-a quiet, dull, old soul like you +? No
offence, hope but you must wonder your
self besides, you will be like fish out of
water in their grand house and with their fine
ways. You have no notion of the style they
live in 2"


l said quietly: IF had not, it was from
no want of information on the subject, and
that had every confidence that should not
commit myself in his daughters house ;" and
then l went up stairs to see her sisters.


1t was The same story over agaia-unbound-
ed surprise and ~itless conjecture | had to
listen for the hundreth time to a recital of
" bow things were done at Morton Leas," and
they seemed to share their fathers apprehen
sion that | should fud splendor quite too much
for me. AS they had no instructions to give
beyond an entreaty to write and tell them
" how it all struck me at first sight, and how
/ got on with Mr.. Lorimer," | was soon back
again on my homeward way.


How it all struck ne at first sight | well
remembers A heavy storm in tue morning
had cooled the air and laid the dust, and af-
ter the restraint of my journey, | enjoyed
keenly the unaccustomed luxury of reclining
at my ease in a luxurious carriage as il rolled
rapidly over the we'll kept roads through the
noble fr plantations | had heard were Mr.
Lorimers especial pride. How exquSitely
the slender spires of the trees stood out
against the roseate amber of the sky how
gratefully the eye rested on their stately layers
momentary view, which was a charming vision
to nay citizen sight, as were also the mercuria
rabbits that at every point appeared aad van
ished with incredible swiftness.


You can see the house now, ma'am, thro
the trees said the coachman, civily turning
round to indicate it. | could and a grand
old place it seemed to me-grandef even than
my tutored expectations | don't know in
what style or OF what date il was its ample
front looked to me like the facade of Greek
temple, only the Portland stone was reddened
with age, and was almost covered with dense
but clOsecut growth Of ivy, intermngIipg with
the graceful festoonS Of the Virginia creeper
On the broad terrace on wh'ch the froat open
ed, I recognized the figures CT my host and
hostess, which so occupied and excited my
mind, that | received but very general i'm
preston Of any other external object


was just conscious of green lawn stretch
ing its velvet plain beyond my range OF sight
of an antique flower garden glowing with
vivid dyes and breathing perfume exquisite
Iy sweet and delicatc-of the park beyond the
distant fence, and the deer peepng tmidIy be-
tween the slender rails.


could not help the reflection that Mr..
LOrimef's mercantile connection must indeed
be on a colossal and remuneratiye scale, to have
permitted him in early life to make himself
the pOSsessor of SO fine an estate.


was so eager to get my first glimpse Of
Isabel, that | was on the point of overlooking
the courtesy Of my host, who came down the
steps to hand nae from the carriage, He spoke
to me so kindly that | wondered at my former
impression of his codness and stiffness.


g an so truly pleased to see you here at
last" be said " and so, you may be sure, is
Isabel" silly old woman as | was, [ was
looking ont for some indication how matters
stood betV cen them, and fancied could de-
tect change from the cordiaIity of his tone
the moment he mentioned his wife's NAME.
He led me up to where she stood smiling to
receive me, and placed my hand in hers. "I
hope" he added "you will be able to enjoy
Yourself with US = and then, as if he consider
ed his duty done, be turaGd, aad went into the
house. He had not looked at Isabel as he
spoke, or he could not have failed to have Seeu
in her eyes a wistful expression, which touch
e3 me deeply, for it seemed to plead for his
notice and he went away without word,
which surely would not have been the case if
and affection existed between them.


| turned and gazed at Isabel, who stood
me attentively, and still holding my
hand in hers precisely as her husband had
placed it. Why, chiid how beautiful you
have grown !" said, involuntarily )" and how
stately stands the queen of this fair demesne
What not a word or kiss for the old aunt
mother !" In a moment, her lovely arms were
round my neck, and she was showering kisses
upon me. | was affected by the convulSive
pressure Of her embrace, and the speechless-
ness of her emotion and tried to release my
self playfully. Z" Just as of old, reckless of
fnery !" l said "AIas for my new cloak
and bonnet Take me up stairs my dearand
show me the children Thereupon, suddenly
she drew out from hehind her. with
a charming gesture, pretty snow-drop of a
child, who had been cinging timdly to her
dress, amid the ample folds of which she had
hitherto been effectually concealed


Here is one of my darlings Lily call
her, because she is SO white The other is
asleep. But come keep you standing We
will show Aunt Sarah her room" She caught
up the child in her arms-lithe and tall, the
weight seemed of no account to her--and pre-