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nette's cheek continued colourless and her eye languid, was, that she would be snatched from you, to be placed in her mother's bosom.

"I can imagine that I hear you say, Why remind me now of what I have so frequently condemned as presumptuous ? Simply to tell you, my dear Matilda, that the heart of your beloved Jeannette is too much like your own. Within it there is a deep well-spring of love for the mother she has lost. Mingle one drop of bitterness or shame with its now tranquil waters, and you will destroy her happiness for ever.

"To all outward appearance, Jeannette has recovered her spirits; but you will find, now she is constantly with you, that the thought of her mother is seldom absent from her mind. I had a fresh proof of this a few days before she left me. In her presence I was remarking on the superiority of parental love to filial, and adduced numerous instances in proof of this fact. Jeannette listened attentively; but when I ceased to speak, in the firm tone she always uses when excited, she exclaimed, “It is not true!" Her kindling eye and crimsoned brow bore credible testimony that the chord so unintentionally touched had never ceased to vibrate, and that she spoke from the resistless impulse of her own emotions.

"No, then, I repeat it, my beloved and respected Matilda, you must not venture to make the communication about which you have so long hesitated. Jeannette has escaped this painful knowledge at school, and in the world who will dare to tell her? She is, I think, the least selfish of human beings, the kindest and the best! But she is not the most easily induced to take the views of others. How astonishingly firm have we both seen her, when acting in what she considered a good cause! How glad, too, have we both been, when talking over this point of her character, this dangerous firmness, to borrow the definition of a monarch who wanted it, and call it excess of constancy, rather than by a worse name.

"Such a girl would not, under any circumstances, be easily consoled by arguments or palliations offered by others, and in no degree by being told that hundreds had been and were similarly situated. It would be Jeannette's own view of the case that would be of moment to her; and I fear that

her heart would rather sicken than revive by being told that she stood not alone in her sorrow.

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"You will see by this that I do not rely as sanguinely as yourself on the religious feelings of Jeannette as a counterpoise to the misery with which you would so suddenly burthen her. Yet, I think, she possesses more religious principle than is often met with (I do not say professed) at her time of life. The Supreme Disposer of events has benignantly drawn her nearer to himself by means of her affections. He has taught her, and by an experiment,' that the line of life is connected with the line of immortality. Let us not then risk the disturbance of her mind. Let us rather remember, how long, how closely, earthly feelings cling to the young-(or, more truly, to the purest aspirations of all human beings)—and how very seldom our thoughts soar to the better world we look for, unaccompanied by the hope of reunion to some loved ones either gone before, or to come after us. To Jeannette the hope of eternity is inseparably blended with the image of her mother.

"I do not ask, if it would be safe or wise to darken the brightness of a being so awfully enshrined, but I say again and again, do not let Jeannette be made a partaker of your own suppressed and well-supported sorrows."

CHAPTER IV.

-There's no miniature

In her fair face but is a copious theme

Which would, discoursed at large of, make a volume.

MASSINGER.

MATILDA was more tranquillized than convinced by Mrs. Leonard's letter. Without coming to any direct conclusion on the subject, she determined for the present to let things remain as they were. Herein, finding all the satisfaction of which irresolute characters are so sensible when they determine not to choose.

This was Matilda's foible, and it enabled her with great clearness to perceive the contrary failing of Jeannette. It is certain that the opposite qualities of the sisters did not help to correct each other. For Jeannete, much as she loved and respected Matilda, could not fail to perceive that her own quick decisions and steadfastness of purpose frequently gave her great advantages over her more deliberative sister.

With the same facility, Matilda's imagination grew busy in picturing the immense variety of circumstances under which this failing of Jeannette might, nay must, lead to evil. Yet, as it was always exhibited in the cause of others, she was the more frequently ready to say, like spots in Carrara marble, her defects will wear themselves out. It is always in a good cause that she shows herself too determined, too firm in pursuing her own will. Nevertheless Matilda could not at all times so deceive herself, and questions difficult of reply would force themselves on her consideration. 66 May not this dear being have been too much indulged and caressed among us-even too much loved? May not her keen sensibilities, her quick imagination, have been imprudently fostered, when they should have been checked and corrected?"

To any but a highly reflective mind these considerations would have appeared unnecessary or perhaps absurd; for in Jeannette there was no show of evil. Beneath her beauty there was no latent, no sinister expression to mar its effect, even to the eye of the most scrutinizing physiognomist. Yet there was perhaps more to rivet the attention of such an examiner, than to attract the mere admirer of feature and complexion. For her sweet face, young as it was, and bearing so unquestionably the stamp of youth upon it, had yet a character beyond her years. A melancholy thoughtfulness in her gayest moments was discernible through the laughing playfulness which often seemed its prevailing expression. It was this singular contrast which gave to her countenance so peculiar and touching a charm.

The spectator became insensibly interested; for it was impossible long to look on her, and to think only of the present. Had she been older, the faint traces of care and sadness in her full and dark blue eyes would have inspired an anxious wish to learn her history. Now they seemed not so

much a registry of the past as prophetic of her life to come. They were as a seal set upon her by the hand of Fate and Nature, and carried the minds of nearly all who contem-. plated her with interest, into the far-off depths of time.

Few could there expatiate and not wish to so fair and young a being the richest portion of earthly good.

The persons who had the most influence over her future life were not yet known to her; but among those on whom her first introduction made a deep impression, none was more seriously interested by her beauty and sweetness than Mr. Cooper, who had travelled with her brother as a friend rather than a tutor, and who now paid an unexpected visit at Langham Court,

CHAPTER V.

Many a word at random spoken,

Finds aim the archer little meant.-SCOTT.

MR. COOPER was a most welcome guest to all partie, but to Hamond especially, he being doubly happy in the opportunity of receiving him in his father's house, from a consciousness that as a correspondent he was reproachable for some neglect. Mr. Cooper had not, however, considered himself neglected, though he now came, as he said, to look after him; because waiting was of no use, since he could get replies but no answers to his letters; and he proceeded to enumerate the variety of subjects upon which he had vainly endeavoured to obtain satisfaction, till Hamond's flesh crept upon his bones with the apprehension of what would follow. The conversation, however, fortunately changed to other topics, and Hamond for a time was relieved from his fears.

But Mr. Cooper was the most careless of human beings; and partly from great openness of temper, and partly from thoughtfulness, was in the habit of giving utterance to whatever passed through his mind; and while few men were less capable of giving intentional offence to any one, none ever

caused more frequent and distressing embarrassment to others. His sins in this way were always readily repented of, and, as it sometimes happens in more serious matters, as readily forgotten.

He had parted from Hamond under the impression (and at that time a just one) of his having formed an attachment to an English lady in Italy; and now, on meeting him again, altered in person, and evidently dejected in mind, he naturally ascribed these effects to disappointment. Concern for this circumstance became for a time Mr. Cooper's predominant feeling; but at dinner, as he turned to take wine with Jeannette, by whom he was sitting, his eye was suddenly arrested by her strong resemblance to some person he had seen before, without being able to recall where or when. It was so remarkable as to perplex and absorb him-again and again he turned, expecting every fresh glance would put an end to his conjectures. At length, becoming in some degree aware of his abstraction, and that his frequent examinations of Jeannette's countenance were scarcely reconcileable with politeness, he mentioned the cause of his perplexity, and appealed to Hamond to help him in making the discovery, stating in apology, that if ever he was so unfortunate as to trace a likeness as he had now done, he never rested till he forced his memory into obedience.

All his hearers understood and acknowledged the influence of such vague recollections. Mr. Cooper felt therefore justified in repeating his glances towards Jeannette, who now looked at him in return and smiled. Worse and worse, the smile he had more certainly seen before than the features.

Mr. Langham remarked:"In compassion to Mr. Cooper, Jeannette, we must really send you from us."

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Indeed, Papa, I am afraid you must," replied Jeannette. And these very simple words involved Mr. Cooper in deeper perplexity, for he instantly resumed :

"How strange! that I should not be able satisfactorily to connect so many singular coincidences! for I feel confident that a voice like yours, Miss Jeannette Langham, has been as familiar to my ear as the features resembling yours have been familiar to my eye--and, if I mistake not, they belonged to the same individual."

Hamond, aware of the association which Mr. Cooper VOL. I.-2

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