--

eyes my ward, the only one living out of eight children. The Lady Xantippe worried the others out of the world. My friend Arlington being very fond of them, she indulged herself in this pleasant pastime for that reason, without any reference to being the mother of them. We all have ruling passions. Hers smothered all maternity out of her bosom; and this child. survived his brothers and sisters, because fortunately his father died before him, and so the zest of her favourite amusement died with him. There's feeling for you. And now I must tell you about my ward. He is always asleep. You may well look astonished, but that is the only characteristic he has. He is awakened out of a deep sleep to rise and dress, he falls asleep dressing; he is awakened to have his breakfast, he falls asleep at breakfast; and so on all day. It is this incessant torpor that worries the doctors. And it is proved the longer he stays awake,-the more he is

Miss

amused and interested, the brighter he becomes. So anxious are they to rouse the intellect, that mild doses of the Lady Xantippe are permitted now and then. I mean his mother is suffered to see him; and it is astonishing the effect her presence has. But as one does not wish always to terrify him into his senses (not out of them, as is usually the case from fear), they wish to try other influence. Arlington is more like an old Goody after him than a sensible relative. You will perceive, Lady Mabel, your task is not a light one. An incessant vigilance will be necessary, not only to interest him, but to discriminate what is beneficial for him, and what is the contrary. As in the case of his mother, we do not wish him to be moved only by fear,-or in Miss Arlington's, only by childish pictures and bon-bons. He has a fine nature, I know, of that I am convinced,-I am pre

pared to prove my opinion in any court in

Europe; but then, my dear young lady, you must help me. You must let these doctors see that the old lawyer was more knowing than the best of them, callous and stony-hearted as I am, that is, if I have

any heart at all. I-I have no hesitation at all in saying,-what I'll stake my existence in declaring, the boy has a fine

nature. He is like his father, in all except that incessant disposition to sleep. God bless my soul! how he does sleep! it quite affects me; and-and-I am ready to beg of God to take him away, rather than he should sleep away his intellects. I shall be here the first thing in the morning. I am curious as to what he will say to my little lady; I have an idea he won't go to sleep while she sits opposite to him. I want to see the meeting. I will be here early."

And still talking on in a very excited state, even as far as the front doormat, this good man and kind friend left us, John going with him.

Then came that feeling of desolation and heaviness that has no name. It is the shadow of something coming, that is inevitable and crushing. Strayed from our home, like lost lambs, we felt helpless and benighted. And if we did so, we two together, to comfort each other, what of Pamela ?

Mabel's tears fell like a soft, silent shower of rain. There was no misgiving as to the step we had taken in leaving our home; but it may be the uncertainty as to when we should see it again, under what circumstances we should do so, and whether we returned as we went, unchanged, oppressed her with an overwhelming power of apprehension.

206

CHAPTER XVI.

"Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees its close:
Something attempted, something done,
Has earn'd a night's repose.

LONGFELLOW.

MR. MOORE was in the house before we were down stairs. As soon as we appeared he went to bring his ward, and returned with a fair and beautiful boy. His long hair fell in silky curls on his shoulders, but was cut short above his brows; his eyes were soft, with scarcely conscious thought in them; he moved with slow languor, as if a weight was attached to each limb.