and my aim throughout, in recording these events, have been to benefit my fellow-men, and to show them how, by bearing and forbearing, they may benefit each other.

The mummery of municipal applause and courtly congratulations were now wearisome to the old Commodore. The freedom of the metropolis, presented to him in a box of gold, was not so much prized by him as would have been the freedom to repair immediately to Trestletree Hall, to embrace the daughter on whom he doated, and be the first to tell her that his and her Augustus lived. The hero's best triumphs will always be found at last in the bosom of his own family. It was there that the Commodore panted to feel his glory; there only could he fully enjoy it, for there only could he share it with those who would cling fondly around him. However, we must leave him, for a short time in London, preparing to go to court, in full uniform, and occupying himself with energetic measures for the recovery of Augustus.

Let us be present at the arrival at Trestletree Hall of Miss Rosa Belmont and her maid, attended by Mr. Underdown and Peter Drivel. Their coming spread an universal joy throughout the mansion. Mrs. Oliphant, without knowing the tender ties that bound the lady to her son, received Rosa with all the affection of a mother, and, though only a grocer's widow, with all the genuine grace of a lady. Miss Matilda thought her the nicest dressed person she ever beheld; but made her mind up, at once, that the surpassing brilliancy of her colour, and the wonderful transparency of her dark complexion, must be artificial, and had already promised herself much increase of beauty from the cosmetic mystery.

But the effect of the lady's entrance into the drawing-room upon poor dear romping Rebecca was the most startling and the most distressing. She was about to rush upon Rosa with her usual boisterous impetuosity, and seize her hands, when the natural retenue and innate

dignity of feeling of Miss Belmont made her unconsciously draw herself up a little proudly. Becky stopped short in her rush, and exclaimed, "Gracious me, how beautiful! I am sure she will never love such a slatternly thing as I am. I could tear my hair off!"

She spoke this passionately, pouting and half crying, and fairly turned her back upon the company. Notwithstanding all her promises of amendment, she had not improved very much in the graces since her father's departure.

"Why?" said Mr. Underdown, in reply to her very feminine, or rather unfeminine, threat, "The hair is very beautiful, is it not, Miss Belmont? This young lady is Miss Bacuissart, the only daughter of Sir Octavius; be known to each other."

"The hair is beautiful, indeed, and nearly surrounds the face of an angel. Not love you, my dear! How could you think so! I travelled I don't know how many hundred miles on purpose to love you, and all whom I am so

happy as to find here.

Come, we will be the

most intimate friends possible, and I'll show you the prettiest manner of doing up that beautiful hair."

"You are all kindness and benevolence," said Miss Matilda, making Miss Belmont a low curtsey of gratitude.

. "Pooh, pooh! never mind my hair. Will you look at me with those fine dark eyes tenderly? Will you lay that beautiful cheek to mine? Will you hug me-kiss me-this way, and this? Will you not quite, quite despise me ?"

She suited her actions to her words, flung herself into Rosa's arms, kissed her again and again, and then burst into tears. From that moment, the friendship of these two very opposite beings was inviolable.

It was after this that the improvement of Rebecca really and rapidly began. The four years of seniority on the part of Rosa gave her something of the .authority of a mother; but this was only felt, for it was so beautifully

wrapped up in the living tenderness of the sister and the devotion of the friend, that that very authority was the greatest bond of union between them. Rebecca made Miss Belmont her model in everything; she even attempted to imitate her in her somewhat stilted phraseology, which was a very good corrective for the usual homeliness of her own.

The effect of this friendship was also most beneficial to Rosa. She began perceptibly to talk less and less every day of the delicate susceptibilities of the immaterialised mind, and the roseate hues of diffident love blushing through the veil of bashfulness. The natural bursts of feeling that were so common to Rebecca lighted up, in the bosom of Rosa, more healthful and much purer sources of sensibility. She began to understand and conceive a great affection for moral dignity, and the conversations of Mr. Underdown with both his pupils― for such in effect, though not in name, they were-began to give one lady an insight into