posed to be embraced, as formerly, only for her sister's sake. She extended her hand, however, which he tooked and kissed, as with an expression of delight on his countenance which she had not seen it wear for a long period, and which looked like the sunshine of the first bright day after a dreary winter, he exclaimed, "Frances, I am now indeed your brother!"

Frances approached her sister, who threw herself into her arms, and hid her face in her bosom, whispering: "Oh, Frances, how happy I am. You were quite right, Edmund never loved any one but me!" Frances smiled archly, and looking in her sister's face, whispered, "FIRST LOVE! Julia."

Lord L

entered the room at this moment; and Fitz-Ullin, seeing the sisters thus engaged with each other, heroically resolved on the mighty sacrifice, of tearing himself a moment from Julia's presence, for the purpose

of confirming his happiness. He hastened forward, therefore, and meeting Lord L―, requested a few minutes private conversation with him. His lordship bowed assent. They retired. Fitz-Ullin, on entering the library, grasped Lord L―'s hand, and named Julia. Lord L—— looked dignified, and at a loss.

"I have loved her," said Fitz- Ullin, "from the days of childhood to the present hour!"

"What, then, could have induced you to keep your sentiments so long a secret?" said Lord L. "But, I will confess, Fitz-Ullin

Here the gentlemen proceeded with mutual confessions; till, being quite satisfied with the knowledge thus obtained of each other's private opinions, they re-entered the breakfast-room, with countenances of the most perfect good humour. Lord L sought the eye of Julia; and when he caught it for a moment, smiled with a look, which added yet a tinge to the blush that already dyed her cheek.

She stood in the recess of a glass-door, apart. Fitz-Ullin was soon at her side. In a low whisper, and without looking up, she said, "I should like to speak to grandmamma before we sit down to breakfast, and you may follow me." Both glided out unperceived.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

"Ye shall part no more."

OUR hero and heroine re-entered the house by a similar glass-door, leading into Mrs. Montgomery's dressing-room, and were soon hand in hand at her bed-side.

66

My children," said the good old lady, looking kindly at them, "how happy you both look this morning."

"I, ma'am," said Fitz-Ullin," am the happiest of all mortal beings! Julia-my own Julia, whom I have loved from the moment when you first placed her, not an hour old, in my arms, that Julia-that cherished object of my earliest and fondest affections-of my First Love, and of the only love my heart

ever knew, or ever can know, is now mine for

ever; by her own and by Lord L

-mine for ever!"

's consent

Mrs. Montgomery looked at Julia, whose blushes, as she embraced her grandmamma, confirmed what Fitz-Ullin had said. "Kneel,

my children," said the old lady, in a faltering tone. "It is as it should be!" and she rose in her bed as she spoke, and blessed them tenderly and solemnly, uniting their hands; while Mr. Jackson entering, a species of explanation was given, in which, however, the name of Henry was not mentioned. Mrs. Montgomery, detaining Julia, dismissed both the gentlemen. They, before their return to the breakfastroom, took a short walk on the lawn, during which Fitz-Ullin made Mr. Jackson acquainted with those particulars respecting the conduct of Henry, which it had been necessary to conceal from Mrs. Montgomery. Thus satisfying