either directly or indirectly: you know I can

keep my promise."

66 Then say what you wish

these conditions I will listen."

66

me to hear; on

Nay, it is you who are to give me information." Laura hesitated, turned pale, and then in a low voice, scarcely audible from emotion, continued, "My mother was very lovelyvery beautiful; have you not often told me she

was?"

"More so than any person I ever saw; my knowledge of beauty is confined to those I have seen at Astol; but the visiters here all said the same."

There was a pause in the conversation.— Weston was evidently relieved, but at the same time surprised that her young lady should have made all this preparation for so simple a question, which she had often answered, and nearly in the same words:-her inward congratulation received another interruption when Laura again spoke.

This is not my demand, Weston; indeed I fear to put it-I fear you will not be able to dispel the torture I at this moment suffer, and which I can no longer endure :— Was my mother good as she was lovely-in one word, was she virtuous ?"

Weston gave a slight hysteric laugh as she answered, "Was this your fear?-oh, heaven! how readily, how decidedly I can answer this question! Your mother was an angel in mind, as well as in person; even you, my dear Laura, are not more pure, more virtuous, in thought, in deed, than was your sainted mother!"

'Heaven be praised!" was the fervent ejaculation of the agitated girl, while the tears, that could not be suppressed, gave relief to her overwrought feelings. When she had recovered some degree of tranquillity, she found Mrs. Weston eager to communicate various traits of her mother's high sense of virtue, honour, and integrity: every word was balm to the wounded sensibility of the youthful maiden.

"I can but wonder at such an idea ever having entered your imagination! Ah! had you seen the mournful train that followed the corpse to the chapel, had you heard the deep sobs from those whom your mother had assisted in every way—I remember how they would bless her as she went from one cottage to another, to supply their wants when in sickness or in trouble, and rejoice when they were happy; had you seen all this, you would never have had one moment's doubt!"

"My doubts, my fears, are all gone, dear Weston; you have relieved me from a weight. of sorrow," said Laura, smiling through her tears; "but there is one thing I cannot understand—you speak of the cottages, the tenants— where are they? I have never seen any dwelling near Astol."

66

My master removed them: he had dwellings erected at the extremity of the estate, and gave the tenants parting gifts to reconcile them to the change, at least Mr. Groves did, for your

father left all to him. I am told they are doing well at their new settlement; but it was a woful day when they went. Why, Miss Laura, there was quite a little village beyond the park-gates, and our chapel used to be full every Sunday!"

“And did my father read the service as he does now?" said Laura, who could not help a slight shudder at the mention of the chapel.

"Service, oh, no!-we had a chaplain, Mr. Bristow-worthy man!-but he did not live long after my sainted lady, and Mr. Penruddock never sought another."

"And has my father never left the manorhouse since my mother's death?"

"Never beyond the park-palings."

"For exercise there is space sufficient within; for though I have lived here so many yearsyou need not smile, nurse, it is only all my life, and however small a space that may seem to you, it is great to me-and during

this time I have never been round my father's park, since I have been old enough to recollect places; one side of this said chase, or park, is as unknown to me as the great city of London is, and perhaps ever will be."

"From what we hear and read, Miss Laura, it is no great loss."

"From what we read, it is not—we do not hear, Weston."

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I used to hear, in my early days.”

"And now, my dear nurse, I will leave you to rest, which you will require after having had so much trouble in answering my queries;— and when you are quite well, I will tell you why I put them. Good night, and believe me I am much, much happier than when I entered your room!"

It is very wonderful to me how you could have been unhappy on this subject.

night-heaven bless you, my dear child!”

Good