endeavouring to raise the young girl's

head.

"You will!" exclaimed the weeping girl, looking up for the first time, and displaying a pair of hazel eyes, swimming in tears; "alas! my poor mother told me with her last breath not to receive any visits from gentlemen, not . . . . not. . . . even from .

you, my lord-I am alone, quite, quite alone-oh, Heaven must protect me!"

"Heaven will protect you, poor child; but Heaven oftentimes employs earthly messengers to work His will; I will be your father, your protector. Will you not trust me ?"

"Yes, yes, willingly, but my mother's injunction-she told me, my lord,"-here the young girl paused-" nay," she continued, blushing deeply, "I must tell you. She said that the world was cold and unfeeling; that it made no exceptions, but weighed

everything in one general balance; that I should lose my good name, if I, alone and unprotected, received your lordship's visits; she bid me part from you for ever.'

"Must it be so ?" ruminated Lord Cunnington; "aye, perchance Mrs. Lemington spoke truly, the world does judge by apbut I will watch over you; pearances; as I would over a beloved daughter-Alice,

I will adopt you."

watch

"That, too, is impossible," cried the young girl, shaking her head, and again weeping bitterly. "Ah! my lord, your benevolent heart is written on your countenance; my mother guessed what might be your intention, and I solemnly promised I would never even tread in Cunnington Abbey, unless I could throw myself on Lady Cunnington's protection, and that is not likely."

"But, gracious heavens, how can you

live thus has your mother not informed you if you have any relations-are you provided for ?"

"The same mystery still, and will ever, methinks, hang over me," replied Alice; "my mother left no will, but told me I should receive by post a regular income of six hundred pounds per annum; but should I ever be forsaken, should my remittance not arrive, I was to send this letter to your lordship; but you were to promise, solemnly promise, to follow the injunctions therein recorded."

"Give me the letter," cried Lord Cunnington; "it may be mislaid, and it might embitter your life."

"But you promise, my lord ?"

"Solemnly, very solemnly; but it was wrong on your mother's part not to...

"Hush, hush! my lord; are you, too, like