took the salver from Mrs. Oldham. Pray, madam, sit down,' said he, offering her a dish, which she declined; and held the toasted bread to his sisters, who then were ready enough to take each some-And when they had drank their chocolate'Now, Mrs. Oldham,' said he, 'I will attend you -Sisters, you will give me your company.'

They arose to follow him. The poor woman curtsied, I warrant, and stood by while they passed: and methinks I see the dear girls bridle, and walk as stately, and as upright, as duchesses may be supposed to do in a coronation-procession.

Miss Grandison acknowledged, that she grudged her brother's extraordinary complaisance to Mrs. Oldham; and said to her sister, as arm in arm they went out-Politeness is a charming thing, Caroline!'

'I don't quite understand it,' replied the other.

They did not intend their brother should hear what they said: but he did; and turned back to them, (Mrs. Oldham being at a distance, and, on his speaking low, dropping still further behind her:) 'Don't you, my sisters, do too little, and I will not do too much. She is a gentlewoman. She is unhappy from within. Thank God, you are And she is not now, nor ever was, your ser

not.

vant.'

They reddened, and looked upon each other in some confusion.

He pressed each of their hands, as to love. 'Don't let me give you concern,' said he; only permit me to remind you, while it is yet in time, that you have an opportunity given you to show yourselves Grandisons.'

When they came to the chamber in which Sir Thomas died, and which was his usual apartment, Mrs. Oldham turned pale, and begged to be excused attending them in it. She wept. You

will find every thing there, sir,' said she, to be as it ought. I am ready to answer all questions. Permit me to wait in the adjoining drawing-room.' Sir Charles allowed her request.

'Poor woman!' said he:how unhappily circumstanced is she, that she dares not, in this company, show the tenderness, which is the glory, not only of the female, but of human nature!'

In one of the cabinets in that chamber they found a beautiful little casket, and a paper wafered upon the back of it; with these words written in Sir Thomas's hand- My wife's jewels,' &c.

The key was tied to one of the silver handles. 'Had you not my mother's jewels divided between you?' asked he.

"My father once showed us this casket at Grandison Hall,' answered Caroline. 'We thought it was still there.'

'My dear sisters, let me ask you: Did my father forbear presenting these to you from any declared misapprehension of your want of duty to him?' "No,' replied Miss Caroline. 'But he told us they should be ours when we married. You have heard, I dare say, that he was not fond of seeing us dressed.'

'It must have been misapprehension only, had it been so. You could not be undutiful to a father.' . He would not permit it to be opened before him: but, presenting it to them- Receive your right, my sisters. It is heavy. I hope there is more than jewels in it. I know that my mother used to deposit in it her little hoard. I am sure there can be no dispute between such affectionate sisters, on the partition of the contents of this casket.'

While their brother was taking minutes of papers, the ladies retired to open this casket

They found three purses in it; in one of which was an Indian bond of 500l. inclosed in a paper, thus inscribed by Lady Grandison- From my maiden money.' 120 Carolus's were also in this purse in two papers; the one inscribed From my aunt Molly;' the other- From my aunt Kitty.' In the second purse were 115 Jacobus's, in a paper, thus inscribed by the same lady-' Presents made at different times by my honoured mamma, Lady W. three Bank-notes, and an India bond, to the amount of 3001.

The third purse was thus labelled, as Lady L. showed me by a copy she had of it in her memorandum-book.

"For my beloved son: in acknowledgment of his duty to his father and me from infancy to this hour, Jan. 1. 17...-Of his love to his sisters. -Of the generosity of his temper; never once having taken advantage of the indulgence shown him by parents so fond of him, that, as the only son of an ancient family, he might have done what he pleased with themOf his love of truth: and of his modesty, courage, benevolence, steadiness of mind, docility, and other great and amiable qualities, by which he gives a moral assurance of making A GOOD MAN-GOD grant it. Amen!"

The ladies immediately carried this purse, thus labelled, to their brother. He took it; read the label, turning his face from his sisters as he read'Excellent woman!' said he, when he had read it, Being dead, she speaks-May her pious prayer be answered!' looking up. Then opening the purse, he found five coronation medals of different princes in it, and several others of value, a gold

snuff-box, in which, wrapt in cotton, were three diamond rings; one signified to be his grandfather's; the two others, an uncle's and brother's of Lady Grandison: but what was more valuable to him than all the rest, the ladies said, was a miniature picture of his mother, set in gold; an admirable likeness, they told me; and they would get their brother to let me see it.

Neglecting all the rest, he eagerly took it out of the shagreen case; gazed at it in silence; kissed it; a tear falling from his eye. He then put it to his heart: withdrew for a few moments; and returned with a cheerful aspect.

The ladies told him what was in the other two purses. They said they made no scruple of accepting the jewels; but the bonds, the notes, and the money, they offered to him.

He asked, If there were no particular direction upon either? They answered 'No.'

He took them; and emptying them upon the table, miugled the contents of both together. 'There may be a difference in the value of each: thus mingled, you, my sisters, will equally divide them between you. This picture (putting his hand on his bosom, where it yet was) is of infinite more value than all the three purses contained besides.'

You will excuse these particularities, my dear friends: but if you do not, I can't help it. We are all apt, I believe, to pursue the subjects that most delight us. Don't grudge me my pleasure. Perhaps I shall pay for it. I admire this man more than I can express.

Saturday night-And no Sir Charles Grandison. With all my heart!

LETTER XXI.

MISS BYRON. IN CONTINUATION.

WHEN Sir Charles and his sisters had looked over every other place in his father's apartment, they followed Mrs. Oldham to hers.

A very handsome apartment, upon my word!' How could Miss Grandison-She knew the situa tion the unhappy woman had been in: mistress of that house.

Her brother looked at her.

Mrs. Oldham showed them which of the furniture and pictures (some of the latter valuable ones) she had brought into the house, saved, as she said, from the wreck of her husband's fortune.—But,' said she, with the consent of creditors. I, for my part, did not wrong any body.

'In that closet, sir,' continued she, pointing to it, is all that I account myself worth in the world. Mr. Grandison was pleased to put his seal upon the door. I besought him to let me také 501. out of it; having but very little money about me; but he would not: his refusal, besides the disgrace, has put me to some shifts. But, (weeping) I throw myself upon your mercy, sir.'

The sisters frankly owned, that they hardened each other by fault-finding. They whispered, that she expected no mercy from them, it was plain. O what a glory belongs to goodness, as well in its influences, as in itself! Nor even these two amiable sisters, as Miss Charlotte once acknowledged, were so noble in themselves before their brother's arrival, as they are now.

'Assure yourself of justice, madam,' said Sir