circumstances had wrought-had occasioned for some years; and which had scarcely ceased again ere he died. Such loss is worse than death. The misery it had caused her, no words could tell any more than they could picture the rapture of heavenly happiness which entered into her heart, once, when, after an explanation between them, he took her to his breast with all the old, overflowing warmth of love to which it had so long been a stranger; and she saw the same dear look of unbounded affection and confidence, in his swimming, beaming eyes, which a thousand times in her buoyant, early days, had filled her to the brim with joy unspeakable. That she has often said -was the happiest moment of her life.

CHAPTER II.

BEREFT at last of both these cherished

ties, our Agnes would have been lonely indeed; but Heaven in its mercy provided for her comfort. Agnes Landor was childless; but when she married, she found domesticated in her new home, the only child of a neighbour-a widower, then away on a long and uncertain voyage-of whom her husband had promised to take charge during his friend's absence.

Little Walter Maldon was seven years

old, when Agnes, at fifteen, took up her abode a married woman-under the roof where he had found, as was then believed, a temporary shelter. Fate, however, had ordered it, that his residence there should be longer than any one concerned anticipated at the time. His father, on his return home a year afterwards, being pressed to join his child awhile at Beechwood-Mr. Landor's house,-agreed, subsequently, to remain there, while various repairs and fittings-up, which neglect during his absence had rendered necessary in his own cottage, were being executed. Some months passed thus: and, then, a serious accident-the dislocation and fracture of a limb-detained him further. The result of this accident, after much protracted suffering, and frequent attacks of fever, recoveries and relapses, extending

over a considerable period of time; was, finally, mortification and death.

During the interval, however, Agnes's unceasing kindness and attention, had won upon the old man's heart and confidence: all he had seen of her, before and since his illness, had excited his unqualified esteem and respect his child's clinging affection to her, and her own tender attachment and care in return, had struck all the chords of a father's love. When he felt he was dying, the most earnest wish of his soul was, that his child should not lose the inestimable advantage of her watchful affection. He asked and obtained her consent, and Mr. Landor's, to her acting as sole guardian of his orphan boy, and as his executrix and trustee. Being a married woman, her husband's name was inserted in the will, pro formâ, in lieu of—

or rather in addition to-hers; but it was understood between all parties, and expressly stated and agreed to by all, that she was really to take the trouble and responsibility attaching to the charge.

As far as regarded the management of her young ward's finances, that charge was light. The voyage we have spoken of -which his father had undertaken in consequence of some alarming rumours, concerning the stability of the property on which he had hitherto principally depended, in the West Indies-had only made manifest to the departed, his utter ruin there. All he had to leave his child, was the small sum for which his cottage near Beechwood, with its furniture and few appertaining acres, might sell. The whole afforded a sum, which Agnes hoped might prove sufficient to purchase, in due