52 © TURNS OF FORTUNE.

est present from India more grateful to its re-
ceiver than these were to the eyes of Sarah Bond.
She felt as if a ban was removed from her when
she looked upon the old things so valued by her
father. Absorbed in the feelings of the moment,
she did not even turn to inquire how they had
so unexpectedly come there. Nor did she note
the cold and constrained greeting which Mabel
gave to Mr. Lycight. She herself, after the first
self-engrossed thoughts were past, turned to
give both gentlemen the cordial reception which
their many former kindnesses, not to speak of
their apparent connexion with the present gra-
tifying occurrence, deserved. * From Mr. Goul-
ding she learnt that the furniture had been
bought up by a few old friends, and committed
to him to be sent to her as a mark of their good-
will; he had only delayed bringing it to her,
till she should have proved, as he knew she
would, superior to her misfortunes, by entering
upon some industrious career.

As the evening closed in, and the astonish-
ment and feelings of their first meeting subsid-
ed, Sarah Bond and Mr. Goulding conversed
apart, and then, indeed, she listened with a
brimming heart and brimming eyes. He told
of his young friend’s deep attachment to Ma-
bel; how he had prevailed upon him to pause
before he declared it; to observe how she en-
dured her changed fortune; and to avoid en-
gaging her affections until he had a prospect of