which, though it was half hysterical, gave great offence to her companion, who exclaimed reproachfully, “Ah, Miss Owen ! it is easy for them to laugh who have never known trouble, and have got no sons. Prosperity, they say, hardens the heart, but I never thought you could be unfeeling enough to ridicule my misfortunes."

"Heaven forbid that I should do so!" said Helen, taking her hand, and affectionately pressing it" pray forgive my involuntary emotion, which sprang from my delight at thinking how soon and how easily I can extricate yon from all your troubles."

"Me-me! I care not for myself: it is my dear Alfred whom I want to extricate."

"Well; and his liberation will relieve you, will it not, from all your troubles? Harkye, my dear Mrs. Hunter! although I am not yet of age, and have not, therefore, any control over my fortune, my allowance, since the death

of my father, has always been so liberal that it has enabled me to make a purse of my own. In this writing-desk I have a bank-note of one hundred pounds which I was just about to add to my little separate investment, but which I shall think a thousand times better bestowed, if you will do me the favour of accepting it. You can repay me, you know, at some future day, when you get a prize in the lottery, for Mr. Hunter, if I mistake not, occasionally tries his fortune in that way."

With these words she unlocked the desk, and handed over the bank-note to her companion, who, during the process, looked on in a silent and amazed bewilderment, as if she distrusted the evidence of her senses. When, however, her doubts were dispelled, she melted into tears of gratitude, and sobbed in a broken voice, "God bless you! God bless you, dear Miss Owen ! feel heart my that must thank you,

for I can scarcely speak-I am almost choked."

After a brief interval, during which she continued to gaze wistfully at the note, with the tears glistening in her eyes, she added, " And yet I ought not to take this money without knowing how I am to repay it. Alfred, it is true, is constantly speculating in the Lottery, which is one cause of his present embarrassment; but it is not for himself— it is all for me and Harriet, in the hope of placing us in a more comfortable situation. But, alas! alas! he is always unfortunate-there is no luck for any of our family; we shall never be enabled to get out of your debt."

"Then do me the favour to accept this trifle as a little token of friendship," said Helen, who had only alluded to repayment from motives of delicacy, although her simple-hearted visitant had taken her words in a literal sense.

"That I will!" exclaimed Mrs. Hunter, throwing her arms round her neck and kissing her. "I don't mind taking it from you, because

I should have delighted in giving it to you; and though I cannot express my gratitude, my dear Alfred, who is as eloquent as he is warmhearted, will hurry hither, I am sure, the moment he is at liberty, to offer-"

Nay, nay," interrupted Helen, blushing, "I forgot to make one positive stipulation. This little transaction must remain a secret between you and me. It must be concealed from every body, and particularly from Mr. Hunter."

you

"Well, my dear Miss Owen ! if will have it so, I must obey, and indeed I shall be glad to hide it from Mr. Bryant, for fear of the consequences. They quarrel enough, as it is; but I am sure it cannot be Alfred's fault, for he is the kindest creature in the world. Dear! dear! what shall I say to account for his absence ?"

"You had better lose no time in effecting his liberation," observed Helen.

"Not a moment, not a moment," cried the mother, bustling up, wiping her eyes, and gathering her shawl around her, as she added, "I will take a boat instantly, and see the lawyer. Dear! dear! I am so happy, and my heart is beating at such a rate! I hope Harriet won't forget to feed Tabby, and the Pug, and to water the geranium, and to have the duck taken up ; I can't be every where at once. How Alfred will stare at the sight of the hundred pound note! God bless you once more, dear Miss Owen! I hope we shall all pray for you to-night;" and with these words she hurried away, too much wrapt in her own thoughts to attend to Helen's reiterated injunctions of secresy.