sister's apartment was spent in watching at the window of her own. It was late in October, and the evening was cold and boisterous, and as dreary as her own feelings. At length she heard footsteps on the gravel-walk beneath her window, and immediately after the voice of her lover sounded sweetly in her ears. He spoke low, and she fancied sadly, and she became assured, from his accents, that he had nothing to learn respecting the late event. This was really the case.

As he drew nearer Feltham, he heard the disgraceful tale from a variety of persons, and in every varied form which exaggeration could give it. Under these circumstances, he thought it better to go as quietly as he could to the house; and therefore dismissing his servant with the horses. when he came within half a mile of the vicarage, and ordering him to secure accommodations at the village inn, whither he intended himself to repair at night, he walked forward to the house of mourning, and gave to poor Althea, by his sympa

thy and affection, the only comfort she could now receive. Her pallid looks and agitated spirits alarmed him on their first meeting, but his soothing attentions, his excellent advice, and his liberal offers of service and assistance to this unhappy family, at length succeeded in allaying the tumult of her mind, and she was able to enter into a regular recital of recent events. But their opportunities for conversation on this first evening of their meeting were continually interrupted; for Isabella, now every hou becoming more sensible of her calamitous situation, was easy only in Althea's presence, and was perpetually requiring her by her bedside. She was therefore obliged to allow sir Montague to depart early to his solitary inn, to which, though most unwillingly, she consigned him, at the suggestions of prudence, though every thing was provided for him at the vicarage, in the anticipation of a much happier meeting. She invited him, however, to breakfast with her the next morning; and they separated with increased

affection, and heightened admiration of each other's character.

Sir Montague took possession of his humble apartments at the White Lion, and Althea prepared for her melancholy vigils, though almost exhausted by having been up all the preceding night at the bedside of her suffering sister. A worthy old woman in the village had voluntarily offered to come and take charge of the children, so that no uneasiness remained on - Althea's mind on their account.

CHAPTER XIII.

Our mutual bond of faith and truth
No time can disengage;
Those blessings of our early youth
Shall cheer our latest age.

Those ills that wait on all below,

Shall ne'er be felt by me,

Or gently felt, and only so,

As being shar'd with thee.

COWRER.

THE following day was, if possible, more terrible to Althea than the former, for Isabella was in a more cruel state both of body and mind. The presence and sympathy of Vavasour alone kept Althea from sinking entirely under her distress and fatigue. Conversation was wholly interrupted, for Althea wandered from him to her sister, unable to remain with either, and counting the hours which must yet intervene ere her mother could arrive.

Thus passed the whole of that day, and

Althea, completely subdued, looked forward to a long and dreary night of watching and sorrow. Just, however, as Vavasour was preparing to leave her, a carriage drove quickly up, and Mrs. Vernon, accompanied by Mrs. Charlton, received the fainting girl in their arms. A few questions were asked and answered hastily; and Mrs. Vernon, understanding the excessive fatigue Althea had gone through, had her immediately put to bed, whilst, with an aching heart, she prepared to pass the night by Isabella's bed herself.

Sir Montague knew and appreciated the character of the excellent Mrs. Charlton, and felt infinite relief in leaving poor Althea to the consolation of such a friend.

A long conversation, late as it was, now took place between Mrs. Charlton and the baronet, in which every plan, most likely to promote the future comfort of Isabella, if she survived this shock, was discussed. Nothing, however, could be settled without Althea's concurrence, she being very materially connected with all.