Mr. Thurston was often at the bedside of the invalid, and when he saw him recovering, he at last asked Seymour if he had come to a decision in his favor. "Here are our friends round us," said Mr. Thurston, "here is thine own father - now tell me, may I hope that thy mind is to go with us and share our lot? Depend on me for doing at least all I promise."

Seymour cast his eyes round the assembly, and every look was turned on him. He knew his father now felt sufficient confidence in him to be willing he should decide for himself, but he looked at Mr. Hay, helpless and dependent, and thought of his growing infirmities, and emotion choked his utterance.

"Thou canst not decide?" said Mr. Thurston. "O Seymour! don't go and leave - father" - said Caroline Hay - tears trembling in her eyes, and Seymour's difficulties were solved in an instant.

"I believe I may be more useful here," said he to Mr. Thurston, "and if more useful more happy; so I can only return heartfelt thanks for your generous offer."

"Thou art right, undoubtedly," said the Friend, "but I wish my path could have been thine."

Among the loads of gifts and keepsakes sent back by Mr. and Mrs. Thurston after they once more reached their home, was a valuable case of books for Seymour, and one of more lady-like reading for Caroline, and with the latter came a dress so delicately fancied that it would have done very well to "stand up in meeting" with, for one of the plainest of the drab sisterhood. "I shall like to imagine thee dressed in it, dear Caroline," wrote Mrs. Thurston, "and I know it will suit friend Seymour's taste right well."

He did not find fault with it certainly, for in some few months after that time it was worn as a wedding-dress, and to Seymour at least Caroline had never looked so beautiful.

A wedded life begun by an act of virtuous sacri

That

fice can scarcely fail to be a happy one. complacency of temper which sheds light over the darkest hour is never more surely nourished than by the habitual pleasure of doing good and conferring happiness. Seymour is Mr. Hay's right hand, and his influence and that of his fair and gracious Caroline is a daily blessing to the younger members of both families. I feel assured that we shall be able to point to them half a dozen years hence as a proof that cultivation and refinement are any thing but lost in the country.

46

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

But fayrest she when so she doth display

The gate with pearles and rubyes richly dight,
Through which her words so wise do make their way,
To beare the message of her gentle spright.

SPENSER.

I HOPE the reader has not forgotten Mr. Sibthorpe. If he has, it must be because we have not succeeded in introducing him so meaningly as we meant to do. Our acquaintance with him and his family was one of those short-lived pleasures which so often gleam upon life's path only to disappear and leave it darker than before.

I shall give some account of their American experience, because their short story may be considered as a sketch of a class which is constantly becoming more numerous among us. I think them worth describing, because they were entirely free from that silly arrogance of which some of their countrymen who find it convenient to reside in the United States are justly accused.

Mr. Sibthorpe's person and manner, dress and ideas were all so thoroughly English, that the dullest of my countrymen could not bid him good evening as he passed him on the road in the twilight without saying to himself, "There goes a John Bull!" Yet so universally popular did he become by the affability and kindness of his demeanor, that if he had remained a little longer within reach of our good-will, it would have gone hard but we had made him a justice of the peace at the very least, if not something still more dignified, in spite of himself.

One peculiarity marked our friend which I think was never noted of so stout a gentleman before. He was the most scheming and visionary of men. His round, shining head was ever full of projects, great or small, for himself or others. He should (by rule) have been tall and slender, with all the indications of the temperament scientifically designated as "nervous-sanguine; " and a head whose developments should form little hills and dales upon the cranium. But his kind easiness of disposition, or something else, had rounded out head and body until there were no inequalities left to theorize upon. As a still further contradiction, though almost a Bacchus in contour, he was stoical in his indifference to personal accommodation and indulgence. So that we can heartily say, "May his shadow never be less!" since the substance gives him no sort of inconvenience.

When I first visited Mrs. Sibthorpe, I found her in a small and very inconvenient house, to which several workmen were engaged in building an additional part, on a much more tasteful plan, although still in cottage style. All was confusion and discomfort, as far as household arrangements were concerned. Every corner was strewed with boards, bricks, lime, and all the endless list of etceteras which carpenters and masons take care to scatter on all sides to give an air of importance to their business. The floors were uncarpeted and the windows were hung with paper curtains. The room was almost unfurnished, for it had not been judged best to open the boxes of household goods, which were stored at some distance, until the dirt and confusion which accompanies building any where, and in this country above all, should be out of the way.

The lady, a handsome woman of perhaps thirty or more, was seated on a rough bench, such as is sometimes used in farmers' kitchens, giving a lesson in geography to a pretty little girl, Mr. Sibthorpe's daughter by a former marriage. A small-sized globe stood on the bench between them. Mrs. Sibthorpe's eyes, shaded by a wilderness of ebon curls, were black, and quick and piercing, and her speech was correspondingly rapid and decided. She spoke with a strong English accent, (which does not mean cockneyism, whatever some of us may think,) and her conversation evinced at once the woman of the world and the romantic enthusiast - a rare combination certainly, but in this case a very delightful one. Her manners were those of