000-- THE ORPHAN BOY, OR TEST OF INNOCENCE. By MRS. CATHERINE G. WARD, AUTHORESS OF "The ROSE OF CLAREMONT;” “ Mysterious Marriage;” “ My Native Land;" 66 Robertina;" -"He is yours! and he is mine! Not yours, nor mine alone! A friendless Orphan Boy!" 000- ENTERED AT STATIONERS HALL. -000 LONDON: Published by G. VIRTUE, 6, Cannon Row, Westminster; W. & S. COUCHMAN, Broad Street, Golden Square. THE ORPHAN BOY. CHAPTER I. ADOLPHUS DOLPHUS and his cousins could not sleep all night for the approaching celebration of the Christmas vacation; which on the morning that was destined to convey them home kept them wide awake. But it never struck Adolphus that he had no home (at least no paternal home) to go to; for he was an Orphan' Boy! but he was thoughtless and happy; and like the skylark, his yet unbounded wishes soared in air : the sole aim of his ambition being the possession of liberty; which, to a school-boy, may justly be termed the ne plus ultra of his most sanguine expectations. The consequence was, that they began dressing themselves with all the alacrity that the nimble footed hind runs to escape from her vigilant pursuers. Their task was speedily accomplished; and precisely at six o'clock, they were quietly seated in Sir Mildred Austincourt's travelling post chaise; and at the extremity of a beautiful hanging wood, were just five miles from his splendid and magnificent mansion. The chaise proceeded with velocity, but Adolphus and his cousins thought otherwise; and Frederic, the elder, and the heir presumptive of Sir Mildred's family, who possessed, not only the impetuosity of youth, but a little mixture of that self-importance which is too generally allied to the knowledge of high birth and the expectation of riches, was the first to find fault with the postillion for not driving faster; and putting his head out of the chaise window, he, in addition to, 66 why dont you drive faster?" superadded (with an air of authority that was peculiar to him)" why the devil, do'nt you drive faster?" Adolphus laughed ;-Edmund, his younger cousin, looked grave; while reiterated lashes sounded on the backs of Sir Mildred's horses; which were several times repeated, by the imperious command of his son and heir. enin Adolphus and his cousins were now within gun-shot of the Austincourt estate, which was called, and had been called from generation to generation, Austincourt Priory; now in the possession of Sir Mildred Austincourt, the worthiest character in existence; at least, Adolphus thought the best uncle, and he was certain that he was the best father in the world. Of his aunt, lady Austincourt, much cannot be said at the present period; and as little of her all-accomplished daughters, whose actions will hereafter certify at a proper time and place, the charitable bent of their dispositions. Á pause, not exceeding ten minutes, followed the laugh in which Adolphus had so heartily joined, not much he fancied to the satisfaction of Edmund Austincourt, or the blunt unsophisticated manners of their postillion; who perceiving the painful condition to which he had reduced his poor beasts, at the end of the journey more strongly expressed his displeasure by the angry glance he threw at the elder Austincourt, than a whole volume of words could have done, had he spoke for a thousand years. Nor could Adolphus so suddenly account for his uttering the exclamation of "The lord be praised there is one good heart in the family"—as he patted his horses heads when they quitted the chaise, pocketing half a crown which Edmund had slyly deposited within his hands. Adolphus's riotous propensity to mirth was now silenced, and he checked the rude remark he was just going to make on his cousin's taciturnity.-" Edmund Austincourt is a generous creature," thought he," and my cousin Frederic is the son of my uucle," he thought again; and that uncle is, the brother of шуг The sweet name of mother stopt ere the word was half pronounced; and, for the first time in his life, Adolphus recollected that he and his cousins were very differently situated: they had a mother, nay, a father, too, by whom they would soon be welcomed and embraced; but Adolphus had none and he felt a trickling tear making a very rapid progress over his cheek, when at this moment, he thought of Sir Mildred." But I have an uncle," repeated Adolphus, : |