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134 s [ have considered,” was the impatient reply —"1 have considered for years,— considered almost since I have been capable of serious reflection. My feelings remain unchanged, as they ever will; and why should I suffer the pain of a delay in giving them vent, which can be tive of no earthly good? No. Before I leave this place, Rose shall hear me.” “She shall,” said Mrs. Maylie. s "There is something in your manner which would almost imply that she will man anxiously. 6 Not coldly,” rejoined the old. lady; “far from it.” “How then?" urged the young man. “She has formed no other attachment !" “No, indeed,” replied his mother. “You have, or I mistake, too strong a hold on her affections already." s What I would say,” resumed the old lady, stopping her son as he was about to speak, “is this. Before you stake your all on this chance,—before you suffer yourself to be carried to the highest point of hope, reflect for a few moments, my dear child,on Rose’s history, and consider what effect the knowledge of her doubtful birth may have on her decision,—devoted as she is to us with all the intensity of her noble mind, and that perfect sacrifice of self which in al] matters, great or trifling, has always been her characteristic.” c What do you mean ?” “That I leave you to discover,” replied Mrs. Maylie. “I must go back to Rose. God bless you!" “T shall see you again to-night?” said the young man eagerly. I leave Rose.” “You will tell her I am here?" said Harry. 6 Of course," replied Mrs. Maylie. “And say how anxious I have been, and how much I have suffered, and how I long to see her—you will not refuse to do this, mother ?”’ s No, said the old lady, “I will tell her that;” and, pressing her sons hand affectionately, she hastened from the room. Mr. Losberne and Oliver had remained at another end of the apartment while this hurried conversation was proceeding. The former now held out his hand to Harry Maylie, and hearty salutations were exchanged between them. The doctor then communicated, in reply to multifarious questions from his young friend, a precise account of his patient’s situation, of promise as Oliver’s statement had en couraged him to hope, and to the whole of which Mr. Giles, who affeeted to be busy about the luggage, listened with greedy ears. “Have you shot anything particular lately, Giles?" inquired the doctor, when he had coneluded. 6 Nothing particular, sir,” replied Mr. Giles, colouring up to the eyes. “ Nor catching any thieves, nor identifying any house-breakers?”’ said the doctor maliciously. “None at all, sir,” replied Mr. Giles with much gravity. s Well,” said the doctor, “I am sorry to hear it, because you do that sort of thing so well. Pray, how is Brittles ?” “The boy is very well, sir,” said Mr. Giles, recovering his usual tone of patronage, "and sends his respectful duty, sir.” “'That’s well,” said the doctor. “ Seeing you here, reminds me, Mr. Giles, that on the day before that on which I was called away so hurriedly, I executed, at the request of your good mistress, a small commission in your favour. Just step into this corner a moment, will you?" Mr. Giles walked into the corner with much importanee and some wonder, and was honoured with a short whispermg conference with the doctor, on the term1nation of which he made a great many bows, and retired with steps of unusual stateliness, The subject matter of this conference was not disclosed in the parlightened concerning it; for Mr. Giles walked straight thither, and having called for a mug of ale, announced, with an air of majestic mystery which was highly effective, that it had pleased his mistress, in consideration of his gallant behaviour on the occasion of that attempted robbery, to deposit in the local savings bank the sum of twenty-five pounds for his sole use and benefit. At this the two women servants lifted up their hands and eyes, and supposed that Mr. Giles would begin to be quite proud now; whereunto Mr. Giles, pulling out his shirt-frill, replied, " No, no’—and that if they observed at any time that he was at all haughty to his inferiors, he would thank them to tell him so. And then he made a great many other remarks, no less illustrative of his humility, which were received with equal favour and applause, and were withal as original and as much to the purpose as the remarks of great men commonly are, ing passed cheerfully away, for the doctor
