CHAPTER IX.

SOME

months had now elapsed since

our mention of the castle at Bellgrove.

The reader will remember that we left the good lady performing the last ceremonies of attention to her unfortunate patient.

She contrived that he should be interred with every possible mark of respect; and, when the funeral was over, caressed the orphan Julia, whom, from that day, she considered as entirely her own.

In

4

In adopting this charge, the baroness discovered that she had made choice of one, whose amiable qualities, and goodness of heart, would render her a valuable and interesting companion.

Julia was of the middle stature, elegantly formed, and exhibited such a regular proportion of features, as, upon the first view, excited admiration.

Her countenance was rather interesting than beautiful; nevertheless, from the regularity of her features and a certain bewitching something in her looks, wherever she turned her attention she was sure to captivate.

To a charming person she added all that was winning and agreeable in the mind.

She was tender, affable, and affec

tionate;

tionate; possessed an uncommon share of good sense, which she exercised rather for the acquisition of improvement, than as a display of so excellent a qualification.

Julia was sincere in her professions, and knew not how to dissemble;

Was grateful in the extreme, and where she had received a favour her heart overflowed with a desire to repay it.

In fine, she possessed an excellent heart, an accomplished understanding, and a disposition so amiable and engaging, as made her the idol of all who knew her.

The baroness felt a pride in having adopted so much goodness; every day increased her partiality for her charge, and she every hour saw in Julia

YOL. II.

I

Julia that which would ennoble the most exalted station.

With the baron Julia was shortly a great favourite.

Her orphan state was sufficient to excite his esteem and compassion; but when he discovered she possessed such worth and excellence, she became endeared to him in an additional respect.

He soon found his charge a very engaging companion.

She would often entertain him with different passages out of the elegant compositions he was partial to, and occasionally amuse him with a favourite tune on the piano-forte.

Sometimes she would discourse with him upon history and the Belles Let tres, in which the baron would greatly

admire her judgment and taste, and at intervals would sit down to amuse him in his favourite game at backgammon.

The baroness was rejoiced to see Julia become in such a degree the object of the baron's partiality.

She, indeed, possessed that goodness of heart, as to be proud in beholding merit meet its due reward.

To this benevolent lady Julia became an acquisition, which she long had wanted.

After a very little tuition, she relieved the baroness of several little domestic offices, which that lady did not choose altogether to commit to the care of a servant.

The baroness had a high opinion of

I 2

her