184 THERE IS NO HURRY.

continuing misfortunes ought to render them
greater objects of sympathy. ‘

Mr. Charles Adams was, as has been shown
in our little narrative, a kind-hearted man. Es-
tranged as his brother and himself had been for
a number of years, he had done much to for-
ward, and still more to protect, his children.
At first, this was a pleasure; but somehow his
‘** benevolence,” and “ kindness,” and “ gene-
rosity,’’ had been so talked about, so eulogised,
and he had been so seriously inconvenienced
by the waywardness of his nephews, the thought-
less pride of his sister-in-law, the helplessness
of his younger nieces, as to feel seriously op-
pressed by his responsibility. And now the one
who had never given him aught but pleasure,
seemed, according to his daughter’s representa-
tions, to be the cause of increased sorrow, the
destroyer of his dear child’s happiness. What
to do he could not tell. His daughter, wrought
upon by her own jealousy, had evinced, under
its influence, so much temper she had never dis-
played before, that it seemed more than likely
the cherished match would be broken off. His
high-minded niece saved him any farther anxie-
ty as far -as she was concerned. She sent for
and convinced him. fully and entirely of her to-
tal freedom from the base design imputed to
her. ‘ Was it likely,” she said, ‘‘ that I should
reject the man I love lest I should drag him into
poverty, and plunge at once with one I do not