in painful, stiff decorum, each stuck on a chair to stare at the stranger, but, in natural innocent groups, quietly to carry on their own amusement in dumb-show.-"Tomorrow, Miss De Clifford," continued her ladyship, "I shall request a private conference with you. At present, an engagement compels my making you a mere flying visit—indeed limits my stay to the delivery of a letter, which I received for you. from my brother, but a few hours ago."

Julia only thought of one brother, lord: Horatio Fitzroy, and her agitation increased.

"It came from abroad with the Admiralty dispatches, and accompanied by one to me upon the same subject; and knowing: the importance of this letter, I thought that: I only ought to be the bearer of it: and beside, I wished to convey your first introduction to that amiable man, whom, from henceforth, I trust you will, with pleasure, consider as your father; for as his child he claims you, and in him you will find (believe me) a tender parent."

The respiration of Julia became painful; her cheeks were blanched by agitation, and to articulate was impossible.

Lady Delamore arose.-" To-morrow,"

said she, "at one o'clock, I will be here again, if convenient to you then to receive me," Julia bowed assent-she could do no more-" when I trust we shall meet not as strangers, but as friends, destined to love each other. That you will look on me as a parent, henceforth, I sincerely hope, and as the guardian delegated to protect and make you happy until my brother's return to England. Adieu, my dear young friend," her ladyship continued, kissing the pale cheek of Julia in amity, and pressing her with maternal kindness to her bosom"Adieu! I see I have surprised, and, I fear, painfully agitated you; but I hope more pleasurable sensations will succeed.Mr. Goodwin, will you have the goodness to conduct me to my carriage?"

Her ladyship now, with much sweetness and good breeding, took leave; and poor Julia, subdued by astonishment and a diversity of emotions, all painful in the extreme, since she found the embassy of lady Delamore was not through the medium of Fitzroy, burst into tears.

Mrs. Goodwin, ever attentive to the delicacy of her young friend's situation, sent the children away.

"Ah, what of avail is this letter now ?" sobbed Julia. "The assentment it brings was asked for under great delusion, that has since quite vanished; and very much in kindness as this letter may be, it is now only pain for me. I cannot at all read it; but you, and my other dear friends may, Mrs. Goodwin. I-I will to my room go, for you to talk, unrestrainedly, its sad for me contents over." She gave Mrs. Goodwin the letter; and as she was departing, was met at the door by Mr. Goodwin with a countenance illumined with pleasure.

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Why look so sad in the moment of such joy?" said this good man, kindly taking her trembling hand. Ah, my child, did I not tell you how it would be?"

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"Joy!" replied Julia, mournfully.— "Letter of lord Horatio Fitzroy can now be joy none for me."

"You then have not read your letter," said Mr. Goodwin. "It is not from lord Horatio Fitzroy."

"No!" exclaimed Julia, catching the ready arm of Mrs. Goodwin for support. "Then who from is it? Who to me has written, sir dear?”

"One of the most celebrated of our naval

heroes, one of the most inestimable of men -the earl of Ashgrove, lady Delamore's own brother.-Harriot, dear Harriot, give Miss De Clifford her letter.-Oh, my child, did I not tell you the stranger was faithful? This is his doing, I have no doubt.”

"The stranger!" exclaimed Julia: "blessings, blessings, great and much, be ever his! But since it is of the stranger, I cannot at all read it; but do you, sir dear, for me do it."

Mr. Goodwin, who had the contents of the letter anticipated by lady Delamore, read, with an audible, though not undeviatingly steady voice, as follows:

"MY CHILD,

"For my child I will, I must call you, as your father was the brother of my heart. And henceforth I shall consider you as a precious charge, delegated by Heaven's own sacred ordinance to my care.

"It was your misfortune, my child, to lose, in your tender infancy, a parent beloved, respected, honoured by all who knew him. His heart was enriched by every virtue-his disposition kind and affection

ate; and he would have cherished you with all the tenderness and care your sex and helplessness required: but, poor precious babe! it was your sad fate to lose him, and to be left to the protection of a monster.

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"I have heard of the griefs of your hapless childhood; of the misery inflicted by your barbarous grandmother. My heart has bled for you, Julia; and, to heal the wound your sufferings gave, it has vowed to protect you, to guard you from every possible evil, and to make your future happiness its study.

"Your uncle Almerino, Julia, and myself, entered Eton school on the same day, and from the first hour of our meeting, a mutual dislike commenced, which each passing hour augmented. I was an object of deadly hatred to lord Almerino; and he was scorned, contemned by me. When your noble father became one of our community, I, with the erring judgment of a boy, believed both brothers must be alike contemptible; and the amiable Frederick learned a character of me from lord Almerino, which led him to despise and shun me; and the first months we passed together were marked by mutual disgust, petty insults,