quainted with the name of Miss Wildenheim's noble relations; charging her, on the contrary, to conceal it carefully from all the world till she came of age, as he feared her claims would meet with decided opposition from part of her family, and little support from any; and informing her, that a premature disclosure might ruin her future prospects; and that law proceedings would be more costly, and less efficacious, while she was a minor, than when she could act directly for herself. In pursuance, therefore, of this advice, Adelaide, with the reservation of this one point, told Mrs. Sullivan all the particulars she knew of herself and her father; and in so doing, went through a series of interrogations of the most distressing nature, as Mrs. Sullivan, having little delicacy of feeling herself, was really almost unconscious of the wounds she inflicted on that of others. After deliberating a few

days, she, as has been before mentioned, consented to accept the proposed guardianship; and Mr. Austin immediately proceeding to the Madeiras, his ward was therefore temporarily deprived of his protection or advice. After relating these particulars, Adelaide endeavoured to explain to Mrs. Temple her reasons for wishing to leave Webberly House; and in executing this unpleasant task, was much embarrassed between the necessity of doing herself justice, by showing she was not actuated by any unreasonable whims or caprices, and her respect for the laws of hospitality, which made her regard as sacred the transactions of any family she domesticated with. But, indeed, she seldom thought, and never said, the worst the actions of those she associated with would warrant. However, Mrs. Temple was one of those who could understand à demi-mot, without waiting for a harassing detail sufficient to satisfy a court of law, and often listened to rather from a love of slander than of justice. "I am well aware," continued Adelaide, "that the reception I shall meet with from my relations very much depends on the respectability of the manner,

in which I first present myself to their notice. The moment I am of age, Mrs. Sullivan may, and probably will, withdraw her protection from me; for she has lately hinted once or twice, that she much regretted having ever granted it. I therefore think the most advisable course for me to pursue is, to write her a polite letter, conveying my thanks for the asylum she has hitherto granted me, but expressing my doubts of its being agreeable to her longer to continue it: requesting, if my surmises are well founded, that she will have the goodness to seek an eligible home for me: or," continued she, looking mournfully at Mrs. Temple, "permit me to apply to my only friend to aid me in the search: but that, if on mature deliberation she can satisfy her mind, that she really does wish my continuing to reside with her, I shall prefer doing so to domesticating myself in another family, till I can ascertain whether my own will receive me; but that, when this point is once decided, either for or against me, I do not mean to trespass further on her hospitality. And now, my dear Mrs. Temple, this is the subject, on which I am so anxious to obtain your opinion and that of Mr. Temple. I know not what apology to make for having so long trespassed on your patience by this tedious recital." Mrs. Temple begged to consult her husband, before she expressed her own ideas, as she feared to trust to her unassisted judgment on a point of so much import- . ance. But before she left the room, she took up a volume of Patronage, and laughingly pointed out to Adelaide's notice the following passage:-" You will never be a heroine-What a stupid uninteresting heroine you will make! You will never get into any entanglements, never have any adventures; or, if kind fate should, propitious to my prayer, bring you into some charming difficulties, even then we could not tremble for you, or enjoy all the luxury of pity, because we should always know, that you would be so

well able to extricate yourself,-so certain to conquer, or,-not die--but endure."

Mrs. Temple, in the first spontaneous benevolence of her heart, had nearly been tempted to offer Adelaide an asylum at the Rectory, till her future line of life should be finally decided; but quickly recollecting what was due to Mr. Temple, repaired to his study, more for the purpose of suggesting it to him, than for that of stating her young friend's queries; which despatching in as few words as possible, without further preparation, she proposed her own plan in the most abrupt manner possible; and as quickly read in his countenance his marked disapprobation of her inconsiderate project. "My dear Charlotte," said he, after a short pause, "the goodness of your heart makes you always so zealous to promote the happiness of others, that you quite forget your own. But, my love, you must respect the sanctuary of your domestic peace; it, like the Paradise of our first parents, admits of no intruder. I am inclined to believe Miss Wildenheim to be a most estimable young woman. The prudence and uprightness of her present proposition strengthens my former good opinion of her. As long as these impressions remain, I shall be happy to receive her occasionally as a visiter, and will most willingly do any thing to promote her welfare, short of domesticating her in this house. But, setting yourself out of the question, my dear Charlotte, do you think you would act justly towards your daughters (recollect Anna is now eleven years old,) by introducing into the very bosom of your family a girl we have so superficial a knowledge of; and whose situation is so doubtful and extraordinary, and who may after all be but a foreign adventurer?" As Mr. Temple said this, his features wore an expression of unusual gravity. "Oh, James!" exclaimed his wife, "don't let your prudence make you unjust go to her, and if you will impartially look on her ingenuous countenance,

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and observe her simple manners, you will never pronounce her a foreign adventurer. Besides, after knowing Mr. Austin so many years, can you suppose him capable of being an accomplice in a fraud?" "You are right, my dear Charlotte: I was most unjust," replied Mr. Temple, his brow relaxing from the austerity that had overcast it a moment before. "And I," said she, extending her hand with a smile of conciliating sweetness," was equally imprudent." In this confession she was perfectly sincere; she hardly wished to dissuade her husband from his sage resolution; for he had convinced her judgment, though perhaps her feelings were yet unsubdued.

It may here be remarked, that there is something in the ties of relationship, which acts as a sort of necessity, and makes us excuse the faults which a domestic scene displays in the most perfect characters. But it is far otherwise in friendship; and those who there court too great intimacy, resemble the man in the fable of the golden eggs, and often destroy in a day riches, that, by wise forbearance, might have lasted their lives.

Mr. Temple, on going up stairs to Adelaide, told her, that the line of conduct she had marked out for herself was the most proper she could adopt, giving it his unqualified approbation. He then proceeded to give her much sage advice, adding to it the most comforting assurances of support and protection. Adelaide poured forth her gratitude and her pleasure, with all the ardency of feelings long suppressed. Her spirits rose, in proportion to their previous depression. She once more had the happiness of hearing a reverend voice address her in tones of approbation for her vir tues, and of consolation for her distresses. Perhaps the evening of this anxious day was one of the hap piest of her life.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Helas! ou donc chercher ou trouver le bonheur?
En tout lieu, en tout temps, dans toute la nature,
Nulle part tout entier, partout avec mesure,
Et partout passager, hors dans son seul Auteur
Ill est semblable au feu dont la douce chaleur,
Dans chaque autre élément en secret s' insinue,
Descend dans les rockers, s'éleve dans la nue,
Va rougir le corail dans le sable des mers,

Et vit dans les glaçons qu'ont durcis les hivers.*

VOLTAIRE.

WHILST Adelaide remained at the Parsonage,

she had the advantages of becoming acquainted with

* Alas! then where should happiness be sought?
In Nature's self.-Cast but thine eyes around,
In every place, in every age, 'tis found;

No where entire, but always in degree,

And fleeting still, except, O God! with thee,
(Thou, its great Author.) Like thy fire, its heat
In every other element we meet;

Deep in the bosom of the harden'd stone,
As in the clouds, its vital power we own;
In ocean's caves, in coral beds it glows,

And lives beneath the glacier's endless snows.

As the reader may find it not uninteresting to compare the ideas of such great writers as Pope and Voltaire, on the same subject, the opening verses of the fourth epistle of the Essay on Man are here subjoined, though perhaps an apology is due for transcribing lines impressed on every English memory.

Oh Happiness! our being's end and aim !

Good, Pleasure, Ease, Content! whate'er thy name:
That something still, which prompts th' eternal sigh
For which we bear to live, or dare to die;
Which still so near us, yet beyond us lies,
O'erlook'd, seen double by the fool and wise.
Plant of celestial seed! if dropp'd below,
Say, in what mortal soil thou deign'st to grow;
Fair op'ning to some court's propitious shine,
Or deep with diamonds in the flaming mine?
Twin'd with the wreaths Parnassian laurels yield;
Or reap'd in iron harvests of the field?