A PREDICTION SUSPENDED.

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drilled into fortitude. I complied. You see the consequence."

"You are then resolved to send him abroad with this man?" exclaimed Mrs. Malcolm, trembling with emotion.

"I am."

The brother's reply seemed an echo, so quick, short, and twitching was the word of final resolve. Who does not remember some such word-some such word of doom to the despairing heart?

"Then I tell you, brother, the day will come

At this moment the door of the apartment opened, and a third party entered. The aunt dried her tears; but the mother's recollections were renewed, and her anguish burst forth again when she beheld the mental image of her son in her nephew, devoted, as she believed, to the same sacrifice.

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A PROTESTANT EMIGRANT.

CHAPTER II.

THE FAMILY.

THE revocation of the Edict of Nantes gave this Protestant family to England.

Pierre Devigne, the emigrant for conscience sake, originally an extensive manufacturer, had retired from business with an ample fortune. The greater part of his wealth was vested in the English funds. To the shores of England he fled from the land of intolerance.

He purchased an estate in one of the southern counties, where he enjoyed to a good old age the rewards of his early industry, and died beloved and respected for his heart's uprightness and benevolence; for, commiserating the lot of his poorer fellowexiles, he had built factories and given them employment. If his wealth was increased by this benevolent enterprise, it is only a proof that the human sympathies do not necessarily stand in the way of worldly advancement. The gains of selfishness are surely not more certain than the rewards of benefi

A HINT TO PARENTS.

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cence, though they may differ in their kind and duration.

It might be inferred that the persecution which had driven this true Protestant from the land of his birth, caused to rankle in his breast a hatred of the creed in whose defence that measure was deemed expedient; that the self-tormenting passion would give him no rest whilst life and memory endured; but such was not the case. His was one of those hearts which are emphatically self-restorers. He was thankful for present blessings, striving incessantly to trace them even to past misfortunes. He remained true to his religion, and also true to his sympathising heart; and whilst he promoted the welfare of his religion in every possible way, he indulged his heart in all its glowing suggestions, for the good of our common humanity: thus, perhaps, he proved the divine influence-the reality of true religion.

Such was the great-grandfather of Leonard Devigne. It will be readily perceived that his father's character, as shown in the discussion just given, was but an exaggeration of the simple features which marked that of his grandfather: for the deviations from any given type of character might be traced to their causes, if the candour of parents, and the individual, would endure the ordeal of inquiry. But facts only are here required, as in the world at large; where the thoughtless stare and wonder, but the wise calmly observe and draw conclusions.

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IMPORTANT EXPLANATIONS.

Leonard Devigne, an only child, was in his twentieth year. His mother died in childbed; and his aunt, Mrs. Malcolm, supplied the place of a tender, intelligent mother.

Mrs. Malcolm was now a widow for the second time her first husband, as the reader remembers, having died at Rome, whilst in quest of his son.

The bent of her mind-determined, perhaps, by her son's prevarication—was not diverted by a long residence in Scotland: for her first and second husbands were both Scotchmen.

Mr. Devigne had objected to her first marriage; a quarrel ensued; the families neither met nor corresponded. Hence, perhaps, the little interest that Mr. Devigne seems to take in the fate of Donald, his sister's son, alluded to in the discussion. The nephew had scarcely ever heard the name of his uncle domestic feuds scorch up the memories of the heart.

A reconciliation took place at the death of her husband; and Mrs. Malcolm continued to reside with her brother: with the exception of four years, during the life of her second husband, whose name she now bears.

A settled horror of the Roman Catholic religion possessed her mind, and rankled in her breast. "The plots and designs of Popery" always made her eloquent and impressive, when she detected their workings (as she always did) in all parliamentary intelligence that had the remotest reference to the Established Church and its prerogatives. To her

WORLDLY SAGACITY AND SINCERE PIETY. 13

mind, the ruin of the Church was impending. Her argument would have had some effect on others: on strangers; but Mr. Devigne, a man who kept pace with the age and prided himself on his sagacity, invariably told his sister that she argued from false premises; that she began with hatred, and ended with rancour; and, "therefore," said he to her,

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your arguments would do for the Inquisition or the Star Chamber, but not for the present age of enlightenment and liberality." It was the lady's misfortune to have been injured by Popery hence she passed for an interested opponent; and as everybody could fancy what she would say, nobody cared for what she said: such is the march of intellect! The mother's allusion to the loss of her son would have touched a stranger's heart; but Mr. Devigne had heard the allusion so often, that it lost its power, and vanished unheeded: anticipated with certainty, and as certainly forgotten!

But, deeply read in divinity and church history, it was certainly excusable if Mrs. Malcolm's opinions were decided; and having long out-lived the tender passions, it was natural that their substitute, in woman-the sentiment of religion-should be in the ascendant. Religion (need the term be defined?) was her passion; and, therefore, she was sincere.

Hence, the early education of her foster-child was strictly religious: perhaps severely so; but the lady's motives were too good, or too strong, to admit of half-measures. Fearing to administer too little, some may say that she gave an over-dose. Of