how completely Mr. Herbert at once entered into her own views and sentiments, with regard to many who were suffering, both from mental and bodily anguish. She saw that he could administer solace to every variety of sorrow; for whilst, with liberality which sprung from the dictates of a generous soul, assisted by the welcome appendage of a good income, he was enabled to supply their temporal wants, at the same time he endeavoured to instil into their minds that peace, which none of the things of this world can bestow. His were not speculative ideas, of benevolence, but an active principle, flowing from his heart, as from a fountain, whence all the virtues of benignity, generosity, and compassion issued, as so many native streams. Every moment that now elapsed, brought with it delight to Alice; and when she returned home, after some hours thus profitably spent, her feelings were refreshed and invigorated. The weakness that had obscured her usually strong and well-directed mind, she had now the power

to shake off. She remembered, that even to the most insignificant mortal, important duties are assigned; and she recollected that all hers had been neglected-forgotten!

She thought of her dear delightful uncle, who, in the midst of all his own regrets, seemed to think most of those which she endured. She had been unmindful of his feelings-selfishweak! She would rouse her slumbering energies, she would be herself again; the path of duty must be performed, and that alone. Duty,

"I call thee: I myself commend
Unto thy guidance from this hour;
Oh! let my weakness have an end!

Give unto me, made lowly wise,

The spirit of self-sacrifice;

The confidence of reason give;

And in the light of truth thy bondman let me live."

It was with softened feelings, that Alice thought upon Mr. Herbert, as he bent over the bed of sickness, or endeavoured, by words that were eloquent, though simple, to comfort

some afflicted soul; the expression which beamed from his countenance, seemed to say,—

"I come to soothe the anguish of your souls,
And teach your steps to know the paths of peace."

She felt assured, that all her plans of benevolence and amelioration, for which she had so long unavailingly sighed, were about to be accomplished; she had still something to live for. Compassion for the wants of others, is truly the sun that enlivens and cheers the abodes of men.

Full of these ideas, Alice again returned, with renewed ardour, to the discharge of all her cherished duties; repeating to herself, as she prepared to meet her uncle and brother at their noon-day repast, these words, which the improved state of her mind, and the occurrences of the morning, suggested pertinaciously to her imagination,

"Say, shall the joy,

(Pure as the sacred source from whence it springs, Which then exalts the soul,) shall this expire?

Forbid it Heaven?"

CHAPTER XII.

"As early as I knew

This town, I had the sense to hate it too."

"There was a grace

Peculiar to herself, ev'n from the first;

Shadows and thoughtfulness you seemed to trace
Upon that brow, and then a sudden burst

Of sunniness and laughter sparkled out,

And spread their rays of joyfulness about.”

THE letters which now arrived at Elmsdale, from Reginald, were most interesting, from the naïve descriptions which he gave of the scenes around him. For the most part, they contained glowing accounts of his happiness; although at times they were tinctured by feelings of partial gloom. But these sombre shadows became gra

dually less frequent. He expatiated with the utmost warmth upon the kindness, both of the Earl and his Countess. The family still continued in London-their continental journey had been deferred by business, which still detained Lord Elmsdale in England.

At first it was a source of regret to Reginald, for never having before visited the great metropolis, this was rather a trying moment to make his first appearance, in the noisy and turbulent vortex of this modern Babylon.

To arrive in London, for the first time, in the height of its season, must be most striking to the uninitiated. The confusion-the whirlthe dissipation-even the business of amusement, doubtless appears as laborious and fatiguing, as any other description of hard labour. Then the society! so different from that which Reginald had believed he should find it, gave a bouleversement at once to all the ideas which he had formed in his mind. In his innocence, he